#7 times grammy award winner

[matchalovertrait]

So many people, so many different thoughts and opinions!

Previous / Next (Transcript under the cut)

Transcript:

(1.) [Andrea] You have 30 minutes to make an appetizer using all four of the basket ingredients. The timer starts... Now!

(2.) [Alex] I'm making a raclette with an assortment of merguez sausage, vegetable flatbread, pea shoots, and a side of shakshuka sauce. I think everything will go nicely with the melted cheese.

(3.) [Alex] I'll add ham, salami, steamed potatoes, and olives. I'm kind of playing it safe, but I hope the variety of flavors work out for me. It's all part of my strategy to at least get to the second round.

(4.) [Lewis] I've calmed down now. I decided to make a salad with pea shoots, crumbled sausage, flatbread croutons, and a shakshuka vinaigrette.

(5.) [Lewis] It's a salad. I can't possibly mess this up.... right?

(6.) [Dulce] I went with pizza wedges with a flatbread crust. They'll have shakshuka sauce, pea shoots, and merguez sausage. Of course, I'll be adding some mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

(7.) [Dulce] The pizza wedges are going to be soooo cute and fun. I'll also put some bacon bits and garlic. I can't put too many things, though. The wedges aren't going to be that big.

(8.) [Rubiya] I'm making spaghetti with merguez sausage meatballs, shakshuka sauce, and pea shoots. I'll add the vegetables from the flatbread to my sauce and use the rest of the flatbread to make garlic bread.

(9.) [Rubiya] Could I have made shakshuka? Yes, but that's rather predictable. Also, as someone from a Middle Eastern family, I refuse to use premade shakshuka sauce. I must make it from scratch.

(10.) [Andrea] It's time to introduce the two judges here today who are joining Michelin-Starred Chef, Mia D'Angelo-Ramirez.

(11.) [Mia] Thank you, Andrea. I'm always accompanied by amazing people, but I think the viewers and contestants will find today's lineup quite astounding.

(12.) [Dulce] Wow, it's actually her... I look up to Chef Mia a lot as another Mexican-Italian. I don't have Italian blood like her, but I was born here. I want to be on her level someday.

(13.) [Lewis] Oh my gosh..... I know Chef Mia is in every episode, but I still got nervous again when I saw her at the judges' table. She is so beautiful and talented.

(14.) [Carlo] Mia, you flatter me.

[Andrea] Chef Mia is right, though! Folks, here we have Executive Chef and Food Entrepreneur, Carlo Mancini.

(15.) [Alex] Chef Carlo Mancini??? He's the real deal. It's too late to change my appetizer now, so I have to impress him with my raclette.

(16.) [Rubiya] Chef Carlo Mancini. This will be fun.

(17.) [Andrea] And here's Grammy Award winner, Sofia Bjergsen!

[Sofia] Thank you so much. I've already been having a blast here. Not many people know this, but I was actually in culinary school for a bit before I decided to pursue music full-time.

(18.) [Dulce] THE Sofia Bjergsen??? I have all of her vinyl records! My favorite song by her is My Love Knows. I know the entire choreography for that song... here, I'll show you!

(19.) *My Love Knows by Sofia Bjergsen starts playing*

(20.) *My Love Knows by Sofia Bjergsen starts playing*

(21.) [Alex] Okay, I'll admit that I'm a fan, but what is she doing here? Isn't she on a world tour right now?

(22.) [Andrea] We are overjoyed to have the three of you as judges. Please, talk amongst yourselves while I check on the chefs.

[bananaofswifts]

HOW DO WE measure the impact of a musician in 2023? Streams can be bought. Awards can be finessed. Is it when demand for show tickets leads to a congressional hearing about Ticketmaster’s policies? Or when flight attendants shout out a fanbase making a pilgrimage to see a tour opener? Or when TikToks of merch inspirations and setlist predictions rack up millions of views? Nearly a decade ago, a headline ran declaring ‘Taylor Swift Is The Music Industry’ and those with even the slightest pulse on pop culture can tell she’s only grown more omnipresent since. It all led to a warm evening in Glendale, Arizona where months after delivering her most commercially-successful album to date, Midnights, Swift debuted a discography-spanning setlist that lasted over three hours and kicked off an aptly-named stadium run. The Eras Tour has arrived.

The sheer length of the set is a feat, but not completely surprising considering the breadth of catalog at Swift’s disposal. Watching the 12-time Grammy winner take the stage right at 8pm, and continue past 11pm triggers the often overused cliché: Who’s doing it like her?

After night had fallen and GAYLE and Paramore revved the crowd up with a mix of recent chart-toppers (GAYLE’s “abcdefu”) and cultural anthems (Paramore’s “Misery Business”), it was time for the main event. At 7:57pm, a timer appeared on a massive screen prompting screams from all corners of State Farm Stadium. Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” played as fans braced themselves for the arrival of Swift. When the timer hit 0:00, the house we’d seen in the “Lover” music video assembled on the screen, indicating that this evening was first and foremost about reviving the feelings each era evoked.

“So tonight, we’re going to be going through an adventure, one era at a time,” Swift said. “We’re going to be exploring the last seventeen years of music that I’ve been lucky enough to make and you’ve been kind enough to care about.”

It’s easy to compare one of Swift’s stadium shows to something you’d see on Broadway — never has that been more true than for The Eras Tour. The setlist is cut up into acts, grouped together by eras for each of Swift’s ten studio albums. For each era/act, Swift went full-send into that album’s look, feel, costume, color blocking, and more.

Many eras got a few songs. At one moment, it seemed like Swift’s soft spot for Folklore would mean we’d hear the entire album. On the opposite end, Speak Now’s part of the show was short but impactful. Swift played only one song from her third studio album, “Enchanted,” while wearing a stunning floor-length ballroom gown designed by Nicole + Derr. Hopping from act to act, Swift made it extremely clear when she’s taking the audience out of one era and into another. This isn’t a hastily put together setlist with a vague thread of connective tissue — Swift is taking her audience on a nostalgic extravaganza.

For both Swift and her fans, it’s been a long road to get to The Eras Tour kickoff. Friday night’s opener was four projects, millions of record sales, and over 1,500 days removed from the last tour stop on the Reputation stadium tour in 2018. Plus, who can forget the Ticketmaster fiasco in handling the sale of The Eras Tour tickets, which not only prompted an apology to Swift from the ticketing monopoly but also for Congress to investigate.

In perhaps a sympathetic nod to the canceled Lover Fest, Swift began the festivities with the Lover era. Wearing a jaw-dropping Versace bodysuit, Swift launched into “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” for the opening number. Swifties eager to see “Cruel Summer” live weren’t disappointed, as Swift strutted down the catwalk towards the stadium’s center, belting out the fast-paced bridge eager to deliver what stans had snatched away from them due to pandemic-related cancellations.

