Rihanna Returns With Club Banger ‘Friend of Mine'
A video for the song sees Rihanna approaching the Smurfs' village with a giant flower as an umbrella. As she goes inside, it transitions to animation and the small blue creatures dance along to the lively track—with some pretty impressive moves. The club-ready single marks Rihanna's first new music since 2022's 'Lift Me Up,' recorded for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
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'Friend of Mine' will appear on the Smurfs soundtrack, along with DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and Desi Trill's 'Higher Love,' which dropped in February. The soundtrack is set for release on June 13 via Roc Nation Distribution and will also feature a new song from Tyla.
Smurfs hits theaters on July 18. The official synopsis notes, 'When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.' Other voice actors include James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, and Kurt Russell.
Rihanna notably hasn't dropped an album since 2016's Anti. The singer last provided a real update on her potential next album in February, saying she was 'feeling really optimistic' about the music she had been working on.
'This feels right,' she said. 'It feels like it digs right into where I need to be, and I want this. This body needs to come out, and I'm ready to go there. This is becoming my new freedom, because when I'm in the studio, I know that my time away from my kids is to blossom something that hasn't been watered in eight years. I've been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn't hit me. I was searching for it.'
She continued, 'I went through phases of what I wanted to do. 'This kind of album, not that album.' I know it's not going to be anything that anybody expects. And it's not going to be commercial or radio digestible. It's going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I've finally cracked it, girl!'
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Travel + Leisure
6 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I Asked an Italian Fashion Designer What Locals Are Wearing This Summer, and She Gave Me These 8 Style Tips
Every summer since moving to Italy, my Instagram direct messages are filled with American friends asking me, 'What should I pack?' before their upcoming European vacations. But the truth is, the answer varies depending on where you're headed. What I pack in my weekender bag for visiting Tuscany differs greatly from what I'd be taking on a holiday in Sardinia. And, there's the matter of personal style to address—I like to think I take a little bit of Italian summer style and make it my own. Still, there are timeless Italian style pieces that will work for all wardrobes and destinations—and to determine the Italian summer style must-haves, I turned to my most fashionable Italian friend, fashion designer Stella Jean. I've been a huge fan of Stella's work since the early days of her brand; a protege of Giorgio Armani, Stella Jean has dressed global style icons like Rihanna, Beyonce, Zendaya, and Sandra Bullock. In that oh-so-romantic Italian way, Jean not only gave me packing tips, but life tips on how to channel Italian style: 'Don't just pack clothes—pack attitude ,' she told me. For her, the hallmark of Italian summer style is ' disinvoltura studiata ,' which translates literally to 'studied ease' but to Jean, is defined as, 'That elusive mix of ease and intention—where linen is always slightly crumpled (but never careless), and sandals are custom-made, possibly in a fishing village with no Wi-Fi but generational savoir-faire.' Hallmarks of Jean's collection, like her striped button-down shirt and bold patterned skirts, channel that disinvoltura studiata . To help you put together your own summer travel wardrobe, read on for eight Italian style tips based on Jean's advice. My linen wardrobe has dramatically increased since moving to Italy, strongly inspired by my husband and his full linen summer wardrobe that certainly caught my eye during our first summer dating. I learned from him how to wear and style linen, and now I love the fabric, particularly in the form of a matching set. Currently, I have three linen sets in my suitcase! Jean attests to donning linen in the summer as well, saying, 'It's slightly crumpled, but never careless.' I selected a few of my favorite looks, including a matching square-neck tank and skirt set from Madewell and a sleek cropped vest and high-rise pant from Gap. I've always appreciated the ease of the summer button-down shirt. Tied at the waist or tossed over a swimsuit, button-downs are a versatile style I've worn for decades. There's a beautiful familiarity to the style of a striped cotton poplin shirt I've seen worn in Italy. For Jean, a striped cotton poplin shirt is 'a quiet staple of the Italian summer, beloved by philosophers, fishermen, and flâneurs alike.' Stella Jean's striped shirts in a beautiful blue and white have always caught my eye, especially paired with eye-catching skirts, proving a striped shirt is not only a staple but also a neutral! I also found an oversized option from Madewell and a bright vermilion hue from Gap's partnership with Dôen that will definitely stand out. Beautiful wide-leg trousers and palazzo pants have always been a hallmark of great Italian style to me, and it's true for Jean, as well. After all, 'palazzo' pants are Italian (hence the Italian name), and are one of my oft-mentioned style staples. These comfortable, flowy bottoms are just as fitting for swanning through an Italian city's palazzo as they are for exploring small, tucked-away Italian towns and villages. Check out the best-selling Madewell Harlow Trousers for a more polished look or the white Quince wide-leg chino pants that are practically made for summer. One of Jean's top non-negotiables for Italian summer style is a pair of leather Capri sandals. 'For me, it's never really been summer without them,' she says. 