Latest news with #IForgiveYou
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cynthia Erivo Misses Her First No. 1 By One Space
Cynthia Erivo's I Forgive You debuts at No. 2 on the Official Hip-Hop and R&B Albums chart, marking ... More her highest solo U.K. chart position yet. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 16: Cynthia Erivo attends the EE BAFTA British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, in London, on February 16, 2025. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) Cynthia Erivo's name appeared on music charts around the world late last year, thanks to her starring role in the musical blockbuster film Wicked, in which she played Elphaba. The second installment in the series, Wicked: For Good, is set for release in just a few months, in the fall of 2025, and it will surely become another box office smash. In between movie projects, Erivo has released a new solo album, one that has nothing to do with the Broadway title and instead, simply showcases her voice and talent as a vocalist. I Forgive You debuts on multiple charts in the United Kingdom this week, earning Erivo a very special career win by bringing her to heights she's never reached on her own before. Erivo almost landed her first No. 1 album in the U.K. this week, but misses out by just one spot. I Forgive You launches in the runner-up position on the Official Hip-Hop and R&B Albums chart. She comes in behind Lotus by Little Simz. That set, from the homegrown favorite, brings Little Simz back to the peak position on the genre-specific ranking for the fourth time. I Forgive You also launches inside the top 10 on another tally, the Official Album Downloads chart. On that list, which is focused only on pure purchases from platforms like iTunes, Erivo's latest kicks off its time at No. 10 on the download roster. Erivo scores her second solo placement on three of the five rankings on which I Forgive You debuts this week. The new project outpaces her previous effort, Ch.1 Vs. 1, on every list where it finds a home, bringing her to a new career peak on multiple rosters. I Forgive You opens at No. 13 on the Official Albums Sales chart and at No. 14 on the Official Physical Albums ranking. Erivo earns her first-ever appearance on the Official Vinyl Albums ranking this week. I Forgive You launches at No. 23 on the roster dedicated to the top-selling titles on wax in the U.K. As her new solo album debuts, one of Erivo's biggest hits — a Wicked classic — is also a bestseller again. 'Defying Gravity,' her collaboration with co-star Ariana Grande, returns to both the Official Vinyl Singles and Official Physical Singles charts, ranking inside the top 40 on the tallies once more.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Cynthia Erivo, Lexa Gates, Josh Levi, Sammy Virji & More
The 2025 BET Awards dominated the weekend with a remarkable — but incredibly long — show that featured standout performances from breakout stars like Leon Thomas and Ravyn Lenae, as well as stirring tributes to Ultimate Icon honorees Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx and Kirk Franklin. More from Billboard Forever No. 1: Sly & the Family Stone's 'Everyday People' DJ Akademiks Denies Taking Payola From Drake During Kendrick Battle Raekwon and Ghostface Killah Release Trailer for 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx' Documentary Kendrick Lamar was the night's biggest winner, taking home five trophies from 10 nominations, including album of the year for GNX and best male hip-hop artist. The Compton MC surprised everyone by showing up in person to accept his album of the year award, making for one of the ceremony's most thrilling moments. Chris Brown was the only other artist to win multiple awards at the BET Awards' 25th iteration, taking home best male R&B/pop artist and the viewer's choice award for his hit single 'Residuals.' In addition to the four sprawling Ultimate Icon tributes, BET also opted to split their in memoriam segment into thirds. For the first section, Sinners star Miles Caton joined Grammy winner Lucky Daye and Grammy-nominated crooner Luke James for a soulful Quincy Jones tribute. Shortly after, Andra Day delivered a haunting rendition of 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' to honor the late Roberta Flack. Near the ceremony's close, rising country star Brittney Spencer took to the stage for a show-stopping cover of the late Angie Stone's 'No More Rain (In This Cloud).' Both performers at Monday night's show (June 9), Lil Wayne and Amerie made headlines for