For “The Man,” Swift completed her Versace look with a blazer and made sure everyone could see the red bottoms when she kicked her feet up on a conference room table as she delivered the masterfully written and scathing assessment of gender inequality in pop culture. Swift closed out the Lover era act with “You Need to Calm Down” and “The Archer,” the latter getting a beautifully stripped down rendition so Swift’s vocals echoed across the stadium: “Because all of my enemies started out friends / Help me hold onto you.”

At one point, as Swift ran through hits from her Fearless era, she flashed a smile and announced to the crowd that she was taking us back to high school with her. The nostalgia seeped into the show, resulting in some of the loudest crowd participation yet, especially from those old enough to have grown up with Swift and were in high school at the same time she was. The singer ran through “Fearless,” “You Belong With Me,” and “Love Story,” reminding us of a time when we discovered the pop phenomenon unbeknownst to the level of celebrity she’d achieve.

Something about Swift — she’s online. If the fact that she decided to end last night with the TikTok-friendly “Karma” doesn’t make that obvious enough, her joke about disliking Evermore hammers home the point.

“We’re currently in the middle of the Evermore album, which is an album I absolutely love despite what some of you say on TikTok,” Swift said with a grin.

Later on in the act reserved for her ninth studio album, in line with how theatrical the event was, Swift set up a beautiful dinner setting only to deliver a heart-wrenching rendition of “Tolerate It.” She also performed “Tis the Damn Season,” “Willow,” “Marjorie,” and “Champagne Problems,” giving fans a sizable taste of the Evermore live experience they weren’t able to receive when the project came out in 2020.

For the acts dedicated to Reputation and Red, fans were treated to a masterclass in visuals and hitmaking, two key elements that has assured Swift prolonged success for as long as she’s had it. The powerful, striking, snake motifs were an awesome callback for fans who attended the Reputation tour.

For Red, Swift went through “22,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and “I Knew You Were Trouble. She closed out the act with a beautiful performance of the 10-minute “Taylor’s Version” of “All Too Well.” In the evening’s most ethereal moment, small white confetti made to look like snow blanketed the State Farm Stadium as she neared the end of her magnum opus, singing “Because in this city’s barren cold/I still remember the first fall of snow/And how it glistened how it fell/I remember it all too well.” Not only is Swift a savant for world-building, but she’s perfected the ability to translate those worlds into the live experience.

Swift wasn’t shy about making sure people got the full Folklore live experience. A makeshift cabin, not unlike the one made during Swift’s 2021 Grammys performance, sat on the stage with Swift perched on it during “Invisible String.” The star also discussed how she finally got comfortable crafting narratives for purely fictional characters, rather than ripping them from the headlines about her life.

“Folklore was such a different album for me. I start writing it about two seconds into the pandemic. I was just so very aware of how much time I was going to have to spend away from you,” Swift explained before launching into “Betty,” “The Last Great American Dynasty,” “August,” “Illicit Affairs,” “My Tears Ricochet,” and “Cardigan.” “With this album, I thought it would be so fun to create characters, and storylines, and they can live in different times, and then can do all of these things, and they could fall in love and hurt each other and go to war…”

1989’s era act turned the party up and restored the energy, with Swift donning a Roberto Cavalli top and skirt and going through “Style,” “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Bad Blood.”

To cap off the evening, Swift returned to Midnights, performing album highlights “Lavender Haze,” “Mastermind,” and more. It was hard to ignore the immense gratitude the singer continued to exude throughout the evening, with the “thank yous” coming more and more often the closer she got to the end.

Eventually, the singer asked the crowd if they had time for one more and launched into her finale, “Karma,” a track with a passionate chorus that’s begging to be scream-sung in a room of about 60,000 who’ve been waiting for this exact moment for years. Maybe it’s fitting that an artist who’s had more than her fair share of ups and downs, and at times has been the most polarizing musician alive, ends her stadium tour opener with a song about how she can finally protect her peace. Karma’s a relaxing thought, indeed.

The Eras Tour is a feat. It’s live music at its highest spectacle and greatest excess. And for most, without the catalog and showmanship of Swift, it’d be too much. But 17 years into her career, maybe we ought to stop being surprised when she finds a way to top her own efforts year after year. Towards the end of Paramore’s set, Swift’s good friend Hayley Williams said we had gathered that evening to celebrate Swift’s incredible career. There’s something funny about a greatest hits concert for someone who’s never been more in her prime, isn’t there?

[manysmallhands]

The Brits: Rated!

This weekend I watched The Brit Awards for the first time in an absolute age. One thing it reminded me of is why I don’t usually watch The Brit Awards: the staging was cringe, the presenters forgettable and the winners (Jungle! Bring Me The Horizon!) often completely baffling. RAYE’s coronation as queen of UK pop was at least a satisfying moment of well deserved revenge, but also a colossal round of arse covering and buck passing from an industry that was more than happy to screw her over and has in no way faced any real reckoning over it. As such, the stellar cast who were lined up to perform were basically the only good reason for me to stick around. I rated them as follows:

Dua Lipa - Training Season 

Absolutely banging opener, lots of fancy moves - including Dua being suspended in midair by a bunch of guys with no visible means of support themselves! - and an excellent (if slightly strained) vocal, a notable improvement on her Grammys performance from last month. I like Training Season anyway but this felt like a proper event. 9

Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding - Miracle

I’ve hitherto found Miracle a bit of a snooze but I finally started to warm to it last night and the bit at the end where it all kicked off was probably the best climax of the evening. While the choreography created an engaging sense of spectacle, Ellie was admirably low effort amongst it all and Calvin might as well have sneaked off for a fag, it was quite funny watching him stood at the back doing nothing. 8

Tate McRae - Greedy

I so wanted this to be great cos I can't stop listening to her but sadly that really wasn’t the case. There seemed to be technical issues at times but often Tate looked swallowed up by the size of the staging, just singing the odd line here and there while doing an admittedly top-line dancing routine. Not a patch on her recent NHL show. 6 

Jungle - Back On 74

Despite it being extremely lightweight I’m rather fond of Back on 74, but quite what Jungle are doing here (and winning best band!) is something of a mystery to me. Still, the Sault we’ve got at home put on a pleasant enough show without really straining themselves performance-wise, especially considering its acrobatic video. 7

RAYE - Medley: Ice Cream Man/Prada/Escapism.