'I started wearing them around 14, when my mother and I would have them made to measure in Positano or Capri. They're the kind of sandals that work [24/7]—from breakfast in linen to evening in a flowing dress.' She adds that she probably has 20 pairs by now, 'bought out of pure loyalty and frequent overuse.' But, if you can't make it to Capri or Positano for your fitting, get your pair from my husband's family's company—I'll ask my father-in-law to sprinkle in a little Italian sunshine into your package! You can also shop similar-looking leather sandals, like this strappy pair from Bernardo or this Cole Haan fisherman sandal. Pieces that work for day-to-night wear feel elusive, but Jean manages to master the art in her gorgeous dresses that you can put on for almost any occasion. 'Ask yourself: Would this look out of place at a café at noon or in a piazza at midnight? ' she says. If it suits both locales, then it's ready to go. Some of her most iconic dresses, like this striped floral midi dress with its striped cotton poplin shirt and full skirt featuring a bold colorful print, are reminiscent of the Caribbean, reminding me of Jean's cultural heritage as half Haitian. As seen with a pair of flats on style star Luna de Casanova or with heeled sandals on Jean herself, a versatile dress that blends styles is elegant for both day and night. Other dresses that capture a similar day-to-night feel are this gingham number from Gap x Dôen and this lightweight pinstripe Quince dress made of European linen. One of Jean's packing recommendations is a bold printed skirt, especially in a beautiful tropical print. A few years ago, while styling a photoshoot on the cliffs of Ravello along the Amalfi Coast, I used a cobalt blue painted draped linen skirt. I styled it with a crisp white button-down, and it's still one of my favorite looks. This Stella Jean Midi Wrap Skirt reminds me of that shoot and that beautiful summer day, and I can imagine packing it along with a crisp button-down or tank. I found a few more eye-catching skirts to pack for an instant outfit upgrade, like a colorful midi linen skirt from Banana Republic and a forest green printed skirt on sale for $27 at Amazon. The Italian pinstripes! While casually naming things to punctuate an outfit, Jean suggested adding pinstripes to your packing list. It's a hallmark of classic Italian style, beloved by everyone from bankers in Milan to politicians in Rome. There's a huge variety of pinstripe looks, like these wide-leg yellow linen pants from Mango or these Everlane barrel-leg pants with a dark denim pinstripe. I recently said to my husband, while packing for our vacation in Sardinia, 'I'm going to pack a scarf. There might be a breeze at night.' Have I become Italian? As Jean joked when suggesting a light scarf on her packing list, 'Italians will forever believe that il colpo d'aria is a real and present danger.' You'll get a cough with your throat exposed! But a scarf can be worn in several ways, making it a genius accessory to pack with you. For instance, Jean styles a head scarf impeccably well. When meeting her for lunch in Rome once, I was in awe of her striking figure in a beautiful head scarf and trench coat; I promptly styled a similar scarf for my flight to Nice the next day! One of these silky numbers will work overtime on an Italian holiday, whether you're tying this linen scarf around your neck or this parrot-patterned one over your head or tied to your purse. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Fox Sports
16 hours ago
- Fox Sports
MLB Crowd Record at Speedway Classic in Bristol? Big Draw Set for Braves-Reds
Officials are expecting a record crowd at Bristol Motor Speedway to watch the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug. 2. "We can't wait for next Saturday night ... when that first pitch is thrown out and the stands are full," Jerry Caldwell, Bristol's president and general manager, said Friday. "We'll be setting records, we'll be having attendance records. We'll announcing all those details later on, but we'll be there, I know we will." The largest crowd ever to see a baseball game was 115,300 for a March 2008 exhibition between the Red Sox and Dodgers at Los Angeles Coliseum. Bristol packed in 156,990 for the Battle of Bristol college football game in 2016. Officials showed off the work Friday with a baseball field now sitting on top of the infield inside the half-mile bullring where cars and a building once sat for NASCAR races. Workers still have some finishing touches to put on the field inside the racetrack. Murray Cook, an MLB field and stadium consultant with BrightView, said he's excited to be at this point in the process of building a ballpark. Final touches still remain for the clay along with all the padding and branding, which should be in place by Wednesday at the latest. Crews also held a light check Thursday night to make sure the Musco lights meet MLB standards. "We've had a blast building this," Cook said. Even though the Braves play the Reds in Cincinnati on Aug. 1, the day before the Bristol game, fans are being encouraged to settle in for the big party planned both outside and then inside the racetrack for game day. Caldwell said fans should show up by noon on game day to enjoy the attractions outside the track, including music, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, a food truck row, pitching tunnels and batting cages and team mascots. Once fans head inside, Tim McGraw and Pitbull are scheduled to perform. Demolition started in early June with heavy construction now in high gear to transform Bristol Motor Speedway into a ballpark for the first MLB game in Tennessee. This game features grandstand seating for fans along both baselines. Both teams will be wearing NASCAR-inspired uniforms with details like flames on the brim of the Braves' caps and a finish-line checkerboard for the Reds' caps. The MLB Speedway Classic also will be included in the "MLB The Show 25" video game after an update scheduled for Tuesday. Caldwell said the project has been long in the works. "We're ... thrilled to be able to welcome everyone to Bristol and partner with Major League Baseball, the state of Tennessee and so many others to be able to pull this off," he said. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
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