non-awards-related news. Weezy, who recently dropped a remix of 'Banned From NO' with Nicki Minaj, dominated the weekend's music conversation with his new Tha Carter VI album, which was largely met with a tepid reception from fans and critics alike. Amerie also faced a bit of the Internet's wrath thanks to her spotty NPR Tiny Desk '1 Thing' performance, which she quickly came back from via two performances of her signature hit during BET Week. With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Cynthia Erivo's big solo swing to Sammy Virji and Skepta's eclectic new collaboration. Be sure to check out this week's Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below. Somehow, between racking up Oscar nominations as Elphaba in Wicked, guest-starring in Poker Face and hosting the 2025 Tonys, Cynthia Erivo found the time to craft her lush, 20-track sophomore studio LP, I Forgive You. A remarkably subtle record given her reputation for rafter-rattling belts, I Forgive You reaches a scintillating peak about midway through with the soulful standout 'Play The Woman.' Co-written by Erivo, Justin Tranter and Will Wells, 'Play the Woman' finds the Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning powerhouse opting for a more restrained vocal performance as she paints the guitar-inflected soundscape with vivid pictures of queer love and desire. 'I could run these hands of mine down the map of your spine/ Feel how your heat against my fingertips could make the blood in me rush,' she coos, injecting in each phrase with healthy doses of vulnerability and flirtatiousness. — KYLE DENIS Garage producer Sammy Virji samples Brandy's 'I Wanna Be Down' and Kid Cudi's 'Day & Night' and taps the legendary Skepta to provide a barfest to give us an absolute banger for the summer. Big Smoke's hook is infectious, and his sharp verses show why he's one of the most versatile rappers doing it today. What an absolute banger. — ANGEL DIAZ After spending the last few years pouring into other artists as a writer, Sabrina Claudio turned the mirror back on herself with her freeing Fall in Love With Her project. 'Detoxing' finds Sabs looking to flush away the toxins of an ex who cut her deep. Guitar strings flood the background as Claudio's potent vocals shine through, compared to the more airy texture displayed on other parts of the LP. She told Forbes that 'Detoxing' invokes feelings of nostalgia tied to Coldplay and Avril Lavigne tracks. — MICHAEL SAPONARA A silky, heartfelt ode to infatuation and emotional intimacy, Jon Vinyl's 'Dopamine' is drenched in warmth and sensual energy. From the jump, he lays it all out — this is about being captivated not just by physical beauty, but by a connection that feels both grounding and euphoric. With lines like 'She's a masterpiece, I swear I need it all' and 'My dopamine, the fix I'm looking for,' Vinyl positions this love interest as both his muse and medicine. Lyrically, he blends vulnerability with reassurance, promising presence and protection. 'Dopamine' feels like a late-night conversation wrapped in candlelight, where both people are letting their guards down and simply feeling. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON Fresh off his run as an opener on FLO's recently wrapped Access All Areas tour, rising R&B star Josh Levi has unleashed 'Don't Go' from his forthcoming debut studio album, Hydraulic. Built around an interpolation of Destiny's Child's 'No, No, No,' Levi pays tribute to his Houston roots while offering fresh, uptempo R&B across Tone's sleek production. 'Them other n—as can't hold her/ She like her kisses down low, Kelly Rowland/ She got my game controller/ She wanna rewind, never fast-forward,' he sing-raps in the second verse, riffing on DC4's staccato vocal approach and name-checking OG member Kelly Rowland. — K.D. Produced by Chrissianity, Far Rock and Upstate connect for this unorthodox street single with a hook that pays homage to OJ da Juiceman. Flee Lord, Conway and Eto all deliver stellar verses for this track dedicated to digital scales. Make sure you tare it before weighing up. — A.D. Billboard's Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for March jets into her next era with the piano-driven 'Latency.' Gates taps into how people are lusting for love, but don't dive in to save face and risk being embarrassed — even when they think the connection is palpable. The 24-year-old described the intoxicating track as a 'sexy fantasy of a love left on delay,' which was born out of a situation of her being surrounded by rich old men. 