Road to Kingdom helped multiple underrated K-pop boy groups reach new levels of success when it first aired in 2020. It’s been years since the first season premiered and with more groups promoting than ever before, it’s about time for another season. 

Before Road to Kingdom, Mnet, the broadcasting company behind shows like Produce 101, released a new reality show called Queendom in 2019. Queendom was different from recent Mnet shows in that it pit established girl groups and artists against each other in exciting live stages. It hearkened back to special stages from circa 2010 (a bygone era by K-pop standards) and gave fans some unique performances to enjoy. Road to Kingdom had a similar premise, but with a caveat; the show featured boy groups who had yet to win on a music show. These lesser-known groups would compete against each other and the winner would go on to compete in Kingdom, which would feature more established boy groups. 

Premiering during the Covid-19 pandemic, Road to Kingdom gave K-pop fans, who were stuck at home, an escape from their woes. It also helped groups like ONF, whose performance of “The ‘We Must Love’” went platinum in my home, and The Boyz, who won the competition, gain new fans and exposure. Surely, Mnet’s not canceling this show? 

Is there going to be a season 2 of Road to Kingdom?

Road to Kingdom will be returning, and soon. In a statement acquired via Soompi, Mnet confirmed plans to air a new season of the show later this year. Aside from a tentative date in late 2024, the show is still in the planning stages so there is no other information at this time. 

The first season featured the groups  ONF, The Boyz, Golden Child, MCND, Pentagon, VERIVERY, and TO1. We can’t wait to see who competes this year! 

In the past, timeless rap disses ranging from classic rappers Ice Cube and Eazy-E to outstanding female performers Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion have captivated the rap genre — and it now appears as though beef between Quavo and Chris Brown is just heating up.

In the music industry, of course, it’s certainly not unheard of for artists to express disdain and dislike for other performers — which is usually artistically depicted in songs and particular lyrics. That being said, the aforementioned rumble between Quavo and Chris Brown has now hit an all-time high in regards to pure pettiness. Despite the beef between the two artists increasing over the years, intrigue has only blossomed over the last few days — with both artists releasing separate “diss” tracks aimed at the other. 

By now, it’s certainly common knowledge in the realm of pop culture that these two artists definitely do not like each other — and their individually released diss tracks are only proving their ultimate disdain. So, let’s dive in and review everything that has happened to increase the beef between Quavo and CB.

What happened between Quavo and Chris Brown?

Much like other high-profile rap battles — including the recent music shots between Drake, Future, and Kendrick Lamar — the beef between Quavo and Chris Brown has been building for years now — with most convinced that the drama started over actress Karrueche Tran, who both men have supposedly dated in the past.

Over the last few days, social media has been swarmed with reactions to both disses — although it’s clear that folks are heavily favoring Brown’s “Weakest Link” diss as opposed to Quavo’s recent “Over Hoes & B*tches” diss. In CB’s jaw-dropping diss, the multi-talented artist referenced the passing of Migos member Takeoff, insisting that people wished Quavo had died instead of Takeoff. In addition, Brown claimed that Quavo is the worst member of Migos and made references to sleeping with Quavo’s ex,  Saweetie, while he was still with her.

In response to CB’s earth-shattering diss, Quavo made several references about Brown’s history of domestic violence — especially in regards to a specific incident back in 2009 between Brown and then-girlfriend Rihanna. And while neither man is picture-perfect in regards to past mistakes, it’s clear that netizens on the internet are already picking sides and waiting to see if this beef will go any further between the two artists.

Jelly Roll has taken the country music scene by storm in recent days. The singer/songwriter has brought a style all his own to the airwaves, blending hip-hop with American country music to form something that has led his fanbase to adore him to near-Beyoncé levels.

With a stage name like Jelly Roll, one must wonder: What is the performer’s real name, and how did his music moniker originate? Jelly Roll was actually born Jason Bradley DeFord on Dec. 4, 1984, in Antioch, Tennessee. The stage name he goes by to this day originates from his mother, who gave him the nickname “Jelly Roll,” or just plain old “Jelly.” In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the performer mentioned that if someone walked into the room right now and asked for “Jason,” he wouldn’t even look up. That’s how much his stage name has stuck with him over the years.

