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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch A$AP Rocky Show His Devious Side in ‘If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' Movie Trailer
A$AP Rocky's adding to his acting lore, as he's set to star alongside Rose Byrne in A24's If I Had Legs I'd Kick You movie. The Mary Bronstein-directed dramedy released a trailer on Wednesday (Aug. 6), which finds Byrne playing a mother, who works as a psychotherapist, in the midst of crashing out. Conan O'Brien, Christian Slater and Danielle Macdonald are among those filling out the cast. 'With her life literally crashing down around her, Linda attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist,' reads a logline for the film. More from Billboard Spike Lee Praises A$AP Rocky's Acting, Says Rapper Went 'Toe-to-Toe' With Denzel Washington in New Film Did A$AP Rocky Just Let Slip the Sex of His & Rihanna's Third Baby? A$AP Rocky Teases New Song at Cannes During 'Highest 2 Lowest' Premiere As for Rocky, he's in the role of a character named James, who appears to be a neighbor who might know a little too much and is looking for a partner-in-crime to get into some mischievous activities. 'Yo, crazy pants, I was gonna partake in surfing the web for some things that I'm into,' the rapper deviously says in the clip. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You is slated to hit theaters on Oct. 10. The movie was the darling of Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered, and Rose Byrne won the Silver Bear for best lead performance at the Berlin Film Festival. Prior to the A24 flick's arrival, the Harlem rapper-actor is set to star in Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest alongside Denzel Washington, which will be released in theaters on Aug. 22 and will land on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5. Rocky has a pair of songs ('Trunks,' 'Both Eyes Closed') slated to appear on the Highest 2 Lowest soundtrack dropping on Aug. 15. Lee previously raved about Rocky's acting, saying he held his own with Denzel on set. 'Yeah, don't sleep on A$AP. In this film, Denzel and A$AP go toe-to-toe,' Spike teased on The Tonight Show. 'What's interesting is, even before I got involved with this film, I always thought that A$AP looked like he could be Denzel's son. There's a big resemblance. So when you see it on the screen, it adds an element of father and son.' Watch the If I Had Legs I'd Kick You trailer below. Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
Washington Post
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The enduring magic of Dolly Parton's ‘Jolene'
I was raised in Tucson by a classical music fanatic from Cuba and a Great American Songbook devotee from New York. While other kids' parents might have had at least a passing interest in the music of the day — that day being the 1970s and 80s — mine generally cocooned us in the smooth stylings of Ella Fitzgerald, Vladimir Horowitz, Benny Moré and other icons of the early 20th century, with periodic exceptions for flamenco, mariachi and Yiddish classics. So devoid was this soundtrack of any nod to modernity that one of my babysitters — who'd been named a special teen correspondent to a local paper — dedicated an entire column to the agony of being stuck in a car while my parents deejayed. I offer the above by way of explanation, if not justification, for a grievous lapse: I got all the way to my 40s without knowing who, or what, 'Jolene' was. I mean, sure: Even as a kid, I eventually figured out there was such a thing as popular music and began self-educating with a clock radio tuned to KRQ, 'Tucson's No. 1 Hit Music Station.' But by then, 'Jolene's' big debut — first as a single in 1973, then as the title track of Dolly Parton's 13th solo studio album in 1974 — had long since escaped me, as had Olivia Newton-John's beloved 1976 cover. I'm not sure how to account for my obliviousness to the 2016 Pentatonix version that went on to win a Grammy. I won't even try. But two weeks after the a cappella group released that duet with Dolly Parton, I was heading into a babysitting gig of my own. My friends were visiting for a wedding, and I'd be spending the evening with their toddler, Ellis, who came with special instructions. If he started saying 'Doween' — and he certainly would — he was requesting 'Jolene,' and I was free and encouraged to find videos immediately. The directive was so matter-of-fact, I gathered I should know exactly who Jolene was. The only thing mitigating the embarrassment of not knowing? My friends were running late. So when I revealed I'd never heard of this lady, there was time for only the briefest 'Oh, honey' before they explained and dashed out. Right on cue, Ellis started asking for Doween and wanted very little else for the rest of the night — his fervor only increasing with each rewatch. I dug up every video I could, and found that he was especially taken with a 1974 clip from 'That Good Ole Nashville Music' with Dolly in a bell-bottom jumpsuit and sparkly lilac eye shadow. After dozens of back-to-back viewings, you either swear off 'Jolene' for all eternity or become a superfan yourself. Now I'm the kind of person who devours entire books about the song, of which there is — as far as I know — only one: the new 'Dolly Parton's Jolene,' written by Lydia R. Hamessley for the Oxford University Press Keynotes Series, an exploration of the Western music canon, one song or album per volume. The author is a professor at Hamilton College, where