Latest news with #TheKillers
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
This Morning viewers left cringing as Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary do karaoke
This Morning viewers were left wondering just what was happening when its hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary burst into song during Wednesday's episode This Morning viewers were left wondering just what was happening during an unexpected karaoke segment on Wednesday morning. Hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were joined by Tom Swarbrick and Camilla Tominey for a chat about the nation's favourite karaoke songs. Dermot gave a quick rendition of Bon Jovi classic Livin' On A Prayer, whilst Camillla struggled through I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. Alison had got up to perform River Deep Mountain High, but it appeared to have been the wrong song as she sat back down and Dermot exclaimed: "God knows what is going to happen now!" Things took an even more surprising turn when all four hosts took it upon themselves to perform Mr. Brightside by The Killers, during which Dermot stormed across the studio and jumped onto the sofa. Next up, Tom performed How You Remind Me by Nickelback before Alison noted they had 'run out of time' for any more as she sent the show to an ad break. But the bizarre segment did not go down entirely well with viewers, who took to social media to give their opinion. One viewer wrote simply claimed they had 'died from cringe' after watching the karaoke session, and another wondered: "What am I watching here?" A third social media user demanded: "What have we done to endure this punishment!" and another said: "What the actual f***am i watching? god oh almighty", whilst another pleaded with the broadcaster to "make it stop". One viewer compared the segment to "bad X Factor auditions", and took particular aim at Dermot, who hosted the talent show during its height in the late 2000s. They wrote: "That was a performance worthy of an X Factor 2010 YouTube compilation of bad auditions", whilst another quipped: "What a bad day to have ears". Another claimed: "Dermot is forgetting he is on TV!" But it wasn't all bad, as one viewer found the fun in the light-hearted segment, and they wrote: "Dermot and Allison are so unserious on #ThisMorning I love it, they treat it like a day out!" Moments later, when Coronation Street actress and West End star Jodie Prenger was preparing to go behind the scenes of London's new musical Hercules, Dermot joked: "God, we could have done with them during karaoke," whilst Alison noted what a 'beautiful' voice the soap star has. The whole item came off the back of a study that revealed the greatest singalong songs of all time. Put together by Oxford professor Dr Tom Crawford, the custom formula factored in how fast the beat was, number of verses, chorus repeats and even the release date of the song. "My research showed a preference for a faster pace, with an average beats per minute of 126, as well as a ratio of three chorus repetitions for every two verses,' he said. 'This fits with the standard structure of most pop songs - hence why you'll see your favourites scoring highly!' Livin' On A Prayer took top spot with a score of 91 out of a possible 100, closely followed by Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance with Somebody (90). In third place was Oasis' iconic Don't Look Back In Anger (89). Dr Crawford devised his formula using research from a poll of 2,000 karaoke lovers, commissioned by mobile giant Three and suicide prevention charity Samaritans. The study found 90 per cent of people feel happier after a sing-along, with 81 per cent getting an emotional uplift and 70 per cent finding it therapeutic. And the research also identified the best year for karaoke gold. 'With ABBA dominating the 70s, through to Adele in the 2010s, the average release year of a karaoke classic is 1995,' Dr Crawford said. 'This captures the boyband craze, as well as Brit pop with Oasis, and girl power in the form of the Spice Girls, showing there's some serious maths behind a killer karaoke belter!' Three and Samaritans are running the Kathartic Karaoke initiative to support people with their mental health There will be a special booth at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk (July 24 to 27) and The Mound at Edinburgh Fringe (August 15 and 16). Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at VodafoneThree, said: 'As the Official Connectivity Partner of some of the UK's biggest festivals this summer, we understand the power and importance of making connections that matter, whether it's through technology or shared experiences like music. We are delighted to be partnering with Samaritans for the first time at music festivals, to create joyful spaces for people to connect to one another and experience our 'Kathartic Karaoke' for themselves.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I'm extremely nervous': Students rock out on stage for Bluesfest's final night
