Latest news with #Blackbird
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones reunited with Neil the Baby at Margam festival
Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones reunited with Neil the Baby at Margam festival The pair shared a cwtch on the main stage of In It Together festival, after a surprise appearance from Ruth Jones Ruth Jones was reunited with her on screen son, Oscar Hartland aka Neil the Baby (Image: Richard Swingler ) In It Together festival which was held in Margam this weekend had those attending on the edge of their seats as they had several surprise mystery guests appearing across the duration of the event. The first was the English singer and songwriter Example. The second mystery guest was a little more local, as Ruth Jones popped on the main stage to say hello on Sunday, May 25. Although, she didn't just come on to say "what's occurin", she also came on stage to introduce mystery guest, The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle. There was one more surprise in store for Gavin and Stacey fans, as Ruth was also reunited with Neil the Baby who had performed at the festival a day earlier. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . After a countdown, the host said "Port Talbot make some noise for Ruth Jones, followed by the Gavin and Stacey theme song, Run by Stephen Fretwell. Inevitably the audience erupted in screams as the writer and actress took to the stage. To which she then shouted "Oh, what's occurin", in true Nessa style. She then went on to say: "I don't really speak like that you know, listen it's so fantastic to be here. I'm literally five or six miles away from my hometown of Porthcawl." Article continues below She then asked if anyone in the crowd was from Porthcawl, before giving them a wave and saying "alright?" It was then time for her on screen son, Oscar Hartland who plays Neil the Baby, to join her. Ruth then said, "my son", as he gave her a big hug. The actress then asked if he was performing, to which he replied that he had the day previously. Oscar performed his debut show alongside his band on Saturday, May 26 at In It Together's Wonky Lizard stage. Since appearing on Gavin and Stacey from a young age, the actor has turned to music as fans of the show may be aware of after his rendition of The Beatles' Blackbird in the show's final episode. She then said: "Isn't he amazing? He takes after his mother he does." Content cannot be displayed without consent Ruth later addressed 'the fishing trip', saying: "I don't know, I wasn't there." The host replied: "I was hoping today, we would have found out." In It Together posted on Instagram: "WOW! Thank you to the incredible Ruth Jones for creating one of the best moments in In It Together history! " Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below Fans shared their excitement about Ruth's appearance as well as the reunion on social media. One person even said: "We just needed Rob Brydon too with a little bit of 'Islands in the Stream' and the place would have erupted."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium: Review, setlist
Beyoncé lassoed hips, hearts and minds, too, at her MetLife Stadium Cowboy Carter show on Thursday, May 22, in East Rutherford. The nearly three-hour spectacle was a delight of a country music concert, Beyoncé style, that touched on contemporary themes and critiques, with a smile and a twirl. The central point is country music was founded in the hymns, spirituals, blues and field songs of Black America, and that fact this is not widely recognized — well, that's part of the American problem. 'They used to say I spoke too country,' sang Beyoncé in 'American Requiem,' from her hit album, 'Cowboy Carter.' What is the remedy? An album and tour of country music that takes the genre to its roots and explores exciting possibilities. From a delicate performance of the Beatles 'Blackbird,' dedicated 'to all the beautiful Blackbirds who opened the door for me,' to a delightful corn-fed rendition of Dolly Parton's 'Jolene,' Beyoncé showed an impressive range and exquisite feeling in her vocals. The multi-piece band made all the right notes and shadings, and the the backup singers delivered a rich context, especially on the new 'Flamenco.' Mind you, Bey did not strap on her cowboy boots and cowboy hat to just stand there and sing. Beyoncé and her big dance troupe were in constant motion throughout the night, and that included daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi. When not dancing, Bey rode a horseshoe and late model sedan over the audience via wires — and, on stage, a mechanical bull, gold horse and truck with giant horns. She looked like a cool Kid Rock when she was on the truck, for a stutter rhythm version off 'Crazy In Love.' Video vignettes framed the night, such as the concept of the 'reclamation of America.' Heady stuff, and perhaps unsettling to portions of the population. But they were delivered here with such charm and skill that this lesson in American cultural history will not soon be forgotten. Check out Thursday's setlist below for what Beyonce played at the MetLife opener: American Requiem Blackbird The Star-Spangled Banner Freedom Ya Ya / Why Don't You Love Me Oh Louisiana America Has