That wasn't so bad now was it?

First day back in the office and we had reaction to Childish Gambino's controversial new video, news of the Arctic Monkeys popping up all over the place and our Newbie Tuesday act Sam Fender, who is looking after his vocals chords as he attempts to encourage you to use yours.

We'll finish today by continuing the football theme that Champions League star pick Dua Lipa started.

The Premier League Show brought a pair of old East London pals back together for a chinwag in some comfy looking leather couches last week. The friends in question just so happen to be rapper/singer Yxng Bane and top flight winger Jordan Ibe (above).

Jordan won't be joining Dua at the final, as he left Liverpool not so long ago to join AFC Bournemouth, but he will be catching up on some top tunes in the off-season.

You'll never guess who...

The Wirral riddler is sporting a shiner that fellow Scouser Tony Bellew would be proud at the start of the video for his first new track in five years; Loaded.

Watch above as Miles wanders the streets of the city at night trying to piece together what the hell happened.

It's the first track taken from his forthcoming album Coup de Grace and we'll bring you our interview with the man himself next week.

It's a bit early in the year to discuss the C-word (you know, the festive one) but Stuart Goddard - best known to fans as Adam Ant has announced a pressie for fans - a big homecoming gig for December.

He'll play The Roundhouse in London on 19 December where he'll play some of his classic chart-toppers (like the one above) as well as some B sides and rarities.

Tickets are on sale from Friday.

We're kind of impressed that at the age of 63, he can still fit into his leather pants.

When it comes to making bangers Justice know exactly what they're doing.

Here's the cosmic video for their new track Stop (above).

We can sense lots of inspirations in here, off the top oif our heads Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, John Farnham's You're the Voice and Jungle's Platoon.

If you're enjoying a week off rather than merely a long weekend, then the Parisian DJ duo will livestream their set (YouTube) at the Google I/O conference in California tomorrow.

After that you can catch them at UK and Ireland festivals including London’s All Points East festival, Dublin’s Forbidden Fruit and Manchester’s Parklife.

We are you friends here at MNL, and as your friends we'd urge you to ensure you pack your dancing shoes.

That is the opinion of 30,000 Smooth Radio listeners who voted on mass for Ed Sheeran's tear-jerking wedding fave.

Not sure everyone will be in 100% agreement but that's the beauty of these polls. They are never wrong to the people who voted in them.

It's a world where Robbie Williams is better than David Bowie and where Ed Sheeran is so good, he gets two top ten entries.

Watch above to see the other runners and riders.

Fittingly, for a song entitled 2002, Anne-Marie has travelled back through the mists of time to her own school days.

At age 27, she would have been 11 back then, as she actually sings on the track.

However, she looks much older than 11 in this video, we're surprised the teacher didn't say anything.

Here's what she actually looked like.

Image source, Getty Images

Queen + Adam Lambert have announced a run of 10 shows at Park MGM in Las Vegas in September.

The Crown Jewels shows will run on dates from 1 September to 22 September.

Some fans will even be able to purchase on-stage seats.

Maybe they'll even get to sing back up (probably not though).

Guitarist Brian May said: “We’re ready to take on the ultimate challenge … to dazzle Vegas!!”

If the dates sell out - only a fool would be against them following it up with a residency, a la Sir Elton John, Britney Spears and Celine.

Image source, Reuters

It's a question that every person who has ever proposed has asked themselves.

But it's a different matter when the proposal has been done on the red (well, yellow) carpet of the met Gala in New York, in front of the paparazzi and other 'slebs.

That's what rapper 2 Chainz did at the weekend.

“She said yes bru “, he wrote on Instagram, external.

Thanks goodness, otherwise the rest of the evening would have been one massive lesson in awkwardness.

Paul Glynn
Music News LIVE reporter

"We're like a bunch of 12-year-olds man!" laughs Sam Fender, down the phone as his drummer Drew scrambles his way through a bush somewhere in the Dutch city of Nimenjen, in search of their missing football.

It sounds like the Newcastle band are having a ball in more than one way on their first European headline tour, but their 22-year-old leader (wise beyond his years) is playing the long game.

Here's a recent example, as Sam takes up the tale...

"We had a gig in Hamburg and they all went out after but I went back to my hotel to get some sleep because I don't drink hard on tour as I've got to look after my voice.

"The next morning our guitarist was back in his bunk, but Tom and Drew weren't.

"Then they dropped a pin on Whatsap and they were still in the gnarly part of [notorious Hamburg area] the Reeperbahn.

"Turns out they'd lost the hotel and didn't know where they were going and ended up sleeping in the street.

"We picked them up the next day and they just looked like microwaved poo! Sat in the baking hot sun sweating on the side of the street - unwashed Geordies!

"It was canny funny.

