#the way their voice switches like 35 seconds into the video is so wild

[royalarchivist]

Eret: I want you to know that any interaction between us will result in your death, so I recommend you leave. We can be friends -- we don't need to resolve this situation with violence.

Featuring an unexpected visitor in the Royal Archives and Eret temporarily getting possessed by c!Eret.

[your-dietician]

Best 4th of the July weekend sales at Amazon 2021

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/health/best-4th-of-the-july-weekend-sales-at-amazon-2021/

Best 4th of the July weekend sales at Amazon 2021

We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Something to celebrate: Amazon just dropped a jaw-dropping array of 4th of July deals! (Photo: Getty Images)

We hold this truth to be self-evident: When it comes to stellar holiday-weekend deals, Amazon rules.

Prime Day might be in the rearview mirror, but never fear. Amazon is having a massive sale to mark the 4th of July, with discounts as deep as those we enjoyed during “Prime Time” last month. We’re talking incredible deals on TVs and tech, amazing markdowns on kitchen items and fabulous fashion finds (new vacation wardrobe, anyone?).

Of course, with Amazon Prime you’ll get so much more — access to new movies and TV shows, discounts at Whole Foods, exclusive sales and two-day shipping on many, many items. Not yet a member? Let’s fix that: Sign up for a free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

Score some steals before they disappear — then get outside for fun in the sun. 

Best TV sales

Improve the view: Sony’s got the 4K TV of your dreams, at a fantastic July 4th discount. (Photo: Amazon)

This Sony X80J 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV is the latest from a manufacturer that’s long been at the forefront of top-notch home video. No shocker, then, that the display on this set is dazzlingly vivid and detailed. Originally $1,000, this beauty is available for only $898 for the 4th of July weekend!

Sony’s state-of-the-art Processor X1 is the power behind its true-to-life visuals, while HDR (High Dynamic Range) settings make sure colors stay bright and black levels are dark. Get ready: It’s going to feel like you’re sitting in the middle of all the action.

This 4K TV includes Google TV with instant access to hundreds of popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock and much, much more. It even has built-in Chromecast for slinging videos and music from your phone or tablet to the TV. Also: The remote has a microphone that lets you use Google Assistant for voice search and hands-free navigation. Shoppers are smitten.

Story continues

“In one word: Awesome. This is the best TV I’ve seen, for an incredible price and considering its features, it’s a steal,” raved a five-star reviewer. “It can be adjusted to give you absolute black even in a dark room; 4K and HDR are amazing…”

Check out more 4th of July TV sales below:

Insignia NS-32DF310NA19 32-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV, $150 (was $200), amazon.com

Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD TV — Fire TV Edition, $160 (was $200), amazon.com

Toshiba 43-inch 43C350KU C350 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $320 (was $370), amazon.com

Insignia 55-inch NS-55F301NA22 F30 Series LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, $400 (was $500), amazon.com

LG OLED55C1PUB C1 Series 55-inch 4K Smart OLED TV, $1,397 (was $1,800), amazon.com

Samsung 65-inch Class QLED Q80A Series 4K Ultra HD Quantum Smart TV, $1,398 (was $1,700), amazon.com

Sony X90J 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart Google TV, $1,398 (was $1,600), amazon.com

Vizio 75 inch P-Series 4K Smart TV, $1,480 (was $1,700), amazon.com

Best headphone and earbud sales

Make all your friends jealous — and save $130. (Photo: Amazon)

On sale for $170, from $300, the Beats Solo Pro Headphones sync to just about any smartphone or laptop via Bluetooth, delivering rich audio and sturdy bass. Super sleek, the pro-level headphones come in a cool Light Blue. They’re noise-canceling, so you can block out just about all background and ambient sound to enjoy your favorite music and podcasts…or just a bit of silence.

“These are the best Beats so far…less bass-heavy than previous models. Sound is really crisp,” wrote a delighted five-star reviewer. “Very worth it. The noise canceling feature is so good. You basically cannot hear anything around you!”

The Beats have up to 40 hours of battery life per charge, so you don’t have to be tethered to an outlet all day long. They can pump out a solid stream of music with top-notch audio for nearly two days; most wireless headphones tap out after about 30 hours.

Check out more 4th of July headphone and earbud sales below:

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, $128 (was $300), amazon.com

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $120 (was $200), amazon.com

Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, $199 (was $350), amazon.com

Apple AirPods (wireless charging case), $160 (was $199), amazon.com

Apple AirPods Max, $490 (was $549), amazon.com

Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones, $10 (was $20), amazon.com

Otium Wireless Earbuds, $23 with on-page coupon (was $46), amazon.com

Beats Ep Wired On-Ear Headphones, $90 (was $130), amazon.com

Best smartphone and tablet sales

The Moto G7 Plus is 40 percent off — down to a mere $150. (Photo: Amazon)

Who said a quality smartphone has to be expensive? Not us! The Motorola Moto G7 Plus — which is on sale for only $150 (was $250) — is equipped with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage (expandable via microSD card). This Android smartphone, instantly upgradable to Android 10, also comes with a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Max Vision display that’s super sharp and bright. The Moto G7 Plus features a 16-megapixel rear shooter with a five-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls and selfies. Need extra security? It has a fingerprint sensor on its back.

“This phone is better than you can imagine…,” raved a savvy Amazon shopper. “Excellent build quality and body materials. The screen is responsive…. The operating system is the same as in Google Pixel, which is much more expensive. This is faster than any (budget) phone. I recommend it — a good buy for your family members who do not need a lot of unnecessary features, and at the same time you will get a very high-quality device.”

Check out more 4th of July smartphone and tablet sales below:

Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB), $299 (was $329), amazon.com

Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB), $699 (was $749), amazon.com

Marvue M10 Tablet, $96 with on-page coupon (was $130), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, $179 (was $230), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, $544 (was $650), amazon.com

TCL 10L Unlocked Android Smartphone, $175 (was $250), amazon.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, $317 (was $350), amazon.com

TCL 10 Pro Unlocked Android Smartphone, $300 with on-page coupon (was $400), amazon.com

E-Tronic Edge Phone Armband Sleeve, $11 with on-page coupon (was $13), amazon.com

Best gaming sales

At nearly 80 percent off, this game is worth buying in multiples and saving as gifts. (Photo: Amazon)

Amazon has chopped an incredible $47 off NBA 2K21 for PS4 — it’s down to just 13 bucks this weekend. The game features all 30 NBA teams and players, including Trae Young, Devon Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden and Gordon Hayward.

NBA 2K21 has all the dynamic, vivid gameplay you want, from multi-player online to one-on-one (you versus the game itself). For the first time ever, it features WNBA teams as well, with players like Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Liz Cambag and Nneka Ogwumike. Right now, the price is more than right…it’s nuts!

“My son loves this game,” shared a delighted parent. “The players are realistic looking and the commentators are hilarious at times. Overall, I think it’s a great game.”

Check out more 4th of July gaming sales below:

BioShock: The Collection, $19 (was $50), amazon.com

NBA 2K21 (Xbox Series X), $20 (was $70), amazon.com

Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4), $20 (was $40), amazon.com

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4), $15 (was $40), amazon.com

Godfall (PS5), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

Luna Gaming Controller, $56 (was $70), amazon.com

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), $48 (was $60), amazon.com

Runmus Gaming Headset, $16 (was $43), amazon.com

Madden NFL 21: Next Level Edition (Xbox Series X), $40 (was $70), amazon.com

The Falconeer: Day One Edition (Xbox Series X), $23 (was $40), amazon.com

Outriders Day One Edition (PS5), $45 (was $60), amazon.com

Immortals Fenyx Rising (PS5), $25 (was $60), amazon.com

Best smart-home sales

Open your front door using nothing but your fingerprint. (Photo: Amazon)

On sale for $150 with on-page coupon (was $200), the eufy by Anker Security Smart Touch Keyless Entry Door Lock recognizes your fingerprint in less than a second, so you never again have to rummage through your bag or pockets for your keys. You don’t even have to remember a passcode. Your fingerprint does the trick. The brand takes your security seriously: it lets you store your fingerprint locally instead of on the cloud, so your identity stays safe and private.