I’ll admit that RAYE’s more "authentic" genre reworkings can leave me a bit nonplussed but I thought this performance was fantastic. Ice Cream Man was predictably devastating, Prada held up surprisingly well under its choral makeover and Escapism seems to take whatever she throws at it without so much as flinching. Not much to speak of visuals-wise but she really didn’t need them. 9

Chase and Status/Becky Hill - Disconnect

Chase and Status honoured their best producer award by doing their least good song of 2023. Becky Hill dutifully belted it out but there wasn’t much to draw the eye and the teasers from Baddadan had a distinct ‘look at what you could have won’ quality. 6

Rema - Calm Down 

In the year or more since I first heard it, I’ve gone from bored to lukewarm to kinda liking Rema’s megahit and the live setting here has finally pushed me over the top:  Calm Down is really quite good. It was helped along by a winning dance routine that played into its exotic rhythms but Rema's performance is the thing that really carried it, all understated charisma, flashing smiles and some truly iconic headgear. 8

Kylie - Hits Medley

There was a sense in which I wanted this to be amazing but in the end it was merely an alright performance, lifted by the fact that the UK loves Kylie and it was always going to feel like a bit of a triumph. The vocals were nothing to write home about, the track selection could have been better too, but by the time we got around to All The Lovers I was pretty much sold anyway. Ultimately, there are some people who are above meaningful criticism and Kylie will always be one of them. I mean, who gives a shit whether I liked it or not. 7

[jiminieloved]

Ultimate Jikook Timeline Pt 117

BE Era, Pt 5

March 3, 2021:

Run Ep. 131

0:20 Jimin misses the episode introduction because he is giving a little slap on JK’s arm

5:46 epic moment when they play the pushing game on the water and before they start JK puts his hands on Jimin waist from behind him and they try to reproduce a titanic scene, and even though JK is usually super competitive, Jimin easily pushes him in the water

Behind

0:31 playing martial arts together

5:07 Jimin asks JK if he is going to be the moderator first and he says yes

2. March 4, 2021:

Love Myself Campaign Special Announcement Episode

0:36 sitting close and reading their brief for the campaign together

1:52 playing together with Hobi

4:17 sitting close and after Tae finishes his lines Jimin points a thumbs to JK

5:54 JK shows Jimin to the camera

6:32 sitting close, Jimin puts his arm behind JK

7:03 Jimin looks fondly at JK and laughs while holding his arm after he messes up the script

3. March 5, 2021:

Love Myself Give-ticon Shoot

2:34 vminkook photoshoot

3:38 standing close for the photoshoot

4. March 7, 2021:

JK Live

38:55 JK is asked to share a TMI and he says he took a bite of Jimin’s instant noodle cup

55:56 JK sings “Filter” and it seems like he is watching the performance video because he does some of the dance moves

5. March 8, 2021:

Jikook sharing a car

1:08 getting out of the same car

6. March 9, 2021:

Run Ep. 132

3:12 they have a debate about brushing teeth during the shower, Jimin talks against it by saying it could be messy, then JK teases him by saying “who spits it out on your body? You must do that then?”, then Jimin says he does that

16:50 Jimin asks JK if he accepts the debate argument to trick him into saying the forbidden word

28:24 JK erases the letters on Yoongi’s hands so Jimin can be the winner, the prize is a voucher for the presidential suite at The Plaza Hotel

7. March 15, 2021:

a) Music On A Mission - MusiCares & 63rs Grammy Awards Dynamite Performance Making

4:46 standing close, Jimin says it is amazing that JK only practiced playing the drums for one day

9:04 Jimin, JK and Hobi play a game with their fingers

16:58 sitting close

18:58 Jimin films JK and asks him to pretend to be tired, so JK does it

b) 63rd Grammy Awards Making Film

7:35 looking at each other and laughing

8:13 laying close on the couches

c) 63rd Grammy Awards Episode

8:02 Jimin compliments JK on the performance

8:58 posing for the pictures with each other’s mics

14:06 walking side by side

17:50 laying close on the couches

8. March 16, 2021:

Run Ep. 133

wearing matchy clothes in this episode

1:40 warming each other’s hands

4:45 Jimin takes a picture of JK using the giant keyboard

6:05 just an observation on how quick it was for Jimin to find an anniversary calculator (might mean nothing, but I thought it was interesting)

12:05 they are both looking for the answer and Jimin says “Jungkook-ah”

9. March 17, 2021:

BTS at You Quiz On The Block

Part 1

1:05 Jimin teases JK because he was trying to talk on the back and finally got his chance to, then JK says he isn’t good at catching timing so Jimin grabs his hand and says it’s okay

Part 2

1:19 a small moment when they go towards each other’s direction to react when they see an army dancing to mic drop on the show

Part 3

11:55 Jimin talks about his time as a trainee and JK says he was the hardest working person

BTS at You Quiz On The Block Making Film

4:52 standing close for the picture

10. March 23, 2021:

Run Ep. 134

15:46 JK asks to switch places with Jin saying Jin’s is the lucky seat, then Jimin steals his seat and he doesn’t even argue, he just says “it’s okay to stand close to it”

28:01 Jikook fist bump

Behind

7:45 the staff says they have a very surprising winner, Jimin says it’s JK, then JK argues saying it wouldn’t be surprising for him to win because he is a dancer and glances at Jimin

11. March 24, 2021:

a) Film Out MV Making

4:15 talking to each other

b) BTS The Best Making 2

0:24 acting goofy along with Namjoon behind the scenes

1:06 Jimin sits next to JK

12. March 25, 2021:

Let’s BTS

Part 1

49:56 JK copies Jimin’s moves when they enter the room

Part 2

2:48 all the members write things they would like an specific member to say to them, when it’s Jimin’s turn, Jin and Tae say they think Jimin is going to write to JK

3:45 it is revealed that Jimin did write to JK and Jin says “of course it would be him”, then JK reads the words Jimin would like him to say to him, which are “I always copy you”

7:44 Jimin teases JK by saying he starts unbuttoning his shirt when they are about to go on stage, JK says he copied Jimin

13. March 26, 2021:

Coway x BTS Making Film

4:32 JK presses Jimin and Jin on the table so Jimin laughs and pushes him

14. March 30, 2021:

Run Ep. 135

19:37 they are playing a game where they have to look for hidden korean traditional items and Jimin asks JK if the traffic baton is a traditional item

Behind

4:59 Jimin comes back after hiding his item and JK notices his hands are red

7:48 JK says Jimin’s tone goes up a lot when he is innocent and being framed

Information compiled by Shan and @lagalaxiedemochi

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[d-criss-news]

Darren Criss: A Very Darren Crissmas Part of the Glick Philanthropies Broadway at The Cabaret Series