On the final night of Bluesfest, crowds could hear 'Mr. Brightside,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' resonating from the LeBreton Stage. But The Killers, Avril Lavigne and Guns N' Roses didn't make an appearance at Ottawa's biggest music festival this year. Instead, the guitarists, pianists, drummers, bassists and singers from about 10 different schools or community groups were rocking out on stage, with some performers as young as seven years old. The performers were part of Bluesfest's Be in the Band and Blues in the Schools programs that offer elementary and high school students mentorship opportunities from local artists. Following weeks of music practice during the school year, the students perform at their school or local community centre. Some are then offered the opportunity to take their show to Bluesfest. 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Bluesfest community programs manager Alan Marsden. 'You come together for a show in your community and see your kids performing up there. 'It gives you a sense of pride.' Blues in the Schools — 'a large bucket of cuteness,' according to Marsden — was up first. Twenty-two Grade 2 students from Corpus Christi lined up and sang just under 30 minutes worth of music, accompanied by dance moves and harmonicas simulating train sounds. The student's teacher, Jeannie Wong, has been involved with Blues in the Schools for 26 years. She gives up her summer holidays to prepare the children to have the 'one-of-a-kind experience' of performing at Bluesfest. 'I'm always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them,' Wong said. 'It's thrilling to see the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage.' Be in the Band was up next, with 18 separate sets of musicians, mostly playing rock or pop tunes to an audience that grew throughout the night, particularly when the rain started just before 8:30 p.m. Each group sang a song or two before cycling off the stage to make room for the next. Louisiana Saucier from Hadley Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, Que., plays bass. This was her third time performing with Be in the Band. Before hitting the stage, the 14-year-old said it can be nerve-wrecking to play for a crowd — but it's still a great experience. 'It's fun to be in a band with people my own age,' she said. 'It's nice to just create something.' Not every performer is as musically experienced as Saucier. Seventeen-year-old Aspen Horgan, from Norman Johnston Secondary Alternate Program, had never touched a bass prior to getting involved with Be in the Band. 'It's just surreal, honestly,' Horgan said backstage before performing. 'I'm extremely nervous … Bluesfest is such a massive thing.' Horgan's band, The Tragically Dustins (an ode to their teacher, Dustin Wenzel), performed 'Coffee Girl' by The Tragically Hip with a cool and calm demeanour under the warm glow of purple, red and white spotlights. 'I was very in the moment,' Horgan said, adding that the sizable crowd ended up fading into the background. Rosy Tlem, also 17, was one of the lead vocalists from Notre Dame High School who sang a rendition of Rihanna's 'Umbrella' and Bruno Mars' 'Finesse.' While on stage, Tlem and the two other vocalists often took each other's hands as they called on the audience to sing along. 'It's do or die,' Tlem recalled after the show. 'This is my secret desire to perform in front of people.' For some of the young artists, the music programs gave them an opportunity to grow closer to their fellow musicians, as well as nurture a passion for music. 'I've had kids tell me that the program transformed their lives. Saved their life, even,' Marsden said. 'Music is really important to me. I really wanted it to be important to the people who are involved, too.'