“The more Eufy products I buy, the more impressed I am with the quality,” says one of many five-star shoppers. “…After installing the lock and setting it up, which has to be one of the easiest setups around, I saved the fingerprints for all the members of my family. The fingerprint reader worked flawlessly every time.”

Check out more 4th of July smart-home sales below:

Kamep Wireless Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Camera, $65 (was $130), amazon.com

TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender (TL-WA855RE), $17 (was $30), amazon.com

Moen 7594BL Arbor One-Handle Pulldown Kitchen Faucet, $289 (was $500), amazon.com

Govee Smart Light Bulbs, $11 with on-page coupon (was $22), amazon.com

Govee 65.6ft Alexa LED Strip Lights, $40 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

Govee 33ft LED Strip Lights, $18 (was $23), amazon.com

Honeywell Home RCHT8610WF2006/W, T5 Smart Thermostat, $107 (was $151), amazon.com

TanTan Smart Table Lamp, $24 with on-page coupon (was $33), amazon.com

Kasa Smart Plug HS103P4 (four-pack), $25 (was $30), amazon.com

Kasa Smart Light Switch HS200P3 (three-pack), $35 (was $45), amazon.com

Best vacuum sales

Grab this brilliant robovac for nearly 40 percent off — and never vacuum again. (Photo: Amazon)

For 4th of July weekend, the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim) is on sale for just $140 (was $230). Its slim, 2.85-inch tall body glides under furniture seamlessly for a thorough vacuum each time. It’s versatile too: It can transition from hardwood floors to carpet to tile with ease.

The BoostIQ feature makes it “smart” in more ways than one, helping it to automatically increase suction power as needed, and its high-capacity battery delivers up to 100 minutes of run time on a single charge.

“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect … But this is great! I went from having piles of pet hair on the floor to none at all,” wrote a five-star fan. “It is mind-blowing how eufy finds all of this pet hair and dust. My allergies have been reduced by 90 percent. It has truly changed my life and I didn’t need to spend $800-plus.”

Check out more 4th of July vacuum sales below:

Lefant M210 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $195 (was $400), amazon.com

OKP Life K2 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $124 (was $300), amazon.com

roborock E4 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $210 (was $300), amazon.com

Kenmore 31510 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $150 with on-page coupon (was $259), amazon.com

Goovi Robot Vacuum, $148 (was $210), amazon.com

eufy by Anker, RoboVac L70 Hybrid, $320 (was $550), amazon.com

Hoover SmartWash Automatic Carpet Cleaner Machine, $249 (was $300), amazon.com

ThisWorx Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner, $32 with on-page coupon (was $37), amazon.com

Yeedi K650 Robot Vacuum, $160 with on-page coupon (was $180), amazon.com

Best home office sales

Three cheers for the red, white and blue (and orange and pink and every other bold hue). This MacBook Air is $100 off. (Photo: Amazon)

What’s so great about the MacBook Air? Glad you asked! A speedy Apple octa-core M1 processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB of on-board storage and the latest version of macOS Big Sur, that’s what. The Apple MacBook Air — on sale for $899 (was $999) — is a sleek and slim speed demon. It’s also super-lightweight at just under three pounds. Pretty too: You can score one of these in Gold, Silver and Apple’s signature Space Gray.

“…I needed an upgrade from my heavy MacBook Pro… I needed something super light and thin — I can just bring [it] everywhere and slide it in my bag,” shared a satisfied Amazon shopper. “I am obsessed with how fast this MacBook Air is. The battery life is on point. I used it for movies and series at work and it lasted for three days. The processor is so good. I open so many tabs at once and it has not lagged on me.” 

Check out more 4th of July home office sales below:

Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine, $240 (was $340), amazon.com

Renpho Neck Shoulder Massager, $30 with on-page coupon (was $50), amazon.com

Vybe Percussion Massage Gun, $150 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

DamKee Massage Gun, $69 with on-page coupon for Prime members only (was $110), amazon.com

Apple MacBook Pro (M1), $1,199 (was $1,299), amazon.com

Acer Chromebook Spin 311, $261 (was $499), amazon.com

FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair, $125 with on-page coupon (was $160), amazon.com

Truweo Posture Corrector, $12 (was $30), amazon.com

Saiji Laptop Bed Tray Desk, $28 with on-page coupon (was $100), amazon.com

Canon Office and Business MB5120 All-in-One Printer, $250 (was $300), amazon.com

Best kitchen sales

Refresh your kitchen with this luxe Cuisinart set — and save $415. (Photo: Amazon)

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing cookware set, replace old gear and start fresh, or give an incredible gift, this Cuisinart set is perfect. It has everything you need for easy and creative dinner prep: Two sauce pans, two skillets, a stockpot, a sauté pan, and a steamer. Also stunning: The $415 savings (with on-page coupon). This set is stainless steel and oven-safe up to 550 degrees.

“I absolutely LOVE these pots and pans!” a shopper shared. “They are beautiful in appearance, have some weight to them but not too much, and are made extremely well. The handles to the pans are so comfortable, unlike many pans I’ve used before.”

Check out more 4th of July kitchen sales below:

Elite Gourmet EGC-007 Easy Electric Poacher, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Cuisinart HM-90S Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer, $72 (was $145), amazon.com

Philips Kitchen Appliances Digital Twin TurboStar Airfryer XXL, $300 (was $400), amazon.com

Bayco 9 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers, $40 (was $50), amazon.com

Gotham Steel Smokeless Grill Indoor Grill, $38 (was $50), amazon.com

Ninja Personal Blender, $49 (was $70), amazon.com

Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, $10 (was $15), amazon.com

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender, $30 (was $45), amazon.com

Bonsenkitchen Handheld Milk Frother, $10 (was $18), amazon.com

Best beauty sales

Your delicate under-eye skin will thank you. (Photo: Amazon)

If the past year hasn’t been kind to your eyes, now you can turn back the clock. This under-eye cream tackles signs of aging and exhaustion (puffiness, wrinkles, dullness — you know the story) and the formula is free of parabens, mineral oil, and fragrances. It’s also allergy-tested and super gentle.

“OMG, this really is amazing!” says a thrilled reviewer. “I have used many eye creams over the last 40 years, and this one works within a few days, and really helps eliminate crows feet around the eye area. I honestly think that it has taken at least five years off my face!…”

Check out more 4th of July beauty sales below:

AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, $38.50 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream for Face, $25 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, $11 (was $19), amazon.com

Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo, $25 (was $32), amazon.com

Naturewell Retinol Advanced Moisturizing Cream for Face and Body, $17 (was $23), amazon.com

Anti Aging Serum 3-Pack for Face, $20 (was $25), amazon.com

Belei by Amazon: Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $14 (was $19), amazon.com

Best style sales

Leggings with a pocket for your cards, keys and phone — genius. (Photo: Amazon)

We can’t overstate the importance of a great pair of leggings: They’re perfect for so many occasions and can take you from couch to gym to real world effortlessly. But the super-popular Ewedoos leggings are a cut above. They have a flattering high waist, an oversized pocket (!), and a leg-lengthening ankle crop. 