Jelly Roll has also mentioned that the nickname is a bit of a double-edged sword, as his mom gave it to him due to how she viewed his body type. This caused some mental health issues for him over the years, as some of his biggest struggles have stemmed from obesity and his physical health. Despite his name’s negative inception, Jelly Roll has gone on to have a successful run since early 2023, ultimately winning Male Video of the Year and Best Video of the Year at the 2024 CMT Awards. Get used to hearing his name, because Jason Bradley DeFord Jelly Roll doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

For a parent, there is no greater pain than that of losing a child. Unfortunately, celebrities are not immune to this type of tragedy. However, some artists find a way turn that unimaginable pain into art. Eric Clapton did it with “Tears in Heaven” in 1992 after his son Conor fell from a 53 story window. Christian rapper Tedashii also dealt with the loss of his son Chase in 2013. Here’s what happened.

Tedashii, if you’re unfamiliar, is the stage name of Texas born and based rapper Tedashii Lavoy Anderson. He was born in 1977, and is a well known Christian music artist and member of 116 Clique, a hip-hop collective. He’s known for his melodious, laid-back flow and tight production values to his music.

His music has appeared in Apple commercials and movies, notably Gran Turismo with the song “Get out of my Way.” His song “Gotta Live” shot straight to number one on the Billboard Christian Hot AC/CHR chart. His album Never Fold debuted at #8 on the Christian charts and his album Below Paradise made it all the way to #17 on the Billboard 200. His song “Dum Dum” has more than 16 million views on YouTube.

In 2013, Tedashii was an established artist with an even brighter future who was also scoring big in his personal life with a loving wife and a growing family with new 1-year-old son Chase. In March, he was flying back from a music event when he received that one phone call no one wants to get.

“I get a phone call on the plane and it was my wife letting me know what happened – my 1-year-old son had passed away. That weekend he was sick [but] seemed to be getting better … it sort of all came out of the blue,” Tedashii told the Christian Post.

According to God Reports, his son died from “a sickness the hospital couldn’t treat.” Tedashii said he started punching the wall and crying, and a “little old lady” rubbed his back and told him it was going to be okay. He called it “the worst day of my life.”

Tedashii succumbed to a deep depression. He couldn’t leave his bedroom or even eat, and it took a toll on his marriage as well. Eventually, he made his way back into the studio and the resulting album, Below Paradise, dealt candidly with the pain of that loss.

Songs like “Never Leave” and “Be With You” unfortunately chronicled his marriage troubles.

“[These songs] all open up my life to the world. The album is a journal over the last year of my life and each song depicts a moment in that year,” he said. “We were in counseling not just for marriage but for grieving and just learning how to live with this new normal … So that strain was definitely real and evident.”

“Dark Days And Darker Nights” dealt with substance abuse, and helped him realize the path he was on did not lead to anything good at all. He said he “could no longer work” his way through the sadness even though he tried his best to “run from the pain.” He found himself in some “dark places” but eventually found his faith again.

He said he was “forsaken, alone in a place of darkness” because he only chose to focus on “the good side of this life,” and that the “reality of being a Christian and suffering so harsh a thing was hard for me to grasp.”

He still had his wife and elder son to take care of, after all, and he knew that they were “depending on me.” He said his family wanted him to be “honest and true” to himself. A friend told him to fight for his marriage and try to work through the problems.

“[He] just encouraged me to make sure that when I am grieving to grieve with my bride and not just alone, ” he said. “We just fought to keep focused on what we vowed and then also the reality that I really am grateful to have you here with me going through this.”

He fully lost himself in his faith the way he did with substance abuse, and he started to finally heal. “God’s goodness isn’t predicated on our circumstances,” he said. He’s realized that the loss of Chase is “something we’ll live with for the rest of our lives.” In the meantime, he’ll keep moving forward.

