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Conan O’Brien is being mocked for a “cringe” Oscars joke that saw him speaking Gen Alpha slang over footage of viral mobile game Subway Surfers.

• READ MORE: Oscars 2026: ‘One Battle After Another’, ‘Sinners’ and ‘Hamnet’ walk away with major wins

O’Brien hosted the 98th Academy Awards ceremony last night (March 15) after presenting the 2025 Oscars.

He started his opening monologue by joking that he was the “last human” host of the Academy Awards before making fun of Timothée Chalamet’s recent criticism of ballet and opera and Netflix boss Ted Sarandos being at the theatre for the “first time”. O’Brien also helped create a new Leonardo DiCaprio meme that’s gone down very well on social media.

Conan O’Brien makes a new Leonardo DiCaprio meme #Oscars pic.twitter.com/OX62X798Mx

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2026

However, O’Brien’s attempt to engage with a younger audience is being criticised online.

“We here at the Oscars are always trying to figure out ways to reach a younger demographic, and I’ve been assured this next segment will do just that,” he explained before appearing next to a TikTok clip of viral mobile game Subway Surfers and providing the voiceover.

“When you’re hostmaxxing the Oscars and lowkenuinely trying to rizz up the younger demographic by going brainrot mode, and even though you’re unc-coded with a bunch of fame-filled NPCs, you’re still S-tier level aura farming. 67.”

“Well, that’s a message that the young people will definitely see on broadcast television,” he added.

this is the worst thing i’ve ever heard pic.twitter.com/3mQilqGcOg

— trin (@MAXXXXXlNE) March 16, 2026

The clip has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media but the reaction hasn’t been positive. “This is the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” wrote one X user. “I’m so tired of things that should have decorum trying to cater to the gen z audience like, what is this,” asked another. “People need to start acting their age,” said a third.

“Quotes and replies not realising that Conan was being ironic here. Yes, he knows it’s cringe, that’s the joke,” explained another X user. “Why is it that people are so dense that they can’t realise he’s making fun of people like this? What has happened to everyone,” added another.

Elsewhere, HUNTR/X won Best Original Song at the 2026 Oscars for their KPop Demon Hunters anthem ‘Golden’. However their emotional acceptance speech was cut short by organisers which has angered many fans.

In other news, Swedish heavy metallers Sabaton have teamed up with tactical battle game World Of Warships to release new single ‘Yamato’.

The post Conan O’Brien mocked for “cringe” ‘Subway Surfers’ brainrot Oscars joke appeared first on NME.

The stars of Sinners performed a stirring rendition of ‘I Lied to You’ alongside a host of special guests at the 2026 Oscars – check it out below.

• READ MORE: Oscars 2026 winners – see the full list

Led by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, the performance was an homage to one of the film’s most impactful scenes, in which musicians bridge the veil between past and present with their sound.

It saw a host musicians and performers – including blues legend Buddy Guy, retired ballerina Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith – join the Caton and Saadiq for the segment, which was billed beforehand as a tribute to the film’s “singular visual style”.

Saadiq kicked things off by strumming a guitar before passing it to Caton, who sang the first verse with support from Shaboozey. On a set resembling the film’s Club Juke, the all-star cast later joined them, with Howard on guitar, Smith singing, and Copeland dancing ballet as she came together with the ensemble to finish off the song.

Many on social media took the addition of Copeland at the end of the performance as a dig towards Timothée Chalamet.

The full performance of “I Lied To You” from ‘SINNERS’ at the Oscars.

See the full winners list: https://t.co/2LO8EZqZIM pic.twitter.com/hKN7g6PkmN

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 15, 2026

Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor at yesterday’s Academy Awards for his role in Marty Supreme, with the trophy ultimately going to Sinners‘ Michael B. Jordan.

Chalamet attracted a sizeable backlash earlier this month when he questioned the popularity of ballet and opera, saying “no one cares about this anymore”, which cropped up at the ceremony with a quip from host Conan O’Brien.

