Latest news with #WhitneyHouston
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The ultimate karaoke songs, according to science - so, is YOUR favourite on the list?
When it comes to karaoke, picking the right song can either make or break your night. Now, an expert has revealed the scientifically-backed singalong tunes to guarantee a good evening. Oxford University mathematician Dr Tom Crawford has devised a formula that combines the number of verses, repetition of chorus, beats per minute (BPM) and the year the song was released. The equation generates a score out of 100 and, from this, Dr Crawford has come up with the top 10 mood-boosting classics of all time. So, whether you're a Mariah-in-the-making or simply can't hold a tune, these will help you find joy, he says. 'There's some serious maths behind a karaoke belter,' he explained. Coming in first place is Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On a Prayer', which generated a score of 91. Released in 1986, it is mathematically proven to increase dopamine levels, Dr Crawford said. Close behind are Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody', which scored 90, and 'Don't Look Back in Anger' by Oasis, which reached an impressive 89. In joint fourth place is 'Queen of country pop' Shania Twain with her iconic 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman' and - pivoting to a completely different category - '500 Miles' by Scottish rock duo The Proclaimers. Both of these tracks scored 88, according to the formula. ABBA comes in sixth place with their song 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!', which scored 85, while the 2004 hit 'Unwritten' by Natasha Beddingfield came in joint seventh with a score of 84. Adele, known for her power ballads, also placed seventh with her melancholy 'Someone Like You' alongside the catchy pop single 'Wannabe' by the Spice Girls. Finally Mario's signature song 'Let Me Love You' - which was released in 2004 - took tenth spot with 83 points. Dr Crawford's method is based on data collected from 2,000 karaoke lovers across the UK. 'People love a fast-paced song with an average 126 BPM and three repeated chorus' for every two verses, just like most pop songs - hence why common favourites are scoring highly in the research,' he said. 'With ABBA dominating the 70's, through to Adele in the 2010's, the average release year of a karaoke classic is 1995. The top 10 karaoke songs, according to science Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi (91) I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston (90) Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis (89) Man! I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain (88) 500 Miles - The Proclaimers (88) Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - ABBA (85) Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield (84) Someone Like You - Adele (84) Wannabe - Spice Girls (84) Let Me Love You - Mario (83) Scores in brackets are out of 100 'This captures the boyband craze, as well as Brit pop with Oasis, and girl power like the Spice Girls, showing there's some serious maths behind a karaoke belter!' The research, carried out on behalf of Three UK and Samaritans, also found that nine out of 10 people say singing gives them an 'emotional uplift' while 70 per cent said it was cathartic. While a third of people surveyed said pop music was their favourite karaoke genre, a fifth said they prefer rock songs to let rip. The majority of participants revealed they have a 'go-to' karaoke tune with ABBA, Adele and Taylor Swift being the most popular artists to turn to. The top 10 endorphin-boosting belters will be available for music fans to sing their hearts out to in new 'Kathartic Karaoke' booths, launching at festivals this summer. The booth will launch this week at Latitude Festival in Suffolk, before being moved to The Mound at Edinburgh Fringe. Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement at Samaritans, said: 'Music has a unique power to have a positive impact on our mental health. 'Singing, in particular, can help people process emotions, ease stress and boost mood.' The news comes shortly after a study into the origins of blushing, which required teenagers to sing karaoke and then watch the videos back. As part of research, carried out by researchers from the University of Amsterdam, 40 16-20-year-olds first took part in a karaoke session. Participants sang four songs: 'Hello' by Adele, 'Let it go' from Frozen, 'All I want for Christmas is you' by Mariah Carey and 'All the things she said' by tATu. These songs were chosen because several music experts judged these songs to be very difficult to sing – ensuring that participants would be embarrassed watching themselves singing them. As they were shown the videos of themselves and others singing their cheek temperature – an indicator of blushing – and brain activity were measured. The results revealed that blushing was stronger when participants watched themselves sing. Listening to melancholy music can improve a person's emotional well-being in times of loneliness and distress. Sad songs, in particular, can stir up a mixture of complex and 'partially positive' emotions, including nostalgia, peacefulness, tenderness, transcendence and wonder. Upbeat music that you're not consciously aware that you're listening to typically have no affect on how you feel. But actively seeking out happiness through music can sometimes improve your health and relationship satisfaction.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Best karaoke songs revealed as Bon Jovi anthem Livin On A Prayer crowned top singalong
