#it was long but they had this baritone doing the national anthem and his voice was absolutely gorgeous

[pebblezone]

The Hellsing Organization Goes To Brazil!!

[blackkudos]

Darius Rucker

Darius Carlos Rucker (born May 13, 1966) is an American singer and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, which he founded in 1986 at the University of South Carolina along with Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber. The band released five studio albums with him as a member and charted six top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Rucker co-wrote most of the songs with the other members.

He released a solo R&B album, Back to Then in 2002 on Hidden Beach Recordings but no singles from it charted. Six years later, Rucker signed to Capitol Nashville as a country music singer, releasing the album, Learn to Live that year. Its first single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", made him the first black artist to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs charts since Charley Pride in 1983. (Ray Charles hit number one in March 1985 in a duet with Willie Nelson with "Seven Spanish Angels".) It was followed by two more number one singles, "It Won't Be Like This for Long" and "Alright" and the number three hit "History in the Making". In 2009, he became the first black American to win the New Artist Award from the Country Music Association, and the second black person to win any award from the association. A second album, Charleston, SC 1966, was released on October 12, 2010. The album includes the number one singles, "Come Back Song" and "This".

Early life

Rucker was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, where his family history goes back generations. He lives in Charleston with his wife and three children. His single mother, Carolyn, a nurse at Medical University of South Carolina, raised him with his three sisters and two brothers. According to Rucker, his father was never around, and Rucker saw him only before church on Sundays. His father was in a gospel band called The Traveling Echoes. Rucker has said that he had a typical Southern African-American upbringing. His family attended church every Sunday and was economically poor, and at one point, his mother, her two sisters, his grandmother and 14 children were all living in a three-bedroom house. But he says that he looks back on his childhood with very fond memories. His sister, L'Corine, recalled that singing was always his dream.

Hootie & the Blowfish

Darius Rucker has been the lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish since its formation in 1986. He met fellow band members Mark Bryan, Jim "Soni" Sonefeld, and Dean Felber while attending the University of South Carolina. Bryan first heard Rucker singing in the shower, and the two became a duo, playing R.E.M. covers at a local venue. They later recruited Felber and finally Sonefeld joined in 1989. As a member of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker has recorded six studio albums: Cracked Rear View – 1994, Fairweather Johnson – 1996, Musical Chairs – 1998, Scattered, Smothered & Covered – 2000, Hootie & the Blowfish and Looking for Lucky – 2005, also charting within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 six times. All six albums feature songs that Rucker, Bryan and Felber wrote. As the frontman, Rucker began to be called simply "Hootie" by fans, though the band title combines the nicknames of his college friends. Before his rise to fame, he lived in the basement of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house at the University of South Carolina, attempting to launch his career through the college bar scene.

Rucker's signature contribution to the band is his baritone voice, which Rolling Stone has called "ingratiating," TIME has called "low, gruff, [and] charismatic," and Entertainment Weekly has characterized as a "barrelhouse growl." Rucker said they "flipped" the formula of the all black band with a white frontman, like Frank Sinatra performing with Count Basie. Musically, he has sometimes been criticized or spoofed for not being "black enough". Saturday Night Live ran a sketch of Tim Meadows playing Rucker leading beer-drinking, white fraternity members in a counter-march to Louis Farrakhan's Million Man March. He also received death threats for singing the Hootie song "Drowning," a protest song against the flying of the Confederate flag above the South Carolina statehouse.

Shortly after gaining a measure of fame, Felber and Rucker (who consider themselves best friends) moved into an apartment in Columbia, South Carolina. With Rucker's recognition as the frontman of a successful band came increased opportunities. In October 1995, he was asked to sing the national anthem at the World Series. Frank Sinatra invited him to sing at his 80th birthday party; he sang "The Lady Is a Tramp." That same week, he made a voice cameo in an episode of the sitcom Friends. He also joined Nanci Griffith on the song "Gulf Coast Highway" for her 1997 album Blue Roses from the Moons, and sang backing vocals on Radney Foster's 1999 album See What You Want to See. He encouraged Atlantic Records to agree to a deal with Edwin McCain and made a guest appearance on McCain's debut album, Honor Among Thieves.

In regard to the future of Hootie & the Blowfish, Rucker was quoted by CBS news as stating in late 2011, "I don't think we'll ever break up totally. We're Hootie & the Blowfish. ... We'll make another record and do another tour someday. I don't know when, but it will happen. There's one more in us." After a ten-year hiatus, Rucker and the band announced that they will be touring with Barenaked Ladies in 2019 while releasing a new album the same year.

Their sixth studio album Imperfect Circle was released on November 1, 2019.

Solo career

In 2001, he made his solo R&B debut album, The Return of Mongo Slade, for Atlantic Records. Because of contractual changes, it was never released by the label. Hidden Beach Recordings, an independent label, acquired the masters from Atlantic and released the album as Back to Then in July 2002. The album included work from the production team of Jill Scott, and she made an appearance on the track "Hold On." The single "This Is My World" was featured in the 2001 comedy film Shallow Hal. In regards to the album, "That was just a minute in my life," he later told The Arizona Republic about the record. "I was listening to a lot of Notorious B.I.G. and Lauryn Hill at that time, and I wanted to make a neo soul record." He also said in the article that he doesn't anticipate recording an R&B-styled disc again. "Country music is my day job now. I'll probably do this till it's all over, but that album was a lot of fun."

Rucker appeared on a pop-star edition of the quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in July 2001. He also portrayed a singing cowboy in a television commercial for the fast-food company Burger King, promoting its TenderCrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch sandwich in 2005. In the commercial, he sang a jingle set to the tune of "Big Rock Candy Mountain." In 2006 Rucker lent his voice to the track "God's Reasons" written by Dean Dinning and Joel A. Miller for the film The Still Life.

Country music2008–2009: Learn to Live

In early 2008, Rucker signed to Capitol Records Nashville as the beginning of a career in country music. His first solo single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" (which he co-wrote with Clay Mills) debuted at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts for the week of May 3, 2008. It is the first single from his second album, Learn to Live. For this album, Rucker worked with Frank Rogers, a record producer who has also produced for Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins. Rucker also made his Grand Ole Opry debut in July 2008. The single reached number one in September, making Rucker the first solo, African-American artist to chart a number one country hit since Charley Pride's "Night Games" in 1983.

Learn to Live was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 6, 2009, and received a platinum certification on August 7, 2009. The album's second single, "It Won't Be Like This for Long", spent three weeks at the top of the country chart in mid-2009. Its follow-up, "Alright", became Rucker's third straight No. 1 hit, making him the first singer to have his first three country singles reach No. 1 since Wynonna in 1992. The album's fourth single, "History in the Making" was released in September and peaked at No. 3. The singles also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 35, 36, 30 and 61.

Billboard magazine said that "there's a sense of purpose that makes Rucker feel like a member of the country family, rather than calculating interloper." Rucker made visits to various country stations around the United States, explaining that he was aware that he was the "new kid on the block." Mike Culotta, the program director of Tampa, Florida, radio station WQYK-FM expected that Rucker would be "somebody who would have entitlement," but instead said that "Darius engaged everybody." When Rucker found that "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" went to number one, he cried. On November 11, 2009, Rucker won the Country Music Association New Artist of the Year award (formerly known as the Horizon Award), making him the first African American to do so since the award was introduced in 1981. Only one other African American has won at the CMAs: Charley Pride, who won entertainer of the year in 1971 and male vocalist in 1971 and 1972.

2010–2011: Charleston, SC 1966

Rucker released his second country album, Charleston, SC 1966, on October 12, 2010. The title is inspired by Radney Foster's solo debut album, Del Rio, TX 1959. Its first single was "Come Back Song," which Rucker wrote with Chris Stapleton and Casey Beathard. It was his fourth country number one as well as a NO. 37 hit on the Hot 100. The album's second single was "This", which was released to radio in November 2010 and also reached No. 1 in the country chart. Rucker wrote it with Rogers and Kara DioGuardi. "I Got Nothin'" was the album's third single, peaking at No. 18. Also included on the album is a duet with Brad Paisley titled "I Don't Care". Charleston, SC 1966 received a gold certification.

2012–2014: True Believers

On May 20, 2011, Rucker delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of the Medical University of South Carolina.

On December 14, 2011, CBSnews.com reported that Rucker was working on a third country album with recording set to begin January 2012 followed by the release of the album early in the year. The album's lead-off single, "True Believers," made its chart debut in September. On October 12, 2012, Rucker told Broadway's Electric Barnyard that his album would also be titled True Believers. "True Believers" peaked at No. 18. Its second single is a cover of Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor's "Wagon Wheel" (previously made famous by Old Crow Medicine Show), featuring backing vocals from Lady Antebellum. "Wagon Wheel" reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart in May 2013. True Believers was released on May 21, 2013. The album's third single, "Radio", was released to country radio on July 22, 2013. The album's fourth single, "Miss You", was released to country radio on February 3, 2014.

On October 2, 2012, Rucker was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. Halfway through his set at the Opry that night he answered questions from the audience which included a question from Brad Paisley. Paisley said: "I have two questions. One, are you still the worst poker player in the world? And two, would you like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?" Rucker accepted, and it became official on October 16.

Rucker was a featured performer at the C2C: Country to Country festival in London on March 17, 2013, which was headlined by Carrie Underwood.

On News Year's Day 2013. he sang the national anthem at the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

On May 11, 2013, Rucker was the speaker at the commencement ceremony for the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Before his speech, he received an honorary doctorate of music.

Rucker also sang the national anthem at the NBA finals on June 16, 2013.

On December 6, 2013, it was announced that Rucker's version of "Wagon Wheel" had earned him a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. At the awards ceremony on January 26, 2014, Rucker won, becoming only the third African American recording act (the first being Charley Pride, the second being The Pointer Sisters) to win a vocal performance Grammy Award in a country music category.

2014–2015: Southern Style and Home for the Holidays

On August 25, 2014, Rucker released a new single titled "Homegrown Honey" to country radio and to digital retailers. It served as the lead single to his fourth country studio album, Southern Style, released on March 31, 2015. It reached No. 2 on the Country Airplay chart in April 2015. The album's second single, the title track, released to country radio on May 4, 2015.

On September 15, 2014, it was announced that Rucker had completed his first Christmas album and that it would be released on October 27, 2014. Included is a collaboration with Sheryl Crow on "Baby, It's Cold Outside".May 30, 2015 Rucker headlined Philadelphia's famous XTU 31st Anniversary Show at the Susquehanna Bank Center. Christopher Bousquet named President of the Hootie fan club

Rucker makes an appearance on Sister Hazel's new album, Lighter in the Dark.