This article contains mentions of suicide; reader discretion is advised.

American Idol alum and country darling Kellie Pickler has been taking a break from the spotlight ever since personal tragedy struck at the beginning of 2023.

The 37-year-old performed for the first time in over a year on Monday, April 22, as part of a Patsy Cline tribute at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

The singer confessed to feeling “nervous” before singing a song she wrote with her late husband Kyle Jacobs as part of her 2013 studio album, The Woman I Am.

How did Kellie Pickler’s husband die?

Kyle Jacobs died by suicide on February 17, 2023. He was 49. The official Metropolitan Nashville Police report noted that the songwriter was found deceased in a bedroom/office space in the couple’s residence from an “apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Pickler reportedly woke up shortly before her 911 call, at which point she began looking for her husband, and attempted to open the door to the bedroom/office with the help of her personal assistant. After they were unsuccessful, the country star’s assistant called the authorities.

Jacobs was a prolific country music songwriter who co-wrote hits like Garth Brooks’ “More Than a Memory,” Kimberley Locke’s “8th World Wonder,” and Lee Brice’s “Rumor.” Pickler and Jacob’s would write together often, and even starred together in a CMT reality television show called I Love Kellie Pickler.

According to The New York Post, the couple met at a Nashville bar a year after Pickler’s rise to fame on the 2006 edition of American Idol. They were introduced by mutual songwriter friends. “We just locked eyes and I went, ‘I gotta know everything about this person,'” the “Best Days of Your Life” songstress told The Real in 2015. They eloped to Antigua, marrying in 2011.

Although the two would often attend different events together, Jacobs’ career as a songwriter in Nashville was spent mostly behind the scenes. The circumstances surrounding his death have remained private as a result.

In August 2023, Pickler spoke about the incident for the first time in a statement to People, describing it as “The darkest time in [her] life.”

“One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still.’ I have chosen to heed his advice.”

The country singer thanked her family, friends, and fans for the support and said she was planning an intimate memorial for Jacobs later that year.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. A list of international crisis resources can be found here.

Among the plethora of K-pop groups making waves, ATEEZ emerged as a powerhouse and quickly amassed a legion of fans around the world. Furthermore, as the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, they’ve extended their reach to a wider audience. Now on the radar of many new fans, ATEEZ concert tickets are expected to sell out quicker than usual. But just how much do they cost?

ATEEZ ticket prices 

With a string of hit songs and mind-blowing performances, ATEEZ has sold out venues across the globe, from Seoul to Los Angeles, to London, and Sydney. As their popularity continues to soar, obtaining tickets to their concerts has become a top priority for fans. However, the cost of ATEEZ tickets can vary, and are usually dependent on various factors. These include: the location of the concerts, the seating arrangements, and of course, the demand for tickets. 

Generally, tickets for ATEEZ concerts are priced competitively to ensure accessibility for fans of all budgets, while reflecting the group’s rising stature in the music industry. In South Korea, tickets for their concerts typically range from 50,000 KRW (approximately $45) for general admission to 150,000 KRW (approximately $135) for VIP or premium seating. These prices may fluctuate depending on the venue and additional perks included in VIP packages, such as meet-and-greet opportunities, or exclusive merchandise.

For international tours, ATEEZ tickets can vary significantly in price due to factors like venue size, local taxes, and exchange rates. In major cities like New York City, London, or Tokyo, where demand for K-pop concerts is high, ticket prices are often slightly higher, compared to smaller cities or towns. On average, fans can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $300 for tickets to an ATEEZ concert, with VIP packages soaring as high as $5,000.

The unfortunate ticket resale market

It’s important to note that secondary market factors, such as resellers or scalpers are a major factor in influencing ticket prices. And this isn’t just an ATEEZ situation, but the global concert market as a whole. Take the ongoing Ticketmaster and Live Nation debacle, which became a major event following Taylor Swift’s ERAS Tour announcement. 