a Problem Spaghetti Formation My House Diva Alligator Tears Just for Fun Protector Flamenco Desert Eagle Riverdance II Hands II Heaven II Tyrant Thique Levii's Jeans Sweet Honey Buckiin' / Pure Honey / Summer Renaissance Texas Hold 'Em Crazy in Love Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) Love on Top Irreplaceable If I Were A Boy Jolene Daddy Lessons Bodyguard II Most Wanted Cuff It Heated Before I Let Go Daughter Renaissance I'm That Girl Cozy Alien Superstar 16 Carriages Amen The "Cowboy Carter' album won Grammy Awards for Best Country Album and Album of the Year. Beyoncé opened her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit Tour April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and it played in Chicago before the East Rutherford shows, which include Saturday, May 24; Sunday, May 25; Wednesday, May 28; and Friday, May 29. The five upcoming shows at MetLife are record breaking — they're the most by an artist on a single tour at the venue. The nine-city tour will also play in Europe before the finale on Saturday, July 26, in Las Vegas. The NJ Transit engineer strike was settled this week, and it's service as normal at MetLife for the shows. The trains start departing Secaucus for the concerts at 4:29 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, and 4:53 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29. The last train will not leave MetLife Stadium before 1 a.m. Check out for more info. Subscribe to for the latest on the New Jersey music scene. Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Beyoncé Cowboy Carter at MetLife Stadium: Review, setlist
CNA
21-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Fintech Airwallex valued at over $6 billion in latest funding round
Payments firm Airwallex said on Wednesday it was valued at $6.2 billion in its latest fundraise of $300 million. The round, which included investors like Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital and Blackbird, brings Airwallex's total funding to over $1.2 billion. Airwallex said that the added capital would be used to enter new markets and refine its technology.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Anyone with blackbirds in garden asked to do simple thing as virus spreads
The Usutu virus, which can be transmitted by infected mosquitoes to blackbirds, appears to be spreading rapidly in the UK and particularly in the south of England UK households are being called upon to aid scientists in tracking a mosquito-borne disease that's threatening the nation's blackbirds. Those with gardens visited by these birds are urged to join a national study aimed at gauging the health of native bird populations. The Usutu virus, known for affecting blackbirds and spread by mosquitoes, is on the rise in the UK, particularly in the south. This has coincided with a worrying decline in some blackbird populations, sparking fears for the future of these cherished songbirds. Experts are keeping a watchful eye on the situation, as global warming could allow mosquitoes and their associated diseases to widen their territory. To get a clearer picture of how the Usutu virus is impacting blackbirds, scientists are inviting those who spot these birds in their gardens to partake in a dedicated counting initiative. The British Trust for Ornithology has stated: "The Blackbirds in Gardens project will help us understand how Blackbirds use gardens, and the potential effects of the Usutu virus on their population in the UK. "If you have access to a garden, have an interest in garden birds and can recognise a Blackbird by sight, then this survey could be for you!" The newly launched survey will continue through September. The public is being asked to keep an eye on the number of blackbirds they spot, as well as their behaviours such as foraging for food or using a pond or puddle. The aim is for each participant to conduct a 15-minute survey once a week throughout the duration of the study, reports Chronicle Live. This initiative is part of the Vector-Borne RADAR project, a joint effort between the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Zoological Society of London. "We've seen that the virus has spread further than we thought it might do, and it's persisted," Dr Arran Folly from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) revealed to the BBC. Based in Weybridge, Surrey, APHA experts have been keeping tabs on mosquito-borne diseases in wild birds for years, due to growing concerns that climate change is turning Europe into a potential breeding ground for these insects. This virus has been spreading worldwide and arrived in Europe three decades ago. However, in the UK, all test results were negative until 2020. Following the heatwave in the summer of that year, Usutu was detected in several blackbirds in Greater London. "Blackbirds specifically are quite susceptible to the virus and since 2020 we've found a decline in blackbirds of approximately 40% in Greater London," Dr Folly disclosed. "It gives an indication that in the future we might get other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes emerging in the UK."
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
All 23 'American Idol' winners, ranked. How does your favorite fare?