Icons Whitney Houston, Oasis, Shania Twain and Scottish stars the Proclaimers were beaten by rock gods Bon Jovi as a new study explains what makes a top karaoke tune It's the classic rock anthem that's top of the class when it comes to karaoke - and that's according to mathematicians, not music critics. Bon Jovi' s Livin' On a Prayer came in at number one in a new chart ranking 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 Samartians 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). Rob Winterschladen, Consumer Director at VodafoneThree, says: '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.' The experience is designed to help festival goers boost their mood with music and singing, while also offering guidance on accessing support from Samaritans. The top 10 Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis Man! I Feel Like a Woman - Shania Twain I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - ABBA Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield Someone Like You - Adele Wannabe - Spice Girls Let Me Love You – Mario
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
27 Photos Of Historical Figures When They Were Younger
Although I didn't feel this way as a kid, I can now admit that history is definitely the best subject ever. Like, I wish I kept my old history textbooks, because they'd probably be way more interesting as an adult. But in particular, there's something especially trippy about seeing old historical photos. So I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole to find some old photos of famous historical figures — in particular, ones we only really remember as adults or older people. Today I'm gonna share those photos with you, because they're too good not to showcase. I'll start with the younger photo, we'll see if you can name them, and then I'll reveal who it is: Do you know who this is? That's former president Ronald Reagan! Here he is in 1980: I'm sure you can name this person: That's singer Whitney Houston! Here she is in 1986: This baby became a hugely famous actress. Who is it? That's actress and sex symbol Jayne Mansfield! Here she is in 1957: Who's this handsome historical figure? That's inventor Henry Ford! Here he is circa 1910: Any guesses who this is? That's singer Frank Sinatra! Here he is in 1960: Can you recognize this sweet face? That's actress Judy Garland! Here she is in 1945: This one is pretty easy. Who is this? That's actor (and EGOT winner) James Earl Jones! Here he is in 2014: Who is this figure in more recent history? That's Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates! Here he is in 2025: This one isn't too difficult either. Who is she? That's writer Agatha Christie! Here she is in 1954: Can you name this adorable young actor? That's actor James Dean! Here he is in 1955: This one is easy. Who is he? That's composer Stephen Sondheim! Here he is in 2017: Do you recognize her? That's actress Elizabeth Taylor! Here she is circa 1955: Can you name this iconic historical figure? That's scientist Marie Curie! Here she is in 1989: Who is this 3-year-old? That's singer Elvis Presley! Here he is circa 1956: Who is this young historical figure? That's philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche! Here he is circa 1890: Another baby photo! Who is this famous athlete? That's baseball star Babe Ruth! Here he is in 1930: Now, guess who this is: That's singer Celine Dion! Here she is in 2024: Before I reveal their recent photo, tell me who this historical figure is: That's former president Jimmy Carter! Here he is in 1980: Who is this adorable historical figure? That's Diana, Princess of Wales! Here she is in 1995: Can you identify this historical figure? That's actress and singer Brigitte Bardot! Here she is in 1963: Who is this ultra-handsome man? That's Clark Gable! Here he is circa 1950: Do you recognize her? That's singer Tina Turner! Here she is in 1997: Got any idea who this is? That's former president Franklin D. Roosevelt! Here he is in 1935: Everyone knows this person's name. Who is he? That's activist and politician Nelson Mandela! Here he is in 1990: Another person everybody knows. Can you guess who he is? That's inventor Steve Jobs! Here he is in 2009: Can you identify this woman before she was famous? That's actress Audrey Hepburn! Here she is in 1957: Who's sitting in this beautiful portrait? That's Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Gordon Low! Here she is in 1919: Which historical figure's transformation shocked you the most? And whose younger photos do you want to see in a future post? Tell me in the comments below! And there's lots more where this came from, so check out BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram!