Dates: Saturday, December 16 | 8 PM Sunday, December 17 | 7 PM

Location: The Cabaret 924 N Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Ticket Prices: Premium 2-tops: $160 | Premium: $145 | Banquettes: $145 | High Cocktail: $130 | Main Floor: $100 SophistiTIX Members (Under 35) | 25% off Students | $25 (must show student I.D. upon arrival)

Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape from Fox’s hit show Glee over a decade ago, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. The multi-hyphenates illustrious career spans television, film, music and stage. Kicking off the Christmas season Criss will perform songs from his recent holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas. His first ever full length project includes a wildly eclectic collection of songs from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads. Made with Ron Fair, multi-Grammy nominee and producer of numerous GRAMMY-winning hits, A Very Darren Crissmas showcases his artistry delivering both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic. Criss is widely known for FOX’s massively successful musical series Glee, from which many of his performances of popular songs would lead to several Billboard-topping records. In 2015 his songwriting also landed an Emmy nomination for Best Original Music and Lyrics, from penning the song “This Time” for the show’s series finale. As an actor, Criss is a veteran of the stage whose Broadway credits include the titular role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (2012), and the most recent 2022 revival of David Mamet’s seminal play American Buffalo alongside Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell. In 2018 his work in Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story received wide critical acclaim, earning him a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice Award. He was also recently seen starring in Netflix’s hit series Hollywood, for which he also served as executive producer.

[grymmnox]

weekly fic recs #19

woo let’s go

ship(s): kunikizai, soukoku, and ofc some gen fics (p much all of these will have gen fics of some kind, even if i forget to say so)

fandom(s): bungo stray dogs

Oneshots

but you’re a part of me.; pigeonpi - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 1.2k words | chuuya/dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

he stared at the dazai standing in the corner.

dazai stared right back with that empty eye of his. that smile of his.

he reached out in desperation for what he knew would be the antidote to the pain he suffered.

he reached out in desperation, hopelessness crawling through him like a colony of ants.

hopelessness, because he knew that the antidote was gone.

the screaming would continue.

because dazai was dead.

--

in which chuuya can't sleep.

Morning Light; FallenBrie - bungo stray dogs

mature | 18k words | atsushi & dazai, atsushi & kunikida, akutagawa & atsushi, atsushi & chuuya, ADA & atsushi, atsushi & ranpo, chuuya & dazai, dazai & kunikida | READ TAGS

summary:

Atsushi stares for a long moment, taking that in. “That’s it? I just have to die and I’ll be let go?”

“You’ll exit the loop. Sounds fairly simply but remember the time limit, your healing ability is going to be working against you here,” Ranpo corrects.

“I almost die all the time - “ He laughs, a weight in his chest lifting. “I’m going to get out of here!”

--

Atsushi gets stuck in a time loop and severely underestimates just how dedicated his family is to keeping him alive

england made me; kazarismask - bungo stray dogs

mature | 1.6k words | ADA & dazai, dazai & kunikida, dazai & yosano | READ TAGS

summary:

Dazai Osamu was going to die today.

Complete Fics

Promised Future; Katical - bungo stray dogs

mature | 8 chapters | 17.4k words | chuuya/dazai, chuuya & kouyou | READ TAGS

summary:

It wasn't Dazai who left the Port Mafia and later joined the Armed Detective Agency after a certain incident.

No, it was Chuuya.

A story of continuous searching, touching reunions and building a future.

Incomplete Fics

no man is an island; That_One_Fran_Fan - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 14/? chapters | 39.8k words | dazai/kunikida, dazai & kunikida, dazai & ranpo, kunikida & ranpo, atsushi & dazai, ADA & dazai, dazai & yosano | READ TAGS

summary:

"It had started with Dazai acting more restless than usual."

Or

Dazai wants to get better.

When I Awake; wildflowertea - bungo stray dogs

mature | 20/22 chapters | 190.8k words | chuuya/dazai | READ TAGS

summary:

Dazai Osamu has been in a coma for exactly one year, seven months, and twenty-two days. But Death still refuses to take him.

Trapped in the space between worlds, and unable to die, Dazai waits, killing what precious time he may have left. And hoping—praying—that his family will pull the plug and move on. He doesn't expect someone to move into his old apartment instead.

Nakahara Chuuya, two-time Grammy awards winner, and freshly unemployed pessimist, has never believed in fate—much less the supernatural. But the lively—if a bit annoying—ghost of his apartment's previous tenant, might just change everything.

act of faith; cherrior - bungo stray dogs

teen and up | 7/12 chapters | 73.3k words | chuuya/dazai, chuuya & yosano | READ TAGS (altho most warnings r in chapter notes)

summary:

Chuuya Nakahara wakes in the infirmary of the Armed Detective Agency with no memories of what landed him there, or why he isn't able to manipulate gravity at will.

Dazai's at his side, tight-lipped about the ordeal and hiding behind his veneer of calm, and lets the doctor inform Chuuya that he'll be staying at the Armed Detective Agency until further notice, the deal already negotiated between their organizations.

Living with Dazai keeps bringing up the past, though, and there's nothing worse than being forced back into old memories where none new can form.

[ can be read standalone; has an accompanying sskk fic, though. ]

[bunkershotgolf]

TMRW Sports, which is focused on building progressive approaches to sports, media, and entertainment, has announced its initial investor group, an influential roster of icons across sports and entertainment matched with business titans in technology, sports, media, and finance.

The institutional investment was co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures. The investment group’s sports experience includes team ownership in every major league and ranges across F1, NFL, NBA, Premier League, MLB, NHL, MLS, tennis, esports, surfing, and golf with a combined social reach of nearly 500 million followers across Twitter and Instagram. The announcement was made by Mike McCarley, founder and CEO, TMRW Sports (pronounced “tomorrow sports”), who unveiled the formation of the company in August with co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, as well as early investor Dick Ebersol.

“Over the past year we’ve assembled a team of investors who will help deliver on the TMRW Sports’ mission to positively impact how sports are experienced in the future. And we’ve been intentional about diversity of expertise, thought and backgrounds as we mobilized this strategic group co-led by Connect Ventures and 25madison Ventures,” said McCarley. “From the very beginning our plan has been to partner with the best-in-class in every way imaginable and Tiger, Rory, and I value the support of this unrivaled team of investors, advisors, and ambassadors who believe in our vision to harness technology to create progressive approaches to sports. Their combined broad reach and cultural relevance will expand potential opportunities and fanbases for TMRW projects. Plus, many share a passion for golf that only adds more fuel to TGL, our first project in partnership with the PGA TOUR.”

“TMRW Sports is redefining how the next generation of fans will play and consume sports by leveraging technology in unique and innovative ways,” said Michael Blank of Connect Ventures. “Connect Ventures is thrilled to work alongside this world-class group of investors to support Tiger, Rory and Mike’s vision to further accelerate the evolution of sports and make it more accessible for all.”

