Latest news with #TakeMyHand
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Gisborne student duo's song wins Sister Cities international award
'This year's theme highlights the power of friendship to foster understanding, collaboration and peace across borders,' Sister Cities International said in a statement. The competition attracted 340 competitors from 10 countries, including Australia, Japan, the United States, China and Russia. Savanah and Nina's winning song was called Take My Hand and was written by both of them two years ago. 'With this competition, the brief was friendship and relationships, so we had a song already written that just perfectly fit the criteria,' Savanah said. 'All we had to do was write what the song meant to us, so we've got a little blurb of what the song means to us, and I guess that was good enough to win the competition. 'We wrote it together, pretty much based on relationships in general, not just our one specifically. 'Our song is all about finding that small group of friends who you deeply connect with, where you don't feel the need to act like someone else around and are your true self,' part of their entry reads. 'This song is all about whakawhanaungatanga, which is strengthening relationships and connections by talking about personal experiences, all about creating a deep bond.' Nina plays the drums, while Savanah plays guitar and violin. The pair say they have been friends since Year 4. Nina was classically trained in piano from a young age before stopping in Y8 and taking up the drums in Y9. Savanah has played guitar for five years and violin for about nine years. Savanah Baty and Nina Botting have been friends since Year 4 in school, for nine years. Photo / James Pocock Nina has applied to study at the University of Otago for a biomedical science degree in reproduction, genetics and development. Savanah wants to study psychology at Victoria University of Wellington after a gap year. Both prefer to keep their musical passion as a hobby rather than a career. 'Music is a passion, something we love,' Savanah said. 'And honestly, if that becomes a job, I don't know if it would mix well ... being stressed out, I don't know what would happen. 'I'm worried I would get sick of it and would never do it as a thing I love to do anymore and more of a thing I have to do for work,' Nina said. Savanah is interested in joining an adult orchestra, while Nina wants to write more songs in the future. 'I am part of the combined schools orchestra, and that is fun, but I would like to do a more advanced group,' Savanah said. 'I think that would be cool, especially if I go to uni and join a music group there.' 'I am going to try and get into a band next year and try and do some gigs or something,' Nina said. 'I find it quite relaxing to write songs, even though I am not the best at it. Time will tell.' Their prize for winning was US$1000 (NZ$1690). As for what they will do with the money, the girls have some ideas. 'If this paycheck comes in soon, next week I am going to Rarotonga, so I will spend it there,' Savanah said. Nina said: 'I'm going to put it all towards a new computer for school [university] next year, even with how badly I don't want to do that - I want to buy clothes, make-up ... nope.' Girls' High music teacher Anna Marie Fenn said she was 'really happy' that Gisborne District Sister Cities secretary Jan Calder had encouraged the school to get involved. 'It was just really nice to have [Nina and Savanah's] work recognised as being something that was really good internationally,' Fenn said. Calder said she began trying to get Gisborne schools involved in YAAS a few years ago. Last year, GGHS students Nikita Schwass and Jasmine Reynolds placed. 'We've hit with a bombshell this year,' Calder said. 'I remember thinking 'Oh, if we could win this ...', not thinking we had such a good chance as well, which was cool.'