“These leggings are amazing!” a shopper declared. “They are so comfy and soft…. They are also squat proof! They don’t roll at the waistband AT ALL. Stop second guessing and get these!!”

Check out more 4th of July style sales below:

Leggings Depot Leggings, $10 (was $30), amazon.com

Cthh leggings, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Prettygarden Ladies Basic Crewneck Belted Office Dress, $30 (was $37), amazon.com

a.Jesdani Women’s Button Down, $35 (was $50), amazon.com

Korsis Women’s Summer Casual T Shirt Dress, $32 (was $47), amazon.com

Ewedoos Women’s Yoga Pants, $17 (was $27), amazon.com

Milumia Women’s Boho Button Up Split Floral Print Flowy Party Dress, $32 (was $44), amazon.com

Best health and wellness sales

A six-pack of the good stuff, on sale for only $26. (Photo: Amazon)

If the past year taught us anything, it’s that we can never have too much Purell. The brand’s iconic formula is a must for any household, whether for cleaning hands or wiping down surfaces. This spray — sold as a six pack of large (32 ounce) bottles, kills 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, including cold and flu, strep, norovirus, Listeria, MRSA, VRE, and human coronavirus.

“This is a wonderful cleaning product,” shared a shopper. “…Kills smells like a champ…”

Check out more 4th of July health and wellness sales below:

Wecolor 100 Pcs Disposable 3 Ply Earloop Face Masks, $8 (was $13), amazon.com

Purell TFX Touch-Free Foam Hand Sanitizer Dispenser, $33 (was $109), amazon.com

Microban Professional Sanitizing Spray, $34 (was $38), amazon.com

Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel, $32 (was $37), amazon.com

Lysol Disinfecting Spray, Crisp Linen, $11 (was $16), amazon.com

Lysol, Disinfectant Spray, $7 (was $11), amazon.com

Best mattress and bedding sales

Supportive and soothing, like a good bedmate should be. (Photo: Amazon)

Soft to the touch but firm for the neck, these pillows are made from a plush poly-soybean fiber blend. They’re totally vegan, great for side-sleepers, back-sleepers and stomach-sleepers, and sold as a pair for just $33 ((normally $58)! More than 3,700 five-star reviewers can’t be wrong.

“These pillows are wonderful!” one shopper shared. “I had neck pain every morning from sleeping on pillows with no support. With these, I don’t have to constantly readjust myself to find a comfortable position. They are soft yet firm and provide excellent support.”

Check out more 4th of July bedding sales below:

Smart Queen Cooling Weighted Blanket, $28 (was $60), amazon.com

Queen Mattress Pad Cover Cooling Mattress Topper, $40 (was $60), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Premium Cotton Blanket, $24 (was $38), amazon.com

LuxClub 6 PC Sheet Set Bamboo Sheets, $35 for queen (was $57), amazon.com

Casper Sleep Pillow for Sleeping, $55 (was $65), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Gusseted Pillow, $24 (was $31), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter, $35 (was $57), amazon.com

Best pet sales

Treat your g’boy to a special down-home delight. (Photo: Amazon)

If you’re a pet parent, you know how important it is to ensure that your pups are eating right. While most puppy snacks are loaded with preservatives, dyes and all sorts of nasties, these bites from Amazon in-house brand Wag are made (in the USA) with chicken as the very first ingredient. For the 4th of July, they’re down to $8 from $14, with the on-page coupon.

“My dog is in love with these,” a shopper declared. “Normally she shares her treats when her dog friends come over but not these. If I give them to her friends, she takes them away from them and gobbles them up!”

Check out more 4th of July pet sales below:

Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy, $9 (was $25), amazon.com

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Treats, $6 (was $14), amazon.com

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Brick Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, $14 (was $25), amazon.com

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy, $20 (was $30), amazon.com

Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats, $7 (was $12), amazon.com

Potaroma 3 Silvervine Catnip Balls, $11 (was $15), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 20/03/2021 (Central Cee, KSI/YUNGBLUD/Polo G)

On the tenth week that a song appears on the UK Singles Chart, it becomes likely that it has a cut to its streaming numbers by the Official Charts Company, particularly if it’s still in the top 10 and especially if it’s #1. So, the streaming and sales do not change, but the Official Charts Company just weighs them differently. This means that it’s often that songs reliant on streaming – read: most of the chart given that the UK doesn’t factor in radio – drop intensely on that particular week. Therefore, we switched out our Pokémon and “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo has been replaced at #1 after nine weeks by “Wellerman”, an 1800s sea shanty from New Zealand covered by Nathan Evans and remixed as a pop-house song by 220 KID and Billen Ted. Of course. I don’t know all of the complexities behind this rule but I do know it shakes up the chart at the cost of it being ridiculously inaccurate – I do think “drivers license” is probably still the biggest song in the country. “drivers license” is at #18 now, by the way. Yikes. Welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS.

Rundown

We have a pretty interesting week, to say the least, but before all that, we can get through this brief rundown as always as we cover the UK Top 75 and all of what’s happening over there, since that’s what I cover. First of all, we do have some big drop-outs, like #1 hits “Roses” by SAINt JHN and remixed by Imanbek that seemingly had its second wind pummelled this week, and “positions” by Ariana Grande leaving somewhat prematurely. We also have “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers retreating to the other 25 slots I don’t cover because, well, of course, as well as “Midnight Sky” by Miley Cyrus and sadly, “Be the One” by Rudimental featuring MORGAN, TIKE and Digga D, but that’s all for the notable drops out of the chart. Still falling within the chart other than the aforementioned “drivers license” are... basically all of the Drake songs from last week falling behind the top 10 and even the top 20, and two of them being behind “Leave the Door Open” now – thankfully. “What’s Next” is at #20, “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” featuring Rick Ross is at #25 and “Wants and Needs” featuring Lil Baby is at #28. We also have a handful of other notable fallers like “WITHOUT YOU” by the Kid LAROI at #27, “Hold On” by Justin Bieber off of the debut at #31 (could rebound next week when the album makes its impact), “Paradise” by MEDUZA and Dermot Kennedy at #35, “Anxious” by AJ Tracey off of the debut to #45, “Anyone” by Justin Bieber at #49, “Medicine” by James Arthur at #54, “Bluuwuu” by Digga D at #57, “34+35” by Ariana Grande at #58, “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I at #60, “Toxic” by Digga D at #61, “Good Days” by SZA at #64, “Whoopty” by CJ at #65, “Prisoner” by Miley Cyrus featuring Dua Lipa at #66, “Afterglow” by Ed Sheeran at #68, “Regardless” by RAYE and Rudimental at #69, “you broke me first” by Tate McRae at #71 and finally, “Lemonade” by Internet Money and Gunna featuring Don Toliver and NAV at #75. I hope that next week is the last time I need to say “Lemonade” by Internet Money and Gunna featuring Don Toliver and NAV, not because the song is bad but that is a convoluted credit if I’ve ever seen one. In terms of gains and returning entries, it does get interesting. The only return is for “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles at #67, but our gains include “Didn’t Know” by Tom Zanetti at #56, “Heartbreak Anniversary” by Given at #42 thanks to the video, “Ferrari Horses” by D-Block Europe featuring RAYE at #36 off of the debut, “We’re Good” by Dua Lipa at #32, “All You Ever Wanted” by Rag’n’Bone Man at #29, “Astronaut in the Ocean” by Masked Wolf at #24, “Let’s Go Home Together” by Ella Henderson and Tom Grennan at #21, “Little Bit of Love” also by Grennan at #13, “Streets” by Doja Cat at #12 thanks to the video and three songs making their first entry into the top 10 after picking up the pace on the charts recently: “Commitment Issues” by Central Cee at #9 thanks to his album, “BED” by Joel Corry, RAYE and David Guetta at #8 and finally, to my dismay, “Latest Trends” by A1 x J1 at #2 thanks to a remix featuring Aitch. Sigh, okay, well, we have a... curious selection of new arrivals so let’s start with that.

