Music

Who sings the “ahhhs” on The Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’?

• The singer of the “ahh” remains contested.
• McCartney said all four Beatles sang it.
• Remix engineer Sam Okell identified a McCartney vocal track.

The “ahh” vocal in The Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’ remains disputed, adding to the mystery of a song whose dreamlike middle section grew out of experimentation in the studio. The track shifts between John Lennon’s reflective verses and Paul McCartney’s account of an ordinary morning, with…

Disturbed to Play ‘The Sickness’ in Full on Australia and New Zealand Tour

• Disturbed will play *The Sickness* in full on their 2027 regional tour.
• The seven-date run begins in Auckland on 22 April.
• A second set will feature songs from across the band’s career.

Disturbed will return to Australia and New Zealand in 2027 for their first headline tour in the region in more than a decade. Each of the seven arena dates will feature two sets: the band’s 2000 debut, *The Sickness*, performed in full, followed by a selection of songs…

Elvis rights-holders seek up to $41.1m from Anthropic over AI training claims

• Elvis rightsholders allege Anthropic used songs without permission.
• The lawsuit covers 274 songs.
• Plaintiffs seek up to $41.1 million in damages.

Elvis Presley’s rightsholders have sued Anthropic in a US court, alleging it used copyrighted songs to train its AI models without permission. They also say Anthropic’s Claude chatbot can produce Elvis lyrics when prompted, and that AI-generated material “in the style of” artists can cost rights-holders income. The…

The “Sukiyaki” Phenomenon: The Song Behind the Tokyo Film Festival’s Opening Movie

• The 2026 Tokyo film festival opens with a drama about “Sukiyaki”.
• Sakamoto’s recording led the U.S. chart for three weeks in 1963.
• The song sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

The 2026 Tokyo International Film Festival opens with *Sukiyaki*, a drama about the creation of the song that became an international hit. The film follows composer Hachidai Nakamura, lyricist Rokusuke Ei and singer Kyu Sakamoto; the song’s success also became a source of pride for Japan as it…

Sophia Stel announces 2027 US, UK and Europe tour in support of debut album ‘The Greatest Album Of All Time’

• Sophia Stel has announced 12 tour dates for 2027.
• Her only UK show is at London’s Heaven on 18 February.
• One West Coast US date remains unannounced.

Canadian alt-pop musician Sophia Stel has announced a 12-date tour across Europe, Canada and the US West Coast in 2027, supporting her debut album, *The Greatest Album Of All Time*. The tour begins in Berlin on 9 February and includes Stel’s only UK performance, at London’s Heaven on…

Jon Stewart mocks Trump’s Nicki Minaj remarks and advert defence

• Stewart mocked Trump’s remarks about Nicki Minaj.
• He challenged Trump’s defence of an Ohio campaign advert.
• Stewart’s hosting contract runs through 2028.

Jon Stewart used Monday’s episode of “The Daily Show” to mock Donald Trump’s comments about Nicki Minaj, contrasting them with the issues facing voters ahead of the midterm elections. He also criticised Trump’s defence of a campaign advert targeting Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton, questioning the president’s response…

Farage seeks fresh energy as Anthropic eyes Nasdaq and Microsoft offers buyouts

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage says he wants to re-energise supporters after a difficult summer. Anthropic has filed to list on Nasdaq, while Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to up to 60,000 staff.

In 1977, Freddie Mercury wrote a song that didn’t fit Queen, unaware it would become a worldwide anthem

• Mercury wrote ‘We Are The Champions’ as a participation song.
• Queen released it on *News of the World* in 1977.
• It became a lasting anthem for football fans and sporting victories.

Freddie Mercury wrote ‘We Are The Champions’ with football crowds in mind, aiming to create a song fans could join in with. Its simple, chant-like style sat apart from Queen’s more elaborate songwriting, and the band eventually found a place for it alongside ‘We Will Rock You’ on…

Jay-Z to headline 2027 Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium

• Jay-Z will headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show.
• The event is set for 14 February at SoFi Stadium.
• Beyoncé and other guests have not been confirmed.

Jay-Z will headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show, moving from producer to performer after working on the event with Roc Nation since 2020. The announcement confirms earlier reports that he had chosen himself for the role. The NFL revealed the news during Monday Night Football on 26…

What to Know About ‘The Voice’s First-Ever Cut Week

• Season 30 introduces Cut Week after the Battle Round.
• Coaches each have seven contestants and must choose three.
• The remaining singers compete for one Live Show place per team.

Season 30 of *The Voice* has introduced Cut Week, a new phase after the Battle Round that replaces the Knockout Round. It will determine which singers reach the Live Shows, with coaches facing a major set of cuts in what is described as the largest elimination in the…