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bounce legend Big Freedia on going gospel: ‘I never heard 'God doesn't love gay folks'. God loves us all'
On stage at Nashville Pride festival on a sweltering June afternoon, Big Freedia is her usual boisterously commanding self. She invites volunteers and the sign-language interpreter to join her and her dancers in getting down to bounce music, the relentlessly kinetic style of hip-hop for which she has become a figurehead in her native New Orleans. Then she pauses for a brief heart-to-heart with the audience. 'I don't know if y'all know this, but I started in the church,' she says. Big Freedia's forthcoming album, Pressing Onward, is a gospel record and she is keen to stress that she isn't abandoning her core audience. The gay, gender-fluid rapper and reality TV star exhorts every kind of body to shake it and is unequivocal about her support for all marginalised people; her reputation led Beyoncé and Drake to sample her on some of their most successful tracks. 'This album is for us,' she emphasises. 'It is for people who are LGBTQ and who love God.' When the beat of a new song, Take My Hand, kicks into double time, just the way a sanctified rhythm section would in church, she brings gospel catharsis to queer people in the same southern state where the US supreme court recently upheld a ban on transgender youth healthcare, at a time when LGBTQ+ progress across the US is meeting with forceful religious pushback. The week after, Big Freedia logs on to our video call to talk gospel. 'It's already an ass revival when they come to a Big Freedia show,' she says, referring to the mass twerking her shows inspire. 'And now they're coming to a Big Freedia gospel revival.' In one sense, it's a superficial distinction. Back in the church choir of Big Freedia's youth, she moved people to ecstatic dance: 'We would have lots of clapping, stomping of the feet, choreographed dancing that we would do in our robes.' The young singer, who back then could hit soprano range, showed such dedication and promise that the choir's director made her their assistant. By high school, Big Freedia was leading ensembles and envisioned that as her future. 'I thought I was going to be a famous choir director and that I was gonna be singing with choirs all around the world.' Big Freedia says she grew up feeling welcomed by the working-class Black Baptist congregation that knew her as Freddie Ross Jr – so much so that she used its name as the title of her new album. 'From the first time I walked in the doors, they put their arms around me and gave me the biggest hug,' she says. 'And they knew I was a young gay boy. I was loud and proud, even as a kid. We didn't have those moments of the pastor talking about: 'God doesn't love gay folks.' God loved us all.' She was also becoming part of a circle of rappers that were making boastful, bass-heavy New Orleans club music a vehicle for their party-starting queer and gender-expansive personae. The bounce scene beckoned. Big Freedia received assurance from her mum and other church folk that pursuing it wouldn't be sacrilegious, as long as she maintained her relationship with God – and she lets it be known, loudly and often, that she has. Before she took the stage at Pride, her team huddled and someone offered a prayer: 'God give Freedia the supernatural strength, in the name of Jesus, from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.' Big Freedia certainly isn't the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to contribute to the gospel canon. That lineage might be more widely acknowledged if generations of the music's pioneers hadn't been required to live closeted lives. 'Once you start historicising, you figure out that so much of what is sung in churches was created by, and continues to be created by, queer folks,' says Ashon Crawley, a religious studies scholar and cultural critic who draws on insight he gained as a young, Black, queer Pentecostal church musician. In her youth, Big Freedia recorded with the New Orleans Gospel Soul Children choir, but she had never contemplated her own gospel project until a 2024 session yielded the spiritually ebullient dance track Celebration. 'God put it on my heart that this is what I need to do,' she says. Big Freedia made clear to potential co-writers that she still wanted her audacious swagger and compassion to come through and that she wasn't out to convert anyone. 'I'm representing for the LGBTQ community,' she told them. 'So when they come here, the door is bust wide open and there is no judgment and you have this moment to lose it in the spirit.' Parson James, a Nashville-based pop artist who is queer and biracial, helped her craft some of the hooks. He had dealt with the homophobia of his small-town South Carolina congregation by distancing himself from the church and its music, so he was wary of returning to gospel, but he put his trust in Big Freedia's intentions. 'Doing it with someone who's so confident – you can't tell her shit – it just was amazing.' Pressing Onward has ample pop accessibility: over an 808 drum machine, Sunday Best blends hip-hop fashion flexes and brags about Black church finery. But the album is also lifted by unmistakable gospel elements: warm, reverberant eruptions of Hammond B3 organ; the taut, powerful unison of mass choir singing. Crawley sees Big Freedia's reclamation of these traditions as potentially subversive. 