He adds: "I can't hack the sesh! I get rowdy and shout my face off and the next day I've got no voice, so I can't do it.

"Luckily I learned early on.

"I've got all the time in the world to get smashed when I'm off - this is my job and I care about the shows.

"I want to do my best for the fans, because there actually are fans now.

"As soon as we get back home we'll have a mad one."

The Geordie singer/guitarist has been writing songs since his teens and first came to the attention of BBC Music Introducing in the North East but admits things only started to get real at the end of last year when he was unexpectedly placed on the BBC Sound of 2018 list.

"It's generally put the foot on the gas."

Now a relentless summer of festival slots awaits, including next week's Great Escape, external and Community Festival, external, and the singer/songwriter can't wait to get the chance to win over more new crowds.

"I don't write for anyone other than myself.

"But it makes me want to deliver and go mental on the live show.

So far his five singles, including Start Again, Play God and Greasy Spoon (all above), have tackled subjects as broad as toxic masculinity and the atom bomb.

But no soppy love songs. So far, at least...

"It's just because it's what I was thinking about on the day," he explains.

"I'm not on some crusade to start a revolution. I've not get any mad agenda.

"I just write about what matters to me from a normal person's perspective.

"Plus it's hard to write a good love song! I just feel like it's getting saturated the old love song!

"Everyone loves a love song but if I'm going to release a proper love song it needs to be right and I need to mean it.

"I might write a love song, but just not yet."

If and when he does, coming from good musical stock, Sam will have plenty of references to choose from. With his older brother - and idol - having played drums in numerous bands when he was younger and his dad being a singer and multi-instrumentalist.

Fender Snr now lives in France and was able to catch his son at a recent European tour date, after which when Sam broke his above rule in order to help get his old man drunk.

Fittingly for a family named the Fenders, Sam was given his first guitar aged eight and, after a slow start, it seems his destiny was written in the stars... or more specifically in a galaxy far, far away.

"I didn't really touch it at first," he admits.

"It was just sat in corner of my bedroom while I played Star Wars all day.

"Then when I put my light saber down, I picked that up - and that was it I think.

"I hit 13 and I knew then..."

Go boldy into those festival fields this summer Sam.

The vocal force is strong with you.

Read Newbie Tuesday #25: Derby grime star Eyez pays musical tribute to Mo Salah

One of south London's most exciting new rock 'n' roll bands, Shame, have been displaying their increasingly sharp wit on social media, this time at the expense of The Sun.

Over the weekend the newspaper's showbiz editor Dan Wootton printed a story announcing that the provocative "anti-Tory" five-piece, who released their debut album Songs of Praise in January, have benefited from a "taxpayer-funded grant", despite being known to "crudely insult the PM."

Their track Visa Vulture (above) attacks the PM and her "sideways smile" and carries the refrain; "Theresa May / Won't you let me stay?"

Check it out above.

Responding to the story, Shame joked on Twitter that they would "be spending our newly acquired funds on hard drugs and anti-tory propaganda."

The distance between New York and Los Angeles is nearly 2,800 miles or approx five and half hours on a plane.

Or if you are Hertfordshire band The Hunna, it's around 3 minutes.

NY to LA was Grimmy's Hottest Record last night - he was standing in for Annie Mac alongside Dan from Bastille.

Check it out above.

"I'm the bad guy and I wanted to make sure they knew the bad guy was here."

That explains Nick Minaj's red dress when everyone else had their gaze heavenbound for their fashion choices at the Met Gala.

The rapper also took time to announce her next album Queen will be out on 15 June.

We have NO other details further than that.

It follows her two new singles Chun Li and Barbie Tingz, which dropped in April.

Billboard magazine

Image source, Getty Images

JJ, who has seemingly been almost totally overlooked since the 2004 Super Bowl 'nipplegate' fiasco, will be honoured at this year's Billboard Music Awards.

As well as receiving the Icon award, the singer is expected to perform on US television for the first time in nine years.

Kelly Clarkson will host the awards live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday 20 May.

Janet will join the likes of Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder and Prince in collecting the gong.

This news will no doubt please the #JusticeForJanet campaigners.

Friday seems like such a long time ago now, doesn't it?

Let's have a little look back at some of the action from Sounds Like Friday Night on BBC One.

They include a special performance from The Streets (above), inside an empty Brixton Academy, ahead of one of the final shows of their recent comeback tour after seven years away.

Florence - who last week revealed that she'd kicked the booze - ran/span around and knocked out a rendition of her new track Hunger (below), from forthcoming album High on Hope, which is out at the end of June.

Last but not least, is Australian pop pocket rocket Kylie Minogue with her new warning about the perils of falling in love with one of your friends.

It's a risky business, check it out below.