In the same vein, scalpers buy tickets in bulk at cheaper rates, and resell them at very inflated prices. In some cases, tickets may be sold at triple their original cost on secondary ticketing platforms, due to high demand and limited availability. To avoid falling victim to scalpers though, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from official sources or authorized resellers. This ensures authenticity and fair pricing. However, this is hardly ever the case, as the scalpers are believed to have a leg-in when it comes to purchasing in bulk.

The Tortured Poets Department is Taylor Swift‘s most personal album yet, but it’s also her densest – the latter trait found commonly among critiques of it.

It’s a fair assessment, considering there is an unusually large number of songs to get through, and Taylor has so much to say in every single one of them. Still, I argue that if there is an album where this approach works is in Tortured Poets. The title accurately sets the stage for the album’s themes of pain and extreme disillusionment, as well as the form and style of lyrics that find the pop star at her most complex and introspective.

It’s an album less concerned with palatability or easy listening and more occupied with catharsis. It feels and sounds like Taylor made it for one person only: herself. It might not resonate widely for now, but it’s easy to imagine a future where it will slowly become recognized as her best work.

10. “The Black Dog”

The Tortured Poets Department is the closest Taylor has ever been to making a rock record and “The Black Dog” is a big example of that. This gem is found among the many (and oft-superior) bonus tracks and it’s as devastating as the majority of its peers.

Taylor weaves a narrative from an unassuming starting point: an old flame forgot to turn off the location-sharing on their phone, so the singer can still see where they’re going. This leads her to wonder if that person ever misses or thinks about her during those random moments in their day. The lyrics are filled with resentment and all the more piercing thanks to Taylor’s expressive, emotion-driven vocals. This is also one of the only places on the album where Jack Antonoff displays some exciting novelty in his style of producing.

9. “Clara Bow”

Nothing hits as hard as when Taylor Swift uses her songs to reflect on her legacy and the general position of the female star in the music industry. She’s done it before in “The Lucky One,” “Nothing New,” “Castles Crumbling,” and more. “Clara Bow” is a continuation of those themes.

The song feels like it was born from conversations with Stevie Nicks, who happens to be featured in the physical copies of the CD with a poem dedicated to Taylor that highlights just how similar some of their experiences have been. The lyrics, chronologically organized, parallel Stevie’s experiences with fame with Taylor’s and with a third up-and-coming protegé who will succeed them (Olivia Rodrigo instantly springs to mind). All of them are told they look like a previous idol who was the staple of authenticity back then and “not like all those other girls are now,” that they’re different and “the real deal,” but that’s only until someone else comes along.

8. “So Long, London”

The fifth tracks on any of Taylor Swift’s albums are always expected to be particularly hard-hitting, so “So Long, London” was immediately one of the most anticipated Tortured Poets tracks when it was announced, and it did not disappoint.

The song functions as an autopsy of a dead relationship — presumably the one she shared with Joe Alwyn that involved moving to London for many years. The lyrics exemplify Taylor at the top of her game, utilizing the tools she has always relied on to their maximum potential. The word plays, the vivid storytelling, the intimacy, the crushing one-liners — it’s all there.

7. “I Hate It Here”

Arguably one of the most misunderstood tracks on Tortured Poets, “I Hate It Here” details Taylor’s fantasy worlds and how she uses them to escape a recurringly disappointing reality. Not only is this song one of the most melodically captivating on the album, it’s also one of its most relatable.

One of the defining traits of Taylor Swift’s songwriting is how she manages to be specific and universal in equal measure, and “I Hate It Here” is an excellent sample of that. We can all relate to her need for escapism, whether that’s through nostalgia, secret gardens, or the moon — we all run away to places in our minds when life gets to be too much.

6. “But Daddy I Love Him”

Imagine a song from Taylor’s Fearless album, except she’s breaking free from the jail of people’s expectations, calling her fans “judgemental creeps,” and seemingly joking about having Matty Healy’s baby just to screw with the listener. That’s “But Daddy I Love Him” — the most provocative song on Tortured Poets that deals head first with the mess that was Swiftie-dom back in May of 2023 when fans launched a campaign to force the singer into a break-up with the The 1975 frontman.