“Security is extremely tight tonight,” he told the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “I’m told there’s concern about attacks from both the opera and ballet community.”

When asked about this on the red carpet by Variety, Copeland said her focus was on “educating people on its importance in our society”.

Misty Copeland on Timothée Chalamet’s ballet comments: “It’s really about educating people on its importance in our society.” pic.twitter.com/PpoB8eHnyQ

— Variety (@Variety) March 16, 2026

As for ‘I Lied To You’, the track itself earned an Oscar nod for Best Original Song, one of the record-breaking 16 nominations that Sinners achieved.

NME’s four-star review of the film nodded to the impact of the sequence soundtrack by the song, with James Mottram writing: “Sinners really comes to life via the musical numbers… Coogler uses it to prove just how influential the genre is via a spellbinding sequence that tracks through the juke joint, whirling around Preacher Boy and showcasing a hip-hop DJ, an MC and an electric guitarist.

“Such anachronisms add to the film’s feeling of fantasy but Coogler also tackles serious themes such as the oppression of Black Americans by white folk during this period.”

Coogler and longtime creative partner and composer Ludwig Göransson have also opened up on the film and its music in NME‘s Friends Like These interview series – check out the full chat here.

Outside of Original Song, the vampiric blues flick was nominated for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Original Screenplay, among several others.

The post Watch Misty Copeland, Shaboozey, and more join the cast of ‘Sinners’ to perform ‘I Lied To You’ at 2026 Oscars appeared first on NME.

KPop Demon Hunters was among the big winners at last night’s (March 15) Oscars – though their acceptance speech for Best Original Song was cut off, provoking anger from some fans online.

• Read More: Oscars 2026 winners – see the full list

Alongside Best Animated Feature Film, the Netflix phenomenon also expectedly took home the song award for ‘Golden’, which made history as the first K-Pop song as well as the first tune with more than four writers to win.

“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics,” co-writer EJAE of fictional band HUNTR/X said during an emotional acceptance speech. “This award is not about success. It’s about resilience.”

After thanking family members, the creatives on the film and Netflix, she then gently encouraged co-writer Yu Han Lee to make a speech, though he was rapidly cut off by music before he could say anything, leading the others to plead for more time to the camera, while audible boos could be heard from the audience.

Viewers have since taken to social media to express their frustration at the moment, with one writing on X: “Cutting off a historic moment like this is pure disrespect. The Academy needs to do better.”

“I’m sorry but this was so disrespectful to cut KPop Demon Hunters speech…,” another echoed, while a third wrote: “The oscar’s are rude af for this i’m sorry.”

“This pissed me off so so so much. So much. Not a good look for the Academy at all,” a fourth said, a fifth adding: “Using k pop demon hunters as hook to bring younger audiences and yet doing this. It was pure rudeness, and in both categories that the movie won. thats why even getting the ceremony to youtube wont help because they cannot grasp on what they fuck up every time, every year.”

Cutting off a historic moment like this is pure disrespect. The Academy needs to do better. EJAE deserved her moment.

— ismailyasar (@bayirliogluismo) March 16, 2026

I’m sorry but this was so disrespectful to cut KPop Demon Hunters speech… #Oscars pic.twitter.com/m18K2OEJLM

— (@DiaryOfKeysus) March 16, 2026

the oscar’s are rude af for this i’m sorry pic.twitter.com/3tSXtT8x54

— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 (@beyoncegarden) March 16, 2026

This pissed me off so so so much. So much.
Not a good look for the Academy at all.

— Brittanie (@wapogipo928) March 16, 2026

Using k pop demon hunters as hook to bring younger audiences and yet doing this. It was pure rudeness, and in both categories that the movie won. thats why even getting the ceremony to youtube wont help because they cannot grasp on what they fuck up every time, every year.

— Paola Yam Salazar (@paola_pys) March 16, 2026

However, the other winners were given a chance to speak backstage after their victory, with Yu Han Lee and Mark Sonnenblick thanking their families and the creatives on the film.

