Latest news with #LoveMachine
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Summer Wars review – Mamoru Hosoda's birthday party anime puts the world at risk from AI baddie
This virtual reality thriller-cum-family drama from 2009 was an early solo success for Mamoru Hosoda, who along with Your Name's Makoto Shinkai is one of the leading new-school anime auteurs. Made after he withdrew from directing Howl's Moving Castle for Studio Ghibli, it flits between a fraught, soap-operaish saga about a family reunion near the city of Ueda and the metaverse of Oz. It isn't as sophisticated perhaps in its understanding of the online/real-world interface as his 2021 film Belle, but the multilayered storytelling still shows plenty of panache, especially on the visual front. Maths boffin Kenji (voiced by Michael Sinterniklaas in the English-language dub) is browbeaten by schoolmate Natsuki (Brina Palencia) into attending her great-grandmother Sanae's (Pam Dougherty) 90th birthday on her family estate; she needs a willing victim to pose as her boyfriend to impress the matriarch. Fending off his new in-laws, the teenager – also a part-time moderator for Oz – solves an encrypted math problem that opens a backdoor for a malevolent AI called Love Machine to corrupt the network. With much of the world dependent on the services hosted by Oz, much more than the birthday party is at stake. Hosoda shows a novelistic attention to detail that puts Summer Wars a cut above genre anime: from the sense of history underpinning the sprawling Jinnouchi family, always harping on about being descending from famously uncowable samurai, to the baseball game that is a meta-commentary on the unfolding online catastrophe. The deep texturing also extends to the images: not only the translucent and, from a 2025 perspective, somewhat utopian-looking online realm, but also piercing touches of IRL beauty. Sanae's flowers blooming by night as Kenji solves his maths puzzle is a particularly delicate touch. Insisting, via Sanae, on family solidarity and civic spirit in the face of existential challenges, Hosoda also shows something of a moralistic streak. But in the case of Summer Wars, this conviction dissipates somewhat in a gabbled finale that leans into the film's frantic tempo and assigns every Jinnouchi a supposedly key role in defeating Love Machine. Battling an apparently motiveless AI – whose link to bad boy prodigal son Wabisuke (J Michael Tatum) is underexploited – it feels increasingly consequenceless, as virtual action often does. But the narrative complexity and bravura imagery still impress. Summer Wars is in UK cinemas from 3 August.
CairoScene
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Gawdat, Delrady & Lily Farid Drop Tech House Hit ‘Love Machine'
Debuted at Paris Fashion Week, 'Love Machine' blends tech house with nostalgia and live vocals from opera talent Lily Farid. Jun 16, 2025 Egypt's electronic scene welcomes a standout collaboration as Gawdat, Delrady, and Lily Farid come together for 'Love Machine', a tech house track with groove, soul, and global flair. Out now via DancIN' Music Records, the release fuses nostalgia with future-forward energy, and is already making waves after debuting at Paris Fashion Week 2025. Known for their 90s-infused live sets, Gawdat brings bounce and bassline swagger, while Delrady injects a cutting edge drawn from over a decade of production experience. At the centre of it all is Lily Farid, a mezzo-soprano with operatic range, lending a bold, emotive layer that transcends the usual club formula. ''Love Machine' sets a unique vibe every time, it's one of our favorite releases this year,' Gawdat tells SceneNoise. 'It just hits different.' The track is as much a collab as it is a convergence of Cairo's rising and diverse electronic scene - a cross-genre blend of house music, vocal elegance, and live show spirit.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smokey Robinson's Sexual Assault Controversy Heats Up With Criminal Investigation
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." 1940–present Motown legend Smokey Robinson is being criminally investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department following allegations of rape and sexual assault from his former employees. The sheriff's department confirmed that the investigation is in its early stages on May 15 but provided no further details. The probe follows a lawsuit brought by four of Robinson's former housekeepers earlier this month. Accusing the musician of being a 'serial and sick rapist,' the lawsuit alleges that the 85-year-old assaulted the unnamed woman on dozens of occasions between 2007 and 2024 while they were employed to clean his three residences in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Ventura County, California. The suit also claims Robinson and his wife, Frances, failed to pay the woman minimum wage or overtime. They are seeking $50 million in damages. Robinson's attorney, Chris Frost, denied the allegations against him and objected to the criminal investigation. 