No one expected Taylor to be this direct about the issue, perhaps skirting around it not to upset her fandom, but it feels refreshing that she’s standing her ground and making sure they know “[her] good name is [hers] alone to disgrace.” Someone who was once a “pathological people pleaser” makes a definitive statement about boundaries. It’s shocking, it’s memorable, and it’s a turning point in the musician’s public persona.

5. “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”

The Tortured Poets Department is undeniably an album of heartbreak ballads. There are just so many of them and every one is more sorrowful than the next. “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus,” however, feels especially tragic thanks to the hesitation and uncertainty in the lyrics. A love filled with promise is over, unceremoniously, but the singer can’t escape wondering if that really is the end or if the “what ifs” will haunt her forever.

Another one of Taylor’s beautifully poignant poems over Aaron Dessner’s classic, ethereal production. A song that infiltrates your bones and tugs at your heartstrings.

4. “I Look in People’s Windows”

Tortured Poets‘ production is purposefully modest, taking a back seat to Taylor’s breathy, heartfelt vocals and impossibly vulnerable lyrics. Whether you prefer Jack Antonoff’s synth-heavy pop trademark or Aaron Dessner’s earthier, transcendent goodness, it’s safe to say both of Taylor’s go-to collaborators understood that this album was not about them, but about Taylor’s words and experiences.

“I Look In People’s Windows” is possibly the album’s simplest song (and shortest, too), as the musician quietly sings over Antonoff’s wistful acoustic guitar, not about grand declarations of love and loss, like the next song on this list, but about something smaller. Taylor uses the metaphor of looking in people’s windows to describe her morbid curiosity about other people’s better, more stable lives, hoping to find the one that got away in one of them.

3. “loml”

It’s difficult to confidently state this about any song on Tortured Poets, but “loml” is maybe the most beautiful poem in the album. This haunting piano ballad is a song about realizing that the person you thought was the love of your life was leading you on. The concept is simple, as is the music, but the lyrics and the way Taylor sings them are so incredibly arresting that “loml” mandatorily wins a place on the podium of Tortured Poets.

Most artists would dream of writing a song like this once in their career, but Taylor Swift wrote a dozen in one album. In the end, there’s no denying what she says in the prologue of her 11th body of work, “it’s the worst men that [she writes] best.”

“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” is “Mad Woman”‘s maddest sister. A bold and angry banger about the long-term effects of a life in the spotlight, particularly the scrutiny that seems to unrelentingly follow Taylor’s career since its early days. The lyrics describe the way the industry and all that it entails have attempted to mold her into one thing, controlling her by breaking her.

Moreso, the song can be universally applied to any situation where you have felt belittled, where your power was undermined and underestimated, which just so happens to be a frequent occurrence in the life of a woman. However you want to interpret “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?,” there is an unequivocal strength in Taylor’s rebellion, powered by one of the most interesting instrumentals on the Tortured Poets.

1. “The Prophecy”

More than any of her albums in the past, The Tortured Poets Department functions as a time capsule of a particular moment in Taylor Swift’s life, during which she seems to have experienced extraordinary heartbreak. There is no song more vulnerable than “The Prophecy,” where we find the singer desperate for a sign that tells her that, despite all the disappointing endings of past relationships, there is still hope for a future where she finds lasting love.

“The Prophecy” is a crushing, brutally honest poem with a desperate chorus that acts as a summary of the album. It’s devastating and tortured, but it’s also every bit as beautiful.

Warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault and other sensitive subject matter. Please exercise caution while reading.

Kesha dominated the radio waves in the late 2000’s through to the early 2010’s, however, all was not as it seemed as the singer would make some shocking revelations that led to a great deal of controversy.

Kesha Rose Sebert signed with Kemosabe records in 2005 at the age of 18. She rose to prominence around 2009 after featuring on a Flo Rida track before seeing huge success with the song “TiK ToK” which sat on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. Her debut album, Animal made her a household name and for a while it seemed like her music was inescapable with her second studio album, Warrior, releasing in 2012. However, it would be some time until her next album as the pop singer would go through a very public and traumatic lawsuit.