she teaches courses on country, medieval, Renaissance and film music — in addition to serving as resident Dollyologist — so the book naturally leans academic. But if, like me, you're someone who goes through postcollegiate life regretting all the fun courses you never took when you had the chance, Hamessley's professorial passion is a bonus. For some, the book will recall another stage of life, too. Remember those 'Read-Along' records? (Basically, children's books that came with vinyl soundtracks.) In an unintended throwback to that experience, 'Dolly Parton's Jolene' comes with a website full of meticulously organized music and video clips that you're routinely prompted to listen to or watch. So even if at first you don't understand a particular bit of music theory — for example, 'Von Blingin' further amped up ye olde sound by including the raised 6th scale degree as often as possible' — you click on the relevant music or video file, and everything makes sense. Or at least entertains you. Such analysis — of instrumentation, scales, tempo, form, lyrics or anything else that varies from version to version — is a clear forte of Hamessley's. But there's a lot more to the book, with particularly layperson-friendly sections on the juicy history of the country-pop rivalry, surprising new takes on 'Jolene's' commonly accepted backstory, the growing body of 'answer songs' (Chapel Hart's 'You Can Have Him Jolene' is a classic of the genre) and the extraordinary gift Parton has for songwriting. The best illustrations of that last point appear on Pages 30 and 31, where you'll find photos of the handwritten original lyrics to 'Jolene,' complete with Parton's notes to self about now-iconic word choices. (Turns out Jolene came perilously close to not having eyes of emerald green.) But my favorite section of the book speaks to the improbably wide world of 'Jolene' covers, of which there are hundreds. In the years since that fateful babysitting gig, I've become a collector of sorts, with a particular fondness for the version in English and Lingala by the Congo Cowboys, the cumbia version by Chiquis Rivera and Becky G and the short-film version by the Indigenous Australian artist Kaylene Whiskey, to name a few. I've found myself obsessed with the idea that this 202-word plea to a Tennessean temptress not to 'take my man' could become so globally resonant that even Nelson Mandela — when the Robben Island prison guards let him select music to play over the PA system — often chose 'Jolene.' His friend and fellow prisoner Tokyo Sexwale shared that detail on the 'Dolly Parton's America' podcast. 'No human being cannot be affected by 'Jolene,'' he said. 'We all don't want to lose.' In citing the Mandela example herself, Hamessley agrees that the song's outsize power comes at least in part from that universal fear of loss — 'not just the loss of a partner,' she writes, 'but the loss of something bigger and more abstract and ineffable.' Still, she contends, there's something more at play, and it's equally universal: yearning. As I read this section, I happened to be visiting my parents, and on a lark, decided to play 'Jolene' for them. When I asked what they heard in the song, they replied immediately, almost in unison: 'yearning.' Duly floored, I realized something in that moment. While they've never strayed from the musical cocoon I was raised in, maybe it was never as airtight as I thought. Abbie Kozolchyk is the author of National Geographic Books' 'The World's Most Romantic Destinations' in addition to articles on travel, food, culture and more. By Lydia R. Hamessley Oxford University Press. 192 pp. $18.99
Tokyo Weekender
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Iconic City Pop Songs Covered or Sampled by Overseas Artists
With it being Retro Week at Tokyo Weekender, we are focusing on city pop for our latest List of 7 . Considered more of a vibe associated with the 1970s and 1980s in Japan than a strict musical genre, it experienced a revival in the late 2010s. Its popularity also spread overseas, influencing foreign musicians. Here's a look at some of the most iconic city pop hits that have been covered or sampled by overseas artists. List of Contents: Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Anri: Last Summer Whisper Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Mai Yamane: Tasogare More From This Series Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Covered by the Commodores and Pentatonix The best place to start is with the man known as the 'King of City Pop.' Tatsuro Yamashita, who will make his Fuji Rock debut this July, has released 13 original studio albums, five cover CDs and two live records. His most successful track, 'Christmas Eve' (1983), was Japan's best-selling single of the 1980s. It also holds the record for the most consecutive years — 39 and counting — to appear on the Oricon Chart Top 100. Given its popularity, it's no surprise that several artists have covered the song, including overseas acts. American funk and soul group, the Commodores, included it on the Japanese edition of the band's 1992 album, Commodores Christmas . Cappella group Pentatonix did likewise on their 2014 LP That's Christmas To Me . Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Covered by Rainych, Sampled by 1nonly A domestic hit in 1979, Miki Matsubara's debut single, 'Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me),' became an international one four decades later due to platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. Written by famed composers Tetsuji Hayashi and Tokuko Miura, it's a sad song about lost love, yet has an upbeat sound and catchy chorus. Matsubara, who was also known for singles such as 'Neat na gogo san-ji' and 'The Winner,' sadly passed away in 2004 at the age of just 44. Sixteen years after Matsubara's death, Indonesian YouTuber Rainych uploaded a cover of her most famous track to her YouTube channel, which garnered millions of views. 'Stay With Me,' the breakout single from Korean-American rapper 1nonly (Nathan Scott Fuller), also sampled the song. Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Sampled by the Weeknd Embodying the spirit of the 80s, Tomoko Aran — birth name Tomoko Yamaguchi — is known for her distinctive vocals and catchy melodies. Between 1981 and 1990, she released nine albums, including More Relax (1984) and Last Good-bye (1986). Her most celebrated album, though, is the 1983 LP, Fuyu Kukan , meaning 'floating space.' A synth-heavy record, it features two standout tracks: 'I'm in Love' and 'Midnight Pretenders.' The latter, in particular, has garnered a lot of attention in recent years due to the rising popularity of city pop. A laid-back track with a seductive, dream-like quality, 'Midnight Pretenders' was heavily sampled by four-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian artist the Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) for his song 'Out of Time' from the album Dawn FM. Anri: Last Summer Whisper Sampled by Jenevieve Mariya Takeuchi is widely referred to as the 'Queen of City Pop,' though for many, Anri — birth name Eiko Kawashima — is just as deserving of that title. During her career, which has spanned more than four decades, she has released over 40 albums. Her most successful LP, Timely , released in 1983, featured 'Cat's Eye.' Used as the opening track for the anime series of the same name, it topped the charts for four weeks. The previous year, Anri worked with Toshiki Kadomatsu for the first time on her fourth studio album, Heaven Beach . Kadomatsu wrote and composed 'Last Summer Whisper,' a bittersweet song about a fleeting summer fling. The catchy hit was sampled by American R&B artist Jenevieve Johnson — known professionally as Jenevieve — for her song, 'Baby Powder.' Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Sampled by Engelwood A violinist as a child, Kingo Hamada switched to the guitar as he got older and then joined the folk band Craft in 1974. When the group disbanded, he launched his solo career, releasing his debut album Manhattan in the Rain in 1980. Over the next five years, he recorded another six original LPs. The one that garnered the most attention was Midnight Cruisin' , which is known for its smooth and funky sound. Highlights include the title track, 'Yokogao no Taxi Driver' (A Taxi Driver's Profile) and 'Machi no Dorufin' (City Dolphin), which is his most famous song. Matt Engels, known by his stage name Engelwood, sampled Hamada's track for his popular future-funk song 'Crystal Dolphin.' The electronic music producer also sampled Yamashita's hit 'Sparkle' on another track. Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Sampled by J. Cole and Chris Brown In 1974, the folk group Akai Tori disbanded due to musical differences. Three of its members — Junko Yamamoto, Toshihiko Yamamoto and Shigeru Okawa — subsequently formed a new group called Hi-Fi Set. The name was suggested by the influential musician Haruomi Hosono. Performing as a trio for two decades, many of the group's biggest hits came in their first 10 years, including 'Sotsugyo Shashin' (Graduation Photo), 'Tsumetai Ame' (Cold Rain) and 'Sunao ni Naritai' (I Want to Be Honest). The group's catchiest tune is arguably 'Sky Restaurant' (1975), written by legendary artist Yuming (birth name Yumi Arai). Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known professionally as J. Cole, sampled the intro for his track 'January 28th' in 2014, as did Chris Brown for his song 'Moonlight' on his 2023 album 11:11 . Mai Yamane: Tasogare Sampled by Playboi Carti and Young Nudy A talented performer with a husky voice, Mai Yamane is most well-known for her collaborations with Yoko Kanno on various soundtracks for the Cowboy Bebop anime series, including the first ending theme, 'The Real Folk Blues,' released in 1998. Yamane launched her music career almost two decades earlier with her debut album, Tasogare (1980), meaning 'twilight.' Produced by Makoto Matsushita, it's considered a city pop masterpiece, especially the title track, which incorporates elements of funk. 'Tasogare' garnered global attention in the late 2010s after Playboi Carti and Young Nudy utilized the intro of the song for the recording of their track 'Pissy Pamper.' Leaked in 2019, it proved very popular online, but as the sample wasn't cleared, it was never officially released. More From This Series Japanese Films That Influenced Quentin Tarantino Legendary Figures From Osaka Recommended Japanese Documentaries
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The Britain's Got Talent act with most viewed audition ever and he reached number 2 on the charts
