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Haley Bonar Turns Stories Into Songs on 'Impossible Dream'

2016-12-21T17:26:00.530Z

There's an organic quality to the songs of Haley Bonar. Perhaps it's that she draws her lyrics from her own reality, mining her experiences and bringing its stories to life in a new medium. Her music carries a rhythm as palpable as a heartbeat.

Since releasing her latest record Impossible Dream in late summer, Bonar has been playing a steady stream of shows in support of the disc. We got to chat with Haley following her final show of the year in Grand Rapids about her songwriting process, the upcoming acoustic version of Impossible Dream and the several ways stories intersect in her life through bookstores to her own writing.

Hometown: Rapid City, SD

Homebase: St. Paul, MN

If you were to creatively describe your sound, how would you?

The lyrics read like little stories, the sound takes you to the place where the stories live.

Considering you're mining your past on your songs, how nostalgic would you say you are?

I would say I'm mining my past as much as I'm inventing a story. Perhaps every poet/painter/filmmaker etc uses something of their own life to create something imaginary. That being said, I tend to grow less nostalgic as I get older. Trying to be in the present makes more sense.

If Impossible Dream were filed amongst books and movies or similar themes in a library that eschewed the Dewey Decimal system, which kin media would sit alongside it on the shelf?

Filed near Patti Smith's Just Kids (book), Fleetwood Mac's Tusk, Echo and the Bunnymen's Songs to Learn and Sing, Alec Soth's Sleeping by the Mississippi (photo book)

When did Impossible Dream start taking shape? Were you working with an album in mind or just writing songs? How do you feel it differs from your previous albums?

I started writing the songs for ID right around the time Last War was ready for release. I wrote "Better Than Me" the same time I wrote "Woke up in my Future" (from Last War), which was the first song of the album just as Woke Up was the last song for Last War. I kept writing songs until I felt there was an underlying theme in which I could sew them together to make a whole. Some songs did not make the cut.

What's your songwriting process like? How long does it take for a song to go from idea to finished track?

My process involves long periods of time in which I do very little or no songwriting. I call it "sponge phase," because it's like my brain is ingesting new information and storing it away. Eventually I begin writing, sometimes in fragments, sometimes just sketches. Once in a while, a song comes right away and is written quickly. Other times they require more time and reworking. I started writing the basic melody for "Kismet Kill" six years ago, for instance. It showed up every once in a while, until finally it made sense.

What's has the biggest influence on your music?

Solitude, reading, nature.

What do you most want listeners to take away from your music?

I guess I would hope that some songs would be forever songs.

How would you describe the dynamics of playing solo versus with band members?

I like playing solo when I first write songs, because they're still in a raw state, and it's exciting. Playing alone is something I've done for half my life now, and although I do enjoy it in some circumstances, it is far more satisfying to play the songs the way that they exist on the record, with other people's energy and more dynamics.

What are your favorite parts of touring?

Finding good book stores and restaurants. Talking to fans after the shows.

Have a recent tour story to share?

Nothing in particular, but what I can take away from this year's round of touring is that people are unpredictable. Some people are incredibly sweet and grateful for our traveling to them to perform. Some people (although very few) are weird or jerks for no apparent reason. But for the most part, people are good — and it is humbling to carry this around in day to day life as a reminder. Humanity is very complicated, and touring is an unique way to experience a side of it that many people never get the chance to.

What's ahead for the new year ahead? What would you like to accomplish?

I need to rest a bit, and be at home. I want to work on my book of short stories. I'm recording an acoustic version of Impossible Dream that will be out in the spring. Looking forward to heading back to Europe and the UK in March.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Brought Christmas Cheer to LA Hospital

2016-12-21T17:07:50.368Z

Leave it to Katy Perry to bring laughs and good cheer to anything. And to celebrate the holiday season, Katy and her bae, Orlando Bloom, put on their Santa threads and dropped by the Children's Hospital Los Angeles on Tuesday (December 20). From taking photos and singing carols (Katy probably led those), the couple put smiles on so many children's faces.

While some people thought they were off, it's pretty clear from the photos below that this couple is still together. Check them out.

In other news, it looks like Katy is back in the studio. The "Roar" singer revealed a second of some new tunes on Snapchat, which fans quickly grabbed and shared with the rest of us.

Katy posted a split second of a song from the studio! Don't be scared to die? don't be scared to cry? Whatcha think? https://t.co/IyuwFuObFf pic.twitter.com/j1G4mhR1Ie
— Katy Perry | FOTP (@FOTPKatyPerry) December 17, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Nicki Minaj's 'Pinkprint' Tour Documentary to Premiere on New Year's Eve

2016-12-21T16:56:36.442Z

If you're still figuring out what to do on New Year's Eve, maybe you'd like to make it a night in and catch the premiere of Nicki Minaj's new tour documentary, The Pinkprint Tour: Nicki Minaj in Brooklyn.

Premiering on BET on December 31, it will show behind-the-scenes footage as well as Nicki's commentary about the Brooklyn stop of her 2015 tour.

"I learned I have to try my best to stay in these moments," she says in the film, "because some of these things that happen to me are once in a lifetime experiences. And I'll never get to do it again."

Watch the clip below.

#BlackBarbies 🎀, we got you! EXCLUSIVE...this just in from Muva 💟 @nickiminaj! #PinkprintOnBET 💕12.31.16 @ 10P/9C! pic.twitter.com/icYJihPxTf
— BET (@BET) December 21, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Lena Dunham Apologizes for Abortion Comment

2016-12-21T16:51:40.842Z

Lena Dunham has gotten herself into hot water for telling people that while she has never gotten an abortion on her podcast, Women of the Hour, she wished she did. And when she's in the wrong, the Girls star didn't hesitate apologizing for her "distasteful joke."

"My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don't choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means," she said in a post on Instagram. "I'm so proud of the medley of voices in the episode. I truly hope a distasteful joke on my part won't diminish the amazing work of all the women who participated."

Read her full apology below.

My latest podcast episode was meant to tell a multifaceted story about reproductive choice in America, to explain the many reasons women do or don't choose to have children and what bodily autonomy really means. I'm so proud of the medley of voices in the episode. I truly hope a distasteful joke on my part won't diminish the amazing work of all the women who participated. My words were spoken from a sort of "delusional girl" persona I often inhabit, a girl who careens between wisdom and ignorance (that's what my TV show is too) and it didn't translate. That's my fault. I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy. My only goal is to increase awareness and decrease stigma. I take reproductive choice in America more seriously than I take literally anything else, and therefore own full responsibility for any words I speak that don't convey this truth clearly. I know plenty of people will never like a thing that leaves my lips, mea culpas or no, but this apology is for the women who have placed their trust in me. You mean everything to me. My life is and always will be devoted to reproductive justice and freedom. You know how in some households you curse and have to put money in a jar? Well in mine, if you mess up your pro-choice messaging you have to give a sizable donation to abortion funds (https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion) in New York, Texas and Ohio 💰I look forward to fighting with you all for the next four years and beyond.

A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on Dec 20, 2016 at 6:39pm PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

The WWE Yay's and Nay's of 2016

2016-12-21T08:00:00.000Z

2016 started out like that cool person you met at a party in January, but ultimately ended being a vicious maniac. Having already covered the top talents in 2016, we now move on to what we liked and what we didn’t about this year. Every year wrestling offers fans new stars, OMG moments, poor bookings and controversial decisions. In WWE we saw another roster draft, new championships and NXT taking the title of top wrestling brand in the world. Outside of McMahon’s promotion, the popularity of indie wrestling rose to new heights, while New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) broadened its recognition and appeal.

Kicking up our legs in front of a cozy fire and enjoying a satisfying hot toddy, we bust out our wrestling Dear Diary to recall the moments and people that left positive and negative impressions on us.

Yay: Alexa Bliss

Charlotte and Sasha Banks may get all the headlines, and Bayley may be the most beloved female wrestler currently on the roster, but nobody climbed the ladder faster to a championship than “The Wicked Witch of WWE.” Looking like Harley Quinn stepped out of the comic book pages, we’re fanboys of the pint sized dynamo as she’s our favorite women’s wrestler of 2016. Alexa Bliss spent the first half of the year down in NXT honing her wrestling skills, while also serving as manager to Blake and Murphy. Clearly the star of the trio, Alexa was drafted to Smackdown during the WWE Draft in July. Since then she’s cemented herself as a legit star while becoming the Smackdown Women’s Champion. We’re betting that 2017 will be a blissful year for us all.

Nay: The Cruiserweight Division

This nay squarely falls on the shoulders of the creative team, not the wrestlers. The Cruiserweight Classic on WWE Network was one of the high points in wrestling this year. Fans were introduced to new talents from all over the world, as the tournament showcased amazing mat wrestling and high flying moves. Unfortunately, the cruiserweights have been poorly used and positioned ever since.

As a RAW brand exclusive, the cruiserweight division has been used mostly as filler, rushed matches and with few storylines of substance. The rivalry between TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick never clicked with the fans. WWE’s answer to fix this has been WWE 205 Live, a weekly cruiserweight specific show that has had its issues drawing crowds. Wrestling fans want to have a successful cruiserweight division, it’s just up to the executive team to invest in the writing and properly build characters.

Yay: The Success of #DIY

The story of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa was the most satisfying journey told in 2016. Their underdog tale was a throwback to classic storytelling and ring psychology. Feuding back and forth against The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson) for the NXT Tag Team Championships created amazing wrestling moments with real emotion that fans could connect with. After coming ever so close to winning the titles at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, Gargano and Ciampa were repeatedly thwarted and undercut by The Revival on getting another shot at the titles.

The veteran tandem were indie heroes before arriving in NXT, but this title quest has pushed them to the next level in terms of popularity with fans. The team finally got their storybook ending at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, where they not only defeated The Revival to become the new tag champions, but they also delivered a top pick for Match-of-the-Year. The “You deserve it” chants ring true here.

Nay: The WWE Announce Teams

When the WWE Draft occurred in July, the commentating teams for RAW and Smackdown were shuffled as well. RAW currently has Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Bryon Saxton, while Smackdown has Mauro Ranallo, JBL, David Otunga and Tom Phillips. Too many (horrible) cooks certainly applies here. These combinations are dull, noisy and just flat out annoying. How Saxton and Otunga still have jobs with WWE is a mystery Robert Stack would love. JBL just spouts whatever comes to mind, which most of the time comes as a determent to WWE Superstars. WWE should keep it simple with two-man teams. Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves should man Smackdown, while in a stunning but best for business move, Vince McMahon returns to his commentating days to helm RAW with Michael Cole. Fingers crossed!

Yay: The Friendship of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho

We’ve already proclaimed in the past how much we love the pairing and comedic hijinks of Owens and Jericho. These two have natural charisma and are the most entertaining act in wrestling. Whether it’s being put on Jericho’s List or hearing Owens insult cameramen, interviewers and opponents, these two are money! If the Academy Awards were smart, they’d hire Owens and Jericho to host the Oscars.

Nay: Poor WWE Pay-Per-View Events

WWE PPV shows in 2016 were bland and forgettable for the most part. They’re now on par with your weekly RAW or Smackdown show. There’s nothing special about their production or booking. With the label split we now get two pay-per-views a month, outside of the months with the classic “Big Four” (Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series). This new delivery schedule compresses the amount of proper buildup and storytelling creative has to work on feuds. The end result is weak shows that always fail to deliver on the hype. The “Big Four,” like WrestleMania 32 for example, are bloated, poorly booked events that lack the magic and career-defining moments past WrestleMania’s had. Here’s hoping for improvements in 2017!

Yay: New Championship Titles

Five new Championship titles were christened this year, starting off with the (RAW) Women’s Championship that replaced the dumb butterfly belt of the Divas Championship. That move instantly brought credibility and respect to the Women’s division, putting them on par with their male counterparts. In addition, RAW created the WWE Universal Championship as the top prize of its brand. Even though the stupid sounding name evokes images of a wrestling ring floating in space, Kevin Owens currently has it, which makes it cool. At this rate, don’t be surprised if WWE rolls out the Internet Wrestling Championship next year!

Nay: Lack of Top Talent on Smackdown

There’s only so many versions of AJ Styles versus Dean Ambrose that WWE can keep parading out to fans. Eventually WWE will have to find new challengers for Styles (not Ellsworth) to feud against. The problem is that the current Smackdown roster doesn’t have any appealing options. We’ve discussed in the past how thin the Blue brand’s roster is and the most glaring hole is at the main event level.

There’s rumors of Samoa Joe making his way to Smackdown in January, but WWE will also have to move talent between brands to balance things out and keep Smackdown interesting. If WWE wanted to make Smackdown must-see-TV, they should try and pry “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega away from NJPW. Continuing their rivalry from Styles’ NJPW days would be a game-changer for the show.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-12-21T08:00:00.000Z

This week, two metal bands team up for a "killer" tour, and two comedians prepare to spread their funny across the globe. Plus, indie darling Maggie Rogers makes her live debut. Here's who we're most excited to see hit the road.

Anthrax + Killswitch Engage 'Killthrax' Tour

With both bands having dropped new albums this year, it seems fitting that Anthrax and Killswitch Engage would announce a joint tour for 2017. Dubbed the Killthrax Tour, catch these two mega-popular metal bands on the road next spring, kicking off on March 29 in Montclair, NJ, at the Welmont Theatre. Click here for more info.

Maggie Rogers Spring Tour

Singer, songwriter and student, Maggie Rogers, went viral earlier this year when a clip of her with Pharrell Williams at an NYU master class went viral. Several months later and she's got an EP ready to drop along with some headlining tour dates. The spring debut begins on March 20 in San Diego at The Irenic, followed by stops through the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and East Coast. Click here for more info.

Chris D'Elia Australian Tour

Australian comedy fans will be pleased to hear that Chris D'Elia (of Whitney and Undateable fame) has just announced a batch of shows down unda'. From April 18 to the 22nd, the comedian will set up shop at the Athenaeum Theatre located in Melbourne, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Click here for more info.

Sleigh Bells European/US Tour

In support of their newest album, Jessica, (the band's first since 2013), rockers Sleigh Bells will hit the road for a European/US tour. The duo will kick things off in February with a short stint overseas before spending the month of March through North America. You can also catch them at this year's Okeechobee Fest on March 4. Click here for more info.

Mike Birbiglia 'Working it Out' Tour

Prolific comedian Mike Birbiglia has just announced a winter trek. Dubbed the Working it Out Tour, see the writer and funnyman in various cities during January, February and March, beginning on January 6 with a two-night stint in Albany, NY, at Funny Bone Comedy Club. Also on the docket is stops in Connecticut, North Carolina and California. Click here for more info.

Final Fantasy XV

We did it. We were able to collectively, as a society, wait the 10 years it took to play Final Fantasy XV, even though over 40 other Final Fantasy games came out in the meantime. Still, the next meaty mainline single-player entry into the storied franchise means a lot for both fans of the series and Square Enix, who spent an absurd amount of time, money and resources ensuring this game wasn’t a flop. What they ended up with is one of the most impressive games in the franchise that learns the lessons classic open world RPGs have been teaching for years. One part adventure, another combat clinic, FFXV dares to challenge what it means to be a Final Fantasy game and is all the better for it.

Titanfall 2

Expectations were high for the team at Respawn after putting out one of the freshest shooters of this generation on the Xbox One a few years ago. How would going multi-console, bulding a single-player campaign and tweaking the near-perfect multiplayer end up feeling on the other end? Turns out, pretty damn good. Titanfall 2's campaign has some of the best moments of the year, and the multiplayer is just as fast and furious as ever. Respawn proved that they are not just one trick ponies and the hopes for their untitled Star Wars project have now hit a galactic high.

Watch Dogs 2

Unlike Titanfall, the first Watch Dogs was a bad game. But its sequel was just as anticipated, for some as a morbid curiosity and others a genuine hope, as the first game promised some amazing things that just never turned up. Luckily, Ubisoft got the message and took their time, delivering a sequel that eclipses the initial offering in every single way. From the faithfully recreated San Francisco Bay Area to the host of gadgets and tech at your disposal, it has never been as fun to be a hacker in a video game as it is in Watch Dogs 2. Sure, some of the story beats got a little too dramatic for their own sake, but the moment-to-moment gameplay was as innovative as any game on the market and got the feeling of an organically open world better than all of them.

Superhot

Superhot is, in a word, masterful. The premise is simple: time doesn’t move until you do. Enemies shoot bullets at you that hang frozen in air, giving you time to think about your next move, and the one after that, and the next one, until you’ve decoded this violence puzzle and know exactly where to move, shoot and duck to avoid the onrush of gunfire and put down your oppressors. Few games find a simple premise and perfect it, and Superhot got there with brilliant level design, stylish graphics and an addictive gameplay hook that had players racing to beat their own times and become one with time. This is one of the most memorable games of the decade.

Doom

Nobody saw this coming. From the failed sequels to the lack of press coverage right before launch, this year’s Doom reboot seemed like it was in big trouble. Who wants to play a silent meathead protagonist that just shoots in a world of immersive storytelling and RPG mechanics? Turns out, just about everyone. Doom figured out something few franchises do, which are the essential elements of a Doom game. Run fast, shoot plenty and keep moving before you become demon chowder. Developers at id got all of those things right by eliminating cover and health regeneration, forcing players to pick up health packs and engage their foes in order to execute “glory kills” that would refill health and ammo. The game managed to be a throwback while redefining the modern FPS genre all at the same time.

The Witness

The Witness is an acquired taste. The follow-up to Jonathan Blow’s Braid makes you question the nature of your reality even more than that time-bending puzzler, but the payoff is so much more than a narrative resolution. The Witness starts you off on a desert island (although there are more biomes than that) filled with about 800 puzzles. All follow the same basic logic of getting from point A to point B, but new twists and turns in the logic keep each puzzle feeling fresh and diverse. Beyond the basic nuts and bolts of each puzzle is the overall feeling of discovery, something no other game this year came close to matching. When you get around to uncovering the secrets the island has for you to find, the game grows from a puzzle game to a lesson in self-discovery and beyond.

Overwatch

If Game of the Year was determined purely by hours played, Overwatch would be the de facto winner. Blizzard’s first foray into the first-person shooter genre is a resounding success, blending competitive balance with iconic characters and exquisite maps. The shooting feels as good as possible across the dozens of playable heroes, but no one pick or team composition is the best. The structured game modes, the tournaments, and, of course, the loot boxes kept this one as addictive as any game in 2016. While Battlefield, Call of Duty and Titanfall were fighting for most realistic and bombastic shooter, Overwatch cleverly carved its own lane by refining multiplayer combat to the best it’s been since Team Fortress 2.

Hitman

IO Interactive took a huge risk when they announced that their Hitman reboot was going to be episodic. While the Telltale games have sort of proven that the format works, applying that every-month content drip concept to a fully featured stealth assassination game seemed risky. Would there be enough content in each level? Would the developers manage to keep the drip consistent? Would it feel like a real Hitman game and wipe away the bad taste that Hitman: Absolution left in the mouths of most fans?

Turns out, all of the above could be answered with a resounding "yes." It’s impossible to sum up what makes this game so great in such a short span, as everything from the gameplay mechanics to the level of freedom and exploration are not only best in the series, but best in class. There has never been a Hitman game that lived up to the potential of the game’s underlying concepts until now. Just one look at the litany of insane challenges and objectives, from destroying a virus in an underground lair to pretending to be a scarecrow before using a 3D-printed face to escape from a terrorist training ground, should show how amazing and insane this game is. It's refined enough to make newcomers feel welcome while deep enough for veterans to feel fulfilled, and is the best game of 2016.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Wyclef Jean Shares His Wisdom and Reminisces About 2016

2016-12-21T08:00:00.000Z

Wyclef Jean may have taken a step off the spotlight following 2010's If I Were President: My Haitian Experience. However, he's kept busy on the small screen as well as attempting to run for president in Haiti during the 2010 election. And while he's still working on non-musical endeavors, he's back on the mic and is set to release his new EP, J'ouvert, on January 27.

"J’ouvert is the carnival," he tells Myspace. "The start of the carnival is called the J’ouvert. I feel like the next wave is about to come for me, and with this wave it’s all about new talent."

He recently dropped the new single off the EP, "I Swear." Young Thug is featured on the track, who's a fan of Wyclef's and even has a song named after him. "Thugger was working on a mixtape, and he named one of his songs after me," he explains. "He also featured me on the mixtape on a song called 'Kanye West.' The vibes were so strong after he played me some more material and I could feel his pure songwriter style. I understood how talented this young man is and I felt 'I Swear' would be a great way for us to do something different, something fresh and new."

With so many hit songs under his belt, it only seemed natural to ask Wyclef what made for a good track. And with fervor, he responded by saying, "The elements of a hit song ... is an incredible Cast!!!!! That's believable to the public about what they are singing ... if it's conviction!! We got one!"

Wyclef also took a look back on the year that just past and answered our 20 Questions for 2016. Find out what his hits and misses were below.

2016 Moment You'd Rather Forget: Hurricane in Haiti

Best Gig You Played of 2016: Brooklyn Bowl [because it was] the first show in Brooklyn in 10 years.

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over: Concert in Vegas. I fell trying to do a crowd dive. LOL.

Best Concert You Saw in 2016: 0

Most Awkward Show You Watched in 2016: None.

Artist on High Rotation in 2016: Chance the Rapper

2016 LP You'd Like a Refund For: None

2016 Movie You'd Watch Over and Over: True Romance

2016 Movie You Wish You Waited for on Netflix: NONE

TV Show You Binged on While on The Road This Year: Game of Thrones

TV Show You Wouldn't Mind Seeing Cancelled Next Year: NONE

Oddest Touring Experience of 2016: Didn't have one.

Go-to Meal on the Road: Steak and veggies

Artist Who Should Be on Our 2017 Playlist: Farina

Best Fan Gift 2016: Painting of myself

Favorite Track to Cover on Musical.ly: Wu-Tang Clan's "Protect Ya Neck."

Best Advice You Got in 2016: Focus on the music

Plans for 2017: Carnival 3 Album

If You Became President in 2017, first order of business: Mandate all great bands reunite.

2017 New Year's Resolution: I want to continue to bond more with my daughter and spend as much time as I can with her.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

Watch Mark Cuban Get Absolutely Destroyed By a Sensational Kid Rival at a Basketball Game

2016-12-20T21:41:57.781Z

While Mark Cuban wears many hats, one of his most visible is that of Dallas Mavericks owner, where he’s a familiar sight sitting court side.

However, Cuban’s status as a team owner didn’t prevent him from getting owned by a precocious rival fan during a game last Friday against the Utah Jazz.

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During the game, the pint-sized basketball enthusiast extended his hand for a high-five from Cuban, pulling it back to execute a dab (the viral dance move made popular by the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton) just as Cuban went to high-five him. Cuban, for his part, took it in stride and proceeded to pretend to sneeze on the small child’s jersey because game recognizes game.

Watch the dab in its entirety below.

Watch Sarah Paulson Explain How She Can’t Help Fangirling Over Rihanna

My kiddo dabbing Mark Cuban at the jazz game last night. 😂😂😂 lookout shark tank 😆just joking around 👍 #dab #dabbing #markcuban #utahjazz #hilarious #sharktank #dallasmavericks #espn #topten #nottopten #sportscenter @gavin_dosch #theellenshow

A video posted by DOSCH & CLARY REAL ESTATE 🇺🇸 (@dosch_clary_real_estate) on Dec 17, 2016 at 2:47pm PST

RIP Mark Cuban. Cause of death: dabbed on pic.twitter.com/iDoCQ5oTbD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 19, 2016

The best heckler I've ever run into at a game ... https://t.co/2Im94jqxaf
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) December 19, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Single Biggest Dating Day of the Year Is Coming Soon

2016-12-20T21:34:50.107Z

The biggest day for dating in 2017 falls on New Year’s Day, according to the dating app Hinge.

Hinge said it predicts a surge in new users on Jan. 1, citing search trends and days when the app is most popular.

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Google Trends data from the first week of January, dating back to 2012, shows that the search term “dating” peaks during the first week of the new year. For Hinge, New Year’s Day 2016 saw a 35% spike in new users. In 2015, the app saw a 22% spike and a 64% increase in phone numbers exchanged among users.

Next year, the New Year’s bump has an added bonus for Hinge: the holiday falls on a Sunday, the most popular day for app users seeking a connection to have a conversation. Hinge found that on Sundays, people have a 36% higher response rate to messages and 20% more conversations.

Watch Mark Cuban Get Absolutely Destroyed By a Sensational Kid Rival at a Basketball Game

As the Sunday trend collides with New Year’s Day, Hinge predicts people will join the service at three times the normal rate. For those seeking new love in the new year, Hinge advises peppering your profile with confessions, self-deprecation and revelations of a spontaneous side.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Let’s Talk About Grand Moff Tarkin in Rogue One

2016-12-20T21:25:55.322Z

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Rogue One.

Special effects are awesome. The waves in Moana looked gorgeous. The Ancient One’s ability to bend cities in half in Doctor Strange was mind-blowing. This year’s Jungle Book looked like it was shot in the wild, not downtown L.A. All those feats came from the filmmakers at Disney, the same studio that’s also responsible for Rogue One. But in the latest Star Wars film, director Gareth Edwards and his team used them to reanimate two characters from the original trilogy. The results are far from awesome. They’re eerie.

Rogue One Droid K-2SO Is Taking the Star Wars World By Storm

Let’s begin with Grand Moff Tarkin. Peter Cushing, who played the villain in the original series, passed away in 1994. The creators of Rogue One resurrected him through a combination of motion-capture technology and CGI. Actor Guy Henry performed the role, and the special effects crew digitally replaced his face with Peter Cushing’s afterward. (The performance isn’t based on old footage, but is akin to what actor Andy Serkis did in Planet of the Apes, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, except with a human face instead of that of a creature.)

The figure that emerges looks like someone out of The Polar Express, which would be cool if this movie was The Polar Express. It is not. That’s largely because the re-animated Tarkin is surrounded by real actors. As a result, the effect ends up showing the limitations of the technology. It’s also distracting: As you ponder what, exactly, is off about this not-human-enough figure—something in the facial movements—you begin to lose track of the plot.

Bringing back the dead is one thing. Making the living appear younger is another. Which is exactly what the filmmakers did with Princess Leia at Rogue One‘s climax. There was something particularly plastic about this version of the young Carrie Fisher—so smooth and so perfect it couldn’t be real—that pulled me out of the moment. (This is becoming old hat in Hollywood. Think: Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Jeff Bridges in Tron.)

I wasn’t alone in my visceral reaction. In the screening I attended, the audience let out guffaws and barks of confusion at the first flash of both Tarkin and Leia. Not to mention the reaction on social media:

Oh cool it's the back of Tarkin's head what a nice respectful nod to the WAIT NO NO NO STOP OH GOD DON'T
— Dan Cassaro (@Dan_Cassaro) December 19, 2016

What's that? The CGI characters in #RogueOne were distracting?

Don't know what you're Tarkin about...
— Bono Fett (@jonofwend) December 18, 2016

There's a CGI of Peter Cushing in Rogue One. He's constantly breakdancing
— MKupperman (@MKupperman) December 16, 2016

See Orlando Bloom’s Epic Behind-the-Scenes Lord of the Rings Throwback Photos

Sure, one could argue both of these technological flourishes were necessary to the plot of Rogue One, which takes place right before the events of ANew Hope. Or that the filmmakers felt they needed to offer enough callbacks to the originals to sell tickets. But there were obvious ways to make Tarkin less essential to the plot—or to show his reflection or just the back of his head. But instead I was left with uncomfortable questions, like: Which is worse for the future of Hollywood, resurrecting the dead or making actresses of a certain age appear as CGI versions of their younger selves? And if, technologically, we could offer eternal life to actors through CGI, should we?

When it comes to Star Wars, raising these kinds of questions is particularly irksome. After all, what many people like about the original films is how gritty and real their universe looks. When J.J. Abrams created The Force Awakens, he made a point of using as many real-life sets, props, and creatures as possible. Rogue One mimics that aesthetic—save Tarkin and Leia. Perhaps some things are better left in the past.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen to Tsutro's "Run" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-20T18:01:49.291Z

The holiday rush making you feel a little sluggish? Tsutro has got the best medicine for that: his new song, "Run." Featuring sounds from Sonny Cleveland, the track is so upbeat and bubbly that it'll have you bouncing off the walls in no time. Lyrically straightforward, but you won't mind that because it's all in the tropical synths that are dripping on the tune.

"When approaching 'Run,' I really wanted the Sonny Cleveland samples to take center stage," Tsutro, born Jacob Montague, tells Myspace. "There is so much energy and nuance in those vocals that the instrumentation and production were able to stay pretty minimal while still having the song feel big and upbeat."

The San Francisco act also adds, "There's definitely a unique magic when you take a collagist approach to song crafting. When you’re not in the same room writing together, it allows you to be informed strictly by what you see in someone else's art. You get to share what they're saying in a new light, and you end up saying something of your own in the process."

Listen to the track below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Fifth Harmony and Camila Cabello's Statements Reveal Longtime Issues in Group

2016-12-20T17:48:06.951Z

When some thought that Camila Cebello's departure from Fifth Harmony was somewhat amicable, the pop group's latest response to the singer's statement yesterday (December 19) conveys that the group has had internal tension for some time.

After Fifth Harmony revealed that Camila was leaving, she later responded saying that the girls knew that she was going solo and that she told them herself. You can read lengthy response below.

pic.twitter.com/e35U3tcTQ8
— Camila Cabello (@camilacabello97) December 19, 2016

However, Fifth Harmony wanted to set the record straight and wrote a long letter to their fans on Monday night (December 19) explaining what the "truth" is.

"We called for group meetings which she refused, we asked LA Reid and the label to step in and try to set meetings, which again, she refused. We even went as far as group counseling which she did not show up to. So no, after months of rejection from her and her team, these supposed lengthy conversation in fact never happened, although we pleaded..." the letter, which you read in full below, said.

pic.twitter.com/SOrXxQnXr9
— Fifth Harmony (@FifthHarmony) December 20, 2016

There is a silver lining to this though, because both entities plan to put out music in near future. And in the end, isn't that what matters?

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Tupac Shakur to Be Inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

2016-12-20T17:36:42.980Z

Tupac Shakur would hardly ever be categorized as rock and roll. However, the late rapper has been included in the 2017 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. And with past years inducting Run-DMC, Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, Tupac will fit right in. Aside from their contributions to music, an act's first recording needs to be at least 25 years old to be considered.

The other inductess include Joan Baez, Journey, Pearl Jam, Yes and Electric Light Orchestra. Nile Rodgers of Chic will also be honored with an Award for Musical Excellence.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 7, 2017, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It will be filmed and aired on HBO at a later date.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Denzel Washington and Jimmy Fallon Dramatically Read Greeting Cards

2016-12-20T17:31:40.903Z

If you thought Denzel Washington laid on the drama on his Golden Globe-nominated performance in Fences, the Academy Award-winning actor took things to new heights on The Late Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night. Because of Denzel's historic roles, Jimmy challenged him to bring that to greeting card reading. And although some might think this could be below him, Denzel was down. Not only did he change his voice while reading the silliest of cards, he brought in the most outlandish movements we've seen the longtime actor put down on stage. With reading glasses, tears and even some singing, you'll never be able to look at another Hallmark card the same way again.

Watch the video below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

FØRD Will Take You to Joyful “Oblivion” and Back

2016-12-20T17:30:00.000Z

FØRD may only be 18 years old but these days producer have to start early — just look at Martin Garrix, who’s officially the No. 1 DJ in the world at the tender age of 20. FØRD comes from Byron Bay, Australia, which makes it easier to understand why his breakthrough single was called “The Pier” — the guy clearly loves the beach life. And with his career on the rise, we predict tons of beach parties coming his way.

Hometown/Homebase? Bondi Beach New South Wales, Australia

What’s the story behind your stage name?

FORD is my actual name. I put the slash in it to make it stand out.

How would you describe your music to a stranger at a house party?

Emotional electronic with a hip-hop edge

The best thing that happened to you in 2016 was…

I officially released my first track “Take You Down” ft. Grace Hughes. This was huge because it allowed me to finally share my music with the world (without private links!). To see it gain support from blog and radio was really great.

What’s the best thing to do on the pier?

People watching

A perfect party is…

For me it's simple and all about the music. I love high energy environments, cool people, good vibes.

The most outrageous item of clothing in your wardrobe is…

I have these pretty out there pants that have a really dope texture and white and black zig zag lines running down them.

Working during the day or working during the night?

I'm not too fussed honestly. It can really go either way, though I tend to get my best ideas at night.

Once I was in the studio with this other producer, and we’d been working on this track from about 11am. We decided to call it at around 1am as the track wasn’t really coming together. We chilled for a bit, I packed up my gear and was about to call an Uber but we decided to listen back to it one more time, and this new idea just hit us. We both gave each other the same look, opened up the session and kept going into the next morning until it was finished.

What’s the last TV show you binge watched?

Mr. Robot.

5 fast fun facts about you. Go!

My stage name is my actual name.
I changed schools four times in four years.
When I was younger I was really into Michael Jackson and learned all of his dance moves.
I used to play the drums and only played Metallica.
My 13-year-old brother just started learning how to produce music.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

5 Reasons 'Rogue One' Ain't Your Parents' Star Wars Movie

2016-12-20T17:07:46.518Z

Full disclosure: I’ve never been that big of a fan of Star Wars. Sure, I think the concepts and characters presented in the films are intriguing and interesting, but my thoughts on the subject have never gone much further that: “Oh, laser swords are pretty fucking sweet.” I’ve never lionized the movies as anything other than just movies. All of that being said, I can say that Rogue One is A) Not for kids and B) probably my favorite Star Wars film. Here's 5 reasons why this movie changes the tone and tenor of the Star Wars Universe (including spoilers out the ass, so read on at your own peril).

Someone Finally Decided to Tell a Different Story

If we’re all being honest with ourselves, we can say that we never really needed Episodes I-III. The story of how Darth Vader came to be is not one we have to understand in order to enjoy the story of Episodes IV-VI. All we needed to know is that he was once a Jedi who fell to the Dark Side. We didn’t need George Lucas shoehorning in characters that shouldn’t know each other in the intervening years before Luke was born. Over and over again, for 30-plus years we’ve been watching the story of the whiny, christ-like Skywalker clan. It was about time we saw what the rest of the universe looked like.

It’s not a pretty place.

Rogue One doesn’t explore an overly drawn out backstory. It’s not rehashing yet another side quest of The Jedis. Yes, Rogue One does tie us into the rest of the Star Wars Universe, but in new and exciting ways. This is Tears of the Sun as told through the lens of Star Wars. There are no fluffy Ewoks to be seen here. For the first time in a Star Wars movie, we actually see what war is like in an advanced, space faring, reality. And it’s terrifying.

War. Is. Hell.

We all know what war looks like here on earth. We kinda, sorta, know what war looks like in the Star Wars Universe, but this is the first time that we’ve really seen it up close. When Alderaan was destroyed it was like watching a film of the Hiroshima bombing from the flight deck of the Enola Gay. You understand what happened, you can see it with your own eyes, but you can not truly appreciate the human toll that it takes. Your brain can’t conceive of the destructive power of a weapon of that magnitude. Rogue One shows you. It shows you up close and personal exactly what kind of hell can be brought down on your minuscule, human ass.

This is how ants feel under a magnifying glass

It’s not just the toll of the super weapon of the Empire. War is people, StormTroopers and Rebels alike. The fighting in this movie isn’t just blasters and anonymous deaths. This is up close and personal warfare. No Star Wars movie has ever truly embraced the word “war” like Rogue One has. Here we see soldier vs soldier; person vs person and the horrible effect that it takes on the people on both sides of the war. The rebels may have won a major victory by destroying the original Death Star — but here we see the cost and whether it’s all worth it.

Plot Holes Are Filled In

There have always been two large bones of contention for me in the reality of the Star Wars Universe. The first being, if you’re going to breed, or clone, or genetically manipulate an entire species to be your foot soldiers in a never ending, intergalactic war, maybe you shouldn’t make them all mindless idiots incapable of flushing a toilet without written instructions. Well now we know that The Empire did have elite death squads that were total badasses...that they blew the fuck up in an attempt to keep The Death Star plans secret. Honestly, these guys are the worst at contingency planning.

Total badasses - until the planet they’re on blows up

The flaw in the Death Star is intentional and planted there by a man who despised the Empire. This answers almost every pop-culture article about the weakness of the greatest sci-fi weapons ever conceived. How could a group that could build a mechanical moon capable of shooting a planet out of the sky miss such a simple flaw? What kind of engineer could design a system with such an obvious weakness? Apparently, their lead architect was there under protest and put a mechanical poop chute into the plans with hopes that the rebels would fire something up it, all because they took him from his daughter. That’s...love? I guess?

Sacrifice

Earlier I equated this Star Wars film to another great war movie: Tears of the Sun. That, just like this film, is about the sacrifice that it takes in order to win a conflict. Reality isn’t like action movies. Our heroes don’t always have things go their way. They don’t always get to have the happy ending. War isn’t a pretty thing, and this movie encapsulates that in a way that no other Star Wars movie ever has. Han, Leia and the rest were just straight up goddamned LUCKY that they lasted as long as they have.

This is actually the reason that this is the first Star Wars film I’m not ready to let my kids watch. I always teach my kids that, no matter what, the good guys always win. Well, war doesn’t jibe with that. The good guys do all of the right things but they still end up losing. They fight the power of the great and mighty bad men, do all of the right things and, in the end, sacrifice themselves for the greater cause. Which brings me to the last reason this is my favorite Star Wars film.

(HUGE SPOILER IN NEXT PAGE!)

Everyone Dies

Seriously. Straight up fucking DIES. Everyone.

Since this film takes place immediately before Episode IV, we’ve already had four sequels to this film. We know that we never meet any of the characters from this story in the future. We know that their part of the Star Wars canon is complete, in this one film and, because of that, it’s completely fine to just obliterate the shit out of them for the sake of a very real war film.

Buncha cool ass dead people

This film actually has some of the most interesting characters that Star Wars has ever presented. They’re far more flushed out than anyone we meet in A New Hope. These are the people that are the backbone of the actual rebellion. It’s not about people like the Princess, or the unwilling savior — the war against The Empire is about people. People willing to make sacrifices. People who believe in the cause so much that they are willing to die in order to advance it. We never see these people again in any of the films, but we know that their sacrifice was worth it because the information that they get off the planet is what allows Luke to destroy the Death Star. They never get to witness it though because, like actual war, sometimes our heroes die before they get to see the real difference their sacrifice made.

And you thought The Empire was a downer...

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

8 Pop Punk Bands to Look Out For in 2017

2016-12-20T08:00:00.000Z

Pop punk is one of the few genres of music that seemed to come and go, and yet it’s been here all along. The style had a big moment over a decade ago, when artists like Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Simple Plan and a whole host of others broke into the mainstream in a major way, charting big hits and selling millions of albums. The good times didn’t last long, and now many of those same chart-toppers have a cache to their names that makes them feel somewhat dated.