2016–present: When Was the Last Time

On January 6, 2016, Rucker announced that he was working on his fifth country album. The album's lead single, "If I Told You" was released to country radio on July 5, 2016. It reached number one in the Country Airplay chart nearly a year later, and peaked at number four on the Hot Country Chart. Rucker also returned to the C2C: Country to Country festival in the UK in March 2017, where he was second on the bill to Reba McEntire.

On May 29, 2016, Rucker performed the national anthem prior to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. Rucker also performed the national anthem for a game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets on September 15. Rucker agreed to perform the song at the behest of personal friend and former Bills player Bruce Smith, whose jersey was being retired that night. He sang the national anthem again ahead of the Saints-Dolphins game held at London's Wembley Stadium in October 2017, as part of the NFL International Series.

Rucker was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again" and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards. On July 24, 2017, Rucker released the second single from his upcoming album, titled "For the First Time." On July 26, 2017, he shared details of his fifth country album, titled When Was the Last Time and it was released on October 20, 2017.

Rucker appeared as a mentor on seventeenth season of The Voice for Team Blake.

Personal life

Rucker is an ardent South Carolina Gamecocks fan as well as a Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Reds fan. He also likes the film Stir Crazy, which he has seen more than 100 times.To show his loyalty to his University, he gave a free concert which was held at the Colonial Life Arena after the football team was able to win 6 games following a pair of losing seasons after joining the Southeastern Conference.

Rucker's mother died in November 1992 of a heart attack. His grief inspired two Hootie & the Blowfish songs: "I'm Goin' Home" and "Not Even the Trees." On April 21, 1995, his girlfriend (Elizabeth Ann Phillips) gave birth to Rucker's first child, Carolyn Pearl Phillips. His second daughter, Daniella Rose, was born to his wife, Beth, on May 16, 2001. They had a son, Jack, in 2005. The Hootie song "Where Were You" is about Rucker's strained relationship with his father, and was released only in Europe, where Rucker thought that his father would be unlikely to hear it. His country single "Alright" was inspired by his marriage.

Rucker is a friend of the golfer Tiger Woods, whom he met in a bar when Woods was 18. Rucker sang at the golfer's wedding with Hootie & the Blowfish and at his father's funeral. His interest in golf goes well beyond his relationship with Woods; he was a VIP guest of Team USA at the 2016 Ryder Cup, and he attended Arnold Palmer's funeral shortly before the Cup.

On November 7, 2016, Rucker told ESPN that he had become a partner in MGC Sports, a sports agency that currently represents golfers (among them Steve Stricker and Kenny Perry), football players, and coaches. He added that he was planning to reduce his performance commitments from 100 dates per year to about 30, and that he thought that his experience in the entertainment business would be an asset to potential clients. Rucker will be able to work without restrictions for golfers, but because he is not registered with the NFL players' union, he initially will only be able to meet with NFL players under very limited circumstances.

For the Undercover Boss series episode "Celebrity Undercover Boss: Darius Rucker" which premiered May 12, 2017, Rucker disguised himself as a 62 year old music teacher, ran an open mic night and worked as a roadie.

Philanthropy and impact

Rucker has regularly worked with charities that support sick and underprivileged children, via benefit concerts, volunteering, the PGA The First Tee Program, and the Hootie & The Blowfish Foundation which has raised nearly $4.5 million to provide funding to public education systems throughout South Carolina.

He serves as a board member of the MUSC Children's Hospital in Charleston, SC. where his mother worked for over 30 years from the time Rucker was a child, and has helped fundraise millions of dollars to help build a new hospital.

He also made a commitment to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after touring the facility in 2008. Since then, Rucker has spearheaded an annual event focused on amazing music, memorable collaborations and heartfelt stories resulting in over $1.6M raised for St. Jude's to date.

[the-pancake-writes]

Snippet: Prince Yugi/bodyguard Atem AU 2 - The Forbidden Little Book

Sequel to “New Year’s Ball”

For a complete overview check the contents page

If you saw this post you already know about this AU of mine. The title basically says it all. Prince Yugi, body guard Atem, forbidden love, drama. ;D

Since the last snippet turned out to be pretty popular I decided to write a sequel. I love this AU, even though I’m still busy with plotting the brothel story. :D Special thanks to my friend @lovecraft-barbie (who is also a duck) for beta reading. Love ya, sweetie. <3

Contains some sexy themes but no sexy actions as of yet lol.

This time: The New Year’s Ball is over and Yugi has to tend to his duties as a prince again. He has to face the possibility of a war, deal with his feelings towards his bodyguard, and also comes upon a book that contains knowledge that is forbidden to a prince…

“My prince? Are you all right?”, Atem said. His gentle baritone voice sent a shiver down Yugi’s spine like it often did. Yugi looked at his bodyguard beside him in the gently rocking carriage.

“Just a little uncomfortable. I don’t like…this sort of thing. And they know”, Yugi said and played with the silvery ribbons that held together his blue, fur-lined cloak.

“Don’t worry, my prince. You’re still their future king and they will honour you as such”, Atem said with a smile that Yugi couldn’t help but return.

The sound of fanfares grew louder until the vehicle came to a halt. Atem checked his sword and pistol before he got off. Even though Yugi couldn’t see it, he knew what was happening. Atem circled the carriage, made sure everything was safe and stopped next to the footman at Yugi’s door. Only once Atem gave the sign, the servant opened it.

A cool breeze blew inside. Yugi took a deep breath, adjusted his cloak and gloves, and stepped outside. Soldiers in blue frock coats lined the path to a big building of grey stone. A small orchestra was playing the national anthem.

A group of high-ranking officials, as Yugi knew by the small medals attached to their uniforms, was waiting for him. Leading them was a tall man with a grey beard and the same gold-brown skin as Atem. He and the others saluted Yugi.

“General Aknamkanon Sennen at your service, your highness. It’s an honour to welcome you at Military Headquarters Alpha 12”, he said.

“Thank you, General.”

“I will show you around”, General Sennen said and gestured at the building behind him. Inside, he walked Yugi past paintings of former officials and introduced him to some of his colleagues. Yugi listened to introductions and shook hands while an assistant of his stood near him and took notes of everything that was being said.

Afterwards, they entered the inner courtyard. A unit of soldiers surrounded them in a square formation, replacing the usual squad of royal guards around Yugi. A few snowflakes were falling and being whirled around by the wind.

They passed soldiers who were training in sword fighting, shooting, and hand-to-hand-combat. General Sennen listed the techniques they were teaching and pointed out the instructors who were serving with their experience. They reached a tower.

“Have you ever witnessed a canon being shot, your highness?”, General Sennen said as they were ascending.

“No, never”, Yugi said a moment before they reached the top. A gust made everyone’s cloaks flap around.

“We would like to change that if we may”, General Sennen said and presented Yugi with one of the engineers who had helped build the canons, of which there were five on the tower. He explained how they worked and gestured at the field before them that was covered in craters from the numerous exercises.

Everyone but the engineer and a few soldiers stepped back. They loaded the canon, accompanied by the engineer yelling commands.

“Fire!”

BOOM.

The ground below them trembled, a cloud of smoke emerged and Yugi stumbled backwards. Almost simultaneously, he was caught and shielded by a blue cape. Yugi looked up at Atem and didn’t know if his knees were wobbly because of the impact or his bodyguard’s beautiful, crimson eyes.

“Is everything all right, my prince?”, he whispered with so much gentility it warmed Yugi from the inside.

“Y-Yes, I’m fine”, Yugi said. Atem loosened his grip and stepped back. Yugi still felt his arm around his shoulders. Oftentimes, Atem was so silent Yugi forgot he was even there. But he was and he was always ready to protect Yugi…

Yugi cleared his throat and looked at the new crater the shot had created. Everyone had a smile on their face and Yugi knew they were waiting for his appreciation.

“Thank you for the demonstration. It was very impressive”, Yugi said politely but lacking the enthusiasm everyone had expected.

After a few more conversations, General Sennen offered to return to the main complex with Yugi. Yugi accepted and a little later, they were once more making their way over the inner courtyard. The soldiers around them were armed with swords and muskets. While Yugi had seen royal guards with weapons all his life he hadn’t quite comprehended that they were designed to take lives, not only defend, until…

“You don’t seem pleased, your highness”, General Sennen said. Yugi gulped. Did this sort of attentiveness run in Atem’s family?

“I know you’re doing excellent work, General. I’m as pleased as a pacifist can be.”

“I understand your concerns, your highness. If it calms you, we’ll be using our equipment and resources to protect Dareia. Not to invade another country”, General Sennen said. “And I’m afraid that not all conflicts can be solved with diplomacy is a fact, even if it’s a sad one.”

Yugi chewed on his bottom lip. He knew he wasn’t here to engage in any discussions. Yet, his thoughts refused to be silent.

“Actually, a few months ago there was a gathering of philosophers at a university in Eurodokia and they came to the conclusion…”

Yugi stopped walking when he felt something different under his boot on the otherwise smooth ground. He looked down and saw a little, blue book under his shoe. Everyone else had frozen and gasped. Even Atem’s eyes had widened.

“Whose is that?!”, General Sennen hissed at the soldiers that surrounded them. He stomped towards a young man with dark, curly hair and a face as red as a strawberry. “Is it yours, cadet?!”

“Y-Yes, General”, he said, too scared to even try to lie.

“You dare carry such filth with you in the presence of the prince?! Apologise!”, General Sennen said.

“I’m deeply sorry, your highness!”, the soldier said and bowed. Everyone looked at Yugi. He had no idea what the little, blue book was about but it seemed to be a bad thing. He crossed his arms.

“I will look over it this once. But this better not happen again”, Yugi said to General Sennen.

“Of course not, your highness”, he said and turned to the soldier. “You better thank the prince for his benevolence!”

“O-Of course. Thank you, your highness”, the soldier said and bowed so deeply his hat almost fell off.

“Now back to the living quarters with you! I will decide on your punishment for disgracing us like this later. Dismissed!”, General Sennen said and the soldier marched away with wooden moves. General Sennen gestured at the building before them and they continued their way towards it. “I cannot apologise enough, your highness. Please believe me when I say that this doesn’t reflect our soldiers’ behaviour at all.”

“I would hope so.”

They walked inside, upstairs, and into the general’s office rooms. One of Yugi’s servants took off his cloak and Yugi handed him his scarf and gloves. Only he, Atem and his father entered the general’s main office. Yugi sat down across from him at his desk while Atem closed the door behind them. He would silently remain in a corner as usual.

On the walls hung different maps, one of them showing the continent and the countries surrounding it. A fire was crackling to Yugi’s left.

“Your highness, feel free to skip the social niceties and get straight to the point of your visit”, General Sennen said with folded hands. Though Yugi had expected it from Atem’s father, he wasn’t used to such directness.