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
'I'm extremely nervous': Students rock out on stage for Bluesfest's final night
On the final night of Bluesfest, crowds could hear 'Mr. Brightside,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' resonating from the LeBreton Stage. Article content But The Killers, Avril Lavigne and Guns N' Roses didn't make an appearance at Ottawa's biggest music festival this year. Instead, the guitarists, pianists, drummers, bassists and singers from about 10 different schools or community groups were rocking out on stage, with some performers as young as seven years old. Article content Article content The performers were part of Bluesfest's Be in the Band and Blues in the Schools programs that offer elementary and high school students mentorship opportunities from local artists. Following weeks of music practice during the school year, the students perform at their school or local community centre. Article content Article content 'It's a pretty big deal,' said Bluesfest community programs manager Alan Marsden. 'You come together for a show in your community and see your kids performing up there. Article content 'It gives you a sense of pride.' Article content Blues in the Schools — 'a large bucket of cuteness,' according to Marsden — was up first. Twenty-two Grade 2 students from Corpus Christi lined up and sang just under 30 minutes worth of music, accompanied by dance moves and harmonicas simulating train sounds. Article content Article content The student's teacher, Jeannie Wong, has been involved with Blues in the Schools for 26 years. She gives up her summer holidays to prepare the children to have the 'one-of-a-kind experience' of performing at Bluesfest. Article content Article content 'I'm always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them,' Wong said. 'It's thrilling to see the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage.' Article content Be in the Band was up next, with 18 separate sets of musicians, mostly playing rock or pop tunes to an audience that grew throughout the night, particularly when the rain started just before 8:30 p.m. Each group sang a song or two before cycling off the stage to make room for the next. Article content Article content Louisiana Saucier from Hadley Philemon Wright High School in Gatineau, Que., plays bass. This was her third time performing with Be in the Band. Before hitting the stage, the 14-year-old said it can be nerve-wrecking to play for a crowd — but it's still a great experience. Article content 'It's fun to be in a band with people my own age,' she said. 'It's nice to just create something.'
Metro
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Rock star appeals to fans for help after revealing heartbreaking robbery
James Bay has appealed for help after two of his vintage guitars with 'great sentimental value' were stolen from his car in London. The Let It Go hitmaker, 34, has just released a new album and was preparing for his 2025 tour when the robbery occurred. He appealed to fans to keep their eyes peeled for the 1960s Silvertone sunburst acoustic and cherry red, double P90 1969 Epiphone Al Caiola, taken on Tuesday, July 1. 'Hey everyone, this is my first experience of this (lucky to have avoided it until now),' he wrote on Instagram. 'Tuesday 1st July, I had 2 guitars stolen from my car in North London. 'These are two vintage instruments of great sentimental value.' He then asked if anyone 'sees or hears of them anywhere' to please message him or email his team at info@ 'I'd really love to get them back,' James added. 'Please ask any guitar players/collectors you know, or local or online stores. 'Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks x.' He also shared pictures of both guitars, hoping it will help fans identify them if they see them around. James lives around North London, where the robbery took place, but is set to be on tour around Europe and South Africa this year – with a stop in Hitchin this month. Hitchin is Give Me A Reason singer's hometown, where he met childhood sweetheart and wife Lucy Smith. The pair tied the knot in 2022, having been together since they were around 16 years old. In October 2021, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Ada Violet. More Trending Best known for the track Hold Back The River, James has two Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello and has been nominated for three Grammys. Last year, he released the album Changes All The Time, which had major collaborations from the likes of The Lumineers, Noah Kahan and Brandon Flowers (of The Killers). Noah, who just played BST Hyde Park, and James have worked together regularly over the years, with the Stick Season star inviting him on tour last year. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: The best and worst-paid UK cities revealed — how does yours compare? MORE: Prince William joins survivors and bereaved at emotional 7/7 memorial MORE: Teenage girls arrested after woman left with 'life-changing' stab wounds
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
EA Sports College Football 26 brings Michigan's Mr. Brightside tradition to life
EA Sports has gone all in on making its newly released (deluxe edition on Monday, regular edition on July 10) College Football 26 property closer and closer to the actual game day experience. That includes more control over the players, the coaches being in the game, as well as school traditions. And though it's a newly adopted tradition in Ann Arbor, one of the favorites among fans is the singing of The Killers song, 'Mr. Brightside,' between the third and fourth quarters. And yeah, that's in the game. A clip made its way onto X (formerly Twitter) of the newly included tradition in the video game property, and it's complete with the fans singing along, including the final line of the chorus being cut out while the singing continues. Check it out: That definitely enhances the realism. What is unrealistic, potentially, however, is the game being 7-0 against rival Michigan State entering the fourth quarter -- not just because Michigan has a slim lead, but because both teams tend to score a bit more than that by that time in the game. The Wolverines have four players in the top 100 of the game with safety Rod Moore leading the charge, then edge rusher Derrick Moore, left guard Giovanni El-Hadi, and defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny.
