Music

4 Wonderful Songs From 1988 Found Way Down the Charts

• Four acclaimed 1988 songs all missed the Top 40.
• Sting and Robert Plant both peaked in the 80s.
• R.E.M.'s now-legendary hit stalled at just No. 69.

This American Songwriter feature argues that the true story of a musical year lies below the chart summit, and it uses 1988 to make the case. The article highlights four songs that failed to reach the Top 40 despite their quality, spanning artists from Sting to R.E.M., suggesting…

“I’ve spent 20 years of my life building a career. I don’t see why I should have to give that up just because one guy says he doesn’t want to do it any more”: The bitter battle for the soul of Pink Floyd

In 1985, Roger Waters split from his Pink Floyd bandmates,causing a titanic struggle that endures to this day

The singer David Bowie considered his best friend: “A great relationship”

The article, published by Far Out Magazine, is headlined around identifying the one singer David Bowie regarded as his best friend, describing the bond as “a great relationship”. However, the body text supplied here contains no actual article content — only website navigation links and a prompt to…

JAY-Z’s Blueprint 25th Anniversary Yankee Stadium Concert Delivers Star Guests but Ends Abruptly

• JAY-Z performed nearly his complete Blueprint album at Yankee Stadium with appearances from Eminem and Pharrell Williams
• The show opened strongly with Reasonable Doubt material but ran only 90 minutes and ended without an encore
• Mixed reception as the shortened set underdelivered on the scale expected for a major anniversary celebration

JAY-Z marked a quarter-century since The Blueprint's release with a concert at Yankee Stadium, performing nearly the entire album during night two of his New York residency. The show featured high-profile guest appearanc

See Jay-Z Bring Out Eminem, Pharrell Williams at Yankee Stadium Night Two

Jay-Z staged the second of three concerts at New York's Yankee Stadium, dedicating the night to his 2001 album The Blueprint and bringing out a string of surprise guests. The standout moment saw Eminem join him in the Bronx to perform "Renegade" — their first live rendition of…

The 1983 album Dave Grohl will never get tired of: “I know every lick”

• Dave Grohl credits Bad Brains' 1983 album 'Rock for Light' as foundational to his musical development since his teenage years
• Drummer Earl Hudson's technical precision has influenced Grohl's drumming philosophy across his career from Nirvana onwards
• The album remains central to Grohl's view of punk rock as a sophisticated, skilled genre deserving equal respect to mainstream rock

Always coming back to it. The post The 1983 album Dave Grohl will never get tired of: “I know every lick” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

3 Heartland Rock Songs From the 80s That Made Working-Class America Sound Cinematic

• American Songwriter highlights three 1980s heartland rock songs that cinematically portray working-class experiences with emotional depth
• The featured songs—by Springsteen, Mellencamp, and Seger—address specific economic crises (farm collapse, auto industry decline) whilst romanticising the lives they chronicle
• The songs acknowledge real struggles whilst elevating working-class narratives through artful musicianship and poetic storytelling

Bruce Springsteen (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis via Getty Images) These cinematic and powerful heartland rock songs from the 80s remain working-class anthems for the ages. The post 3 Heartland Rock Songs From the 80s That Made Working-Class America Sound Cinematic appeared first on American Songwriter.

Iron Maiden triumph at Knebworth: Here’s their full setlist

• Iron Maiden performed their sole 2026 UK show at Knebworth Park on July 11th, celebrating their 50th anniversary before 50,000 fans
• The professionally recorded concert clashed with England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway
• The 17-song setlist spanned the band's four-decade catalogue, ending with an encore of 'Aces High,' 'Fear of the Dark,' and 'Wasted Years'

A historic night. The post Iron Maiden triumph at Knebworth: Here’s their full setlist first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Hear Magi Merlin’s Chrome-Plated R&B On POWER HOUSE

• Montreal artist Magi Merlin releases full-length album POWER HOUSE with collaborator Funkywhat, blending R&B, steampunk, and trip-hop across 12 tracks
• Album features Merlin's distinctive vocals over dynamic production ranging from smooth passages to fragmented, processed textures whilst exploring themes of desire and human contradiction
• Artist positions POWER HOUSE as an empowerment statement affirming personal strength and the inherent paradoxes of human nature

A few months ago, Montreal-based artist Magi Merlin released the calming single "So Smart," offering an early glimpse of her new album POWER HOUSE, which arrived this past Friday. It's a full-length that may have been overshadowed by some bigger releases, but it's well worth spending time with,…

See the Setlist for JAY-Z’s 25th Anniversary The Blueprint Concert at Yankee Stadium

• Jay-Z performed a near-complete setlist of The Blueprint at Yankee Stadium on July 11th to mark its 25th anniversary
• Eminem and Pharrell Williams made guest appearances; Eminem performed "Renegade" and "Lose Yourself"
• Additional anniversary concerts scheduled for London, Paris, and Los Angeles in the fall; one more Yankee Stadium show on July 12th

Night two of HOV's Yankee Stadium takeover included a near full performance of The Blueprint, plus guest appearances from Eminem and Pharrell Williams. See the Setlist for JAY-Z’s 25th Anniversary The Blueprint Concert at Yankee Stadium Eddie Fu