That may be the case, but pop punk didn’t die with the rise of electronic music, and in fact, it’s still growing. There is an incredible amount of great pop punk music out there these days, and new bands are forming all the time. If you haven’t investigated the scene in a few years, here are 8 acts that you’ll want to listen to for all of the coming year.

Waterparks

This band might be the most exciting new name in pop punk, and they are absolutely one to watch for not just 2017, but years to come. They’re certainly talented enough to make a name for themselves, but they also have some powerful forces at work for their benefit. The group is managed by the two brothers from Good Charlotte (Benji and Joel Madden), who have also been helping out when it comes to producing duties.

Seaway

The Canadian rockers have been around for a few years now, but they are poised to become even bigger with the new year. Their output in the past few years has been impressive, and nobody can claim that the hard work they’ve put in recording and touring hasn’t paid off, as they have shared a stage with some of the coolest established names in the genre. Seaway’s last album, 2015’s Colour Blind, features the song “Best Mistake,” which has to be the most pop punk title ever, and it’ll get you excited for a potential album coming in 2017.

We Were Sharks

One listen to “Bridge Burner” should tip you off that this band isn’t into relaxed, chill pop punk, instead opting for a much more furious style of guitar playing. This is the kind of music you headbang and possibly mosh to at a show, if that’s your thing. Everything about this sound is fast and exciting, and there is more than enough room for an act like this in the genre.

Grayscale

One of the things that I personally find most exciting about Grayscale is how you can hear their raw talent. It’s clear they aren’t a polished act backed by a big recording budget and a decorated producer, but that doesn’t make the music any less wonderful. The band has room to grow and mature, and they are the type of act where it will be fun to follow them on what is sure to be an upwards trajectory.

Sleep On It

This Chicago-based band has a look that makes one think hardcore and a sound that could easily be adopted by radio across the country if they got the right push. The group, whose music is exceptionally melodic and catchy as hell from the get-go, has been together for a handful of years already, and in that time they’ve accrued a sizable fanbase that is dedicated to them and their craft. Thankfully, they don’t take things too seriously — if you don’t believe me, check out the video for “Unspoken” above.

Broadside

I don’t know about you, but I have a soft spot for an attractive man that can scream pop punk to me, and that’s one of the many things that Broadside has going for it. The band hails from Virginia, which has been known to produce both lovers and some of the best pop punk acts the world has ever heard, so they have some big shoes to fill. Thankfully, a quick listen to any of their singles should go to show that their brand of the style is up to par.

As It Is

Already an established name in the pop punk world, As It Is still has a lot of room to grow into a leading role, which seems very possible for the band. The music is great, the choruses are powerful...the only thing you might need to get used to is Patty Walter’s vocal style, which is unlike anything you’ve probably heard. It’s light, thin, but the man can carry a tune when he needs to, and with the rough screaming of his bandmates, it all works out.

Forever Came Calling

What started a decade ago as a cover band has now become one of the more respected names in pop punk, and for good reason. The group has experienced many lineup changes over the years, with band members coming and going, but somehow the music hasn’t changed too much. Ten years in, the music is just as massive as ever, and it seems to be getting better with time. It’s been a little while since some new music was shared, so 2017 could see the band drop their best material yet (no pressure guys).

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

DMC Reflects on Walking His Way, Releasing a Book & His Happy Healthy Hip-Hop 2016

2016-12-20T08:00:00.000Z

This past weekend, DMC of iconic rap group Run-DMC had a cameo on Saturday Night Live for the celebrated “Jingle Barack” parody of his original iconic Christmas jam “Christmas in Hollis.” It caps off a giant year for the MC from St. John’s University, who also put out a book Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide, was honored with a lifetime achievement Grammy, celebrated a decade of helping foster children with his Felix Organization, recorded new music, took part in some major clothing releases and hosted some well received events.

The King of Rock had quite a lot to look back on fondly for his 2016, and we did it in 20 Questions.

My Best Moment of 2016: I got a chance to become a friend and work with Tim Armstrong of Rancid. Just being around this cat is so fulfilling! Great spirit, and the record he gave me was awesome.

My Most Frustrating Moment of 2016: Having to explain to people why I didn’t want a lifetime achievement Grammy. Don’t give me the Lifetime Achievement Award until I’m finished putting my music out. But, then I realized I didn’t have to explain nothing.

How I first found out I was getting a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award: Last year, Run’s manager told my manager that the Grammys want to give us a lifetime achievement award. I [felt] that’s fine and dandy, but not now, I’m not ready for that. A couple months after that, [my manager] told me to look in the paper that said “Run-DMC to receive Lifetime Achievement Award.” Maybe in 2025 I’d be open to that, but I’ve been working on so many things, I wasn’t really open to that.

Most memorable fan interaction of 2016: At a Comic Con I was sitting at my booth with my book, and this little 12-year-old white kid comes over, came up and said “Oh shit! Timmy, come here, it’s the fucking King of Rock! The King of Rock is here at the convention!” It was the cutest, most incredible moment. What caught me was, it wasn’t “DMC” it was “the mother-fucking King of Rock.”

This year rap pioneer Blowfly died. I remember him from: in 1984, before the Run-DMC album was out, someone was playing me him and he was a rapper even before they called it “rap.” I was really young and wondered “Did Kurtis Blow bite his name from Blowfly?”

The biggest difference between touring a book and an album is: A book is more respectable and accepted by the people. When we’re promoting music, we try to convince people to buy something they might not want to buy. The book, you make it, sit it on the table, and people will come over and cautiously move their left hand to start peaking in it. Music you force on people, there’s an attractive freedom with a book.

My favorite response to my book Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide was: “Yo, your book did for me what 20 years of therapy couldn’t do.”

This year I also co-hosted a hip-hop photography exhibit. The best hip-hop photo I saw this year was: Jay Z with a tracksuit on, and all the gold looking like Slick Rick. That shows that this dude is really hip-hop.

My favorite song I recorded this year was: a song with Joan Jett. We did a remake of her song “Reality Mentality” and it only took us one day!

The most challenging collaboration to organize this year was: Sum-41. Soon as we started the collaboration, they had to go on the road. They had a three day window in April, but I wasn’t able to get to LA, then they’ve been on the road forever.

With Raising Hell turning 30 this year, the one thing about that album nobody asks me about is: why we were able to make such a perfect album. When we talk about what’s on it, it’s just the fact that we did it. Nobody asks why were were able to pull it off with so many people also on the rise. We had LL Cool J breathing down our neck, KRS-ONE devouring microphones, Public Enemy, so many singles were dropping left and right, so it was survive or die. Slick Rick’s “La-Di-Da-Di” was everywhere, so when we recorded “Perfection,” we were trying to be Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, but with a drummer.

The Album I couldn't stop playing in 2016: AC/DC’s Back in Black. It’s weird. About four or five years ago I fell in love with “You Shook Me All Night Long.” I listen to classic rock radio and started hearing “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” I’m going to every mom-and-pop around the world looking for “…Pollution,” and after four or five months I can’t find which AC/DC record has it. A month and a half ago I get discouraged, I pick [Back in Black] up and what track is #10? “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.”

When not making music in 2016, I spent the most time: sitting and thinking of what music I can make and sitting around eating apple pie and sweets. That’s why I go to the gym, that’s all I eat.

The best comic I read this year was: an issue of The Uncanny Avengers with the old ass Captain America, and Deadpool and Spider-Man going at it. Spider-Man don’t like Deadpool, and Spider-Man’s really jealous because Deadpool is funnier than him.

The Hardest Part About Being a Rapper Today in New York City in 2016 is: the one incident where the police commissioner made a statement that all rappers are thugs.

My Proudest Moment Helping Children with the Felix Organization this year on it’s 10th anniversary was: knowing we’re about to attack City Hall and Capitol Hill, and get our kids within the foster care community get change that our leaders over the past 100 years haven’t been able to get done.

If someone's celebrating Christmas in Hollis this year, I most recommend they check out: 205th Street, across the street from the Park, go check out the Jam-Master Jay Mural. Everyone who comes in who is a fan of hip-hop has to take a picture of it. Then you’ve completed your hip-hop pilgrimage.

One thing I feel everyone should do to better their own mental health is: Wake up in the morning and do the fun thing you’ve always wanted to do, or the fun thing you stopped doing because you’re an adult.

When I first saw the Run-DMC logo incorporated with so many sports teams this year through the deal with Fanatics, I was most struck by: being told our logo was as iconic as McDonald’s or Coca-Cola.

The main goals for DMC to have completed in 2017 by this time next year are: [Getting] the script for the movie and the play about my life story [finished], and more Camp Felixs.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

5 Guidelines for Giving the Perfect Tattoo Gift

2016-12-20T08:00:00.000Z

So you forgot to get a gift and now you have to come up with something at the last minute. It happens to the best of us.

Unfortunately, you don't know too much about the receiver of the gift other than the fact that they really like tattoos. You're in luck then, because we're here to bail you out and find you some of the best presents in any price range that you can buy for that special ink lover in your life.

Here are five presents that the tattooed folk in your life will appreciate way more than that Visa gift card you were about to get them.

Tattoo Gift Cards

A photo posted by Jeremiah Barba (@jeremiahbarba) on Dec 6, 2016 at 2:29pm PST

Although some ingrates might say that gift certificates and cards aren't really gifts, they are when they're for an awesome tattoo. Many top-notch tattooers and shops offer discounts and deals on gift certificates leading up to the holidays, so you can often even get some extra money on one. Considering the price of a quality tattoo, anyone would appreciate a little assistance paying for their next session (even if it only covers an hour's worth of work).

If you're really feeling like going above and beyond, feel free to go as far as scheduling them an appointment (that they'll actually able to make) and/or putting down a deposit as part of the gift. It's a lot more work, but that extra thought and time spent on the gift will make it look like you didn't just think of it at the last minute. Of course, it's helpful to find out which tattoo artist/shop the certificate's recipient prefers, but most collectors wouldn't turn down a free session at a reputable shop even if it wasn't their favorite one.

Tattoo Movies

Sure, you could probably just go to your local Best Buy and get a season of Ink Master on DVD, but for the real tattoo collectors out there, there are far better cinematic gifts to be had (and thanks to the internet, they're really not any harder to find). Whether it's the more Chicano-themed Tattoo Nation, a collection of Sullen Art Collective's Tattoo Timelapse videos or documentaries on legendary artists like Ed Hardy (Tattoo the World) or Sailor Jerry (Hori Smoku), there are plenty of solid tattoo history and culture videos available on DVD and Blu Ray. Between sites like Amazon and even your local used books/movies/records stores, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding them, and they'll generally run you less than $20.

Flash Books/Art Prints

A photo posted by C. (@celiabmtn) on Sep 5, 2016 at 7:17am PDT

On the most basic of levels, tattoos are still all about the art. What better way to celebrate the art of tattooing than to buy a piece (or a collection) of it as a gift for a tattoo aficionado? Although many authorized flash books from famous tattooers like Owen Jensen and Sailor Jerry will go for hundreds of dollars after they sell out of the very limited amounts printed semi-regularly by the original companies, there are plenty of flash books available all over the interwebs ranging from around $10 to $50 depending on the artists, size, quality, and other variables.

Alternatively, you can always just stop by a shop (or a few) and see if any of the local artists have prints for sale. Hell, even if they don't have any readily available, an artist going through a slow period with bills to pay may sell you a flash sheet or painting straight off the wall if it'll make their wallet a little heavier.

Aftercare Supplies

A photo posted by INK-EEZE (@inkeeze) on Nov 24, 2016 at 9:55am PST

Once you have a tattoo, it's kind of important to take care of that tattoo. Everyone has their own ways to heal and maintain tattoos, and anyone who has more than a few probably knows what works best for them. However, with companies continually putting out new and improved products, there's no reason not to try the latest and greatest options. From bandages and ointments to sunscreen and lotions, there are plenty of choices when it comes to buying aftercare products, and there's enough variety to fit just about any price range.

Anything Other Than a Tattoo Machine Kit

A photo posted by HER (@thecaramelhoney) on Nov 11, 2016 at 1:05pm PST

Seriously, no matter how much someone you know wants to tattoo (or learn to tattoo), don't just randomly buy them a tattoo machine. It's dangerous and incredibly stupid. If they're really serious, offer to help them find a legitimate apprenticeship in a good shop as part of their present. They'll thank you in the years to come.

Get your tattoo fix every day by visiting out Tattoosday page.

A Guide to Who Mariah Carey Does and Doesn’t Know Featuring Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Beyoncé

2016-12-19T20:12:35.062Z

This holiday season, Mariah Carey’s shade is the gift that keeps on giving.

The elusive chanteuse and shameless star of Mariah’s World was responsible for some very festive moments during Watch What Happens Live! — including spiking Andy Cohen’s hot chocolate and requesting grooming for her baby hairs — but nothing could top her antics while playing a game that Cohen created titled, “Do You Know Her?”

Fifth Harmony Is Now Fourth Harmony After Camila Cabello Left the Group

The game, a light-hearted riff on the ubiquitous time she said she “doesn’t know” J. Lo, consisted of Mariah gamely revealing whether or not she knew many of the pop stars of the moment. Needless to say, shade was thrown recklessly and unabashedly, no doubt bringing joy and delight to her fans.

On Lady Gaga: “She came to my show…she was very sweet and I enjoyed the moment.”

On Taylor Swift: “Very nice girl. Met her once, she was really sweet. She came up to me.”

On Madonna: “Never had a conversation with her.”

On Katy Perry: “Nice girl, she came to my show as well.”

On Britney Spears: “I LOVE Britney Spears.”

On Miley Cyrus: “I think we met in a bathroom. I don’t know.”

However her other responses revealed she didn’t have much to say about Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato; Grande has often been compared to a young Mariah Carey, while Lovato has even said that Grande was better than Carey and put her on blast for being “nasty” to J. Lo.

On Ariana Grande: “No.”

On Demi Lovato: “I don’t know her either, and so I wouldn’t say anything to her.

On Demi Lovato’s comments about her: “She should come up, introduce herself to me, say here’s my opinion, ‘What do you think about it?’ That’s how you handle s—t, okay?”

There’s one person in entertainment, however, that Carey only has respect for, and that’s Queen Bey.

On Beyoncé: “We’re friends. I think she’s one of the most talented women out there and I just love her.”

Here’s Macaulay Culkin Getting a Pedicure From His Goddaughter Paris Jackson

Watch the full clips below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Here’s Macaulay Culkin Getting a Pedicure From His Goddaughter Paris Jackson

2016-12-19T20:01:03.095Z

This holiday season, Macaulay Culkin is staying home and paying careful attention to his grooming — beginning with his toes.

Watch Beyoncé Have Herself a Very Beyoncé Christmas Around a ‘Lemonade’-Themed Christmas Tree

Culkin, who’s best known for his turn as the long suffering Kevin McCallister in the Home Alone franchise, got a DIY pedicure from his goddaughter Paris Jackson in what appears to be a makeshift home spa according to an Instagram posted by Jackson.

In the image, we can see that Culkin opted for a cheery bright red color for his toes, perfect for holiday festivities. Jackson’s caption jokes that she “paints hipsters toenails for a living.”

Shia LaBeouf Helped People Get Their Feelings About 2016 Stress Out

See the original Instagram below.

model? nah i paint hipsters toenails for a living.

A photo posted by Paris-Michael K. Jackson (@parisjackson) on Dec 17, 2016 at 6:14pm PST

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Sophie Turner Hints at Sansa’s Fate in Game of Thrones Season 7: ‘There Is a Dark Side to Her’

2016-12-19T19:51:11.281Z

When Game of Thrones viewers last saw Sansa Stark, she seemed to be regretting her decision to allow Jon Snow to be named King in the North while she sat quietly at his side. After turning the tide of the Battle of the Bastards by arriving in the knick of time with the Knights of the Vale, the eldest Stark daughter shared a suspicious look with Littlefinger as her half brother-turned-cousin accepted his new title.

Watch the Ominous Teaser Trailer for Blade Runner 2049

Now, Sophie Turner — who plays Sansa — has spoken to Vulture about what fans can expect from her character when the HBO drama returns for its seventh season.

"At the end of the season, Sansa gets a taste of power — and it’s the first time that she’s had that ever, really. She feels like it’s deserved because she did so much for Jon and the North, so when she saves the day and doesn’t get any recognition for it, it was like she had that first taste of power and then was immediately stripped of it. She was stripped of the respect that she really feels she deserves. She was trying to give her input to Jon and trying to be a collaborative leader, but it’s difficult when it’s a patriarchy and when there’s sexism. It would be a real adjustment for Jon to listen to her and do what she says. So she was looking to Littlefinger like, oh, you’re right. Maybe that pretty picture you painted of me on the throne and you by my side isn’t such a bad one."

A Guide to Who Mariah Carey Does and Doesn’t Know Featuring Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and Beyoncé

The 20-year-old actress went on to talk about what the final scene of the ninth episode — a sequence in which she watched happily while her former husband Ramsay Bolton was eaten alive by his dogs — means for Sansa going forward.

"There’s the smile as well, her walking away after killing Ramsay. That’s also quite interesting. You wonder if it’s just a smile because it’s her first kill, because this man is out of her life, or whether she’s going to get a taste for it…Now it’s really starting to feel like there is a dark side to her. She’s playing the game now, and very ruthlessly. When she wants something, she’s going to go out and get it."

Watch People the Kangaroo's "The Death of You" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-19T18:26:33.387Z

People the Kangaroo get a real messy in their latest visual for "The Death of You." Playing paint, matches and stuffed monkeys on their backs, the electro pop trio go all the way in this visually stimulating clip, which they actually filmed in reverse.

"We make music videos developed around a simple concept," bassist Gervais Maillard tells Myspace. "After our 'globe-trotting hand' video, this idea is a choreography performed in reverse and filmed in one shot. We wanted to create a surprising and constantly unfolding visual experience, by using bright colored paints and powders, original props, and creative editing. The pacing of the song guided our writing, and performing it in reverse was a really fun challenge that allowed us to create compelling visuals."

Despite the fun energy in the visual, the song goes a bit deeper into the human condition. "'The Death of You' describes the feeling of a person who has been heart broken and cannot open themselves up again," singer Alan Wurman explains. "It's the representation of what has become a norm in our society. The song talks about the link between love and sex, and the death of love when it becomes inaccessible. "

While the lyrical content is on the heavier side, you can't help but start moving to the discotheque beats. Watch the video below, and be sure to look out for their upcoming album, Wiki Generation, set to release in February 2017.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Tilda Swinton Continues to Piss People Off & Rob K and Blac Chyna Call It Quits

2016-12-19T18:23:04.817Z

While you were taking care of your last minute Christmas shopping or preparing for your cross-country flight to visit your family for the holidays, the world kept on turning. Doctor Strange caused some racial tension in Hollywood (again), CeeLo’s phone knocked him out (or did it?) and Blac Chyna may be having the wrath of Kris Jenner brought down on her sooner rather than later (and we’re not even touching on Zsa Zsa Gabor’s death or the apparent suicide in Miranda Cosgrove and Charlie Hunnam’s neighborhood).

Insincerity as an Artform

Tilda Swinton and Margaret Cho recently engaged in what was meant to be an undisclosed conversation regarding Swinton’s role in Marvel’s newest film, Doctor Strange. Swinton privately confided in Cho, whom she had never met in person, to discuss the uproar created in her casting as the film’s “Anceint One,” originally a Tibetan man in the comic books. Cho, who is of Chinese descent, informed Swinton that the issue went beyond Swinton’s support of racial diversity or the creation of legitimately strong, female lead characters in movies. Much like Scarlett Johannsen’s casting as the lead character in the upcoming adaptation of the Japanese manga, Ghost in the Shell, the dilemma lies with Hollywood’s decision to “whitewash” roles intended to be played by someone of Asian descent as a means of ensuring box office success, and the actors themselves not refusing them.

Unbeknownst to Swinton, Cho had grown displeased with their heart-to-heart. While on the TigerBelly podcast, the outspoken comedian brought up the confidential chat. "She said she didn't understand why people were so mad about Doctor Strange and she wanted to talk about it, and wanted to get my take on why all the Asian people were mad. [She] was like, ‘Could you please tell them…' I'm like, ‘Bitch, I can't tell them…I don't have a yellow phone under a cake dome.'" Swinton’s representative immediately released all of the email exchanges shared between the two women to prove Swinton’s continued sincerity over the subject matter. Nevertheless, Cho refused to take responsibility for slandering Swinton and her intentions, only stating that she believed she conveyed her opinions effectively.

Tilda Swinton sent us her email exchange with Margaret Cho about Doctor Strange, diversity, and whitewashing https://t.co/z8y5vM3a0X pic.twitter.com/fZlsxZ0IfI
— Jezebel (@Jezebel) December 16, 2016

CeeLo's Shockingly Poor Judgement

Leaked footage surfaced over the weekend showing CeeLo Green appearing to sustain injuries from what many believed was an exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phone. Considering the problematic device has been banned from all airlines due to risk of the battery spontaneously detonating, it was surprising to see the R&B singer continuing to use it despite the voluntary safety recall. The eclectic musician is seen seated in his studio and conversing on his mobile phone when it begins sparking and smoking, exploding against his face. Green is physically stunned, falling to the ground and remaining motionless for the duration of the video clip.

CeeLo Green's Samsung phone exploded while he was using it. pic.twitter.com/Uaex6IBboJ
— Hot Freestyle (@HotFreestyle) December 17, 2016

Unsure of what actually happened or the state of his health, concern began circulating in various forms of social media, eventually reaching The Voice judge himself. Green took to his Facebook page to issue an apology for the unnecessary confusion and to let everyone know that he was in perfect health. The alleged security tape being viewed by millions was really a hoax — a snippet of his upcoming music project, titled Gnarly Davidson.

A video posted by CeeLo Green (@ceelogreen) on Dec 17, 2016 at 8:23pm PST

Angela the Scammer

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna’s relationship finally crashed and burned this weekend, surprising almost no one. The twosome frequently put their rocky romance on display on social media and most notably on the first season of their E! Television Network show, Rob and Chyna. Arguments ranged anywhere from accusations of infidelity to Kardashian’s lack of ambition, and it was no secret that his sisters weren’t the biggest fans of Chyna due to her drama with the youngest sibling, Kylie Jenner. But the sole Kardashian male heir and his video vixen fiancé did their best to defy the odds, even moving into a new home together and preparing for the arrival of their daughter, Dream.

#robkardashian says #blacchyna left him

A video posted by Baller Alert (@balleralert) on Dec 17, 2016 at 5:02pm PST

The way that Chyna chose to end the brief affair, however, caught everyone off guard. In a lengthy video post on Kardashian’s personal Instagram account, the sock mogul claims that Chyna left him without warning and kidnapped their daughter. He pans around the living room of the house he and his fiancé recently decided to rent from Kylie. All of the furniture is gone and he tearfully confesses to discovering his future wife’s was plans to leave him all along, scheming with friends and flirting with other famous men, such as Young Thug and Jaden Smith. Chyna resurfaced to share her side of the situation on Instagram as well, claiming that she left Kardashian for being “lazy, fat and insecure,” and for his verbally abusive ways. Despite the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate situation, we feel for Rob. No doubt the Kardashian-Jenner is somewhere celebrating dodging that bullet, though.

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

PINS Hones Edgy Sound on 'Wild Nights'

2016-12-19T18:09:55.726Z

Manchester five-piece PINS have had a big year! Their second album, Wild Nights, came out in June — a disc that further hones their edgy and melodic indie sound over its 11 tracks, providing a great intersection between punk and pop. The group has been on the road across Europe and the States in support of it throughout the year, touring with the likes of the Subways, as well as headlining on their own. Fresh off a new Christmas song, the quintet is on the cusp of releasing a single featuring Iggy Pop as a guest.

We spoke with singer and guitarist Faith Holgate about the band's beginnings, never being home, eating healthy on the road and the importance of good wine as well as the Spice Girls' lasting influence.

Hometown/Homebase: Manchester, England

How did you decide on your band name?

We booked a show before we had a name, we needed something for the poster.. It's like naming a baby, how do you choose? It was a friend who said 'PINS.' I don't know if it is a UK thing or just a northern England thing but pins is a name for ladies legs.

How did you all initially meet each other and how soon did you begin collaborating? What sparked the band?

I put the band together — it was really difficult to find female musicians at that time. I met Anna through a mutual friend and we made flyers and stuck them in the windows of bars around town — we had auditions and everything — it was a funny year. Eventually we got a full line up.

What's your song writing process like as a band and how long does a song take to go from idea to finished track?

I make demos on my laptop, for me that's the easiest way to get a song together, if it sounds good that way then it only gets better when we play the song together at full volume.

What records did you grow up listening to? Where did you listen to them? Do they have an influence on your sound or how you present the band?

I use to take my brother's Oasis CDs and copy them onto cassette tapes also I remember in primary school my friend made me a cassette with Madonna on one side and Michael Jackson on the other, I suppose that was my introduction into discovering music. I was a total Spice Girls head too. I'm not sure what has stayed with me or influenced me or whatever, maybe the girl power.

What's it like to be musicians in Manchester? How would you describe the scene?

It's hard to say now because we are never there. It use to be that every night I would either be playing my own show or watching another band, there was so many bands! It was a fun, weird, exhausting couple of years.

You recorded your latest album in the US an also toured the States as well. From both those experiences, what are your impressions of the US?

We recorded Wild Nights at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, to me it was like going to Mars, I'd never seen anything like it, I loved it. We've toured across America a couple of times, last time we went we hired a van and drove ourselves, just the band with no crew, it was incredible and beautiful, like a full on road trip, I felt free.

You just announced a new tour for 2017. What are the pros and cons of touring? What's your go to on the road snack and what are your travel tips?

We hate roadside food, we always find the best vegan joints in whatever town we are playing in. Eating well is a good tip. I suppose the only downside to touring is getting restless in the van, we buy nice wine to drink, listen to music and play cards to pass the time.

You just released a new Christmas song. How did that come about and what's your favorite part of celebrating holidays?

Amazon asked us to do it, I wrote it during the summer when I was in Berlin, it was unusual to write a Christmas track in 30 degree heat. I love Christmas, the tacky shit and all. Im meeting the rest of the Pins next week to exchange gifts, we're doing a tour of Wetherspoons pubs in Manchester.

What are your goals as a band? What would you most like to accomplish?

World wide eyes on PINS.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford Face Off in 'Blade Runner 2049'

2016-12-19T17:38:42.414Z

Ryan Gosling puts away his La La Land dancing shoes and goes back to his rugged ways in the first teaser for Blade Runner 2049. The clip is only one minute and 45 minutes and is a little slow on the uptake. But once you get to one minute mark, we finally see Ryan explore his surroundings and finally meet with Harrison Ford who's aiming a gun at him.

"Replicants are like any other machine — they're either a benefit or a hazard," Harrison, who'll be taking the role of Rick Deckard, says. "If they're a benefit, it's not my problem."

Blade Runner 2049 hits theaters October 6, 2017. But in the meantime, see the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Camilla Cabello Is No Longer in Fifth Harmony

2016-12-19T17:19:36.021Z

As we've seen many pop groups do in the past, Camila Cabello has officially left Fifth Harmony.

News broke the internet at midnight on December 19 following the group's final Jingle Ball performance in Miami. And although there have been rumors circulating for some time now, no one actually thought this would happen — at least not yet.

"After four and a half years of being together, we have been informed via her representatives that Camila has decided to leave Fifth Harmony. We wish her well," remaining members Ally Brooke, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane Hansen and Lauren Jauregui posted on Twitter via the Fifth Harmony account.

Despite Camila's departure, the singers plan to continue on as a quartet. Camila has yet to make any comment regarding the exit.

So does this mean Fifth Harmony needs to change their name? Guess we'll wait and see. In the meantime, read the group's letter below as well as our favorite reaction to the news.

pic.twitter.com/YlWylsw5uE
— Fifth Harmony (@FifthHarmony) December 19, 2016

Am I too positive but camila leaving means they can finally fit into James corden's car and carpool karaoke #FourthHarmony
— jeanie. (@JeanieTay) December 19, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

You Can Now Listen to the Black Keys on Spotify

2016-12-19T17:13:01.332Z

After years of keeping their song catalog away from Spotify, The Black Keys have finally allowed Spotify to make their music available to listeners.

"After five years of struggling with this we agreed to put the keys songs on Spotify. I'd rather people hear our music than not," drummer Patrick Carney explained on Twitter this morning (December 19).

After five years of struggling with this we agreed to put the keys songs on Spotify. I'd rather people hear our music than not.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) December 19, 2016

Patrick has previously criticized streaming services for the lack of financial compensation towards artists. And more recently, he blasted artists who had stakes in streaming companies but didn't really fight for the artist's right to be paid fairly.

"A sell out in my book in 2016 is anyone that takes a share in a streaming company who also is an artist and doesn't advocate for fair pay," he wrote on Twitter in June.

A sell out in my book in 2016 is anyone that takes a share in a streaming company who also is an artist and doesn't advocate for fair pay.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) June 16, 2016

Despite The Black Keys drummer's feelings regarding this, the band has agreed to let us, the fans, listen to their music via Spotify. But even though we can finally stream Brothers, Patrick still has reservations regarding the deal.

No advance or money was exchanged. I'm still an advocate for artists to be paid fairly. I'm still apprehensive.
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) December 19, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

5 Best Celebrity Feuds Of 2016

2016-12-19T08:00:00.000Z

We may claim we’re here just for the art, but let’s be honest for once: celebrity drama has always been giving us life. This year was no exception when it came to A-listers throwing online-punches at each other, getting into #fights over music videos, lyrics, mutual friends and broken hearts. Let’s remember the 5 biggest showdowns of 2016.

Taylor Swift Vs. Kanye West & Kim Kardashian

Okay, let’s start with the most famous one (pun intended). Yeezy just can’t get over his long-time brawl with Taylor Swift, even though by now it feels like it began in 1989 or something (another pun your way, sorry). Back in February, Kanye premiered his quasi-artsy music video for the Rihanna-assisted track “Famous,” which featured more than just Kanye and Rihanna. Very human-like versions of celebrities like Donald Trump and Taylor Swift were all naked, sleeping peacefully next to each in one huge bed. But it wasn’t the video that got everyone hot and bothered, but the lyric “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / I made that bitch famous.”

Taylor was understandably angry, but Kanye was quick to defend his art, tweeting “I called Taylor and had a hour long convo with her about the line and she thought it was funny and gave her blessings.” Taylor was happy to aim her Grammy win at him, throwing a classic subtle Swiftshade at the rapper saying during her speech: “…there are going to be people along the way who are going to try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame.”

The feud dragged all the way to July, when Kim Kardashian posted the recordings of Kanye and Taylor’s phone conversation about the song. Taylor was furious, later, posting a long Instagram rant where she clarified that Yeezy never told her he was going to call her “that bitch” in front of the entire world. We have to give it to Tay-Tay — this is a pretty big detail to leave unmentioned.

Kanye West Vs. Wiz Khalifa

When you’re Yeezy, you can’t have just one big feud a year. When back in January West announced that his next album was going to be called Waves, Wiz Khalifa was quick to point out that the term “wavy” belonged to rapper Max B and that West had to apologize for stealing. Yeezy launched an anger-driven twitter rant aimed straight at Khalifa, finishing it off with “You wouldn’t have a child if it wasn’t for me,” dragging Amber Rose to the cockfight. Apparently they resolved all their issues over a phone call. Where’s the recording of that one, Kim?

Calvin Harris Vs. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift was also burning more than one bridge this year, when her sugar-coated romance with Scottish megaproducer/Calvin Klein model Calvin Harris turned bitter. As soon as the pair announced their split, Swift went on a romantic stroll on the beach with Marvel’s most charismatic villain Loki aka Tom Hiddleston. And then revealed that she actually wrote Harris’ Rihanna-assisted single “This Is What You Came For” (what’s up with Rihanna’s songs causing all this drama this year?!).

This enraged Calvin so much that he tweeted a rant: “I know you're off tour and you need someone new to try and bury like Katy [Perry] ETC but I'm not that guy, sorry. I won't allow it.” It was later reported that the two are friends now. Yeah, right, just wait ‘til Swift drops that new album of hers and launches it with “Bad Blood: The Second Massacre.”

Kesha Vs. Dr Luke

Can we still consider it a “feud” when it reaches the legal level? Things are still far from fun over at the Ke-former-dollar-sign-ha’s camp. The ongoing legal battle between Kesha and the man behind her success, megaproducer Dr.Luke (who, according to Kesha, mentally abused her for years and even raped her once) prevents us from hearing any new music from the glitter-loving popstar. Kesha’s request to release her music under Sony Music’s contract was denied back in February, and the singer was photographed exiting the court in tears, propelling a lot of her famous colleagues to tweet their support, while Adele even dedicated her Brit Awards win to the “Tik Tok” singer.

Unfortunately the hashtag #FreeKesha doesn’t hold much weight when it comes to legal issues, so the future of Kesha’s musical career is still uncertain. “I didn’t rape Kesha and I have never had sex with her. Kesha and I were friends for many years and she was like my little sister,” Dr. Luke tweeted following the hearing, also adding a link to the story that said that Kesha denied under oath back in 2011 that he had raped her. No idea how long this he-said-she-said case will go on, but we’re dying for some new Kesha music even if it’s going to be more country-influenced and mature as the singer herself threatens.

Azealia Banks Vs. Zayn Malik

Another year, another opportunity for Azealia Banks to speak her mind looking like a crazy person. Back in May, the “212” hitmaker viciously attacked Zayn Malik on Twitter for allegedly copping her style in his “Like I Would” music video (what an appropriate title by the way!), calling the ex-1D member a “faggot,” “sand nigga,” “d**k rider,” “punjab” and “paki” and also tweeting “Your mother is a dirty refugee who won’t be granted asylum.”

She also told 14-year-old Disney actress Skai Jackson, who tried to cyber-interfere, that she needs “to grow some hips and start ur menses. stay in a child’s place.” Jackson brushed it off, tweeting back “When a no hip having 14 year old has more class than you. Worry about your career. Get one.” Banks also needs a new IP address, since her homophobic rants reached the tipping point with Twitter and her account was suspended for good.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

Sweater Beats Looks Back on an Epic 2016

2016-12-19T08:00:00.000Z

Producers used to be the ones in the background. But nowadays, they are become as big as the singers who contribute features on their tracks. Antonio Cuna, better known to his fans as Sweater Beats, is just one of those people who knows how to command the soundboard but is also down to perform it all onstage.

"When Soundcloud was popping off and bedroom producers were putting their instrumentals online, they were making names for themselves for their intstrumentals," he told Myspace. "Then they started having singers and features on them, but it was still their song. I think these days we're treating producers as creators, as opposed to to just people who are providing music for artists. We're artists ourselves. I think it's amazing. I think the first time I realized that the game was changing was Cashmere Cat with Ludacris, [Jeremih and Wiz Khalifa], the "Party Girls" song. That was a game changer."

Hailing from Maryland, the now New York resident took his love of music, from R&B to rock, and started making beats and soon full musical projects including 2014's Cloud City EP and his latest collaboration with MAX, "Did You Wrong."

"I've been sitting on this song for five months or so, and I showed it to Big Beat," he explained. "I showed it to A&R, and [they] linked me with MAX. We set up a day to finish the song in New York, and everything just clicked with him. He's a beautiful human being. Our vibes interconnected. It was a match made in heaven."

With years of composing, mixing and remixing sounds, Sweater Beats not only signed with Big Beat Records but also hopped on his debut headlining tour, For the Cold Tour, where he traveled around the US, including areas he never thought would be into his sonic style.

"Tour's been great," he said. "We've been traveling to places I've never been before. Driving through different highways, it's just been beautiful. Just meeting fans, one-on-one, in these places where I didn't know I had any pull is just super heartwarming."

Closing out 2016, Sweater Beats is grateful for the past year and what he's accomplished.

"It's really surreal," he said. "I just take it day by day. I work my hardest. I make the best music I can. No slacking off. I've always dreamed about this since I was in middle school playing in bands and see my favorite bands play these venues. Then after the show, they'd be hanging out by their tour bus or tour van. And I thought, 'I want to do that one day. I want to go on tour with my buddies and see the world.' And I get to do now. It's amazing."

Aside from being thankful, he also listed his highlights and low times this year.

Best Moment of 2016: Signing with Big Beat!

2016 Moment You'd Rather Forget: The election.

Best Gig You Played of 2016: For The Cold Tour stop in [Washington,] DC because my parents were there.

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over: San Francisco stop of tour because first show nerves got to me.

Best Concert You Saw in 2016: Anderson Paak at Coachella.

Most Awkward Show You Watched in 2016: Can't think of anyone more awkward than me.

Album on High Rotation in 2016: James Blake - The Colour in Anything

2016 LP You'd Like a Refund For: I stream all my music.

2016 Movie You'd Watch Over and Over: Avengers Civil War and I already did.

2016 Movie You Wish You Waited for on Netflix: X Men Apocalypse.

TV Show You Binged on While on The Road This Year: The Office. Forever and always.

TV Show You Wouldn't Mind Seeing Cancelled Next Year: Big Bang Theory.

Oddest Touring Experience of 2016: A fan screaming at me to play 311.

Go-to Meal on the Road: Panera Bread.

EDM Artist Who Should Be on Our 2017 Playlist: Bearson, if he's not already.

Best Fan Gift 2016: A fan in Chicago gave me a Kandi necklace of Morty from Rick and Morty.

Best Advice You Got in 2016: Look at your track mixdowns like a sphere.

Plans for 2017: New EP. More New Music. More Shows.

One non-music related thing on your wish list: A juicer.

2017 New Year's Resolution: Wear more sweaters.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

An Epic Scene in Rogue One Will Change How You See Darth Vader

2016-12-16T22:16:45.527Z

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Rogue One.

As one of the most iconic villains of all time, Darth Vader has had his fair share of intimidating onscreen moments. From Force-choking the Empire’s commanding officers to cutting off his own son’s hand, the Dark Lord of the Sith has proven himself to be a ruthless and unforgiving leader throughout the Star Wars saga. But it’s not until Rogue One—the franchise’s first standalone film—that Vader finally gets the moment many fans have always wanted to witness.

Watch the Onion’s Hilariously Fresh Perspective on Rogue One

We see a pre-suit Vader murder the Jedi left in the Temple—including the younglings—after Emperor Palpatine executes Order 66 in Revenge of the Sith, but most of the atrocities he commits to earn his reputation as the most feared man in the galaxy occur offscreen, during the 19-year interim between Revenge and A New Hope.