“Thank you”, he said. “Well then…if it comes to a war with Thanos, how long would we last?”

Cold hit Yugi’s core at those words and the fact that he was required to say them. A line had appeared between General Sennen’s furrowed brows.

“In best case: a year. In worst case: six months.”

Yugi gulped. That was the answer he had feared.

“I see.”

“May I ask you: How high are the chances that it’ll come to a war with Thanos?”

Yugi glanced at one of the maps. To the north of the continent lay Thanos, a nation five times bigger than all the countries of the continental alliance combined. He looked back at the general.

While his eyes were brown and not red like Atem’s they shared the same clearness and determination. They were another indicator, beside the family’s history of loyalty to the crown, that Yugi could trust him with the truth.

“I’m afraid it’s a likely possibility”, Yugi said. “My mother, the queen, is corresponding every day with our allies of the continent and overseas. Even with the leader of Thanos, trying to solve the conflict through diplomacy after all. Sadly, that endeavour doesn’t seem to bear fruit.”

General Sennen took a deep breath through his nostrils.

“I’m worried to hear this. I’m sure the queen is doing everything in her power.”

“That she is”, Yugi said. The rings under her eyes and her tired smile were only a few proofs of that. “But there’s still hope. I will soon travel to Kallias and try to convince the empress of aiding us. She has a better relation to Thanos than all countries of the continental alliance. If I can convince her to be on our side, we can still prevent the worst.”

“So nothing is sure as of now?”, General Sennen said.

“Yes. For good and for bad.”

A faint smile played about General Sennen’s lips.

“Thank you for your honest answer, your highness”, he said and turned to a small table behind himself. Yugi’s gaze wandered to the map once more. A group of islands, ranging from tiny to big, to the continent’s south east was labelled Kallias. It’d be a long journey…

“Here are the documents you requested, your highness”, General Sennen said and slid a thick folder to Yugi. General Sennen took a monocle from his breast pocket, placed it between his eyebrow and cheek bone, and began to talk Yugi through the different sections. He explained the factors they had considered and how they played into the calculations. Yugi had to suppress a shudder at seeing so many human lives being treated as mere numbers.

How many soldiers would die? How long would the supplies last? When would the city walls fall? The bad results only tightened the knot in his throat.

“I’m sorry it looks as grim as it does”, the general said when they had gone through everything within almost two hours. He placed the monocle back in his uniform’s pocket and closed his copy of the folder.

“Well, there’s no use in being afraid. Whatever comes, we’ll face it with courage and dignity”, Yugi said. “Please hand the documents to one of my assistants. Is there any other issue that should be brought to my attention?”

“None, your highness. Thank you for your time”, General Sennen said. “But before you leave, may I have a word with the Royal Protector?”

He gestured at Atem who had been standing in a corner all this time. Despite that, he looked as alert as ever.

“You may”, Yugi said. General Sennen rang a small bell on his desk and a moment later a subordinate entered. While General Sennen gave her instructions about the documents, Yugi returned to the room next door. As soon as he entered, his servant brought his cloak, scarf, and gloves. Yugi peeked into the office as he was getting dressed. Atem and his father were standing across from each other.

“I assume you will accompany the prince to Kallias?”, General Sennen said.

“Yes, father.”

“Do you think you’ll visit your mother?”

Atem’s shoulders drooped slightly.

“Yes, I think so”, he said with a sad undertone. General Sennen’s eyes shifted over the floor.

“I know her family takes good care of her grave but please bring her a bouquet of lilies. You know they were her favourites. And tell her…I miss her.”

“I will… I’ll tell her that we both miss her”, Atem said. General Sennen patted Atem’s shoulder.

“I’m proud of you and your services to the prince. And your mother would be too”, he said. Atem smiled.

“Thank you.”

The servants gave Yugi’s coat a quick brush and wiped his boots. A little later, he left the building with General Sennen and Atem at his sides. Again, soldiers lined the path to his carriage. When they had reached it, Yugi turned to General Sennen one last time.

“Thank you for the tour and for aiding us with your knowledge. You proved once again that you provide the country with strong and competent soldiers. Of course the latter is something I’m reminded of every day”, Yugi said and gestured at Atem. General Sennen’s face lightened up. He saluted Yugi and so did his subordinates.

“It’s an honour to serve you, your highness. Have a pleasant journey.”

Yugi entered the vehicle and Atem joined him from the other side. Once more, fanfares played as they started moving. Yugi leaned back and sighed, relieved that the appointment was over.

“You didn’t need to say that to my father”, Atem said and only now Yugi noticed the pink stains on his cheeks.

“The truth needs to be said. I’m very grateful to have you by my side. You’re the reason why I still feel safe despite…everything”, Yugi said. Atem turned to him with his eyes of a red that would warm Yugi in the deepest of snowstorms.

“I will always keep you save, my prince. No matter what happens”, he said and his voice was both as deep as thunder and gentle as velvet. If only it could be the first thing Yugi heard in the morning and the last one he heard at night…

Yugi cleared his throat and watched out of the window. They were passing a small forest of barren trees and a sign that pointed towards the capital where his next appointment would take place. In a small compartment one of his assistants had placed a file that contained the most important facts about that meeting. He took it out and opened it. It was blue, which reminded Yugi of something.

“Atem, the little, blue book that soldier dropped…what was that all about?”

“You don’t know…?”

“No, I bluffed”, Yugi said and scratched his cheek. Atem rubbed his neck.

“It was a convincing bluff then. But of course it’s beneath you to know such things…”

“To know what?”

“Well…these blue, little books…they’re sold everywhere in the capital… They’re really cheap and low-quality…”

“What’s inside?”, Yugi said. Atem played with the small gold medal on his chest. He avoided Yugi’s gaze.

“Well…pornography. It’s really cheap pornography.”

A hot wave of embarrassment swept through Yugi. His eyes widened.

“Oh…! Now I understand why everyone… I feel so silly!”

“But your reaction was appropriate! Everyone knows that nobles and especially royalty are above such…vulgarities…”

“Y-Yes. Of course”, Yugi said and hid his face in his file. But his knees still felt wobbly at the thought of having been so close to a piece of pornography. And those were sold everywhere in the city? It had to be really easy for a commoner to acquire such a thing…

