Latest news with #4NonBlondes
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Exclusive: Newsom vows to fight for arts funding during star-studded BottleRock 2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom and first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom joined a host of luminaries on the second day BottleRock Napa Valley, enjoying performances by artists including Benson Boone and 4 Non Blondes while mingling with high-profile figures such as Serena Williams, radio personality Gary 'Baba Booey' Dell'Abate and baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. Backstage on Saturday, May 24, the California governor mingled with music industry heavyweights, including Live Nation Northern California President Jodi Goodman, BottleRock partner Dave Graham and Marsha Vlasic, longtime talent manager for Neil Young. Newsom commended Young for fearlessly criticizing President Donald Trump's administration and voicing support for Bruce Springsteen during the musician's recent clash with the president. 'Neil Young has shown incredible integrity,' Newsom said, praising his advocacy. In a brief interview with the Chronicle at the festival, Newsom underscored the critical need to champion the arts amid federal cuts to cultural institutions under the current administration. 'This is an incredibly important moment in U.S. history,' he said. 'It's about free expression and being accountable. We can't afford to be timid.' Earlier this month, Newsom announced an $11.95 billion state budget shortfall, attributed to tariffs, a decline in tourism and broader economic uncertainty. This deficit led to a proposal to cut $11.5 million in funding for small nonprofit arts organizations across California. The proposal follows a recent wave of terminations from the National Endowment for the Arts, which sent form letters to arts organizations across the country stating that their projects 'fall outside' Trump's priorities. The targeted priorities include commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, supporting the military, promoting skilled trade careers, and aiding historically Black colleges and universities along with Hispanic-serving institutions. Despite these challenges, Newsom struck a defiant tone. 'Make arts matter again,' he told the Chronicle on Saturday. 'Art, especially rock music, matters now more than ever.'
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Justin Timberlake at BottleRock Napa Valley marks a major comeback after a tumultuous year
Justin Timberlake closed the final date of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour on a high note during his BottleRock Napa Valley debut. His triumphant headlining set on Saturday, May 24, marked the second day of the Wine Country festival and the end of a year-long global tour in support of his 2024 album 'Everything I Thought It Was.' Over the course of two hours, the Memphis-born pop star offered a dynamic blend of new and classic hits, displaying his trademark energy, impeccable choreography and smooth falsetto vocals. Backed by his band, the Tennessee Kids, and five backup dancers, Timberlake orchestrated a vibrant, high-octane show that captivated the sold-out festival crowd. Songs like 'Mirrors,' 'My Love' and 'Can't Stop the Feeling' fueled the euphoric atmosphere, while an electric brass section and agile dancers added visual flair. The show came after a particularly tumultuous period for Timberlake, including several canceled concerts earlier in the year due to health issues, as well as a DUI arrest last June. But any lingering controversy seemed to dissipate in Napa. Timberlake spoke to the crowd with equal measures of sincerity and whimsy. 'I wish you all a healthy weekend with as little tannins as possible,' he quipped, describing the bitter compounds in wine. He also cheekily wore a T-shirt bearing a vintage pin-up shot of his wife, actress Jessica Biel, that, on first glance, many in the audience assumed depicted his ex, Britney Spears, following her recent headline-grabbing exploits. While his latest album received mixed reviews, the live setting breathed new life into tracks like 'Selfish' and 'Play,' which were well-received by the crowd. Older hits such as 'Cry Me A River' and 'SexyBack' stirred a rush of nostalgia that earned cheers at every turn. Timberlake, who has evolved into a polished and versatile performer over his 30-year career, demonstrated his enduring appeal and growth as an artist. The night was a reminder of his musical and cultural influence, leaving fans excited for what comes next. 'I know I'll see you again someday,' Timberlake assured fans. He capped off an action-packed day at BottleRock, which also featured a high-energy set by up-and-coming pop sensation Benson Boone, a surprisingly solid performance by actor-turned-singer Kate Hudson, and a highly anticipated reunion performance by 4 Non Blondes, who marked their first appearance in 30 years. Their rendition of 'What's Up?' sparked one of the loudest singalongs in BottleRock history. Elsewhere, the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage was alive with cooking demonstrations from stars like Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and 'Modern Family' star Adam Devine, along with a parade of 'Top Chef' stars including Kristen KishBrooke Williamson and brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christina Aguilera's Stripped retrospectively reviewed: The most drastic, effective reinvention in pop