You can head over to the BBC Music YouTube channel now for more performances from the likes of Naughty Boy / Ray BLK / Wyclef Jean, as well as Sigala and Paloma Faith.

Finally, Manic Street Preacher James Dean Bradfield followed in the footsteps of the likes of Nile Rodgers and Little Mix in taking on the Gig In a Minute challenge.

Just one man and his guitar and 60 seconds.

Start the fans please...

Image source, Reuters

Wearing a bejewelled Pope-style mitre, Rihanna was one of dozens of stars who attended the Met Gala in New York over the weekend.

The theme for the night was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, which showcases how Catholicism has influenced fashion throughout history.

Canadian star Grimes was there will her new boyfriend, entrepreneur and environmentalist Elon Musk, Cardi B wore some amazing headgear, while Nicki Minaj unveiled plans for a new album (more on that shortly).

Check out a few more musicians-cum-fashionistas below and read more about the event.

Image source, AFP

Image source, PA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Rapper/actor/singer/writer - frankly we run out of words to describe Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino.

He presented Saturday Night Live over the weekend and premiered two new songs; Saturday and This Is America.

While the first track is on a smooth disco vibe, external, it's the second track which has got everybody talking. He also released a startling music video to accompany it, which sadly we can't embed here due to its graphic content.

The song addresses identity, entertainment, racism, police brutality, gun control and all those things that make up the 'ole US of A.

It's powerful stuff and you can find it online, or if you're too squeamish check out his rather more family-friendly live performance above.

It goes without saying that people across the world, external are trying to unpick all the imagery and symbolism, external in the video.

Glover will be playing to UK audiences when he performs at the Lovebox festival in south west London in July.

Image source, PepsiCo

Don't worry Liverpool fans, the authorities haven't decided to let Real Madrid field an extra player.

But they have booked the UK number one artist Dua Lipa to perform before kick-off at the showpiece event in Kiev on 26 March.

Check out some behind the scenes images from the promo video (above).

And it sounds like Dua has something special hidden up her sleeve.

“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to do something different, something outside the box, something I guess I don’t get to do on my own shows," she said.

“It’s quite a larger scale, it’s a bigger stage, so I think it’s going to be lots of fun.

"I do want to keep it as a surprise but I want to get the craziest of football fans dancing.

“There’ll be a whole lot of girl power there so it’ll be a mix.”

She added:

We're pretty sure that LFC manager Jurgen Klopp will be urging his players to do the same.

Despite being asked to play at the sport's biggest club match, Dua has confessed that she's not really a football fan.

Her family are all Gooners but her interest in the beautiful game ended in high school.

“I’m not really a big football fan, my little brother and my dad watch football, they support Arsenal … but I am really excited.

Image source, PepsiCo

“I’ve never been to a football game apart from in PE and they would make me play football myself and I was terrible at it."

Don't worry Dua, stick to what you know.

After all, they won't be making Mo Salah to sing/rap now, will they.

If they did,we know just the man...

Before last year's final in Cardiff, The Black Eyed Peas ran over time with their performance and forced the kick-off to be delayed.

Image source, Zackery Michael

So it's the week that many of you have been waiting for...

After debuting new tracks at several headline shows in the America, the Arctic Monkeys new Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino officially opens for business on Friday.

The Sheffield band will mark the occasion by opening up a load of pop up stores across the planet.

Check out the full details below although if you're not in Alex Turner's hometown this weekend then you have a bit of a schlep.

On the off-chance that you are in Sydney, you'll also be able to watch some of the films that inspired their apparently space age new record.

After Mojo revealed the exotic list of songs, external that were currently "buzzing in his [Alex's] head" during the making of their sixth album, check out some of these movies below.

• Le Cercle Rouge - Directed by Jean-Pierre Mellville
• The Conversation - Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
• L’eclisse - Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
• The Last Waltz - Directed by Martin Scorsese
• Inherent Vice - Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

#culturevultures.

The Last Waltz, of course, being the joyous star-studded last ever gig by The Band, who backed Bob Dylan.

Well worth a watch, even if you can't make it down under.

And finally, it's happened... we knew it would.

The band's frontman has sat down at a piano to croon a new track during their set at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever cemetery at the weekend.

Check out some fan-shot proof below.

Image source, Getty Images

What a weekend that was.

He hope you had fun in the sun, but alas all good things must come to an end.

We shall attempt to soften that blow today with music news from the likes of champion singer Dua Lipa, a provocative new music video from Childish Gambino on racism and US gun control and honours for Janet Jackson and Ed Sheeran.

Plus the Arctic Monkeys new album will be popping up around the country this week and we'll see what the stars, like Ariana (above), were wearing at the big Met Gala fashion fundraiser.

So we hope you are all suitably dressed and remember that sunblock, it's still pretty sunny out there.