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Whitney Houston's wardrobe up for sale
Key pieces from Whitney Houston's wardrobe are going under the hammer to raise funds for the charity set up in her name. The costumes worn by the pop star - who died in 2012 aged 48 - are being sold off by Julien's Auctions to raise funds for the Whitney E Houston Legacy Foundation with items listed including a casino-themed jacket designed by Bob Mackie and a gold Marc Bouwer gown with matching turban which was worn by the singer at a performance in South Africa in 1994. Pat Houston, executor of the later singer's esate and the president of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, said in a statement: "On behalf of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, we look forward to partnering with Julien's Auctions. "For Whitney's 40th anniversary, we have some of her unique and one-of-a-kind items and garments that Whitney wore on stage and at various A-list events and at home. "Gathering those items brought back so many memories. We look forward to previewing this year's collection with her supporters globally." A statement from Giles Moon, vice president head of music at the auction house, added: "Julien's Auctions is proud to partner with the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation for this very special auction. "Whitney Houston fans and collectors from around the world will have a rare opportunity to own incredible memorabilia and artifacts from important moments of her stellar career, while making a difference, with 100 pe rcent of the proceeds from the sale benefiting the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation." Other lots for sale include two pairs of Dolce and Gabbana shoes worn by the singer on her 1999 My Love Is Your Love World Tour, a leopard print dress and a matching coat, as well as a yellow dress she wore during an appearance on Dancing With the Stars. As well as fashion items, other items of memorabilia will be included in the sale such as an RIAA multi-platinum sales award for 1992 hit I Will Always Love You, a faux crocodile jewelry box and a novelty slot machine. The auction will take place in Los Angeles and online on August 11.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Whitney Houston's Dresses Designed by Marc Bouwer and Bob Mackie Are Up for Auction
Julien's Auctions announced on Wednesday that The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation Auction will take place Aug. 11 in Los Angeles and online. The collection, now live on Julien's Auctions' official website, features a treasure trove of the iconic singer's costumes, performance pieces, memorabilia and more. 'Julien's Auctions is proud to partner with the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation for this very special auction,' said Giles Moon, vice president head of music for Julien's. 'Whitney Houston fans and collectors from around the world will have a rare opportunity to own incredible memorabilia and artifacts from important moments of her stellar career, while making a difference, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale benefiting the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.' More from WWD Livvy Dunne Goes Sleeveless in Body-con Silvia Tcherassi Dress for 2025 MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show With Paul Skenes Megan Stalter Makes Dramatic Hair Statement With Meter-long Yellow Hair and Forehead Bangs on 'Stephen Colbert' Rihanna Embodies Futuristic Glamour With Alaïa's 'Fashion Donut' Skirt The auction will serve to generate support for The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation's initiatives, scholarships and services, which raise awareness and funds to support scholarships for young college students studying the arts at historically Black colleges and universities. Highlights from the forthcoming auction include Houston's casino-themed jacket, designed by Bob Mackie, featuring dice, card faces, and more, all crafted in Mackie's idiosyncratic style. Another piece featured in the collection is the Marc Bouwer-designed gold gown and coordinated turban Houston wore for her 1994 performance in South Africa. Aside from her wardrobe pieces, Houston's accessories also feature among auction items. A custom at-home slot machine is among the pieces in the collection, as well as a faux crocodile jewelry box. Two pairs of Dolce & Gabbana-designed shoes and a leopard print dress and matching coat are also up for auction. 'On behalf of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, we look forward to partnering with Julien's Auctions,' said Pat Houston, executor of The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and the president of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. 'For Whitney's 40th anniversary, we have some of her unique and one-of-a-kind items and garments that Whitney wore on stage and at various A-list events and at home. Gathering those items brought back so many memories. We look forward to previewing this year's collection with her supporters globally.' A Look Back at Billboard Music Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and More [PHOTOS] View Gallery Launch Gallery: A Look Back at Billboard Music Awards Best Dressed Red Carpet Stars: Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and More [PHOTOS] Best of WWD How Geri Halliwell's Union Jack Dress Inspired a Generation of Pop Stars and Patriotism 23 of the World's Most Expensive Handbags: Jane Birkin's Original Hermès Bag, Chanel's Crocodile Skin Flap Bag and More Brands With the Power of the Purse 'Project Runway' Winners: Where Are They Now? Solve the daily Crossword