At the turn of the millennium, teen pop was dominating the charts like never before. The sugary-sweet sounds of hits like Britney Spears's 'Oops!… I Did It Again' and *NSYNC's 'Bye Bye Bye' were in. It was bubblegum pop with added E numbers. Christina Aguilera's 1999 self-titled debut was an example of this, launching the Disney alumnus onto the world stage with 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'What a Girl Wants'. She established herself among the likes of Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore as a new teen idol, all of whom were being moulded to Britney's girl-next-door image. It was these comparisons that made Aguilera want to break away from her contemporaries and showcase her true identity on Stripped. It was Aguilera's fourth overall studio album, but second English-speaking, non-Christmas effort. Lead single 'Dirrty' featuring Redman was the general public's first proper re-introduction to 'the new Xtina'. Gone was her cookie-cutter, virginal image in favour of an edgier, more original look and sound. It was a shock and largely criticised; misogyny in the media was at fever pitch during the early 2000s. However, the single and accompanying music video was, and still is, a thrilling piece of pop. It's arguably the most drastic and effective reinvention in pop, long before Miley Cyrus ditched her good girl image for Bangerz. Lyrically, the track is a sexually charged romp with hard hip-hop sensibilities. It flopped in the US, reaching number 48, but hit number one in the UK and the top 10 in several other countries. To this day, it's guaranteed to get any party started. Follow-up single 'Beautiful' couldn't have been more different, however. The tender piano ballad is a defiant statement for self-empowerment: 'You are beautiful no matter what they say'. Written by 4 Non Blondes's Linda Perry, the track was immediately adopted as a queer anthem. The accompanying music video also reflects this, featuring a same-sex couple and a transgender woman overcoming adversity and self-doubt to live authentically. While accepting the Special Recognition Award at the 14th GLAAD Media Awards, Aguilera said of 'Beautiful': 'This song is definitely a universal message that everybody can relate to — anyone that's been discriminated against or unaccepted, unappreciated or disrespected just because of who you are. It was so important to me that I support the gay community in this sense.' It has become one of the singer's signature tracks. 'Fighter' continues the theme of self-reliance, this time in a toxic relationship. Aguilera adopts a different sound yet again, this time taking inspiration from Guns N' Roses and stadium rock. It's a biting 'fuck you' to a cheating lover and an ode to the strength that comes from walking away. The album's lead single had been something of a red herring. While the album did speak of sexual liberation, the title Stripped speaks more to the baring of Aguilera's soul — as the latter singles demonstrated. This misconception perhaps muddied the understanding of what the singer was trying to achieve at this particular point in her career. On tracks like 'The Voice Within' and 'I'm OK', Aguilera is at her most introspective and vulnerable. It's these expressions of feeling like an outsider or facing trauma that helped Aguilera connect with her LGBTQ+ fanbase on a meaningful level. Despite being a pop pin-up, she felt just as insecure as the rest of us. Stripped stands up as Aguilera's most cohesive body of work and one of her most commercially successful. The album hit number two in the UK and US and top 10 in most of the world. In 2022, it was certified 5x Platinum. She would continue to have success in music, with hits such as 'Ain't No Other Man' and the cult classic 'Not Myself Tonight'. Aguilera would also appear alongside fellow gay icon Cher in the 2010 movie Burlesque. Aguilera has continued to show unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community throughout her career. Following the tragic Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, the singer released the one-off single 'Change', dedicated to the victims. Proceeds from it were also donated to the victims' families. Speaking to the US's She Magazine in 2012, Aguilera said of her queer fanbase: 'I cannot express in words how much the LGBT community means to me. On my darkest day, their support lifts me up. I feel honoured that some of my songs become anthems to them as well.' The post Christina Aguilera's Stripped retrospectively reviewed: The most drastic, effective reinvention in pop appeared first on Attitude.
