Latest news with #SweetEmotion
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The 8 irritating 2025 NBA playoff ads that won't stop airing, ranked
The 8 irritating 2025 NBA playoff ads that won't stop airing, ranked On some level, I understand why a league like the NBA would want to keep a tight rotation of commercials for the playoffs. In the same fashion that a head coach of an NBA team keeps a tight playoff rotation, you want your best players (commercials) getting as many minutes as possible to maximize your chances at winning (getting revenue). That doesn't excuse the fact that the NBA has somehow managed to piece together the most annoying possible commercial rotation for the playoffs ... for the second straight year! And the worst part is, if I weren't writing this article, I wouldn't have even been sure about what products were being sold to me in these ads. So, while making me gradually lose my mind, are they having the intended effect of making money for these companies? I have my doubts about that. Let's take a look at the heart of the NBA's 2025 playoff commercial package and rank them by how irritating, frustrating, and utterly grating they all are. 8. Charles Barkley and "ChuckGPT" for FanDuel I guess I find this one technically less objectionable than the others on this list because Barkley is a magnetic personality. At least he's entertaining. At least he's got charisma. And when you watch this ad the first few times, it is actually kinda funny. But integrating some Barkley-centered generative AI that is somehow accurate about everything concerning the Chuckster? Are we sure that's an accurate portrayal of generative AI? Sure. 7. Draymond Green finds a loose ball for Kia This commercial actually debuted in 2024, but that hasn't stopped the NBA or Kia from drilling it into our heads during this postseason. It's not even really all that annoying compared to some of the top choices above. Still, I tire of watching Draymond Green stare at and confront a wolf. What does that have to do with a car? Someone explain it to me like I'm five. Don't worry, I'll wait. 6. Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" used as THE tentpole song Look, I understand. I know Aerosmith is an incredibly popular band. But whose idea was it to make one of the most famous songs of a group that peaked roughly half a century ago the seeming theme song of these entire NBA playoffs? Who is this for? Does the NBA even care about catering to a younger audience anymore? Are we really leaning into nostalgia that much? It's so silly and cringe to me. I didn't include a specific video example because there are just so many different versions with different NBA stars. 5. Wingstop's "Million Dollar Baby" Again, here we have another older ad that didn't debut during this postseason. Which, at this point, I wish the NBA hadn't recycled it. So, let's be clear. Tommy Richman's "Million Dollar Baby" song is a banger. It is decidedly NOT a banger when I have to hear it seemingly countless times during every playoff game. This commercial has ruined the song for me. I need a cleanse from it. 4. The Thunder accidentally wore the same outfit for AT&T At this stage, it's apparent that the Oklahoma City Thunder and AT&T might usually make one of the year's most irritating commercials if they get together in the spring. One year after the disaster of "What a Pro Wants," we have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren mistakenly not coordinating the same outfit together. And you guessed it, they were "Thunderstruck" about it. If only they had AT&T, this wouldn't have happened, apparently? Mhmm. 3. Will Ferrell "Pay Your Own Way" I love Will Ferrell. I still use PayPal on occasion. I do not love them together here with Ferrell singing a high-pitched parody of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way." And I particularly dislike how this commercial features various people getting frustrated about Ferrell's singing, as if it were a tacit acknowledgement of how annoying people find this commercial in real life. Is that supposed to be funny? How meta. 2. The NBA's Villanova Guys finding a way to connect (Exasperated, gathering the words) WE GET IT. THEY WERE TEAMMATES IN COLLEGE AND IN THE NBA AND NOW THEY'RE NOT. STOP USING THE CORNY CHARLIE PUTH SONG FROM A VIN DIESEL MOVIE. SO FUNNY. (Exhales) Gah. OK, I feel better. 1. Jalen Green is apparently the biggest and the largest This commercial in itself isn't necessarily the most annoying, even though I'd love to not hear BigXthaPlug's "The Largest" for a while after this. It's more about the timing and who's featured. For the life of me, I cannot believe that Jalen Green, an overrated shot-chucker propped up by some corners of NBA media because he was a No. 2 overall pick, got this prominent of a spot for the playoffs. Who did Wingstop think Green was when they booked him for this ad? Do some people really think Green is a "star," instead of a flashy offensive black hole? I've learned so much during these playoffs.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aerosmith fans are only just learning the true meaning behind the band's iconic name