'It's a tale as old as time,' she says. Watch Lexa live out the fantasy of a true romance, taking her from NYC to the Hamptons in the visual. — M.S. 'All Wins All Year' is a triumphant anthem designed to fuel confidence and ambition. Teaming up with R&B heavyweight Eric Bellinger, rising stars SYX, Steven G, and Dom Belli trade verses with ease, showcasing a collective hunger for success and a refusal to settle for anything less. The track radiates self-assurance and camaraderie as each artist boasts about their come-ups while uplifting their circle along the way. 'All Wins All Year' is more than a flex: It's a celebration of perseverance, loyalty and the unstoppable momentum that comes when you move with purpose and surround yourself with winners. — C.C. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ariana Grande 'persuaded' Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo to 'follow her dreams'
Wicked fans have gone wild after the trailer for part two of the musical was released last week, with triple Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo opening up on her friendship with co-star Ariana Grande Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has revealed how Ariana Grande persuaded her to follow her dreams and become a popstar - unlike her first career choice to become a surgeon. Speaking as the trailer for Wicked: For Good is released, giving fans a taste of what to expect in part two of the musical, Cynthia - who plays green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba - will be releasing her second album, I Forgive You on June 27. The triple Oscar nominee, who has won Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards, says of her pal and Wicked co-star Ariana: 'At the very beginning when we were doing rehearsals, that's when I sort of decided that, okay, time to write this album. Coaxed by Ariana because she wouldn't let me get away with it!' Wicked was the box office hit of the winter, surpassing Mamma Mia! and taking over $750 million worldwide - catapulting Cynthia to fame. Singing with Ariana on the chart-topping soundtrack to the film, which shot to number one in the UK album charts, critics praised Cynthia's powerful vocals and emotional acting. Yet the star originally wanted to be a surgeon, not a singer. She says:' I decided I wanted to be a spinal surgeon, randomly. Because I was good at biology and I was starting to get the hang of it. 'I was one of those kids that was good at reading, good at doing all those things and good at class work, but I could also sing. So my left and right brain were sort of like, doing a battle.' But music won the war. 'I started enjoying singing when I was about eleven,' Cynthia tells Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett on the Dish from Waitrose podcast. 'Music was in my household all the time. My mum would sing along to everything and it would end up being a family sing along. 'My sister and I would sing together while we were doing the dishes. I think I was about fourteen and I was like,' oh, I think I wanna do this. And then I changed my mind randomly when I was about sixteen, because there were no performers in my class.' But when she embarked on a musical career, she received advice from high places - with Oprah Winfrey going out of her way to be helpful. Cynthia says: 'I have had advice from Oprah before, which is really nice. 'Right at the very beginning of my career, I was saying yes to absolutely everything. She was the one that was like, 'You should say no sometimes.' ''It's really good to say no. Sometimes you need to leave space for yourself'. So I took that to heart and began to really be discerning about what I said yes to.' Born to Nigerian parents and growing up in Stockwell, south London, Cynthia has now finished filming for the second Wicked movie - which is out in November - apart from a couple of re-shoots, and would like to star in more films. 'I hope I get the chance to do the things that I'm wishing for - more film, more TV, more music. I hope to get to do a little tour. 'In my head I've been dreaming of doing some of the biggest stages in the world.' Already receiving shining reviews, her new album, I Forgive You, which opens with a cover of No More I Love Yous - a tribute to her hero Annie Lennox - it is a mainly original and deeply personal exploration of romantic relationships. 'The good parts of the relationship, bad parts of a relationship, new relationships, letting go, saying goodbye, and forgiving both parties, yourself and, and the other person,' she says. 'And it just sort of wrote itself.'