Yugi shook his head. What was he thinking?! He, a prince! It was more than indecent! It was a sin! He took a deep breath and began reading the words in front of him, preparing for the next item on today’s schedule.

~~~

The usual fanfares played when Yugi got out of the carriage. The crowd around him applauded and cheered and Yugi waved at them. A woman in a forest green skirt and grey blouse received him. Her black hair was pinned up and she wore a white lab coat like the six people around her. They all bowed before Yugi.

“Welcome to Red Leaf Hospital, your highness. Your visit is an honour. I’m Doctor Ishtar, chief of medicine”, she said.

“Thank you. I apologise for the tumult my visit is causing. I hope I’m not disturbing anyone’s rest”, Yugi said but Dr Ishtar gave a calm smile.

“Don’t worry, your highness. If anything, the anticipation for your visit has caused more smiles than usual.”

Inside, more beaming faces awaited him. Surrounded by royal guards, Dr Ishtar led him through a few wards into a research area. She explained some theories that had helped them find a cure for certain viruses and would be helpful for potential breakthroughs. Yugi looked through microscopes, watched some experiments and listened to explanations, even though he understood only little of the medical terms.

Everyone he talked to dropped hints about how a separate building for their research would be “most beneficial”. Yugi didn’t decide this sort of thing by himself but after seeing how dedicated and professional the scientists were he was inclined to favour the idea.

As soon as they left the research area Yugi noticed a group of three young women with red scarves among the other onlookers and a few journalists with notepads and pens. The girls squealed, giggled, and pointed at him. Yugi ignored them. He was used to this sort of admiration from women, even though he never boasted about it.

Dr Ishtar was telling him about the history of the wing to their right. They passed another ward and through the glass doors Yugi could look inside. The patients were either sleeping in bed or being examined by doctors and nurses with surgical masks. The patients all had tired looks on their faces and their skin was covered in greenish and yellowish bumps. The sight caused a feeling of nausea in Yugi.

“A highly contagious area. We best keep going, your highness”, Dr Ishtar said. For a moment they walked in silence. “I’m sorry you had to see this.”

“When I walk into a hospital I know I have to expect seeing illness”, Yugi said. He wished he could have done something for these people instead of just walking by. But he also knew that a doctor could do a lot more for them than a prince, no matter how much his visit might boost their spirits.

“The lack of antibiotics is especially harmful in these cases. We ration them already but since we can’t expect new shipments from Thanos any time soon…”, Dr Ishtar said. Yugi’s organs tightened at those words.

“I understand. I, the queen, and everyone in our service are doing what we can to ease the tension between our countries.”

Dr Ishtar stopped and so did her colleagues, Yugi, and the royal guards. They, the onlookers and even the scarf girls were silent for a moment.

“Your highness…do we have to fear a war?”, Dr Ishtar said. The hallway was silent. Yugi saw the fear in the eyes of everyone around him. He knew he couldn’t cause a panic by giving them the same answer as General Sennen. He put on a smile.

“Of course not”, he said. “Yes, there are a couple of disagreements but nothing that can’t be solved through diplomacy. All we need is a little help from the empress of Kallias. And I’m sure you heard that I will journey there soon to take care of the problem.”

All the sighs and little laughs around him were both relief and a stab in the gut for Yugi. Dr Ishtar’s expression softened as well.

“Please know that the people will miss you”, she said and they continued to walk. “If you still have time, may I show you the rest of the hospital grounds?”

Yugi glanced at his assistant behind him. She checked her pocket watch and nodded at Yugi.

“Please do”, he said. They left the building through a set of double doors. A breath of fresh, crisp air filled Yugi’s lungs. The trees, bushes, and flower beds were barren and capped by snow, yet Yugi noticed the creative patterns they were arranged in. In spring the garden had to be full of colour and life.

Only few bushes were blossoming, among them winter roses. The pink petals reminded Yugi of his and Atem’s almost-kiss a few weeks ago at the New Year’s Ball. He rubbed the back of his hand and looked straight forward.

Yugi waved at a nurse and his patient in a wheelchair. They gasped in surprise and returned the gesture. The three girls with red scarves were still following the group as closely as the royal guards let them.

“Do you like cats, your highness?”, Dr Ishtar said as they passed a frozen pond.

“Uhm, yes. Why?”

“We have a cat house over there. Besides being excellent mousers, we found that many patients benefit from their company. So we set up a few rooms for them where people can visit”, Dr Ishtar said.

“That sounds wonderful. I’d love to see it.”

Royal guards secured the little redbrick house and entered it with Yugi, Dr Ishtar, and the others. They reached a hall with tall windows that let the sunshine in. Three shelves contained one cushion per compartment that served as cat beds. On half of them, cats had rolled up or were sleeping. Others were sitting on one of the couches, drinking from bowls or playing with small balls or ribbons. Most of them looked up when the group of people entered, others didn’t care. There was something calm and peaceful about the room that Yugi noticed immediately.

“The ones on the sofas are usually the ones that enjoy attention the most”, Dr Ishtar said as the guards were positioning in each corner, at each window and each door.

“I see”, Yugi said and sat down next to a brown one with black stripes. It gave Yugi a curious look with its green eyes. “Hey there. May I pet you?”

Yugi slipped off his gloves and offered his hand. The cat sniffed it and when it didn’t object, Yugi let a palm run over its soft fur.

“Aww, look at that. The cats love him too! And how couldn’t they?”, one of the scarf girls said and giggled with her friends. Dr Ishtar took seat next to him and a moment later, a fluffy, auburn cat jumped on her lap.

“Seems like you’re pretty popular here”, Yugi said.

“I admit, it’s not only the patients who consider this place relaxing”, she said. For a while they chatted while more cats assembled around them, demanding attention. The green-eyed one soon sat down on Yugi’s lap, purred, and hissed at every cat that came too close.

Some tried to get the royal guards to pet them but they either ignored the cats or gently pushed them away. A few guards kept glancing at them, biting their lips and suppressing the wish to cuddle them. Atem was one of them. A black one nudged his legs over and over and Atem gave a silent sigh of unhappiness.

Yugi knew Atem loved cats. He had owned one as a child in Kallias. It had even been present in one of the family photos Atem had shown him once. If only Yugi could tell him to sit down next to him and enjoy the animals’ company with him. But like so often, they couldn’t be together despite being so close…

Atem stepped in front of one of the scarf girls who was trying to walk past the guards with a small box in her hands.

“Not one step further, miss”, Atem said.

“I…I just have a small gift for the prince.”

“For safety reasons, the prince can’t accept gifts that haven’t been thoroughly checked. We have neither the time nor have we brought the personnel to do so now. So please, step back.”

Her face turned red in anger.

“What’s the big deal?! It’s just a few cookies I made!”

“That could be laced with poison. Miss, these security measures exist for a reason. Please, step back.”

“Listen, I spent all afternoon yesterday-”

“And I don’t care”, Atem said, louder. The other onlookers turned their heads and stopped their conversations. A few royal guards stepped closer in case their assistance became necessary. “As the prince’s Royal Protector I’m responsible for his safety. And if I deem you a risk for that safety I will take measures to remove you from his vicinity. I’m asking you one last time: Please – step – back.”

He didn’t move a muscle. The girl stared at Atem, her nostrils flared. Like most people, she couldn’t counter his dominant presence.

“Fine!”, she said and stomped back to her friends. All three twisted their faces and whispered to each other, yet they were loud enough for people to hear them.

“Why does someone as kind and sweet as the prince have such a horrible person as his bodyguard?!”

“I don’t like him one bit! Why is someone that rude allowed to be near the prince?!”

“I heard his father is a general, so there you go…”

Atem didn’t react and just returned to his spot from before, as did the other guards. But Yugi clenched his teeth in anger. They had no idea how much hard work it had taken Atem to be allowed to become his bodyguard! How hard he worked every day, always alert and ready to save Yugi’s life any second! That he had saved it before he had ever thought about becoming Yugi’s Royal Protector! How dare they say such filthy words about someone who was both so strong and affectionate?!

“Excuse me. I need a breath of fresh air”, Yugi said, placed the green-eyed cat on a cushion beside him and stood up. The girls were still gossiping as he and Atem left the house through a back door. They reached a small backyard, enclosed by a red brick wall.

“Are you all right, my prince? You seem worried”, Atem said. Yugi hugged himself.

“Not worried. Mad”, he said. “They’re the horrible ones! They have no idea what you do for me every day!”

Atem’s eyes widened. He scratched his head.

“You don’t need to be bothered, my prince. They just don’t understand the concept of security.”

“But it does bother me! You’re the kindest and most caring person I know! And they say such things about you…”

Yugi’s cheeks glowed in indignation.

“My prince…I’m touched by your concern but I don’t care what anyone says as long as I can serve you. Besides, scaring people away is part of my duty.”

Yugi chuckled. Warmth radiated from his chest like so often when he and Atem had a moment that only belonged to them.

Clank!

The sound came from around the corner. Atem placed a hand on his sword pummel and gestured Yugi to stay where he was. Atem sneaked around the corner but his posture relaxed.

“It’s just another cat, my prince”, he said. The black one from before appeared around Atem’s legs and meowed.

“Well, go ahead and pet it before it eats us. I know you love cats”, Yugi said. Atem couldn’t suppress a grin.

“Thank you, my prince”, he said and knelt down. The cat closed its eyes as Atem’s hand ran over its head and back. Yugi sat down on a bench and watched how gently Atem chucked the cat under its chin. It purred and Yugi couldn’t blame it. Atem’s touch was always so tender and careful, yet it made one feel so safe…

Yugi’s eyes shifted over the floor. His jaw dropped when he saw something in front of the trash can beside him. It couldn’t be…!

In the snow lay a small, blue book, the same kind the soldier from earlier had dropped! How did it get here? Who had wanted to throw it away? A doctor? A nurse? A patient? Did people really carry this sort of stuff around in a hospital? It didn’t matter!

Yugi looked at Atem whose attention was still directed at the black cat at his feet. His heart was thudding against his chest. An idea came to his mind and he had only seconds to act on it.

He snatched the little book from the ground and stuffed it into his vest pocket under his cloak. A moment later, Atem rose and turned around.

“As cute as the little guy is I don’t want to steal your time”, he said and furrowed his brows. “Are you all right? Your face is all red, my prince.”

“Y-Yes, I’m fine”, Yugi said and took a deep breath to calm himself. But the blood in his veins was still tingling. He stood up and adjusted his clothes, making sure that the book wouldn’t fall out. “Let’s go back inside. I don’t want to keep anyone waiting.”

~~~

“Are you really all right, my prince?”, Atem said. They were sitting next to each other in the carriage.

“Y-Yes. Like I told you”, Yugi said, keeping the trembling in his voice to a minimum. He didn’t understand it himself. Even during heated discussions that took place in public, Yugi always managed to remain calm and rational. But now he couldn’t help but fidget with his gloves and cloak and despite the cold, a few drops of sweat ran over his temple.

Maybe it was because now he was doing something forbidden. He might as well be smuggling a bomb into the palace! It’d be a scandal if anyone found out! Why did Atem have to be so watchful and notice that something was different?! Then again, he couldn’t be mad at Atem for being his usual loving self…

Yugi looked out the window and saw how they were passing the golden gate to the palace. The U-shaped complex had four floors, pale yellow walls and a dark red roof. The carriage came to a halt at the entrance. Again, Atem got out first and when the door to Yugi’s left opened he stepped out as well. Almost done…now he only had to bring his little secret into his rooms and then…

Yugi’s knees wobbled, he tripped but was caught by Atem’s arms. Yugi thought he had a sudden fever.

“Careful”, Atem said and Yugi felt his breath on his face.

“Th-Thank you”, Yugi said and ended the accidental hug. He checked his vest pocket. The book was still there. Phew…! “You’re always so quick. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Nothing a good bodyguard shouldn’t be capable of”, Atem said and adjusted the small medal on his chest. The strong, well-trained chest Yugi had leaned against a few seconds ago… Yugi cleared his throat.

“Thank you for your service. You may retreat for now.”

Atem bowed with a hand on his heart.

“My prince.”

Yugi walked inside and upstairs into his personal wing. Servants opened the door for him and in the first hallway, two maids in grey dresses were already waiting. Yugi raised a hand to keep them at a safe distance.

“Just a moment. I need to take a few notes before I forget”, he said and rushed past them into his study. He closed the door behind himself and leaned against it. His shaky finger pulled the book out if his vest pocket. The thin cover had a few dog-ears and it was a little wet and muddy from the snow it had lain in. But that was nothing that wouldn’t dry.

Yugi gulped. Could he risk it…?

He opened it slightly but shut it a second later. His pulse quickened. He hadn’t seen much, only a drawing of two people, their naked bodies wrapped around each other. It really was…!

He dashed towards his desk and stuffed the book into back of one of the drawers. No one would find it here, right? No servant was allowed to enter unless it was to dust, sweep the floor or bring him a cup of tea. Not even his assistants were allowed to touch anything without his explicit consent. It was safe, it was safe…!

These thoughts calmed him enough to return to the maids. They took off his cloak and Yugi handed them his scarf and gloves.

“Lord Shada is already waiting for you”, one of the maids said. Lord Shada taught Yugi the languages of the continent and the countries beyond. Nowadays they mostly focussed on Kallian in preparation for his mission. Despite its complicated grammar, Yugi had grown to like the language over the years. Time to focus on that!

