Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Congratulations  The Weeknd accepts International Male Solo Artist Award from Michelle Obama and performs “Save Your Tears”  Michelle Obama Presents The Weeknd the 2021 BRIT Award for International Male Solo Artist WATCH HERE> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_eW7ovTYI ----------------------------------   The Weeknd performs “Save Your Tears" (Live at The BRIT Awards 2021) WATCH HERE > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKm5-XtXcII

Ray Blk one of the realest, most challenging and important voices in music, drops her brand new single “Dark Skinned”, through Island Records.  Ray will also release a special live VEVO performance of the track. Speaking about the inspiration behind the song Ray says: “ This song to me is a celebration of being Dark Skinned. The conversation around race often feels heavy and negative, but I love my blackness and it is a privilege to be black. A lot of people told me it would be hard to break into this industry because of the colour of my skin, but I believe that whatever the situation, I am going to shine regardless and I refuse to cater to that ideology. I always try to remind people of this in my music, like with the ‘My Hood’ lyric ‘Through concrete flowers grow’ and now on ‘Dark Skinned,’ I say ‘I’m even glowing in the dark’. I want people to say yes to themselves when the world keeps telling them no. Listen to Dark Skinned here:   https://umusic.box.com/s/hr3anld7e

The Weeknd unveils the much anticipated “Save Your Tears Remix” with Ariana Grande via XO/Republic Records.  The diamond-selling superstar paired with Grammy winner  Grande , continuing a tradition of epic collaborations together such as  “Love Me Harder”  and  “off the table.” The original  “Save Your Tears”  remains a standout from  The Weeknd ’s multi-platinum 2020 opus  After Hours . The song not only went double platinum in the US and eclipsed 1 billion streams, but it also currently holds #1 at US Top 40 Radio. The Weeknd is the Most Streamed R&B Artist of 2021 and After Hours remains the most streamed R&B album of this year continuing on from its release in early 2020. He has the 2 songs in the Top 5 Most Streamed Globally with “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears”. Grammy winning, multi-platinum recording artist and international superstar, Ariana Grande, is the first artist to hold the top three Billboard Hot 100 spots since The Beatles in 1964 with

In keeping with a promise made to the legendary artist/author and original and founding member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson, Motown/UMe release Mary Wilson: Expanded Edition , available now,  here . In time for what would have been Mary Wilson’s 77 th  Birthday, March 6, the project was announced to celebrate her birthday and honor her history and legacy with the first of her album projects. Ms. Wilson, who retained ownership of her solo recordings, wanted to make the album – and much more - available to her many fans around the world.  Mary Wilson: Expanded Edition  is a newly compiled version of her solo album, originally released by Motown in 1979, that will now be available on all digital platforms for the first time. Added to the album are eight incredible bonus tracks, four of them unreleased, including the legendary tracks recorded as a follow-up to the album produced by Gus Dudgeon (Elton John, Joan Armatrading, Chris Rea,  et al ).  Featured as the lead single

Birmingham’s own rapper, singer Miss LaFamilia has dropped her new single, “Lil Bitch” and video featuring a cameo from BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Snoochie Shy .  The video is available to watch HERE and track is available to stream/purchase to HERE . This new gritty single release follows her ‘Fire In The Booth’ performance on BBC 1Xtra’s Rap Show with Charlie Sloth . In addition to her recent single release  “Dumb Flex” featuring Abra Cadabra and the remix that featured some of the best rising rap artists in the UK right now, Ivorian Doll, Poundz , Offica and Dbo . “Dumb Flex” has gained huge radio support from the likes of BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1, Kiss Fresh, Rinse FM, No Signal, Reprezent, Charlie Sloth’s Rap Show on Apple Music and many more. Plus DJ support from the likes of DJ Target, Kenny Allstar, Sian Anderson, Snoochie Shy, Jack Saunders and more. Miss LaFamilia says about the new release “ I can’t wait for everyone to hear this next single, I’m j

To celebrate the easing of lockdown measures, Britain’s most rambunctious band Sports Team release a special, limited edition B-sides & Rarities Vinyl, Plant Test, available only at Independent retailers in the UK. Independent retail has been at the heart of Sports Team’s output, having had the biggest vinyl sales for a debut British artist in 2020, and number 1 on official vinyl chart week of release. The six piece have also announced their rescheduled tour dates, and will bring the dizzying chaos of their live show to Manchester Academy, SWG3, Rock City, University Stylus, Whelans, SWX, and culminate at O2 Academy Brixton on 25 November 2021, for many nights to remember. See below for the full list of the “Red Hot Rock Show” dates and festival performances.  It will be the band’s first time performing songs from their debut, which battled it out with global superstar Lady Gaga for the number #1 spot in the UK charts last June. It was a chart race which broke Twitter; from fashion

  “Amy Winehouse At The BBC”, a 3xLP/ 3xCD collection chronicling the many remarkable performances by arguably the greatest and most genuine talent to emerge in British music in decades, will be released on May 7th 2021 through UMC/Island. For the very first time this updated release offers audio-only versions of the songs featured on ‘A Tribute To Amy Winehouse by Jools Holland’ and the ‘BBC One Sessions Live at Porchester Hall’, and so a high proportion of these tracks will be completely new to DSPs. “Stronger Than Me”, “Tears Dry On Their Own” and “You Know I’m No Good” will be available on streaming services from March 24th while the video for “Stronger Than Me” being available on YouTube. This comprehensive collection captures the strong and enduring relationship that Amy enjoyed with the BBC and is further proof of quite what an extraordinarily talented, completely original, and truly engaging performer Amy was. “Amy Winehouse At The BBC” includes Amy’s earliest BBC Radio sessio