Forbes
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Cynthia Erivo Says ‘I Forgive You' On New Album
Cynthia Erivo Acclaimed singer and actress Cynthia Erivo is heading back to Oz later this year in Wicked: For Good, but between her turns as Elphaba on the big screen, the Grammy and Tony winner is returning to music with her second studio album, I Forgive You. I Forgive You arrives four years after Erivo's debut LP Ch. 1 Vs. 1 and is an intimate look into the ups and the downs of the star's personal life. She first teased the album with lead single 'Replay' and followed it up with 'Worst of Me' in April. 'This album is a collection of stories and songs that are both personal for things that are happening now, things that have happened in the past, and I think some of which I have had to forgive people for. And honestly, some of which I've had to forgive myself for. And I loved the idea of calling it this title, because it's a simple concept, but not an easy one. And not one that we as humans are very good at, often,' she told The Associated Press of the project. Recording I Forgive You, then, was a cathartic expression for Erivo. 'The meat of each of the pieces that you listen to is the voice, so that you can hear the lyrics, you can hear the song, you can hear the emotion in it,' she said. 'Everything you hear in there is real and tangible.' Singing and acting have been intertwined in Erivo's career for years, and for her, the two work in tandem to improve the other. 'They feed each other,' she explained. 'When I sing, I feel free and I feel open, which means that when I go and act — because I've given myself that experience — the want to close off again sort of goes away. So, when I'm on a set, I'm as open as I am when I am singing. I'm waiting to receive whatever I'm getting from my counterpart or whoever's opposite me so I can actually listen. Because the act of writing and singing actually is also the act of listening.'
CBC
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Cynthia Erivo's new album makes her feel "totally naked"
Cynthia Erivo is feeling vulnerable. She's a musical theatre veteran and the star of last year's film adaptation of Wicked, but putting out her album I Forgive You feels completely different. "Whilst it is scary, I think that's also the most exciting thing," Erivo tells Q 's Tom Power. "I get to give people a part of myself that I haven't really given before.… This feels totally naked." WATCH | Cynthia Erivo's full interview with Tom Power: From mourning a bitter break up in her single Worst Of Me, to acknowledging her abandonment issues in her song Replay, Erivo's 20 track album I Forgive You is filled with reflections on her life's traumas. One of her biggest epiphanies is that she needs to heal from the pain of her fractured relationship with her father. Erivo says her desire for his approval was causing her to overwork herself. "After that split [from my father], it starts to become about, 'I wanna prove to you that I am lovable,'" Erivo says. "And that's when it started becoming like, 'I'm going to do well every single time, because you're going to realize that you've lost something.'... This last couple of years has definitely been about letting [my younger self] let go of that kind of anger." WATCH | Official visualizer for Replay: I Forgive You is a pop record, but Cynthia Erivo's background as a strong soprano still comes through. In addition to starring in the hit movie Wicked opposite Ariana Grande, she also spent a decade performing in London's West End and on Broadway. "I did a tour of Sister Act in the UK…. That changed everything." says Erivo. "Then The Color Purple happened.… I remember being in the room and singing with the [musical director], and by the end, they were in tears.… Then whilst we were doing the show in London, I get called into the office, and they're like, 'Hey, [The Color Purple] is going to Broadway. We're gonna take you with it.' That changed my life.… And it just keeps going on." Even though she has a top notch musical theatre resume, Erivo says that she went through the same audition process for Wicked as everyone else. She had meetings with director Jon M. Chu, then a long audition day with acting out scenes, performing songs, and trying chemistry tests with other actors. It was an intense process — especially because she was also juggling other high-stakes jobs around the same time. "[The audition] was the day after I'd sung at the [Walt Disney Concert] Hall with the L.A. Philharmonic," Erivo explains. "It was like this weird juxtaposition of things happening at the same time. So, 'Go and do this giant gig, this giant moment with the Philharmonic… and then come in the next day, and be ready to be Elphaba'.… And then I was in London shooting [ Luther: The Fallen Sun ] with Idris Elba. Again, very wild for me." Cynthia Erivo's life runs at a non-stop pace, and she can barely take in all her success. Like her character Elphaba in Wicked, she always felt different than everyone else — to this day, she still feels like she doesn't fit in. It's hard for her to wrap her head around being popular. "My life has been like a constant sort of ticking over of things that keep surprising me," Erivo says. "I'm endlessly grateful for the fact that life keeps bringing me wonderful surprises. I just have to be open to it, really." The full interview with Cynthia Erivo is
