Louder: Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley on George Michael and life after the band

Plus: Taylor Swift, Julie Byrne, avant-garde jazz and more

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 8, 2023 By Caryn Ganz Pop Music Editor Make it a weekend of Wham! Wesley Morris named a new documentary about the duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley a Critic's Pick, and in an interview with Erik Piepenburg, Ridgeley chats about the group's arc and Michael, who died seven years ago at 53: "one of the finest, if not the finest, singing voices of his generation." (I recall having a "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" T-shirt, which, if true, would probably make it my first band shirt. Mom, if you are reading this, and I know you are, do you remember?) Taylor Swift's rerecorded version of her 2010 album "Speak Now" arrived on Friday, and Lindsay Zoladz took note of the notable change to a lyric in "Better Than Revenge" in the Playlist, while Jon Caramanica wrote about one of the album's most powerful tracks — "Dear John" — and its relationship to Olivia Rodrigo's new single, "Vampire." Jon and Joe Coscarelli did some additional chatting about Rodrigo and more on their YouTube show Popcast (Deluxe), which very closely approximates having a meeting (or a lunch, or a FaceTime) with Jon and Joe, so I do recommend it. Quinn Moreland interviewed Julie Byrne, whose beautiful new album of lush folk, "The Greater Wings," came out this week. And Elisabeth Vincentelli introduced us to Blackbraid, a black metal artist whose music draws on his Native American roots. Also: The Wirecutter asked Lindsay to explain her vinyl setup! Netflix Andrew Ridgeley on George Michael and Life After Wham! "The only thing I ever wanted to do from the age of 14 was to be in a band," but he is content with the duo's short career, which is chronicled in a new documentary. By Erik Piepenburg Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE CRITICS CRITIC'S PICK 'Wham!' Review: They Made It Big, Then Broke Up A new movie documents George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's storming of the pop airwaves as the duo Wham! and laughs past the thorny questions. By Wesley Morris Beth Garrabrant THE PLAYLIST Taylor Swift's Revised 'Revenge,' and 10 More New Songs Hear tracks by Prince, Rauw Alejandro, First Aid Kit and others. By Jon Pareles, Giovanni Russonello and Lindsay Zoladz Doug Mills/The New York Times; Timothy Norris/Getty Images CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK Olivia Rodrigo's 'Vampire' Takes a Note From Taylor Swift: Leave a Mark The pop singer's new single dismantles a former paramour who was entranced by fame, borrowing a tactic from Swift's career-shifting "Dear John." By Jon Caramanica From left: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images;Evan Agostini/Invision/AP; Monica Schipper/Getty Images Popcast (Deluxe): Olivia Rodrigo Returns, Fall Out Boy Denies History Plus: "Barbie" memes and the Grimace Shake attacks. THE AMPLIFIER NEWSLETTER Just Like a Woman: Female Artists Cover Bob Dylan Hear versions by Marianne Faithfull, Joan Baez, Nina Simone and more. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Dante Zaballa Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Avant-Garde Jazz This challenging subgenre, including the subset of free jazz, is driven by the fire of spontaneity, and its rules are still being written. Eleven writers, critics and musicians share their favorites. By Marcus J. Moore FEATURES OK McCausland for The New York Times How Julie Byrne's Astral Folk Music Took Flight After the loss of her closest collaborator, the singer-songwriter paused but didn't retreat. "The Greater Wings," the follow-up to her 2017 breakthrough, is due Friday. By Quinn Moreland Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Meet Blackbraid, a Black Metal Musician With Native American Roots Sgah'gahsowáh, the artist behind the one-man band, combines the genre's traditional heavy sounds with a focus on nature. His new album, "Blackbraid II," is out Friday. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Justin J Wee for The New York Times For Filipino Audiences, 'Here Lies Love' Offers Emotional Rip Currents For viewers as well as the all-Filipino cast, the musical about the Marcoses' rise to power is a rare chance to commune, and revisit, together, a not-too-distant past. By Melena Ryzik NEWS THE CHARTS Morgan Wallen Tops the Album Chart for a 15th Time Young Thug opens at No. 2 and Peso Pluma at No. 3 as the country superstar continues to dominate the Billboard 200. By Ben Sisario Eagles Join Parade of Acts on Final Tours With a 'Long Goodbye' The band, which performed a "farewell" tour in 2003, will begin what's billed as a last run of dates in September. By Ben Sisario Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT OBITUARIES Peter Brötzmann, 82, Dies; His Thunderous Saxophone Shook Jazz Traditions One of Europe's most influential free-jazz musicians, he played with "a kind of scream" to exorcise his demons, and those of German history. By Mike Rubin Robert Sherman, Veteran of the New York Airwaves, Dies at 90 For more than five decades, he brought together emerging classical and folk performers as well as established stars for interviews and live performances. By Richard Sandomir Paul Justman, Who Shed Light on Motown's Unsung Heroes, Dies at 74 After establishing himself as a leading music video director in the 1980s, he found acclaim with his 2002 documentary about session musicians. By Alex Williams THE SATURDAY PROFILE Alexia Webster for The New York Times THE SATURDAY PROFILE Millions Danced Joyfully to Her Song. She Drew on Her Pain to Write It. Nomcebo Zikode, the South African singer of the pandemic hit "Jerusalema" that inspired a global dance challenge, wrote the chorus while battling her own depression. By Lynsey Chutel Make a friend's day: Forward this email! Get this from a friend? Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter @nytimesmusic. Send your feedback on Louder at theplaylist@nytimes.com. Check out our full range of newsletters and subscribe to The Amplifier here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Louder from The New York Times. To stop receiving Louder, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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