What happened to Kesha?

Towards the end of 2014 Kesha put her music writing on hold as she became involved in a lawsuit against record producer Dr. Luke. She accused the producer of sexual assault, battery, emotional abuse, gender violence and more, starting in 2005 where she claims he drugged and raped her, and going on for a period of 10 years.

The lawsuit against Dr. Luke

Kesha’s court battle against Lukasz Gottwald went on for almost a year with the singer seeking a preliminary injunction to release her from her contract with Kemosabe records (owned by Gottwald). Unfortunately for Kesha, the judge did not rule in her favor; the case was dismissed in 2016 due to a lack of evidence as well as the fact that the statute of limitations had run out on two of the most specific rape allegations.

At the time Kesha received financial support for the legal battle from the likes of Taylor Swift, whilst many musicians like Katy Perry distanced themselves from Dr. Luke, although her motivation for doing so was more to avoid taking sides according to an article from People. Other celebrities, Like Kim Petras, took the producer’s side on the situation. But for the most part, there was a public outcry when it was ruled that Kesha would not be released from her contract, meaning she would have to continue working for the man she claims sexually assaulted her. 

After the lawsuit

Things only continued to get worse, although Kesha returned to making music for Kemosabe record, releasing her third album, Rainbow, in 2017, she was now being sued by Gottwald for defamation. The legal battle between them went on until 2023 when, according to an article from NPR, they reached a settlement in June, although the details were not disclosed.

At the very end of 2023, Variety reported that Kesha had been released from her contract with Kemosabe records after releasing five full albums under the label, her most recent album, Gag Order, released earlier that year. 

The singer posted a TikTok on December 21st 2023 along with the caption, “I haven’t felt this free since I was 18.” In February she signed with Crush Management, and has announced she’s writing more music — so hopefully we’ll be seeing a Kesha comeback in the coming months.

Santo August began his musical career as a member of the prominent boy band Mindless Behavior. Unfortunately, his reckless actions led to his arrest and a lengthy prison sentence.

Born in 1997, Chresanto August joined Mindless Behavior in 2008 as the group’s main rapper. Behind the stage name Roc Royal, August trained in singing and dancing for two years with his former bandmates before Mindless Behavior launched their first record, 2011’s #1 Girl. The quick success of the group assured all four young Mindless Behavior artists would get a comfortable life from that point forward. Sadly, Roc Royal’s uncompromising attitude and legal problems would result in him being kicked out of the band in 2014.

In July 2014, August was filmed beating a drug addict who supposedly owed him money. The video went viral, with Roc Royal issuing a half-baked apology in which he claims he gave the victim a “pass” multiple times before losing his temper. August allegedly stole the BMW 325i of producer Chris Clark four months later, cementing his image as a criminal. So, in December 2014, Mindless Behavior officially announced they would no longer work with Roc Royal.

August would take a new stage name, Santo August, and begin his solo career as a rapper. In June 2015, Santo August released his first solo single, “Amazing,” which received great reception. That could be a turning point in August’s life, as he got a second chance at success and an excuse to get some distance from a life of crime. Sadly, August was arrested in 2016 and sentenced to prison in 2017.

Why did Santo August get sentenced to prison?

While details of Santo August’s trial were not revealed to the public, the rapper was arrested in February 2016 on charges of robbery, battery, and weapon possession. The trial lasted until July 2016, when August pleaded guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence. According to the deal, August’s good behavior could get him out of jail as soon as 2018, when he completed two years behind bars. However, in April 2024, Santo August remains locked, making us speculate that August is not a good boy.

When he first got to prison, August kept updating his Instagram profile and talking to his fans. He lost this privilege, and his account is no longer online, making it even harder to know when August’s release date will be. The last news came as a photo from August in prison, posted on November 22, 2023.