Rogue One—which is set just prior to the events of New Hope—ends how Episode IV begins, with Princess Leia in possession of the Death Star plans stolen by Jyn Erso and her Rebel crew. However, it’s during the sequence before this scene that Vader demonstrates the full extent of his abilities.

As a group of soldiers aboard a Rebel ship receive the chip containing Jyn’s crucial transmission, Vader’s heavy breathing is suddenly heard from a darkened corner of the room. What follows can most aptly be described as a slaughter, as the Sith Lord—using both the Force and his signature red lightsaber—mercilessly takes out everyone in his path.

Everything You Need to Know About the Force in Rogue One

The scene is the perfect transition into the original trilogy, demonstrating the extreme evil Vader is capable of prior to his introduction as Imperial head honcho in New Hope.

If you only knew the power of the Dark Side, indeed.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Zayn Malik Won’t Kiss and Tell About His Relationship With Gigi Hadid

2016-12-16T22:04:07.777Z

The saying “don’t kiss and tell” applies pretty accurately for former One Direction singer-turned-solo-artist Zayn Malik and his supermodel girlfriend Gigi Hadid. Zayn may be open to singing about sex, but he won’t exactly give any more details when he isn’t behind the microphone. Zayn just launched a collaboration song with Taylor Swift for Fifty Shades Darker and during an interview on Sirius XM discussed whether or not he and Gigi channel their inner Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, according to Elle.

Blake Lively Shares Sweet Message After Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony

The radio hosts for Sirius show The Morning Mash Up hounded Zayn about sex and his relationship with Hadid. After saying he had never seen Fifty Shades of Grey, one DJ suggested that Zayn’s “lived the movie.” The singer laughed it off and mumbled, “I like that.” After that, he kept mum about his sex life. Whether or not he keeps it PG is his business only.

See the Adorable Way Kate Beckinsale Celebrated Her Daughter’s College Acceptance

While one DJ expressed ardent enthusiasm for the Fifty Shades series, another DJ couldn’t stop asking Zayn about Hadid and how they became a couple. He mentioned how Hadid was “more beautiful in person” and asked Zayn, “For all the guys out there, how did you land her?” Zayn, who didn’t have some secret formula for “landing” Hadid like she was a plane, explained how went about courting Hadid in a relatively traditional way. “I just asked her, it was pretty straight up, I just asked her if she wanted to go on a date,” he explained. “A gentleman never tells the full details, but we met, and we spoke and we went on a date.”

Surprise visit on @MorningMashUp!?! @zaynmalik talked #IDontWannaLiveForever, working with @taylorswift13, new album and holiday shopping! pic.twitter.com/GZ2j4qO5Ah
— SiriusXM Hits 1 (@SiriusXMHits1) December 14, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Khloé Kardashian Details What Sparked Her Body Transformation

2016-12-16T21:47:40.851Z

Khloé Kardashian has been in the spotlight for as long as pretty much any millennial can remember, but not all of those times were positive for the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star. Kardashian, who just launched her own denim line called Good American, is the cover star of Health‘s January/February 2017 issue and opens up about weight loss, exercise, and resilience.

The Products Behind Your Brazilian Blowout Are at the Center of a Legal Dispute

Kardashian’s decision to change her eating habits occurred during her divorce from basketball player Lamar Odom. She had “turned to food” during the tough time, but also recognized that she “had an unhealthy relationship with food my whole life.” She “needed an outlet,” so Kardashian joined the celebrity-studded gym Equinox. She “escaped there” and started losing weight.

Not everyone, however, has been as receptive to Kardashian’s physical transformation. She explained, “I get body-shamed now that I work out!” She tunes out those voices and focuses on what she wants and her priorities: “I don’t care what weight I am. It’s genuinely about me being healthy.” But Kardashian won’t deprive herself from treats and cravings, either. Her philosophy: “Everything in moderation.”

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Kardashian credits much of her confidence and strength to her supportive family. When asked about being surrounded by “Hollywood size zeroes” she told Health, “I never thought I was big, even though I’ve always been super critiqued by everyone else… I’m also lucky that I have such a great family.”

Read the rest of her cover interview here.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Barack Obama Signs Bill To Outlaw Scalpers' Ticket Bots

2016-12-16T18:51:13.836Z

In the waning days of Barack Obama's presidency, he has signed a bill to give you a better shot at attending your favorite show. Called the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, it outlaws the use of computer software to buy large amounts of tickets online.

These bots are notorious for grabbing hundreds or even thousands of tickets at a time, making it difficult to buy tickets to major concerts and events from the primary ticket seller. They're also responsible for the influx of secondary ticket markets, like StubHub, which resell tickets at inflated prices.

Under the new law, people will only be able to buy a small number of tickets using bots and they won't be able to sell tickets bought with bots. The federal government will also have the ability to file civil suits on behalf of people who weren't able to buy tickets because of scalpers using ticketing bots.

It's unclear how successful the law will be, but this certainly sounds like good news for concertgoers.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

The Colorful Persona and Performance Art of Sui Zhen

2016-12-16T17:30:00.000Z

Becky Sui Zhen takes world building seriously. Under the nom-de-plume Sui Zhen, she makes music that's pure idiosyncratic, electronic pop full of quirk and charm. However, her vision extends beyond the tunes and into the realm of dynamically colorful sets and costuming along with adopting different personas to inhabit and portray with each release. Following two EPs, she released her album Secretly Susan earlier this year, in which she channels a woman by the name of Susan in song and in image.

We got to chat with Becky about the visual element of her releases, the Melbourne music scene, her recent residency in Japan and what's the best thing about pop music.

Hometown: Sydney, Australia

Homebase: Melbourne, Australia

Your visuals are super iconic. How important is the visual element to you? How much do they matter in comparison to music?

The visual element is important to me as part of my own process — it's another outlet I utilize to explore my concepts. I've always loved film and photography, these visual components help to set the scene for my music to exist, and to flesh out the world I'm creating. I think music should stand alone, but it's nice to have visual and a story for people who want to delve deeper into the world.

What other bands do you feel have had a good visual component? How so?

The project, Palmbomen II (Beats in Space) is a wonderful example of how simpatico visuals and music can be. They play out like beautiful short stories, they enhance the musical experience and add a visceral element to the moods already present in the music.
King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard (Melbourne based band) are also incredible. Their videos give us a glimpse into their minds and how they see the music playing out in three dimensions, it's just as fantastical & psychedelic as it sounds. I think that strong visual components extend beyond the real, into the abstract world of the artist.

Who are you favorite artists and what attracts you to their work?

It's really hard to pick of favourites, I'm attracted to music, films, books, stories... A lot of music I've enjoyed lately I've discovered through Sanpo Disco mixes so I listen to it without a visual attached, just vibing on the groove and feeling. Favourite song I've been working on a cover of is 'Who Knows What Love Is' by Strawberry Switchblade. Recently I've been refreshing my sci-fi knowledge, re-reading JG Ballard and Douglas Coupland short fiction. Visually, I've been obsessed with Caroline Polachek's style, particular her stage pants she wore on tour to Australia just last week. But two things that have really engaged me recently are the TV series WestWorld and Black Mirror as tales of the near future, the San Junipero episode was a great surprise. I think that is wonderful artistry.

What's your songwriting process like? How does a song take shape and what's the typical timeline?

Recently I spent a month in Hokkaido, Japan on an artist residency with the goal to write material for my next Sui Zhen album. On those days, since I was there with the sole purpose to write music I tried to write a new song each day – at least get a basic structure, rhythm/drum pattern, synth/guitar melody and mood down. Sometimes I'd get on a roll and make more than one demo. Other times, when it was clear I wasn't going to make any more chill bangers that day and when I'd eaten all the snacks and drunk all the Blendy coffee I could handle, I'd take a day trip and listen back to demos to get fresh perspective on them. I think it's a really integral part of my process to listen back to demos whilst in transit. Planes, trains, trams, cars, buses, sometimes when riding a bike... listening whilst participating in the world helps me to understand where to take things when I'm feeling stuck. From there it can take any amount of time to re-arrange the track. Live performance of the songs usually helps to understand what will work, so ideally, if that can happen before final recording the song might have one last chance to improve upon itself. I didn't do that at all with the last record, it was all done in the realm of my own internal performance – but then sometimes, that can also allow ideas to stay weird and unjustified.

Who did you grow up listening to and what impact did those records have on you?

I listened to a lot of mainstream 90s pop, grunge and rock. I went to under 18s raves and listened to terrible techno and psy-trance. I found solace in the soundtracks of wildlife documentaries for their use of 'world instruments'. Ace of Base 'Sign' was the first cassette I ever owned. I still like that track, so I bought it on vinyl a couple of years ago and DJ a dub remix of it occasionally when I need a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

What's your favorite thing about pop music?

That there are no rules.

You self-produced your record. What led to that and what were your takeaways/what did you learn over the process of making the album?

I had worked with producers on my previous (self-released) 2007 & 2012 albums. They were both very different and had their own unique approach that would colour their work. I was still unaware of who I might be musically speaking, so I think it helped to work with producers who had clear sonic visions and have carved their identity through distinct production styles. Self-producing really began as I started to curate the sounds in my life more actively, through collecting records and starting to DJ a bit more seriously. I formed a clearer vision for what I wanted to sound like, and I didn't necessarily want to collaborate on that, I wanted to see it through myself. In 2014 I self-produced two EPs for Japanese labels (Body Reset and Female Basic), they were more electronic with a gentle-house feel. I think if you have a vision and ideas, it's best to creatively direct the project yourself. If you're lacking a clear direction and need another force, collaboration on production can be key. One take-away would be that, as your taste develops you'll generally pull from more specific references – but it's important to continue to create blindly without any idea of what the thing mind end up being. It's good to mix up your process occasionally, to allow yourself to evolve.

What's it like to be a musician in Melbourne? How would you describe the scene?

It's become my musical home-base since I moved down from Sydney in 2011. I'm grateful to be part of such a supportive, hard-working and inspiring community. It is vibrant, diverse and over-saturated with artists. Lots of talent but make sure to dig deep to uncover the real legends outside the scene.

Being based in Australia, do you feel there's any isolation/remove from the global music scene? What do you see as the pros and cons?

Yes, I think sometimes people are too hard on each-other, it can be really competitive because we have a much smaller audience base to pull from but there are so many up and coming artists, there's a bit of 'tall poppy syndrome' over here. A pro is that people are forced to work really hard and really commit to their artistry. Tours are shorter because there are less cities, unless you have music that works in the regional market. Local 'success' can require the need for national airplay on the more mainstream radio channels, which can lack diversity. You have to be crafty with your funding, we do have some helpful arts organisations that fund artists marketing themselves overseas but often people rely on personal investment or if they are lucky, publishing. Sometimes a bit of luck can go a long way, but usually there's a team of people working behind in the background to commercial success. This is what is required to export yourself overseas, since we're so far from the other markets, it's very expensive to put yourself out there on the global scene.

What would you most like listeners to take away from your music/art?

I hope they feel some sense of camaraderie. "I get it, I'm with you on that weird tip."
Think deep but have fun. I'm serious about my work but I don't take myself too seriously.

What's next?

Working on my next album. Creating, Linda. Taking Linda to Paris.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Listen to Ethan Bence’s “Desire” Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-16T17:30:00.000Z

Often, out of struggle comes great art. For Pittsburgh-based hip-hop artist Ethan Bence, he had to begin to emerge from his struggle to create his art. “I’m not creative when I’m not happy,” he explains.

From an outsider’s perspective, Bence seemed to be living a great life. In addition to working on his music, he’d been attending Carnegie Mellon University, with a double major in Business and Statistics. Then came the fall of 2015, when his father became seriously ill, and Bence took a leave of absence to take care of him full-time.

“My dad was, and still is, going through some serious health issues,” Bence explains, “seeing some of the things he went through fundamentally changed me.”

This was the genesis of “Desire,” Bence’s first in a series of singles that will culminate in a short film. A deeply personal song produced by J-Louis, Myspace has the exclusive premiere.

Wanting to know more about “Desire,” and the story behind the entire project, we sat down with Bence to ask him a few questions about both.

“Desire” is the first in a series of singles that will culminate in a short film. What can you tell us about the musical journey you’re going to take us on with this project?

The project is going to touch on a broad range of issues, both personal and social. That’s part of the reason why I’m releasing it as a series of singles. While there will be a cohesiveness to it, I want each song to be its own entity.

As far as sounds, it’s very diverse. There are dark, moody portions, and heavy funk-inspired bits, too.

Why did you decide to split “Desire” into two distinct parts?

Most of us have different parts of ourselves that we let out at certain times in certain situations. In a lot of cases, one part might be completely dissonant with another, but they both still exist in the same whole.

For me, personally, two of those opposing forces are desiring material things, but then snapping out of it, and knowing it won’t make me happy. That’s one of the general themes of the song.

Why is “Desire” the first song in the progression? Is the entire project done as a timeline, or is “Desire” first in order to set us up for the future songs?

“Desire” is the first song because it is so personal to me. I felt like it needed to be the first song. It just felt right.

The project isn’t in a chronological timeline, but there is definitely progression toward something larger for sure.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Watch Stephen Colbert, Michael Stipe Sing R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World," Updated for 2016

2016-12-16T17:02:32.944Z

It's not a stretch to feel like the end of the world came this year. Stephen Colbert and R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe agree. The duo (along with a cameo from James Franco) remade the R.E.M. hit "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" to reflect the difficulties of the year: beginning with the Zika outbreak and running through difficulties big (Donald Trump, North Carolina's "bathroom bill") and small (Ben Affleck as Batman).

Colbert took the reigns, singing the first half of the song. Midway through, Stipe refused to sing the end of the chorus ("...and I feel fine") because, well, the year hasn't exactly been fine. Stipe did eventually join in with Colbert and Franco for a rousing chorus.

Watch the creative remix of the song below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Mariah Carey Sings "All I Want for Christmas" with Adele, Lady Gaga and More on “Carpool Karaoke”

2016-12-16T16:43:17.851Z

James Corden knows how to get into the Christmas spirit. Decked out in an ugly Christmas sweater, the Late Late Show host invited none other than Mariah Carey into his present-filled car. And Carey has a wish. “I want you to sing my song ‘All I Want For Christmas,’” she asks.

They begin belting out the first verses of the Christmas song, but then there’s a surprise: the video cuts to a clip of Adele singing a verse.

The three-and-a-half minute video also features Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Elton John, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Gwen Stefani, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and a clap-friendly verse from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Watch it all below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

2016: A Terrible Year in Review

2016-12-16T08:00:00.000Z

Every week I'll be here to reveal and review some of my favorite moments from the internet. Whether it be binge-ing television shows, streaming sports or simply getting lost in a YouTube rabbit hole, I'm here to give you my top picks every Friday, as well as the perfect pairing to get into an optimal headspace for them.

This week, we're frantically searching for the good that came from this miserable year while desperately trying to induce hibernation that will take us well into 2017.

The Year Everyone Died

Recommended Pairing: Any drops left from the 40 you kept having to pour out.

This year will certainly go down as one of the most disappointing 365 days in modern history (unless you're a Cubs or Cavs fan). It took so many of our most beloved celebrities away from us that I can't help but think we're two weeks out from being wiped out completely as a species.

If you're reading this then we've made it further than I would have guessed.

So I'm going to do a quick recap of our biggest story that dominated the internet and pop culture before seeking some refuge in as many things I enjoyed about the last 12 months and try to fit as much as I can into this column as we all slowly sink into the frigid depths of our extinction.

The Gold Plated Demagogue Vs. The Nasty Woman

Recommended Pairing: Butt chugging cheap vodka out of an old Goldschläger bottle.

People will be writing about this election cycle until the end of time (currently estimated as December 31st 2016). It started as the story of the foregone conclusion walking proudly up to the podium to place her hand on the bible and get sworn in, but was quickly usurped by a joke of a candidate tweeting his way through the Republican primaries and a self-proclaimed "Democratic Socialist" humbly packing in arenas.

We went from a clear narrative to the proliferation of fake news, a relatively unenthused citizenry to groundswells of support from the perceived anti-establishment candidates.

We learned about the Alt-Right, Pepe the Frog, email servers, pussy grabbing and about a million other small scandals that made this year completely unprecedented. After the election, we learned about propaganda, Russian influence, the intelligence agencies, Secretary of State pick, Rex Tillerson and the five hundred BILLION dollar deal awaiting Exxon and Rosneft if sanctions could be lifted.

We learned about the electoral college and faithless electors — the one thing keeping a modicum of hope alive inside the majority of Americans hearts. Just take a gander at this cute little chart.

I want nothing more than to unite the country. I want to feel good about heading home for the holidays and engaging in spirited political debate after consuming an ungodly amount of bird, bread and mac and cheese. It's incredibly frustrating to know that half the country doesn't just disagree on policy initiatives or direction but that we disagree on what facts are.

Here's some food for thought — Hillary Clinton lost the election by just 77,143 combined votes in three states, while getting 2,843,860 more votes overall.

That's roughly the equivalent of the population of the nice little town of Racine, WI versus our third largest city, Chicago.

And yet somehow our President-elect has declared this a landslide victory.

With only a few days to go before the electorate cast their vote and a few short weeks later until he's sworn in, I'm seriously considering hunkering down in a bunker filled with DVDs of '90s sitcoms and video games.

I can only assume this simulated "breaking news" broadcast where Russian and NATO forces clash culminating in nuclear explosions is merely a few days away. If we're still around on New Year's, I highly suggest playing this in the background to really scare the shit out of any hungover stragglers may still be rustling around your apartment.

Some Good News

Recommended Pairing: A handful of MDMA and a sparkling water.

People are probably going to be fine. Even with the madness of the current political landscape, on a personal level, we'll still find ways to be courteous, help each other and make one another laugh. Stories of people being friendly and sharing in positive discourse don't make for good ratings, but I've seen it, it's happening outside.

Apart from the police shootings, record temperatures and celebrity deaths, the past year had some great things to offer. There was the month where Pokemón Go was popular, perennial underdogs ruled the sports scene and aside from the glaringly racist examples — it was actually a great year for memes, gifs, sketch comedy, television, and other odds and ends that keep me perpetually browsing the internet as a haven from the haunting cruelty of the real world. Here are a few of my favorites from 2016 in no particular order. Give 'em a watch before the Earth explodes!

WestWorld: A show perfectly crafted for our binge watching culture, handed to us one week at a time. An incredibly satisfying slow burn.

Game of Thrones: One of the few things in existence that nearly everyone can agree on. It's fun to watch.

Everything up to the finale of Fargo Season 2: Still pumped for next season, though. Now with 88% more bacon and Jim Gaffigan!

in the blue shirt - Cluster A: An infectious little diddy that brought me out of countless mini-funks.

Alec Baldwin's Trump: The irony is everyone thought Trump sounded like a bad impression of Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock.

Ross Marquand - Celebrity Nano-Impressions: Surprisingly delightful.

Bad Lip Reading - SEAGULLS! (Stop It Now): A genuinely good jam that's genuinely hysterical. I died during the breakdown when Yoda recounts his encounter with a log.

Feel free to post your favorite little digital footmarks from the past year in the comments.

'Til next year.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

5 Most Disappointing Video Games of 2016

2016-12-16T08:00:00.000Z

Veteran gamers know what it’s like to be burned. Like Hollywood, the video game industry is beleaguered with a “sequels problem.” A new installment in a storied franchise — like Star Fox or Street Fighter — used to signal excellence, but these days, prominent video game developers seem to be resting on their laurels and the result has been a considerable dip in the quality of their games.

If there’s a word that best describes 2016, it would most likely be “unpredictable;” in addition to all of the long-awaited sequels that were released this year, we finally got our hands on some unique IPs that were poised to shake up the gaming status quo. Regrettably, many of these titles weren’t too great, either.

Below are our picks for the 5 games released in 2016 that disappointed us the most. At least there’s always next year.

Mighty No. 9

Mighty No. 9 is, in some ways, a massive success on its own terms. Keiji Inafune, the man responsible for creating Mega Man — arguably one of the best and most nuanced platforming game series ever conceived — announced that him and his team were working on the game at the 2013 Penny Arcade Expo. Inafune soon afterwards launched an official Kickstarter page for the game, which ended up receiving nearly $4 million in contributions, making it the sixth most-funded project in the platform’s history.

But the game itself leaves a lot to be desired. The team intended to create a “spiritual sequel” to early entries in the Mega Man series, whose development Inafune himself spearheaded (and which has arguably been mistreated since his departure from the series). After countless setbacks, the game was finally released on pretty much every platform under the sun, and while it performed better on some than others, it was still a letdown across the board. Mighty No. 9’s levels are uninteresting, its gameplay is wonky and glitch-laden, and to top it all off, the voice acting is extremely grating. All in all, Mighty No. 9 ended up being a massive disappointment, especially to the countless gamers who pledged money to the project and were left feeling duped.

Star Fox Zero

Admittedly, my first impressions of Star Fox Zero were positive. I even reviewed the game shortly after its release, in which I ardently defended some of the more controversial aspects of its gameplay.

I still believe that there’s a great game at the heart of Star Fox Zero, but it might be unrealistic to expect non-diehard Star Fox fans to go searching for it. The game is encumbered by a variety of flaws — in particular, a bizarre control scheme that requires you to aim using the Wii U Gamepad while navigating your ship on the TV screen. This is counterintuitive to anyone without two sets of eyeballs.

Leading up to its release, Nintendo obliquely touted the game as a “reimagining” of Star Fox 64, one of the most legendary on-rails shooters ever made. While Zero did bring back some of 64’s signature charm and recycled many of its levels, it ultimately failed at reinventing the wheel. Zero is far from awful, but it’s a lukewarm comeback from a series that had been hibernating for a decade.

Dead Rising 4

The first Dead Rising game, released in 2006, featured a then-unprecedented concept for a video game: main character Frank West is a photojournalist who ends up getting trapped in a suburban shopping mall that’s been infested with zombies, leaving you, the player, to fend for yourself. The mall ends up becoming your arsenal, and virtually all of its wares are employable as weapons — from shovels, to umbrellas, to lawnmowers.

The latest entry in the series finds West returning to the setting of the first game, something that many assumed would bring the franchise back to its roots following the missteps of the similarly disappointing Dead Rising 3.

But Dead Rising 4, as Kotaku deftly points out in their impressions of the game, feels massively confused in tone; its not quite sure if it should be gory slapstick or legitimately scary, so it blindly oscillates between the two styles while never staking out an identity of its own.

While it might be an odd criticism to level at a game that involves killing hoards of zombies in a shopping mall, Dead Rising 4 also feels less realistic than previous games in the series. The original Dead Rising, despite its unabashed goofiness, evoked a gnawing sense of claustrophobia and required a degree of resourcefulness to complete — mightier weapons like sledgehammers and lawnmowers were sparse. But in Dead Rising 4, these types of weapons abound, and the vast sandbox environment mitigates some of the genuine dread conveyed in the first installment. After all, why fight zombies when you can just run away from them?

Street Fighter V

Street Fighter has long been the quintessential fighting game franchise. Every title since the legendary Street Fighter 2 has, historically, introduced a bevy of exciting new features without making any substantial compromises to the series’ tried-and-tested formula.

Street Fighter V is perhaps the first entry in the series’ history to feel like an outright betrayal. When the game launched, it seemed suspiciously sloppy and half-baked, with some critics accusing developer Capcom of rushing the title out merely to fulfill an established deadline. The game’s single-player offerings were scant to the point of being inconsequential, and some of the game’s mechanics were greeted tepidly by experienced players.

Subsequent patches and downloadable content has made Street Fighter V a more substantial package since its initial release in the beginning of the year — but it’s still the black sheep in an otherwise unassailable franchise, and a great argument against the contemporary business model of releasing skimpy games that require additional, purchased content to be fully enjoyed.

No Man's Sky

It’s as if Duke Nukem Forever and Spore taught us nothing. Leading up to its release, No Man’s Sky was the subject of constant hype. It was touted as the open-ended game to end all open-ended games — the player would be thrust into a self-governing, procedurally generated universe, filled with limitless space — as in, literally outer space — to explore. It would never get old. How could it?

But the finished No Man’s Sky ended up being much different — and much less fun — than any of us had anticipated. The game was rife with bugs out of the gate, and its many technological marvels wound up being a mere sleight of hand intended to conceal repetitive and mediocre gameplay. No Man’s Sky attempted to upend video games as a medium — and it ended up barely being one in the process.

No Man’s Sky was the most anticipated game of the year. It ended up being the biggest disappointment, and that’s certainly no coincidence.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

25 Albums We Had on Repeat in 2016

2016-12-16T08:00:00.000Z

As we live the final weeks of 2016 and look forward to new adventures in 2017, it's also nice to go back and reminisce about the good music that came out of this year. While we've lived in a "singles-driven" music industry over the past few years, 2016 was quite successful in putting out LPs that made people want to listen to more than just the hit singles. So we took a look back at the year's many records and selected our favorite 25 albums.

And considering how much good music dropped this year, it was definitely a challenge. Hopefully, some of these made your list, too. Check them out below, and let us know if we missed any in the comments.

'We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service' - A Tribe Called Quest

When we thought A Tribe Called Quest was gone forever, they surprised us all with the release of their new album, We got it from here... Thank You 4 Your service. And while comebacks try to bring in some of the more current sounds of today, this record is the opposite. While the lyrical content might be what the rappers are feeling today, the beats brings us back to the hip-hop that weaved melody and beats so effortlessly that you couldn't help but nod your head.

'Malibu' - Anderson.Paak

Anderson.Paak was one of the lesser known artists to come out this year. But all of that changed once he released Malibu. Endorsed by Dr. Dre and The Game, he hopped on the indie music train to give us a collection of tracks that make you groove while being touching. "Carry On" delves into the time he and his family were homeless. Part hip-hop, part R&B and all soul.

'My Woman' - Angel Olsen

Working with producer Justin Raisen, Angel Olsen explores the ups, downs and what she calls the "complicated mess of being a woman" on My Woman. Although songs like "Sister" and "Woman" would hint at a poetic pop folk record celebrating women, she keeps the themes more open ended. "Give It Up" laments about a relationship that didn't work out while "Those Were the Days" whispers her way through an electric guitar melody and reminisces about the good times. My Woman brings Angel's signature slower tracks with some toe-tapping songs that make it one of this year's gems.

'Lemonade' - Beyonce

Throughout Beyonce's career, she's delved into a variety of different topics. However, on her 2016 album, Lemonade, she pushed things thematically to the limit. Kicking off this mission with the politically charged "Formation," she caused a bit of controversy with the New Orleans-set video as well as her performance at the Super Bowl. Then let's not forget the film that accompanied the entire record, which sparked rumors of issues between her and Jay Z that left us still wondering, "Who the hell is Becky?" Unapologetic on "Sorry," inspiring on "Freedom" and reflective on "Daddy Lessons," Bey did a bit of exploring and growth on this record — making it one of her best to date.

'22, Million' - Bon Iver

Bon Iver will take the rules, throw them on the ground and stomp all over them. At least that's what he did on 22, Million. Using autotune with intention on "10 dEATtbREasT" and single "33 “GOD,” he doesn't layer it on to make his voice sound better. Instead it's to show another side of himself as an artist. But even though he throws all the electronics into this one, he goes for a more natural take on "8 (circle)," which will make the Justin Vernon purists really happy. Some might find 22, Million a tough pill to swallow for some Bon Iver fans. However, with a little time, it'll entrance you in the same way it did to us.

'24K Magic' - Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars really took a step out of the spotlight following the extensive tour and promotion of 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox. He dabbled in movies (like Rio 2), helped other artists out (i.e. co-penning Adele's "All I Ask") and just living life. But finally, this year brought 24K Magic. While some might be sad about the fact it's 33 minutes long, the brevity of the record makes you appreciate it more. It's as if Bruno wanted to keep you engaged with his music and did it by making sure each song serve its purpose. And in this case, it felt like a trip back to the '90s and straight into the bedroom — as he croons in "Versace on the Floor." But of course, the LP's tile track really steals the show with its groove and, at times, ridiculously carefree lyrics.

'Teens of Denial' - Car Seat Headrest

While they aren't part of mainstream radio or the pop charts, Car Seat Headrest are a standard for anyone who loves indie rock music. Despite Will Toledo's chill demeanor offstage, it's when he gets to the mic that he bring the energy, noise and some angst to the stage. And with this being their 13th record, it's safe to say that they're doing something right. Whether it's the frenetic "Vincent" or the big sounds of "Cosmic Hero," this one was a must-listen this year.

'Coloring Book' - Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper really made an impact this year with his record, Coloring Book. Continuing his label-free, indie track, the Chicago rapper filled the LP with a set of stellar tracks and some famous friends. From the lead single that get stuck in your head, "No Problem," featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, to the upbeat gospel track, "Finish Line," with T-Pain, Kirk Franklin, Eryn Allen Kane and Noname, each of the songs have their own unique vibe but still flow from one to the other seamlessly. Combining that with his powerful performances, it makes sense why he's easily one of this year's shining stars.

'Awaken, My Love!' - Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino throws a huge curve ball with his new album, "Awaken, My Love!". Despite being known for his rapping skills, you'll hardly hear any rhymes spat during this 11-track album. Tired of labels and always keeping everyone on their toes, he digs deep into grooves on songs like "California" and goes for a hauntingly sensual vibe on "Zombies." While many who were hoping for something like "3005" or "IV. Sweatpants" will feel like Childish Gambino has jumped off the deep end with this one, we can't hate him for taking that risk.

'Blackstar' - David Bowie

While we lost a number of artists this year, David Bowie made sure to leave us with a memento before his last day on earth, Blackstar. With only seven tracks, this was kind of a swan song for the late artist, who died of liver cancer only days after the record's release. Between the orchestrations and his vocals, one would hardly tell that he was sick during the making of this album. Although we won't get to hear this one performed live, it's a musical moment we'll never forget.

'Revolution Radio' - Green Day

Although Green Day already released Revolutionary Radio before Donald Trump was elected president, their latest record is hardly short of any critiques on society. "Bang Bang" talked about the continuing gun violence in America. And the LP's title track was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. But this one wasn't just about social issues — they did a bit of introspection and delved into Billie Joe Armstrong's stint in rehab as well as Mike Dirnt's wife and the band's touring guitarist's cancer diagnoses on "Somewhere Now" and "Still Breathing." Like they've done in the past, Green Day delivers another rock record with substance.

'I Had a Dream That You Were Mine' - Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam

As you move through the track list of I Had a Dream That You Were Mine., you get the doo-wop of "When the Truth Is...," the delicacy of "A 1000 Times" and the harmonica twang of "You Ain't That Young Kid." Although each song has a life of its own, the cohesion comes from the stories Vampire Weekend's Rostam and The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser tell of their times in New York City. What makes the album even more interesting is hearing how many different nuances there are in Hamilton's voice. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is like a unicorn in the heaps of album releases this year. It just shows how musicians can bring diversity to one album and do it well.

'Joanne' - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga has gone through many phases. And while we met her as the the woman who will wear everything from raw steak to gravity defying shoes, her fifth record, Joanne, peeled away all the costumes and showed us who she is as a person. Working with a variety of talents including Mark Ronson, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, Joanne starts to walk away from the nightclub and enters the dive bar. While we've heard her pour her heart out on "Million Reasons" and melt our faces off with "Perfect Illusion," "Hey Girl, featuring Florence Welch, feels very throwback Elton John and is one you shouldn't skip.

'Luke Bell' - Luke Bell

As country is moving toward the alternative and more pop-friendly sounds, Luke Bell seems to be the rebel because he wants to keep things traditional. His self-titled album piqued our interests because it really isn't something you don't hear too much anymore. Instead, it feels like he should have been throwing back drinks with Merle Haggard, who just so happens to be one of his inspirations. Straightforward yet simple lyrics paired with guitar twang and Luke's bass vocals, you'll easily be drawn to tracks like "Loretta" and "Sometimes." This record satisfies the country fan who longs for the sounds of yore.

'The Life of Pablo' - Kanye West

If there's anyone who made more headlines this year, it was Kanye West. And although it was mostly about his random outbursts and antics, we can't ignore the fact that he dropped a new record this year. The Life of Pablo was part of a media storm toward the end of 2015, as Ye got everyone talking about what the new project could be called or who would be featured on it. But in Mr. West fashion, he dropped a record that even the biggest of haters can't really deny is a good one. From controversial "Famous" to "Fade," that bassy track that got Teyana Taylor dancing like she's rebooting Flashdance, each of the 20 tracks lets dip into the pool that is Kanye's mind. And while 2016 ended with him eventually losing it, we're left with a record that we'll be spinning now and into the future.

'Broken People' - Muddy Magnolias

When Kallie North and Jessy Wilson, who both just moved to Nashville to make names for themselves in 2013, met, it was instant musical magic. With powerful and harmonious vocals and their diverse musical backgrounds, these two became the soul sisters that we now call Muddy Magnolias. Their lead single, "Brother, What Happened?" is a sheer example of their mission to make music that not only sounds good but will actually move people. You'll also hear it on "Leave It to the Sky," their closing tune that features the vocals and piano-playing talents of John Legend. Broken People might be an anthem perfect for the current times, but these artists also show they're humans that need some loving, too, as they sing on "I Need a Man" and the heart-hugging "Why Don't You Stay?"

'SremmLife 2' - Rae Sremmurd

If there was anything that's been clogging up the interwebs lately, it was the "Mannequin Challenge" phenomenon. And there was one song that was all over it — Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles." While that was clearly one of the hits to cap off 2016, the rest of their record, SremmLife 2, is another strong effort from the Mississippi rappers. Songs like "Swang," "Look Alive" and "Set the Roof," featuring Lil Jon, will get you moving in no time.

'You're a Man Now, Boy' - Raleigh Ritchie

Raleigh Ritchie may be best known for playing Grey Worm in Game of Thrones. But his debut album, You're a Man Now, Boy, the rapper and singer, born Jacob Anderson, proves that music isn't just something he wanted to dabble in but actually one of his other talents. Delving into love, growing up and even mental health with "Never Better," he really has a lot to say and expresses it eloquently in song and will get you jumping around at one of his shows like on his single, "The Greatest."

'Anti' - Rihanna

After taking a step back from music for four years, Rihanna returned to the spotlight with Anti. And it seems that the period between records did her some good. Not only did she get some down time to do other things, but it seems it breathed new life in to her music. Instead of just doing a number of club dance hits, Anti is as diverse as Rihanna albums go. From the dancehall-infused "Work," with Drake, to the sultry yet pleading "Love on the Brain." While RiRi played around with styles on this one, she continues to keep everything hot, especially on songs like "Kiss It Better" and "Needed Me."

'A Seat at the Table' - Solange

While many of the artists on this list can easily say that they really put their everything into their new albums, Solange can easily say that hers was really a labor of love. Working on it since 2013, A Seat at the Table not only explores political and social issues, but Solange also conveys her growth as an artist as well as an individual. From the upbeat "Junie" to the powerful "Don't Touch My Hair," she touches on topics that may not be so openly spoken about in an eloquent and beautiful way.

'A Sailor's Guide to Earth' - Sturgill Simpson

Sturgill Simpson has been a renegade in the country world and has been showing everyone that country isn't just for ones donning cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat. The Jackson, KY artist brings that same energy and even takes some risks on his third record, A Sailor's Guide to Earth. Initially gaining buzz with the widely hyped cover of Nirvana's "In Bloom." He turned the gritty and noisy tune into a bluesy, and at times gospel-esque, track and gives the 1991 tune an interesting facelift that we can't hate on.

'Starboy' - The Weeknd

What do you do when you have a hit like Beauty Behind the Madness? Do something else. Inspired by Prince, Talking Heads and Bad Brains, The Weeknd literally went with his gut and instincts when it came to the making of Starboy. And you immediately hear that in "False Alarm," which sounds like a spasm of melodic noise. While it might not make sense at first, it'll get you moving. But he goes back to that sultry comfort zone on "Sidewalks," featuring Kendrick Lamar and "Nothing Without You." Between the electronic contributions of Daft Punk and his inherent soulfulness, The Weeknd has taken a good step in the right direction on this record.

'Boy King' - Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts know how to make you move at one of their shows. However, their fifth album, Boy King, takes things to the dark side and is laced with sexuality. Blending their indie rock and dream pop sounds, songs like "Celestial Creatures," "Ponytail" and "Big Cat" will seduce you then leave you with an eerie feeling after. And while that might be bad for something, you leave with no regrets.

'The Hamilton Mixtape' - Various Artists

Show tunes aren't for everyone. However, Hamilton isn't your typical musical theater track. So when creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's dream to make a mixtape version of the award-winning production came true, we knew it would be something special. And after teaming up with Questlove and Black Thought, they came up with what seems like a dream team of their favorite artists to cover and/or add their own flavors to the already popular songs. Whether it's Sia, Miguel and Queen Latifah's remake of "Satisfied" or "Helpless," which reunited Ashanti and Ja Rule, the tracks bridged the gap between Broadway and pop music. And who can say no to progression like that.

'I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It' - The 1975

I'll have to admit that I was late on The 1975 train. But after listening to their latest I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It (Now say that in one breath.), I was clearly missing out on something. The English band's blend of pop, indie rock and electro are not only sweet to the ears but also great for getting you moving. And the ladies will be the first to say that you can't help but think these Brits are just dreamy. Songs like "A Change of Heart" and "Love Me" take you back to the '80s yet fit into today's musical climate. Perhaps I'm just smitten with The 1975, but then again, there's nothing wrong with that.

Review: ‘Super Mario Run’ Is the Perfect Mobile Mario Game, Almost

2016-12-15T21:15:12.775Z

This was not supposed to happen. The world pleaded, cajoled and bullyragged Nintendo into putting Mario on smartphones. All-knowing Carnac-like analysts wouldn’t shut up about the idea even as the masterminds behind some of gaming’s most enduring franchises repeatedly balked. But with Super Mario Run, a $10 vamp on Nintendo’s iconic series about a turtle-clobbering plumber out for iOS devices Dec. 15, it’s finally happened.

And, yes, Super Mario Run is knock-your-socks-off good.

Also, a little surreal. Poking Mario’s cherubic, mustachioed mug in my smartphone’s rows of apps feels transgressive, like I’ve hacked into an illicit knockoff (or, worse, a bait-and-switch). But launch the interactive tutorial, and off he goes, the scampering star of a bona fide Nintendo game that doesn’t run on Nintendo hardware. Nothing else looks or plays like an authentic Mario escapade, and Super Mario Run feels like one for the ages.

Nintendo’s Super Mario iPhone Game Comes Out Today

This is the Mario those who grew up with Nintendo know best, the one who dashes left to right across fields of grassy blocks, rivers of coins and grooving flora at the quaint end of the psychedelic spectrum. The difference here is that Mario (or other characters players can eventually unlock like Luigi and Princess Peach) moves automatically as soon as a level loads, animated by an algorithm instead of you. This may give the impression that Nintendo’s cribbing instead of innovating, jamming Mario and pals into the framework of an endless runner like Temple Run or Sonic Dash.