“Very well. I’ll see him immediately”, he said.

~~~

In the evening, Yugi sat at a round table with his mother, grandfather, Lord Shada, and a few other nobles. Everyone was holding cards in their hands. Some sipped at their wine glasses or nibbled on a pastries. Yugi played his last card and lost. He sighed.

“It’s unlike you to lose that often, Prince Yugi”, his grandfather said three seats away from him.

“I’m afraid the prince has been rather distracted during his lessons as well”, Lord Shada, a bald man with blue eyes and mostly a serious expression, said. Yugi scratched his head. In his thoughts he had been with the little, blue book all day. He had even found excuses to return to his study to make sure it was still there.

“Is something wrong, dear?”, the queen beside Yugi said. He couldn’t look her in the eyes.

“Y-Yes. I guess I just didn’t sleep so well”, he said. If they knew…!

Yugi watched the rest of the game while eating a little raspberry tart. One player after another dropped out until his grandfather won. Finally…!

“Congratulations. Good game”, Yugi said like all the others. He stood up and pushed the chair against the table. “Good night, lords and ladies. Mother.”

Everyone wished him a good night. Yugi left the room. He’d rather go straight to bed and spend time with his secret. But there was one last appointment waiting for him, one that he didn’t want to give up despite his impatience.

He entered the library next door. Atem was sitting on a couch in a corner, surrounded by shelves that reached the roof. Even though he was wearing casual clothes, he stood up and bowed when Yugi approached him.

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting. It was a long game. I’m sure you would have enjoyed it too if those matches weren’t exclusively for nobles”, Yugi said.

“I don’t mind. Waiting for you is worth every second, my prince”, Atem said. Yugi’s heart fluttered like a hummingbird. They sat down and Atem picked up the book from the low table in front of them. Tonight it was his turn to read and Yugi would get to listen to Atem’s wonderful, deep voice…

“Last time the two sisters had met in the abandoned castle, right?”, Yugi said.

“Yes, and discussed what to do about that hunter”, Atem said and opened the book. He cleared his throat. “Chapter 8. On the following day…”

Yugi placed his elbow on the arm rest and leaned his cheek against his palm. He didn’t pay much attention to the novel and enjoyed the view on Atem instead. He watched those perfectly shaped lips form words, marvelled at his handsome face, got lost in those eyes of the same colour as roses… If only Yugi could look at him forever… No person at the palace was more attractive than Atem…not only for his outer appearance but also for his loyalty and patience and tenderness… If only Yugi had no other duties and could spend all day with Atem…

The grandfather clock in the corner struck ten and made Yugi flinch. Already?

“What a shame”, Atem said and shut the book.

“Yeah…I’d love to know what happens next”, Yugi lied. “I’ll read the rest of the chapter tomorrow night then.”

Atem left the novel on a window sill. He accompanied Yugi to the door to his chambers, even though his own were in a different part of the palace.

“Good night, my prince. Sleep well”, Atem said.

“You too. And thank you for reading”, Yugi said and for a moment they just smiled at each other. “Good night.”

Once inside his chambers, his servants helped him change into his pyjamas, washed his face and combed his hair. He lay down in bed but he had no intentions of falling asleep yet. He waited until the last servant had retreated and everything was quiet for half an hour.

Yugi got up and put on his slippers and dressing gown. He sneaked through the corridors into his study, conscious of every little sound he made. He took the little blue book out of the drawer, stuffed it into his dressing gown’s pocket, and stole back into his bed room. After closing the door behind himself Yugi took a deep breath.

No one had seen him. Everything was quiet. He was still alone.

He turned the key in the lock and lit a candle on the bedside table. He sat down on the mattress with his legs crossed and pulled out the book. He held it in his trembling hands. By the gods, he really had it! A nervous laugh escaped his throat.

For a moment, Yugi thought about how wrong and sinful his actions were. He was a prince and had the duty to resist the temptations of the flesh! If he just tore it apart and threw it into a fire now, he could still maintain a clear conscience. But instead, he opened the book.

Yugi would almost have dropped it. Eyes wide, his heart thudded against his chest. The picture showed a naked man and woman. She was on all fours while the man was kneeling behind her. The page was titled “position of the week”. “Try it tonight!” and other, more vulgar lines were written around it.

Yugi gulped. So commoners knew different positions…? He had only learned about one when he had been educated on the matter: woman on her back, man on top of her, as little physical contact as possible. Yugi knew he should be disgusted at the thought of humans behaving like animals like this…but he wasn’t. His breath deepened. If there were no expectations for him and his future wife to always remain calm and rational…why not forget about any sophistication for a night and become an animal…?

Yugi leafed through the rest of the book. The drawings were only messy sketches and nothing like a real painting. Many features didn’t even seem anatomically correct. Then again, the buyers of these books probably didn’t care.

Some pages were damaged or missing. There were three sections, one heterosexual and two homosexual but Yugi only cared for the first one. The drawings did it in several positions, some so unexpected it made Yugi’s head dizzy. Some pleasured each other in ways that couldn’t have anything to do with reproduction.

Instructions and tips were written underneath or beside the pictures. They used many words Yugi had never come across and he could only guess what they meant. Was there an entire language dedicated to this sort of thing…?

Heat pooled in Yugi’s nether regions and despite the exhausting day he felt awake. He flinched when he felt his pants shift. He looked down on himself and covered his open mouth.

“Oh no…! Dammit…!”

He was sweating, both in excitement and embarrassment. This had happened regularly a few years back when his body had been in the middle of change from child to grown-up. He had believed this phase was over…! But he hadn’t come upon anything like the little, blue book since then.

He knew what to do now, right? Step outside onto his balcony barefooted, tuck his hands under his arm pits, and endure the cold until it that urge went away. But the book in his hands made the alternative so much more appealing…

He silently asked the gods for forgiveness and felt ashamed for a moment. He then turned to the candle and blew it out, engulfing the room in darkness.

[usstatesofsong]

Countdown to #Eurovision - Yearly Reviews - 1987

We’re a little under two months away from the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, and while we’re counting down the days toward ESC 2017, we’re going to revisit Eurovision song contests from the past and rank our favorites in each contest. (At least, through 1989... all the songs are out now!)

-------

Breaking the barrier, for a moment, between the Eurovision bubble and non-virtual reality. During the 1980s, and more recently, Belgium has been one of my favorite Eurovision countries, mostly because they don’t follow the middle path of typical pop music entries. They follow trends, or they go a bit avant-garde; they send flops, or they send gold. Their sole win in ESC history came in 1986, and thus, the European world tuned into Brussels in 1987 to watch the second-most 80’s-tastic contest the decade had to offer. The challenge was knowing who would “host” since Belgium alternates between the Walloon (French) and Flemish broadcasters for song entries. RTBF (the broadcaster of the winning artist, Sandra Kim), hosted the grand event, while BRT got to choose the singer.

First off, take a look at that logo. After viewing it a few times I finally realized it spells “87.” I’d love to meet the person who designed that logo… they chose the most 80’s-tastic colors. Even the hostess was in special 80’s form, and Brussels has my douze points for the most 80’s-tastic stage of the decade. It just kind of disappears into a dark abyss, which makes for some interesting antics during the performances. Speaking of the hostess, she was a statuesque woman by name of Viktor Lazlo. Sounds like a man’s name? That’s because her real name is Sonia. She’s my second-most favorite host of the decade, for many reasons! But I digress… the contest itself is memorable for bringing forth the real look of the decade, and not shying away from some 80’s-tastic tunes, as well. Some of my favorite entries of all time come from this contest - for better, or for worse. And all 22 (usual) countries participated! No excuses, no holiday boycotting, no mistakenly reentered songs - we have a full contest to swim through.

Another Eurovision blogger that I admire really detests the ‘87 contest, for reasons that I don’t completely agree with, but am willing to accept. There are some doozies, after all, that will make you question your true sexuality. Also, “Deeeeeee melodie!”

Alright, I’ve buffered this blog with all that I can muster. Let’s get to it, shall we?

1. NORWAY - Kate Gulbrandsen - Mitt liv (9th, 65 pts)

Well, she’s definitely on a mission! And not with just the hair… or the clothes… or the boots. You know what I’d really like to see? Someone taking on that combination in 2017. They’d earn a gold medal for braveness, because I think that style was dead by 1988. The song has a power to it, a developing force, trudging through tough times and overcoming the challenges of the world. It wouldn’t be out of place as the theme song of a movie. Although the song is titled “my life,” I imagine the way she describes her life in Norwegian is supposed to be relative. There’s just a bit of an empty feeling to this song, and the stage. All in all, not a bad start to the contest.

2. ISRAEL - Datner & Kushnir - Shir Habatlanim (8th, 73 pts.)

Lulz. So many lulz. What else do I need to say here? Lulz!!!! Israel, you loving bunch. Europe loves you right back. The fame of this song, and the legacy it holds because the Israeli Prime Minister of Culture or something like that wanted to resign if this song was sent… really?? Get the stick out of your butt. If anything, people love Israel more for songs like this. So, if you compare the ESC version of the song to the national final, this really comes alive and can be… somewhat understood as a legitimate entry. The orchestration sounds great in that big stage, and the little dances are so damn entertaining. There’s a 1950s vibe to the composition, but the singing is so unlike anything. It’s pure theatrics. Props to RTBF for cutting to the next shot as Avi’s in mid-air jump! WE NEVER KNOW IF HE COMES BACK DOWN!!! :D :D Such happy! Also, featuring the first song/performance to feature a handstand. And sunglasses (maybe). And hand-shimmies. And an abandoning of the microphone only to turn right back around on the last bar and jump and shout “Hah!” The Dutch broadcaster described it as “Blue Brothers”... and that sounds about right.

3. AUSTRIA - Gary Lux - Nur noch Gefühl (20th, 8 pts.)

I don’t remember this song making much of an impression on me during my first listen of the program. Years later, there’s more of an understanding of the sentiment and the feeling associated with the composition. Gary was a seasoned veteran of Eurovision by this point, so the performance was flawless… until the almost-end, when his voice cracked. Sigh… I wonder if that moment haunted him for many years after, because we wouldn’t see him again for nearly five years. Or maybe someone finally told him he needed to give it up, as it were. Who knows. All I know is that the song itself is lovely. It fits the mold of the decade of music I love nicely (as does his jacket - I hope it stayed there.) And while it probably was never going to win the contest, I have to wonder if it could have got more points.

4. ICELAND - Halla Margret - Hægt og hljótt (16th, 28 pts.)

It’s the end of a long night in downtown and it’s time to head on home… the bar is closing, the last drink has been drunk, and once again you’re alone. Nobody except the piano man, slowly and lightly playing away. That’s what this song makes me think about, and songs that make me think rank highly in my final points chart. This is one of my annual favorites, as it again could not have happened in any other decade than the 80’s, and because Halla is one hella good lookin’ nordic woman. Actually, it’s more that “anus in the, anus in the air” lyric that the English language cannot put to death. This is such an odd composition, as it never was going to go places with the juries. But it’s sweetness, kindness, lightness and brightness shine through. The most you could say about it is “boring,” but eff you. :P