It’s a shame that Santo August didn’t use the many opportunities he got to be a present father for his children. August is the proud father of two sons he made with his ex-girlfriend Desiree Twyman. Royal was born in 201, while Bronx came to the world in 2018 while August fulfilled his sentence. 

There is still no official information on when Santo August will be released. Hopefully, he will behave himself and get back to his family sooner rather than later.

Journey helped set the soundtrack for the 1970s and 1980s, with hits that are still remembered as some of the best songs ever written. However, the band couldn’t count on lead singer Steve Perry for most of their existence.

Journey was formed in 1973, a union of several experienced musicians trying to create a new sound experience. As the jazz fusion project didn’t work as well as Journey had hoped, the band was forced to experiment with new genres and invite new members. The version of Journey we all know and love began in 1977 when Perry joined as the band’s lead singer and songwriter. As the frontman, he made history, using his vocal talents to turn hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms” into the anthems of a generation.

Though Journey’s explosive success established them as one of the biggest musical influences of the 1980s, Perry left the band in 1987. It would be the first time, but not the last, that Perry and Journey went in different directions.

Why did Steve Perry leave Journey in 1987?

In 1987, Journey was at the peak of its success. Since Perry joined the band, they released hit after hit, attracting millions of fans to their live performances worldwide. However, to fans’ despair, Perry left Journey to pursue a solo career. 

The lead singer position gave Perry the attention he needed to ensure he would succeed in his solo career. Furthermore, since Perry had creative differences with Journey, he could focus his creative energy by flying solo without making concessions or negotiating with other band members. In addition, things were somewhat tense within the band before Perry’s departure, with the lead singer firing founding bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith during the recording of 1986’s Raised on Radio — the two would return to the band in 1995. Hence, his departure wasn’t entirely shocking. Still, Perry’s absence impacted Journey.

Journey would remain popular without Perry, but they never repeated the success of their 1980s run. Likewise, Perry is mainly remembered for the songs he wrote or co-wrote for the band, not for his solo career. Unsurprisingly, though, he would rejoin the group in 1995, a new partnership that lasted only three years.

Why Steve Perry and Journey parted ways in 1998?

With Perry back in the folder, Journey launched a new studio album in 1996, Trial by Fire. The album got three charting singles and a Grammy nomination, with fans eager to see the band hitting the road again for a new world tour. The tour plans derailed after Perry’s ski accident in the same year. He needed hip surgery to get back on stage in time for the tour, which he refused to get. His Journey companions waited for him until 1998, post which they decided the band’s future was more important than the selfish decisions of a single person.

The same year Journey hired voice-lookalike Steve Augeri, forging a successful partnership until 2006. In 2007, singer Arnel Pineda became the band’s lead singer, a role that is still his. As for Perry, he showed up on a few special presentations with the team but has primarily remained in the shadows. His story is a bitter reminder that a band is bigger than its frontman, no matter how important they think they are.

Source disclaimer: The article above is partly based on the book The Untold Story of Journey by Neil Daniels.

Adam Lambert is easily one of the most successful performers to come out of American Idol. The singer was a contestant on the show in 2009, but, despite his vocal prowess, he was not the winner that season. 

Season 8 of American Idol served as an introduction to many talented vocalists but Lambert was a different beast entirely. From his first audition (foreshadowing his future career with Queen by singing “Bohemian Rhapsody”), Lambert demonstrated his unique combination of musical theater background, rock sensibility, and a healthy amount of camp. At that point in Idol’s history, Lambert was a breath of fresh air, and with his impressive vocal range, he looked to be the sure winner of the season. 

So it understandably came as a shock when Lambert didn’t take home that microphone-shaped trophy. Winning American Idol doesn’t necessarily make a career — and Lambert is in good company with Idol “losers” like Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, and David Archuleta — but if Idol truly was a singing competition, Lambert deserved that win. Heck, even the winner that season was surprised.

Who won American Idol season 8 instead of Adam Lambert? 