Aerosmith fans are only now just learning what the band's name really means despite them forming over five decades ago. The band – consisting of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford – began making music in the early 1970s. Together they developed a sound which is mostly rooted in blues-based hard rock with influences of pop rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and rhythm and blues. While they've had mega hits throughout the years, including Sweet Emotion, Dream On, and Walk This Way, the group's name has left many fans stumped. Unsurprisingly, there has been much speculation over Aerosmith's name over the decades. Writing on Quora, one fan claimed: 'Joey Kramer, the drummer came up with it, used to doodle the name over and over in his high school notebook. 'Anyway, the rest of the guys in the band liked the name and spelling and the rest is history, America's best rock band was born…' A conflicting theory suggested that the name Joe and Brad's idea. 'Aerosmith's name has an interesting origin,' another fan said. 'The band's lead guitarist, Joe Perry, and rhythm guitarist, Brad Whitford, came up with the name in the early 1970s. 'It is said that they combined the word "aero," which suggests a sense of airiness or flight, with "smith," a suffix that implies craftsmanship or creation.' But it was the band's cofounder and drummer Joey Kramer, co-founder who coined the group's name. According to his 2009 memoir, Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top, he was drawn to the name in 1968. 'I was listening to an album at the time, by Harry Nilsson, called Aerial Ballet,' he said. 'We were listening to this record and I started really getting off on the lyrics. 'We started kicking around this word "aerial," and "aerial" eventually came into "aero" – I don't know how that happened. And it was like Aeromind, Aerostar, Aero-this, Aero-that. And somebody said "smith" — Aerosmith? Wow! 'And from then on it was all over my high school psychology books and my math books. The question was always, "What's Aerosmith?" 'And I would tell people: "When I leave high school I'm going to go have a rock 'n' roll band, and that's what it's going to be called. And we're going to be big and famous, and that's the scoop." And they were all like, "Oh, that's very nice, Joey." Last year, Aerosmith announced their retirement from touring after 54 years, citing lead singer Steven's incurable vocals as the reason behind the tough decision. The singer sustained vocal cord damage during their farewell tour in 2023. In a statement written in all capitals, they said: 'IT WAS 1970 WHEN A SPARK OF INSPIRATION BECAME AEROSMITH. 'THANKS TO YOU, OUR BLUE ARMY, THAT SPARK CAUGHT FLAME AND HAS BEEN BURNING FOR OVER FIVE DECADES. SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE THE BEGINNING AND ALL OF YOU ARE THE REASON WE MADE ROCK 'N' ROLL HISTORY.' Aerosmith formed in Boston in 1970 and had been touring for over five decades as they have had dozens of hits in the process leading to four Grammy Awards and a Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2001. The band - known as 'the Bad Boys from Boston' - also broke boundaries intersecting rock and hip-hop with their epic collaboration with Run-DMC for Walk This Way. The statement continued: 'IT HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF OUR LIVES TO HAVE OUR MUSIC BECOME PART OF YOURS. IN EVERY CLUB, ON EVERY MASSIVE TOUR AND AT MOMENTS GRAND AND PRIVATE YOU HAVE GIVEN US A PLACE IN THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIVES. In 2023, the iconic rock band had been forced to postpone the tour dates on their farewell tour - called Peace Out: The Farewell Tour - after the frontman had sustained a vocal cord injury. The statement to their fans continued: 'WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BLOW YOUR MIND WHEN PERFORMING. AS YOU KNOW, STEVEN'S VOICE IS AN INSTRUMENT LIKE NO OTHER. HE HAS SPENT MONTHS TIRELESSLY WORKING ON GETTING HIS VOICE TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE HIS INJURY. WE'VE SEEN HIM STRUGGLING DESPITE HAVING THE BEST MEDICAL TEAM BY HIS SIDE. 'SADLY, IT IS CLEAR, THAT A FULL RECOVERY FROM HIS VOCAL INJURY IS NOT POSSIBLE. WE HAVE MADE A HEARTBREAKING AND DIFFICULT, BUT NECESSARY, DECISION - AS A BAND OF BROTHERS- TO RETIRE FROM THE TOURING STAGE.' They concluded their sincere message to their millions of fans by expressing their gratitude to them and everyone else who helped contributing to making them one of the most iconic acts in Rock 'n Roll history. The statement concluded: 'WE ARE GRATEFUL BEYOND WORDS FOR EVERYONE WHO WAS PUMPED TO GET ON THE ROAD WITH US ONE LAST TIME. GRATEFUL TO OUR EXPERT CREW, OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM AND THE THOUSANDS OF TALENTED PEOPLE WHO'VE MADE OUR HISTORIC RUNS POSSIBLE.
