Total Scene
Heat forces yodelers at annual Swiss festival to sing in fountains
BASEL, Switzerland | City fountains became impromptu rehearsal spaces this weekend as yodelers at a festival in Basel, Switzerland, squeezed in last-minute practice while cooling off during Europe’s June heat wave. At one fountain, a folk band dipped their toes in the water on Saturday, as festivalgoers clapped along or cooled their hands under the […]
Inside country legend Alan Jackson’s triumphant finale concert
NASHVILLE, Tenn. | The time has come for country music superstar Alan Jackson to hang up his signature Stetson hat. The genre traditionalist from Newnan, Georgia, whose career kicked off in the 1980s and exploded shortly thereafter in the oft-cited ’90s country wave with heartfelt songs for the working man who’d rather be drinking, or […]
What is the 2026 song of the summer? AP offers some predictions
NEW YORK | What is 2026’s song of the summer? There’s no easy answer. Algorithmic division is certainly a factor in why there isn’t an obvious pick this year. Where have the songs like “Despacito” in 2017 or “Old Town Road” in 2019 gone? Last year, some even wondered if Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” — a […]
Clive Davis helped launch or shape the careers of these music stars, across genres and decades
The legendary music executive Clive Davis, who has died at age 94, was known for deep, trusting relationships with the artists he represented. It was a mutual respect that allowed him to shape their careers — and them to shape his. Here’s a look at how Davis worked with some of the varied acts — […]
A Bosnian song about disillusionment with the American Dream becomes a World Cup banger
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina | The opening lyrics couldn’t be plainer: “I am from Bosnia; take me to America.” But by rewriting its classic “USA,” the Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv has transformed a song about disillusionment with the American Dream into a viral anthem powering Bosnia-Herzegovina’s own World Cup dreams. On the eve of Friday’s match between […]
The secrets behind a memorable World Cup anthem, from Shakira and more
NEW YORK | What makes a memorable World Cup anthem? Is it a song that best reflects the host countries? Is it a global banger, incorporating multiple languages and genres? Or should it simply value a chant-along chorus above all? There’s an argument to make for each — or perhaps all. To get to the […]
Accessorize with earplugs at this summer’s concerts so you can enjoy more music in the future
NEW YORK | When her favorite band took the stage, Kristin Shires was in the front row. As the Misterwives started to play, the drums and saxophones blared from the trembling speakers. Shires soaked in the music — but on the way home, a different sound played in her ears. “The half hour after the […]
With jumpsuits, wigs and dance moves, these young boys and teens keep Elvis’ legacy alive
TUPELO, Miss. | Nearly 50 years after Elvis Presley ‘s death, a gaggle of exuberant young boys and teens shook up his hometown, intent on keeping the king’s legacy alive for a new generation. Ranging in age from seven to 17, some in jeweled jumpsuits, they took the stage at the Tupelo Elvis Festival’s youth […]
The electric guitar spawned garage bands, rock-god dreams — and generations of popular music
ATLANTA | What is more American than taking a musical instrument with ancient roots and zapping it with electricity? That new creation, the electric guitar, has launched the dreams of millions of teenagers. It turned garages into impromptu rehearsal spaces for would-be rock stars across the American suburbs. For those who couldn’t play, couldn’t try […]
Taylor Swift’s ‘Toy Story 5’ song is a return to pop country
NEW YORK | Taylor Swift’s new song for the Disney and Pixar’s forthcoming “Toy Story 5” film is here. On Friday, Swift released “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a bit of a return to country music for the performer who first made a name for herself in the Nashville music scene before taking over […]