The big winner at last night’s Oscars was One Battle After Another, which took home six awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson – who also won Best Adapted Screenplay – and the inaugural Best Casting prize.

Sinners, which made history with the most nominations ever for a film, won four, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler. Autumn Durald Arkapaw also made history as the first woman and first woman of colour to win Best Cinematography for the film.

Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for Hamnet, while Amy Madigan and Sean Penn won in the supporting categories for Weapons and One Battle After Another.

The night also saw Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet laugh off a joke by host Conan O’Brien about his recent controversial opera and ballet comments, while there was a moving tribute to late director Rob Reiner from Billy Crystal and others who had worked with him as part of the In Memoriam segment.

Meanwhile, Javier Bardem condemned Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu over creating “another illegal war” and said “free Palestine” while presenting the award for Best International Film.

The post HUNTR/X’s Oscars speech got cut off early and fans are mad: “Pure disrespect” appeared first on NME.

The 2026 Oscar winners have finally arrived!

Conan O’Brien took the stage as host for the 98th Academy Awards on 15th March. The star-studded event was broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, reaching fans through both ABC and Hulu.

The road to the ceremony was paved with history-making buzz. When nominations were first announced on 22nd January, Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ officially set a new record for the most Oscar nominations ever received by a single film, pulling in an incredible 16 nods. By the end of the night, the movie secured four wins, highlighted by Michael B. Jordan taking home the Best Actor trophy for his impressive dual performance.

Image Courtesy: Getty

This year’s ceremony featured 24 categories, including the debut of the Best Casting award. Cassandra Kulukundis made history as the first winner in this brand-new category for her work on ‘One Battle After Another.’ That film turned out to be the night’s big champion, winning six awards total, including the prestigious title of Best Picture.

Keep reading to see the full list of this year’s winners.

Best Picture

One Battle After Another

Best Actor

Michael B. Jordan – ‘Sinners’

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley – ‘Hamnet’

Best Supporting Actor

Sean Penn – ‘One Battle After Another’

Image Courtesy: Getty

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/aaron-pierre-to-reprise-lanterns-role-in-james-gunns-man-of-tomorrow-11208868

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Madigan – ‘Weapons’

Best Director

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay

Sinners 

Best Adapted Screenplay

One Battle After Another 

Best Animated Feature Film 

KPop Demon Hunters

Best International Feature Film

‘Sentimental Value’ – Norway

Best Casting

One Battle After Another

Image Courtesy: Getty

Best Original Score

Sinners 

Best Original Song

‘Golden’ – KPop Demon Hunters  

Best Documentary Feature Film

Mr Nobody Against Putin

 

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/daniel-radcliffe-to-lead-broadway-revival-of-every-brilliant-thing-11208827

 

It looks like the runway has officially moved to the red carpet! While fans are counting down the days until ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ hits theatres on 1st May, the film’s leading lady, Anne Hathaway, just gave us a fashion moment for the history books at the 2026 Oscars.

Returning to the Academy Awards after a 12-year break, the 43-year-old actress turned heads in a stunning floral Valentino gown. The look felt like a clever nod to the legendary line about spring florals being groundbreaking, famously delivered by Meryl Streep’s character two decades ago. Hathaway’s ensemble featured a strapless mermaid silhouette with a dramatic train, which she paired with elegant long black gloves and a breathtaking collection of Bulgari diamonds.

Image Courtesy: Getty

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/jennifer-lopez-reveals-why-she-took-a-year-off-after-ben-affleck-split-11205634

Anne Hathaway’s Bulgari Diamonds Necklace

The jewellery was a masterpiece all on its own. As a brand ambassador for Bulgari, Hathaway wore the Neoclassical Starlight High Jewellery necklace. This incredible piece took over 850 hours to create and features a rare yellow diamond weighing over 8 carats, surrounded by nearly 100 additional diamonds. She completed the sparkling look with matching yellow diamond earrings and platinum rings, while her hair was swept into a graceful half-up style complemented by soft, peachy makeup.