The Britain's Got Talent act with most viewed audition ever and he reached number 2 on the charts His performance even earned him a golden buzzer from hard-to-please judge Simon Cowell You may not know that Calum Scott once competed in Britain's Got Talent. He amassed a massive 399 million views on YouTube on his first BGT audition, and since then things have only gone up for Calum Scott. I know what you are thinking, 'I know that name' and 'doesn't he sing that really famous song'. If you're thinking of Dancing on My Own, you are right he did cover that song on the talent competition in 2015. Most people wouldn't know that Callum Scott who covered Robyn's critically acclaimed song actually rose to fame singing on BGT. His performance even earned him a golden buzzer from hard-to-please judge Simon Cowell. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . The singer walked on stage after his sister, Jade auditioned and failed to progress to the next stage of the competition. The 26-year-old then sang a slowed down version of the club classic which left the audience crying, before Simon showered the stage in gold confetti. Simon then said: "I've never, ever, in all the years I've done this show, heard a guy with the talent you've got. Seriously... the version was sensational and that shows to me that actually, you're more than a singer, you're an artist, and that's why you got that (the buzzer)." Article continues below Despite finishing in sixth in the competition to dog tricks duo Jules O'Dwyer & Matisse, this didn't hurt Calum's singing career. After the show, he released his own version of Robyn's hit song and sky rocketed to number two on the UK Singles Chart and became Britain's best-selling single of summer 2016. He then release his 2018 debut album Only Human, which reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. The album featured the single, You Are The Reaso, which has seen over a billion times on YouTube. Since then, the singer has not only done his own solo tours, but supported acts like Pentatonix, Jason Derulo, The Script, Ed Sheeran and more recently Take That. More recently, at the beginning of May Calum performed at the BBC event which celebrated VE Day 80 which marked eight decades since 'Victory in Europe Day' with music and memories. Content cannot be displayed without consent He was also recently invited as a guest speaker at Buckingham palace, by Prince Edward to celebrate young people who achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards. Now, the singer has over 1.4 million followers on Instagram and is releasing a new album this year, titled Avenoir, on September 12. He will then be embarking on his fourth world tour starting in Portugal in October, before performing in Manchester and London in November. He said that he was, "Blown away by how many tickets have sold for the Avenoir tour!!", after adding more dates to the tour. Calum added: "Mental!! I cant wait to share these shows with you all, it's going to be the best tour yet!! See you there! X" Content cannot be displayed without consent One fan shared their excitement for the tour, saying: "Looking very much forward to hear you live for the first time." Another added: "SOOOO proud of you!! can't wait to experience 'The Avenoir Tour' it's gonna be so magical!!! i'm so excited" Article continues below
Thrill Geek
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
‘Music from Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration' Album Now Available
Walt Disney Records is releasing a new album titled Music From Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration tomorrow on streaming platforms and the official Disneyland playlist. This special release commemorates the 70th anniversary of Disneyland Resort. Headlining the album is a brand-new theme song called 'Celebrate Happy,' performed by the Jonas Brothers, which will be featured throughout the anniversary celebrations in various entertainment experiences. The album also includes music from the upcoming 'World of Color Happiness!' show, showcasing classic Disney favorites. Boyz II Men bring their signature R&B sound to a rendition of 'Rainbow Connection,' while Fitz from Fitz and The Tantrums debuts a new song titled 'Makes Me Wanna Move.' Scott Hoying of Pentatonix performs his original track 'Great Rainbow.' Additional contributors include Anthony Gargiula from the 'Smash Kitchen Singing' series, the all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache, and award-winning composer duo The Potash Twins. The album is executive-produced by Tricia Holloway, Walt Disney Imagineering Global Music Executive, and produced by acclaimed music and film producer Stef Fink. Tracklist for Music From Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration: 'Celebrate Happy' – Jonas Brothers 'Makes Me Wanna Move' – FITZ, Fitz and The Tantrums 'Rainbow Connection' – Boyz II Men 'Nobody Like You' – Anthony Gargiula, Scott Hoying, Grayson Villanueva, Topher Ngo 'I 2 I' – Anthony Gargiula, Scott Hoying, Grayson Villanueva, Topher Ngo 'Surface Pressure' – Flor de Toloache 'Great Rainbow' – Scott Hoying Starting May 16, 2025, and continuing through summer 2026, the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration will commemorate 70 years of joy, memories, and magic. Guests will be able to 'celebrate happy' with limited-time entertainment, festive décor, themed treats, exclusive merchandise, and much more. The celebration will feature brand-new shows alongside the return of beloved classics. At Disneyland Park, returning fan favorites like 'Paint the Night' and 'Wondrous Journeys' will join new offerings such as 'Tapestry of Happiness' and 'The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade.' Over at Disney California Adventure Park, the debut of 'World of Color Happiness!' and the return of 'Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!' will further highlight the festivities. Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