'We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create,' Frost said in a statement. Smokey Robinson is a Grammy-winning singer and producer who founded the R&B group The Miracles before embarking on a successful solo career. Known as the 'King of Motown,' the Detroit native is second to only Berry Gordy in the founding of Motown. A prolific songwriter, Robinson is credited with 4,000 songs and 37 Top 40 hits, including 'Tears of a Clown,' 'Tracks of My Tears,' and 'Love Machine.' Robinson also served as vice president of Motown Records, writing and producing hits for groups such as The Temptations and Mary Wells. FULL NAME: William Robinson February 19, 1940BIRTHPLACE: Detroit, MichiganSPOUSES: Claudette Rogers Robinson (1959–1986) and Frances Robinson (2002–present)CHILDREN: Berry, Tamla, and TreyASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces Smokey Robinson was born William Robinson Jr. on February 19, 1940, in Detroit. Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Robinson started out singing in local groups. His early exposure to music was quite varied. 'I grew up in a home where I had a great dose of music,' he told Rolling Stone. 'There was a lot of classical, like Beethoven and Chopin, but I also heard everything from gospel to jazz to blues.' In the early 1950s, Robinson formed the Matadors, which later became the world-famous group The Miracles. A chance meeting with record producer Berry Gordy Jr. led to a contract with Motown Records as well as an important working relationship. With Robinson as their lead singer, The Miracles scored their first big hit with 1960's 'Shop Around' and developed quite a following with their energetic R&B sound. The group has numerous hits, such as 1962's 'You Really Got a Hold on Me'—later covered by The Beatles—and 1967's 'I Second That Emotion.' Their 1965 album Going To A Go-Go included the popular tracks 'Ooo Baby Baby' and 'The Tracks of My Tears,' which was added to the National Recording Registry in 2007. More than just a frontman, Robinson composed for and produced the group. He worked behind the scenes for other Motown artists, too. Among the songs Robinson penned for Mary Wells was 'My Guy,' a 1964 release that became her only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Its follow-up in The Temptations' 'My Girl,' which Robinson cowrote for the group, was another chart-topper. Robinson also contributed to Marvin Gaye's sound, and the two were close friends up until Gaye's tragic death. Altogether, the 'King of Motown' was instrumental to the success of Motown Records and helped advance the popularity of soul music. Robinson went solo in 1972, creating a more mellow sound for himself. Often associated with romantic soul music, he released such successful albums as A Quiet Storm (1974) and Touch the Sky (1983). The mid-1980s were a difficult time for him as he battled a drug addiction. Robinson openly discussed his cocaine problem as well as many other personal topics in his 1989 autobiography, Smokey: Inside My Life. He has credited his recovery from substance abuse to his religious faith. After two previous nominations, Robinson went on to win his first and only Grammy Award in 1987 when his song 'Just To See Her' was named the Best R&B Vocal Performance. This was followed by Double Good Everything (1991) and the Grammy-nominated Intimate (1999). He took his work in a new direction in 2004, releasing a collection of music that reflected his spiritual beliefs entitled Food for the 2006, Robinson was selected to be a Kennedy Center Honoree for his contributions to the arts and American culture and received an honorary degree from Howard University. That year, he also put out a new album, Timeless Love, which offered Robinson's take on several classic songs, such as Cole Porter's 'Night and Day' and the Gershwin brothers' 'Our Love Is Here to Stay.' Timeless Love garnered a Grammy nod for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, marking Robinson's sixth career nomination. The dedicated entertainer continues to record new music and maintain a busy tour schedule. In 2009, he released the studio album Time Flies When You're Having Fun. Three years later, Robinson gave an impressive performance on the television competition Dancing with the Stars. Also in 2012, The Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Additional albums from the legendary singer include Smokey & Friends (2014), a collection of duets, and Gasms (2023), his first album in nearly a decade. In February 2025, Robinson embarked on his Legacy Tour. Two months later, he put out an album of covers titled What The World Needs Now. Robinson has also served as a public speaker over the years. Exploring new business opportunities, he formed a food company called Smokey Robinson Foods, which includes a line of ready-to-eat meals. In May 2025, the singer was sued by four former housekeepers, who accused him of raping and sexual assaulting them over the course of nearly two decades. Robinson has denied any wrongdoing. Later that month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced that Robinson was under criminal investigation in connection with the allegations. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! 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