It’s the other way around. For starters, there’s nothing endless about it. Each of the game’s 24 levels has a beginning and end, and all the goofy scenery sandwiched between feels purpose built instead of procedurally piped in. (Often the endless in other endless runners is more about keeping you playing—and paying micro transactions—than intentioned design.) Thus every harlequin block, swiveling fireball lever or juking smiley-faced cloud in Super Mario Run is exactly where it needs to be to situate (or complicate) the game’s wealth of platform puzzles. Bookend bosses haunt torchlit castles and flying boats, and finish lines are still comprised of flagpoles players have to do their best to vault atop. It’s so visually Super Mario-ish, in fact, that you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a port of 2006’s New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS handheld.

It’s in motion that Super Mario Run feels like a franchise renegade. Instead of controlling Mario directly, you tap to interrupt his default motion and make more imaginative choices. Like redirecting him to sop up rows of coins or trounce trundling enemies with last second spins. A quick rap makes Mario hop, while a longer one boosts him twice as high. If you need to clear a chasm, tap midair and he’ll pirouette, gliding a bit further. Or if you’re about to overshoot a target, slide your finger left to stall and drop straight down. It’s all ABC-easy-as-123. And yes, you really can play one-handed.

This simplicity masks deeper layers. Tap near a wall or when landing on blocks painted with reverse arrows, for instance, and Mario springs backwards, letting you subvert the game’s one-wayness. Some of Super Mario Run‘s smartest sequences involve sussing out zigzag trajectories hidden in plain sight—where sticking your landings requires genuine mastery of the new tap-swipe controls. Left to his own devices, Mario automatically springs over low obstacles or enemies in his path, freeing players to focus on big picture antics. It’s smart less-is-more design that plays to the strengths of touchscreen gaming while sacrificing none of a gamepad’s precision. For all its hesitance embracing smartphones and tablets, Nintendo seems to have had no trouble designing software for them.

Taps and swipes aren’t stand-ins for button presses either, but a kind of parallel grammar for engaging with a boisterous little red and blue missile fired each time the clock starts. This is Mario in a garden of forking paths, a relentless money-Hoover that trips into armfuls of jingling cash, but who’ll take artful finessing to snatch a level’s coveted collectibles.

Their placement will torment you. Finding all the special coins in a set (like collecting stars in prior games) is tricky enough. But once you do, the game spawns another set—more ruthlessly positioned than the last. You can blast through Super Mario Run‘s World Tour levels in an afternoon, but then that’s true of most Mario games. Isolating all the collectibles, then pulling off the finger kung-fu necessary to grab everything in a single pass? Good luck.

Nintendo builds on this with a quasi-online “Toad Rally” mode you access by spending tickets earned in World Tour mode. Here, players race the “ghosts” of other players through stages in hopes of wooing greater numbers of multihued Toads. As in World Tour, you’re after coins during these races, but also the adulation of the Mario-verse’s cutesy speckle-capped creatures, gained by pulling off stylish moves. It’s a bit like skate-parking through a two-dimensional obstacle course.

Impress enough Toads and they’ll flock to your Mushroom Kingdom, where they become a kind of currency you can use to purchase items that help you spiff up the joint, play mini-games and unlock premier courses. The content in this mode feels a bit light just now, and it’s nothing like a “Sim Mario.” But the rally races are pleasantly nerve-wracking, and I assume some of these backend layers are really just groundwork for deeper functionality to come.

How Artificial Intelligence Is Getting More Human

There is one fairly serious problem with Super Mario Run: the game is “always-on,” meaning it only works with an active Internet connection. Sever that connection and the game throws up an error screen. There’s no way around it.

This means you can’t play Super Mario Run on an airplane without paying for Wi-Fi. You’re out of luck for whatever part of your subway commute involves cell service dropouts. And you’ll have to proxy the kids’ iPads through a smartphone if, like me, you live in flyover country and drive for hours to visit the in-laws. If you’re anywhere cell service drops, the game’s going to bark at you. This feels like a bizarre blind spot for a game that has none of realtime social benefits of inherently online games like Mobile Strike or Pokémon Go.

Nintendo argues it needs online connectivity to “offer a variety of features and services that enhance the play experience.” Last week, the company said it’s effectively about combating piracy. Either way, it’s unfortunate given how many comparable mobile games manage to do what Super Mario Run‘s generally up to without an online mandate. Online strictures in a game should flow from its design. And were there to be some Super Secret Really And Truly Necessary Reason that emerged here, there’s still a perception disconnect.

But if you’re able to make peace with the game’s online requirement (and to be fair, I was most of the time), the experience is mostly fantastic. Super Mario Run impresses in ways I wasn’t convinced this approach to the character could. This, let’s not forget, is Nintendo on someone else’s hardware making good. Who else can stroll this assuredly into a stranger’s house, size up the joint lickety-split, then remind us of how much we have yet to see?

5 out of 5

Reviewed on an iPhone 7 Plus

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Read Leonardo DiCaprio’s Moving Reflection on His Growing Pains TV Dad Alan Thicke

2016-12-15T21:00:06.195Z

Leonardo DiCaprio may only have appeared on ABC sitcom Growing Pains for one season as a child actor, but the Oscar winner had heartfelt things to say about his beloved on-screen dad, Alan Thicke, who passed away Tuesday.

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In a Facebook post, DiCaprio reflected on the impact that Thicke had on him as a young actor just getting started in his path to stardom. “He knew how to harness the power of the entertainment industry to be a positive influence in so many lives – including mine,” DiCaprio wrote.

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“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career. He had tremendous class, a huge heart, and he taught me and so many others the valuable lessons about humility and gratitude. I’ve seen him a number of times over the years and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler.”

On the show, which ran from 1985 to 1992, DiCaprio played a homeless teen that the classic suburban Seaver family decides to take in. He would go on to achieve acclaim in his breakout role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

EXCLUSIVE: ShaqIsDope Premieres "Falls Down"

2016-12-15T18:12:33.121Z

On a recent afternoon via phone call, ShaqIsDope shared intimate details about his life as an entertainer. He started rapping when he was 11 years old. He recorded his first song when he was 17 years old. At that age, most teenagers are worried about senior year studies. Or the youth are set to graduate from high school, with little to no idea about their futures. Nevertheless, the talented Toronto juvenile made other plans.

The name of the first song he recorded is "Too Fly Flow." Since 2010, meticulously, he's made his way to the messy desks of countless influencers in the industry.

When I about being in a hometown print publication he said, "It just felt really great to get that recognition. When I was back in high school, every morning before you get on the bus, the newsstand was right there. You would either grab the Metro or the NOW Toronto. I actually came to the barber shop this morning and saw the paper in there. They had a bunch of them, so it was dope."

As you've probably wondered or guessed, yes, he was named after NBA center Shaquille O'Neal. He also has a song with the 7-foot-tall athlete.

What attracts people most is Shaq's ability to steadily garner success and make commercial-ready music, and still remain charismatic and likable. It's a rare trait. Today, ShaqIsDope premieres "Falls Down" with Myspace.

"Falls Down was inspired by the mood I was in," the rapper explains. "I remember it being a Tuesday, around 7 PM and I was feeling really motivated. I kept saying to myself, I need to tell the world why I feel like I'm the best in my city. As soon as I played the beat, I immediately had the first lines ready."

We chatted with ShaqIsDope about his beginnings, influences and the Toronto scene. Read on to learn more.

Hometown/Homebase: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What inspired you to make music, and start rapping, in particular?

I always had a love for music. I was an avid Hip-Hop fan first. I was a fan of pop and R&B. My parents put me on to Michael Jackson. So still up until now, I think Michael Jackson is the greatest of all time. I used to share the same room with my brother. He was into Hip-Hop. He would play music by Fabolous, Jadakiss, and other East Coast rappers at the time who were coming up. I didn't want to listen to it, really but he was the older one, so I had no choice. Eventually, I developed a love for it.

Who are some of the people, or rappers, that naturally influenced you?

I'd have to say, Fabolous.

What was the vibe like in Toronto when you were coming up? Was the city friendly? Did you go out a lot? Were you the homebody? How would you describe what it was like, coming up for you?

Sometimes it was cool, and sometimes it was crazy. When you were downtown, you never know what you were going to get. A few minutes away, you have the biggest tourist attraction, which is the [CN] Tower. But a few minutes from there, there's the projects and other hoods. Growing up here, I saw crazy things. I just had to adapt to it. I had no choice because it was where I'm from. I always said to myself at a young age 'I can't be scared to be where I'm from because this is where I live. I just gotta suck it up. That's how I adapted to the streets.

If you were given the opportunity to be on reality television but it wasn't the ratchet kind, and it focused on music, artistry, and creativity, would you be interested?

Most definitely. I would want to do something like that. I would like to make a reality documentary, building up to my first album. I think it was great to show my recording process, and how I get my writing done. I feel like that would be kind of dope.

Has your music played on the local radio yet?

In the States, yes. Over here, no.

I'm looking at your interview with XXL, where you say you are the next superstar. When you get to where you want to be, will you change? What would your music sound like when you're in that moment?

I feel like, at that level, I won't even lie... When people say they won't change, I feel like they are not being real. I feel like people who have a 360 flip—that are kind of just extra with it—that's because money does change you. It does change you a little bit. I would be more accomplished. I think the music would sound different but one thing that would never change is the authenticity. I would be telling my fans what I had to do to get to that level. Money doesn't change everything. It would change a lot of things but it doesn't solve all of your problems. I feel the realness will still be there, whether I'm talking about how I just bought a quarter [of a] million dollar car or if I'm talking about why I don't want it anymore. No matter what, I'll still keep it real.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Yør Kultura Will Take You on the 'Odyssey'

2016-12-15T17:04:43.507Z

Even if you didn’t go to Burning Man this year or just don’t really like spending a week in a desert, you can still feel the festival vibes from the comfort of your home. With Odyssey, the newest release from Yør Kultura on the Earthly Delights label, you’ll be able to travel across the space and time. We’re happy to bring you the exclusive premiere of the track “Nomads” off the EP.

Tell me about your new label and what's your mission?

The two seasoned industry veterans, DJs and producers behind the label take inspiration from the dusty musical playgrounds of Burning Man, where they have already united some of the world’s top and up and coming talent; for the open air stages and the sandy dancefloors, spanning from US West Coast to Ibiza and Tulum. Uniting artists from across the globe, we believe in creating culturally diverse soundscapes, which capture ethnically rich musical inspirations; from driving rhythms and hypnotic percussion to enchanting melodies and often spellbinding vocals… We believe in pushing the boundaries of genres and hope to entrance the listeners and dancefloors with multiplicity of sounds.

What should we know about this release?

Odyssey is our first EP with 3 originals. It's has a quite dark and heavy atmosphere, together with live elements.

What inspired the track?

We've known each other quite some time, but the last few years, while travelling to various cultures, we got inspired by all the music the world has to offer. During our trips locals introduced us to various music and the stories behind the music. Back home we tried to recreate this feeling in our music and created this EP Odyssey. We try to melt cultures together and to tell a positive story in every track. The goal with our music is to tell the stories we experienced during our adventures.

What should we know about you?

We are a Danny, Raymon & Kris from Rotterdam, Netherlands. With our music we want to take people on a journey without a passport. We perform as a DJ duo as well as a three-person live electronic act.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

5 Rules For Surviving Your Company Holiday Party

2016-12-15T08:00:00.000Z

It’s Holiday time in the corporate world. That means that your office is likely stuffed with decorations, Christmas music and the looming landmine of social occasions that everyone loves to hate. There is no greater threat to your career or livelihood than the office Christmas party. If you follow my five simple rules, you’ll not only be able to survive it; you might get out unscathed.

Don’t Get Your Boss a Present (You Horrendous Suck Up)

There’s a part of you that will feel like this is the best possible time to show the people in charge of your company that you care about them. You want them to think that you are a caring, compassionate team member. You want to show them that you think they are more than just the oppressive corporate overlords. You want to get them a bottle of wine, or a Starbucks gift card, to show that the holiday season makes everyone a little more human.

Well don’t do that you fart sniffing brown-noser. For one thing, if you’ve never had a relationship with your boss that would include random gifts; what the hell makes you think that this is the right time to set that precedent? Why would you cross the line from hourly phone drone to modest attempt at human being? Also, think of the impression you’re giving to everyone else at the party. Who didn’t you buy a gift for? Is there someone that might be expecting that kind of attention that you’re ignoring in order to try to further your career via shitty little trinkets?

Good job jackass; way to kick the Holidays off with a bang.

Don’t Get Too Drunk (You Reckless Lush)

There is no phrase more enticing to worker drones than: “Open Bar.” An open bar is like getting accepted to Hogwarts for grown-ups. It’s a way to get shame-forgetting-drunk without paying for it. There is no person who can resist the siren call of the open bar; especially when it’s at an event that you’d most likely avoid if it didn’t mean being ostracized from important work social groups. That being said: don’t set up camp at the bar.

Yeah, have a couple, it might loosen you up after that shit show you caused with the gift thing. Show ‘em you have a little class by nursing a glass of single malt throughout the night. Have a couple of microbrews with some of the fellas, but keep it in check. You get too drunk and you’re going to do some dumb shit that you’ll never live down. We’ve all seen it: there’s that one person who’s had one too many and they think it’s a good idea to do their best stripper impression on the folks from HR. Stay away from the shots and make an early exit. You’re not going to listen to me are you?

Shut Your Noise Hole

You’re just going to run your own game on this, aren’t you? Just going to ignore my advice and do whatever you want. It’s not a complete loss yet. Maybe you’re a little embarrassed and a little drunk and starting to really feel in your groove. Cool. That’s fine. Confidence can be intoxicating, but as long as you’re feeling your oats maybe there’s a few topics you should steer clear of — especially when your tongue is waggling with the mighty power of whiskey.

Let’s say that the average office no go’s are still on the table. No politics, no religion and — oh god this is not a Junior High dance — keep your damn feelings to yourself. Maybe you feel a little whiskeyinvincible, but that doesn’t mean that it’s time for your personal airing of grievances or stories of unrequited office attraction. Yes you and the woman at the front desk have been flirting, but that doesn’t mean that now is the time for you to see where this could lead. You’ve already made enough mistakes tonight, call a cab.

You’re gonna ride this straight into the ground aren’t you?

DO NOT HUMP, OR ATTEMPT TO HUMP, ANYONE

Nobody at this party wants to hump you, and if they do it’s definitely a mistake. At this point the only way to save yourself, and possibly your career, would be for you to treat everyone at this party like genital kryptonite. Find yourself a nice quiet corner, have some coffee and wait for that last round of Jaeger Bombs to just work itself out of your system. You’re best bet is to walk away from this with the shame of getting a little too drunk and passing out at a table by yourself.

NO. NO DANCING. THERE IS NO GODDAMNED REASON YOU SHOULD BE OUT ON THE DANCE FLOOR! Sweet Jesus are you having a seizure? Are you trying to seduce that woman? I can't believe it's working. This has careened from mistake to train wreck really fast. Honestly, there is no saving you at this point is there? You’re just gonna do whatever the hell you want. You know what — fine — I tried to help. I tried to lay out some basic rules that would have saved you from yourself, but you think you know best. Fine. FINE! You’re on your fucking own. If you’re going to do it just be safe about it.

Don’t Talk About It Later

So here we are. You just decided to go it alone and not listen to a single thing that I had to say. You broke all of the rules and are waking up now with only a tertiary recollection of the desperation laced shit show that you put on last night. You decided, in your most stupidity induced state, that you were going to close the party down — and then head to an after party where all common sense was just thrown to the carefree winds. Bottom line is that drunk you hates sober you, but now sober you has to deal with the consequences. Drunk you is a dick.

So once sober you gets enough ibuprofen and pedialyte into your system you have one job: never mention it again. If there are pictures on your phone, delete them. Fuzzy memories that you moderately recollect, forget them. Going back to work on Monday is going to be the roughest day you’ve had so far. Tell everyone you only kinda remember stuff. Apologize for getting frat boy drunk and then promise that next time an office party rolls around you’ll try to listen to all of that advice the nice guy on the internet — WHO MADE ALL OF THESE MISTAKES SO YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO — had to give you.

Good luck, dipshit.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

8 Promising Rappers to Look Out For in 2017

2016-12-15T08:00:00.000Z

In 2016, avid hip-hop lovers have been spoiled by the releases of some of our favorite artists. We've watched Drake tinker with the boundaries of pop and hip-hop with his eclectic project Views, while having Chance The Rapper sprinkle us with his touch of holy water from his spiritual mixtape, Coloring Book. All across the board, veteran artists and newbies have deftly captivated us with their ambitious efforts.

As the year winds down, rap is seeking a new wave of potential talent to help spearhead the genre. After watching Young MA earn her stripes on "Ooouuu" and Desiigner win fans over with "Panda" and "Timmy Turner," fans are walking with a sense of aplomb, knowing that 2017 will have some new stars, and here are 8 we think will make the biggest waves in 2017.

Nick Grant

The South Carolina MC has garnered rave reviews because of his sparkling wordplay abilities. After releasing his '88 mixtape in February, the 28-year-old showcased his lyrical prowess on Hot 97 and Sway in the Morning. He's a one man wrecking ball and can obliterate any MC on the mic. Andre 3000, Nas, and Young Jeezy all vouch for this mind-blowing lyricist. Grant is currently prepping the release of his new project, Return of The Cool, with "Get Up" serving as his current single.

KR

Another South Carolina artist on the cusp of stardom is 20-year-old KR. Recently, he debuted with his new project It Could Happen, with "Read Your Mind" serving his fans' first real look at the cunning wordsmith. Lauded for his pen-game, he's drawn comparisons to Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar. Currently, he's signed to Epic Records and has over 7 million streams on Soundcloud.

Don Q

In 2016, New York was rejuvenated by a new wave of artists ranging from Young MA, A Boogie and Don Q. Q possesses the quintessential New York swagger that would make old school veterans like Jadakiss and Styles P grin. Not only did he eviscerate his Hot 97 freestyle with FunkMaster Flex, he also held his own when he was tapped for a feature by Meek Mill on Dreamchasers 4. His new mixtape, Don Season, is just his warm-up project before he shakes things up in 2017.

Sylvan LeCue

Years ago, Sylvan was part of Logic's Visionary Music Group when he rapped under the name QuESt. Feverishly hoping to create a buzz on his own terms, he jumped shipped, reworked his blueprint and was looking to crack open the window of opportunity. He had his opportunity when he gift wrapped his project Searching Sylvan to his fans and unexpected listeners in 2014. Then, he changed his name and maintained his momentum when he released his project Far For Familiar in April.

Jazz Cartier

The Canadian upstart gained a legion of fans when he released his sophomore project Hotel Paranoia at the top of the year. Known for his dark and bombastic sound, he had several winners on his tape ranging from "Talk of the Town" to "Red Alert." Back in July, Cartier released "Lil Wayne" to pay homage to the rap legend Weezy F. Baby. To his surprise, Wayne stamped his approval of the record with a tweet. With Toronto proving to be a hotbed for new talent, expect Cartier to break through the proverbial glass ceiling in 2017.

Kamayiah

This Oakland-bred rapper's stock skyrocketed when she won the streets over with her hard-nosed and dogged effort, A Good Night in the Ghetto, this year. Her street smash "F*ck It Up" earned her over 2 million views on YouTube and features the original gangsta himself YG. The "Who Do Love Rapper" called on Kamayiah for his own heater "Why You Always," which featured the man with the Midas touch, Drake. This year alone, Kamayiah already found herself featured on XXL, Forbes, VIBE and Noisey. Don't sleep on this '90s baby, because she knows how to bring the pain.

Nino Bless

Sometimes all you need is a break. For Nino Bless, he took a two year hiatus and recently resurfaced when he dropped "Mind Altering." The Brooklyn rapper wiped the dust off his notebook and continued his rampage when he followed that up with "Shia Lebouf." Then he released his first project in a minute with Audio Trip 2 and made a huge splash. If he can stay in the studio, Nino can definitely bless the genre with some serious ear-candy.

Noname Gypsy

There's a good chance that Chicago might plow through rap within the next couple of years because of its serious crop of talent. With Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa and Mick Jenkins being on the forefront of their cities' new wave, we'd be remiss to not include Noname Gypsy as another integral building block to Chicago's potential in rap. The poetic star's Telefone project was gleaming with radiant cuts like "Diddy Bop," "Reality Check" and "Sunny Duet." Telefone also featured a bevy of young talent like Chance, Mick, Raury, Saba, and more.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Sara Evans Recaps a Family-Filled 2016

2016-12-15T08:00:00.000Z

Juggling a successful music career and a large family can be difficult, but it’s a challenge multi-platinum country superstar Sara Evans handles with aplomb.

Currently on the road wrapping up an 11-city Christmas tour, Evans will be returning home shortly to work on her eighth studio album and first on Sugar Hill Records, after recently signing with Concord Music Group.

Even with all of her music (and mom) duties, Evans took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her 2016 and reflect on a year filled with family, fun and finding some positivity in the world.

Most important lesson you learned, or that was reinforced, in 2016: Family is EVERYTHING! It’s not a new lesson, but definitely one that was reinforced this year.

Person who floored you with their kindness this year: Dolly Parton. I love what she is doing to support the families affected by the East Tennessee fires.

Moment that made you cry tears of sadness: When the world lost Merle Haggard.

Moment that made you cry tears of joy: There are too many great moments with my family to choose from!

The most interesting, or random, opportunity that came your way in 2016: Todd Chrisley and I wrote a song for his wife’s birthday, and we performed it at her birthday party. Their whole family is so sweet. I loved getting to be a part of their celebration.

Favorite moment on a tour bus in 2016: Whenever my kids, or my niece, Milly, are able to come out with me.

Personal travel horror story of 2016: My band’s bus broke down three times on the way to a show. I was at the venue and ready to go on, but my crew couldn’t get there in time. We had to reschedule the show. My band and I were so disappointed to have to let the fans down, but sometimes things are just out of your control.

Favorite concert you performed in 2016: I just performed my first Christmas show of the season in Birmingham with so many friends and family in the audience. It was such a sweet kickoff to my holiday tour.

Favorite concert you attended in 2016: Two of my kids – Avery and Olivia – played together in a band for a Halloween party this year. It was such a proud mom moment!

Most moving fan interaction you had this year: I hate when any child is suffering, but I love when I’m able to meet with terminally ill children and offer them a bright moment in what was probably a rough week.

Favorite “mom” moment of 2016: I love cooking for my family, and I had a lot of moments this year where I got to teach my girls some of our family secrets. Those moments were really special.

Most difficult “mom” moment of 2016: Balancing a blended family with seven kids and a successful music career is never an easy feat. Being a mom comes first, always, but I still try and get out to see my fans as much as possible.

Craziest thing you did to prepare for your appearance on Celebrity Family Feud: We had buzzer-slapping practice before we started the game. It’s all in the wrist!

Favorite new musical discovery: Maren Morris! I’m excited to see what she does in 2017.

Album that stayed in heavy rotation in your personal playlist in 2016: John Mayer will always be in my playlist.

Favorite new TV addiction: This is Us.

Favorite movie you watched in 2016: I was on the bus one day, and Steel Magnolias was on, and I ended up getting sucked in and watching the whole thing. I forgot how much I loved that movie.

Most embarrassing song you caught yourself singing along to this year: If you like a song, you like a song. I don’t think anyone should feel embarrassed for their personal tastes in music, no matter how out there it is.

Thing from 2016 you hope stays in 2016: All the negativity associated with the election. It’s over, and now it’s time to look to making 2017 the best it can be no matter who you voted for.

Thing you’re most looking forward to in 2017: Let’s just say I’ve been working on some new music. ;)

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

9 Artists We Wish Had Been on VH1 Storytellers

2016-12-15T08:00:00.000Z

Once a staple of VH1, VH1 Storytellers has almost completely disappeared, having aired only one new episode over the past three years (Ed Sheeran in 2015). That said, a whopping 97 artists have appeared on the show, telling the stories behind some of their biggest hits and favorite songs.

While 97 is in impressive number, going through the long list of names who’ve been featured, we noticed quite a few amazing artists were missing. Here are nine of those artists we wish had been on VH1 Storytellers.

Fiona Apple

She didn’t go to “Sleep to Dream,” she felt like a “Criminal,” and she was a “Shadowboxer,” and that was just on her debut album. Always outspoken, and with lyrics that are both personal and deep, Fiona Apple would’ve been a perfect choice for an episode of Storytellers.

Sade

A whole lotta people have made a whole lotta babies to the music of Sade. Sultry, seductive and downright sexy, Sade’s music has always been an excellent soundtrack for a night with a significant other, but who wouldn’t love to hear her talk about her inspirations for both her lyrics, and the way in which she sings them? We know we would!

Seal

It’s never a bad time to listen to Seal. The man has an impressive, wide-ranging catalogue of songs, and he also seems like a legitimately fascinating guy. Combine those elements, and you have an artist we’d love to hear talk for hours about his work.

Ben Folds Five

The music of Ben Folds Five ranges from the deeply personal to wildly colorful, and no matter which version of his work you prefer (for the record, we love both), we have a feeling there’s a great story behind every one of his songs. He also seems like he has the right personality for an episode of Storytellers, as we think he’d have some fun with the format.

U2

I know what you’re thinking, because we’re thinking it, too: how on earth was there never an episode of Storytellers featuring U2? From their inception through the early-90s, the biggest Irish band of all-time gave us hits that ranged from the heartfelt to the political. Also, we’re talking about Bono here, who loves to talk. This would’ve been a match made in TV Heaven.

Bryan Adams

I know many of you, whether you’ll admit it or not, consider the music of Bryan Adams a guilty pleasure. Well, feel guilty no more, because — newsflash — everybody loves them some Bryan Adams, and we’d love to hear him talk about his inspirations for hits like “Summer of ’69,” “Heaven” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You.” Even if you kept it a secret, you know you’d tune in for that.

The Cranberries

The Cranberries gave listeners everything from the personal, with songs like “Linger” and “Ode To My Family,” to the political, with songs like “Zombie.” Hearing Dolores O’Riordan tell us the stories behind those songs, and many others, would be an absolute treat, as The Cranberries are a truly underrated group from the ‘90s.

Beck

We don’t know about you, but we’ve always wanted to know why a “Devil’s Haircut” was on Beck’s mind, and why he once thought he was a “Loser.” A man with a unique gift for strange yet captivating songwriting, Beck breaking down his own music would be a masterclass in the avant-garde.

Limp Bizkit

Honestly, we’d just love to hear Fred Durst wax poetic about the inspirations for songs like “Nookie” and “Break Stuff.” “It’s just one of those days …” OK, Fred, but tell us more about those days. What was going on in your life that inspired you to want to “Break Stuff?” Give us the backstory … and where did you get that chainsaw?!?!

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

Instagram Just Added a New Feature That Lets You Save Other Users’ Posts

2016-12-14T22:52:45.318Z

Instagram is launching a new feature that will make it easier to revisit posts from other users.

Instagrammers will begin seeing a bookmark icon underneath posts in their feeds, the company announced Wednesday. Tapping the icon will add that photo or video to a private tab in their profiles. The account that shared the post will not be able to tell if it’s been saved. The update will be released on Wednesday for iOS and Android, and in the coming weeks for Windows 10 devices.

Here Are the Most Popular Google Search Terms of 2016

Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, is highlighting the new feature as an ideal tool for those who use its app to keep track of new ideas, not just to follow their friends, making it a more viable alternative to Pinterest.

“When you stumble upon a funny video you want to remember, a new outfit you like or even inspiration for an upcoming vacation, you can now keep track of favorite posts right from your profile,” the company wrote in a blog post announcing the feature.

You Can Finally Order Apple’s Wireless AirPod Earbuds

Instagram has added other capabilities to its app over the past several months to help it take on social media rivals like Snapchat. In November, users were given the ability to send disappearing photos and videos to followers, and just last week, they got the option to turn off comments and remove followers.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen to Jordan Burchel’s 'Vowel Sounds' Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-14T17:37:46.029Z

Jordan Burchel isn’t afraid to shy away from the personal — or the bizarre. On his sophomore album Vowel Sounds, Burchel sings about the vulnerability of love, the temptation to forget his past and becoming friends with the self-loathing voices in his head. It has some superb production, too: the electroacoustic wanderings on songs like “Blesh” and “Why They Call You Blue” are larger than life.

And then there’s "Constants," a particularly intimate song that highlights Burchel’s rich, melodious vocals.

“This song is about a good love, a redeeming love,” says Burchel to Myspace.

“In it, I’m marveling at the fact that I’ve made myself so vulnerable and gotten hurt. It’s not explicitly in the song, but when I’m singing it, it’s a thank you note to the person who is giving me so much love, and a promise that I’ll return it. It was important to me to admit somewhere that I was terrified by the prospect of opening myself up to someone again. Much like 'Why They Call You Blue,' I’m trying to admit my discomfort but move forward anyways.”

Listen to Vowel Sounds ahead of its December 16 release date exclusively on Myspace below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Pat Lok Dancefloor

2016-12-14T17:27:51.234Z

If you were reading music blogs during 2006-2008, there's a certain electronic genre that can be associated with those years — catchy tracks that balance house with pop for a classic sound colloquially known as blog house, charged up with energy and alight with ambition. The internet was a different beast back then, somewhat in its infancy and so much more innocent. A time when you could actually read the comment sections.

Hype Machine helped to usher in a new era as the scene evolved from downloads to streams and beyond. Pat Lok's invigorated EP My Own Throne is like a bridge between the recent past and present, with his disco-driven house tracks standing as a reminder and more realized version of the gold you could stumble upon in blogland, but that now lives on via Soundcloud. It's music that sounds both cutting edge and nostalgic at the same time, equally suited to pumping from an iPhone as it's ready to fill a dancefloor.

Since the EP came out over the summer on definitive electro label Kitsune, Lok has kept a calendar full of dates, traversing the globe from Paris to Shanghai in support of the EP's two original songs and accompanying remix. We caught with Lok on the eve of his Asia tour to chat about his early music and the evolution of his production, the scene in Vancouver, his alliance with Kitsune and the rewards of playing out.

Hometown/Homebase: Vancouver, BC

How did you get into electronic and house music? Was there a conduit such as a blog, club or producer that acted as a gateway?

I started DJing on vinyl back in university... I'd listen to Pete Tong's BBC Essential Mix every Saturday and would try to spot all the tracks and find them on Juno or in local stores. Then I'd take all these big dance and house records and try to fit them into my weekly five-hour gig at the bar. Looking back, those sets must have sounded pretty intense, since electronic music wasn't really big or mainstream yet in Vancouver outside of raves.

How did you start producing music to begin with? What were your earliest tracks like? How would you describe the evolution to now?

I used to run Fruity Loops (FL Studio), now mostly Ableton. It really doesn't matter what you make music on, but my early stuff was terrible. Everyone has to deal with that. It's funny when some artists pretend like they started yesterday and their shit never stank, because the truth is you start out making a lot of hot garbage before it gets less garbage-y.

How did you link up with Kitsune?

Kitsune has obviously been an iconic tastemaker over the years, I remember listening to the early Digitalism and MSTRKRFT stuff. I probably even sent them a few demos back in the day. A few months ago they reached out asking to hear some demos, so I sent over an early cut of My Own Throne and it sort of went from there. I'm excited to be a part of this legendary brand!

How would you describe the current scene of Vancouver in terms of music and the club scene?

Vancouver always punches above its weight class. Lots of terrific producers and artists, touring on the international stage and also locally — I'm proud to have worked with several on my own records (Claire Mortifee, Desiree Dawson, Dirty Radio). There are also a few collectives doing their thing which is really important, building communities through workshops and putting on cool events. In terms of shows, the city gets a ton of great acts and has a dialed-in and knowledgeable crowd too.

You tour widely. How important is playing out to you and what's the best part? How would you describe the balance between production, internet presence and packing out clubs?

Touring is integral to any artist's career in the YouTube era. It's always been important, but now there is so much quality music out there that making a connection in-person can be a difference maker. Playing live shows, which I started doing this year, is yet another level because the crowd's energy and focus is so different and because your margin for error is so small compared to DJing.

One of my favorite things is when someone comes up after a show to say: maybe their friend brought them there, but they didn't know who I was before, and now they're a fan. I feel that the balance between making music and touring, and the marketing aspect, is a choice each artist has to make for themselves. Some artists are okay with having other people make their music while they DJ shows around the world. Others don't like to be on social media and just want the music to speak for itself. It really goes back to what your own goals are, your motivations. I love DJing and playing live shows, but finishing an original song or track, not much can compare to that feeling (except performing it live).

If someone is throwing a small party at their apartment, but wants an epic night, what should their playlist include?

It's always about the vibe. Is it a dinner party? Someone's birthday? New jams are key, but I'm also about the throwbacks. You can never go wrong with Janet [Jackson].

What do you find most magic about music?

The moment when you're listening to something, maybe at a show, and you get those chills. Sometimes (very rarely) it might even be your own music. Goosebumps... that's the sweet spot.

What's next on the horizon for you in terms of 2017?

Lots of writing. I'm currently finishing an album to be released on Kitsune, working on some exciting tours and developing new elements for my live show. Hope you'll stay tuned!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

The Music Legacy of Alan Thicke

2016-12-14T17:16:12.865Z

Late last night, entertainment fans were saddened with the news that the great Alan Thicke had died at the age of 69. Beloved sitcom father, perhaps most known as the Seavers patriarch on ABC’s Growing Pains, Thicke’s long-standing impact on pop-culture doesn’t just include the favorite TV dad we’d see every week, but the composer of numerous themes we’d hear and the real life father of Robin Thicke. He spread a whole lot of joy over his almost seven-decades on planet Earth, and we were very happy to be caught up in the Thicke of it. This is our look back at the musical legacy of Alan Thicke.

“The Joker’s Jive” (1972)

Already beginning to establish himself as an actor, Alan Thicke had refined musical chops amongst his talents and scored his first major television score with the theme to '70s game show The Joker’s Wild. Instantly infectious and subversively lush, it’s a feel-good groove that doesn’t just make you want to watch a complete stranger win money, but set his career as a reliable composer into motion.

“The Wizard of Odds” (1973)

The next year, Thicke showed off his skills as a lyricist and singer with the theme to game show The Wizard of Odds. The show was a trivia challenge hosted by a pre-Jeopardy Alex Trebek. In the most '70s piece of music you’ll hear today, Thicke sings about how good Alex Trebek is going to make you feel, including the prospect of winning money. This particular YouTube embed also includes Thicke’s other arrangements of the melody, presumably used for different parts of the show’s games. While The Wizard of Odds only lasted just about a year, the theme song still goes strong four decades later.

“Diff’rent Strokes” (1978)

Thicke’s music first found its way into syndicated immortality with his theme for Diff’rent Strokes. As catchy as his best work, Thicke’s lyrics here heard outside of a TV time slot actually sound rather profound. Making the world a more tolerant, understanding place, one rerun at a time.

“The Facts of Life” (1979)

The next year, Thicke struck back with another generation-defining sitcom theme in The Facts of Life. While most shows had an opening theme that either spelled out the plot or tried mainly to convey a tone, both here and on Diff’rent Strokes, Thicke instead used the lyrics to resonate with the viewer directly. Written entirely in second-person (both share a tremendous emphasis on “you”) Thicke allowed the voyeuristic electric box to offer a direct musical emoting from its audience.

“Thicke of the Night” (1984)

Late night used to be a much more challenging world to enter. With Johnny Carson’s dominance for decades, aspiring new programs had to have an entirely different look, sound and feel to them. When Alan Thicke was tapped to host such a show, his many talents were to be utilized. Beginning each episode performing the show’s titular theme “Thicke of the Night,” he’d made a spiritual successor to “The Wizard of Odds” by making the most '80s-sounding piece of music ever recorded.

“Bailout Santa” (2008)

Created as a favor for his friends at Seattle’s The Beta Society, Alan Thicke served up the seasonal cult favorite “Bailout Santa.” A fitting holiday tune for the recession, it served up some much-needed laughs, and serve as a reminder of what we were able to survive.

Queen For a Day (2012)

Alan Thicke also brought his musical gifts to the stage. While be briefly performed in the famed show Chicago in the mid-90s, his most memorable impact came from composing original music for Queen For a Day, an aughts musical about the very first reality show. Originating in Canada and eventually brought into the states, getting something live, loud and Thicke on stage was a delight to many audiences.

“Ain’t No Hat 4 That” (2013)

On the same album where his song had his biggest success (“Blurred Lines”), Robin Thicke worked with his father on “Ain’t No Hat 4 That,” a catchy earworm that’s both seductive as well as makes you want to watch a game show. Those signature Alan Thicke fingerprints are all over this one, and he plays to his son’s strengths perfectly.

See more tributes to late, great stars be visiting our In Memoriam page.

Beyonce Closes Out 2016 As Most Googled Artist

2016-12-14T16:52:47.670Z

It's official. 2016 was Beyonce's year on the interwebs. According to Google's recent findings, the Lemonade singer became the most Googled artist this year. Celine Dion, Kesha, Khelani and Coldplay rounded out the top five.

With the release of her controversial "Formation" video, followed by that Super Bowl performance and, of course, "Becky with the good hair," there were just so many things that people wanted to learn more about regarding Mrs. Carter. As for Celine, her return to her Las Vegas residency and the passing of her husband ranked the diva at the second spot. Then Kesha's legal troubles and Kehlani's debut record and time in the hospital put them on that list.

Meanwhile, see the most Googled songs of 2016 below.

1. Beyoncé -- "Formation"

2. Prince -- "Purple Rain"

3. Rae Sremmurd -- "Black Beatles"

4. Desiigner -- "Panda"

5. Drake -- "One Dance"

6. DNCE -- "Cake by the Ocean"

7. Adele -- "Hello"

8. Ruth B -- "Lost Boy"

9. Disturbed -- "Sound of Silence"

10. Mike Posner -- "I Took a Pill in Ibiza"

Robin Thicke on Alan Thicke: "He Was the Best Man I Ever Knew"

2016-12-14T16:48:20.332Z

Following the death of Alan Thicke on Tuesday (December 13), the Growing Pains star's son, Robin Thicke, expressed how he felt via social media.

He wrote in a post on Instagram, "My Father passed away today. He was the best man I ever knew. The best friend I ever had. Let's all rejoice and celebrate the joy he brought to every room he was in We love you Alan Thicke. Thank you for your love. Love, your grateful son."

He also talked to the LA Times last night and said, "The good thing was that he was beloved and he had closure,” the R&B singer said. "I saw him a few days ago and told him how much I loved and respected him."

Alan Thicke suffered a heart attack while playing hockey with his son, Carter. He was immediately brought to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

See Robin's post below.