5. BELGIUM - Liliane Saint-Pierre - Soldiers of Love (11th, 56 pts)

Wait a second, did you see the way Liliane looked in that postcard?? And also, how about the host country’s conductor not being Jo Carlier, but rather the other broadcaster’s conductor… conducting for the other broadcaster’s host entry... Okay, whatever. I’m fully aware of the confusion Belgium causes (I made a map about it in college). We desperately needed some kind of upbeat pop or rock number in this contest, and the host country delivered nicely. There’s a bit of an older vibe that I get from Liliane, but her dress is beyond epic, and so are the militaristic dance moves. I have to wonder if those gun-shaped guitars would be allowed on an airplane flight in today’s world. Definitely in the upper half of entries from 1987.

6. SWEDEN - Lotta Engberg - Boogaloo (12th, 50 pts.)

And now for something completely different! I have to give credit to Sweden for ditching the schlager route, as was common practice for the Scandinavian countries, and risking … tropical calypso? The bright colors of the outfits and the happy, upbeat, sunshiney atmosphere the song creates really helps you forget, if just momentarily, how dark and expansive that stage is. I’m not sure this is something I would want to listen to outside of the contest itself, but I appreciate the song for what it is, and Sweden has certainly sent worse. At the end, the “guitarist” throws his guitar in the air, and I’d have to wonder what kind of world we would be living in now if he failed to catch it and the guitar broke.

7. ITALY - Raf & Umberto Tozzi - Genti di mare (3rd, 103 pts.)

Welcome back (again), Italy, the perennial skippers of Eurovision, as it suits them. They would remain for quite a few years, possibly because this was one of their more successful streaks in the contest itself. To celebrate their return, the Italians sent arguably their two biggest male stars, which would never happen these days! This one had a big impact on me the first time I listened to the contest, having ranked it at my top until I had heard “Mr. Eurovision” sing later on - we will get to that. There’s a uniqueness to this composition, the beginning lyrics almost sounding like waves washing on the shores, for the “genti di mare,” and as it builds into a proper song (I wouldn’t quite call it a ballad), the anthemic quality of it all is awesome. Umberto is definitively one of the strongest singers of the contest, and carries this song into ‘contender’ territory for the title.

8. PORTUGAL - Nevada - Neste barco à vela (18th, 15 pts.)

I really like the beginning of this one, with the way the violins and guitars (?) play, but I’m sorry, it’s ruined the moment he starts singing. It’s just… I’ve never felt as though a baritone voice can carry a song to victory in Eurovision. Also, nice librarians that you hired as backup singers there. I suppose this is okay, but I’ve been spoilt with such thematic songs up to this point that fit the mold of the decade, and this song does not. But hey, they beat Spain in ‘87! Small victories.

9. SPAIN - Patricia Kraus - No estás solo (19th, 10 pts)

Oh. Goodness. Certainly, she’s had a bit of coffee before walking out to that stage! One wonders what it’s like to be squeezed to death at the waist while literally shouting some of the lyrics. Or that she smeared some lipstick on her cheeks and decided to leave it there. Terry Wogan calls her “challenging,” and that’s an adequate summation. Admittedly, this is another one where I’d say it starts out good, but Patricia ruins it with the way she sings. I get the feeling like this is supposed to be a song of declaration, a pronouncement, and she tries to oversell it, thus ruining herself in the process. Also, “Oh yay!” appears about twenty times too many during the song. Finally, she destroys any opportunity of redemption on that last note. It’s too bad; I think this really could have been a good song!

10. TURKEY - Seyyal Taner & Lokomotif - Şarkım Sevgi Üstüne (22nd, 0 pts.)

This one, on the other hand, makes Spain look like a masterpiece. I could go on for hours about this. When I watched a recap of worst performances during the most recent Norwegian hosting of ESC, this was the first highlight, as it were, and I became infatuated with the songs featured in that recap. It’s baaaaad, folks. But it ventures into the “so bad it’s good” territory, thankfully. What particularly is bad is hard to say, since everything about it is so over-the-top - from the constant movement, to the white clothes, to the male singer’s solo fail, to the “Deeeeeeeeee melodi” theme, or perhaps even those clunky cowbell keyboard sounds. This has not aged well, and I think this song’s existence was 20 years too early. The fandom has certainly come around to this one, but this must have been looked down on back in the day, since it received nul points. Turkey always gets treated like poop, but thankfully everyone enjoys their poop these days. Mercy me.

11. GREECE - Bang - Stop (10th, 64 pts)

And now, the Greek George Michael. They certainly knew what they were doing, those Greeks… anyways, this has an old-fashioned charm to it that most sounds like Wham!’s single, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” but perhaps without the soaring vocals. However, Thanos’ vocals didn’t really need to be soaring for this number, and I like the bopping energy of this one. Greece wasn’t usually known for sending dance numbers, so this was a breath of fresh air. What I really want to know, though - which of those backup singers is Mariana! I can’t tell!

12. NETHERLANDS - Marcha - Rechtop in de wind (t-5th, 83 pts)

It kinda sounds like two songs combined into one! Marcha couldn’t decide whether she wanted to sing a ballad or a pop hit at Eurovision, so she took both. It’s not all that bad; she looks knock-dead gorgeous (I mean, not just by 80’s standards), and this has a very contemporary feel to it. The only problem, I would say, is that I have very little else to say about it. For being such a contemporary song with a strong beat and jamming melody, there’s nothing to latch onto. She comes on the stage and she does her thing; she owns it. The juries love that stuff, yo, thus why the Dutch scored a rare Top 5 with it.

13. LUXEMBOURG - Plastic Bertrand - Amour, amour (21st, 4 pts)

It’s all good and well in these types of reviews until you’re introduced to something from the left-most edge of the left field. What do you think audiences back then thought about this song? Because I can tell you plenty about what people think about it thirty years later. M. Bertrand is an… unique, engaging fellow. And if there was any one person who worked the stage that night in Brussels, it was him. He’s wearing a godddamn pink suitjacket, for heaven’s sakes! But guys, sexuality aside, unless you absolutely love new wave music, you’re probably not going to like this one. My fondness of this song stems from the style of music combined with the over-the-top appeal, but even then, I can’t award it too highly. And they destroyed some of the original quality when it transferred over to the orchestra. All that aside, though, this is a Eurovision classic; a must-watch.

14. UNITED KINGDOM - Rikki - Only the Light (13th, 47 pts.)

This was the poop-bird of Britain’s hot streak; perhaps a strong representation that you can’t always win just because you sing in English. And it started from (almost) the first note, with Rikki’s vocals as he shouts “Woahhhh!!!” above everything else going on. I’d almost think that the composition itself backfired upon the band, because there’s so much energy in the performance and in the dance moves, and when Rikki isn’t trying to smooth-move sooth you there’s an element of strength to the song.

15. FRANCE - Christine Minier - Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche (14th, 44 pts.)

The words of love are not some Sunday? Well, okay. Sure. Okay, past that point. This just comes off as a really average-sounding pageant song. Like the kind of thing you’d sing in Miss Universe. I give credit to actually using the orchestra for the song, which most of the other acts didn’t do that night. But that’s as far as I can go with this - she’s not even that vocally strong of a singer. Next.

16. GERMANY - Wind - Lass die Sonne in dein Herz (2nd, 141 pts.)

A couple things here - how sad for this group to have come 2nd place twice!?! Just so that Johnny Logan could win twice… Also, freakin’ half of Milli Vanilli! Why is he there?? Like, this must be pre-MV fame, and he was a “fake” singer, so … what is he doing there? Was he just like, the poster-boy for German pop music? What would have Wind done if they had won? Would we still have had Milli Vanilli, or would he have become an honorary member of Wind and gone on to great Eurovision success? Was it about the image? A Caribbean look, which admittedly is what this song tries to provide? I do have to say I like this more than their 1985 attempt, because the vocals are spot-on! But it also has a somewhat empty feeling to it, just like the UK did. I can award some points to Germany for this breath of fresh air, but it’s not the true winner of the evening.

17. CYPRUS - Alexia - Aspro mavro (7th, 80 pts)

Say it isn’t so! Cyprus went the schlager route in 1987, as if it wasn’t bad enough that some Scandinavian countries couldn’t get their heads out of the sand to send something outside the genre around this time. Appropriately she’s wearing black and white, and she’s go the sweet little side-step dances to go with it. Delaying for time and for critique, because this is not really my cup of tea and I find Alexia’s voice a bit grating at times; a bit nasal. Like, the song does get stuck in my head ever so slightly, but my reimagining of her voice in my head is less than complimentary. We’ll see where this lands at the end.

18. FINLAND - Vicky Rosti & Boulevard - Sata salamaa (15th, 32 pts.)

I think the only real crime to this is that it finished with less points than France. But if you’re going to do anything with schlager, this is one route you can go where you don’t immediately lose all credibility with me. It also helps if you’re a redhead (I have a thing for redheads…) Vicky combines the glam rock from that decade with a pop-infused schlager tune, and while it’s not my favorite thing of the night, I don’t forget the song so quickly, either. And that’s a good thing for this contest, all things considered! I also like the way she rolls her ‘r’s. I wish I could do that...

19. DENMARK - Anne-Cathrine Herdorf & Bandjo - En lille melodi (t-5th, 83 pts.)

This is basically the ‘87 version of Spain ‘84, or Germany-87-lite. It’s called “A little melody” because there’s only a little bit of melody to this, otherwise it again sounds so empty and lost during the chorus parts. It picks up a little bit on the start of the second chorus, but that’s literally just me trying to latch onto something. But, of course, this is something that the juries would fall for back in those days. Sigh...

20. IRELAND - Johnny Logan - Hold Me Now (1st, 172 pts)

Really the only deserved winner of the evening. Everything just comes together really well, from the orchestrated composition (I swear Ireland is the only nation that uses the french horn appropriately), to the lyrics, to the vocals, and to the contemporary feeling of the single. This comes alive so much more than the demo version, which tries too desperately to fit in the era of 80’s ballads. And Johnny always knows how to finish on a fantastic note. I can’t really criticize this if I tried. So, three cheers for the orange, green, and white. With St. Patrick’s Day upcoming, I award you with the only true score deserved for this piece of Eurovision history - nobody else has ever won twice.

21. YUGOSLAVIA - Novi Fosili - Ja sam za ples (4th, 92 pts)

It’s weird how most of the schlager of ‘87 got all sandwiched towards the end of the presentation! But this is another one I can tolerate, as it is more of a throwback to the 50’s and 60’s era of pop dance, rather than just big-band poppity trash waste. And the lead singer really sells it, too, with her constant moving and … umm, hiccups? I don’t know how else to describe those sounds. This group is so Slavic, and yet, it all comes together. It’s a precursor to 1989, that’s for sure, and the country earned another Top 5 finish for the boys and girls back home.

22. SWITZERLAND - Carol Rich - Moitié, moitié (17th, 26 pts)