TMRW SPORTS’ CULTURAL ICON INVESTORS:

In addition to Woods’ and McIlroy’s combined 791 weeks at World No. 1 and counting, 105 PGA TOUR wins, and 19 Major Championships, TMRW Sports’ investor group combines to add 113 Formula 1 wins, 40 Emmy Awards, 32 NBA All-Star Games, 16 NFL Pro Bowls, 26 Grand Slam singles titles, 21 Olympic medals, 8 MVP titles across four sports, 10 Grammy Awards, 8 NBA Championships, 7 F1 World Championships, 5 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 Stanley Cups, 3 MLB All-Star Games, 3 WNBA Championships, 2 FIFA Women’s World Cups, and a World Series champion.

F1:

· Alex Albon: Williams Racing (THA/GBR)

· Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes-AMG Petronas, 7-time World Champion (GBR)

· Lando Norris: McLaren (GBR)

· Carlos Sainz: Scuderia Ferrari (ESP)

· Mark Webber: ret., 9-time F1 Grand Prix winner (AUS)

NFL:

· Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills (USA)

· Kelvin Beachum: Arizona Cardinals (USA)

· Larry Fitzgerald: Arizona Cardinals ret., (USA)

· Tony Romo: Dallas Cowboys ret., CBS Sports (USA)

Entertainment:

· Justin Timberlake: 10-time Grammy Award, 4-time Emmy Award winner (USA)

Tennis:

· Andy Murray: 3-time Grand Slam Singles Champion, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist (GBR)

· Serena Williams: 23-time Grand Slam Singles Champion, 4-time Olympic Medalist (USA)

Gaming:

· Tyler “Ninja” Blevins: professional gamer and entertainment personality (USA)

NBA/WNBA:

· Stephen Curry: Golden State Warriors, 4-time NBA Champion (USA)

· Andre Iguodala: Golden State Warriors, 4-time NBA Champion (USA)

· Chris Paul: Phoenix Suns (USA)

· Jayson Tatum: Boston Celtics (USA)

· Diana Taurasi: Phoenix Mercury (USA)

Soccer:

· Jozy Altidore: Liga MX, Puebla (USA)

· Gareth Bale: MLS, Los Angeles FC (GBR)

· Servando Carrasco: MLS, ret. (USA)

· Alex Morgan: NWSL, San Diego Wave FC, 2-time World Cup Champion (USA)

MLB:

· Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels (JPN)

· Trea Turner: Los Angeles Dodgers, World Series Champion (USA)

NHL:

· Sidney Crosby: Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-time Stanley Cup Champion (CAN)

Surfing:

· Kanoa Igarashi: World Surf League, Olympic Silver Medalist (USA/JPN)

TMRW SPORTS’ INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS:

Connect Ventures: An investment partnership between entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and global venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Connect Ventures launched in 2020 to accelerate the growth of early-stage consumer-focused businesses, and draws on CAA’s resources, relationships, and expertise spanning the global entertainment and sports landscape and the deep domain and company building expertise of NEA’s world-class technology practice.

25madison: 25madison Ventures is the seed-stage venture fund of 25madison, an early-stage venture platform backed by Apollo Global Management. The fund invests in disruptive technology companies and is led by a team of seasoned operator-investors.

“Tiger, Rory, and Mike are all titans of both golf and business. It was a no-brainer to join forces with Connect and this first-rate investor group to support TMRW Sports as they bring their vision to life. There is a huge opportunity to elevate how fans engage with the sports they love, and the team at TMRW Sports will do just that,” said Steven Price, CEO and Co-Founder, 25madison.

Additional institutional investors include:

o AMBSE Ventures

o Apex Capital

o Copper

o Excel Sports Management

o Fenway Sports Group

o Misfits Gaming Group

o Newbound Venture Capital

o SC Holdings

o Seven Seven Six

o Symphony Ventures

o TGR Ventures

TMRW SPORTS’ BUSINESS LEADER INVESTORS:

Sports:

· Arthur Blank: Owner and Chairman, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and PGA TOUR Superstore; Co-Founder, The Home Depot

· David Blitzer: Co-Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment: Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Newark’s Prudential Center; Owner, Real Salt Lake; Minority Owner, Cleveland Guardians

· John Collins: Board Director, Super Group Ltd. Former CEO, On Location Experiences; COO, NHL; President and CEO, Cleveland Browns; and senior marketing, sales and programming executive, NFL

· Ben Grossman: Sports, media, and technology executive; Co-Owner, Minnesota United and Angel City FC

· Eric Grubman: Chairman of Super Group Ltd. and DroneUp; former senior executive, NFL, Goldman Sachs, Constellation Energy Group, and On Location Experiences

· John Henry: Principal Owner, Fenway Sports Group, including the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, and Pittsburgh Penguins

· Dawn Hudson: Board Director, Interpublic Group and NVIDIA. Former CMO, NFL; President and CEO, Pepsi-Cola North America; and Chairman of the Board, LPGA Tour

· Steve Nash: Co-Founder, BLOCK; former NBA MVP

· Tom Penn: Founding President and Co-Owner, Los Angeles Football Club; Co-Founder, Sports Leadership Institute, former senior executive, NBA

· Kevin Warren: Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference; former COO, Minnesota Vikings

· Tom Werner: Chairman, Fenway Sports Group, including the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool Football Club, and Pittsburgh Penguins

· Mark Wilf: Co-Owner of the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando City Soccer Club, and Orlando Pride

Finance:

· K. Don Cornwell: Co-Founder and CEO, Dynasty Equity

· John S. Daly: Former Chairman Global Equity Capital Markets, Goldman Sachs

· Jimmy Dunne: Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Principal, Piper Sandler; President, Seminole Golf Club

· Cam Dyer: Former Partner and Sector Co-Head of Global TMT Investing, The Carlyle Group

· David Gubbay: Senior Managing Director, Highpost Capital

· Philippe Laffont: Founder, Coatue Management

· Reggie Love: Senior Advisor, Apollo Global Management; former Partner, RON Transatlantic EG and White House Personal Aide, President Barack Obama

· Tim Neher: Former Vice Chairman, Continental Cablevision; former President, Seminole Golf Club

· Kirk Posmantur: Co-Founder and Chief Partnership Officer, 25madison; Chairman & CEO Axcess Worldwide

· Joe Tauscher: Managing Partner, Mount Cypress Investment Fund

Media/Technology:

· Chris Chaney: Co-Founder and CEO, Fancurve; former CEO and Founder of Infinite Esports & Entertainment

· Zach Dixon: Founder and COO, Players Lounge

· Dick Ebersol: Former Chairman, NBC Sports; executive producer Sunday Night Football and NBC Olympics, Co-Creator Saturday Night Live

· Rohit Gupta: Co-Founder NYXL; Partner, Sterling.VC

· Alex Lieberman: Founder and Executive Chairman, Morning Brew

· Ari Litan: COO of LayerZero Labs; founding team and former executive, The Athletic; Co-Founder, Swish

· Alexis Ohanian: Founder, Seven Seven Six; Co-Founder and former Executive Chair, Reddit

ABOUT TGL:

In August, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and McCarley announced the formation of TMRW Sports and TGL, a new tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA TOUR. TGL will showcase team competitions fusing advanced tech and live action from a custom-built venue in primetime on Monday nights. Woods and McIlroy are the first two golfers committed to compete and the league’s inaugural season will kick off in January 2024.