Wall Street Journal
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
Aerosmith's ‘Toys in the Attic' Turns 50
From the start, Aerosmith was hellbent on becoming the American equivalent of the Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin. Two years after forming, Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records in 1972 and released its first, eponymous LP in 1973. 'Aerosmith' reached No. 21 on Billboard's album chart, but the group's second release, 'Get Your Wings,' peaked at only No. 74 a year later. To build a wider audience fast, the band's manager had it open on tour for softer acts like the Guess Who and Mott the Hoople to win away their fans. By 1975, Aerosmith was polished and more widely known. Shortly after its third studio album—'Toys in the Attic'—was released 50 years ago this month, the LP jumped to No. 11, and by August had sold a half-million copies. The record had a stronger sonic punch and was more cohesive and dimensional than the previous two. It also included two hit singles, 'Sweet Emotion' and 'Walk This Way.'
Boston Globe
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A fitting tribute to the 1975 Red Sox precedes the start of a season of hope at Fenway Park
The players who were on hand at Fenway for Friday's event were Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Rico Petrocelli, Cecil Cooper, Rick Burleson, Bill Lee, Bernie Carbo, Butch Hobson, Rick Kreuger, Jim Willoughby, Dick Pole, Buddy Hunter, Kim Andrew, Steve Dillard, Tim Blackwell, Rick Miller, and Bob Montgomery. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Related : Advertisement As Aerosmith's 'Sweet Emotion' played over the Fenway Park loudspeakers, the '75 Red Sox emerged from left field and made their way to the mound — with Yastrzemski, 85, delivering the first pitch to Cora. They taught us to believe in miracles. Yaz & the 1975 — NESN (@NESN) As part of the ceremony, the Red Sox also memorialized the life of legendary pitcher and '75 ace Luis Tiant, Tiant was among those honored during the team's in memoriam video, alongside other Red Sox players who passed away during the offseason: Rickey Henderson, Charlie Maxwell, Bob Veale, Felix Mantilla, and Scott Sauerbeck. Advertisement A moment for those we lost ahead of the home opener. Forever in the hearts of — NESN (@NESN) 'I miss Luis. We all do,' said Evans, Tiant's teammate. 'But I try to take something from everybody I'm around and live around. And with him, just his love for people. ... He loved people. He really did.' Tiant endeared himself to Red Sox fans over eight seasons with his unorthodox corkscrew windup, desperado mustache, and cigar-smoking gusto making him a beloved player. The Cuban-born righty pushed Boston to the brink of a World Series title in 1975. After tossing a complete game shutout in Game 1 of the Fall Classic against the Reds, he threw a whopping 155 pitches in another complete-game effort against Cincy just four days later. Boston won all three of his starts in the '75 World Series, but still came up short in the seven-game series. One of the light stanchions rooted atop the Green Monster featured a custom 'El Tiante' sign — etched against a blue heart background — while Tiant's family was tasked with bellowing 'Play Ball!' to close out the event. For El Tiante... PLAY BALL!! ⚾ ❤️ — NESN (@NESN) 'Luis is a guy that we miss,' Cora said. 'Spring training was kind of empty in that aspect, right? He was always talking to the guys, teaching the guys how it used to be. And what it means to be a Red Sox. And we miss him. 'I actually miss him here the most because he was always joking around with [the players], kind of like when they were down a little bit, he'll go down there and talk [expletive] to them in a very unique way … He was a proud individual. He knew where he came from and it wasn't easy — the road to be in the big leagues. And for him to perform the way he did, I tip my hat to him. It's amazing.' Advertisement The event began with the entire Red Sox roster, coaching staff, and clubhouse personnel taking the field — with both newcomers and promising youngsters in Garrett Crochet and Kristian Campbell drawing the loudest ovations among this reworked roster. Related : As a giant U.S.A. flag cascaded down the Green Monster and enveloped the famed wall in left field, the nation's colors were presented by the 1st Battalion and 181st Infantry Regiment of the Massachusetts National Guard, the 66th Air Base Group out of Hanscom Air Force Base, and members of the 1st Coast Guard District. The Boston Arts Academy 'Treble Allstars' performed the 'Star-Spangled Banner' — with their rendition of the national anthem punctuated by a fly-over of two F-35 jets flown by the 134th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont Air National Guard, along with one KC-46 plane from the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing. Another season at Fenway Park was officially ushered in at 2:20 p.m. with Sox starter Walker Buehler delivering a fastball against Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar. 'It's always a good vibe. It's always a good vibe when you come here and it's Fenway Park. ... It's a good feeling,' Cora said. 'Like I said in spring training, we have a good baseball team. We've just got to keep working hard to keep gaining momentum, playing better baseball. We're going to grow as a team. 'It's different in the clubhouse. It's a very mature team, in a sense. We brought some guys that have been around, from winning teams and playing in October a lot, so that's going to help the rest of the group. And we're going to keep getting better.' Advertisement The American flag was displayed during the national anthem on Friday. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Conor Ryan can be reached at