Gosh, she’s a little fireball of energy, isn’t she? Apparently the Swiss didn’t even need a conductor, as hostess Lazlo awkwardly cuts to Rich running from off-stage right to demand a tap of the foot or two. I’d love to know what the thought-process was for the outfitting of her (American stars on top, Australian stars on bottom?) and the group, with headbands and guitar accessories, who are alarmingly reminding me of Sweden’s profession to mediocrity from the year before. In all honesty this is too streamline for my tastes, and apparently I wasn’t alone in that deduction as the juries didn’t buy into it either.

As I said previously, Logan won for the second time. And it was against a field of random hullabaloo, just like in 1980. I’m reminded how this song elevates in comparison to “What’s Another Year,” and in comparison to everything else sent that year. Yeah, I suppose this wasn’t the grandest of editions musically, but there’s still a lot here that I adore, and I think when there’s a grander variety of music, the joyful feelings illuminate the memory and make the contest so much more interesting. I award the actual winner the 12 points, and I drop a big fat zero on the senorita who got lost in her own world. Greece was the only country to award her points, after all - otherwise she would have finished with nul points, just like the musical travesty that was Turkey! Anywho, there was a serious upgrade in sophistication, technology, and harmony in 1987; what would we get out of the Irish in ‘88?

My votes:

12 – Ireland 10 – Iceland 8 – Italy 7 – Austria 6 – Israel 5 – Yugoslavia (Croatia) 4 – Germany 3 – Belgium 2 – Finland 1 – Luxembourg

The “Big Fat 0” award: Spain Honorable Mention: Sweden, Greece Worst Dressed: Switzerland

And here is the overall count of points since beginning these reviews with the ‘80 contest. It’s a best-of-best race, as Germany is now within one point. Israel and Ireland gain some ground, and it will be pretty interesting who we finish out with on top by the end of the decade. How would your rankings look?

1st - 45 – Belgium (1986) 2nd - 44 – Germany (1982, 1983) 3rd - 36 – Israel 4th - 35 – Ireland (1980, 1987) 5th - 31 – Austria 27 – Turkey 24 – Norway (1985) 21 – Portugal 20 – Italy (1984) 20 – Luxembourg 20 – Sweden 18 – Finland 18 – Greece (1981) 17 – France 16 – Spain 14 – United Kingdom 12 – Netherlands  11 – Denmark 11 - Iceland 9 – Croatia 9 – Cyprus 6 – Switzerland

-50SS

[cynthiajayusa]

Top 10 Happenings this Week

STAND-UP COMEDY Wanda Sykes

Did you know Sykes once worked at the NSA? Yes, the National Security Agency. Before John Bolton. Sykes is slightly better known for her work in comedy. Over her 30-year career, the out lesbian (Sykes, not Bolton) has had success across many fields. She won an Emmy for her writing on The Chris Rock Show, hosted the 2009 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has appeared in films from Pootie Tang to Bad Moms, and is currently on the small screen in both Blackish and Broad City. But Sykes’ stand-up work is where it all began.

Fri–Sat, May 11–12. Palm Beach Improv (550 S Rosemary Ave #250, WPB). For show times and tix ($35 + 2-drink min): palmbeachimprov.com.

 DIVA LIVE Patti LaBelle

The R&B diva began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer of the Bluebelles. A decade later the group changed its name to Labelle and broke through with “Lady Marmalade.” (Confidential to the children: That 2001 Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil’ Kim version of the song? It was a cover.) Patti went on to solo stardom in 1976 and has sold more than 50 million records with hits like “On My Own” and “New Attitude.” Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go… to this show, sista!

Sun May 13, 7pm. James L Knight Center (400 SE Second Ave, Miami). Tix ($50–$305): jlkc.com.

 GALA BENEFIT DiversiSAFE

The second edition of this annual event raises funds for Latinos Salud and all the important work it does supporting Latinx LGBTers. Tatianna from Season 2 of RuPual’s Drag Race is your headliner, but our eyes will be glued to the hot DiversiSAFE dancers. Miami mainstay DJ AJ Reddy provides the tunes. This is a “Pick Your Pledge” benefit: Make a contribution that fits your budget. But be sure to register beforehand. Pre-registered guests enjoy valet parking, hors d’oeuvres, open bar, and gift bags, bitches!

Sat May 12, 7pm. Gallery of Amazing Things (481 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach). To register: latinossalud.org.

 SINGING VENTRILOQUIST Terry Fator

In one of show business’ most memorable ascents, singer-comedian-celebrity impressionist Terry Fator, who won NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2007 after performing for decades at county fairs and kids’ parties, soared to No. 2 on Forbes’ list of top-earning comics just six years later. The celebrated ventriloquist is among Las Vegas’ most successful acts and sings everything from Nat King Cole and Garth Brooks to Elvis, Bruno Mars and more.

Sat, May 12, 7pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $25): kravis.org.

 FOUR-WOMAN QUINTET Fifth Harmony

The multi-platinum girl group was formed during the second season of TV’s The X Factor. Following the late 2016 departure of original member Camila Cabello (who dropped a solo record this year; perhaps you have(ana, ooh-na-na) heard it? ), the “Work From Home” group has continued to tour but recently announced a hiatus to pursue solo projects. Catch ’em while you can!

Fri May 11, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$90): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

 BIG-ROOM STAND-UP SHOW Dane Cook

The comic actor has released five popular comedy albums and developed a cult following for his adults-only material. From 2006 to 2008, Cook took a break from comedy to pursue a film career with Good Luck Chuck, My Best Friend’s Girl, Employee of the Month and… limited success. This Saturday night Cook will be back doing what he does best.

Sat May 12, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($55–$125): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

 SOULFUL TRIBUTE Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross

During his memorable run on American Idol (second season winner!), Ruben Studdard was hailed as “the next Luther.” With his current show, Studdard gives Vandross fans the evening they’ve been longing for. Studdard, who snagged a Grammy nomination for his Idol performance of Vandross’ “Superstar,” sings the hits that made Luther a legend, including “Endless Love,” “Dance With My Father” and many more.

Sun May 13, 7:30pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $15): kravis.org.

 CELEBRATION Kool & the Gang

There’s a party going on right here! Since 1964, the legendary R&B group has posted such hits as “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies Night,” and our personal anthem, “Get Down On It.” How you gonna do it if you really don’t want to dance? They’ll be joined by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. And with that hip-shaking lineup, be ready to move.

Wed May 16, 7:30pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$130): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

 ROCK UNDER THE STARS Eddie Money + Blue Oyster + Foghat

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Money enjoyed breakout success in the 1970s and ’80s with down-home hits “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” At “It’s Going to the Dogs,” Money will be joined by Blue Oyster Cult (“Don’t Fear the Reaper”) and Foghat (“Slow Ride”). That’s one killer lineup — and a portion of net proceeds goes to local no-kill dog rescues.

Sat May 12, 6pm. Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 W Plaza Real, Boca Raton). Tix ($60–$150): eddiemoneyatmizner.com.

 DYNAMIC DUO James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt

James Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar playing for more than 40 years. Bonnie Raitt is an institution in American music. The pair, friends for decades, played to sold-out crowds across the U.S. last summer, and they’re back for more. Not to be missed!

Fri May 11, 7:30pm. BB&T Center (2555 NW 136th Ave, Sunrise). Tix (from $50):

thebbtcenter.com.

  source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/09/top-10-happenings-this-week-3/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2018/05/top-10-happenings-this-week.html

[demitgibbs]

Top 10 Happenings this Week

STAND-UP COMEDY Wanda Sykes

Did you know Sykes once worked at the NSA? Yes, the National Security Agency. Before John Bolton. Sykes is slightly better known for her work in comedy. Over her 30-year career, the out lesbian (Sykes, not Bolton) has had success across many fields. She won an Emmy for her writing on The Chris Rock Show, hosted the 2009 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has appeared in films from Pootie Tang to Bad Moms, and is currently on the small screen in both Blackish and Broad City. But Sykes’ stand-up work is where it all began.

Fri–Sat, May 11–12. Palm Beach Improv (550 S Rosemary Ave #250, WPB). For show times and tix ($35 + 2-drink min): palmbeachimprov.com.

DIVA LIVE Patti LaBelle

The R&B diva began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer of the Bluebelles. A decade later the group changed its name to Labelle and broke through with “Lady Marmalade.” (Confidential to the children: That 2001 Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil’ Kim version of the song? It was a cover.) Patti went on to solo stardom in 1976 and has sold more than 50 million records with hits like “On My Own” and “New Attitude.” Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go… to this show, sista!

Sun May 13, 7pm. James L Knight Center (400 SE Second Ave, Miami). Tix ($50–$305): jlkc.com.

GALA BENEFIT DiversiSAFE

The second edition of this annual event raises funds for Latinos Salud and all the important work it does supporting Latinx LGBTers. Tatianna from Season 2 of RuPual’s Drag Race is your headliner, but our eyes will be glued to the hot DiversiSAFE dancers. Miami mainstay DJ AJ Reddy provides the tunes. This is a “Pick Your Pledge” benefit: Make a contribution that fits your budget. But be sure to register beforehand. Pre-registered guests enjoy valet parking, hors d’oeuvres, open bar, and gift bags, bitches!

Sat May 12, 7pm. Gallery of Amazing Things (481 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach). To register: latinossalud.org.

SINGING VENTRILOQUIST Terry Fator

In one of show business’ most memorable ascents, singer-comedian-celebrity impressionist Terry Fator, who won NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2007 after performing for decades at county fairs and kids’ parties, soared to No. 2 on Forbes’ list of top-earning comics just six years later. The celebrated ventriloquist is among Las Vegas’ most successful acts and sings everything from Nat King Cole and Garth Brooks to Elvis, Bruno Mars and more.

Sat, May 12, 7pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $25): kravis.org.

FOUR-WOMAN QUINTET Fifth Harmony

The multi-platinum girl group was formed during the second season of TV’s The X Factor. Following the late 2016 departure of original member Camila Cabello (who dropped a solo record this year; perhaps you have(ana, ooh-na-na) heard it? ), the “Work From Home” group has continued to tour but recently announced a hiatus to pursue solo projects. Catch ’em while you can!

Fri May 11, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$90): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

BIG-ROOM STAND-UP SHOW Dane Cook

The comic actor has released five popular comedy albums and developed a cult following for his adults-only material. From 2006 to 2008, Cook took a break from comedy to pursue a film career with Good Luck Chuck, My Best Friend’s Girl, Employee of the Month and… limited success. This Saturday night Cook will be back doing what he does best.

Sat May 12, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($55–$125): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

SOULFUL TRIBUTE Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross

During his memorable run on American Idol (second season winner!), Ruben Studdard was hailed as “the next Luther.” With his current show, Studdard gives Vandross fans the evening they’ve been longing for. Studdard, who snagged a Grammy nomination for his Idol performance of Vandross’ “Superstar,” sings the hits that made Luther a legend, including “Endless Love,” “Dance With My Father” and many more.

Sun May 13, 7:30pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $15): kravis.org.

CELEBRATION Kool & the Gang

There’s a party going on right here! Since 1964, the legendary R&B group has posted such hits as “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies Night,” and our personal anthem, “Get Down On It.” How you gonna do it if you really don’t want to dance? They’ll be joined by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. And with that hip-shaking lineup, be ready to move.

Wed May 16, 7:30pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$130): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