NEW ARRIVALS

#73 – “You’ve Done Enough” – Gorgon City and DRAMA

Produced by Gorgon City and DRAMA

Gorgon City are a British EDM duo who were particularly big back in 2014 or so when they had their top 10 hits, particularly “Ready for Your Love”, which peaked at #4, but they haven’t really had much success since in the UK or Europe in general. This time, however, they’ve clinched a spot in the top 75 by collaborating with DRAMA, another electronic duo except they’re from Chicago instead of north London and the vocalist here, Via Rosa, is actually from DRAMA and not some uncredited session vocalist or a sample, which surprised me because the vocals here are genuinely great and remind me a lot of these booming diva voices used so commonly in 90s house. In fact, I think this whole song is genuinely great, relying on a house groove that is pretty damn funky and some subtle keys making the foundation for a bouncy four-on-the-floor beat, with the shaky percussion just adding the spice on top of it. It helps that this chorus is pretty ethereal, with Rosa’s vocals booming over this angelic synth blend before a pretty ugly-sounding drop but that is absolutely on purpose, as the content here is about that struggle between trying to find someone and trying to better yourself so you feel like you’d be worthwhile to anyone you end up meeting, which is kind of a depressing cycle in many ways... not that I’ve experienced that, but it sounds like it warrants the DRAMA here. There are tons of intricacies in the productions here too that make the song a lot more complete, particularly in the vocal production and all the intrusive bass wobbles by the second chorus and drop, so, yeah, for once, the generic house tune debuting low on the chart is a pretty great one. I wish it went somewhere further so it sounded like an actual song but as is, without a real bridge, this is still a good, almost anthemic dance track.

#70 – “Rasputin” – Majestic and Boney M.

Produced by Majestic and Frank Farian

Boney M. are a pretty legendary disco group collected by producer Frank Farian of several Caribbean singers to make some of the most fun pop music of the 70s. One of the most interesting things about this band were the fact that they were immensely popular in the Soviet Union back when that existed, and some Soviet films even show their songs playing during high-ranking Soviet government meetings, which sounds like pure comedy. Funnily enough, “Rasputin” was the only song Boney M. were forbidden to play in the USSR, even though it was still a big hit there. The 1978 song, a #2 hit for the band in the UK, basically retells the story that led to infamous and fascinating Tsarist Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin being assassinated, with most claims in the song itself being true or at least as far as we know, although the song does mostly focus on how much of a womaniser he was. The original hit is equally fascinating as the guy himself, with a great typical disco sound, those iconic strings and the use of Russian instrument balalaikas in its mix just furthering that intrigue. Now, in 2021, the song became a hit on TikTok because... of course, and now this remix by a DJ and producer called Majestic, is charting on the UK Singles Chart. Why this remix and not the original song? Well, this is basically a French house remix of the song, using those house patterns not too dissimilar to Daft Punk or Stardust-type stuff, which makes perfect sense to remix a classic disco tune. I do prefer the original track about “Russia’s greatest love machine”, because it’s a lot more natural and the remix is kind of poorly done in some places if I’m being honest, but if this is how kids decide to experience this type of classic disco, I’m not going to complain. It’s a good song; I’m interested to see how this second chart run goes.

#53 – “DAYWALKER!” – Machine Gun Kelly featuring CORPSE

Produced by BaseXX, Machine Gun Kelly and SlimXX

Nope. No, no, no. I refuse. I’m completely fine with bringing pop-punk and post-hardcore stuff back, but if the ringleader is Machine Gun Kelly and he’s bringing out Corpse Husband to help him on this trap-metal garbage, I’m not even going to acknowledge it further than the fact that it exists and it’s probably not in MGK’s best interests to compare himself to Capitol Hill rioters. Otherwise, absolutely not. Nope. Not even going to give this the time of day.

#46 – “Addicted” – Jorja Smith

Produced by Compass

In stark contrast, here we have Jorja Smith’s new single to add to that confusing sophomore album roll-out that I feel has been delaying itself for two years now. This new song is about giving your all to a relationship and not having it reciprocated, but she paints this in a very odd way, painting herself as “too selfless” to leave and that her partner should be “addicted” to her, which seems like the wrong way to go about writing this entirely, especially if this instrumental is going to be the dullest blend of checked-out live percussion and a boring electric guitar loop, and Jorja Smith’s not going to sell this in a different way to how she sells her other songs, going for a subtle croon that just doesn’t make sense for a song where we’re clearly not supposed to think Jorja’s in the right for being this obsessive and somewhat hyperbolic about this relationship not going the way she planned. I could see this being done really well but the song is too weak and flimsy as is to grasp how to handle the content and I’m sorry but it just does not work for me.

#44 – “Day in the Life” – Central Cee

Produced by Frosty Beats

Central Cee released his debut mixtape, Wild West and, listen, there was a point to me not saying much about “DAYWALKER!” so I think Central Cee existing and giving me so little to work with will weaken that point even further. To be fair, I like the choir sample in this beat, even if the drop is going to be really awkwardly staggered by a loose 808 for no reason, and this drill beat never really feels like it keeps up with itself, especially because Central Cee might be the least interesting rapper in a crop of already desperate British rappers. He also says that rappers that use Auto-Tune don’t “really rap” or “really trap”, which is awkward considering some of this guy’s back catalogue, and also incredibly untrue. He also disses D-Block Europe pretty directly which, regardless of who it’s from or how famous DBE continue to get, always feels like punting down, so, yeah, this is worthless.

#43 – “On the Ground” – ROSÉ

Produced by 24, Jon Bellion, Ojivolta and Jordgen Odegard

This is the debut solo single from ROSÉ, one of the singers from K-pop group BLACKPINK, which explains my initial confusion to why this was so high. The label has enlisted Jon Bellion of all people to produce as they intend to push ROSÉ as a global hit-maker in her own right, given that this is part of a two-track EP so that if one track doesn’t do as well, fans could gravitate to another and that becomes the hit. See “Havana” or, really, how Drake releases his singles nowadays. Looking at some of her television appearances and the language surrounding that, it seems like they’ve been trying to push her as a soloist for a while, and given that she broke PSY’s record for most-viewed solo South Korean video in 24 hours with this song, I think it’s a success. Is the song itself any good? Well, to my surprise, it’s all in English. It now sits at 100 million views and really, there’s no way to distinguish that this is from Korea... which isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, because the song is great, relying on this slick electric guitar pluck and ROSÉ’s vocals which, despite being drenched in reverb, sound really great, before the whole song is abruptly plunged into this distorted, bassy electro-pop void which is just a fascinating and kind of avant-garde choice for a pop song like this. The song doesn’t really develop further than that, pretty much repeating its own structure, but that drop with all the spliced-in backing vocals, is such an interesting catharsis itself that I think it makes up for that. The final drop does a lot different as well, going for a lead synth melody on the top of the mix that again sounds really great when paired with that mix and then the rising strings. I was tempted to write this song’s quirks off as shoddy K-pop songwriting but given the credits, especially Jon Bellion, I’m confident all of this nonsense is absolutely on purpose, and I love it. Check it out, I hope this becomes a hit outside of this debut week, although I really don’t think that’ll happen given it’s (ostensibly) a K-pop song and their western success is largely dominant on sales from fans. Regardless, I’m glad it debuted here in the first place as I wouldn’t have heard it otherwise.