'It demonstrates to the church: your excluding of us doesn't have to be the end of our story; we find community with one another in ways that you both taught us how to do and in ways you could not anticipate. So perhaps you should pay more attention to the very thing that you have excluded.' Big Freedia initially planned to release Pressing Onward in June's Pride month, but in May her longtime partner, Devon Hurst, died unexpectedly of diabetes complications. She insisted on directing the choir at his funeral. The day before our interview, she closed on the house they had planned to buy together. 'My whole life has just changed within this last month,' she says. 'It has been an emotional rollercoaster, all the things that me and him had planned and the things we were doing and working on. And now I'm doing all these things by myself.' Even in her profound grief, she was willing to push the album release back only by a month. 'I need it more than anybody,' she says. 'And I know if I need it, there's other people out there in the world that need it. There's always someone who's depressed or going through a hard time. There is always someone who's fighting who they are, or fighting against a community of people that don't accept who they are. This album is not just for me – it's for the world.' Pressing Onward is released via Queen Diva Music on 8 August
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Viral TikTok song everyone loves and the original singer will surprise you
Take My Hand was first released in 2011 and now it's the biggest song on TikTok at the moment - but who is the surprising person behind the tune? There's no logic really behind what songs make it on TikTok and those that don't. But one sure fire way of making a success of any musical hit these days is for it to go viral on the social media platform, sending profits and worldwide attention through the roof. If you've been on TikTok over the past couple of months, there's one tune you're guaranteed to have heard in one form or another, and its catchy hook and sweet sound ensures it stays in your mind for the rest of the day. Take My Hand is a 60s inspired, dreamy ditty that has been used to back a trend that sees social media users post footage of seemingly everyday life, with the caption 'I almost forgot this was the whole point'. It's an emotional trend, as many of them are, designed to make us see what appears to be the mundane as something much more spectacular. The song has been used of late by every influencer worth their salt - including most of the members o f 'Mom Tok' and even Madonna. But if you've been left scratching your head at where you have heard this epic track before, it's probably fair to say you are a British comedy fan, and it's definitely fair to say you've got good taste. Take My Hand was actually released back in 2011, and was the theme tune to the cult classic comedy Toast of London, written and starring the iconic Matt Berry. Toast of London ran for three seasons from 2013 and produced a number of viral moments which still stand to this day, but we're doubting even Berry thought he had such a modern classic on his hands when he put this song out on his Witchhazel album at the time. Berry is a comedy genius who has been involved in some of the funniest UK and worldwide sitcoms of recent years including The IT Crowd, What We Do in the Shadows and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, but social media users were still blown away when they discovered it is he who is behind this viral song. Is there no end to his talents? Basically, no. For, as well as lending his velvet voice and hilarious comedy timing to some of the best known shows on TV, he's only a real life rock star too. A multi-instrumentalist, Berry used to perform with his band The Maypoles and has duetted in the past with the likes of Sean Lennon and Emma Noble. He's about to release new album Gather Up and it looks like it's set for success, given his growing fanbase on Spotify with 1.6m listeners every month. In a clip that's been seen more than two million times on TikTok, @ethannneville posted: "When I first heard this song [Take My Hand] I thought it was a phenomenal piece of art. "Then I learn the guy singing it is none other than the comedic genius and talented actor Matt Berry. You're telling me that the same guy who shouts 'New York Citehhh'[in What We Do In The Shadows] is a beautiful singer songwriter." Ethan wasn't the only one shocked at the link, with fans pouring into the comments to share their surprise. One said: "You're telling me Jackie Daytona the human bartender sings this? Another said: "WHAT?? How am I just finding this out, I've loved this song for years," while another replied: "You're telling me the same Matt Berry from the IT crowd? Like… FATHURRRRRRR?". However, there's another sad element to the popularity of the song, as some social media users came upon it after it was used in the end credits of 2025 Netflix documentary American Murder: Gabby Petito. One added: "This is such a beautiful song and I found it through the Gabbby Petito documentary." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scotsman
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
BBC ALBA to broadcast Skerryvore's landmark 20th anniversary Floors Castle concert