The night got even more exciting when Anne Hathaway took the stage with fashion icon Anna Wintour to present the awards for costume design, hair and makeup. The duo leaned into the fun with a skit inspired by the dynamic between Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs, a perfect teaser for the upcoming sequel.

Image Courtesy: Getty

The new film is set to reunite the original cast, including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, alongside several new faces. In a recent interview, Anne Hathaway shared her excitement for the release, noting that she hopes fans have as much fun dressing up for this movie as they did for the ‘Barbie’ premiere.

She encouraged everyone to pull out their best Miranda Priestly-approved outfits and simply enjoy the experience.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/ed-sheeran-defends-controversial-game-of-thrones-cameo-years-later-11205428

 

Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan achieved a major career milestone after winning the Best Actor award at the 98th Academy Awards for his performance in the film ‘Sinners.’ For the 39-year-old actor, the victory was even more memorable because it was his first-ever Oscar nomination and win. His powerful portrayal of twin siblings in the genre-bending supernatural drama enthralled both reviewers and viewers, making it one of the year’s most talked-about films. Ryan Coogler’s picture topped the Oscars with a record number of nominations and had a spectacular run during the awards season.

A Powerful Performance That Defined ‘Sinners’ 

As twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who must navigate crime, survival, and supernatural dread in 1930s Mississippi, Michael B. Jordan gave one of his most memorable performances in the film ‘Sinners.’ The narrative centers on the brothers as they return to their hometown to run a juke joint, only to have their lives drastically changed by an enigmatic vampire threat. The movie creates a distinctive cinematic experience by fusing drama, music, supernatural horror, and Southern Gothic storytelling.

Image Courtesy: ScreenRant

Jordan received significant praise from reviewers and viewers worldwide for his powerful portrayal of the two very different personas. With a budget of about $90–100 million, the movie itself became a global hit, earning over $368 million worldwide. Hailee Steinfeld, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, and Miles Caton were among the great supporting cast members of ‘Sinners,’ which gave the story greater depth.

Jordan’s ability to give both characters emotional depth and nuance won accolades from critics, which helped the movie stand out during the 2025–2026 awards season.

Image Courtesy: Just Jared

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/bradley-cooper-in-talks-to-star-opposite-margot-robbie-in-oceans-11-prequel-11217095

Historic Oscar Run and Record Nominations

‘Sinners’ dominated the awards conversation long before the Oscars night. The film made history by securing 16 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, the highest number ever for a single film in Oscar history. In addition to Jordan’s Best Actor triumph, the movie received other accolades, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and victories in technical categories including score and cinematography. 

The Best Actor race was one of the most competitive of the night, with Jordan competing against several top contenders including Timothée Chalamet, but ultimately emerging as the winner thanks to the emotional and transformative depth of his performance. 

Image Courtesy: Vanity Fair

Jordan, who had previously given acclaimed performances in movies like ‘Fruitvale Station,’ ‘Creed,’ and ‘Black Panther’ but had never been nominated for an Oscar, found the victory particularly meaningful. 

Along with becoming one of the few Black performers to win Best Actor, he also became one of the most illustrious figures in Hollywood history.

Emotional Acceptance Speech and Career Milestone

During his acceptance speech, an emotional Michael B. Jordan thanked director Ryan Coogler for believing in him and for creating a film that celebrated powerful storytelling and culture. He also thanked his parents and mentors for their support during his 25-year career in entertainment. Jordan acknowledged the impact of legendary Black performers like Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, and Halle Berry on his career and the film industry.

Image Courtesy: The Oaklandside

From his early television performances in ‘The Wire’ and ‘All My Children’ to his current status as one of Hollywood’s most esteemed leading men, the actor thought back on his path. He reportedly got a standing ovation from the audience during the event, which celebrated both his performance in ‘Sinners’ and the Academy’s long-awaited recognition. Jordan has solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s most important actors with this victory.