A photo posted by Robin Thicke (@robinthicke) on Dec 13, 2016 at 11:57pm PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Bruno Mars and James Corden Swap Hats, Talk Spanx & Sing Hits on 'Carpool Karaoke'

2016-12-14T16:39:57.026Z

Returning with his latest album, 24K Magic, Bruno Mars has been doing the promo circuit. So it was no surprise that he joined James Corden on his ever so popular "Carpool Karaoke."

The duo sang tracks like "Uptown Funk," "Locked Out of Heaven" and the latest, "24K Magic." While those were great renditions, it was the dance-worthy "Perm," that stole the show since James wore the same outfit Bruno had on.

The guys also tried on random hats, chatted about undressing their lady loves and Bruno's early Elvis impersonation days.

Watch it below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-12-14T08:00:00.000Z

This week, Tom Petty brings his heartbreakers out of retirement, Aerosmith goes into retirement and Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie team up for next summer. Here's who we're most excited to see announce tours.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Anniversary Tour

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are reuniting for a summer tour in celebration of the band's 40th anniversary. From mid-April to late July, catch the band throughout the South, Midwest and East Coast, kicking off with a performance at the Chesapeake Energy Center in Oklahoma City, OK, on April 20. Click here for more info.

Mariah Carey & Lionel Richie 'All the Hits' Tour

In an unexpected yet totally genius pairing, Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey are teaming up for a joint tour set for spring of next year. The 35-show run is being billed as the "All the Hits Tour," and will kick off on March 15. Included on the itinerary are stops in Chicago, Denver, Toronto, NYC and Boston, with the final show slated for May 27 at the BB&T Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Click here for more info.

Aerosmith 'Aero-Vederci' Tour

Looks like it’s the end of the road for Aerosmith. The legendary rock group recently announced a batch of tour dates they’re claiming will be their last. Dubbed the “Aero-Vederci” tour, the current run of shows takes place in Europe, kicking off on May 17 in Tel Aviv, Israel, followed by stops in Russia, Germany, Ireland, France and more. Click here for more info.

A Perfect Circle 2017 Tour

For the first time in six years, A Perfect Circle will hit the road. The Maynard James Keenan-led group have announced four shows for next spring, with three of them taking place at festivals. A full spring tour is expected to be announced soon, as well as details on a new album. (Still no Tool album, though.) Click here for more info.

Sigur Rós 2017 North American Tour

Icelandic group Sigur Rós have just announced plans for an exciting series of concerts taking place throughout North America next year. The trio will perform from April to June, with every concert featuring a career-spanning set and custom visual show. Among the stops will be a slot at Hangout Festival on May 20. Click here for more info.

5 Must-See Pro Wrestling Documentaries

2016-12-14T08:00:00.000Z

The only thing better than the chaos and absurdity found in a professional wrestling ring is the real-life drama found backstage. The Shakespearian level conflicts and characters we see with wrestlers and promoters is the real compelling and exciting stuff that fans should be spending their money on. Thankfully there’s some in-depth and harrowing documentaries that explore the secrets and, many times, dark sides of professional wrestling.

Searching through streaming sites like Netflix or Hulu, you’ll find brilliantly produced films that give us a look inside the world of muscles and spandex. Whether or not you enjoy this form of entertainment or just consider wrestling a “soap opera” for men, these documentaries are unfiltered and powerful viewing experiences. You won’t find sterile and skewed WWE videos in this batch.

For your viewing pleasure, we pick out the five best, critically acclaimed docs that examine the tragedies, sacrifices and achievements of pro wrestling.

Beyond The Mat (1999)

If you’re a fan of the wacky, comedic and fun side of professional wrestling, this documentary definitely isn’t for you. STAY AWAY! Arguably the most talked about and famous wrestling documentary ever is the 1999 film Beyond the Mat. Released during the height of the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars between WWE and WCW, the film pulls back the kayfabe curtain and lets fans see the inner workings of pro wrestling. The film doesn’t hold back in showing the real pain and humanity of the people behind the characters.

This film gave viewers almost unprecedented access to the guarded world of Vince McMahon and WWE (then WWF). It’s not like today where you can go online and instantly find out the backstage heat and happenings. Besides covering the politics and drama of WWE and the now-defunct ECW, the film spotlights three wrestlers: Mick Foley (aka Mankind), Terry Funk and Jake “The Snake” Roberts. All three veterans go through painful story arcs in order to achieve that wrestling glory. Foley almost dies in his infamous Hell-in-a-Cell match; Funk refuses to retire even though his body is barely functional and Jake uses drugs and alcohol to combat his sad battle with personal demons. Riveting stuff you can’t miss!

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012)

While most wrestling fans remember the 1980s as the decade that WWE ushered in WrestleMania and the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling connection, a lesser known but equally outrageous wrestling promotion rose to fame during that time. The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, otherwise known as G.L.O.W., was a female-only wrestling brand that was part live-action cartoon, part sketch show and part sitcom with wrestling sprinkled throughout. Even though the original brand lasted from 1986-1990, the crazy characters and wacky antics left a mark with fans.

For those of you that may have forgotten about GLOW, the 2012 documentary directed by Brett Whitcomb takes us down memory lane covering the creation and production of the show — that of course, was shot on the Las Vegas Strip. We meet the women behind characters such as Little Fiji, Tina Ferrari (Ivory in WWE), Spanish Red, and Heavy Metal. The film’s entertaining and fun, perfectly capturing the essence of the era while giving us the bonus of having a heartfelt reunion with all of the women at the end.

Netflix earlier this year announced a 10-episode series based on GLOW starring Alison Brie, so this documentary is a must watch before that show airs.

The Resurrection of Jake the Snake (2015)

Every wrestling fan knows of the trials and tribulations Jake “The Snake” Roberts has faced outside of the ring. His dark and troubling battles with drugs and alcohol made him the poster boy for the darkside of wrestling. His self-destruction was so infamous that it was one of the inspirations behind the 2008 Mickey Rourke film, The Wrestler.

Just like we saw in Beyond the Mat, this documentary shows us Jake years removed from his glory days as a wrestling superstar. In the beginning we find him struggling to find a reason to fight and stay alive. Luckily for Jake and his fans, friend and fellow wrestling star Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) extends a helping hand and turns this film into the ultimate comeback story. This film is less about pro wrestling and more about addiction. You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy Jake’s journey of redemption, hope and love. Regardless of how tough or macho you may think you are or know that type, watching this will hit you in the feels and get those waterworks started.

Bonus Tip: An offshoot to Jake’s story is how Diamond Dallas Page also helped troubled wrestler Scott Hall, which you can watch in the mini documentary - ESPN E:60 Scott Hall “The Wrestler.”

The Sheik (2014)

The story of the man that will make you humble. Just don’t ask him how!

If Jake’s film is a journey of redemption, then the 2014 film The Sheik is a wild, up and down roller coaster ride of one of the craziest personalities you’ll ever see. Hossein Khosrow Vaziri better known to everyone as the prototypical wrestling baddie The Iron Sheik, has lived such an unbelievable, over-the-top life that it’s all covered in this thorough and well told documentary. Using crisp visuals and graphics, we learn about Vaziri’s life aided by a variety of interviews featuring wrestling legends such as The Rock, Mick Foley, and Hulk Hogan.

Respected and feared in the wrestling community as a legit tough guy, the doc covers the early days of Vaziri’s life growing up in Tehran, Iran serving as a bodyguard for the Shah as well as being an Olympic Gold-Medalist. From there we see the highs and lows of his wrestling career, followed by the all too familiar post-wrestling years dealing with addiction. One of the saddest segments is when Vaziri recalls the murder of one of his daughters, which sparked his downward spiral. You’ll go through a gamut of emotions watching this excellent profile of a wrestling icon.

Lucha Mexico (2016)

There’s more to Mexican Lucha Libre then colorful masks and high flying moves. If you were thinking of Jack Black’s Nacho Libre, shame on you! Filmmakers Ian Markiewicz and Alex Hammond give viewers a full breakdown on what Lucha Libre is, exploring its importance not only to wrestling but to its Mexican culture. Viewers learn about wrestling South of the Border through the eyes of the men that compete in the ring. There’s the veteran Shocker, his buddies El Gitano and American Jon Strongman, and finally there’s the second generation star, Perro Aguayo Jr.

What starts off as a general view of the sport and culture takes a turn becoming emotional and tragic as two of the subjects end up passing away during the course of the film. CMLL wrestler Fabiano El Gitano was murdered in his home, while Perro Aguayo Jr. infamously died in the ring from a spine fracture during a match with Rey Misterio Jr. While the documentary never hits the emotional and powerful highs that other films on this list do, viewers will come away with a better understanding and respect for the lucha stars that give everything for the business they love.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

10 Albums You Won't Believe Turned 10 Years Old in 2016

2016-12-14T08:00:00.000Z

Pop music is one of the fastest-moving industries out there, and it slows down for no one. Even the biggest stars in the world sometimes have a difficult time keeping up with the pace of the business, and no matter how big a certain song may be or how many millions of copies an album may shift, before they (or the listener) realizes, it’s been years, and the next smash is well overdue.

This year is particularly important in pop music, as there are quite a few memorable tracks and CDs that are turning 10. Some of these may not come as too much of a surprise, while others will surely make you believe you’ve aged years in just a moment. These 10 albums defined 2006 — as well as the years that followed — because many of them stuck around for quite some time, spinning off hit after hit after hit.

There is no way you don’t remember these jams, and if you haven’t listened in a while, go give another spin to those CDs you have hidden away somewhere, as you’re bound to own at least one of these. Oh, and have a glass of wine or two while you do it, because despite the upbeat nature of the songs on these albums, the fact that they’re now a decade old is sure to give you all of the feelings.

Nelly Furtado - 'Loose'

After proclaiming herself “Like A Bird” and singing about the shit “On The Radio,” Nelly Furtado clearly wanted to ditch the acoustic guitars and try something totally different. She partnered up with super producer Timbaland, and the resulting music was pure magic. Loose turned out hit after hit, and for a while, it seemed as if that album would never stop. The record spun off number one hits “Promiscuous” and “Say It Right,” as well as the criminally underrated “Maneater.”

Christina Aguilera - 'Back To Basics'

After getting down and “Dirrrty” with her sexed-up image on Stripped, Xtina transformed back into Christina for her next effort, Back To Basics. The throwback album was inspired by all things pin-up, which worked perfectly for a blonde bombshell like Aguilera. The album wasn’t quite as successful as her previous ones single-wise, though “Ain’t No Other Man” is still an undeniable jam to this day.

Beyoncé - 'B’Day'

By the time B’Day was released, Beyoncé had already left Destiny’s Child behind her and ventured out on her own with much success, but she still had a lot to prove. Sometimes it's the second album that defines if someone is truly going to make it as a solo star or not, and thankfully, though not surprisingly, B’Day did just that. Songs like “Déjà Vu,” “Irreplaceable” and the still-fierce “Ring The Alarm” stood out immediately, and while she’s moved on with her career, this was a phenomenal era.

Justin Timberlake - 'FutureSex/LoveSounds'

FutureSex/LoveSounds started off with the fearless electronic bang known as “SexyBack,” which is exactly where the album and its singer never looked. By the time the promotion surrounding JT’s sophomore solo album wrapped after about two years, it had produced six Top 20 hits, including a trio of number ones: “SexyBack,” “My Love” and "What Goes Around… Comes Around,” all of which are still just as unstoppable as the first time they were played. After this massive campaign, Timberlake took some time off from music, letting fans linger on the masterpiece he’d gifted them.

Paris Hilton - 'Paris'

Yes, that’s right, it’s been 10 years since Paris Hilton released her last, and only, album, and isn’t it a shame she’s never been able to muster another full collection since? While the “singer” may be something of a joke, the record named after her was not, and anybody who knows pop music can attest to the fact that Paris does not deserve the bad rap it’s gotten. Lead single “Stars Are Blind” is shockingly great, and songs like “Nothing In This World,” “Not Leaving Without You," and especially “Screwed” are all very much worth your while if you’ve never bothered to listen.

Lily Allen - 'Alright, Still'

It might not have been a smash success in the US, but Lily Allen’s Alright, Still is one of the best albums to straddle the line between pop and alternative music of all time. The record failed to produce any real hits in America, but in the singer’s home country of the UK, it managed four Top 20 smashes, with “Smile” leading the way and becoming her first No. 1 song.

Fergie - 'The Dutchess'

While the pop star hasn’t been completely off the radar since she finished promoting her solo effort The Dutchess, it’s hard to argue the world couldn’t use a little less Black Eyed Peas and a little more Fergie sometimes. The album is one of the rare titles that produced three No. 1 singles — “London Bridge,” Glamorous” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” — as well as Top 10 hits “Clumsy” and “Fergalicious,” which people can still spell to this day. In the past few years, the singer has released a few new solo cuts, but none of them have compared to the fare heard on The Dutchess.

Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black'

She may have only released two albums in her short lifetime, but Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black will be remembered as one of the absolute best pop records ever made. Songs like “Rehab” and “You Know I’m No Good” helped ensure the world heard her, but every song on the collection is perfection, with non-hits like “Tears Dry On Their Own,” “Back To Black,” and especially “Love Is A Losing Game” remaining a standard that few artists can reach.

'High School Musical'

Ten years ago, the world was introduced to Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron, and while their relationship may not have lasted, we still love them and the movie musical that made them stars. We may laugh at it now, but in 2006, the music featured in High School Musical was serious business. The soundtrack to the made-for-TV movie hit the top spot on the albums chart and ended the year as the best-selling album of 2006. Lead single “Breaking Free” ended up in the Top 5, and it started a franchise that might not have lasted long, but which made Disney a lot of money.

Pink - 'I’m Not Dead'

After leaving her early R&B days behind her, Pink went full-on into new territory, turning herself into pop’s resident rocker chick. That didn’t work out so well on the charts with her album Try This, so I’m Not Dead really had to go well, because her career was riding on it to a certain extent. She rightfully reclaimed her role as a serious hitmaker and radio mainstay with the singles released off of her fourth studio album, and in 2006, tracks like “Who Knew” and “U + Ur Hand” were inescapable...not that we minded.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

Yes, Donald Trump Just Met With Kanye West

2016-12-13T20:05:31.470Z

Rapper Kanye West met with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday morning—the latest in a series of sometimes surprising visitors to Trump Tower.

“Just friends. Just friends—and he’s a good man,” Trump told reporters in the lobby, responding to questions about the purpose of their meeting. “We’ve been friends for a long time.”

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“I just wanted to take a picture right now,” West said, when asked if he is considering performing at Trump’s inauguration or running for president in 2020.

“So long, man, you take care of yourself. I’ll see you soon,” Trump said to West as they shook hands and parted ways.

During a mid-concert rant last month, West said he would have cast his ballot for Trump—if he had voted in the presidential election. “If I would’ve voted, I would’ve voted [for] Trump,” he said, calling Trump’s campaign approach “absolutely genius.”

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Trump has previously praised West as well.

“You know what? I will never say bad about him, you know why? Because he loves Trump!” Trump said in September 2015, after West suggested he would run for president in 2020. “Kanye West has been so great.”

WATCH: @KanyeWest at Trump Tower #elevatorcam pic.twitter.com/I4FpM57S1x
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 13, 2016

.@KanyeWest with President-elect Donald Trump: "I just wanted to take a picture right now." #elevatorcam pic.twitter.com/o2TMnrtZ8x
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 13, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Jennifer Lawrence Finally Gets the Ultimate Revenge on Chris Pratt

2016-12-13T19:28:43.768Z

If you’ve been following the saga of Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence’s press tour for their new movie, Passengers, then you’ll know that fans have been up in arms over Pratt slyly cropping Lawrence out all of his Instagramsduring this time.

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It looks like the fans weren’t the only ones in their feelings about this slight because when Lawrence appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she got so incensed that she declared, “I’m gonna do something about it,” before storming out ofthe studio to get revenge on her co-star. Her solution? Vandalizing an image of his face from a Passengers advertisement on the side of a bus.

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Conveniently, Kimmel and his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez were on hand with plenty of spray paint and moral support, helping Lawrence to deface Pratt’s visage and to change the lettering of the copy to insult him. As a final touch, the trio even added a devil’s mustache and eyes to Pratt’s face.

Watch the full clip below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Here’s When Nintendo Switch’s Price Will Finally Be Revealed

2016-12-13T19:15:00.769Z

An alternative codename for Nintendo’s upcoming tablet-console games platform might be “Nintendo Drip.” We first learned its codename, “NX,” back in early 2015. Then Nintendo’s new president confirmed it wouldn’t be the next version of the Wii or Wii U in December.

This year, Nintendo maintained radio silence until October, when it dropped a teaser video with the system’s name, Nintendo Switch, then showed off a few play scenarios. But it’s still holding essential metrics—like how much Switch will cost, and when you can buy it—close to its Pantone 293-blue overalls.

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In January, everything changes. Nintendo promised this fall that it would tell all (or at least a whole lot more) about the system come early January, and now it’s laid out the specific time. If you want to know how much Switch will cost, when in March 2017 you’ll be able to buy one, and, I assume, a bit more about the system’s raison d’être, bookmark www.nintendo.com/switch, then set a reminder for January 12 at 11:00 p.m. ET.

Why so late? Because the presentation’s going to stream live from Tokyo. I have no idea how long it’ll be, but presumably more than two or three minutes.

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The Tokyo event will be followed by a hands-on press event in New York on Jan. 13. TIME’s been invited and I’ll be there. Nintendo says the New York event will be a deeper dive on whatever’s coming in the Tokyo presentation the night prior. With any luck, that’ll include hang time with some of the totable tablet’s launch titles, as well as its local screen-versus-screen multiplayer angle.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

3TEETH Sustain 'Transgressive Art' Movement

2016-12-13T18:03:37.005Z

In the middle of 2015, I learned about 3TEETH, a 'transgressive art' band based in Los Angeles. At the time, 3TEETH was two years old. Considering the newness of the rock-electronic outfit, they were doing a good job, receiving press from the New Yorker and the Gawker for singer Alexis Mincolla's style.

Fast forward to 2016, and 3TEETH announced a collaboration with New Jersey-native duo ho99o9.

We chatted with Mincolla about social media, re-imagining Baraka and titling. We also talked about their tour with TOOL and Primus, and this year's election.

Hometown: Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington DC.

Homebase: Los Angeles

You choose unusual names for song titles: SLAVEGOD, NIHIL, and PEARLS 2 SWINE. What are some of the things going through your minds when you come up with these names? What inspires the naming process?

Most of the inspiration for our music comes directly from what we feel is a very stripped down look at the current state of the world around us. To us, industrial music is simply a way for us to suck some of the poison out of our society and spit it back in its own face in a sort of sardonic reflectivity.

On social media, it seems you weren't afraid to share your thoughts about this year's presidential candidates; Republican and Democratic. Did the members of the 3TEETH band vote in this year's election?

The ideas and imagery we have created regarding this years election are certainly not in support of any particular candidate but often doing our best to expose the absolute absurdity that is our political system. As far as this year's elections are concerned, I [did] not [vote] and I’m not saying this because I’m being apathetic or ignorant. I'm actually quite passionate about these subject being that I spent four years of my life getting a degree in Political Science. I just have a huge issue with the idea of leaving our future in the hands of people whose primary skill sets are to pander to the largest crowd. I also think we deserve better then some binary choice of lesser evil at this point. That being said, I [thought] Bernie [was] an honest man but I don’t believe in his policies. Not because they weren't good-hearted or well-intentioned, of course, but rather because the state is monopoly and like any monopoly it brings inefficiency and stagnation to everything it runs. It has become far too evident that government institutions pursue the inflation of their own budgets to form unholy alliances with extractive institutions rather than create effective service for its customers. I don’t believe this will change by giving it more money and more aspects of your life to run even with an honest man at the helm.

Reimagined footage from the 1992 Ron Fricke-directed Baraka is the basis of your music video for "NIHIL." What are some other movies, or films, that inspire[d] you as a band? Are you in any of your music videos? If no, do you plan on appearing in any videos in the future?

Film makers like Mathew Barney, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Kenneth Anger have been big inspirations for myself as i’ve always enjoyed the way in which they send their audience down a rabbit hole and allow a lot of room for that sense of autonomy that comes with your own of discovery of certain subject matter as opposed to being beaten over the head with exposition and literal meaning. We’re currently working on a music video for the first single off our new album and yes we’ll definitely be in that one but won’t say anymore about it for now because we want it to be a surprise.

Earlier this year, you guys toured with TOOL, who is one of the biggest and most controversial metal bands from Los Angeles: Their song "Prison Sex" was removed from MTV's playlist and MuchMusic called it "too graphic and offensive." What was it like touring with Tool? What did you learn on tour? Who else would you like to tour with someday?

Touring with TOOL was really a dream come true for us and also really an incredible learning experience. I don’t think there will ever be another band like TOOL, and to be able to share in some of their touring legacy is something that we will treasure forever. As far as the things we learned on that tour; I suppose we learned how to tour arenas and be comfortable with audiences of that scale, which actually came very naturally to us and we’re really excited to finish up this new album and hit the road again. In terms of other bands we’d like to tour with… Rammstein.

What does free time look like for 3TEETH? Do you all hang out with TOOL and Primus, or any other bands, often?

Free time is fairly rare for us as right now as we’ve all got a lot going on regarding the creation of this new album but yes we definitely hang out with the guys from TOOL a bit.

Your music has been called "transgressive art." Could you explain what that means?

Well we’re very interested in the idea of temporarily dismantling reality tunnels through things like cognitive dissonance and discomfort. So really it's probably referring to the idea we want our live show to feel like a sort of ontological one night stand that helps us transgress ourselves.

Xavier (keyboards), Andrew (drums), and Chase (guitars) all do a great job, but if you were to add another instrument to your ensemble, what would it be?

I think maybe a bass player or maybe some extra live percussion because more people banging on shit always looks fun on stage, but definitely not in a rush for anything like that because its hard enough feeding four mouths right now.

Do you have a cool Myspace story? Or an early Myspace memory?

I remember getting into some really important arguments about who was and wasn’t in my Top 8 friends.

Where do you see the band in 2025?

Probably playing a show on top of a mountain of burning plastic or something classy like that.

Is there anything else that you want to share with us?

Stay tuned to www.3TEETH.org for the latest information on our new album.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch Year of Suns' "Plain Sight" Video Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-12-13T17:50:45.440Z

Sometimes, you just need a moment to reflect. After a string of terrible events — a relationship falling apart, the death of several relatives, even getting hit by a car — singer-songwriter Chris Matthews channeled his anguish on Songs For Silence, his debut EP under the stage name Year of Suns.

“Plain Sight,” off of the EP, is the visual and aural embodiment of this contemplative spirit. The gorgeously shot video begins with an aerial look at Matthews laying in the seemingly never-ending plains, and then follows the singer as he traverses the land in search of answers.

"'Plain Sight' was the first song written that I was easily able to think about in visual terms," says Matthews to Myspace.

"The video may have been inspired by Terrence Malik, and it seemed obvious that once the track opened up into the guitar swells it would be best to match the dream-like quality of those sounds with fragments of visuals from various places. Danny Pollack from Ataraxy Studios was able to capture these images and put them together in a way that told a narrative, while hopefully remaining open to interpretation."

Watch the video for "Plain Sight" below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller Show Off Their Love in "My Favorite Part" Video

2016-12-13T17:42:54.628Z

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller have been one of this year's new couples, and they're definitely not shy on the PDA. So it only made sense to show more of that love in the video for their duet, "My Favorite Part."

Playing neighbors, the two sing to each other through the wall but also imagine what it would be like if they were actually together. The mid-tempo hip-hop song is smoldering and Ariana really heats things up, especially when she's clearly enjoying the rain inside her room.

Mac can't deal with the wall between them and heads over to Ariana's apartment. But before he could really knock, she's there to greet him with a big kiss.

Watch the video below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Blake Sheldon Surprises Fan Who Was Injured in Motorcycle Accident

2016-12-13T17:32:01.920Z

Jonathan Daniels wanted to surprise his girlfriend Lindsay Baker with Blake Shelton tickets for her birthday. Unfortunately, after he bought them he got into a motorcycle accident, which put him in the hospital. Blake heard about what happened via a letter Jonathan wrote on Facebook to the country star and immediately wanted to do something special for the couple.

"I'm very sorry for the accident," Blake said in a video to Jonathan. "I hope you recover soon and you feel better. I'm obviously ready to give you tickets to any show you can make it to. And don't rush getting well."

Blake also promised to meet the couple at whatever show they choose to attend as well as left this PSA, "Motorcycles are very dangerous!"

See Blake's video to the couple as well as Jonathan's letter to Blake below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

50 Cent Blasts Golden Globes for Snub

2016-12-13T17:17:26.913Z

50 Cent isn't too happy with the Hollywood Foreign Press right now. Following the 2017 Golden Globe nominations announcement on Monday (December 12), he was angered by the fact that his show, Power, didn't get a single nod.

"I'm on the move again, Golden globe's can suck a dick," he posted on Instagram. "I accept my series POWER was not intended to be a signature show for the network but it is the highest rated show. I know my audience very well, I'm done promoting this out side of contractual obligations. SEASON 4 KANAN MUST DIE, I got other shit to do. #EFFENVODKA."

Considering the fact that the show had record-breaking ratings over the summer and was renewed for two more seasons, one would wonder why the series wasn't recognized. Maybe the Foreign Press doesn't watch Starz.

See Fiddy's post below.

I'm on the move again, Golden globe's can suck a dick. I accept my series POWER was not intended to be a signature show for the network but it is the highest rated show. I know my audience very well, I'm done promoting this out side of contractual obligations. SEASON 4 KANAN MUST DIE, I got other shit to do. #EFFENVODKA

A photo posted by 50 Cent (@50cent) on Dec 12, 2016 at 8:56am PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Bebe Rexha Talks About Her Jet-Setting 2016

2016-12-13T08:00:00.000Z

Although she’s been making waves in the pop world for quite some time now, 2016 was the year when Brooklyn-born singer Bebe Rexha has properly arrived. For starters, she became platinum blonde. Then she unleashed her proper debut single, the Nicki Minaj-assisted ode to good times “No Broken Hearts”. And she continued her reign as the go-to female vocalist with her collaborations with G-Eazy (“Me, Myself & I”) and No. 1 DJ in the world Martin Garrix (“In The Name of Love”). She was also traveling the globe — from hosting MTV EMA Awards in Rotterdam to playing intimate acoustic gigs in Moscow. That’s where we met the Balenciaga-boots rocking popstar and asked her 20 questions about her fruitful year.

Best Moment of 2016: Hosting the EMAs.

2016 Moment You Wish You'd Rather Forget: Pass, I can’t think of anything.

Best Gig of 2016: The EMAs!

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over: The gig I did with G-Eazy at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (where I’m from). There were like 16,000 people and we did “Me, Myself & I” together there. It was amazing!

Best Show You Saw in 2016: Probably Beyoncé.

Best Album of 2016: Drake’s Views.

The Track You Couldn't Stop Playing in 2016: PARTYNEXTDOOR “Come and See Me For Once”. It’s so good. First time you listen to it you’re like “hmmm,” but then you get completely hooked.

Craziest Thing You Did on a Plane In 2016: I traveled over 300,000 miles.

The 2016 Film That You'd Watch Over and Over: I wasn’t watching too many films this year… Oh, wait, Zootopia!

Best Item of Clothing of 2016: [raises up her leg in long glittery boots] My Balenciaga boots.

Best TV Show of 2016: I don’t watch TV like that, sorry, I’ll pass.

Best Music Video of 2016: Drake’s “Hotline Bling.”

Most Awkward Touring Experience of 2016: I was on stage and I had to pee really badly and I just had to hold it in. Or when a fan got my number from somewhere and was calling me every five minutes. And when I was on tour he was waiting for me outside my hotel room.

Go-to Meal While On the Road: I love salad.

Another New Artist We Should Have On Our Radar in 2017: Anne-Marie.

Best Fan Gift You Received in 2016: A picture of me and my fans in a frame. I have it on top of my fireplace. It’s very cute.

Plans for Xmas: Gonna go home to my family.

Plans for New Year’s Eve Party: Always spend it in the club performing.

One Thing on 2017 Wish List: I want to have a hit record all around the world.

What Do You Want to Happen in 2017 That Doesn't Have to Do With Music: Just happiness and peace and calmness.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

10 Electronic Artists to Watch Out for in 2017

2016-12-13T08:00:00.000Z

Music industry trends may be changing with a hurricane’s speed, but one thing stays intact: people will always want to have a good time. And these days, good times mean some quality rave or a strobe light-lit dance floor. It doesn’t take a genius to create a bit, but it does take one to create something that you will actually remember the morning after while desperately looking for Aspirin and a bottle of water. The electronic market may be oversaturated these days, but only a handful of artists are guaranteed to survive the tough selection. And we’re putting our faith into the hands and the turntables of these 10 artists. As one of 2016’s biggest electronic hits went: “Don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me down.”

Ten Ven

Chances are you’re already familiar with this Brit’s hypnotizing beats: his 2014’s track “Discotech” was indeed destined to light up any techno-driven party. Ten Ven’s got some commercial appeal, too, producing pop singer Dua Lipa’s “Room For 2” single. Ten Ven’s own EP, Weapons, drops in January, and from what we’ve already heard, it’s surely going to be a dance floor staple. Ten Ven’s power is in creating a colorful sonic palette, incorporating funky guitars, meaty kick drums and overall nuclear groove.

Valentine Khaynus & Kit Sunders

Leave it up to Russians to save the trembling EDM scene. Their latest single is called “Don’t Teach Me,” and rightfully so — the duo got their drop-tastic yet melodic offerings down to a tee. They're already supported by genre’s heavyweights like Hardwell, David Guetta, Afrojack and Laidback Luke on their sets and radio shows, so the future looks bright for Valentine and Kit.

Throttle

This Aussie export may only be 19, but he’s already got it going on — thanks to that “Shake your moneymaker” sample and his natural knack for performing. Throttle’s big break came with the release of “Moneymaker,” which made 2016’s dancefloors look like disco-ball-lit discothèques of the '70s. Yet we’re excited to hear grittier '80s-inspired dance tunes from him in the future, since he loves playing guitar on stage so much. Our moneymakers are ready.

Jesper Jenset

It’s getting harder and harder to distance pop artists from dance artists, so we allowed ourselves to put this exciting new Norwegian singer on our list, since his music is very much trap-influenced. This is basically The Weeknd on speed, and that alone should be enough introduction for you to jump on the Jenset train. His previous banger was called “High,” so you see where we’re going with this.

Seeb

Simen Eriksrud, Espen Berg and Nickas Strandbråten or simply Seeb is the trio behind your summer of 2016’s anthem “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” remix that basically re-launched Mike Posner’s career and made a lot of people want to go to Ibiza and completely miss the point of the lyrics. That’s all fine, since the Norwegian house producers have more music coming from their camp, including recent release “”What Do You Love.” Hopefully they’re already working on that summer of 2017 anthem at their hit laboratory.

Jonas Blue

Jonas Blue was riding the high wave in 2016 with his chart-conquering reimagining of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” The London-based producer didn’t get to UK’s No. 1 spot simply because unstoppable Zayn Malik stood in his way. Jonas just released his third single “By Your Side,” so here’s hoping that no other ex-1D member will stop him from finally going No. 1 in 2017.

Tom Zanetti

“You Want Me” is a bold thing to say to anyone. And that’s exactly how you make an entrance if you want to go far in the music industry. Back in November, DJ/producer/rapper triple-threat Tom Zanetti popped on the British charts with his captivating deep house track “You Want Me” that is guaranteed to become a worldwide smash in no time. We just hope that Zanetti has enough pick-up lines to secure him more hits in 2017.

Nevada

Nope, this producer is not from Nevada. He’s not even American. Nevada comes from Sweden, so he can only dream about living in hot weather. Although, with the ongoing success of his rendition of Mark Morrison’s mid-90s classic “Return of the Mack,” it seems like a Las Vegas residency is not such a long shot for the up-and-coming producer. His version, titled “The Mack” and featuring distinctive vocals by Fetty Wap, is climbing the charts around the world as we speak and will most likely be followed up by some other commercially appealing dance remakes.

NEIKED

Sex sells, and no one on this list knows it better than Victor Radstrom or NEIKED, whose claim to fame was a groovy tune called “Sexual” that became a hit far beyond producer’s native Sweden. It wouldn’t work without British singer Dyo’s playful voice, but you have to pay attention to the production, too. It surely makes you want to get loose on the dance floor before finally getting the courage to look that one special person in the club right in the eye while lip syncing “I’m feeling sexual.” Considering he’s getting hotter and hotter every minute, there’s no doubt NEIKED will have tons of lucrative deals in 2017. And lots of sex, too.

Callie Reiff

Don’t blame us for forgetting to put the girls on this list: we saved the best for last. NYC-native Callie Reiff may only be 17 years old, but she already has some very big names calling her number, including A-Trak and Skrillex. Her fascination with music brought Reiff to drumming lessons when she was just 10, and then she did ballet but eventually set her eye on the dance floor. We’re not entirely sure if you need a fake ID to play to these huge crowds that Reiff is sending to trance during her sets, but you definitely need a big skill set and some charisma, and this young producer and DJ has plenty of both. We’re very excited to see what 2017 holds for her.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

10 Thoughts We Have While Getting Tattooed

2016-12-13T08:00:00.000Z

Let's be honest, getting tattooed kind of sucks sometimes.

Sure, the end result is great and the bond with an artist can be awesome, but the physical pain is more often strenuous and exhausting than truly therapeutic. Some tattoos hurt worse than others, but many of them lead us to have the same handfuls of thoughts time and time again. Here are some things that almost always run through our brains when getting inked for more than a little jammer.

A photo posted by Bob Tyrrell (@bobtyrrell) on Dec 2, 2016 at 12:43pm PST

"This Won't Be So Bad."

Similar Thoughts: "I can do this all day if needed." "I'm so ready for this tattoo. I'm going to live tweet the whole thing." "If (insert person you feel tougher than) can get this body part done, I can get it done no problem." "I wonder if I'll be home in time for dinner. I still need to catch up on The Walking Dead tonight."

"I Forgot How Much This Hurt."

Similar Thoughts: "This seems like it hurts more than the last time. Did I somehow get weaker?" "Did it always feel like this? Is something wrong with me?" "I wonder if this tattoo artist has a heavier hand than the others I've been to." "Maybe this is just a bad spot or I'm just being a wimp." "How far in is that needle going?"

A photo posted by Tim Hendricks (@timhendricks) on Dec 1, 2016 at 5:17pm PST

"At Least the Liner is the Worst Part, Right?"

Similar Thoughts: "It'll get better once I get used to it, hopefully." "It's such a sharp stabbing pain... I feel it in my bones." "Is there going to be numbing cream at some point? You better not wipe me with a dry paper towel" "I hope the shading is easier, because this sucks so far."

A photo posted by JUSTIN WARN (@justinwarntorch) on Nov 1, 2016 at 10:53pm PDT

"We Must Be Getting Close to Done."

Similar Thoughts: "How long have I been here? Is it still the same day?" "What do you mean we're almost done with the outline?" "There can't be too much left, it wasn't that big of a tattoo and there wasn't that much detail." "I don't remember the stencil going that far down... Are we sure it's still in the right place?"

"Finally, It's Time for a Break."

Similar Thoughts: "It's never felt better to stand." "Why am I so tired?" "It already looks so much more awesome than it did in my head." "Do I have time to go get a snack without delaying this further? Where's the closest fast food joint around here?"

A photo posted by Luke Wessman (@lukewessman) on Dec 5, 2016 at 9:12pm PST

"How Are We Not Even Halfway Done Yet?"

Similar Thoughts: "I could've sworn we were almost done." "Haven't I been here for several hours already?" "You can do this. You can do this." "I made it through the hardest part, so I may as well stick it out to the end." "There's no chance I'm coming back for a second session unless I have to." "Does color ink somehow hurt extra all of a sudden?"

A photo posted by COLE STREM (@colestremtattooer) on Dec 5, 2016 at 10:09am PST

"I Wonder What the Other People in the Shop Are Doing."

Similar Thoughts: "Is that kid about to get his first tattoo? He's got no idea what he's in for." "Does everyone else feel like this?" "How has that person been sitting for longer than I have and doesn't look like they're in any pain?" "I wonder what tattoo she's getting..."

"Did I Bring Enough Cash to Tip Well?"

Similar Thoughts: "We're almost done. I can see the finished product starting to take shape." "I hope I don't get charged some ridiculous amount for this." "Have I been sitting well this whole time or are they just putting up with me being all twitchy?" "Do they take cards? Is there an ATM around here?" "I should've brought a granola bar. I'm definitely bringing a snack next time."

A photo posted by @adammcnatttattoo on Dec 5, 2016 at 10:29pm PST

"Why Do I Do This to Myself?"

Similar Thoughts: "Seriously though, I'm never getting tattooed again." "Can't the artist go any faster? Don't they know how much this hurts?" "Why do we have to go back over some of the same spots again? I thought they looked good as they were." "White highlights? What are white highlights? Is that some form of Satanic punishment?"

A photo posted by Evie Yapelli (@showpigeon) on Dec 4, 2016 at 9:47am PST

"It Looks So Amazing!"

Similar Thoughts: "I can't believe this is a permanent part of my body now!" "What's the best angle for me to show it off to everyone I know both in photos and in person?" "Can I get a Tegaderm bandage instead of plastic wrap? No? Alright, plastic wrap it is." "I hope this heals and ages well. I never want it to change." "I'm in a glass case of emotion!"

Get your tattoo fix every day by visiting out Tattoosday page.

Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Seeing 'Rogue One'

2016-12-12T19:54:35.552Z

Warning: This post contains potential spoilers for Rogue One.

As the first “Star Wars story” film—standalone movies that are still very much connected to the main saga—Rogue One carries sky high expectations. The movie has the especially tough task of telling a unique story while staying faithful to an established canon. Not to mention that a series of reshoots earlier this year made some uneasy, despite reassurances from Disney. However, initial reactions — which hit Twitter following the Saturday night premiere — have been enthusiastic for the most part, with some even saying that it may be “the best” Star Wars movie yet.

The Internet Is Officially Losing it Over Rogue One

Rogue One hits theaters Dec. 16, but here’s everything we already know to expect.

The setting:

Set chronologically between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, Rogue One will take place in 0 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) — 19 years after Anakin Skywalker was nearly fatally wounded in a lightsaber duel with his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi and donned the iconic Darth Vader suit for the first time. In this period, the power of Emperor Palpatine and the Empire has only grown, threatening to snuff out all that remains of the Rebel Alliance.

The characters:

This installment of the space fantasy series revolves around new protagonist Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a former criminal who — after being recruited by Rebel leader Mon Mothma — takes command of a crew of soldiers intent on ending the Empire’s reign. Those allied with her cause include Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and mercenary Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), as well as blind warrior-monk Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) and his protector Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen).

Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) — the Imperial Military’s Director of Advanced Weapons Research — is the new big bad, while familiar villains Grand Moff Tarkin (the late Peter Cushing) and, of course, Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) will also show up.

There’s even the chance that another iconic Star Wars character could make a cameo, as director Gareth Edwards recently seemed to hint that Princess Leia may show up at some point.

The plot:

After intercepting a coded Imperial transmission from Jyn’s father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) — the scientist responsible for the power of the Death Star — indicating that a major weapons test is imminent, the Rebel Alliance enlists Jyn to steal the plans for the super space station. Per the events of the original trilogy, fans already know that this operation will ultimately be a success, as Leia is in possession of these plans when Episode VI begins.

“It is a period of civil war,” the opening crawl of A New Hope reads. “Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the Death Star, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy…”

However, what remains to be seen is how this theft will come to pass — and whether any of our heroes will be lost along the way.

A Guide to the Returning Star Wars Characters in Rogue One

Rogue One hits theaters Dec. 16.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Bill Murray and President Obama Play Golf in the Oval Office

2016-12-12T19:48:23.005Z

While President Barack Obama probably has a jam-packed schedule before he leaves office in the new year, he took time out of his busy schedule to kick back with a round of golf at the White House with none other than his fellow Chicago sports enthusiast, Bill Murray.

The Internet Can’t Decide What’s Happening in These McDonald’s Cups

While putting into a glass in the Oval Office, Murray and Obama trash talked each other’s form when it came to golf and Murray even got in a few well-placed moments of gloating about his beloved Chicago Cubs winning the World Series (Obama, a long suffering White Sox fan, takes it all in good humor.)

However, Obama and Murray paused the good-natured ribbing to discuss something a little more serious: health care. After Murray gripes about his knee hurting and not having health insurance, Obama reminds him that he (and others) will need to sign up by Dec. 15 to be eligible for insurance next year under the Affordable Care Act.

This Beyoncé and Mariah Carey Selfie Is the Best Early Holiday Gift to Fans

Watch the full clip below.

So Bill Murray walks into the Oval Office... #GetCovered https://t.co/X4R4hhC5Fe
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 12, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Kesha Finds Purpose Behind Her ‘Public’ Year

2016-12-12T19:35:48.579Z

Kesha says she has had a very “public” 2016, with her Dr. Luke trial and personal obstacles making the news on a regular basis. In an acceptance speech for Billboard’s Women in Music ‘Trailblazer of the Year’ award, the famous singer acknowledged that the spotlight was draining, but that it was worth it in the long run to get her message out.

Viola Davis Delivers Powerful Speech About the Importance of Self-Acceptance

Kesha filed a lawsuit against music producer Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald AKA Dr. Luke in 2014, in which she alleged that he “sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally abused her for a decade.” In April, a judge dismissed the case and in August Kesha dropped the abuse charges. Dr. Luke maintained his innocence, while Kesha’s contract kept her bound to Sony. Fans and fellow celebrities came together to support her in the “Free Kesha” movement.

“If I’m lucky enough to have a voice that someone will listen to, then I should use it for good, for truth,” Kesha said on Friday night. “And that is why I’ve recently spoken openly about some of my struggles including my crippling anxiety and being in recovery from an eating disorder. I know I’m not alone, these are struggles that millions of people around the world deal with on a daily basis.”

Women of All Shapes and Sizes Re-Created the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

She said that she decided to make the most of the pressure placed on her by her large platform: “Finding the strength to come forward about these things is not easy, but maybe by me standing here and telling my story, I can help somebody else who’s going through something tough…I knew I had to drag my self out of my bed, put on my damn boots and say thank you to you guys. Thank you for reminding me that what I’m doing is worth it.”

Real tears at @KeshaRose's speech about overcoming her eating disorder at #womeninmusic pic.twitter.com/LLMgNWiO8n
— Maeve McDermott (@maeve_mcdermott) December 9, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Kylie Gives Xtina a Birthday Kiss and Walter White Takes Over the DEA

2016-12-12T17:58:10.195Z

SNL is losing that magic touch it's had for the last few weeks. Kylie Jenner is living her best life. Audiences are either going to love or despise the new Star Wars film, and we don't know who will be awarded the coveted Heisman trophy. Here's what you missed over the weekend.

'Stripped': The Birthday Edition

The effort that Kylie Jenner put into recreating Christina Aguilera’s most infamous attire as her Halloween costume paid off, because the “Dirrty” mini-me and a few close friends were personally invited to make an appearance at Aguilera’s birthday celebration on Saturday night. However, the “Beautiful” singer had one request for the makeup guru: to attend the party wearing that sexy, barely there outfit once again. Jenner, who’s no stranger to showing off her nearly naked curves on social media, was more than happy to oblige. For this special occasion she shook things up a bit, donning the yellow and black version of the bikini and leather chaps ensemble, which Aguilera wore back in 2002 for MTV's TRL Presents: Christina Aguilera Stripped in NYC.

A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Dec 10, 2016 at 10:51pm PST

Jenner took a ton of photos and Snapchats from her time at the sweet treat-themed party, from dancing with her friends to sitting next to Xtina. She even took video of herself puckering up to receive a smooch from her idol, bringing back memories of that kiss Aguilera once shared with Britney Spears and Madonna way back when. Though we’re not exactly sure how to feel about that, we’re glad Christina had a fun-filled birthday, and congratulations to Kylie for being accepted into the pop starlet’s incredibly exclusive squad.

A video posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Dec 10, 2016 at 9:57pm PST

Put the Heisman on 'Em

The most prestigious award in college sports was given out this weekend, but a lot of people believe the bigger story came from who didn’t win the Heisman Trophy. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson was certainly a deserving recipient (and the youngest winner in history) of college football’s Most Valuable Player award, even despite some of his struggles later in the season. But what really caught the attention of many college football fans was University of Michigan’s most dominant player, Jabrill Peppers, finishing in fifth (last place among the finalists).

Fox Sports

While quarterbacks have won 14 of the last 16 Heisman Trophies, reputable sources and the internet’s armchair analysts believe Peppers may be the all-around best player in the NCAA right now, even if he’s not the one slinging passes. When taking into consideration that Peppers’ Michigan team finished ranked 6th in the country with a 10-2 record in one of college football’s toughest conferences, while Jackson and Louisville ended at 9-3 in the notably weaker Atlantic Coast Conference, plenty of folks took to Twitter to show their displeasure. Will Peppers get his revenge on his fellow Heisman candidates by wreaking havoc in the NFL? It’ll be interesting to see which professional teams come away with each of this year’s Heisman candidates.

**The New 'Phantom Menace'?**

Among the best news you could possibly hear this weekend, social media reports from people who saw early screenings of Rogue One all seem to say the film is somewhere between “good” and “the best Star Wars ever.” Although we’re not holding our breath to ever see something that tops The Empire Strikes Back, the favorable reviews all imply that the franchise has solved its prequel problem that plagued the disastrous Episodes I-III (don’t try to defend them, just admit they were all pretty bad). Beyond just the impact of Rogue One not sucking, the positive impressions are a great sign for Han Solo fans, who were worried his solo film could get lost in the Harrison Ford-less star-studded cast.

In other Star Wars news, it sure looks like next year’s Episode VIII may be titled Forces of Destiny, as LucasFilm applied to trademark the phrase on just about every imaginable item. While it seems like a goofy name, it would also make sense since we’re assuming that Kylo and Rey at least are tied together in some Force and/or familial ways.

Time For a Career Change

Saturday Night Live brought out the big guns this weekend — literally. John Cena took a break from wrestling to try his hand at the famed sketch comedy show’s hosting and acting responsibilities. Between showing off his inhumanly fit body and playfully bragging about himself with a few political quips in between, the athlete-turned-actor attempted to prove that he was capable of more than just wrestling by breaking out into song. However, his desire to create beautiful music was constantly interrupted by contenders looking to take him on. The distractions became so great that in the end, he gave up on completing his song and instead decided to continue flexing his muscles.

What saved the episode was Bryan Cranston’s reprisal of Walter White. Turns out Heisenberg didn’t die on that last episode of Breaking Bad, but the drug kingpin was lying low until he could reappear as the new head of the DEA under the future Trump Administration — a job recommended for him by Steve Bannon. The sketch is full of Breaking Bad references, from White being in favor of building the wall along the Mexican border as a means of keeping out the competition, to him changing up Trump’s slogan to “Make America Cook Again. We want to fill this nation with red, white, and a whole lot of blue.”

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

Rituals of Mine Channel a Spectrum of Moods on 'Devoted'

2016-12-12T17:30:00.000Z

The music of Rituals of Mine oscillates similar to a mood ring, with dark undertones emerging from the throbbing electronics for a vibe that's mysterious and emotive. Dramatic keys, haunting percussion and soothing harmonies make for a stark and cinematic sound that's as peculiar as it is polished. Members Terra Lopez and Dani Fernandez have been making music together for a decade, formerly collaborating under the moniker Sister Crayon before adopting the name Rituals of Mine in tandem with the project expanding and their signing to Warner Bros. Records.

Since the re-release of their debut full-length Devoted at the end of September, the duo hit the road on two high profile tours, with Tricky in the fall and Album Leaf currently. We spoke with Terra Lopez about the group's origin story, how At the Drive In's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez came to produce a handful of their tracks and all things west coast.

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Homebase: Los Angeles, CA

If you were to creatively describe your sound, how would you?

We make manic, passionate, intense music. It's all based on mood. I don't really think about genres when we create — the sound really is influenced on the mood we are in, what we are going through at the time, etc. I'm not sure if that's creative [laughs] but it's certainly the truth.

When did you first meet and what sparked you to start making music together?

Dani and I met nearly 10 years ago at my old house on 6th St. in Sacramento. We met through her sister, who was so adamant that we make music together. She came into my bedroom (which is where I would sit and work on music for 10 hours a day) and took one look at my old MPC 1000 and started messing with it. We wrote a song together almost immediately. From there on, we just started creating and playing house shows, on sidewalks, anywhere you can think of. I don't think I even asked her to join my project, I forced her. She didn't have a choice [laughs]. It was like a breath of fresh air meeting her and making music together. We just instantly got one another.

What's your songwriting process like? How long does it take for a song to go from idea to finished track?

We write ideas in various ways — there's no one particular formula we stick to. Sometimes Dani will come up with a skeletal beat idea, and then I'll immediately write a melody and lyrics over it. Other times, I might have a vocal idea in my head and send it over to her. We also like to write together at times so we will sit down and write something from scratch. Or, our producer Wes Jones will send over an idea he has created, and we will build it together from there. Once we do get a solid song idea together, we will head into the studio with Wes and build a track from there and add additional production, instruments, record vocals and then usually after 1,000 mixes later (or at least it feels like it because we are all perfectionists) we will have a finished track.

How did you come to link up with Omar Rodriguez Lopez?

Omar took us out on the road to tour with his project, Bosnian Rainbows. We all hit it off — it immediately felt like family. While we were on the road together, he had mentioned that he would like to help produce the next record. We were blown away to be on his radar. We went into the studio with Wes Jones and recorded about 85% of the record with him and then worked with Omar on a couple writing/recording sessions in LA to get three more tracks together that made it onto the album. It was a very collaborative experience working with him, and it was truly an honor to be able to share ideas and create. I mean, he's a legend.

What are you listening to right now? How do you discover new music?

I'm currently listening to a lot of instrumental electronic/ambient music — Tycho, Teebs, Bonobo. It gets me zoned out and doesn't fill me up with lyrics (I like to not get distracted or influenced when writing).

But I also listen to a lot of hip-hop (new ATCQ record is amazing), Childish Gambino, Sims. We've always gravitated to hip-hop because of the overall mood it puts us in.

But I love so many different kinds of genres. I'll be listening to a folk song then hip-hop, then Bjork... I'm all over the place. I get inspired by many different types of music.

I discover new music easily because I am a music publicist as well, so I work with some awesome bands and artists for Terrorbird Media, so that makes it incredibly easy to find good, new music.

What kind of influence do you think being based on the west coast has on you creatively?

I think undeniably the West Coast has influenced us in so many ways. There is such a vibrant scene out in California — we lived in Oakland for years and that blew our minds. The culture there, the beauty in people and in the arts scene was beyond inspiring and was actually a driving force when writing this record. We lived in Oakland during the recording process and when I listen to Devoted, I hear Oakland.

Northern California is also so gorgeous. Nature influences us hugely — especially when it comes to coming up with lyrics or melody.

The West Coast just has this vibe that is embedded into us. I think those that are from California just get it.

What's one of your favorite recent shows and why?

One of our favorite shows was playing a sold out Webster Hall in NYC with Tricky. That show was so definitive for us — it was just this feeling that I can't truly explain. It felt right. Touring with Tricky was an absolute dream and honor, and he loved our music, which was insane to us. The crowd's energy was spot on and the night could not have went better. It felt like we were doing what we are supposed to be doing, which as a performer is all that you can hope for when on stage. I didn't want to leave the stage that night.

If you could soundtrack any movie, which would it be and why?

Any Paul Thomas Anderson film! His movies are always so intense and a bit odd, which I think fits our music perfectly. We tend to love really intense films or really sad documentaries. I don't know why, but we are drawn to the sad and heavy.

What's the perfect environment for someone to listen to your album in?

Rather than an environment, I feel like a person has to be in a mood to listen to us, and that mood would just be open-hearted and ready for intense feelings. I prefer listening to music in a car on a night drive with no real destination, so that can be a great environment for our music as well, I guess.

What are your goals as a band? What can we expect next?

We just want to keep making music that we truly believe in and that resonates with others. We want to be hitting the road a lot more in 2017 and just building with fans as far as possible. Life is so damn short so we have a lot of work we want to create while we are here. There's so much to do.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch Joe Marson’s “No Retreat” Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-12T17:30:00.000Z

You may not immediately recognize the name Joe Marson, but there’s a really good chance you’ve heard his music. Having placed songs in everything from Marvel’s Deadpool, to FX’s Justified, to Netflix’s Bloodline, the Brooklyn-based indie rock artist has been everywhere as of late.

Marson’s latest is a blue rock song titled “No Retreat.”

Myspace has the exclusive premiere of the video for “No Retreat,” which is mildly NSFW, and takes listeners to ends of the desert, and the depths of depravity.

Wanting to know more about “No Retreat,” which is the first single off of Marson’s upcoming, as-of-yet unnamed, album, we caught up with the indie rocker to ask him about it.

Tell us about “No Retreat,” and how the video represents the song.

Thematically, there’s the juxtaposition of light and dark, desert exposure and black demonic abyss. I felt the driving energy is captured by the constant forward walking motion in the verses, and the chaos and violence of the dancers in the dark. Everything culminates as I finally become one of these dark figures. They sort of lure me into madness, the world sexual violence, both frightening and beautiful.

I’ve heard you’ve described the song saying it’s about “going all in, head first, fear first,” noting you’ve been to the darkness, and found your way back. What was your personal darkness, and what did you have to do to escape it?

I dealt with crippling depression from my late teens to my mid 20s. I barely made it out alive. I have had a speedy and healthy recovery, but I still feel the internal scars. My soul has been through quite a lot. So high, so low. I think I try to write about the beauty to be found in an otherwise uncaring world.

What would you say to someone who is first being introduced to your music via “No Retreat?”

This is just a taste of what I do. Keep diving deeper. I have a pretty wide spectrum of songs that combine elements of different genres I love besides just straight blues rock. [There’s] lots of soul, funk, and folk in there, too.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie Team Up for All The Hits Tour in 2017

2016-12-12T17:29:41.219Z

Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie will be teaming up on stage for the first time in 2017. The two legendary pop singers will be hitting the road starting on March 15 with a show in Baltimore and go around the U.S. till May 27 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

She shared the news by posting a picture with Lionel, which you can see below.

North American Lambs! I’m happy to announce I’ll be touring with @lionelrichie next year starting March 2017! Presale tickets go on sale at 4pm local time TODAY, so be sure to get your Honey B. Fly Live Pass for exclusive access!

A photo posted by Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey) on Dec 12, 2016 at 6:59am PST

Tickets go on sale on Saturday (December 17) via Live Nation.

See the full list tour dates below.

March 15 -- Baltimore, MD - Royal Farms Arena

March 17 -- Newark, NJ - Prudential Center

March 18 -- Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

March 21 -- Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena

March 24 -- St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center

March 25 -- Chicago, IL - United Center

March 28 -- Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena

March 30 -- Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre

April 1 -- New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (on sale Dec 22)

April 5 -- Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena

April 7 -- Boston, MA - TD Garden

April 8 -- Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum

April 11 -- Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills

April 14 -- Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center

April 16 -- Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

April 18 -- St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center

April 21 -- Tulsa, OK - BOK Center

April 23 -- Denver, CO - Pepsi Center

April 25 -- Salt Lake City, UT - Vivint Smart Home Arena

April 27 -- Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena

April 28 -- Seattle, WA - Key Arena

April 30 -- Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena

May 2 -- Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center

May 5 -- Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl

May 6 -- Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl

May 8 -- San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena

May 10 -- Anaheim, CA - Honda Center

May 13 -- Houston, TX - Toyota Center

May 15 -- Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center

May 18 -- New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center

May 20 -- Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

May 21 -- Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center

May 24 -- Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena

May 26 -- Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena

May 27 -- Fort Lauderdale, FL - BB&T Center

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams Among 2017 Golden Globe Nominees

2016-12-12T16:56:13.640Z

The 2017 Golden Globe nominations were announced earlier this morning (December 12), and Hollywood's big and bright stars and films were honored for another great year of film. La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, stole the show with seven nominations while Ryan Reynolds got a nod for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy and the offensively hilarious and gory Deadpool nabbed Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy. Newbies The Crown, Stranger Things, This is Us and Westworld will be duking it out against Game of Thrones for Best TV Drama.

On the music side, Pharrell Williams' work with Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch on the Hidden Figures score grabbed a nomination. And Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" for Trolls, Ryan Tedder and Stevie Wonder's "Faith" for Sing, Iggy Pop's "Gold" for Gold, Lin-Manuel Miranda's "How Far I'll Go" for Moana and "City of Stars" in La La Land.

The 2017 Golden Globe Awards will air on January 8, 2017. You can find the complete list of nominees here.

Vin Diesel Turns Into the Enemy in 'The Fate of the Furious'

2016-12-12T16:51:06.408Z

After how Furious 7 ended with the loss of Paul Walker and return or Michelle Rodriguez, we wondered how the next installment in the film franchise would go down. But now the wait is over, and it looks like there's a twist that you'll never expect.

Despite making his "family" whole again in the 2015 movie, Dom, played by Vin Diesel, has turned over to the bad side. Teaming up with Charlize Theron, who portrays the tech terrorist Cipher, Dom turns his back on everyone and starts wreaking havoc — and even puts the people he loves in a crazy car crash. With Dom as a fugitive, the Furious team enlist the help of Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, who aren't only in prison but still hate each other.

Family will be broken. Watch THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS trailer now. #F8 is in theaters April 14. pic.twitter.com/MVQsF7MnIr
— Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) December 12, 2016

Will they able to catch Dom and Cipher? And what made him go bad in the first place. Find out on April 17, 2017. But in the meantime, watch the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Hip-Hop's 8 Best Kept Secret Tracks of 2016

2016-12-12T08:00:00.000Z

Incredible songs can go unnoticed by the masses for various reasons. Often such records belong to artists who have not yet attained mainstream audiences substantial enough to ensure a song realizes its potential. Sometimes these songs are released by established mainstream artists but don’t receive the promotional push required for the song to stand out. Other times, a song might simply be ahead of its time.

As social media continues to provide growing direct access between fans and artists, there is a palpable desire amongst music audiences to learn of these musical gems that have been slept on by the masses. These songs often indicate the direction of entire genres, and for that reason we are providing you with 2016’s Top 8 hip-hop sleeper hits.

6LACK - "PRBLMS"

6LACK (pronounced "black") is an artist to watch. The press predicting 6LACK’s forthcoming stardom range from small rap blogs up to Rolling Stone, which named him one of the Top 10 artists to watch in November. Interscope has also taken notice, signing him to the label.

While his track "PRBLMS" has amassed substantial plays on Soundcloud since its May release, his success has been regional — as is often the case with new Atlanta artists — and is still relatively underground. Similarly, the buzz 6LACK garnered following the release of his debut album FREE 6LACK in late September hasn’t yet crossed over from underground music lovers who frequent Soundcloud to more mainstream audiences. With sing-along-bars like “While you catch these feels Imma sip on this drank” the song has viral potential, and similar to the artist, may not be slept on for much longer.

Ye Ali – "Fiji Dasani"

Indiana native Ye Ali is one of the most compelling artists on this list and has been boldly popularizing the genre of “trap R&B.” The LA-based singer released the sultry song "Fiji Dasani" as a Hot New Hip-Hop exclusive in April. While it attracted a wave of new underground fans, "Fiji Dasani" did not reel in broader mainstream attention and radio still appears to be sleeping on the talented artist.

While his climb appears to be slow, Ye Ali is consistently collaborating with other emerging artists, such as Kirko Bangz, K Camp, and Jazz Cartier, and is rumored to be working on a project with PartyNextDoor. "Fiji Dasani" stands out as a Ye Ali track that still may attain heavy radio rotation as a sexy "bedroom" song, similar to some of The Weeknd’s early work.

Shah - "Pay Day 71"

Similar to Dae Dae, Toronto rapper Shah and his most recent release "Pay Day 71" have been embraced by the Atlanta DJs and tastemakers who helped launch the careers of artists like Future, Migos and Rae Sremmurd. Beyond Atlanta, "Pay Day 71" has flourished in New York, where the song led to rap blogs describing Shah as "New York’s favorite Toronto rapper." However, "Pay Day 71" has not yet attracted the national audience many expected after Shah emerged as one of 2016’s most buzzed about new rappers following Atlanta’s A3C hip-hop festival.

This is likely related to the independent rapper’s rejecting major label support, but may also be tied to Shah’s involvement with anti-discriminatory social causes, typically avoided by mainstream rappers. The "71," for example, is a reference to the gender wage gap. The video for "Pay Day 71" — part of his ongoing Day of Shah series — has also been lauded in artistic circles extending beyond rap. While the video’s YouTube numbers are impressive for a new independent artist, they similarly have yet to reach the potential many in the industry are expecting for Shah. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if Shah remains exclusively independent or if he ultimately accepts the major label backing designed to bring tracks like "Pay Day 71" to the national forefront.

Dae Dae feat. 2Chainz, Lil Wayne - "Spend It" Remix

You might remember Atlanta rapper Dae Dae from his breakout track "Wat U Mean (Aye Aye Aye)" back in 2015 and its remix featuring Lil Yachty, as the audio-only YouTube video did impressive numbers for an unknown artist. When the original track for "Spend It" dropped back in February, it was immediately embraced by the Atlanta DJs and strip clubs known for launching hit rap records. That initial success did not transition into radio success, which was understandable as the hard trap beat and grimy bars weren’t designed for commercial audiences. By May, however, a remix featuring 2Chainz and Lil Wayne was released which, musically, was even better than the original.

Given the involvement of rap superstars like 2Chains and Wayne, the remix was expected to catapult "Spend It" onto national airwaves. However, while the remix, like the original, was embraced by club DJs, the song didn’t attract the stardom that many in the industry had expected. This may have been due to a lack of commercial promotion, or possibly due to the song’s vibe still being too dark to attract a national audience. "Spend It" continues to be embraced by artists, however, as a brand new remix featuring Young Thug and Young MA was just released on December 8. We will wait to see if this latest remix is the one to push Dae Dae’s track onto national airwaves.

5. OT Genasis - "Right Back"

With bangers like "CoCo" and "Cut It," you’d think everything OT Genasis puts out would be a hit. After almost a full year without releasing new music, OT released his Coke N Butter mixtape this past November, with features from 2Chainz, YG, T.I, Remy Ma and Quavo.

Typically when fans are hungry for new music it’s easy for a hot track to take off, but for some reason "Right Back" — the mixtape’s standout song — has not gotten the buzz it deserves. The track has made some regional waves in clubs but hasn’t attained the mainstream success that OT Genasis has previously garnered. Given that the song’s video has only been out for a couple months, however, 2017 could still see this song pop.

Kamaiyah - "How Does It Feel"

While Young MA is undeniably 2016’s biggest new female rapper, this year provided a surge of music from talented women that failed to attain national attention. Kamaiyah’s "How Does It Feel" is one such track. You might recognize Kamaiyah from the chorus on YG and Drake’s "Why You Always Hatin."

Her biggest track "How Does It Feel" had its moment on the west coast, particularly Kamaiyah’s hometown of Oakland, but its success didn’t extend beyond regional boundaries, which may have been due to the song’s gritty sound, not typically heard in female rappers’ mainstream hits. Hopefully the emergence of Young M.A will pave the way for more artists such as Kamaiyah to defy social norms and attain the attention they deserve.

SAINt JHN - "Reflex"

"Reflex" is likely the most slept on song in this list. Those outside of New York have probably never heard of Brooklyn artist SAINt JHN or his infectious single. His web presence is so minimal it can be hard to find him on Google.

Despite his smooth, classic R&B voice, SAINt JHN is not a cookie-cutter singer, as demonstrated by the darkness in his music video for "Roses," a song that attained a fair amount of attention from hip-hop blogs. "Reflex," however, is the track with the potential to make SAINt JHN a star. As 2016 brings hope of New York City’s musical comeback, SAINt JHN’s "Reflex" deserves a spot on the soundtrack of this revival.

JAHKOY feat. Schoolboy Q - "California Heaven"

Alongside Shah, JAHKOY is another emerging Toronto star. Backed by Def Jam, his track "Odd Future" received a good amount of buzz in early 2016 but this success did not appear to provide JAHKOY more large-scale attention, which is not unusual for Canadian artists. Given JAHKOY’s ability to combine a smooth voice built for commercial success with an edgy sound embraced by more hardcore hip-hop fans, JAHKOY should be all over the radio.

When he dropped "California Heaven"with Schoolboy Q in September, it got an impressive amount of coverage from the blogs. Despite JAHKOY’s relatable vibe and Schoolboy’s hard hitting verse, however, the track hasn’t seemed to propel JAHKOY to the next level.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

8 TV Shows We Fell in Love With in 2016

2016-12-12T08:00:00.000Z

TV, please have mercy on us. We can hardly keep up with the old shows we love and there are new ones constantly pilling up on our must-watch list. To make matters worse, more and more great shows drop all their new episodes at once, making us cancel work and give in to the wonders of the drug known as binge-watching. At least the holiday season provides a nice opportunity to fill in the blanks and finally watch everything that you might have missed during the year. We decided to help you out a little and picked our Top 8 favorite series that premiered in 2016.

Stranger Things

Let’s get this out of the way, shall we? For a moment in July, a truly strange thing occurred when the whole world fell in love with this nostalgia-driven sci-fi series that was inspired by the works of Stephen King, John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis. Although destined to revive the actual '80s star Winona Ryder’s fading career, the show actually put several exciting young actors (headed by bald-headed Millie Bobby Brown/Eleven) on the map. The kids’ talents provided a huge beating heart to this homage to all things nostalgic and spooky. Everything else was pretty much spotless, too: from the opening credits to the hunting atmosphere of small-town-facing-unearthly-threat. But we have to agree with the rest of the internet here: Barb did deserve better.

Atlanta

Fox’s Empire may have paved the way for shows about black music culture, but it certainly played out like a pimped-out Dynasty remake that made next to zero sense when it came to showing the real side of the music business. Then in comes Atlanta, FX’s take of the hip-hop world of today, courtesy of man of all traits Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino, who certainly knows a thing or two about how the music world works. Atlanta, which Glover solely created, looks and feels real in every sense of the word, with its effortlessly cool characters and relaxed narration. Hip-hop fans will also giggle at the numerous not-so-subtle puns, aimed at the likes of commercial-hop stars Flo-Rida and Fetty Wap.

Young Pope

The US is only about to experience this Jude Law-starring series in January, but the rest of the world already did. And when we say “experience,” we really mean it. As with his critically acclaimed and visually rich movies like Youth and The Great Beauty, Italian director Paolo Sorrentino paid a great deal of attention to the way his show about the first American Pope looks. The scenes move with a dream-like grace, which is no surprise since a lot of the narration is built around elaborate dream sequences, which only adds to the mysteries of the show. The obvious questions of faith, sin and power are raised in cliché-free forms, and let’s not forget about the soundtrack. When was the last time you heard Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan playing in the church?

Channel Zero

There is surely no shortage of horror-themed series on TV these days for the thrill seekers. Yet not all of them deliver on the frights front, maneuvering into melodramatic or pure schlock zones. And then there are shows like Channel Zero, that just get it. Based upon creepypasta (modern-day urban legends created by the internet collectives), the first season of the anthology series was called “Candle Cove” and told a story about '80s children TV show about puppets that had the power to control the minds of its viewers. The show-within-show was frightening enough to want you to throw away your old TV, and then the whole series played out like a stiffening nightmare from which you just can’t wake up. No more TV before bed for us!

Search Party

What if Nancy Drew ended up moving to Williamsburg and befriended the cast of Girls? This lazy metaphor should more or less prepare you for Search Party, ½ ode to Millennials (or parody — depending on where you stand with today’s youth), ½ detective story about a girl gone missing. The dark comedy was created by the same people who brought us Wet Hot American Summer and put Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat front and center as confused Dory, who decides it’s her mission to find the truth behind the disappearance of the girl she barely knew back in college. The titular search party also includes Dory’s goofy boyfriend, her narcissistic and lying gay socialite friend and his actress/roommate, who plays a Latina on a CSI-like TV show despite being painfully Caucasian. As you’ve probably figured out by now, their mission goes awry from the get go.

Westworld

A park inhabited by the living creatures created by scientists in order to please wealthy visitors? Nope, we’re not talking about Jurassic Park, but the other novel by Michael Crichton, 1973’s Westworld. This time around, it’s not the dinosaurs people in white coats tried to clone, but the people themselves. The novel was already fitted for the TV format back in the '80s via the short-lived Beyond Westworld series, but this time around the story about human-like robots living in a fake Wild West-esque reality has much better chance of survival: it is overseen by the mighty J. J. Abrams after all — the man whose achievements in sci-fi genre aren’t lost on anyone (pun very much intended). The first season drew talents like Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood and easily became the most talked about sci-fi show of the year.

The Get Down

Throughout his extensive cinematic career, Baz Luhrmann made a name for himself as the visionary director behind musicals like Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. Yet he barely touched upon black culture, until this Netflix show that sent us all the way to the South Bronx of 1977 where disco and R&B were about to merge and give birth to some seriously funky grooves. Beats, gangs and some virtuosic fashion are just part of the equation here — the other one being a bright young cast that is as fresh as the music their characters play.

4 In The Morning

This Canadian show took self-aware/self-obsessed Millennial charm and mixed it with a healthy dose of surrealism, providing tons of emotional and ridiculous storylines during its short 8-episode-long season. It was incredibly low budget (each episode only cost $300,000 to make), but you could never tell, because it oozes with ambition. The story revolves around two sets of straight couples all trying to navigate the toughest stage of adulthood: early 20s. Each episode starts at 4am with the characters constantly ending up in hard-to-swallow adventures, including blowing up the moon, dealing with conniving rat people and making sure the day kids (people who grow up and eventually die in just one day) have the time of their lives. Gloriously overacting Daniel Maslany (the brother of Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany) easily stole the show with his portrayal of a very talkative, very flexible and bow-tie-rocking trumpet player named Bondurant.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Jenna Dewan Tatum Spoke Candidly About Her Sex Life With Channing Tatum

2016-12-09T20:30:05.315Z

Jenna Dewan Tatum has opened up about her relationship and sex life with husband Channing Tatum, saying that being a dancer makes “you feel your body in a certain way.”

The Obamas Say the White House Brought Them Closer as a Family

In the new interview with Cosmopolitan, Dewan Tatum opened up about the beginnings of the couple’s relationship, after the two first met on-set in 2006. The actor said the pair had been together ever since Tatum said to her, “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Let’s do this. I just want to be with you.”

Gigi Hadid Reveals She Was Diagnosed With Thyroid Disease

“I’ve always been a very sexual person,” Dewan Tatum said in the interview, which hits newsstands on Dec. 13. “We definitely have a very happy and healthy [sex life].” The couple married three years after meeting through their lead roles in the dance movie Step Up, and welcomed their daughter Everly to the family in in 2013. “Something about being a dancer connects you to your physical body. It’s primal, earthy, sexual energy by nature…Channing is very much the same way. He’s very in tune with that,” the actress said.

[Cosmopolitan]

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Ryan Reynolds Really, Really Wants a Deapdool–Wolverine Crossover Movie to Happen

2016-12-09T20:18:51.888Z

Despite the fact that Hugh Jackman has said the upcoming X-Men spinoff Logan will be his last run as Wolverine, Ryan Reynoldsis intent on persuading him that his iron-clawed mutant still has one more story to tell.

Pharrell Williams Wishes that David Blaine Would Have Used His Magic on the Presidential Election

During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Deadpool actor spoke about the future of the “Merc With a Mouth,” explaining that he’d love for him to team up with Jackman’s character. “I want Deapdool and Wolverinein a movie together,” he said. “What we’re gonna have to do is convince Hugh. If anything, I’m going to need to do what I can to get my Internet friends back on board to help rally another cause down the line.”

This Town Might Be the Inspiration for Bedford Falls in It’s a Wonderful Life

However, Reynolds revealed he has motives outside of starring in the epic film that would undoubtedly result from this pairing. “Hugh Jackman is one of the best human beings,” he said. “Part of the reason I want to do a Deadpool-Wolverine movie is not just because I think the two would light the screen on fire, but I genuinely love the guy.”

Watch THE WINTYR's "Followers" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-09T17:50:27.480Z

Electrofolk group THE WINTYR capture the sometimes insurmountable difficulty of making the right choice on "Followers."

After a foreboding beginning, "Followers" expands into an emotional synthpop cut. “Come sit beside me and draw upon the deep I know,” sings Evelyn Hart. “Losing the hours / unlocking powers / follow me, follow me, follow me.”

The grand visuals of the three members of the group performing amidst magnificent landscapes in search of their place in the world complements the track.

"'Followers' is about how we are often slaves to our desires…The constant pull between the worst part of you and the best part of you," says the band to Myspace.

"The music video was directed by Richard Gorven, a Canadian/South African filmmaker and musician. The concept was centered around creating three visually diverse scenes for each member of the band. This cinematic feast takes us through epic land and cityscapes, as each character deals with their own reality."

Watch it all below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Rose Villain Puts the Attitude in Pop

2016-12-09T17:26:15.026Z

At a rapid pace, singer Rose Villain spits empowered lyrics over jubilant electronic beats for a catchy sound that's full of attitude, on par with pop star Charli XCX and old-school electro rapper Uffie. In her lyrics and video, Villain is a spitfire who appears to relish in being unruly and through that, she's built a following ready to join in the party and anarchy.

Over the summer she released her debut single "Get The Fuck Out Of My Pool," followed by "Geisha" in the fall and closed out 2016 with a feature on Salmo's popular "Don Medellin" track. Now that she's signed to Universal, she's certainly on the cusp of breaking big. We got to chat with her about her sound, writing process and the music she's been listening to lately.

Hometown: Milan, Italy

Homebase: New York, NY

How did you develop your sound? What was your path and key influences?

It took a year to experiment and really find the right original sound I was looking for. My producer SIXPM and I really clicked and dug into every genre to find the right mix. I think the key influence has been Tarantino visuals and cinematics. I take a lot of inspiration by imaginaries, more than I take from other artists.

How did you start making music to begin with? What inspired you to start?

I think music has always been part of me since the very beginning. For a couple months after I was born, the only way I would stop crying was if my mom played Prince. Not Sade or Ray Charles. It had to be Prince. Then at 3, I started taking dancing lessons and after a few years it escalated to lip sync dancing... so my dance teacher told me hey you know what, you should sing. And I was like, "Okay. Bye."

What's your song writing process like? What's the timeline for a song from idea to finished track? If you have a specific song's story, please do tell.

It takes me really little time to write and finish a song. To me it is essential to have a great concept to work around and be original, then I try to conceptualize it with a simple relatable message. The lyrics always flow once I start, the problem is just getting started! When I record we usually keep the first takes because they're the most natural ones. If I learn the song too much then I start to use too much technique that gets in the way of the instinctive emotion.

What's it like being a musician in New York?

To me it's the best place ever. I know LA has a lot more producers and studios, the buzz is over there but there are less pop stars wannabes in NY so I think it's easier to come out if you really rock.

What's the ideal place to listen to your music?

I think wherever you are at ease to let yourself go and dance/sing/cry the shit out of it. To me it's in front of a mirror with a hairbrush as a mic. Still my fave.

You were recently featured on the Weekly Buzz Spotify playlist. What artists and songs are on your current playlists? How do you discover new music?

I'm mainly a rock girl. I love the Led Zepplin, Nirvana, Rolling Stones and a good Johnny Cash [song]. They are always in my playlists, to me that is the real thing. Recently I'm a lot into hip-hop and especially Kanye, I appreciate his experimentation, I find his creativity similar to mine in some way. I've gotten pretty lazy with discovery. While writing the album I don't want to be influenced by other things, I care about keeping it authentic Rose. So usually songs come to me. I Shazam a lot.

What's one of the most bizarre or fun things that has happened to you in relation to making music/your career in the past season?

Well, something bizarre did happen. I totally, completely, overwhelmingly fell in love with Sixpm, my producer. We moved in together, built a home studio and building our success together. It's crazy how cool it is to share any small success with the person you love.

You just signed with Universal. What can we expect next?

Oh, you have to fasten seat belts. I'm in for a long long ride. It will be a bumpy one!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Tom Hardy Has to Get a Leonardo DiCaprio Tattoo After Losing a Bet to Him

2016-12-09T17:20:20.944Z

Tom Hardy will forever remember The Revenant. Not exactly for the reasons you'd expect, though.

While shooting the 2015 epic, Leonardo DiCaprio thought that Hardy would receive an Oscar nomination for his performance. Hardy was so convinced otherwise that he bet DiCaprio a "tattoo of the winner's choosing" that he wouldn't get a nomination.

Nonetheless, DiCaprio's prediction was correct and now Hardy has to pay grandly. At the time, DiCaprio said that his tattoo of choice for Hardy was 'Leo knows everything' written in "shitty" handwriting.

"I haven't got [the tattoo] yet," he said to Esquire. "Because it sucks."

Next up on the silver screen for Hardy is Christopher Nolan's WWII drama Dunkirk. Hopefully he won't make a similar bet this time around.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To John Wesley Coleman III's "Hang Tight" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-09T17:09:36.824Z

John Wesley Coleman III’s impassioned, gruff vocals and fuzzy guitars stand out on "Hang Tight," a single off of the garage rock journeyman's upcoming LP Microwave Dreams (out January 27). "You gotta hang so loose," sings the self-proclaimed "trash poet." "You gotta hang so tight."

