Sam was scheduled to perform at Elton John’s Academy Awards Viewing Party, which as a result, raised money for the Elton John Foundation. John performed ‘Will We Talk? with Fender, a single from his debut album, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’.

Elton John performing Will We Talk with Sam Fender???? Proud doesn’t cut it anymore pic.twitter.com/M4Yd5VChZ3

—(@fenderhs) February 10, 2020

Earlier on, while speaking to Billboard, Fender said of the invitation to perform with Elton, “It’s ridiculous. I was like, ‘Are you sure? You can have anyone you want.’”

Elton’s personal setlist included classics, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘I’m Still Standing’ and ‘Rocketman’. He also played ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Daniel’. At this year’s Oscars, Elton came away with the award for Best Original Song with Bernie Taupin for the track ‘(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again’.

Recently, Fender had to reschedule shows for his UK Tour due to chest infections and laryngitis. Of the cancellation, he said:

“It’s been a series of unfortunate events this last month with chest infections, laryngitis, and a family bereavement, and now I’ve come down again with tonsillitis. I’m raging, all I want to do is get back out and sing, but I just can’t.”

However, this was the second time the vocalist had been forced to make changes to his tour. To this, he said: “I’m gutted to have to do this again.. I’ve had an absolute shocker with my health,”

Along with Gerry Cinnamon and Royal Blood, who were recently announced as headliners, Sam Fender will be headlining This Is Tomorrow 2020. The gig will be held at Newcastle’s Exhibition Park from May 22-24. Fender will play out the festival on Sunday, with Royal Blood and Gerry Cinnamon taking the respective Friday and Saturday nights.

Tickets are on sale now.

Among the prospect nominees are Beyoncé’s “Spirit” from The Lion King, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo’s “Letter to My Godfather” from The Black Godfather, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman, and Randy Newman’s “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4.

“Daily Battles” is a collaboration between Thom Yorke and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Michael Peter Balzary). The track is an atmospheric ballad filled with Yorke’s haunting voice and jazz elements.

Motherless Brooklyn is an American crime film directed by Edward Norton who also has a starring role in the film. Regarding the track, Norton spoke to Rolling Stone about Yorke and his musical contribution to his film:

“Thom is so good at weaving together personal anguish and the crushing politics of the time,” said Norton. He further asserted, “The way that you get the sense in his songs of the difficulty of holding on to your own spirit within times that feel oppressive, and that is so much the straddle that is taking place in this film, which is loneliness and institutional depression and racism.”

Thom Yorke has been no strangers to making music for films. Last year, he composed a film score for the remake version of Suspiria, which was critically acclaimed, while one of the tracks “Suspirium” is vying for the prize for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, which will take place on January 2020. Moreover, the 92nd Academy Awards is on air on February 9.

The Radiohead singer is currently on tour in support of his recent solo LP ANIMA. He will bring the tour to the UK next year, with five-date shows starting at Glasgow on June 19. Tickets to the shows are available with low availability, which can be checked out here.

Tour Dates:
19/06/2020 — SEC Centre — Glasgow
20/06 — O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester — Manchester
21/06 — O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester — Manchester
23/06 — Eventim Apollo — London
24/06 — Eventim Apollo — London

Receiving the award, Sam Smith said: “If this is the case, even if it isn’t the case, I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world. I stand here tonight as a proud gay man.”

Diversity was a fundamental theme in this year’s Oscars. Hosted by Chris Rock naming the Oscars as “The white people’s choice awards”; this was the year of the underdog.

Lady Gaga’s emotional song ‘Till it Happens To You’ surprisingly lost out to Sam Smith and is worth strong celebration for voicing another issue which is often brushed under the carpet.

Till it happens to you, you don’t know

How it feels,

How it feels.

Till it happens to you, you won’t know

It won’t be real

No It won’t be real

Won’t know how it feels

Upon releasing the James Bond theme, which, of course, is every musician’s dream to record a Bond song, Sam Smith said on his website: “Ladies & Gentleman, I have been dreaming of this moment for a long long time. Here it is… The James Bond 2015 theme tune to SPECTRE… ‘Writing’s On The Wall’. Download a copy on iTunes.”

See http://samsmithworld.com/news for further Sam Smith news.

Duran Duran’s View to a Kill was always my favourite Bond song.

Diversity, equality, voicing against abuse, standing up for rights: a clear message. A message influential organisations will now work on to improve. 2016 is a time for change.