#16 – “6 for 6” – Central Cee

Produced by Okami202, Sevon and Young Chencs

This is Cee’s sixth song to hit the chart, and hence he’s going “six for six”, even though only two of those singles were actually poised to stick around in any shape or form. He does seem to be going somewhere with this, particularly the direction I thought “Loading” would be going, as it uses a choir sample as the background to this janky UK drill beat... but it’s soon drowned-out and Cee himself is such a non-presence that it’s not worth paying attention to the guy’s content, let alone his lyrics which seem to try and be somewhat introspective about his drug-dealing and gang violence, but end up being incredibly shallow and not really saying anything, about as shallow as this instrumental. The outro would be a pretty nice piano interlude if it didn’t stop so abruptly and I’ve only got to hope that leads into a track on the album and isn’t just a mistake, because I’m not listening to that mixtape if my life depended on it. Another snooze from Central Cee, what a surprise.

#3 – “Patience” – KSI featuring YUNGBLUD and Polo G

Produced by Matt Schwartz

Remember when I said we had three songs making their first entry into the top 10? Yeah, turns out that I’m a compulsive liar since we actually have a fourth at #3, and I’m tempted to nope my way out of this one as well. What’s with this week and whiny, wannabe pop-punk singers collaborating with obnoxious YouTubers? I feel like I’m too old to cover this stuff every other week, and that’s saying something considering KSI himself is pushing 30 at this point, but regardless, I have to check out the song and to my surprise, it’s actually kind of decent. It goes for an 80s synth-rock vibe, with massive guitar tones and obviously not live drums that kind of undercut the pretty great bass groove here, but man, Polo G sounds surprisingly good on this production. His verse is pretty infectious, even if it ends up crushed at the end by YUNGBLUD’s hook, which sounds the least insufferable this guy has ever been, probably because of how the vocal production keeps him slightly in check. KSI himself might be the weakest link as he cannot sing at all, and the Auto-Tune in his verse is not helping, but I do like his David Bowie-interpolating ad-libs on the choruses (Yes, seriously). The bridge is a pathetic excuse of a bridge and the song’s mostly chorus – I’m kind of worried about KSI as a hit-maker going forward if he’s going to consistently contribute so little to his own singles, most of which have two other people on. I mean, it works as a short, inoffensive pop-rock song and not much else. I really wish this was Polo G’s song, actually, I think he deserves a second verse here.

Conclusion

Well, that week happened, that’s for sure. I’m going to give Best of the Week to the obvious outlier here, “On the Ground” by ROSÉ, but not without an Honourable Mention to Gorgon City and DRAMA for “You’ve Done Enough”. Worst of the Week is also going to the obvious outlier, “DAYWALKER!” by Machine Gun Kelly featuring Corpse Husband. Can I give a song I literally refused to review Worst of the Week? Yes, yes, I can. For Dishonourable Mention, just pick your Central Cee-flavoured poison. Here’s this week’s top 10:

I’ll see you next week for... Justin Bieber and Lana Del Rey. Damn, maybe I won’t see you next week.

[rachelkulagodfrey-blog]

A [MUSIC] Review: My 10+1 Favorite Live Acts From the Last Six Months

Originally posted on January 17, 2019.

Some people procrastinate by online shopping, cleaning, or watching the first season of a Netflix show that truly isn’t worth it (Judd Apatow’s Love stole my time and I want it back).

Others make an Instagram post about how they “just can’t focus :/”, masturbate to a point where it’s almost violent, or complete every single task except for the most pressing one at hand.

I am all of these people. Baked to perfection.

As appealing as all of these options are, my favorite way to procrastinate is watching live musical performances. If I said this was my number one choice because I really love to see what each and every artist can do on their feet, I would be LYING; it’s because I’m broke. Imagining I’m in the actual audience sounds like a cute and affordable outing to me.

I was originally going to write a late post about my ten favorite live musical acts of 2018, but then The Holy Trinity™ a.k.a The Goat Trio (Noname, Smino, and Saba) decided to perform on The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon and fuck up my whole plan.

Fucked up my whole plan, but made my whole life.

Here are the 10+1 live acts that have rustled my big and bright feathers in the last 184 days, ordered by upload date:

1. Mac Miller: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

August 6, 2018

I was tabling at my school’s Student Activities Fair when one of my best friends approached me looking like tears were seconds from falling down her cheeks and flooding the fucking campus. Her “I have to tell you something” was followed by what most onlookers would probably describe as an unnecessarily loud processing of the Five Ws and One H of Malcolm McCormick’s death. It probably looked overdramatic, but it honestly didn’t feel that way.

Mac’s placement in my mind shifted in tandem with his style. In his “Knock, Knock” days, he was the weird white kid who Wiz Khalifa seemed to have taken under his wing. I started high school a week or two before “Smile Back” was released. And I was in attack mode after a girl had used up MY oxygen to talk about me not being a “real” Black girl. While 14-year-old-me did put a hex on her soon after, Mac’s anthem of the opposition not being worth my stress set my mind right. Did not reverse the hex, though. Sorry, sis.

His eventual Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, and Anderson .Paak collaborations reframed the way I thought of him as a creative. I realized how open he was, and how honored he was to share space and thought with a wide range of musical talents. You can hear it in the production of the songs. His NPR Tiny Desk was an elevation of this. His energy was right. Thundercat on bass was right. Watching this performance made me want to bop the shit out of my head but also call all my old niggas and let them know I was suing them for stealing energy I could have put toward studying a cool cat’s artistry. So much love to Mr. Malcolm.

Favorite Moment(s): When Mac laughs at Thundercat’s abrupt tone change during “What’s the Use?” @ 9:10.

2. Rex Orange County performing “Sunflower” live on KCRW

August 14, 2018

I know I’ll get heat for this. But Alex O’ Connor is worth the slack.

In this performance, Rex Orange County looks and sounds like the place where lo-fi, Big Mouth, and driven-over lilacs meet. Doesn’t seem like the most appealing thing that could come out of your speakers, but it’s honestly just one really sweet surprise. And romance may be a capitalist sham, but all I can say is ShamWow! After finding out that he wrote “Sunflower” for his girlfriend of 3+ years, the bridge started to make me feel like someone slipped me a “Would You Date Me?” note in detention. Uncomfortable, but definitely entertained.

Favorite Moment(s): The aforementioned bridge @ 3:02.

3. serpentwithfeet – mourning song (Live on KEXP)

September 11, 2018

Josiah Wise, better known as serpentwithfeet, is one of the greatest storytellers I have ever witnessed. His entire KEXP performance is worth watching to see an immersive experiment in chaos and control using lighting, backtracks, and his voice. Confidence is not something we often associate with grief. In this performance of “mourning song”, he lists all the ways he will allow himself to think and feel through the end of an intimate relationship. Every time I listen to this song, I feel like he actually rips the voices from my head that tell me I am a burden, or that I must hide any part of myself.

I’m not really a church-going girl anymore so I won’t say watching this took me there. But it definitely took me to the Pokémon Center. HP on 255, bitch.

Favorite Moment(s): When he plays around with distance from the mic @ 2:30.

4. 070 Shake – I Laugh When I’m Friends But Sad When I’m Alone

September 14, 2018

My dearest New Jersey babe. The shining star of the 070 Crew, Danielle Balbuena, used to be at the top of my “Anal Sounds Great!” list after the 2016 “Bass for my Thoughts” release. Trevante Rhodes has since stolen her spot.

Shake takes her time with COLORS to sing about her unadulterated thoughts about the negatives that come along with fame, as well as how the perceived positive of always being around people can be suffocating. No matter what life decisions we try to make, no matter what our intentions, we’ll always be criticized. 9/10 times the criticism will come from people who are too scared to live out their own dreams and have decided to try and put their hooks into the dreams of others. I love this performance because she manages to make the sentiment hit relying primarily on her flow, with the beat not coming in until more than halfway through the video.

