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Dan DeLuca's pop picks: The Roots' "Champion," Ralph Fiennes, Swanning, VINX and more

The Roots, "Champion." In 2015, the NBA used Kendrick Lamar's "i" as its theme music. This year, the league commissioned Philadelphia's Tonight Show band the Roots, busy this week with their annual picnic at Festival Pier on Saturday, to write this anthem - in which Black Thought declares himself "the noble dean from the global team" and "a pillar like a column in the Pantheon."

The Roots, "Champion." In 2015, the NBA used Kendrick Lamar's "i" as its theme music. This year, the league commissioned Philadelphia's Tonight Show band the Roots, busy this week with their annual picnic at Festival Pier on Saturday, to write this anthem - in which Black Thought declares himself "the noble dean from the global team" and "a pillar like a column in the Pantheon."

Ralph Fiennes in "A Bigger Splash." Frighteningly annoying and funny performance by the English actor as a record producer who shows off moves like Jagger dancing to the Rolling Stones' "Emotional Rescue" in director Luca Guadagnino's Tilda Swinton-starring, trouble-in-paradise drama. Bonus: St. Vincent's electric version of the same Stones song, which plays as the credits roll.

Swanning. Album release party for Drawing Down the Moon, the debut of the West Philly band fronted by Cynthia Ann Schemmer of Radiator Hospital, who premiered with the arresting single "Sleep My Pretties" this spring. With Allison Crutchfield, Littler, Dark Thoughts, and Empath. 7 p.m. Tuesday at PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St.

VINX. Summer Soul party with the singer and percussionist born Vincent De'Jon Parette. In the 1990s, he was a featured member of Sting's touring band. 6 p.m. Friday at the Barnes Foundation, 2025 Ben Franklin Parkway.

The Replacements book party. Bob Mehr, author of Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, visits Manayunk, reading from his bio of the much-beloved, sloppy-brilliant '80s band, with performances by Dave Hause of the Loved Ones and Frank Brown of Travel Lanes. 7 p.m. Friday at Main Street Music, 4444 Main St.