All 23 'American Idol' winners, ranked. How does your favorite fare? Show Caption Hide Caption Jamal Roberts on being 'American Idol' winner, going home to daughters Jamal Roberts won "American Idol" Season 23, but he's about to get even busier after recently welcoming a baby girl. You can say this for 'American Idol': More than 20 years in, it's still worth arguing about. Should Kris Allen have prevailed over Adam Lambert? Queen would like a word. Carrie Underwood over Bo Bice? We loved the hair, Bo, but sorry, Carrie was the rightful empress. Lee DeWyze instead of Crystal Bowersox? Our blood pressure spikes just recalling that travesty. And there are no words for the injustice that was ousting Jennifer Hudson in seventh place during the show's third season. But the "Idol" spotlight still allowed for the discovery of Hudson's talent and eventual mega-stardom. Though the 'Idol' hitmaking machine now creaks rather than churns out superstars, the platform is still unparalleled when compared to its singing competition peers. We've ranked the 23 'American Idol' winners based primarily on sheer talent, but with an obvious nod toward their success after the show (new winner Jamal Roberts excepted from that criteria). Please, continue arguing. 23. Lee DeWyze (2010) Despite his affable personality and gruff coffeehouse croon, DeWyze lacked the undeniable spark and grit of Crystal Bowersox, the Janis Joplin incarnate who outrageously only placed second that season. – Patrick Ryan 22. Chayce Beckham (2021) Beckham impressed on the show with his passionate rendition of The Beatles' 'Blackbird,' but his gravelly voice often conjured memories of Creed. And no, that's not a good thing. But Beckham's career plans reside in country – his coronation song, '23,' from his 2024 debut album "Bad for Me," hit No. 1 on the Billboard country digital chart. – Melissa Ruggieri 21. Laine Hardy (2019) The Louisiana native, who in 2022 was arrested and charged with secretly recording an ex-girlfriend, rose through the 'Idol' ranks with his Elvis Presley-style croon and stage persona. But outside the throwback shtick, the husky-voiced Hardy has struggled to stand out from other past winners who have charted similar country/bluegrass terrain. − Ryan 20. Noah Thompson (2022) Between his casual style and bashful demeanor – and, of course, the reality that "Idol" voters tend to favor young white men who can be presented as harmless heartthrobs – Thompson was the natural choice. The judges praised his performance of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" during the finale, a toothless rendition that nonetheless achieved its goal: squealing girls in the audience. − Ruggieri 19. Taylor Hicks (2006) Given the top three talent pool of Season 5 – which also included Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin – it's still a bit stunning that the overwrought Alabamian prevailed. But the "Soul Patrol" proved a mighty engine and Hicks successfully parlayed his win into a platinum-selling self-titled debut album in 2006, a Broadway stint and tour (playing the Teen Angel in "Grease") and a modest residency in Las Vegas. – Ruggieri 18. Kris Allen (2009) Some were shocked when the innocuous Allen triumphed over the bold flamboyance of Adam Lambert during Season 8 of 'Idol' – not that it hindered Lambert's future. But more than Allen's couple of hits ('No Boundaries,' 'Live Like We're Dying'), his win ushered in the era of nondescript male singer-songwriters armed with guitars and crooked grins. – Ruggieri 17. Trent Harmon (2016) Harmon's boyish face and soft-spoken demeanor masked a deceptively brawny set of pipes, which were put to best use on an enchanting cover of Sia's 'Chandelier.' Harmon signed to Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift's former label) post-"Idol," finding minor success on the country charts with singles "Falling" and "There's a Girl." – Ryan 16. Just Sam (2020) A former subway busker, New York-bred Samantha Diaz stormed the (virtual) 'Idol' stage with their unfiltered persona and pure singing talent. Their pandemic-season performance of Kelly Clarkson's 'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," as well as a stunning duet with Lauren Daigle on 'You Say,' solidified their deserved victory. The realities of the record business derailed their post-show album release, but in 2022 they independently released the songs 'Pain Is Power" and "Question." – Ruggieri 15. Caleb Johnson (2014) Johnson was the typically staid competition's closest answer to Whitesnake and AC/DC, with squalling vocals and head-banging dynamism that have made him a hit with the legacy rock crowd in the years since his victory, touring with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and taking over singing duties from Neverland Express, the touring band of the late Meat Loaf. – Ryan 14. Iam Tongi (2023) The Hawaiian-born 18-year-old captured hearts starting with his tear-inducing audition with James Blunt's 'Monsters,' which Tongi dedicated to his late father. His combination of a mellifluous voice and gentle, upbeat demeanor proved irresistible, but there is also no denying Tongi's soul. His first single, the acoustic ballad 'I'll Be Seeing You,' served as a touching, honest debut. – Ruggieri 13. Phillip Phillips (2012) A soft-spoken guitar strummer who in his pre-'Idol' life worked at his family's pawn shop in Leesburg, Georgia, Phillips earned a significant bona fide: His coronation song, the Dave Matthews Band-esque 'Home,' is the bestselling single in the show's history, with more than 5 million sold. A spate of other hits ('Raging Fire,' 'Gone, Gone, Gone') preserved his momentum. – Ruggieri 12. Maddie Poppe (2018) In a competition that favors blue-eyed crooners and power