Meanwhile, ‘Sinners’ continues to be celebrated as one of the most successful and culturally impactful films of the year, proving that bold storytelling and powerful performances can redefine modern cinema.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/kpop-demon-hunters-dominates-awards-season-wins-best-animated-feature-at-2026-oscars-11217334

 

The global animated sensation ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ reached a historic milestone by winning Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards, cementing its place as one of the most influential animated films of the decade. The Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation-produced film explores the tale of a girl group secretly battling otherworldly powers while fusing fantasy storytelling, K-pop culture, and upbeat music. The movie has become a global sensation since its 2025 premiere, dominating music charts, streaming charts, and award ceremonies. 

Its Oscar win now marks the culmination of a remarkable year in which the movie captured audiences across continents and proved that Korean-inspired storytelling could thrive on the biggest global stage.  

A Global Pop Culture Phenomenon

‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ which is directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, centers on the fictional K-pop girl quartet HUNTR/X, which consists of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—who live double lives as global pop stars and secret demon hunters protecting humanity. The film creates a visually arresting and culturally rich journey by fusing modern 3D animation with Korean mythology, idol culture, and anime-style visuals. 

Image Courtesy: Billboard

Following its debut, the film became the most popular movie on Netflix, with hundreds of millions of views worldwide and, according to sources, 482 million streaming in just a few months. Fans replicated the characters for Halloween, and the fictional band HUNTR/X amassed a sizable social media following. Its appeal went well beyond streaming numbers.

The success of the movie was greatly influenced by the music. The soundtrack produced multiple viral hits, led by the global smash song ‘Golden.’ The animated band’s vocalists, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, performed the song, which dominated charts and even topped the Billboard Hot 100 for weeks. The soundtrack also performed strongly on the Billboard 200, further proving the crossover appeal of the project.

Image Courtesy: Teen Vogue

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/zendayas-vegas-wedding-cameo-sparks-fresh-buzz-about-secret-marriage-to-tom-holland-11216783

Historic Oscar Win and an Award-Season Sweep

At the 98th Academy Awards held in Los Angeles on 15th March, ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ triumphed in the Best Animated Feature category, beating other nominees including ‘Zootopia 2,’ ‘Elio,’ ‘Arco’ and ‘Little Amélie’ or the Character of Rain. The triumph was a turning point for Korean representation in Hollywood and solidified the increasing demand for different stories in animation around the world. 

During the emotional acceptance speech, director Maggie Kang dedicated the win to Korean creators and audiences around the world, emphasizing how meaningful it was to see a story deeply rooted in Korean culture resonate globally. The full speech read: “For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took so long to see us in a movie like this, but it is here. That means the next generations don’t have to go longing. This is for Korea and Koreans everywhere.” The Oscars ceremony also celebrated the film with a performance of its nominated song ‘Golden,’ bringing its music and energy to the Academy stage.

Image Courtesy: Variety

The Oscar victory concluded an incredible run over the awards season for the animated feature. The movie previously bagged the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards for Best Animated Feature, and ‘Golden’ received other awards, including a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, making it the first K-pop song to do so. The song also made history as the first K-pop track nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars.

In addition to delivering a successful animated adventure, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ has changed how audiences around the world interact with animation and Korean entertainment with its distinctive blend of music, mythology, and pop culture. Its Oscar victory confirms the film’s lasting cultural impact—and signals that the influence of K-pop storytelling in global cinema is only just beginning.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/whats-up-pop-news/bradley-cooper-in-talks-to-star-opposite-margot-robbie-in-oceans-11-prequel-11217095

KoRn have announced a new headline tour, which will see them play across the UK and Europe later this year – check out ticket details below.

• READ MORE: Korn: “On this record, we have grown emotionally. Music is healing to all of us”

The new dates mark the first time that the nu-metal giants have toured on these shores in over 10 years, and come just over a year after they played a huge headline performance at the 2025 edition of Download Festival.

Dates kick off with an opening night in Stuttgart on October 18, before continuing later that month with shows in Munich, Cologne, and Paris. From there, six shows are scheduled for the UK and Ireland, starting with arena gigs in Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester at the end of October, and continuing with shows in Dublin and London at the start of November.