Kris Allen won season 8 of American Idol, though he was just as shocked as everyone else. Shortly after his win, Allen spoke with Rolling Stone, saying, “I feel like Adam deserved it just as much as I did. He was the most consistent person all year, and seriously, one of the most gifted performers I’ve ever met.” 

Allen, a former church worship leader from Arkansas, is no slouch in the vocal department himself. He had already been pursuing a career in music before he auditioned for Idol as a last-ditch effort to give it a much-needed boost. Nonetheless, countless conspiracy theories and think pieces filled the internet after the upset. Idol maintains Allen won the competition fair and square, and I won’t contest that. 

I do think it’s worth pointing out that Lambert was forcibly outed while he was on the show when photos of him kissing another man and wearing drag spread online. Up until then, his sexuality had remained under speculation, but he would stay quiet on the topic until after Idol was over. He officially came out in an interview with Rolling Stone, where he told the publication, “I don’t think it should be a surprise to anyone to hear that I’m gay.” 

Lambert has his theories about why he didn’t win and you could argue that possibly plain, old-fashioned homophobia did play a part in his loss. But, in the end, losing Idol definitely didn’t hurt career, though it’s interesting to think about what could have been had he been crowned the winner that season 8

Every great artist uses their personal experience to fuel their creativity. The same is true of Taylor Swift, who released a new album filled with clever songs, including “imgonnagetyouback.”

What makes “imgonnagetyouback” stand apart from the other songs of The Tortured Poets Department is how it talks specifically about the pain and confusion that comes with a breakup. We have all gone through the pain of a relationship falling apart, so it’s easy to relate to the song’s chaotic view on ending one. Even when everything goes well, and you are sure the change is for the best, it’s hard not to miss the people we used to share our lives with.

“imgonnagetyouback” tells the story of a woman who crosses paths with a former lover and decides to seduce him again. However, it is not like she’s desperate to have him back. Instead, making her ex confess his desire to get back together is a power move that will prove “that you were never not mine (You’re mine).” There’s something wicked and fun about coming on top and learning that an ex regrets the breakup, making you feel more desirable.

There’s a high chance that the woman in the song will get her ex back just to throw him away, as we can infer by the verses “I can take the upper hand and touch your body / Flip the script and leave you like a dumb house party.” Still, part of her has genuine feelings for her ex, which makes her wonder if she will actually want to reforge their bond. That’s why “Whether I’m gonna be your wife or / Gonna smash up your bike, I haven’t decided yet” and “Whether I’m gonna curse you out or / Take you back to my house, I haven’t decided yet.” The outcome is unknown, but she’s confident, “I’m gonna get you back.”

It’s an honest song about the contradictory feelings that emerge after a breakup. Plus, considering Swift’s recent love life, the song might be directed at a specific ex.

Is Taylor Swift’s “imgonnagetyouback” about her ex-boyfriends?

Swift ended her six-year relationship with actor Joe Alwyn in April 2023, just as the singer’s Eras Tour began. One month later, in May 2023, Swift was entangled with 1975’s leadman Matty Healey, an old friend who got promoted to lover. However, their relationship didn’t last, with Swift moving on to date football star Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023. That means that Swift endured two breakups while writing songs for The Tortured Poets Department.

While she never reveals the subjects she’s referring to in her songs, fans use the singer’s relationship timeline to deconstruct each song and get new glimpses at her emotional universe. Since “imgonnagetyouback” is about a breakup, the song could be related to her experience with Alwyn, Healey, or maybe a bit of both. That said, the verse “Bygones will be bygone, eras fadin’ into gray” does indicate the relationship referred to in the song lasted more than a few weeks. Plus, Swift often color codes her songs, with grey having been used to refer to Alwyn in other songs about the actor, such as Midnight’s “You’re Losing Me” and Evermore’s title song.

Regardless of the truth, fans of Kelce don’t need to worry about Swift getting back with an ex. The song “imgonnagetyouback” registers the emotional confusion of a breakup, but the singer has moved on since she wrote it. Plus, with rumors of marriage proposals circling their relationship since last year, we can be sure Swift is committed to her current beau.