Music
The Weeknd Stirs Up Anticipation For His Super Bowl Halftime Show In A New Pepsi Commercial
Pepsi also revealed they won’t have any ads during the big game this year and will instead ‘double down’ on the halftime show. …
While The Weeknd was understandably peeved about not securing any Grammy nominations for this year, he’s getting ready to do something that no other Grammy nominee will do in 2021: headline the Super Bowl halftime show. The big game is set to go down on February 7, and ahead of then, The Weeknd has teamed with Pepsi (the sponsor of the halftime show) for a new ad to get fans hyped about the performance.
The 60-second spot shows people at home and in various other everyday environments singing along to “Blinding Lights.” It ends with The Weeknd himself pulling up to a toll gate, much to the surprise of the employee in the booth. Variety notes this is “the first time the musician at the center of the [halftime show] has taken part in a Pepsi ad campaign in advance of the effort.”
Meanwhile, Pepsi also revealed that they have decided to not air any ads for their flagship drink during the big game this year (that’s not to say that other PepsiCo brands like Gatorade and Doritos won’t have a commercial presence).
Todd Kaplan, Pepsi’s vice president of marketing, told Variety, “We are going to double down on our existing 12 minutes in the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show in the middle of the Super Bowl, and we are going to build it out like we have never built it out before.” He said that while Super Bowl advertisers “are talking and fighting for 30 seconds” of attention, Pepsi wants “to focus our efforts on making [the halftime show] a critical moment for the brand.” Kaplan also said of the game and halftime show, “There is a desire for a bit of escapism and surface-level entertainment, not being constantly reminded [of the pandemic]. We think that’s the role that sports and music play for us, providing that sense of normalcy.”
Check out the new ad above.
Artist Spotlight
C’batch delivers love, reflections and new beginning through “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)” (EP)
C’batch’s latest EP, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ is a soulful exploration of the never-ending cycle that is love. It’s a release that combines intimacy with looking ahead, blending emotion with cinematic ambition. The EP embraces the ambiguity that follows, instead of providing a clean resolution to heartbreak.
This EP is a sneak peek of C’batch’s upcoming album, “The Vault 4 – Cinematic,” set for release on July 10, 2026, that will go deeper into the emotional universe. The project begins with “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),” a nicely balanced, measured balance of strength and openness that captures the emotional tension between self-protection and hope for another chance. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) (2)” gives the same emotional struggle from a more reflective perspective, letting the feelings settle with more maturity and quiet conviction.
“Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)1a“ tells a different story, with similar emotions reinterpreted with musical shifts, adding to the experience but still resonating with the core message of the EP. The release is completed with the cinematic version of “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) Cinematic Version 2,“ a sweeping song with cinematic textures that turns the title track into an immersive sound and offers a glimpse of the creative direction behind “The Vault 4 – Cinematic.“
Another point of connection in C’batch’s expanding catalog, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ also supplies the creative inspiration for the two companion versions of “Fluorescent Buzz (You Got Me Falling)“ on the EP of the same name. These releases represent an artist consciously creating a connected musical universe that is growing in emotional depth, storytelling, and cinematic production.
Album Review
C’batch delivers a soulful dancefloor experience with “The Vault 3 – Club / Dance / R&B-Soul / Funk / Pop / Techno / Etc.”
C’batch is back with “The Vault 3 – Club/Dance/R&B-Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc.,” a 20-track album of unreleased archival recordings, remixed into one seamless late-night journey. The project builds a world where dancefloor rhythm meets intimate introspection, for global dance culture and late-night listening.
The album opens with raw, emotional loss of love and personal clarity in tracks such as “Breaking My Heart” and “Found What’s Right for Me.” “The Club Song” and “Too Hot to Handle” up the dancefloor ante with thick club beats and game tension. “Mystique of Love (What’s Behind Your Smile)” has an air of mystery about it and is delivered with smooth R&B vibes, while “I Just Wanna Love You Now” is all about passion and urgency.
The mid-section tracks extend the emotional palette of the record. The smooth pop and soul elements of “I Am the Right Guy” promise confident self-confidence, and the next track, “On to You,” plays on attraction and groove. “Love Give Me a Sign (Velvet Switchblade) 2” mixes openness with gritty funk textures, while “No More Lonely Nights” is introspective ambient soul. “Hit Me with Your Love” has a lot more rhythm and a lot more dance energy. “Let Me School You (Vocal Version)” is a fun, funky education, and “Turn It up-2” adds to the club vibe with techno-infused layers.
The final section of “The Vault 3 – Club/Dance/R&B-Soul/Funk/Pop/Techno/Etc.” wraps everything up with warmth, groove, and emotional closure in the remaining songs. The album’s energy is carried by “Send U My Love,” “A Funk Groove,” and “Hold on Now,” the album’s lead single, balanced with romance and dance-driven momentum. Closing the album is “Midnight Love Serenade (Honeyed Girl),” bringing late-night softness and texture. C’batch describes the project as electronic adrenaline meets deep soul groove, a late-night global dance culture, and an immersive listening experience for the modern club listener around the world today.
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