The tour wraps up with further European shows, including stops in Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Milan and more.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday (March 20) at 8am GMT, and pre-sale options will be available from tomorrow (Tuesday March 17). Visit here for UK tickets, and here for international tickets.

View this post on Instagram

KoRn’s UK and European tour dates for 2026 are:

OCTOBER
18 – Stuttgart, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
19 – Munich, Olympiahalle
21 – Cologne, Lanxess Arena
23 – Paris, Accor Arena
26 – Leeds, First Direct Arena
28 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena Birmingham
30 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena Newcastle
31 – Manchester, AO Arena

NOVEMBER
2 – Dublin, 3Arena
4 – London, The O2
8 – Amsterdam, Ziggo Dome
9 – Antwerp, AFAS Dome
11 – Hamburg, Barclays Arena
13 – Hanover, ZAG Arena
14 – Berlin, Uber Arena
16 – Prague, O2 Arena Prague
17 – Krakow, Tauron Arena
19 – Vienna, Wiener Stadhalle
21 – Milan, Unipol Forum

Joining the band for the UK gigs will be metal icons Architects, and Youth Code. The latter will be only joining for the first half of the tour, and will be replaced by Pixel Grip for the second half.

The new UK and European dates carry on from a run of other live dates KoRn have planned for 2026, including a tour of South American with Spiritbox, which kicks off in May.

Before then, they will also be headlining Sick New World alongside System Of A Down in April. Others on that bill include Bring Me The Horizon, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, Ministry, AFI, Knocked Loose, Danny Elfman, Acid Bath, Cypress Hill, Melvins, Mastodon and Underoath.

Jonathan Davis and co.’s last studio album, ‘Requiem’, came out in February 2022. In a four-star review, NME said: “It would be a push to call this Korn’s first ‘happy’ album. More accurately, ‘Requiem’ has brought something new to a discography that, until now, has been an exploration of human suffering. It’s led to the band’s most nuanced record to date.”

Back in December 2024, guitarist Brian “Head” Welch shared an update on new music from the band, saying it was “not gonna be soon”.

The post KoRn announce first UK and Ireland tour in over a decade with more 2026 European dates appeared first on NME.

Naïka, the latest star of The Cover, has curated a ‘Soft & Dangerous’ playlist for the occasion – check it out below.

• READ MORE: In Naïka’s sensuous ‘world pop’, “people from everywhere find home in each other”

This week (March 16), the French-Haitian pop artist graces The Cover, NME’s spotlight on the best and brightest emerging artists around the world. The artist was profiled by Erica Campbell and photographed in London by Tom J. Johnson exclusively for NME – read the story and see the photos here.

To accompany her appearance on The Cover, Naïka has shared with NME an exclusive playlist titled ‘Soft & Dangerous’, featuring songs by Chronixx, D’Angelo, JayO, Knucks, Lojay and more. Stream it on Apple Music here and on Spotify below.

In her Cover story, Naïka speaks about her globe-trotting upbringing, her multicultural ethos and newly released debut album ‘Eclesia’. She also discusses her sound, which she calls ‘world pop’ – “in quotations”, she adds. “There’s such a thing as world music and I don’t love the term, because I feel like it’s so general and like a catch-all for everything that’s not in the Western world. But I feel ‘world pop’ makes sense to describe what I’m doing.”

“I feel like I’ve never belonged to one community,” she tells NME of her fanbase and listenership. “To see the audience and to see people from all different walks of life, all different religions, different genders… When I see this diversity, it really makes me feel at home.”

Naïka joins the likes of Lola Young, Chappell Roan, Kwn, Oklou, BOYNEXTDOOR, Mon Rovîa, Say Now, Maruja and many more on The Cover. Explore The Cover here.

Every year, NME produces 50 Cover stories, showcasing the future of music via in-depth profiles and exclusive photoshoots. Check out our coffee table book NME The Cover 2024-2025, which features the likes of Kneecap, Lola Young, Amaarae, LE SSERAFIM, Oklou and many more.