Favorite Moment(s): The belting at the end. She sounds like Roy Woods and it makes me want a collab.

5. Noname Performs A Three-Song Medley From Her Album ‘Room 25’

October 18, 2018

I am a walking Noname stan account.

I saw her perform during my sophomore year of college, soon after Telefone‘s release. I had never felt so represented in my existential absurdity. She was as wishful as she was uncertain; the last time I had felt that seen was when I heard Paramore’s “For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” for the first time. But you know angsty white people are always doing something, so it didn’t really click the same. I sobbed in the first row while Noname rapped about the effects poverty has on the Black imagination, battling with addiction, and finding the will to fight our own apathy.

In this performance, she gifts us with a three-song medley, featuring “Blaxploitation”, “Prayer Song”, and “Don’t Forget About Me”, three singles from Room 25. Together, the musical collage tells a story about trying to create in a culture that values what we make more than our livelihood.

Favorite Moment(s): The GIGGLE when the music ends before she does.

6. dvsn: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

November 28, 2018

Roy Woods and Majid Jordan were my favorite OVO acts for the longest time. I had heard of dvsn and didn’t really care for the duo at first. I didn’t even know they were a duo until like a week ago.

One night I was at a party that I didn’t want to be at, and I really wasn’t feeling the music. While I waited to sober up so I could walk home, I put on my headphones and started playing my own music. When the beat in “Mood” dropped and Daniel Daley’s vocals came in, I knew it was the beginning of a spiral into a rabbit hole full of fuck nigga energy… Energy to which I am apparently still very open. In this performance, Daley’s falsetto as he sings about not wanting to pull out of his partner is literally the most disarming sound I’ve ever heard. It’s what I imagine the Sirens in the Odyssey sounded like. I’m 100% certain that behind the sunglasses, his eyes are pitch black. Because Satan.

Favorite Moment(s): 6:13 – 6:35. Mother of God.

7. Rapsody, “Sassy” Night Owl | NPR Music

December 4, 2018

RAPSODY IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED LYRICISTS OF ALL TIME AND I WILL NOT REST UNTIL JUSTICE IS SERVED.

Like… I’ll sleep and all that. But I will be dissatisfied. Known for her home-hitting lyrical additions – Kendrick Lamar’s “Complexion (A Zulu Love) and Anderson .Paak’s “Without You” – Marlanna Evans deserves so much more for the brilliance that went into Laila’s Wisdom. When she was nominated for 2018 Best Rap Album of the Year, she was the fifth female-identifying nominee in the 23-year history of the category. This performance of one of Laila’s singles, “Sassy”, makes me want to bounce through the streets in some high tops. It demonstrates her ability to give us all profound lyrics and pop-off sounds.

Favorite Moment(s): Her dance break @ 2:45.

8. H.E.R.: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

December 13, 2018

H.E.R. had already appeared on NPR Tiny Desk before this performance, but five minutes of listening to her voice were simply not enough. Whenever I listen to one of her songs, I have to listen to two or three more. The cool thing is that she’s not using subliminal messaging! It’s literally just carefully-honed skill and talent! These niggas can’t even spell talent!

The transitions in this video are wild. Seeing how many times Gabi Wilson switches the instrument she’s playing is honestly just really fun. “Focus” is my favorite H.E.R. song, and this performance takes it up three whole notches. Considering the fact that she’s an actual child prodigy, I cannot help but smile seeing her get the shine she deserves; hearing people refer to her as “the girl who covered the Drake song” really made me as upset as the people who fight in the comments under Lebron highlight reels seem to be.

Favorite Moment(s): The back-and-forth between H.E.R. and the two amazing background vocalists @ 16:28.

9. JPEGMAFIA – Thug Tears | A COLORS SHOW

December 14, 2018

I really cannot tell if Barrington Hendricks/JPEGMAFIA/Peggy is the kind of person who hates astrology and everyone who mentions it, or if he consults his Co-Star chart every morning. Regardless, as the sole member of the non-Scorpio Scorpio Fan Club, I love this Scorpio king.

One second into his COLORS episode, I thought my speakers were fucking broken. Twenty seconds in, I thought I was having a stroke. I eventually realized that I was not being Punk’d by the peculiar nigga on my screen, and decided to go back to the beginning and try this shit again.

I became so infatuated with JPEGMAFIA after watching this performance. This may mean that I need to call my therapist soon, but I would argue that my interest stems from the healing power I feel is available in his artistry. While different from serpentwiththefeet’s “vibe”, Peggy presents us with a similar sentiment: being unafraid to display your emotions, whether it be grief or anger, in ways that are not respectable or palatable can shake up a nigga’s psyche. Lord knows this shit had me shook all the way the fuck up.

Favorite Moment(s): He starts off stretching. Definitely didn’t realize how necessary it was going to be.

10. KOFFEE – TOAST (LIVE FROM KGN)

December 23, 2018

I first listened to Koffee when she performed with Chronixx on the Real Rock Riddim. This past November, the 18-year-old released the inspirational fucking BOP, “Toast”. In the song, she speaks to her performances with Chronixx and other key moments in her musical journey as well as the bright future she sees ahead. The song itself has been at the top of my morning playlist; you already KNOW I love to bust an early whine while I brush my teeth. But this performance… it’s magic. You can barely hear Koffee herself with the audience screaming all the words back at her, letting her know they’ve got her back. And with a big ass smile full of braces, you can tell she’s feeling all the love they’ve got to give. Everyone, myself included, is ready for Koffee to rise to the top.

Favorite Moment(s): Her disbelief at the room’s energy at the beginning, and when she brings on the girls to help her sing @ 1:30.

10+1. Noname ft. Smino and Saba: Ace

January 8, 2018

One day, I’ll share the story of how Noname was an instrumental part in my sexual “becoming”. It’s the same story that I shared with her after the aforementioned concert (still so sorry about that, yikes). Until then:

I screamed when I found out this performance was happening. I don’t even think I can put into words how Noname, Smino, and Saba’s performance of “Ace” changed my whole attitude. For the last eight days, my sense of clarity has been… well, CLEAR! I realized how much my hair had grown. I finished grant and job applications. I’ve received great personal news and old, important friendships are being rekindled. They have too much power. I’m tweaking.

All I have to say is that this video ran me a bath, put a glass of wine in my hand, and made me dinner. Enjoy.

Favorite Moment(s): I. Cannot. Choose. (But wow. The way they look at Saba @ 1:56. I’m emotional.)

[konstantinwrites]

Treasures from the Roof of the Insurmountable, Part 2

Old Man Warming Himself (Vincent Van Gogh)

On we dodder...

37: On My Way by Omar Naber (Slovenia) (Returnee, 2005)

I like the Gmail chat message noises that Omar lined his chorus with. Bww-ling. Bww-pling. Instead of staring at my palms and thinking of something to say about “On My Way”, I end up checking my inbox, tabbing over to Livescore for soccer match updates, forgetting about my task and looking at thumbnails of upset Pep Guardiola from when possession stats just didn’t turn into goals. All of a sudden, I’m 40 seconds into my next track on Spotify, “On The Regular” by Shamir, and I’m imagining how sharp and voluptuous of a Eurovision entry it would be. Omar Naber’s “On My Way” is a great song.

“I do not dignify this schadenfreude with comment.”

Omar Naber has a good voice. Unfortunately, it’s not a voice which is well suited to this song – especially when it comes to the modulation and the big finish, where it seems like he struggles to deliver. “On My Way” itself is a fairly standard power ballad, and the live performance is fairly stale and doesn’t really capture attention. All in all, I don’t think it’s a good song, nor do I think it is a bad one. I do, however, find it a forgettable song.