belters, Poppe was a refreshingly sophisticated pick: a raspy-voiced folk artist who could make you smile singing Disney's 'The Jungle Book' just as easily as she could rip your heart out with a Beach Boys cover. She's one of the few recent 'Idol' victors who you could legitimately call a 'singular talent.' – Ryan 11. Abi Carter (2024) Though she captured the attention of judges and viewers with her soulful take on Billie Eilish's award-gobbling "Barbie" ballad, "What Was I Made For?," Carter's true strength is her potent pipes. She likely clinched her victory with her top eight performance of Evanescence's searing "Bring Me to Life" and demonstrated her rock chops again by romping through "Triumph" with British alt-rock singer Bishop Briggs on the season finale. ‒ Ruggieri 10. Nick Fradiani (2015) It felt like the buff singer was the next breakout star after his victory song, the catchy singalong 'Beautiful Life,' dented the charts. But his 2016 debut album, 'Hurricane,' fared poorly and an independently released EP in 2017, 'Where We Left Off,' also failed to produce liftoff. But Fradiani has found his niche in theater, first on the national tour of "A Bronx Tale" and on Broadway, where he starred as Neil Diamond in "A Beautiful Noise." – Ruggieri 9. Jamal Roberts (2025) His room-brightening smile and cool style were instantly appealing magnets, but the P.E. teacher from Mississippi truly captured hearts and votes with his creamy voice, an instrument that can soar through soul ballads and dig into gritty gospel with equal potency. Roberts, the first Black man to win the crown since Ruben Studdard in Season 2, best demonstrated his supple vocals on the heartfelt ballad "Heal," which probes mental health struggles with sensitivity and urgency. − Ruggieri 8. Scotty McCreery (2011) The resident male country star to graduate from the 'Idol' laboratory – like Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks, at only 17 – the North Carolina native with a molasses-hued voice that belies his unassuming demeanor remains a prominent chart presence more than a decade after his Season 10 win. 'Five More Minutes,' 'This Is It' and 'In Between' are among his chart-toppers, while 2024's "Rise & Fall" album spawned a top 5 country hit with "Cab in a Solo." – Ruggieri 7. Candice Glover (2013) Whether she was covering Ben E. King, Aretha Franklin, or The Cure (on tearful standout 'Lovesong'), the Beaufort, South Carolina, native brought unmatched vulnerability and powerhouse vocals to every single performance. Her recording career post-'Idol,' too, is filled with stirring ballads that have been sadly ignored by radio. – Ryan 6. David Cook (2008) With his pleasantly raspy voice and a knack for melody and unearthing lesser-known versions of hits to cover on the show (e.g., Whitesnake's "Day Tripper," Chris Cornell's "Billie Jean"), the Season 7 winner – over angelic David Archuleta – skyrocketed to success. His victory song, the inspirational pop-rock anthem 'The Time of My Life,' and its follow-up, 'Light On,' each sold more than a million copies and showcased his musical worldview (Collective Soul, Foo Fighters and the Goo Goo Dolls counted among his inspirations). In 2021, Cook's music delved into his struggle with anxiety on the independently released EP, 'The Looking Glass,' while 2024 brought the singles "Dead Weight" and "This Time Tomorrow 16." – Ruggieri 5. Ruben Studdard (2003) Studdard's smooth, velvety vocals were the perfect complement to runner-up Clay Aiken's earnest pop theatrics, with standout performances of Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick classics, and a respectable career as a gospel/R&B hitmaker in years to follow. – Ryan 4. Jordin Sparks (2007) The show's youngest winner at 17 (by two months compared to McCreery), the sweet-smiling Sparks found immediate success a few months after her victory with a pair of Billboard top 10 hits: 'Tattoo' and 'No Air,' her duet with a pre-scandal Chris Brown. Broadway ('In the Heights') and film ('Sparkle') expanded Sparks' reach, but in recent years she's concentrated more on motherhood with a few career moves – the 2020 holiday album 'Cider & Hennessey,' her 2021 participation in 'The Masked Dancer' – sprinkled in. – Ruggieri 3. Fantasia Barrino (2004) Barrino's sultry, soulful rendition of George Gershwin's 'Summertime' might be the all-time greatest performance to ever hit the 'Idol' stage. The R&B artist's elastic vocals and deep well of emotion have continued to serve her well, as she reprised her role as Celie from the Broadway musical 'The Color Purple' for the star-studded movie adaptation. – Ryan 2. Carrie Underwood (2005) It feels like 100 lifetimes ago that a pouffy-haired Underwood blasted us off our couches with her rendition of Heart's 'Alone' during her Season 4 run to the top. And remember her small-town country-girl proclamation that she'd never been on an airplane prior to her 'Idol' audition? Six massive headlining tours, an aerial-filled Las Vegas residency, a lot of leg bronzer and 65 million-plus album sales later (she's the top-selling artist in the 'Idol' franchise and its newest judge), Underwood has earned a few frequent flier rewards. – Ruggieri 1. Kelly Clarkson (2002) There's a reason Clarkson goes viral every other week with her adventurous and breathtaking 'Kellyoke' covers on the daytime talk show 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.' The Texas native is so effortlessly charming and in control of her instrument, with an outsized personality and even larger voice that bring all the ferocity and drama you want from a top 40 hit (of which she has nearly two dozen). Frankly, our lives would suck without Clarkson, who is the brightest star 'Idol' has and will likely ever produce. – Ryan
