Latest news with #Louane
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Jonas releases 'Music for People Who Believe in Love'
May 23 (UPI) -- Joe Jonas released his first solo album in over ten years on Friday. The singer, 35, dropped Music for People Who Believe in Love Friday. His previous solo album Fast Life was released in 2011. His new album contains 14 tracks including the previously released songs "Work It Out," "What This Could Be" and "Heart by Heart." Music for People Who Believe in Love also includes "Woven," "Parachute," "Only Love," "Honey Blonde," "My Own Best Friend," "Velvet Sunshine," "Sip Your Wine," "Hey Beautiful," What We Are," "you Got the Right" and "Constellation." DOMi, JD BECK, Franklin Jonas, Sierra Ferrell, Louane, Tiny Habits and Luisa Sonza teamed up with Joe Jonas on the album. "I have a beautiful life that I'm grateful for," he told Billboard. "I've got two beautiful kids. I'm a happy person, and the music needed to resemble that -- but also, the journey to get here... At the core of it, if this (album) helps people through what they're going through, that's all I can really wish for." Joe Jonas is also part of the boy band known as The Jonas Brothers, which also includes Kevin Jonas, 37, and Nick Jonas, 32. The group released "Love Me to Heaven" in March and are heading out on tour beginning Aug. 10.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun
Pinned Reporting from from the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel To its millions of devoted fans, the Eurovision Song Contest is a cultural juggernaut, an exciting competition in which singers and rappers represent their countries and perform for votes. To more casual observers, it's simply a fun, campy — and often bewildering — night of TV, with extravagant songs and outrageous outfits. The bookmakers' favorite to win this year's final in Basel, Switzerland, is Kaj, representing Sweden with 'Bara Bada Bastu,' an ode to the sauna. Other must-watch acts include Louane, of France, with 'Maman,' a ballad during which the singer is showered in more than 500 pounds of shredded cork; and Tommy Cash, representing Estonia with 'Espresso Macchiato,' a song about Italy's love of coffee, sung in a cheesy Italian accent. All Eurovision viewers, no matter where they live, can vote to choose the winner, and you can read our guide on how to watch (in the U.S., via Peacock.) Stay on this page for all the news from the contest as it happens. I'll be reporting from the arena, and we have fashion and music experts standing by to explain what on Earth is going on. Often, at Eurovision, the madcap performances need a little explanation! Show more
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Eurovision 2025 Live Updates: With Odes to Saunas and Coffee, Contest Tries to Focus on Fun, Not Politics
Pinned Updated May 17, 2025, 3:03 p.m. ET Reporting from from the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel To its millions of devoted fans, the Eurovision Song Contest is a cultural juggernaut, an exciting competition in which singers and rappers represent their countries and perform for votes. To more casual observers, it's simply a fun, campy — and often bewildering — night of TV, with extravagant songs and outrageous outfits. The bookmakers' favorite to win this year's final in Basel, Switzerland, is Kaj, representing Sweden with 'Bara Bada Bastu,' an ode to the sauna. Other must-watch acts include Louane, of France, with 'Maman,' a ballad during which the singer is showered in more than 500 pounds of shredded cork; and Tommy Cash, representing Estonia with 'Espresso Macchiato,' a song about Italy's love of coffee, sung in a cheesy Italian accent. All Eurovision viewers, no matter where they live, can vote to choose the winner, and you can read our guide on how to watch (in the U.S., via Peacock.) Stay on this page for all the news from the contest as it happens. I'll be reporting from the arena, and we have fashion and music experts standing by to explain what on Earth is going on. Often, at Eurovision, the madcap performances need a little explanation! Show more
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Lights, camera, glitter ball: The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — The world's largest live music event has reached its glitter-drenched conclusion with the grand final on Saturday of the Eurovision Song Contest, a celebration of music and unity ruffled by discord over Israel's participation. A trio singing for Sweden about the joys of saunas and a classically trained Austrian countertenor are among those tipped to take the microphone-shaped Eurovision trophy at the contest in Basel, Switzerland . But at the ever-unpredictable event, the prize could just as easily go to powerful singers from France, the Netherlands or Finland — or even an Estonian who sings about Italian coffee. The final kicks off at 9 p.m. local time. Sweden's sauna song is a favorite Bookmakers say the favorite is KAJ, representing Sweden with their ode to sauna culture 'Bara Bada Bastu,' followed by Austrian singer JJ's pop-opera song 'Wasted Love.' French chanteuse Louane has risen up the odds with 'maman,' as has Dutch singer Claude with soulful ballad 'C'est La Vie' and Finland's Erika Vikman with the innuendo-laden 'Ich Komme.' Estonia's Tommy Cash is also a contender with his highly caffeinated dance-pop song 'Espresso Macchiato.' Israel's Yuval Raphael has won many fans with her anthemic 'New Day Will Rise,' but also faced protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest over its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza . Acts from 26 countries — trimmed from 37 entrants through two elimination semifinals — will perform to some 160 million viewers for the continent's pop crown. No smoke machine, jet of flame or dizzying light display has been spared by musicians who have 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner. The live show is also set to feature a guest performance by nonbinary Swiss singer Nemo — who won last year's contest in Sweden — and a face-off between two fan favorites: Baby Lasagna of Croatia, the 2024 runner up with 'Rim Tim Tagi Dim,' and Finland's Käärijä, whose rap-pop party anthem 'Cha Cha Cha' came second in 2023. There are also rumors of an appearance by Celine Dion. Before she was a global star, the Canadian chanteuse won Eurovision in 1988, competing for Switzerland. She sent a video message to one of the semifinals, where three singers performed her winning song, 'Ne partez pas sans moi' (Don't Leave Without Me). An eclectic competition Dean Vuletic, an expert on the history of Eurovision, said the competition has become more diverse over the years, both musically and linguistically. There are songs in 20 languages this year, including Ukrainian, Icelandic, Albanian, Latvian and Maltese. 