Rebecca Milne

36: Grab The Moment by JOWST (Norway)

The looping “ki-ki-kill tonight” stab lines sound terrific, and the glitchy on-screen visuals and color scheme are rad. It’s constant electronica here and it tries to be low-key and likable. That would be nice, if the listener was rewarded. As it is, JOWST refuse to take a simple risk. Leading into the chorus, the rising volume and fastening beat signal that complicated emotion, “fun”, even if Norwegian based fun. The vocal-led choruses are pallidly disappointing. What we get is trudging downtempo, like DJs mixing Spandau Ballet songs into their music, but unmemorably. The rising-pitch bridge at 2:16 is lame and discomforting, too, with all low bass key notes like Super Hans on the keyboard.

There are a lot of electronica based songs at Eurovision each year, but EDM is still a rarity. Visually, at least, JOWST can expand Eurovision’s palate. Aurally, I wish they’d provided a higher band of emotion than Arman from Terrace House talking about becoming a firefighter at some point sometime.

I like this song a lot. It’s not necessarily the strongest entry this year, but it is likely to be memorable since it is breaking the mould of songs falling into a few genres. The melody is repetitive, but the performance manages to grab attention despite this. The main concern here is whether the live performance of the pre-recorded backing vocals and samples do the song justice.

Rebecca Milne

35: Hey Mamma by Sunstroke Project (Moldova) (Returnee, 2010)

They’re great on stage and a practical tool for Eurovision, producers able to fit this funk dance pop in between ballads that are probably better, but that probably don’t have saxophone. Yes, it’s with sax, like before. “Hey Mamma” is a lot better live, particularly because they can’t play their music video on stage, which is “Stacy’s Mom”, but shit. Linked in title.

When I don’t have enough money for travel, I give Sunstroke Project tapes to share-taxi drivers as payment. If you insert a “Hey Mamma” disc into the CD tray of your local eastern european minibus, you get to ride for free for the season.

Hey I actually enjoyed this one! Thank you, Moldova!

When I first heard that saxophone, I didn’t know whether to feel positively or negatively, but ultimately it reminds me of other European hits (see Alexandra Stan, “Mr. Saxobeat”) and I feel that Sunstroke Project only did good things by incorporating it into “Hey Mamma”. Musically sound and danceable, if I was switching radio channels in my car and “Hey Mamma” came on, I would let it play to finish.

I really enjoyed the music video - there’s a 1960s vibe going on with whatever filter they slapped over the lens or added during the editing process. This makes itself evident when Sunstroke Project’s girlfriend cracks two eggs together while sensually baking a cake. The LED violinist playing in a dimly lit, cable-filled room is also highly appreciated.

I feel that Moldova let themselves have a little more fun with their entry, producing an upbeat, enjoyable, lyrically understandable song with a humorous music video. It definitely feels like a breath of fresh air when compared to other Eurovision entries. I may even listen to it again for my own personal enjoyment, while sending good vibes out to Moldova for their success.

Patty Ritter

34: Dance Alone by Jana Burčeska (F.Y.R. Macedonia)

Congratulations to Jana on getting engaged during Semifinal 2! That was crazy! She also sang this monotonous nothing of a song. That wasn’t so crazy.

This one has a catchy 80s chorus. The lyrics are less filthy and less clever than Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself", but it must be an inspiration. I can imagine dancing to this at a late hour. I like it well enough for a fun, forgettable ditty. 7/10.

Philip Piatt

33: Running On Air by Nathan Trent (Austria)

Look, this is the kind of iPhone case-with-a-stars-and-universe-design saccharinity that "Running On Air” is: I thought that Nathan is refusing to say the word “chest”. At 1:15 I thought that he is singing, “Whatever you want, whatever you need, you gotta get it off your chest.” (Except with a cute bloop noise covering up “chest”.)

But it’s not the chest. It’s, “You gotta get off your ass” that he won’t finish, which, hey, let’s take it easy here, boys, we’ve all just had a bit too much. Nathan doesn’t want to be the baddest blonde in town, I understand, although he does get fucking wild with, “Hey now, if you let me drown I’ll swim like a champion”, a scenario where his lifeless body rolls around on the seafloor better than any other mafia victim. That’s a victory and hell yes you’ll count it.

“Running On Air” is able to capture zero aspects of genuine human experience, but that’s okay for the day. It’s empty and it’s lovely and it’s not quite ass.

An early version of the song.

Every day brings moments that are better and some that are worse; now and then things suck all day, the low points sinking beneath the surface of water. “Struggle” is the background, here, and the solution will be a combination of indifference — “But I don’t care” — and determination — “I’ll get up again”. Along the way, “People who were there to believe in me” appear for moral support, but this person intends to be the hero of his own triumphs.

Christy Wareham

[your-dietician]

Fire TV Gaming Bundle including Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller is on sale at Amazon

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/lifestyle/fire-tv-gaming-bundle-including-fire-tv-stick-4k-and-luna-controller-is-on-sale-at-amazon/

Fire TV Gaming Bundle including Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller is on sale at Amazon

Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. While this content is written independently by our editors, we may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page or other compensation. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Cutting-edge gaming on the cheap? Amazon’s Fire TV bundle can make it happen! (Photo: Amazon)

The powerful new Xbox Series X/S and sleek Sony PlayStation 5 are at the forefront of gaming. The thing is, you’re gonna pay for that high-profile rep: They can run upwards of $500. Yikes! However, you don’t need to break the bank to get a top-shelf gaming experience.

Enter Luna, Amazon’s high-speed cloud-gaming platform that offers hundreds of games from top publishers such as Ubisoft, Capcom, 505 Games, Team 17 and more. Think of it as Prime Video, but for gaming. And best of all? You can play on just about any device with a Wi-Fi, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, iPadOS and, of course, Fire TV.

Although the new service starts at just $6 per month, you’ll need the Amazon’s Fire TV Gaming Bundle including Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller to get you going. Luckily, in one of Amazon’s early Prime Day deals, you can get your hands on this bundle for just $74 (that’s $46 off) — if you’re a Prime member. That’s nearly a 40 percent savings and the all-time lowest price on this super-popular cloud-gaming bundle. How popular? Well, it’s earned a five-star rating from more than 553,500 reviewers. 

And Amazon will give you free shipping too. But if you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get so much more — from access to new movies and TV shows, discounts at Whole Foods and two-day shipping on many, many items. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here.

After a long day of first-person shooting and situational role-playing, kick back and let your Fire Stick take you to binge-land. (Photo: Amazon)

Here’s how the Fire TV Stick 4K works: Simply plug the Fire TV Stick into one of your 4K TV’s HDMI ports and it will search for your home’s Wi-Fi network automatically and wait for you to log in. That’s it!

Once synced, you’ll have access to hundreds of streaming apps and channels, including Luna Gaming, Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Starz, Showtime and so much more. You’ll also find fun interactive settings like pop-up results for actor and director names via IMDb.

Story continues

“Best streaming device!! The picture quality looks great, and I love the new remote,” raved a delighted five-star reviewer. “It was easy to set up to my Samsung Smart TV and soundbar. I use it to watch DirectTV Now and it works flawlessly.”

It’s like batting practice for your shopping savvy: Get nearly 40 percent off pre–Prime Day on Amazon’s Fire TV Gaming Bundle. (Photo: Amazon)

For gamers, the real star of this show is the Luna Controller. It’s wireless with a super-grippy and comfortable design. It has a pair of thumbsticks for precision, dual fast-action bumpers and triggers at the top (four in total), four responsive action buttons and an accurate four-way D-pad. And you can make it your own in more ways than one: This controller is re-mappable to best suit your gaming experience. 