It’s an anthem of sorts, and because of that, its down-and-dirty vibe needs few flourishes. Through and through, it’s a rock song and John Coleman III knows it.

"Keep the fantasy alive because sometimes that all you got," says Coleman about the song. Listen to "Hang Tight" below and follow his advice.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Watch The Apocalyptic 'War for the Planet of the Apes' Trailer

2016-12-09T16:57:29.657Z

"All of human history has led to this moment," says Woody Harrelson as the Colonel. "The irony is we created you."

The first trailer for the much-anticipated summer 2017 blockbuster War for the Planet of the Apes shows some epic battle scenes between the apes and the humans — and a very foreboding tone.

In the film, the Colonel and his soldiers yet again fight the Caesar-led tribe of apes. And Caesar is particularly embroiled this time, as he notes in this preview that the humans denied his peace offering.

War for the Planet of the Apes comes to theaters on July 14. Watch the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Taylor Swift Teams Up With Zayn on "I Don't Wanna Live Forever"

2016-12-09T16:46:54.038Z

Taylor Swift may be the perfect candidate to record a song for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack. That said, we never expected her to sing a duet with former One Directioner Zayn.

#fiftyshadesdarker #idontwannaliveforever pic.twitter.com/Q51nqZ4ppX
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 9, 2016

It's called "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," and it certainly sounds like it'll be the first hit of 2017. "Baby, baby, I feel crazy," sings Swift in a sultry, bedroom voice. "Up all night, all night and every day/Give you something, oh, but you gave me nothing/What is happening tonight?"

Zayn then comes in with his unmistakable falsetto: "I don't wanna live forever/'Cause I know I'll be living in pain."

"I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is now available on iTunes. The Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack is due out February 10.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

These 8 New Artists Broke Out in a Major Way in 2016

2016-12-09T08:00:00.000Z

While it’s usually the big stars that dominate radio waves and the blogosphere in music every year, there is always room for new talent to break through if the music is good enough. 2016 offered a bit more opportunity for those just getting their starts to share their songs with the masses, and a handful of artists were able to make waves like they never had before. These are the artists that we all are familiar with now thanks to smash hits and highly successful albums, and while nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the music industry, some of these names may stick around for years to come, and for all we know, a future legend may be featured on this list.

Twenty One Pilots

2016 all but belonged to rockers Twenty One Pilots, who were truly unstoppable throughout this year. The alternative duo scored three Top 10 hits, with two of them stopping frustratingly short of reaching the top spot, instead settling at No. 2. We will all be hearing about “Heathens,” “Ride” and perhaps especially “Stressed Out” for years to come, and we’ll all remember the year that Twenty One Pilots suddenly shot to immense popularity with both their own album, and thanks to the equalled popularity of the movie Suicide Squad, which featured their latest single.

The Chainsmokers

The NYC-based EDM bros had a hit before 2016, but it’s hard to argue that this was not the year that made them the stars they are. 2016 saw the group send song after song into the upper reaches of the charts around the world. The winning streak started with “Roses,” continued with the even-bigger “Don’t Let Me Down,” and then hit a new peak with “Closer,” their first No. 1 hit. They just collected a handful of Grammy nominations for the first time, and they have a chance at taking home the Best New Artist trophy, which would seal their fate as one to be remembered.

Lukas Graham

The Danish pop-rock act was the breakout international success of the year, as they seemed to come out of complete obscurity and climb the charts in essentially every country. “7 Years” was inescapable throughout much of 2016, and while the band had a noticeable presence in their home country of Denmark before the melancholy, nostalgic track hit, now they are known all around the globe.

Zayn

Okay, Zayn was pretty famous before 2016, but this is the year that everybody got to know who he is as an individual, and not just as a member of a group. The former One Direction boybander wasted no time in separating himself from the singing troupe that made him rich and famous, immediately going for a bad boy image. His single "Pillowtalk" became one of the few songs that was powerful enough from the get-go to debut at No. 1, and his debut album as a solo act did the same. Now the other members of One Direction are all off planning on solo efforts, and Zayn has set the bar pretty high.

Desiigner

Sometimes all it takes is one incredible track to capture the attention of some of the biggest names in the business and make it all the way to the top. Eccentric rapper Desiigner shot to the highest spot on the Hot 100 earlier on in 2016 with “Panda,” the oddly titled, incredibly catchy hip-hop tune, which sounds absolutely nothing like anything that had come before it. His uniqueness caught the attention of Kanye West, who sampled the tune for his album The Life Of Pablo and signed him to his label immediately.

DNCE

The Joe Jonas-fronted new band was always going to start with a silver spoon in their mouths, so to say, but they also had the music to back it up. Debut single “Cake By The Ocean” was truly one of the strangest Top 10 hits this year, but it was just too good to pass up. The track broke the group in a big way, and if you caught their EP SWAAY, you’ll know they weren’t just a one-song wonder. The band also dropped their self-titled first full-length, which was also a great effort and very much needed in a year lacking many pop bands.

Gnash

You might not know the name Gnash just yet, but by now it’s unlikely you’ve been able to avoid his breakout tune, “I Hate U I Love U.” The track came out of nowhere and grew organically on streaming sites, eventually breaking into traditional radio in a very big way. After months of slowly climbing the singles ranking here in the States, it finally broke into the Top 10, officially making Gnash and his vocal collaborator Olivia O’Brien names to notice and reckon with. Of all the acts on this list, Gnash might be the one that is still working on being known, but his music isn't.

Daya

For a while, it looked like Daya was going to be one of the low-key successes of the year, and then she partnered up with The Chainsmokers, and that “low-key” phrase was no longer appropriate. The singer first grabbed people’s attention with "Hide Away," and not too long afterwards, her Chainsmokers collab “Don’t Let Me Down” climbed the charts with some serious speed, making it all the way to No. 3. After that, her own follow-up single “Sit Still, Look Pretty” peaked at No. 28, giving her a third platinum-seller. Since then, 18-year-old Daya has released her debut album and collected her first Grammy nomination, which isn't too shabby for someone just getting started in the music biz.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Welcome to the Year 12,017!

2016-12-09T08:00:00.000Z

Every week I'll be here to reveal and review some of my favorite moments from the internet. Whether it be binge-ing television shows, streaming sports or simply getting lost down a YouTube rabbit hole, I'm here to give you my top picks every Friday, as well as the perfect pairing to get into an optimal headspace for them.

This week, we're wondering why we're still farting around on earth watching seasons of Top Chef in the year 12,017 instead of living on the moon or Mars or whatever.

The Human Era and the Case for the Year 12,017

Recommended Pairing: A stone goblet of your oldest wine.

I find it odd when people are super up to date on current events but have almost zero interest in the history that got them here. This phenomenon reaches hilariously depressing peaks during contentious political strife. I'm not trying to say I'm some sort of brilliant student of history or anything like that. I'd say I'm familiar with history, more so than most. Let me put it this way: I have a few Dan Carlin Hardcore History Podcasts saved on my phone.

Earlier this week I caught the newest video from the badass team over at Kurzgesagt, the makers of the "in a nutshell" illustrated infotainment videos on YouTube. I'm a huge fan of their videos covering black holes, aliens, biology and cell structure, vacuum decay, and the world's most horrifying parasites. Their latest video tries to put the evolution of humanity on a timeline that allows for a richer perspective of our history:

Immediately after watching the video I hope you felt the same sort of connection to the first wisps of human civilization achieved at "year zero" that I did. I'm going to have to do some digging around before I can safely say I'm fully on board with the concept, but as for removing the emphasis on "modern" religious markers to define our place in history, this is nothing short of a beautifully elegant solution.

Humanity as we think of it didn't start when a guy vanished from a cave and up into heaven. On the contrary, we were telling stories of god, miracles and mythology for centuries and generations before that.

Putting our desire to come together to build a structure, even as a symbol of something greater than our individual selves, is the perfect place to start counting our years in history. Connecting our history back 10,000 years should give people a bright new perspective on history.

Why Am I Still Watching 'Top Chef'?

Recommended Pairing: An amuse-bouche of quick pickled pig's tails and teeth with a shot of Napa wine.

Fourteen years ago, I devoured the first season of Top Chef with the kind of unbridled intensity usually reserved for someone on a juice cleanse using Thanksgiving as their cheat day.

Top Chef was one of my first binge watches, but this was before Netflix really became a national pastime. I remember being stuck to my couch for an entire day as episode after episode played on the television, commercials and all.

I was living on my own and had just started really getting into cooking, and I loved the idea of learning about food while watching a bunch of assholes compete. Now that the show is an institution, it's hard to believe I ever saw it as anything other than a season of the Real World set in a kitchen, but I have begrudgingly seen every episode even though they seem to show less and less of the preparation and technique involved in making such extraordinary dishes.

There's certainly no shortage of brilliantly crafted cooking shows these days with Mind of a Chef and Chef's Table delivering exceptional documentary-style presentations on the subject. This week a new season of Top Chef aired and I would have totally missed it if they hadn't stirred up a bit of controversy by holding an elimination challenge between a black guy and a white guy at a real life former plantation house.

Do I think this is another case of people being overly sensitive and taking to Twitter to air their grievances instead of just thinking to themselves, They could have handled that better?

Yes.

Yes I do think that, but to be fair, it's a cooking show and they obviously made the decision to try and treat the city of Charleston and its history similarly to the way it's citizens do. But maybe, instead of an elimination challenge where Padma Lakshmi says a few words about such a sensitive subject, they should have done the Top Chef trope of bringing all the contestants there and having a historian walk them through the grounds so they can have a proper moment of reflection before getting hit with a quick fire involving hush puppies or whatever.

Yes, I'll watch the whole season. Yes, I'll watch all of the ridiculous Last Chance Kitchen episodes. I hate that I love this show so much.

Living on the Moon

Recommended Pairing: A green cheese charcuterie plate.

One last little gem I found this week was an article about the scientific community discussing a lunar base then slowly nodding while considering the idea.

I wonder if this has anything to do with Time magazine's newest Person of the Year cover? Or maybe we should stash a few extra people up on the moon because of the terrifying prospect of a quick heat death when we get struck by one of the countless rocks hurtling around in space.

Holy shit! Get me outta here.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

Hardwell Looks Back at a Fruitful 2016

2016-12-09T08:00:00.000Z

28-year-old Dutch house sensation Hardwell may not occupy the No. 1 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 anymore — he sits at #3 at this year’s poll — but he still had a very busy 2016, touring the world, releasing new music and even launching his own backpack designed specifically for DJs in collaboration with brand BALR. No wonder one of his biggest hits of 2016 was called “Run Wild” — the DJing powerhouse was all over the place. But we still managed to ask him 20 questions while meeting him during Amsterdam Dance Event.

Best Moment of 2016: That’s a hard one! I think the biggest one was the closing of my world tour I Am Hardwell Wolrd Tour.

2016 Moment You Wish You'd Rather Forget: The break-up with my girlfriend.

Best Gig of 2016: The closing show of I Am Hardwell Wolrd Tour in Germany.

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over and Get Right: I liked the closing of my Urshai Ibiza residency so much because it was so many friends and family there, that I wanted to do it over. Just because I’d love to invite more friends.

Best Show You Saw in 2016: Tiesto’s gig at Ultra Festival in Miami.

Best Remix or a Track of 2016: I would say Drake’s “One Dance.”

The Track You Couldn't Stop DJing in 2016: My track “Run Wild” with Jack Reese.

Craziest Thing You Did on a Plane in 2016: Me and friends partied so hard on our way to Ibiza that we ended up with a bill for over 1,000 euro for cleaning. Everything was such a mess. We turned the jet into a nightclub.

The 2016 Film That You'd Watch Over and Over: I haven’t seen anything really this year. I’ve just spoken to my friends about it: I haven’t been to a cinema this year. I’ve been very busy.

The 2016 Movie That You Wish You Just Saw on Netflix Instead: I do wanna see this horror movie about burglars getting inside a blind guy’s house called Don’t Breath. I definitely wanna see it.

TV Show You Binge-Watched Most on the Road in 2016: The series I watched this year that definitely changed my life was Suits. And of course the second season of Narcos.

Best TV Show of 2016: For me it was Suits. I know it didn’t start in 2016, but it’s still going on.

Best Music Video of 2016: Definitely Ariana Grande’s “Side to Side.” I love this video! I didn’t try cycling myself. I was just watching Ariana.

Most Awkward Touring Experience of 2016: Missing my flight. Missing a flight and having to cancel a show might be the worst thing in the world.

Go-to Meal While On the Road: Sushi, definitely. It’s good when you’re trying to stay healthy but still want something tasty.

Dutch Artist We Should Have on Our Radar In 2016: It’s a Dutch band called Broederliefde. They’re very huge in Holland and I think they’re ready to conquer the world. Even though they’re singing in Dutch.

Best Fan Gift You Received In 2016: I got a new a collar for my dog. Any gift for my dog is always the best!

Plans For 2017: Continue what I’m doing right now. I love touring and having fun on the road. Making a lot of new music. I’m taking the whole month of January off to make new music. And a lot of festivals!

One Thing on Your 2017 Wish List: I have a two-week-long vacation with my friends, and I haven’t had any vacation in the last four years. I’m going to Curacao, the Dutch Caribbean.

What Do You Want to See/Happen in 2017 That Doesn't Have to do With Your Music: I hope in 2017 America will be still alive and with a good president [the interview was conducted in October].

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week: Holiday Edition

2016-12-09T08:00:00.000Z

Tis the season for sleigh bells ringing, endless caroling and toasting to our loved ones. And it's also the time when everyone, regardless of musical style, releases their own take on the holiday song. Whether it's a fresh take on an old classic or a newly penned tune for today's audience, artists have been feeling the holiday spirit, and they want to share that cheer with you. So with Christmas around the corner, this week's New Music Friday will highlight our favorite holiday records. Although our picks have already dropped and this writer isn't the biggest fan of holiday tracks (Bah Humbug), I combed through this year's releases and picked my faves.

From country and indie rock tracks to pop and dance, here is this week's Top 5 Album Releases of the Week: Holiday Edition.

'A Very Kacey Christmas' - Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves goes for traditional country sounds as well as tosses some Hawaiian flair on her holiday record, A Very Kacey Christmas. Putting her twist on the playful "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the lesser known but still thoroughly enjoyable "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas," she shows us just how quirky she can get. And sure some of them are a little kitschy, but isn't that the joy of Christmas tunes, especially the ones we learned in school? She also does a nice rendition of the Alvin and the Chipmunks holiday tune, "Christmas Don't Be Late" as well as covers Bing Crosby's "Mele Kalikimaka."

But the album isn't all covers. She also sings about being lonely during the holidays with "Christmas Makes Me Cry," which she wrote with Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark. She also penned "Present Without a Bow," which features Leon Bridges, who also helped out with the writing. While Christmas albums tend to focus on the time before and around December 25, it usually closes with a song honoring New Year's Eve. Kacey's is no different and ends the record with "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

'Don't Waste Your Wishes' - The Killers

Since 2006, The Killers have been putting out holiday songs in December as part of Bono's (RED) fundraising campaign. And as the tradition entered its 10 year, the Las Vegas band finally decided to put the whole thing together into a full-length album. Entitled Don't Waste Your Wishes, the LP proves yet another winning set of tracks but also just how creative Brandon Flowers and company got when it came to penning Christmas songs.

Unlike other holiday albums that make sure everything is wrapped perfectly in a neat bow, many of the songs are a bit messy and some naughtier than the traditional tunes like "Don't Shoot Me Santa," "Joseph, Better You Than Me" and the nightclub-worthy "I Feel It In My Bones." As per tradition, The Killers also wrote a new track for 2016 called "I'll Be Home for Christmas." If you're looking for something a little left of center for you holiday playlist, this is definitely the one for you.

'A Very Decent Christmas 4' - Mad Decent

If you're looking for something to turn up your office Christmas party, Mad Decent dropped the fourth edition of A Very Decent Christmas. Taking pieces of old holiday songs, different Mad Decent artists put their own twists on them.

Take for instance, 4B's "Carnival," featuring Bunji Garlin. Kicking off with heavy bass beats to get your heart moving, the song layers in Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" — making you think of ballet dancers who switch between turns and twerks. Bad Royale also uses the bells from the Tchaikovsky song to add some holiday vibes to the otherwise booty-dropping, Jay Nahge-led tune, "Mrs. Claus." Meanwhile, "Chrimbus" features "Jingle Bells" layered on top of reverberating, robotic beats. Of course, it wouldn't feel like a Mad Decent record without the inclusion of Major Lazer, who open the LP with their reggae Mary Jane-friendly track, "Christmas Trees," featuring Protoje.

Whether you're looking to get down or smoke out, this is the perfect soundtrack for you.

'A Pentatonix Christmas' - Pentatonix

Chart-topping a capella stars Pentatonix may have released That's Christmas to Me in 2014. However, the Texan pop vocal group is back with its latest holiday collection, A Pentatonix Christmas. Filled with beautifully arranged renditions of classics like "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," they also do a few more modern tracks like *NSYNC's "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" and an emotional rendition of "Hallelujah" by the late Leonard Cohen. They also feature two original tunes, "The Christmas Sing-Along" and "Good to Be Bad."

If you're down this holiday season, this record will give you that feel good vibe.

'Little Lights' - Janet Devlin

If you're looking for something to make you want to snuggle closer to loved ones, then Janet Devlin is the one you should add to your playlist this season. Her latest Christmas EP, Little Lights, might be a short one, but it's full of so much heart that you wouldn't mind putting it on repeat from now till you start packing up those Christmas decorations again.

The Irish singer-songwriter's delicate vocals add an ethereal feel to each track, especially on the glam rock Yuletide jam, "Merry Xmas Everybody." Her sweetness shines on "Merry Christmas Mum & Dad" and the upbeat acoustic track, "Something Beginning With Christmas." Despite the holidays being a time for good cheer, she has one for the broken hearts of the season with the tearjerker, "Wake Up It's Christmas."

Get your new music fix any day of the week by visiting out New Music Friday page.

NAVVI Channels the Shadows in Sound

2016-12-08T20:21:18.051Z

From underneath the overcast skies of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle duo NAVVI make slinky electronic music that sounds ideal for the shadows and darkness of the night. Made up of vocalist Kristin Henry and producer Brad Henry, the two have united to create a covey of singles as well as full length album Omni, which they released in 2016.

We spoke with both members about the video game origins of their name, their history, songwriting process and upcoming music.

Hometown/Homebase: Seattle, WA

What inspired your band name? How did you pick it?

Kristin Henry: It was effortless and not something we spent a lot of time on. From what I remember, it happened via text one night when we were just bouncing ideas back and forth. I threw NAVVI out there because I’m a huge Legend of Zelda fan and Navi is, to this date, my favorite fairy companion. I don’t think Brad knew at the time that it was a Zelda reference, but it was compelling enough so we rolled with it.

How did you meet initially? What sparked your collaboration?

Brad Boettger: We met through a mutual friend. We both had aspirations to be in a band that was doing this kind of music. It was something neither of us had done but that we both had a common interest in.

Kristin: We met back in 2013 through a mutual friend. My old band had just fallen apart, so I was actively looking for new artists to collaborate with. The band I had just left leaned more country/folk-rock, so I had every intention of starting over and moving in the opposite direction. A friend told me about a producer I had to meet and that’s how I got connected with Brad.

How would you describe your sound?

Brad: We always shoot for something that feels cinematic to some degree.

Kristin: I typically agree when people describe us as “nocturnal” and “ethereal.”

What's your songwriting process like? How long does it take for a track to come together?

Brad: Sometimes it can take a couple of days to see a song through from beginning to end, and other times it can take a month. It varies. But it's a very collaborative process.

Kristin: Yeah, it really depends. I think "Polychrome" took us less than a week to write and record, while "What Reason Do We Need?" took over a month. We don’t have a process that we adhere to strictly, and we like it that way. It’s collaborative – we're with each other every step of the way. I don’t know my way around Ableton, but I make important decisions alongside Brad on things related to production. Brad is not the vocalist in the group, but he is as much part of the melody and lyric writing as I am. We don’t assign “roles” during the song-writing process. There are no clean lines, and this has worked to our advantage.

What was the process like for recording your album Omni?

Brad: It was comprehensive. We wrote about 20 songs and whittled them down to the 11 on the record. It took about nine months and was as in-depth as any project either of us had ever attempted. It was hard work but worth it in that, because of all the options, we could really shape the type of record we were presenting.

Kristin: I had never been part of writing a full-length before Omni, so I went into it unprepared. It was WORK. We pretty much wrote a double album in the span of nine months. Before this, we were managing about two-three songs at any given moment, so to go from that to having 10+ songs, each at different levels of completion, was overwhelming at times. If it weren't for Brad’s impeccable work ethic and guidance, this album would still be half finished.

What/who do you count as your influences? In what ways?

Brad: I primarily listen to hip-hop, R&B and electronic production styles to get all my musical cues. All eras of synth work from the '60s, '70s and '80s as well as the modern styles of synthesis are what I spend a lot of time considering when writing. I've been listening to a lot of The Internet and D'Angelo recently,. so moving forward you can probably expect a little busier bass lines and a little more swing in the rhythm section.

Kristin: Vocally, I would say Liz Fraser. Might be a predictable choice, but there is no voice as emotive and unique as hers. Her focus on sound rather than meaning has really shaped me in how I write and hear melodies. Growing up, I listened to mainly Top 40 music. I think it's why a good hook is so important to me when I write. As far as general influences, I read a lot of young-adult fantasy so I'm sure that's made it's way into my music in some form or another.

You've gone the self-released route for singles — what are the pros and cons?

Pros: It's lean. You don't have to consider anybody else for a timeline. You go when you want. It feels like a little less stress to some degree.

Cons: The amount of attention your release receives when you collaborate with a label is more robust usually. You can't guarantee it will make an immediate impact with the listening community regardless but it seems even less predictable when you self-release.

What's it like to be a musician in Seattle? How would you describe the scene?

Brad: It's cool. It feels like a small community of diverse, and diversely talented musicians. My favorite thing about it is that Seattle is singularly independent philosophically. That seems to carry over into how most of the musicians out here go about their music. In turn, you feel obligated to step your game up every time you put something new. If you don't, you can expect that it will be drowned out by all the other cool ideas going on in the scene.

Kristin: Being a musician here is dope, especially since we have organizations like KEXP supporting the scene. It's more diverse than anyone outside of Seattle probably thinks. We're not all flannel clad indie-rock bands, obviously. When we play a show here, the bill is hardly ever one genre. The amount of creativity and talent here can be intimidating at times, but I wouldn't have if any other way.

If you could soundtrack any movie, which would it be and why?

Brad: If Jodorowsky ever made his version of Dune, I'd offer my services for free.

Kristin: The Exorcist, mostly out of curiosity at how much we could change the tone of the movie.

What are your goals for this project? What's next?

Kristin: Our goal has stayed the same, and that’s to be the best musicians we can be and to write songs we’re both proud of. We have a batch of new songs we’re working on right now, and we have plans to release something in 2017, whether it's an EP or a full-length. We’re also trying to be better about touring, so maybe you’ll see us in your city soon.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch Michael McQuaid's "Heartbreaker" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-08T17:49:01.763Z

Michael McQuaid knows how to channel those all-too-familiar breakup feelings on "Heartbreaker." The visuals for the new track embody the sadness: McQuaid sings, reflects and mopes around in a shadowy, forbidding house. It’s a subtle-yet-memorable accompaniment to the passionate R&B track.

"S.T. Davis directed and made the video," says McQuaid to Myspace. "We rented out this really cool Airbnb in Nashville. We wanted to utilize lights in this video, so that was a huge visual element. So we used all these different lights to make different colors and effects. We shot the video on a RED camera."

Watch the video exclusively on Myspace below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Warner Bros. Plans to Remake 'Little Shop of Horrors'

2016-12-08T17:43:42.628Z

Little Shop of Horrors is set for yet another remake. The Warner Bros. project will be "a musical, a fresh version of the 30-year-old Frank Oz-directed film," according to Deadline. Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Arrow) will direct and Matthew Robinson will write the script.

The sci-fi story initially came out in 1960, featuring Jack Nicholson as a his iconic role dentist's patient. Bill Murray reprised the role in the 1986 remake, which was adapted from an Off-Broadway musical of the same name.

The Warner Bros. remake is in its earliest stages, so it's unclear who will star in the film or when it will be released. Stay tuned. In the meantime, watch Nicholson perform in the original 1960 flick.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron Save Lives Shirtless in 'Baywatch' Trailer

2016-12-08T17:38:51.733Z

Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron give us some #tbt feels with the first teaser for the Baywatch reboot. Filled with the slow-mo running and all the toned and fit bodies you could ever ask for, this version of the '90s show raises the humor level with ridiculous jokes and more slapstick antics. Johnson plays Mitch Buchannon, the veteran lifeguard who's been leading the team, and Efron takes on Matt Brody, the young newbie, who's meant to bring them more good press. Baywatch also stars Priyanka Chopra, Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach, and was directed by Seth Gordon. The film is set to hit theaters on May 26, 2017.

Watch the teaser below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson's Epic Duet

2016-12-08T17:31:14.837Z

Last night (December 7), the '80s musical, Hairspray, was given the 2016 reboot with a live televised version of the production on NBC — sending musical theater fanatics into a tizzy. And while it's not the first time we've seen a musical staged in this way before (Remember Grease Live!), Hairspray Live! brought two vocal powerhouses together: Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande. J-Hud, who played Motormouth Maybellle, and Ariana, who took on the role of good-girl-gone-bad Penny Pingleton, covered "Come So Far." Both dressed in metallic threads and rocking some big 60s hair, this is the duet that everyone, especially those who weren't necessarily into musicals, was waiting for. So of course, they just had to put it at the end during the roll call.

Meanwhile, Jennifer gave viewers the chills when she performed.

Watch both performances below.

Watch Shigeru Miyamoto Perform Super Mario Bros.' Theme with The Roots

2016-12-08T17:04:05.808Z

Video game designer/producer Shigeru Miyamoto, who is responsible for the iconic Super Mario Bros. theme song, joined The Roots last night to perform a jazzy version of the song. Front and center, he's definitely vibing with the house band. Midway through, Jimmy Fallon also joins in on the action with a cute Super Mario Bros. reference of his own.

Miyamoto made some of Nintendo's best-selling games, from Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong to The Legend of Zelda over the course of his 40 year career.

Watch the performance below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Madonna Belt The Hits, Twerk On "Carpool Karaoke"

2016-12-08T16:53:08.934Z

Madonna definitely made the most of her "Carpool Karaoke" performance. The pop diva sang selections new and old with James Corden, twerked in her seat and even put her legs outside the passenger window during their cruise through New York City.

Madonna also talked with Corden about her temperate lifestyle these days ("I'm quite square"), how she wanted to be a nun growing up ("I liked their uniform. It's kind of perverse") and kissing Michael Jackson ("full French kissing").

Watch it all below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

6 Albums from 2016 That Should Have Been Huge Hits (but Weren’t)

2016-12-08T08:00:00.000Z

Much like life, pop music isn't always fair. For every talented artist that makes it big in music, there's another that's unfairly ignored. It's easy, and often even necessary, to overlook artists and albums in an industry so crowded with aspiring newcomers, but it's still a shame to see a deserving record, full of ambition and ideas and creativity, go unrecognized. So with 2016 drawing to a close, we're recognizing the releases from this past year that didn't generate the critical or commercial buzz they rightly deserved.

Ryley Walker — 'Golden Sings That Have Been Sung'

Ryley Walker draws upon a few relatively straightforward genres — folk and blues chief among them — but then infuses his influences with a psychedelic ingenuity that makes his music particularly hard to describe. His fourth album in three years, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, is a tapestry of warmly produced cosmic folk rock, rich with complex interplay and perfectly integrated flourishes of swelling orchestras, tribal drums and electronic keyboards. The songs are exploratory and often defy expectation without becoming indulgent, always anchored by Walker's melodic singing and skillful acoustic fingerpicking — at least until the 40-minute live jam included with the digital release, which rivals the instrumental tracks of pre-Dark Side Pink Floyd at their most far out.

Car Seat Headrest — 'Teens of Denial'

It's been a long time since indie rock sounded as confident as it does on Teens of Denial, the 10th album from Car Seat Headrest but only their second since signing to Matador Records and graduating from a solo act to a full band in 2015. Frontman Will Toledo uses his expanded sound to fulfill the promise of his earlier, more lo-fi material, and the result is a powerful record built on simmering Pixies-style guitar tension and explosive finales. When he's not conjuring up energetic hooks to match the thrillingly noisy rock, Toledo alternately yelps and monologues about the unromantic side of drug-fueled hedonism in lyrics as witty as they are emotionally impactful.

James Vincent McMorrow — 'We Move'

We Move completes James Vincent McMorrow's transition from acoustic folk to textural R&B. The Irish songwriter sounds so assured in his new genre, it's a wonder he was ever doing anything else, particularly given his talent for delicate falsetto crooning and conjuring rich atmosphere from minimalist rhythms and vocal effects. The songs are intimate, even at their most upbeat and crowd-pleasing, reflecting the mental issues and loneliness of constant travel that inspired McMorrow's songwriting this time around, particularly in the most vulnerable of tracks like the gorgeous, album-ending ballad "Lost Angles."

Drive-by Truckers — 'American Band'

American Band is political rock music at its finest, delivered at a time when most Americans could probably use songs like these — wordy non-fiction tales that balance deeply personal emotion with lyrics that take a clear-eyed look at the touchiest of subjects, including school shootings ("Guns of Umpqua"), immigration ("Ramon Casiano"), black lives matter ("What It Means") and censorship ("Once They Banned Imagine"). The decidedly modern songs sound timeless in the hands of the Drive-by Truckers, a band of veteran southern rockers who have honed their dynamic to accommodate both hard-edged rockers and moving acoustic reveries. It seems that most people don't look to rock for their political music anymore, which is a shame when an album this vital and refreshing comes along.

Blood Orange — 'Freetown Sound'

Dev Hynes wrote Freetown Sound, his third album under the pseudonym Blood Orange, for "everyone told they’re not black enough, too black, too queer, not queer the right way." With lyrics like "You are special in your own way" contrasting with others like "can you see the nigger in my face?" all in the same song, Freetown Sound is often life-affirming, but always aware of the struggles that come with simply being who you are, particularly when who you are doesn't fit neatly into established cultural norms. In confronting the many positive and negative impacts of identity — racial, sexual, or personal — Blood Orange has made a sultry funk pop record for the ages.

Muncie Girls — 'From Caplan to Belsize'

In their debut LP From Caplan to Belsize, Muncie Girls cloak their righteous anger in an addictive haze of crunchy guitar riffs and irresistible power pop hooks. Lyrically, the band wittily chronicles their youthful frustrations about social issues like bullying ("Respect"), purposeful ignorance ("I Don't Want to Talk About It") and inequality ("Learn in School"), but never at the expense of their chiming guitar work and driving pop-rock rhythms — instead the sharp social commentary comes as a bonus for listeners paying close attention. It's a uniquely perfect distillation of determined dissatisfaction and bouncy melodies, two cornerstones of great indie rock. Even if From Caplan to Belsize doesn't reinvent the wheel, it doesn't have to when the songs are this uniformly catchy and well-written.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

30 Child Stars Who Died Too Young

2016-12-08T08:00:00.000Z

Movie business is notoriously tough. Some people never get a chance to break into the big screen; some get stuck playing the same roles over and over again, and then there are the ones who shine bright too young and then fade into obscurity. The stars on this list had different career paths and died from different causes, but all of their fates are tragic reminders that fame takes its toll on young, impressionable celebrities.

Sawyer Sweeten

Image: Getty

Sawyer Sweeten played Geoffrey Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond. He didn’t appear on TV at all since early 2000s and returned to the headlines in 2015 when it was reported that he died. The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 19 and was survived by his twin brother Sullivan.

Jonathan Brandis

Image: Pop

Jonathan Brandis was mostly known for the leading role in the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s clown-themed novel IT. His career was very horror-driven: he starred in Stepfather II and Pet Sematary. In 2003, at 27, he hanged himself in his LA apartment without leaving a suicide note.

Heather O’Rourke

Image: Getty

Perhaps the most famous kid from any horror movie, Heather O’Rourke got her big break through the supernatural horror Poltergeist. But while her character managed to survive three entries of the franchise, the actress was misdiagnosed in real life and died from cardiac arrest at the age of 12.

Lee Thompson Young

Image: Getty

Lee Thompson Young enjoyed a lasting career on TV. He got his first break on Disney Channel’s The Famous Jett Jackson, then starred in Friday Night Lights, Rizzoli & Isles and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. When in 2013 he failed to show up on set, the police went to investigate and found his dead body in his LA apartment. He was 29 and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Rob Knox

Image: Rob Knox Foundation

British actor Rob Knox’s career has been on the rise. He was cast as Marcus Belby in the Harry Potter saga, but didn’t get to appear in the last two films of the movie series because he was stabbed to death while defending his brother in a brawl outside a London pub. He was 18.

Christopher Pettiet

Image: FameFocus

You probably remember Christopher Pettiet as Jesse James in the Western TV show The Younger Riders or Christina Applegate’s brother on Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. He died in 2000 of an accidental drug overdose in LA. He was 24.

Dana Hill

Image: Hollywood.com

Dana Hill had medical issues since an early age, suffering from diabetes since the age of 10. It didn’t stop her from pursuing a film career and starring in movies like National Lampoon’s European Vacation and Shoot the Moon. In 1996, at age 32, she slipped into a diabetic coma and died from a paralytic stroke.

Sammi Kane Kraft

Image: FanDaily

Sammi Kane Kraft was a triple threat: she was a singer, an actress and a baseball player. Her movie credits include 2005’s remake of Bad News Bears. She died at age 20 in 2012 after a car she was in rear-ended a semi-trailer.

Corey Haim

Image: IMDb

One half of The Two Coreys — the ‘80s film darling duo consisting of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman — starred in many beloved movies, from The Lost Boys to License to Drive. In 2010, at age 39, he died after abusing over 550 pills in one month.

Bridgette Andersen

Image: Youtube

A lot of people remember Bridgette Andersen’s smile from her breakthrough film Savanna Smiles in 1982. But in 1997, at the age of 21, that smile was taken from us when Andersen accidently overdosed on alcohol and heroin.

Brad Renfro

Image: Getty

By the time he died in 2008, at the age of 25 Brad Renfro starred in many movies and TV shows, including The Client, Apt Pupil and The Informers. He died from heroin and morphine intoxication.

Dana Plato

Image: NBC

Not even a Playboy photoshoot could revive Dana Plato’s film career after her run on Diff’rent Strokes was over. The desperate actress took her own life in 1999 at the age of 34 from an overdose of prescription drugs.

Michelle Thomas

Image: ABC

Michelle Thomas got famous after starring as Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show and later as Myra Monkhouse on Family Matters. In 1997, she was diagnosed with a rare form a cancer and underwent surgery, but the cancer kept on spreading. She died at 29.

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Image: Getty

The Houston native starred in The Patriot, Don’t Say a Word, Boogeyman and many other movies. Her career was cut short when she was found dead after an accidental drug overdose in 2014. She was 21.

Josh Ryan Evans

Image: Getty

Josh Ryan Evans had a rare disease that prevented his body from growing, which allowed him to play children even after he hit puberty. He starred in Passions and Ally McBeal before dying in 2002 during a medical procedure. Shockingly, by that time he just wrapped a death scene of his character for Passions, so it was aired the day of the actor’s death.

Ashleigh Aston Moore

Image: Youtube

Ashleigh Aston Moore played Chrissy in 1995’s coming-of-age drama Now and Then, but quit acting soon after. Pneumonia and bronchitis led to her death in 2007 at the age of 26.

Carl Switzer

Image: Getty

As a child, Carl Switzer was the star of 1930s short movies series called Our Gang. In 1959, when he was 31, Switzer had a fight with an acquaintance over a lost dog’s reward and was shot to death during the altercation.

Matthew Garber

Image: Youtube

Matthew Garber was one of the earliest Disney stars, starring in The Three Lives of Thomasina and The Gnome-Mobile. His better-known movie is Mary Poppins. He died from pancreatitis caused by hepatitis in 1977 at 21.

J. Madison Wright Morris

Image: Youtube

The star of Shiloh and The Nanny died from restrictive cardiomyopathy. Even after getting a transplant, she still suffered heart failure in 2006. She was 21.

Judith Barsi

Image: Getty

Even if you haven’t seen Judith Barsi in Jaws: The Revenge, you may have heard her voice in All Dogs Go to Heaven or The Land Before Time. She was killed in 1988 when she was just 10 by her abusive, alcoholic father. The man shot the young actress while she was sleeping, killed her mother and spent two days wandering around the house, before setting the house on fire and shooting himself.

Michael Cuccione

Image: Youtube

At the age of nine, Canadian native Michael Cuccione was diagnosed with stage 2A Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects lymph nodes. In his spare time from treatment, Cuccione campaigned for cancer awareness and also starred in a movie about fictional boyband 2ge+her. The band got so big that it even opened for Britney Spears. Cuccione died in 2001, just before turning 16.

Tara Correa-McMullen

Image: OV Guide

Tara Correa-McMullen starred in the CBS series Judging Amy as well as Zoey 101. In 2005, she was shot dead in front of her apartment in Inglewood, CA. She was 16.

Scotty Beckett

Image: Celebrity WC

Yet another stat of Our Gang, Scotty Beckett also starred in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. In 1968 at the age of 38 he was seriously beaten and quickly died in his nursing home room.

River Phoenix

Image: Today

The hero of Hollywood’s beloved cautionary tale starred in Stand by Me, but couldn’t handle the fame and abused illegal substances a little too much. He died right in front of an LA nightclub at age 23 while Johnny Depp’s band P was playing on stage.

Norman Chaney

Image: Warner Bros.

The chubby child star rose to fame after his stint in the late 1920s Our Gang shorts. But his health was declining and he died at 21 from myocarditis.

Anissa Jones

Image: IMDb

Anissa Jones got famous playing Buffy. Okay, another Buffy. Jones starred in Family Matters and died from drug intoxication at age 18 in 1976.

Rusty Hamer

Image: ABC

The role of Danny in Make Room for Daddy didn’t bring much happiness to Rusty Hamer. After years of struggling with depression Hamer shot himself at age 42.

Gary Coleman

Image: Youtube

Gary Coleman’s small stature brought him fame and the role of Arnold Jackson at Diff’rent Strokes. But in 2010, at the age of 42, he suffered several seizures and died after falling down the stairs.

Anton Yelchin

Image: Youtube

The Russian-born actor started acting at nine, starring in movies like House of D and Delivering Milo and the Taken TV series. He eventually became a world-renowned actor, appearing in movies like Star Trek and Fright Night. A freak accident in June 2016 killed the 27-year-old actor — he was crushed by his own jeep on a steep road.