'In the past it was about having a catchy, innocuous pop song, usually in English,' he said. But in the past decade 'we've seen songs become much more socially and politically engaged, songs that present the audience with some sort of meaning.' 'In recent years the formulaic approach to a Eurovision entry hasn't succeeded,' he added. 'An entry needs to be memorable and it needs to be authentic in order to succeed these days.' Gaza war clouds the contest This year's contest has been roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel's participation. Dozens of former participants, including Switzerland's Nemo, have called for Israel to be excluded. Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests have both taken place in Basel, though on a much smaller scale than at last year's event in Sweden, where tensions spilled over backstage and Dutch competitor Joost Klein was expelled over an alleged altercation with a crew member. A pro-Palestinian demonstration is planned for Saturday evening in central Basel, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the St. Jakobshalle arena contest venue. A group of Israel supporters gathered in Basel's cathedral square on Saturday to root for Raphael and to show that 'Jews belong in public spaces in Switzerland,' said Zurich resident Rebecca Laes-Kushner. She said 'it would be such a strong statement against antisemitism,' if Raphael won. 'This is supposed to be about music, not about hate,' she said. The European Broadcasting Union or EBU, which runs Eurovision, tightened the contest's code of conduct this year, calling on participants to respect Eurovision's values of 'universality, diversity, equality and inclusivity' and its political neutrality. After a controversial ban in 2024 on flags, apart from national ones, being waved in the arena, this year audience members can bring Palestinian flags or any others, as long as they are legal under Swiss law. Performers, though, can only wave their own country's flag. Axel Åhman, one third of favorites KAJ, acknowledged that it's tough to keep Eurovision an unpolitical event. 'The world always seeps in in some sense,' he told the AP. 'But we're here to represent Sweden and we have prepared for this for all our lives and want to make the best of our moment as artists in this huge and legendary competition. 'So our main focus is there, and the politics (we) try to leave that to the EBU and those actually making the decisions.' Eurovision director Martin Green told reporters that the organizers' goal was to 're-establish a sense of unity, calm and togetherness this year in a difficult world.' 'All 37 delegations, in difficult times, have behaved impeccably,' he said. ___ Hilary Fox and Kwiyeon Ha contributed to this report.
Irish Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
France's emotional Eurovision song explained as Louane reflects on mum's death
The Eurovision Song Contest grand finale is upon us and France hits the stage, boasting a spot in the Big Five. Taking up the mantle for her homeland is Anne Peichert, known by her stage moniker Louane. Her heartwarming track 'Maman' pays homage to her late mother, weaving a tale of maternal bonds across generations. The performance comes with a poignant twist as it features the voice of Louane's own little girl towards the close. Though the narrative of the song is intimately personal, its universal message has resonated worldwide. The chanteuse expressed her dream to clinch the Eurovision title in memory of her mum. Lyrics translated convey: "I've changed a lot, I've grown up a lot. From you, I kept everything, That makes me who I am." The songstress goes on to unveil her journey to motherhood, discovering an "indelible love", and promises of eternal affection through time. "You know, the real one, always. Even when time flies, When he holds my hand, I'm no longer afraid of anything. And it feels like before, When you used to hold my hand," she sings on. Louane has opened up in her latest song about coming to terms with her profound losses, sharing: "I'm better, I know where I'm going. I stopped counting the years." The French star first captured hearts at 16 on The Voice, launching a career lined with both personal tragedy and artistic triumph. At a young age, Louane faced the heartbreaking loss of both of her parents, with her father passing away just three months before her stint on The Voice. Her mother's death followed in 2014 after battling a serious illness. It was during the Six Nations final game between France and Scotland, under the gaze of 80,000 spectators, that she emotionally rendered the song Maman. Now an established artist with three million album sales, Louane boasts a 1.2 million strong Instagram following. Her talents span beyond music into acting, having nabbed a César Award for her role in La Famille Bélier. At 28, she has chalked up an impressive résumé including voice roles in French adaptations of Trolls and Incredibles 2. In her personal life, she shares a partnership with singer Florian Rossi and in March 2020, they welcomed their daughter Esmée into the world. For Eurovision aficionados, the grand final is set to broadcast on BBC One on May 17 at 8pm, with international viewers able to join via the competition's official YouTube channel.