ROCK UNDER THE STARS Eddie Money + Blue Oyster + Foghat

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Money enjoyed breakout success in the 1970s and ’80s with down-home hits “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” At “It’s Going to the Dogs,” Money will be joined by Blue Oyster Cult (“Don’t Fear the Reaper”) and Foghat (“Slow Ride”). That’s one killer lineup — and a portion of net proceeds goes to local no-kill dog rescues.

Sat May 12, 6pm. Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 W Plaza Real, Boca Raton). Tix ($60–$150): eddiemoneyatmizner.com.

DYNAMIC DUO James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt

James Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar playing for more than 40 years. Bonnie Raitt is an institution in American music. The pair, friends for decades, played to sold-out crowds across the U.S. last summer, and they’re back for more. Not to be missed!

Fri May 11, 7:30pm. BB&T Center (2555 NW 136th Ave, Sunrise). Tix (from $50):

thebbtcenter.com.

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/09/top-10-happenings-this-week-3/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/173734368310

[hotspotsmagazine]

Top 10 Happenings this Week

STAND-UP COMEDY Wanda Sykes

Did you know Sykes once worked at the NSA? Yes, the National Security Agency. Before John Bolton. Sykes is slightly better known for her work in comedy. Over her 30-year career, the out lesbian (Sykes, not Bolton) has had success across many fields. She won an Emmy for her writing on The Chris Rock Show, hosted the 2009 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, has appeared in films from Pootie Tang to Bad Moms, and is currently on the small screen in both Blackish and Broad City. But Sykes’ stand-up work is where it all began.

Fri–Sat, May 11–12. Palm Beach Improv (550 S Rosemary Ave #250, WPB). For show times and tix ($35 + 2-drink min): palmbeachimprov.com.

  DIVA LIVE Patti LaBelle

The R&B diva began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer of the Bluebelles. A decade later the group changed its name to Labelle and broke through with “Lady Marmalade.” (Confidential to the children: That 2001 Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil’ Kim version of the song? It was a cover.) Patti went on to solo stardom in 1976 and has sold more than 50 million records with hits like “On My Own” and “New Attitude.” Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go… to this show, sista!

Sun May 13, 7pm. James L Knight Center (400 SE Second Ave, Miami). Tix ($50–$305): jlkc.com.

  GALA BENEFIT DiversiSAFE

The second edition of this annual event raises funds for Latinos Salud and all the important work it does supporting Latinx LGBTers. Tatianna from Season 2 of RuPual’s Drag Race is your headliner, but our eyes will be glued to the hot DiversiSAFE dancers. Miami mainstay DJ AJ Reddy provides the tunes. This is a “Pick Your Pledge” benefit: Make a contribution that fits your budget. But be sure to register beforehand. Pre-registered guests enjoy valet parking, hors d’oeuvres, open bar, and gift bags, bitches!

Sat May 12, 7pm. Gallery of Amazing Things (481 S Federal Hwy, Dania Beach). To register: latinossalud.org.

  SINGING VENTRILOQUIST Terry Fator

In one of show business’ most memorable ascents, singer-comedian-celebrity impressionist Terry Fator, who won NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2007 after performing for decades at county fairs and kids’ parties, soared to No. 2 on Forbes’ list of top-earning comics just six years later. The celebrated ventriloquist is among Las Vegas’ most successful acts and sings everything from Nat King Cole and Garth Brooks to Elvis, Bruno Mars and more.

Sat, May 12, 7pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $25): kravis.org.

  FOUR-WOMAN QUINTET Fifth Harmony

The multi-platinum girl group was formed during the second season of TV’s The X Factor. Following the late 2016 departure of original member Camila Cabello (who dropped a solo record this year; perhaps you have(ana, ooh-na-na) heard it? ), the “Work From Home” group has continued to tour but recently announced a hiatus to pursue solo projects. Catch ’em while you can!

Fri May 11, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$90): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

  BIG-ROOM STAND-UP SHOW Dane Cook

The comic actor has released five popular comedy albums and developed a cult following for his adults-only material. From 2006 to 2008, Cook took a break from comedy to pursue a film career with Good Luck Chuck, My Best Friend’s Girl, Employee of the Month and… limited success. This Saturday night Cook will be back doing what he does best.

Sat May 12, 8pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($55–$125): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

  SOULFUL TRIBUTE Ruben Studdard Sings Luther Vandross

During his memorable run on American Idol (second season winner!), Ruben Studdard was hailed as “the next Luther.” With his current show, Studdard gives Vandross fans the evening they’ve been longing for. Studdard, who snagged a Grammy nomination for his Idol performance of Vandross’ “Superstar,” sings the hits that made Luther a legend, including “Endless Love,” “Dance With My Father” and many more.

Sun May 13, 7:30pm. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd, WPB). Tix (from $15): kravis.org.

  CELEBRATION Kool & the Gang

There’s a party going on right here! Since 1964, the legendary R&B group has posted such hits as “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Ladies Night,” and our personal anthem, “Get Down On It.” How you gonna do it if you really don’t want to dance? They’ll be joined by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. And with that hip-shaking lineup, be ready to move.

Wed May 16, 7:30pm. Hard Rock Event Center (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood). Tix ($50–$130): seminolehardrockhollywood.com.

  ROCK UNDER THE STARS Eddie Money + Blue Oyster + Foghat

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Money enjoyed breakout success in the 1970s and ’80s with down-home hits “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” At “It’s Going to the Dogs,” Money will be joined by Blue Oyster Cult (“Don’t Fear the Reaper”) and Foghat (“Slow Ride”). That’s one killer lineup — and a portion of net proceeds goes to local no-kill dog rescues.

Sat May 12, 6pm. Mizner Park Amphitheater (590 W Plaza Real, Boca Raton). Tix ($60–$150): eddiemoneyatmizner.com.

  DYNAMIC DUO James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt

James Taylor has touched people with his warm baritone voice and distinctive style of guitar playing for more than 40 years. Bonnie Raitt is an institution in American music. The pair, friends for decades, played to sold-out crowds across the U.S. last summer, and they’re back for more. Not to be missed!

Fri May 11, 7:30pm. BB&T Center (2555 NW 136th Ave, Sunrise). Tix (from $50):

thebbtcenter.com.

  from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/05/09/top-10-happenings-this-week-3/

[thesinglesjukebox]

THE NATIONAL - DAY I DIE [5.88] The National may be one of the most consistently scoring bands on TSJ.

Tim de Reuse: Oh, Matt, you've always had a tendency to lay down tightly rhyming verses next to each other based on associational dream logic, but here it seems like you've reversed your approach; the message is compelling and clear, but the delivery is loose and unsatisfying, like you're following a karaoke machine that's going in and out of sync. The second verse, in particular, sounds like it was written before anyone had worked out how many syllables would best fit in each bar. There's no law that everything by The National has to have an easily memorizable singalong structure, but, well, I don't think this change of focus revealed any hidden strengths; the verses are too messy to stick in your head, and the chorus is a tacit plea that repetition might make the heart find some kind of gravitas in a flimsy eight-word mantra. There's not a lot to like outside of Berninger's baritone, either. Bryan Devendorf's drums are atrociously overproduced, and serve as a constant, thumping distraction from the things that actually work; they belong in a thoughtless, sanitized DnB track by a bedroom producer who spent the week previous memorizing every YouTube tutorial on "punchy, professional snares" released in the last ten years. [4]

Edward Okulicz: Not that I don't find this perfectly pleasant, but The National's mumble with busy drums and fidgety guitar chords was perfected on Boxer's "Apartment Story." There's a bit of frustration, as moments of emotion shine through and then get snuffed out when the guitars chime in like they're the chorus. With the caveat that complaining about a National song shuffling to zero volume without having resolved its feelings and narrative is like hating kittens for being adorable -- it's just what they do! -- something about this one made me want a bit more. [6]

Ian Mathers: I'm sure at this point plenty of fans would take "could basically fit in on Boxer" as high praise for a new song, but while they're always going to need a couple of (relatively) high tempo ones to goose the sequencing a bit, if this gets people it'll be for the same reason some of their ballads do: I just don't know that many songs in any genre that have hit on this particular situation/emotion so squarely and sharply (in this case, having a relationship with someone so ambivalent and long-running you feel like it'll never end but you're not sure how it could survive; if you've never had one of those, no, you're not missing out). Pretty sure the battle lines on these guys were drawn a long time ago, but if there's something worth loving them for (aside from the music, which is always going to be a matter of taste/genre fondness) it's the fact that I am 100% sure that Matt Berninger knows exactly how simultaneously true and false, fair and unfair he's being when he sings "Don't do this, I don't do this to you". [7]

Cédric Le Merrer: Everyone, pay attention to the famous U2ish sad sacks' breakup song. What an edgy casual domestic violence allusion! This poet really tells it like it is. But also, somehow, it has to be about America, right? [3]

Alfred Soto: The avatars of genteel boredom in fitted shirts return with a skyscraping guitar hook and the kind of angst that makes grown men stick their heads between the speakers. "Day I Die" aims for the anthemic but remains a second side, song four track (it's the second track). "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness" felt as if Matt Berninger and his colleagues had choked on ashes. [5]

Ryo Miyauchi: The National's nerve-rattling rock aches and sighs and mutters too much for it to suggest that they wear critic-given praise of long-term consistency as a badge of honor. What's good in enduring if you live long enough for people to disappoint you? Matthew Berninger pisses away that inevitable fate in "Day I Die" with self-deprecating sarcasm as usual, though he knows he's got to sit with it eventually. Based on how little The National has grown in sound, his next few decades will go by even slower. And taking in just how long he's got to endure make me nauseous. [8]

Katherine St Asaph: Why does his voice sound like an aural JPEG artifact? How is this different than whichever song off Billboard's alternative chart we're mocking this year? Why aren't the drums in a less identikit song? [5]

Joshua Copperman: A crankier, weirder spin on the dinner parties and family gatherings of "Blank Slate", "Tall Saint", and "Lemonworld". Even if the production is not as dense as something like "Bloodbuzz Ohio", as nothing is (for better or worse), this is also the most immediate the band has ever sounded. Matt Berninger's vocals float above the mix as if he'd already become a ghost, and the Dessner brothers U2 better than U2 just did with their reverberating, Lanoisy guitars. If Matt was incomprehensible on "System", he's lucid here - "young mothers love me/even ghosts of girlfriends call from Cleveland" is both an amusingly petty humblebrag and sums up the feelings that sometimes come with reunions, specifically the knee-jerk reactions - Why has nothing changed? Why do I still have to deal with all of you? On top of that, because this is a National song, there's an overarching need to escape the room or the body altogether - but straight-up leaving is rude and you do not want to disappoint anyone. Matt does get tempted during the frantic bridge, his musings about old Val Jester only increasing the id's influence during an inherently superego-driven event, but even imagining leaving the place makes him feel bad. It's this tension between keeping it together and losing your shit that fuels "Day I Die", bringing the smallest moments of dissonance and anxiety up to scale. [9]

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