Some shoppers say that this controller is better than Microsoft’s. “Wow! The best controller I have ever owned,” raved a savvy gamer. “Better build quality than the original Xbox X controllers. It feels great in the hands and trying to perform precise sniper aiming is a joy as the thumbsticks offer the perfect balance of resistance and control. To set up Luna controllers…is really simple and took me less than five minutes…. This is a hidden gem of controllers!”–

To get started, just press the dedicated Luna button on the controller to launch the cloud gaming platform and find something you love to play. And while the Luna Controller — which is powered with two included AA batteries — plays over Wi-Fi in the cloud, it can also pair to just about any laptop, desktop, smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth for local gaming. You can actually download games from Luna to play offline when an internet connection is not available.

“I did not notice any lag with these controllers running wireless at all,” continued the gamer. And FYI: It can also plug into your laptop with USB-C for wired gaming.

Alexa’s along for the ride!

And of course, since this is an Amazon device, the Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller have the Alexa voice assistant built-in. There’s a dedicated Alexa button on the remote and gaming controller, so you can bring up the voice assistant in one motion. Your days of endlessly navigating through a grid of titles are over! Just say, ‘Alexa, launch Sonic Mania on Luna’ and you’ll be zipping through Green Hill Zone in no time. 

“…I’m an Alexa user and enjoy Amazon products around my home, so I figured I’d give their gaming service a try. I am amazed at how easy the setup was after opening my Luna controller. It was instant,” shared a savvy Amazon shopper. “All I had to do was download the app on my phone and my Fire TV Stick. As soon as I opened the app on the TV I was already signed in and ready to play. This is really nice, as I didn’t have to do anything to get started — my profile was ready to go…”

At $74 for Prime members only (was $120), the Amazon’s Fire TV Gaming Bundle including Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller is one of the best ways to play your favorite games online without investing in an expensive console. All you need is an internet connection to get your game on just about anywhere.

“The best controller I own,” added another five-star reviewer. “Buttons, sticks, the hold — all are well made and sturdy. This controller was designed so well. When using the sticks the resistance is amazing for sneaking, aiming and those slight movements…”

TVs

Headphones and earbuds

Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones, $10 (was $20), amazon.com

Moing Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones, $33 (was $60), amazon.com

Cowin E7 Active Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones, $47 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

HolyHigh Wireless Headphones Sports Earbuds Pro, $19 (was $40), amazon.com

Sephia SP3060 Earbuds, $15 (was $30), amazon.com

Noot K11 Stereo Headphones, $13 (was $20), amazon.com

Smartphones and tablets

Moto G7 Plus, $148 (was $250), amazon.com

Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB), $299 (was $329), amazon.com

Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad, $150 (was $159), amazon.com

TCL 10 Pro Unlocked Android Smartphone, $300 with on-page coupon (was $450), amazon.com

Ulefone Note 9P smartphone, $152 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

Zonko 10-inch Tablet, $113 (was $160), amazon.com

Gaming

Borderlands Legendary Collection (Nintendo Switch), $20 (was $50), amazon.com

Godfall (PS5), $39 (was $70), amazon.com

NBA 2K21 (Xbox Series X), $30 (was $70), amazon.com

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (PC), $20 (was $60), amazon.com

Mafia: Definitive Edition (PS4), $20 (was $40), amazon.com

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), $48 (was $60), amazon.com

Runmus Gaming Headset, $20 with on-page coupon (was $43), amazon.com

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (PS4), $6 (was $40), amazon.com

Smart home

Echo Frames (second generation), $175 for Prime members only (was $250), amazon.com

Amazon Smart Plug, $15 for Prime members only (was $25), amazon.com

Facebook Portal TV, $99 (was $149), amazon.com

Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300, $55 with on-page coupon (was $80), amazon.com

Echo Show 5, $45 for Prime members only (was $80), amazon.com

EverCross Electric Scooter, $299 with on-page coupon (was $369), amazon.com

Vacuums

OKP Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $119 with on-page coupon (was $300), amazon.com

ThisWorx Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner, $35 (was $45), amazon.com

Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Expert Wet and Dry Robot Vacuum, $300 (was $400), amazon.com

Eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 11S (Slim), $190 with on-page coupon (was $220), amazon.com

MooSoo Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, $130 with on-page coupon (was $300), amazon.com

Yeedi K650 Robot Vacuum, $130 with on-page coupon (was $180), amazon.com

Work from home

Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager, $38 with on-page coupon (was $50), amazon.com

LifeLong Ergonomic Laptop stand for desk, $50 with on-page coupon (was $90), amazon.com

Truweo Posture Corrector, $12 (was $30), amazon.com

FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair, $125 with on-page coupon (was $160), amazon.com

AndaSeat gaming and office chair, $230 with on-page coupon (was $290), amazon.com

Hey! Play! Mini Tabletop Pool Set, $16 (was $60), amazon.com

Vybe Percussion Massage Gun, $130 with on-page coupon (was $150), amazon.com

Kitchen

Bayco 9 Pack Glass Meal Prep Containers, $33 (was $50), amazon.com

Gotham Steel Smokeless Grill Indoor Grill, $38 (was $50), amazon.com

Ninja Personal Blender, $60 (was $70), amazon.com

Cuisinart HM-90S Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer, $80 (was $145), amazon.com

Elite Gourmet EGC-007 Easy Electric Poacher, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Geek Chef Air Fryer Toaster Oven, $140 with on-page coupon (was $200), amazon.com

Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, $11 (was $15), amazon.com

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi-Purpose Hand Blender, $30 (was $45), amazon.com

Bonsenkitchen Handheld Milk Frother, $12 (was $18), amazon.com

Beauty

Naturewell Retinol Advanced Moisturizing Cream for Face and Body, $15 with on-page coupon (was $23), amazon.com

CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, $9 with-page coupon (was $19), amazon.com

Keranique Shampoo and Conditioner Set, $32 (was $50), amazon.com

AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Kit, $32.50 with on-page coupon (was $60), amazon.com

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream for Face, $20 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com

Style

Korsis Women’s Summer Casual T-Shirt Dress, $29 (was $39), amazon.com

Prettygarden Ladies Basic Crewneck Belted Office Dress, $31 (was $37), amazon.com

Yidarton Women’s Comfy Casual Twist Knot Tunics Tops Blouses T-Shirts, $12 (was $27), amazon.com

a.Jesdani Women’s Button Down, $33 with on-page coupon (was $50), amazon.com

BerryGo Women’s Embroidery Pearl Button Down Dress V Neck Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress, $42 (was $50), amazon.com

Leggings Depot Leggings, $16 (was $30), amazon.com

Milumia Women’s Boho Button Up Split Floral Print Flowy Party Dress, $28 (was $34), amazon.com

Health and wellness

Bedding

Sumitu Bed Pillows for Sleeping 2 Pack, $31 (was $60), amazon.com

LuxClub 6 PC Sheet Set Bamboo Sheets, $35 for queen (was $57), amazon.com

Bedsure Satin Pillowcase for Hair and Skin Silk Pillowcase 2 Pack, $8 (was $10), amazon.com

Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter, $35 (was $57), amazon.com

Queen Mattress Pad Cover Cooling Mattress Topper, $40 (was $60), amazon.com

Pets

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Brick Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy, $14 (was $25), amazon.com

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy, $20 (was $30), amazon.com

Milk-Bone MaroSnacks Dog Treats, $9 (was $12), amazon.com

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Treats, $6 (was $14), amazon.com

Interactive Robotic Cat Toy, $25 (was $45), amazon.com

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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