TGL, the golf league of TMRW Sports, will feature:

· Teams: Six teams of three PGA TOUR players in head-to-head, 18-hole match play;

· Tech-Infused Venue: A first-of-its-kind experience for golf enabled by a data-rich, virtual course combined with a tech-infused, short-game complex;

· Tech-Enabled Fan Experience: High-energy, greenside fan experience with every shot live within a 2-hour, primetime televised match;

· Season: 15 regular season Monday night matches followed by semifinals and finals series.

[nostuntsmag]

Home For You 23 Larry Things in 2023

ARTICLE BY: CHARLYROSE | @HOMEVOI28

1. HSLOT

Harry has the 3 LA shows, Australia and Asia legs, and another Europe leg scheduled for 2023. The LA shows are on January 26, 27. The rest of the legs start on February 20.

2. 3 year Walls anniversary

In just about a month Walls will turn 3 years old (January 31). For Walls’ first anniversary Louis did the infamous Spotify covers of definitely not Harry’s tattoos and while he didn’t do anything last year, he did start tour the next day. Perhaps this year Louis will do something for the 3rd anniversary.

3. Harry bday

As most (if not all of us) know, Harry’s 29th birthday will take place on February 1, 2023, for which fundraisers are already happening.

4. Grammy Awards

Harry has been nominated for 6 Grammys (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Music Video). For note so no one gets mad, Faith in the Future was not released on time to qualify for the 2023 Grammys which will be held on February 5.

5. The BRIT Awards

I couldn’t find anything confirmed yet, but Harry is predicted for Best British Album of the Year, and Best British Single. The BRITs will take place on February 11.

6. Pollstar Awards

Harry is nominated for Major Tour of the Year, Best Pop Tour, and Best Brand Partnership/Live Campaign for the Pollstar Awards, which will take place on February 22.

7. Academy Awards

Harry, David Dawson, and Emma Corrin have all been submitted for Supporting Actor in the 2023 Academy Awards. This means Harry might be at the Oscars (and talk to David and Emma, which is always fun), and Harry could end up being an Academy Award winner. The Academy Awards will take place on March 12.

8. 1 year since door / halfway home / Coachella

I’ve listed these as one thing because having each as a separate thing felt cheap, and they’re all linked in my head. The Door™ led to Halfway home being such a large thing (briefly explained here (note the self-promo)), and Harry first sang Boyfriends (which has the halfway home lyric) at Coachella night 1. Boyfriends was obviously among one of the many unhinged things Harry did at Coachella last year. The You Are Home door started on March 18th and ran for two months and then came back very briefly twice for Harry’s singles. YAH tweeted “half way home” on April 13th. Then Harry performed at Coachella on April 15th, singing Boyfriends for the first time, then again on April 22nd.

9. 1 year Harry’s House anniversary

The 1st anniversary of Harry’s House is on May 20th. Which means we can expect something. For Fine Line, it was the special vinyl (and my understanding is that it was the same for HS1).

10. 6 year HS1 anniversary

The 6th anniversary of HS1 is on May 12th. I don’t remember Harry doing anything for the 5th last year, so I doubt he’d do anything this year, but who knows. At the least we get to celebrate.

11. FITFWT

As of right now only the North America and European legs of FITFWT have been announced for 2023, but the LATAM, Asia, and Australian legs should be announced soon (but will likely take place in 2024). FITFWT starts on May 26.

12. Louis performing No Control (?)

At one of his recent signings, Louis told a fan that he might sing No Control “once or twice next year, I would like to yeah!” Regardless of whether he remembers this or will hold to it, one can have hope.

13. Louis possibly writing LT3

In Euphoria Magazine Louis said he hopes to have finished writing (not recording) LT3 before tour starts (on May 26). Which means LT3 is likely in the writing process and in its early stages as we speak.

14. More EURO-2023 chaos

The Euros will be happening from June 21 to July 8, and something Gayos always seems to happen around the Euros. At the very least Louis will probably tweet about the Euros or we’ll get some fan footage of Louis watching the Euros.

15. One Direction’s 13th Anniversary

This year One Direction will be a teenager (yes I’m cheesy) on July 23. Which also means the 13th anniversary of the iconic moment when Louis jumped into Harry’s arms when the band formed. For no reason. Whatsoever. Obviously.

16. September 28th’s 10th Anniversary

The 10th anniversary of September 28, 2013 is this year. Yes I know this has been debunked but it still matters in our hearts, and if anything, it’s the 10th Larry day.

17. FITF’s 1 Year Anniversary

Considering how unhinged Louis has been for the past year, I feel like we can be pretty sure he’ll manage to outdo the Spotify covers for Faith’s 1 year anniversary on November 11.

18. 10th anniversary of 1D Day’s 10th Anniversary

1D Day occurred on November 23, 2013, meaning the 10th anniversary of it (and Midnight Memories) is this year. This means the the infamous performance of Little Things where Harry stared at Louis the entire time (and almost definitely sang “I’m in love with Lou”) will have happened 10 years ago.

19. Fine Line 4th Anniversary

The 3rd anniversary for Fine Line just happened, where Harry did his “pink and blue forever” post, and for the 4th year on December 13th, I’d say it’ll be something similar.

20. Louis’ 32nd bday

Louis just turned 31 on December 24th, and I wrote this over his birthday so it feesl odd to include, but he does turn 32 in 2023.

21. Narry/Nouis interactions

Niall will be a judge on Season 23 of “The Voice” (premieres March 6), has an album coming out in May, and will be playing several festivals this year. All this means we’ll likely have some Narry and/or Nouis interactions.

22. Possible Big Bird MV

I personally have not given up on the hope that the big bird MV is still coming, because knowing Harry it could come out at 1 AM EST on New Years. Or it’s scraped.

23. 🏁

iykyk

Have an amazing 2023 larries!