The post Naïka curates ‘Soft & Dangerous’ playlist for The Cover appeared first on NME.

With its propulsive opening and declarative lyrics, Men Without Hat’s “The Safety Dance” remains an undeniable hit. A club floor-filler with an anti-establishment bent. The “man” in this case? Club bouncers who had no time for New Wave’s misfits.

In 1982, the pop music landscape was changing. Disco was on its way out, and New Wave had sprung up to take its place. This was by no means a smooth translation, and along with a new style of music came a new subculture and style of dancing. Instead of disco’s smooth two-step movements, New Wave fans started pogoing – jumping up and down to the music – and bouncers considered this act a danger to other dancers.

The song’s origins

Ivan Doroschuk, frontman of Canadian New Wave act Men Without Hats, was one of the many pogoers who struggled to have their moves tolerated by club security. “Every now and then [DJs would] slip in Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ or ‘Rock Lobster’ by The B-52’s [to their sets],” he told Pop Culture Addict in 2012. “Well, obviously, anybody who was into that kind of music would rush on the dance floor and start jumping up and down and would bang into the guys trying to do their disco two steps. I got thrown out of a lot of clubs because of that.”

Annoyed that he wasn’t being allowed how to dance how he wanted to, Doroschuk turned to the medium he knew best to protest and penned “The Safety Dance,” the band’s first big hit. “We can dance if we want to/We can leave your friends behind, the singer declared in its opening lines. “‘Cause your friends don’t dance, and if they don’t dance/Well, they’re no friends of mine.”

Doroschuk originally conceived of Men Without Hats as a punk outfit, but as the music world shifted, so did the band.

“I just realized that pop music was one of the biggest platforms for getting a message across. So I made the switch from punk guitars to New Wave synthesizers for that reason,” Doroschuk shared in the 2016 book, Is This Live?: Inside the Wild Early Years of MuchMusic: The Nation’s Music Station.

The track was released in 1982 as the second single from Men Without Hats’ debut album, Rhythm Of Youth. Although it took a few months for the song to become a hit in Canada and the US, it eventually climbed up the charts in both countries. At home, the song peaked at No.11, while it did even better stateside, reaching No.3 and spending 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

Different interpretations

As the success of “The Safety Dance” grew, so did different interpretations of the song’s meaning. Some thought it was a euphemism for safe sex, while others – inspired by the imagery in the music video – presumed it to be an anti-nuclear protest song. In 2020, Doroschuk explained the former interpretation was incorrect, while the latter wasn’t strictly true. “It wasn’t a question of just being anti-nuclear, it was a question of being anti-establishment,” he told The Sudbury Star.

Like many hits of the 80s, the global popularity of “The Safety Dance” was driven by the music video, directed by Tim Pope, who made a name for himself helming videos for The Cure and Talk Talk. During the pre-internet days and era of costly international calls, Doroschuk and Pope discussed the video’s script and treatments by mail, where they both settled on the idea of Doroschuk as a pied-piper character.

The band then swapped the woods of Mount Royal in Montreal for the English countryside and decamped to the town of West Kington, Wiltshire. Pope leaned heavily into the location and incorporated more British imagery into the video, including traditional Morris dancers, a Punch and Judy sideshow, and even a maypole. It was this unlikely setting and Doroschuk’s Medival appearance that set the band apart from their pointy-shoe sporting and perfectly coiffed New Wave peers.

In the intervening decades since its release, “The Safety Dance” has maintained its status as a cult hit. In 1984, “Weird Al” Yankovic parodied it with his song “The Brady Bunch,” and it was later inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2020, alongside Men Without Hats’ most successful single, 1987’s “Pop Goes The World.”

“I’m very honored,” Doroschuk told The Sudbury Star at the time. “It’s just hard to describe. It amazes me every time something like this happens — whether it’s the hall of fame, or popping up in commercials and movies, I’m always amazed [those songs are] still going […] It’s a bit surreal, for sure, but I’ll take it.”

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