Recorded at the stunning Floors Castle in Kelso, Scottish Borders, BBC ALBA's Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors captures the energy and emotion of a night that brought together over 6,000 fans from across the world, with a stellar line-up of trad music stars. Special guests included Trail West and Nathan Carter, who helped set the stage for a rousing headline performance from Skerryvore, marking two decades of unforgettable tracks. The band were also joined by guest performances from Valtos and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums. The exclusive broadcast airs on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer this Saturday (7 June), with presenter Megan MacLellan sharing backstage interviews and music highlights with some of the band's best-loved songs including Scottish anthem, Take My Hand. Formed on Tiree, Skerryvore's original line-up has grown from island roots into an internationally acclaimed act, with a unique blend of traditional folk, rock and pop. With seven studio albums and a global touring reputation, this anniversary concert represents a milestone in their remarkable journey. Skerryvore front man, Alec Dalglish, commented: 'Celebrating our 20th anniversary in front of fans from all over the world was quite honestly up there as the best night of our lives. There's no feeling in the world like hearing more than 6,000 people singing every lyric back to you – the night will stay with me for a long, long time. Floors Castle made for such a stunning background for this celebration, there was a real sense of occasion that felt fitting to mark two decades together. It's fantastic to have the story of this milestone captured and shared on BBC ALBA – we would encourage anyone who wants to relive it all or those that weren't able to join us to tune in and experience a slice of the magic of Skerryvore XX.' Calum McConnell, Commissioning Executive at BBC ALBA, said: 'Skerryvore are one of Scotland's biggest trad music success stories. Over two decades, they have played a string of sell out shows across the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe, reimagining traditional folk music to break into the mainstream, garnering fans around the world. 'Although we've featured Skerryvore on BBC ALBA programming at Belladrum and Hoolie in the Hydro, we've not had the chance to film one of their headline performances, so it is incredibly special to be showcasing their anniversary concert to viewers. Fans that missed out on a ticket, or those who simply want to relive the magic all over again, can tune into BBC ALBA or BBC iPlayer this Saturday, with added behind the scenes stories.' Catch all the highlights from Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 7 June at 9pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles). Watch live or on demand: 1 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors presenter Megan MacLellan Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed BBC ALBA Skerryvore aig Caisteal Floors Photo: Submitted Photo Sales
BBC News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Johnny Depp and Ringo Starr unite for Fatima Whitbread song
Johnny Depp and Ringo Starr are among the celebrities who have united to record a one-off song in aid of Fatima Whitbread's children's 63-year-old is known to the world as an Olympic medallist and former world champion javelin thrower despite being abandoned as a from Ingatestone in Essex, recently set up a charity aimed at improving the lives of children living in actor Depp plays guitar for the anthem, rock icon Pete Townsend is on bass and Whitbread added some vocals. Zak Starkey is on percussion along with his dad, Beatles drummer Mondays singer Shaun Ryder and actress Samantha Morton also added vocals."It's an incredible line-up, unlike anything we've seen for many years," said Whitbread. The track is called Take My Hand - in aid of the Fatima's UK Campaign charity - and will be played at her One Voice Summit at Guildhall in says the event, on 23-24 April, will bring together people with experience of care, politicians and service leaders to help improve song is available for download via online music said the idea for the track snowballed after she and Ryder got to know one another on the 2023 edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!"I am using my lived experience and my Olympic title to bring things together," she explained."All of them were really happy to come on board and incredibly supportive of what I'm trying to do, highlighting unacceptable outcomes for children in care."The track was written by 21-year-old Harrison James, who said he was inspired by his own parents who came from difficult backgrounds and had supported children in only had three days to write the song. In March 2024, there were 83,630 children in care in England, according to government charity Become says care-experienced young people are nine times more likely to face homelessness than other young added: "Children are our future; if we can invest in them from a very young age it will help to shape who and what they become in society.""It's all about building happier and healthier tomorrows and stronger communities and putting these young people on an unstoppable path of reaching their goals and realising their dreams." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