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Red Sox celebrate 1975 team, honor Luis Tiant before home opener at Fenway Park
Before the Red Sox played their first game at Fenway Park in the 2025 season, the organization had to honor -- and remember --some legends of Boston baseball. The Red Sox celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1975 team, which made a shocking run to the World Series, with a pregame ceremony that had fans erupting in the stands. There were 20 members of the 1975 squad honored on the field, which included Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, and of course, Carl Yastrzemski. The 85-year-old Yaz received a huge ovation from Boston fans, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to current Red Sox manager Alex Cora before the game. Here's the full list of players from the 1975 team that were on hand for Friday's ceremony: Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, Cecil Cooper, Rick Burleson, Rico Petrocelli, Rick Miller, Jim Wiloughby, Dick Pole, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Buddy Hunter, Kim Andrew, Butch Hobson, Steve Dillard, Tim Blackwell, Rick Miller, Bob Montgomery, Bernie Carbo, Carlton Fisk, and Carl Yastrzemski. They took the field with Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion playing over the park's speakers, and received a massive ovation from Fenway Park's sellout crowd. The 1975 Red Sox have a special place in the franchise's history after making an incredible run to the World Series. The team was in last place in April, but with an outfield of Yaz and rookies Jim Rice and Fred Lynn (who won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors) and a rotation made up of Luis Tiant, Bill Lee, and Rick Wise, Boston rocketed up the standings throughout the summer. The team finished the regular season with a 95-65 record to make it to the American League Championship Series, where they faced the Oakland Athletics. The Red Sox weren't given much of a chance against the back-to-back-to-back World Series champs, but ended up sweeping the A's in three games. It was Boston's first pennant since 1967. The Red Sox met the 108-win Cincinnati Reds in the Fall Classic, and were once again written off against the Big Red Machine. But Tiant tossed a complete game shutout in Game 1, which set up one of the greatest World Series showdowns of all time. Cincinnati won the next two games, but Tiant went the distance again in a 5-4 Boston win in Game 4. The Reds won Game 5 and took a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 in Boston, but that set up one of the biggest swings in Red Sox history. In Game 6, with the game tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 12th, Fisk drove one deep down the left field line. The catcher willed the ball fair as he hopped down the line, and it hit off the foul pole for a walk-off homer to tie the series at three games apiece. In a pregame interview with WBZ-TV's Dan Roche, Evans agreed the 1975 was the greatest World Series ever played. "I think it was. I was 23 and standing at third base. They made a pitching change and a guy named Pete Rose walked over to me. He said, 'Dewey,' and I asked him how he knew my name. He's looking around and goes, 'This might be the greatest gave I've ever played in.' Being 23 I was caught up with being on the field, and I started to look around and realized how great the game was," recalled Evans. "That was the sixth game. He also said it to Fisk at home plate." Evans said it was a joy to reconnect with his former teammates over the last several days, and he was elated to be back at Fenway Park for another celebration. "I love this ballpark. Someone asked me what I love about this ballpark, and I said the fans. They make it special," said Evans. "Once you learn they're emotional, you fall in love with them. It's a great ballpark with so many nooks and crannies to it. The grass is beautiful. How great is this?" Evans has some high hopes for the 2025 Red Sox as well, and sees a lot of the 1975 team in the current squad. "This [Red Sox] team has that element to them. Being with them all spring training, they have got some talent. If that talent comes alive, anything can happen," he said. "I'm not going to say they're going to win, because I just don't say that. But we didn't know if we were going to win in '75. Then we came into the playoffs against the Oakland A's, who had won three World Series in a row, and we swept them. We didn't belong in the same ballpark with Cincinnati and we gave it a heck of a try to win that thing." The pregame ceremony also included a video tribute to former Red Sox players who has passed away over the last year, including the legendary Tiant. An "El Tiante" sign was also put up in the outfield. Tiant passed away October 8, 2024 at the age of 83. He spent eight of his 19 MLB seasons in Boston and logged 122 of his 229 career wins with the Red Sox. "Luis was very special. He would always greet me with a kiss on the cheek and say I love you, and he meant it," Evans said pregame. "I take from him a lot of things that I instill in my own life and how I treat people. I learned some things from Luis and he is sorely missed. He was a true, true treasure of the game of baseball." "Luis is a guy we miss," Cora said before Friday's game. "Spring training was kind of empty in that aspect, right? He was always talking to the guys, teaching the guys. How he used to be and what it means to be a Red Sox. We miss him."