[mysmorgasbordoffantabulosa]

Keyboard warriors at it again, they infuriate me so much!! JK & Tae have more real advisors than you can ever be! They are not helpless and do need you to fight their fights on social media against Hybe. If BH/ Hybe are partial to them and do not promote them well, they have their own professionals to fight them with. I see no reason why BH wouldn't promote their own cash machines well enough though!

The 2nd live clearly proved that even if the first live was not approved, there were no real consequences! JK himself said it. (I personally think, sometimes artists do use company manuals and policies as shields when they do not want to do something).

Secondly about the Grammy's - I am not saying they are not a corrupt or partial organization. They are! But it is BTS choice to enter into them. Many artists ( like Bruno Mars) have opted out. If BTS has entered, then whatever the result, insulting it post the awards is insulting the winners. I am a BTS fan but 'Unholy' was a far better song than 'My Universe'. I would have been ecstatic if BTS won but to lose to Unholy is a worthy loss. Even JK was happily singing it!! These keyboard warriors not respecting BTS' choice to enter into the awards by calling the awards corrupt after the loss is ridiculous!!

These keyboard warriors (not calling them Army because they are not representative of Army) is why many hate on BTS and fear their fandom!!

Keyboard warriors are just a fact of modern life we have to live with them unfortunately, of course doesn't mean we can't hate them.

Regarding lives, I think even those that appeared unplanned are actually partially planned. I think JK's live was to distract from the whole Calvin Klein rumour that has since vanished.

Regarding the GRAMMYs my biggest problem is that Best Group/Duo isn't actually given to a group or duo, recently it's been used to be given to a singer and their featured artist on a song an award sometimes as compensation for not getting a bigger award on the night. In the last decade, the award has only gone to a group/duo on 3 occasions, the other 7 times it was to a soloist and their featured artist like Sam Smith and Kim Petras this year. Out of the nominees this year, it should really have gone to either ABBA or BTS & Coldplay.

The Grammys are corrupt, racist and sexist. SIMPLES.

[ghanaplug]

Apple Music Live Presents Alicia Keys’ First Ever Holiday Masquerade Ball

Global superstar Alicia Keys’ first-ever Holiday Masquerade Ball is set to stream exclusively on Apple Music in partnership with TikTok on Wednesday, December 21st at 7:00p PST for a festive can’t-miss Apple Music Live season finale. The 15-time GRAMMY® Award-winner’s epic one-night-only hometown performance at The United Palace in New York — packed with glitter and glamour to celebrate the…

[90363462]

Lizzo Had Choice Words for Kanye West After He Insulted Her Weight

“I’m minding my fat Black beautiful business.”

Lizzo performs onstage at Madison Square Garden in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Lizzo appeared to shut down Ye, previously known as Kanye West, for his recent jab at her weight on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight.

During the October 7 appearance, Ye brought up the Grammy winner while arguing that the media’s “demonic” promotion of obesity was part of a plot meant to accelerate the “genocide of the Black race.”

“When Lizzo loses 10 pounds and announces it, the bots … on Instagram, they attack her losing weight, because the media wants to put out a perception that being overweight is the new goal when it’s actually unhealthy,” Ye told Carlson. He even had the audacity to call her his “good friend.”

Just a day later, the “About Damn Time” singer took a moment during the Toronto show of “Lizzo: The Special Tour” to let people know exactly how she felt about being brought up unprompted.

“I feel like everybody in America got my motherfucking name in their motherfucking mouth for no motherfucking reason,” Lizzo told the audience. “I’m minding my fat Black beautiful business.”

She joked that she might as well move to Canada, asking the crowd, “Can I stay here? Who can I marry for citizenship?” Judging by the audience’s screams of “yes,” she can absolutely find a Canadian hottie if she wants to.

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During that same concert, Lizzo also Facetimed a concert attendee’s ex-boyfriend live on stage to ask him, “You ‘bout to miss out on a bad bitch or what?” Between her new tour, reclaiming a dead president’s 200-year-old flute, and flirting in Rihanna’s DMs, she is thriving, thank you very much.

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And to the next person who feels compelled to make an unwarranted, fatphobic comment about Lizzo’s body, heed her acceptance speech reminder from this year's MTV Video Music Awards: “To the bitches that got something to say about me in the press, you know what? I’m not going to say nothing… Cause bitch, I’m winning, ho! THIS BITCH IS WINNING.”

Get the best of what’s queer. Sign up for them.'s weekly newsletter here.

[hiphopraisedmetheblog]

Big Sean Unleashes Sixth Studio Album ‘Better Me Than You’

**Exploring Big Sean’s Sixth Studio Album: Better Me Than You**Big Sean, a distinguished 7-time BET Award winner and GRAMMY®-nominated hip-hop artist, has made a grand return to the music scene with the release of his sixth studio album, *Better Me Than You*, under Def Jam Recordings. This album marks Sean’s first full-length solo project since the widely acclaimed *Detroit 2*, and it has been…

[d-criss-news]

A Very Darren Crissmas

December 10 2023 Sunday evening at 7:30pm Fisher Theatre Detroit, Michigan

Award-winning actor, singer, and songwriter Darren Criss (Glee) performs songs from his holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas, with music ranging from big-band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads. A Very Darren Crissmas showcases his kaleidoscopic artistry and delivers both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic. 

A VERY DARREN CRISSMAS Comes to Denver in December

Kicking off the Christmas season, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss will perform songs from his recent holiday album, A Very Darren Crissmas in a national tour coming to the Fisher Theatre December 10. His first ever full length project includes a wildly eclectic collection of songs from big band Christmas classics to novelty tunes to modern-day folk-pop ballads. Made with Ron Fair, multi-Grammy nominee and producer of numerous GRAMMY-winning hits, A Very Darren Crissmas showcases his artistry delivering both thrillingly unpredictable moments and a timeless sense of Christmas magic. Darren Criss will perform at the Fisher Theatre on December 10, 2023. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m. online at BroadwayInDetroit.com and in person at the Fisher Theatre box office starting at 12:00 p.m.

Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape from Fox’s hit show Glee over a decade ago, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. The multi-hyphenates illustrious career spans television, film, music and stage.

Criss is widely known for FOX’s massively successful musical series Glee, from which many of his performances of popular songs would lead to several Billboard-topping records. In 2015 his songwriting also landed an Emmy nomination for Best Original Music and Lyrics, from penning the song “This Time” for the show’s series finale.

As an actor, Criss is a veteran of the stage whose Broadway credits include the titular role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (2012), and the most recent 2022 revival of David Mamet’s seminal play American Buffalo alongside Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell. In 2018 his work in Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story received wide critical acclaim, earning him a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice Award. He was also recently seen starring in Netflix’s hit series Hollywood, for which he also served as executive producer.

Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Group Sales at 313-871-1132 or emailing broadwayindetroitgroups@theambassadors.com Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. Broadway In Detroit uses Ticketmaster as its sole, authorized ticketing agent. Individual tickets purchased from a ticket broker or “third party” ticket reseller involves risk and may not be authentic, sold at box office prices, or with correct performance and venue information. Broadway In Detroit box offices cannot verify tickets sold through a third party or ticket reseller. Broadway In Detroit is also unable to contact third party purchasers with pertinent updates or changes regarding performances. For more information on Broadway in Detroit, subscriptions, group sales and more, please visit www.BroadwayinDetroit.com

[chrisryanspeaks]

RAYE's Groundbreaking New Opus 'Genesis' Illuminates a Musical Renaissance

Fresh from her record-breaking wins at The BRITs, global sensation RAYE returns with the genre-defying "Genesis," a work that transcends the usual confines of a "single." Produced with multiple GRAMMY Award winner Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, SZA), "Genesis" is a new three-act opus from RAYE, showcasing a masterclass in disrupting the music landscape. Through storytelling, RAYE parallels the origins of her universe, elevating her emotionally raw and vulnerable lyrics with triumphant strings and horns, dulcet harmonies, and an emboldened snare, creating a pitch-perfect performance that feels like a divine battle cry. "Genesis" confronts an unfinished chapter with a clear intention for a new beginning, drawing inspiration from big band, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and contemporary pop. From darkness emerges light, heralding a musical renaissance. RAYE explains: "There is a Nina Simone quote, ‘It is an artist's duty to reflect the times’. This quote means everything to me, and I believe the best way I can honor it is through my art and music. In a world filled with darkness and pain, I wanted to create something deeply personal and raw about my own mind and the world around me. The song is a 7-minute piece I've meticulously crafted over the last year and a half, experimenting with different genres and sonic expressions. Beneath all the layers and lyrics, the core message is ‘Let There Be Light’. It's a prayer, a plea, and a cry for help. I hope this song brings hope to those who need it most, just as it has for me."   Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

RAYE's Groundbreaking New Opus 'Genesis' Illuminates a Musical Renaissance

Fresh from her record-breaking wins at The BRITs, global sensation RAYE returns with the genre-defying "Genesis," a work that transcends the usual confines of a "single." Produced with multiple GRAMMY Award winner Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, SZA), "Genesis" is a new three-act opus from RAYE, showcasing a masterclass in disrupting the music landscape. Through storytelling, RAYE parallels the origins of her universe, elevating her emotionally raw and vulnerable lyrics with triumphant strings and horns, dulcet harmonies, and an emboldened snare, creating a pitch-perfect performance that feels like a divine battle cry. "Genesis" confronts an unfinished chapter with a clear intention for a new beginning, drawing inspiration from big band, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and contemporary pop. From darkness emerges light, heralding a musical renaissance. RAYE explains: "There is a Nina Simone quote, ‘It is an artist's duty to reflect the times’. This quote means everything to me, and I believe the best way I can honor it is through my art and music. In a world filled with darkness and pain, I wanted to create something deeply personal and raw about my own mind and the world around me. The song is a 7-minute piece I've meticulously crafted over the last year and a half, experimenting with different genres and sonic expressions. Beneath all the layers and lyrics, the core message is ‘Let There Be Light’. It's a prayer, a plea, and a cry for help. I hope this song brings hope to those who need it most, just as it has for me."   Read the full article

[savefilescomng12]

Vin Diesel Gives "First Crush" Rita Moreno a Moving Tribute

Rita Moreno's incredible, decades-long career is being celebrated. Moreno, 92, appeared at the Edison Ballroom in New York City at the WNET Group's 2024 gala on Tuesday, May 7, where Vin Diesel celebrated his onscreen grandmother's and official "first crush's" legendary acting career. Taking the stage with a heartfelt speech, Diesel, 56, made it clear he was there to support Moreno, who portrayed Abuelita, the grandmother of Diesel's long-running Dominic Toretto character in Fast X. “My dream as a kid growing up here in New York … my first crush … was Rita," he began. He credited Moreno's role in The Electric Company for helping him and fellow New Yorkers in his neighborhood learn how to read. The classic television series ran from 1971 to 1977. He then recalled a full circle moment when he was looking for an actress to play Abuelita in the latest Fast & Furious franchise film. "I had the incredible luxury of meeting one of my idols and from that moment on I thought the only human in the world that could play the most significant role to Dom Toretto would be Rita Moreno." 8SP_David Nicholas He praised Moreno for helping him realize as a child that someone who "looks like me" can make it as a famous actor, giving him the "confidence" to pursue his own dreams. Sharing an unforgettable moment Diesel continued, "Rita and I were working and a line was created on the spot for her to say. It was whispered into her ear and she looked up and started crying and said. 'That’s the most beautiful line I’ve ever heard.' Now what? What do you do with that but cry? The whole set was crying." "You not only show up for family but you show up for people that make a difference in this world and that just by inviting me here validates my existence. I’m serious," Diesel said. "I don't have an Oscar, I don't have an Emmy, I don't have a Golden Globe, I don't have a Tony but I got Rita Moreno.” Moreno became emotional after hearing Diesel's kind words, and told the audience in what appeared to be an unexpected moment on the microphone, "I’ve never had any kind of celebration in my honor. Yes, I’ve gotten some pretty fabulous awards and statutes but I’ve never had anything in my honor." After reflecting on her journey, she sang a rendition of "Dream," which garnered a standing ovation from the audience. 8SP_David Nicholas Morgan Freeman, Alan Cumming, Lin Manuel-Miranda, and Sally Field also appeared via video to pay tribute to the EGOT winner. Dancers from the Ballet Hispánico performed at the event, as did Marvel actress and Dancing with the Stars champion Xochitl Gomez. Ansel Elgort performed "Something's Coming" from West Side Story, resulting in an emotional Moreno kissing Elgort after the moment. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.  Moreno first appeared on Broadway as a teenager in 1945 in a production of Skydrift; she then began acting for the screen with 1950's So Young, So Bad and memorably starred in the 1961 film West Side Story, for which she won an Academy Award for her performance as Anita. Moreno reached EGOT status in 1977 after she won an Emmy Award for appearing on The Muppet Show; she won a Grammy in 1973 and a Tony Award in 1975 for her performance in The Ritz. Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Moreno turned 92 in December. She caught up with PEOPLE in April, when she spoke about her relationship with her daughter Fernanda Luisa Gordon, whom she shares with her late husband, Leonard Gordon. "There are times when I need her wisdom, and they are more often than you might think, particularly at this age," she said at the time. "Ninety-two is not easy in many ways, and it's something that's difficult to understand."  Source link Read the full article