Bobby Driscoll

Image: Blog CDN

When he was a child, Bobby Driscoll was a go-to kid over at Disney Studios, starring in movies like So Dear to My Heart, Song of the South and Peter Pan. But as he grew older, lucrative career offers grew thinner and Driscoll eventually died at 31 after heart failure due to drug abuse.

8 Sexiest Music Videos from the ‘90s

2016-12-08T08:00:00.000Z

The ‘90s were a time when the concept of sexual expression was being rewritten right before our very … errr … eyes. Yeah, we’re gonna go with “eyes.”

Playing a large role in this, as they always have throughout history, were the artists ruling the airwaves.

Back in the ‘50s, Elvis’ hip gyrations caused controversies, but he probably never imagined that one day we’d have half naked supermodels, and numerous bathtub scenes, as part of a musician’s artistic expression.

Yes, “sexy” was elevated to new heights in the ‘90s, and the following 8 music videos helped make that happen.

Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game” (1990)

Not just one of the sexiest music videos of the ‘90s, but one of the sexiest videos of all-time, “Wicked Game,” which was directed by Herb Ritts, featured a topless Helena Christensen seductively frolicking on a Hawaiian beach, and embracing a lovestruck Chris Isaak.

Shot in black and white, this video has an aphrodisiac-like quality equivalent to a day’s supply of the oysters at an all you can eat buffet.

Fun Fact: Helena Christensen was once married to The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus, and the two have a son together.

George Michael – “Freedom! ’90” (1990)

Despite being a sex symbol of his time, George Michael decided he didn’t want to be in the video for his song “Freedom! ’90.” Instead, inspired by Peter Lindbergh's portrait of Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, on the January 1990 cover of the British edition of Vogue, Michael decided to go the supermodel route, and in doing so, he created a classic.

The video for “Freedom! ’90,” which was directed by David Fincher, features the same supermodels from the Lindbergh photo, along with a handful of male models, with the female models lip syncing Michael’s lyrics. Oh, and there’s Cindy Crawford in a bathtub.

Madonna – “Justify My Love” (1990)

Back in the ‘90s Madonna was a boundary pusher when it came to sexual content, even publishing her own book of nude photos, titled Sex, in 1992.

Before Sex, however, Madonna was looking for someone to justify her love, and with the video for “Justify My Love” she set off a wave of controversy. The clip was deemed too sexually explicit for MTV, which banned the video, so she released it on VHS, at which point it became a bestselling video single.

Even by today’s standards “Justify My Love” might not make it on air!

Janet Jackson – “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” (1990)

While some videos in the ‘90s were overt with their sexiness, others, like Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” was a little more subtle in their sexiness. Not lewd, or crude, the black and white, Herb Ritts directed clip simply gave us a very sexy Janet Jackson, along with Antonio Sabàto, Jr. and Djimon Hounsou.

When it comes to creating a sexy video, this clip proved that sometimes less is more … and we don’t just mean less clothes.

En Vogue – “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” (1992)

En Vogue, in tight red dresses, teasing an audience of men who are getting more and more hot and bothered as the performance goes on — this was the premise for the video for “Giving Him Something He Can Feel,” and believe me when I tell you the men in the audience represented every (straight) guy in the world who watched the clip.

The song was originally composed by Curtis Mayfield for the 1976 motion picture Sparkle, and was sung by Aretha Franklin for movie’s soundtrack, but in the ‘90s, En Vogue definitely gave us something we could feel, due in part to one of the hottest videos ever made.

Janet Jackson – “If” (1993)

You know how earlier we basically said the video Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” was a blueprint for subtle sexiness? For “If” she flipped the script and was incredibly overt in regards to sex, and sexuality, proving she could play both sides of the sexiness coin.

Filled with smokin' hot female dancers, and equally attractive male dancers, this video had something for everyone, especially for the girl power set, as the male dancers were lowered down to the dance floor, and essentially used as playthings for the women.

TLC – “Red Light Special” (1994)

Speaking of girl power, TLC were runnin’ thangs in the video for their ultra sultry single “Red Light Special.” As if T-Boz’s raspy vocals weren’t enough to get you in the mood, the clip features the trio in a “pimps and hoes” situation, but with the women as the pimps, and the shirtless men as the hoes, as they all play a high stakes game of strip poker (is there such a thing as a low stakes game of strip poker?).

Fun Fact: One of the guys in the video is Boris Kodjoe.

Fiona Apple – “Criminal” (1997)

There’s a lot going on in Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” that can be considered sexy, but I think the bathtub scenes, and the look on Apple’s face during some of those scenes, are what seals the deal for it making this list of the sexiest music videos of the ‘90s.

When the video first came out, critics were harsh in their assessments of it. The New Yorker described Apple’s appearance as being that of an “underfed Calvin Klein model,” while others claimed the video promoted “heroin chic,” with some going completely off the deep end, saying it had “overtones of child porn” (Apple was 20 years old at the time of the video’s release).

Can’t a woman just have a half naked basement party anymore?

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

Katie Holmes Just Killed Your Dreams of a Dawson’s Creek Reunion

2016-12-07T21:29:54.013Z

Queue up the crying Dawson meme, because Katie Holmes doesn’t think a Dawson’s Creek reunion will ever happen.

Holmes stopped by SiriusXM’s Just Jenny Show on Tuesday and promptly shut down the possibility that she would reunite with Joshua Jackson or James Van Der Beek for a Dawson’s Creek reunion.

Chris Pratt Was Born to Be the Santa Claus to Jimmy Fallon’s Naughty Elf

“I don’t think we’re going to do a reunion,” Holmes told radio host Jenny Hutt, quietly crushing the dreams of fans everywhere eager for the cast to return at least for their 20th high school reunion or something.

When Hutt asked for an explanation that she could share with devastated fans, Holmes explained that they simply grew up. “We see each other every now and then,” she said. “I think that the charm of the show was Kevin Williamson’s writing and it was of that time and it gave teenagers this voice. It was a very, very special time — a special show and I loved every minute of it.”

The Broad City Girls Announced When They’re Coming Back in a Very On-Brand Video

Thanks to the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life fans are in a re-boot frenzy, so much so that the Today show even asked Michelle Williams about the chances of a possible Dawson’s Creek reunion. “I died,” the actor reminded the hosts. “I would have to come back as a ghost — or put a lot of filters on the camera, and I’ll do flashback scenes. I think it’s a fun thing to sort of imagine. I like imagining it. But I haven’t really heard anybody say anything like actually serious about that happening.”

Listen below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Billy Crystal School James Corden on Hosting the Grammys

2016-12-07T21:23:20.093Z

James Corden has done a lot over the course of his career—let Stevie Wonder be his chauffeur, played Risky Business with Tom Cruise, twerked with Madonna, starred in Doctor Who, but he has never hosted the Grammy Awards. Now that the Late Late Show host has been tapped to host the 2017 iteration of the award show, he realized he needed some advice and brought in a ringer — Billy Crystal.

Joe Biden Discussed Running in 2020 With Stephen Colbert: ‘Never Say Never’

The three-time Grammy Awards host shared plenty of advice for Corden, which he doled out on Tuesday night’s show. Crystal spun a cautionary tale about musicians, involving Michael Jackson, his pet chimpanzee, a tent, Russian maestro Vladimir Horowitz, and Radio City Music Hall that certainly put Corden on notice about what he can expect when he hosts the show in February.

Watch Bill Murray Serenade a 94-Year-Old Grandmother for Her Birthday

In short, he might want to bring an emergency supply of chimp Pull-Ups.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Honest Trailer for Suicide Squad Slams Jared Leto’s Joker

2016-12-07T21:15:43.979Z

The team over at Screen Junkies is back with an honest trailer that bashes the most talked about movie of the summer: Suicide Squad. The 6-minute long clip delivers a thorough roasting of the team of worst heroes ever, taking particular aim at Jared Leto’s short — and controversial — role as the Joker.

Netflix Study Reveals What People Do After Binging a Show

“Experience Jared Leto’s intense method acting that blurred the line between actor, character and total douchebag,” the narrator says. “As he does in just ten minutes of screen time what no other actor has been able to do: make the Joker totally suck.”

New Rogue One Clip Teases the Chilling Power of the Empire

Watch the full video below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

New Rogue One Clip Teases the Chilling Power of the Empire

2016-12-07T21:11:18.468Z

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Rogue One.

The New Fifty Shades Darker Trailer Gives Fans Exactly What They’re Looking For

Thanks to the most recent Rogue One trailer, we already know that the upcoming Star Wars spinoff features a flashback to the day Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) — the father of Rebel fighter Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) — was captured by Imperial Forces, including the Empire’s Director of Advanced Weapons Research, Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn). But a new clip released Wednesday gives fans a glimpse into the complicated backstory between the pair.

As Krennic arrives to collect the scientist and bring him back to the Death Star to continue work on the super weapon, Erso attempts to reason with his former friend. However, his plea falls on deaf ears. “You’re confusing peace with terror,” Erso says, to which Krennic responds, “Well, you have to start somewhere.”

The Honest Trailer for Suicide Squad Slams Jared Leto’s Joker

Watch the full clip below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Holy Golden Create their own World with 'Wax Castle'

2016-12-07T19:39:54.960Z

As a duo, Holy Golden embark on adventures as if they're turning pages in a book. For their sophomore album Wax Castle, they hit the road traversing the US and recording songs in various locales along the way, including a eucalyptus grove on the California coast, a spot in Martha’s Vineyard and from within an empty mansion in the midwest. They keep their songs short and sweet, like any good pop song worth its salt, with most of them clocking in at the two minute mark and sometimes under. In that short span of time, they weave fantastical mini-tales about aliens and volcanoes over raw guitar chords for a lo-fi sound that wouldn't be out of place in rotation on alternative radio in the '90s, while staying very current, too.

We chatted with members Leslie Schott and Andrew Valenti about the whimsy that exists in their output, the journey of recording Wax Castle and their favorite authors.

Hometown/Homebase: Detroit, MI

If you were to creatively describe your sound, how would you?

Leslie: The sound is a choose-your-own-adventure of fantasies, feelings and experiences. A place where things are not always what they seem, like standing in a hallway of mirrors where the rug could be pulled out from under you at any moment. If you pay close attention, you'll come out on the other side with a special new feeling — a secret only you know.

How did the two of you initially meet and how soon/what sparked the musical collaboration?

Leslie: It was a December day, I decided to walk in the cold back to the ferry instead of taking the bus while visiting Martha's Vineyard and I saw a sign for a record store and went in to warm up — Andrew was working at the shop. Our meeting was a strange thing, magnetic and serendipitous, we both felt like we already knew each other.

Andrew: I knew there was a musical connection when I saw the CDs she had in her hand at the record shop. When Leslie went back to LA, she sent me some lyrics she wrote on the plane, and I immediately recorded music to the words. It has been a non-stop collaboration ever since, with the music being the soundtrack to our creative world together.

What is your musical history? What have been your other projects and what does Holy Golden fulfill in you?

Andrew: When I was 15, I sought freedom by moving into a tent in my parent's backyard. I brought my guitar and 4-track cassette recorder with me (connected by extension cord) and started making up my first songs. I've been in a handful of bands and recorded several solo albums. Holy Golden is the most freedom and support I've had with a musical project and brings out my favorite parts of the music-making process.

Leslie: I was a super shy kid. I sang a lot, but only alone in my bedroom or when my sister and I had a Mariah Carey singing competition — she always won. My parents made me take piano lessons and do the recitals. Music makes me feel vulnerable, and I've learned to embrace it. I had a roommate from London when I moved to LA; she was the first person I started officially writing songs with, and then I was hooked! Holy Golden is the culmination of many things I have always felt and wanted.

What's your song writing process like?

Leslie: We've called it "a labyrinthian breadcrumb trail." We pick up little clues as we go, the words and the sounds. We try not to control anything too intensely and instead be led by something bigger than ourselves. Some songs appear out of nowhere and get written in ten minutes! Others tease us, leading us on and on until they finally show their true colors. It's a very cathartic process.

You recorded your album in a bunch of different locations — was that always the intent? How did you select the locations? Do you think it had an effect on the record to record it in various places rather than at one specific locale?

Leslie: We lead a pretty nomadic life, and the music comes along with us wherever we go. When we're in a new place feeling inspired, that's often when the magic happens. I think Wax Castle, having been recorded this way, gives it a feeling of being on a journey. Some songs sound a little western, others icy, some dreamy, all because of these unique locations.

Andrew: We've had songs that we wrote on the west coast that never got finished until we were on the east coast because the energy of the environment breathed new life into the tune.

What's it like being a musician in Detroit? How would you compare and contrast it with being a creative based in Los Angeles?

Leslie: Los Angeles is hot, dry and constantly sunny. Detroit is damp, freezing in the winter and it feels older and more historic. The two places have completely different rhythms. I'm from outside Detroit, so it feels like home. LA always felt like outer space to me, often in a good way. As a band, we've never actually identified with a particular scene at all but have loved the experience of working and being in both places.

Andrew: LA is amazing because I could see many of my current musical heroes performing all the time, but Detroit feels a lot more intimate. Detroit has many inspiring underground legends — you feel the rich history of some of the best music ever created.

Your visuals are super whimsical. How important is the visual component to you?

Leslie: The visuals are a huge key into the fantastical world of Holy Golden. Creating images and video help us to keep our eyes open for beautiful fleeting moments and strange places, which takes us out of our routine. The process encourages us to tap into a childlike place, where we play characters, wear costumes and work from the imagination. It's fun and rewarding, especially when you get a whole group together to work towards fulfilling a vision.

You made a bunch of mini videos to celebrate the release of the album — what was that process like and what inspired you to make them?

Leslie: The videos are moving collages as platforms to express a deeper meaning behind each song on Wax Castle. We didn't want to force a specific meaning on anyone, so we intuitively filmed bits and pieces from books and life to imply an overall mood, along with some writing about the story behind each song.

Authors are listed as your influences. What are you reading now? What makes a good story?

Leslie: I just finished Joan Didion's Play It As It Lays and am now almost done with a book on Edie Sedgwick I was gifted called Edie: An American Biography written by Jean Stein, which is so addictively fascinating. I keep a book of poetry on hand, right now it's a collection by Michael Earl Craig called Can You Relax In My House. A good story is a place you get lost, but you can see something of yourself in it, and when the story ends, some part of you is changed forever from this new experience.

Andrew: I'm obsessed with magical realism. Anker Frankoni's Mexican Eskimo is one I recently loved, and Doris Lessing's Briefing for a Descent Into Hell is incredible. I'm working my way through Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, but it's pretty slow going so my expectations of finishing it are not that great!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Brother Oliver Breathe New Life Into "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

2016-12-07T17:30:00.000Z

With Christmas only weeks away, we're sure you've been spinning your favorite Yultide tunes. And we have another one for your holiday playlist. Brothers Andrew and Stephen Oliver, better known onstage as Brother Oliver, have add their folk- and pysch-rock sounds to the classic carol, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."

"The original song, 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,' has always caught [our] ear with its haunting, almost middle-eastern sounding melodies," the South Carolina band tells Myspace. "It has an ancient feel that stands alone in the world of happy-go-lucky Christmas music. We wanted to take that from the song and modernize it in a way that you can snap your fingers to, while still preserving the sort of hypnotic beauty in the subject matter."

Listen to "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Rihannna Responds to Fan Reaction Over Grammy Snub

2016-12-07T17:21:06.269Z

After the 2017 Grammy nominations were announced, fans noticed that Rihanna's Anti wasn't nominated for a golden gramophone — despite receiving nods in eight others. Then when she liked a fan's Instagram photo calling out the fact that RiRi was snubbed while Beyonce was given an Album of the Year nomination for Lemonade. This quickly led to rumors about the "Work" singer throwing shade at Bey.

Well, Rihanna has responded to all the hype and wants everyone to calm down.

"I never actually read your caption, thought the pic was funny and moved right along," she wrote in the comments of that post. "Til I seen it pop up over and over! I'm petty af, yes. But this is just unnecessary! I wish y'all would drop this topic and see things from the bigger picture! We don't need to be putting black women against each other! We deserve to be celebrated, and the Grammy Academy agrees!"

RiRi responds under the picture she liked that had the #Beyhive and #Navy going crazy to clear things up. #Grammys #Beyonce #Rihanna #Anti #Lemonade

A photo posted by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) on Dec 7, 2016 at 4:23am PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen to Nicki Minaj's New Track, "I Ain't Gone Do It"

2016-12-07T17:07:20.767Z

Nicki Minaj wants you to rap with her — on her new mobile app, that is. The Pinkprint rapper just dropped her new mobile game, Nicki Minaj: The Empire, which will not only let you spit your own rhymes but also give you her latest tune, "I Ain't Gone Do It."

Nicki holds down the chorus and hook while a number of other voices come on the mic, who could be fans that Nicki selected for the track.

She hopped on Twitter last night (December 6) to announce the release of her app and also take fan questions.

So no one was gonna tell me my app was out? 😩 #NickiMinajTheEmpire get it now!!!!! Did smthn epic last night. Can't wait to share 😜🙌🏽🎀💕
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 6, 2016

Over a year. They were pretty much done then I asked them can they create a way for fans to rap with me. ☺️ https://t.co/23cX0LEhdE
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 6, 2016

Listen to the track below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Famous Instagram Dogs Remake Kanye West's "Famous" Video

2016-12-07T17:02:13.997Z

Kanye West may have made headlines and offended a number of celebs with his "Famous" video. However, a new version of the visual has popped up on the interwebs and will make you turn that frown upside down.

(RED) has teamed up with some of Instagram's famous dogs and recreated the clip to not only promote its latest campaign this month, but also add some cuteness to the otherwise controversial video. Pups like @toastmeetsworld, @Kingbentleythebulldog and @tunameltsmyheart, were featured in the video and also rocked some (RED) gear. The clip ends with notorious bed scene — only this time these pooches are clothed.

Watch the video below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

8 Artists That Have Surprisingly Never Been Nominated for a Grammy

2016-12-07T08:00:00.000Z

A Grammy nomination is the highest form of praise that a musician can get, and many, if not most artists strive to be included in the annual ceremony. While the awards may seem to be skewed towards the biggest names in the industry year after year, there are plenty of well-known, chart-topping acts that have never been up for a prize in their careers. It’s important that not everybody who performs well on the charts gets nominated, as the Recording Academy wants to ensure that the integrity of the Grammys is guarded and protected, and that means leaving out some popular singers and bands that millions love, but who might not be making Grammy-worthy music (at least according to some).

MORE: 8 Artists We Think Will Receive Multiple Grammy Nominations This Year

After yesterday's (December 6) 2017 nomination announcement, here are 8 musical acts that you might be surprised have never been nominated for a Grammy in their careers.

One Direction

This one is both difficult to believe, and at the same time...not so much. 1D took over the world the minute they released their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful,” which was a Top 10 hit almost everywhere people heard it. The fivesome (and then foursome after Zayn made his abrupt exit) charted an incredible four No. 1 albums in both the US and the UK, and yet they have never been critical favorites. In their home country, the band has been nominated for eleven BRIT Awards, which is essentially the UK equivalent of a Grammy. They’ve collected five trophies, but that hasn’t helped them warm to Grammy voters.

The Who

Okay, this one still makes me angry every time I think about it, and I usually have a lot of faith in the Grammys. The Who, one of the most successful and critically adored bands that has ever recorded rock music, has never been nominated for a Grammy. Not a single one. The group's 16 Top 40 hits and nine Top 10 albums were apparently not enough to impress voters, and despite the fact that each of the members is still respected to this day, and several of their recordings have been bestowed with special achievement prizes, The Who remain perhaps the greatest gaffe when it comes to the history of the Grammys.

Jason Derulo

It’s a shame that the Recording Academy did away with the gender-focused categories, because if they’d remained, Jason Derulo probably would have been nominated for something by this point in his career. The singer, who never seems to disappear from the spotlight completely, has never seen his name placed among the nominees when they are revealed every year, and that’s a shame, as he’s a truly talented man. He can sing, he can dance and he comes out with hit after hit, but none of them have managed to impress those in charge of nominations just yet.

Selena Gomez

Again, this is somewhat surprising given how successful she has been in the music world, and yet not entirely shocking. Gomez had a somewhat uninspiring start when it comes to her music career, but after a while, things started to go right, and her output got better and better. It was when she went out on her own, ditching her band (known as “the Scene”) that she started charting serious hits and earning some respect. That might be the case, but she still has yet to add a Grammy nom to her credit.

The Strokes

While they may be on again, off again, the group is undeniably influential when it comes to all things rock, and yet they've never been recognized properly by the Academy. The band, which wasted no time in becoming the coolest thing to come out of New York City's music scene in decades when they first launched, has only released a handful of albums, but none of them have even been up for golden trophies. To be fair, The Strokes' frontman has collected one on his own, but the rest of his bandmates will have to continue to wait.

Spice Girls

It would be easy to suggest that the fact that the Spice Girls were never nominated for a Grammy was because they only released three albums in their short time together, but when you consider how many worldwide smash hits they released and how good the music really was, that reasoning doesn’t really fly. Pop acts don’t often get recognized by critics and those in the industry for creating the best music in any given year (hence why One Direction is also on this list), but some of those songs were so great! I mean, really, how was “Wannabe” not nominated for Record of the Year? With a partial reunion on the way, anything is possible for the future.

Janis Joplin

She's now nothing short of an icon, but Janis Joplin was never actually nominated for a Grammy in her lifetime. The rocker's output was cut short at just four albums due to her untimely and early passing, but even that small amount of music was enough to change the world. In the years since she left us, Joplin has maintained her status as one of the best there ever was, and while several of her recordings have been recognized by the Recording Academy in some context, she has still never been properly nominated for a competitive Grammy.

Fifth Harmony

In just a short few years since they all met and came together on The X Factor USA, Fifth Harmony has become a force to be reckoned with. They sell out massive shows, they're social media stars, and more recently, they've hit new highs on both the albums and the singles tallies. 2016 was perhaps their best year yet, and many people expected that America's reigning girl group would finally be nominated for a Grammy, if not actually win, but alas, it seems as though 5H will have to wait yet again. Even the powerhouse international smash "Work From Home" couldn't muster a nod in any category, which is a shame, as it's not only one of the most popular tracks of the year, it's one of the best.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-12-07T08:00:00.000Z

This week, two jam band pioneers announce spring and summer tours, plus Deadmau5 is back for "lots of shows in a row." Oh yea, and Chris Rock announces his first tour in nine years. Here's who we're most excited to see hit the road.

Trey Anastasio Band 'Paper Wheels' Tour

Phish frontman Trey Anastasio has just announced a solo tour in support of his most recent album, Paper Wheels. The full Trey Anastasio Band (featuring Jen Hartswick and Natalie Cressman) will hit the road from April 14 to June 3, kicking off with a two-night run at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Click here for more info.

Deadmau5 'Lots of Shows in a Row' Tour

In support of his new album, W:/2016ALBUM/, DJ/producer Deadmau5 is hitting the road for "Lots of Shows in a Row." Literally and figuratively. Catch him on March 29 at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom, followed by stops on the East Coast and California. It wraps up with a two-night run in Chicago on May 4 and 5th. Click here for more info.

Dead & Company Summer Tour

Dead & Company, the latest incarnation from the Grateful Dead minus Phil Lesh and plus John Mayer, have announced a summer 2017 tour. It kicks off in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, followed by stops throughout the West, Midwest, South and East Coast. It culminates in a performance at Wrigley Field in Chicago on July 1. Click here for more info.

Guns N' Roses Extend 'Not in This Lifetime' Tour

It seems Guns N' Roses are still happily reunited for the Not in This Lifetime tour, as they've just added a significant chunk of dates for 2017. The band will spend the first half of the summer performing throughout Europe, before touching down stateside on July 27 for a run of shows in the Pacific North West, East Coast and Texas. Click here for more info.

Chris Rock 'Total Blackout' Tour

For the first time in nine years, the legendary Chris Rock will be hitting the road. Entitled the Total Blackout Tour, catch the comedian from February to June, kicking off on Valentine's Day in Durham, NC. This is in addition to the highly publicized deal he made with Netflix for two new stand-up specials. Click here for more info.

We Bow Down to the List of Jericho and Make New Additions

2016-12-07T08:00:00.000Z

Naughty or nice. Those are the two headings you’ll find on Santa’s List, arguably the most talked about and famous checklist in the world. Up till Christmas Day, kids and parents will be talking about how to stay on the nice side, while avoiding the naughty end. One person not happy with his standing on Santa’s list is Chris Jericho. Upset with the coal he’ll surely get, Jericho would warn Santa to watch “it”, followed by putting Jolly Old Saint Nick on the hottest new list in all of pop culture: The List of Jericho.

Staying current and always reinventing one’s gimmick is what separates wrestling legends from your average worker. From “Lionheart” Chris Jericho to the Ayatollah and Rock ‘N’ Rolla and Y2J, Jericho has used many faces during his illustrious career. His newest incarnation is a scarf wearing, Jon Bon Jovi look-a-like that loves calling people “stupid idiots.” He then proceeds to stick them on his list, which is a collection of people and things Chris is not a fan of. As a result, The List of Jericho has been the most entertaining thing in wrestling over the past few months.

Being the holiday season, we help out Chris with things that should be on his list but haven’t found their way on just yet.

Myspace

Of course we’re on the list! As we’ve noted in the past, Jericho doesn’t sound like he’s the biggest fan of Myspace having asked the question on his segment The Highlight Reel: “Myspacing…Is that still a thing? Myspace?” Yes, Chris we most certainly are. He may not be a fan of our wrestling posts or our critiques of his band Fozzy, but like those conspiracy-fueled secret societies, we’re always watching.

Am I a stupid idiot? Well that can be debated, but Jericho adding his grievances with us on his list only makes sense. Just don’t overdo it with the insults Chris, or we might just start a list of our own!

The New Day

Having spent the early part of 2016 calling The New Day “Rooty, Tooty, Booty,” Jericho doesn’t need many reasons to stick this trio on his list. Xavier Woods, Big E and Kofi Kingston have actually made their way onto the list in the past, so this is a bit of a cheat. They’ve been on the list for questioning and making fun of Jericho’s friendship with Kevin Owens. We’re nominating them to go back on the list for their tag team championship title reign.

The New Day is set to break Demolition’s record of 478 days as tag team champions later this month. While that’s a great accomplishment for the guys, it’s been horrible for RAW’s tag team division and honestly, for the fans. This title run has been as fun and forced as Nikki Bella’s title run as the Divas Champ. Their matches have been copy and paste during this run, as most of their feuds have been forgettable. The talented and charismatic trio are already over with fans and don’t need the titles. Jericho should put them on his list again thinking that he and Kevin Owens would be better options as tag champs!

The Year 2016

From pins to shirts and hats, we’ve seen all kinds of merchandise declaring “Fuck 2016!” That’s how popular this year has been with America and most of the world. The poster boy is Trump, and rightfully so, but he’s just the biggest example of a year in which everything and anything that could go wrong, did. Good people got screwed over, while the bad preserved and prospered. Granted that’s an age-old template for life, but 2016 had an unusually high volume of crappy luck for us all.

Jericho should have 2016 on his list because he hasn’t won a title this year. Even though Jericho defeated AJ Styles at WrestleMania 32, Styles has gone on to win the WWE Championship. Chris’ best friend Kevin Owens has reached the top of RAW by winning the WWE Universal Championship. With everyone winning titles except him, that can’t sit well with Jericho. If Chris could have 2016 as a guest on The Highlight Reel, he’d call it a “stupid idiot” and proceed to the beat the living hell out of the horrible year that was.

Dean Ambrose

If somebody owed me $15,000, not only would I stick them on my own “Shit List,” but I’d track them down and get my money’s worth! Jericho’s feud with Dean Ambrose may have come before the creation of The List of Jericho, but Ambrose is definitely a name that should be added. Having destroyed Chris Jericho’s $15k Lite-Brite jacket back in May, Ambrose became the inspiration behind Jericho calling opponents “stupid idiots” to vent his frustrations.

Not only did Ambrose destroy Jericho’s jacket, but the man put hundreds of thumb tacks into Jericho’s body at their Extreme Rules match. The match was great to watch but also absolutely brutal, leaving Jericho bloodied and looking like a pin cushion. Jericho gave up his body to put over Dean and to deliver an Attitude Era match for the fans. It’s safe to assume Chris isn’t thrilled that Dean’s had various title matches since. Ultimately, Chris might just put Dean on the list due to Dean’s ridiculous attempts at hiding his receding hairline!

Kanye West

“Kanye West is a stupid idiot!” is something that not only Chris Jericho would say but millions of other people would concur with. We all remember back in 2009 when Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift’s award speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. Had Kanye West done that to Chris, he would have “punched him in the face and knocked him off” as Chris shares in this video:

Since that time, Kanye’s gotten married to the Kardashian clan, continued to be annoying and self-indulgent as ever, setting himself on narcissistic free-fall that easily lands him a spot on The List of Jericho. We could rattle off hundreds of more reasons to stick Kanye on the list, but in a battle of ego-driven celebrities between Yeezy and Jericho, there can only be one (ala Highlander). The WWE Universe would unite behind Jericho to finally see Kanye get his ass handed to him.

Brock Lesnar and Goldberg

These two giants find themselves on the list as results of real-life backstage heat with Jericho. You gotta be tough and a bit psychotic if you go picking a fight with monsters twice your size, but Jericho has no fear apparently. Brock Lesnar is on the list based on a run-in he had with Chris at SummerSlam this year. After Brock pummeled and cracked opened Randy Orton’s head, Jericho thought Brock went off-script and confronted him backstage. The two were separated before any fists were thrown but that would be something I’d pay to watch on the WWE Network.

As for Goldberg, their heat goes back to the days of WCW where Goldberg didn’t want to start a feud with Jericho, deeming him not worthy. Nothing came out of Jericho’s fake Goldberg feud, but the two met again years later in WWE in a real backstage fight. Probably to everyone’s surprise, Jericho took down Goldberg using a front-face lock and kept the big man down. Turns out wrestling skills can beat muscles every time.

The Bella Twins

The “wrestling” version of the Kardashians have earned a spot on Jericho’s list for just being themselves. Nikki and Brie might be WWE’s reality queens, but most wrestling fans are over the twins. Not only has the WWE Universe been subjected to watching their matches but WWE keeps hawking the Bella’s reality shows and social media feeds. If you think wrestling is scripted, just try and sit through an episode of E!’s Total Divas or Total Bellas. These “stupid idiots” should be replaced by Jericho’s own reality show where each week he meets celebrities to determine if they should be on his list or not.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

Bridgit Mendler Shows Growth Without Losing Her Sense of Humor in 2016

2016-12-07T08:00:00.000Z

Bridgit Mendler has been in the spotlight for years as one of the stars of Good Luck Charlie and Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. She also broke into music with the release of her debut album, Hello My Name Is... in 2012. But four years later, she just released her latest EP, Nemesis, which is less sugary pop and more gritty soul.

"I've made music all my life," she tells Myspace. "And when I signed with Hollywood Records, I had the great opportunity to make a pop album. I learned how to make pop music, and I was happy with how it came out. But after that, I just wanted to tap into the music that just came from me with that pop knowledge that I had acquired. It took time to dig up new sounds and approach music from the new vantage point I was at as an older person. I feel like they're both true to me and honest. They were just different points in time and different inspirations."

Calling Nelly Furtado and Lauryn Hill as longtime inspirations, as well as J Dilla and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as the influences for the new EP, she was nervous about bringing it to fans who were used to her old sound. "It's vulnerable, but it's also cool that while I've been growing up, so have my fans," she says. "They really receive the music, which is something I never anticipated."

And to top off her year, she landed a role in the fifth season of Nashville, which will now be airing on CMT. With both the music and acting career going side by side, she admits that it's a challenge but loves it.

"It's definitely stressful juggling both at the same time," she reveals, "especially as an independent artist in music. But all the things I do bring me a lot of of joy. It's all good stuff that I've spent my time doing. I think it's just about prioritizing and giving one enough focus so it can do well, and then giving the other career its own focus."

With lots happening in 2016 for the soon-to-be 24-year-old, we chatted with Bridgit to find out the highlights, fumbles and all the awkward in between this year.

Best Moment of 2016: It was at the show in the Echoplex [in November], and everybody was singing along to "Atlantis" with me. That blew my mind.

2016 Moment You'd Rather Forget: There was this girl at a listening party I went to, and I did this whole across the room wave. But then no one noticed it. Basically when you wave at people but they don't notice you and you make it obvious, I'm bad at playing it cool. So maybe I should have played it cool at that moment.

Best Gig You Played of 2016: I would say that Echoplex show. That was my fave.

2016 Show You Wish You Could Do Over: I think that would be the first show at Bardot, but I also feel like that just comes along with figuring out the set. It's a scary thing that you have to perform to actually figure out the set. It makes you very vulnerable. So it was rough. It was rough in many ways, but we survived.

Best Concert You Saw in 2016: A surprise this year was at the Echo. I love small local shows. It's a band called Liss from Denmark. So they flew all the way from Denmark to play in my neighborhood. It was the first US show, and they just killed it. The music really translated really well live.

Most Awkward Show You Watched in 2016: I don't really want to hate on anyone. But it was probably my friend, Hayley Kiyoko's show, because I was too busy fangirling so hard.

Album on High Rotation in 2016: I guess one that hit me, even though it's from 2015, but I discovered it this year, is Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Multi-Love.

2016 LP You'd Like a Refund For: The Frank Ocean Blonde album, but then I'd go back and pay him double for it.

2016 Movie You'd Watch Over and Over: It's not from this year, but it's called My Night at Maud's. It's by this guy named Eric Rohmer. It's excellent.

2016 Movie You Wish You Waited for on Netflix: Girl on a Train. That scared the crap out of me. So if I waited for it on Netflix, then I'd turn down the volume in certain parts.

TV Show You Binged on While on The Road This Year: I have enjoyed episodes of Black Mirror.

Most Memorable Touring Experience of 2016: My two band members slept over in my brothers' childhood bedroom in San Francisco instead of staying in a hotel. It was very intimate, but it was really nice because my parents cooked breakfast in the morning. It was like a family meal.

Tour Experience That You Hope Won't Happen Again: The venue I was at in San Francisco only had one bathroom at the front of the venue. Before the show I was trapped backstage and unable to pee, so I just had to hold it in the whole show.

Go-to Meal on the Road: Probably chocolate. Health just goes out the window when you're on the road. So we had an excellent McDonald's/In-N-Out combo meal when we were driving back from San Francisco. We doubled up and did both.

Artist Who Should Be on Our 2017 Playlist: Pell that I just did a song with, and he already has quite a following of his own. But I think he's just going to blow up.

Best Fan Gift 2016: I have a song that's not even out, and I only perform it live. I was doing a show in San Francisco, and I performed the song. It's called "Will You Bring Me Flowers," and he gave me a flower while I was onstage.

Plans for 2017: Hopefully do more live shows.

One Thing on Your 2017 Wish List: To get a sense of community, like in the artist community here in LA. It's where I feel the most at home when there's community in this town of transient people.

2017 New Year's Resolution: To be cleaner. I know that's a boring one, but I always put myself in filth. And it always bums out my mood.

Since you're birthday is December 18, what's a birthday wish you have?: It's just to spend [my birthday] with lovely people and be happy with my friends. I've been working hard this year, which has been really exciting and fun. But it would be nice to just reconnect with loved ones.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

Why Bella Hadid’s First Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Was Emotional

2016-12-06T20:40:36.915Z

The Hadid sisters have taken over the fashion world, so it may come as a surprise that one of them is still ringing in supermodel milestones. The 2016 Victoria’s Secret fashion show in Paris, which aired last night on CBS, featured Bella on the runway, and older sister Gigi got emotional about the model’s latest accomplishment.

Victoria’s Secret Models Dish on What It Feels Like to Walk in the Show

“I have watched the show every single year as a kid, so last year was so special to be able to do it,” Gigi told ET about the Victoria’s Secret show. “This year, joining me is my little sister! I am so proud of [Bella] for getting this show because she worked so hard. [And] for us to be able to do it together, and be the first sisters in the show, we’re really, really honored.”

Blake Lively Is Already Back in the Gym After Giving Birth

ET said Bella was wiping away tears of joy: “This is us happy,” she told the cameras. “We’re a really emotional family.” The younger Hadid also posted on Instagram, “I cried when I saw my sister put her wings on for the first time.”

I cried when I saw my sister put her wings on for the first time And I cried again when @hoskelsa opened the show And I cried again when @_dilone walked And again when @ed_razek spoke And then cried 5 more times after that just because emotions❤️👼🏻😹

A photo posted by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on Dec 1, 2016 at 8:31am PST

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Instagram Just Added Features People Have Wanted for Years

2016-12-06T20:23:38.261Z

Instagram on Tuesday announced a slew of long-requested changes to the popular photo-sharing platform, including new options for users to turn off comments and remove followers from private accounts.

Parents Spend As Much Time on Screens As Teenagers

The company said in a blog post that the new tools are part of its efforts to encourage “positivity” and make the app a safe and “welcoming place for everyone.” The updates, coming in the next few weeks, include two new comment control features that give users the ability to turn comments off on any post and like comments by tapping a heart icon.

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Instagram has also enabled a feature that lets private account holders remove followers. “In the past, once you approved a follower, there was no simple way to undo that decision without blocking them,” Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom wrote in the blog post.

Users can also anonymously report posts from friends who they believe may be about to harm themselves. An Instagram team will review the reports and connect the reported user to groups that offer help.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Emma Watson Join The Circle in Intense First Trailer

2016-12-06T20:09:36.383Z

Emma Watson discovers the darker side of technology in the first trailer for The Circle, a film based on Dave Eggers’ 2013 novel about a young woman who joins a powerful tech company.

Watson plays Mae Holland, a recent college graduate who joins a company called The Circle, led by Tom Hanks’ Eamon Bailey. Although landing such a coveted position is appealing at first, Mae discovers as she gains more power within the company that things are not exactly so great—The Circle develops cameras called SeeChange, which are glass eyeballs that transmit footage in real-time, eroding any notion of privacy. Mae becomes a “pseudo-celebrity” through the technology, director James Ponsoldt told USA Today, which premiered the trailer on Monday.

Watch the First Trailer for Transformers: The Last Knight

“It’s a fun ride,” Ponsoldt said of the film. “We live through Mae. She is us. You will walk out of the theater and have a serious look at yourself and how you’re living your life.”

The film, which stars John Boyega as the programmer who develops the technology for SeeChange and Patton Oswalt as the company’s business minder, hits theaters on April 28. Watch the trailer below.

George R.R. Martin Winds of Winter Forecast Is Pretty Bleak: ‘Cold and Ice and Darkness Fill the World’

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

George R.R. Martin Winds of Winter Forecast Is Pretty Bleak: ‘Cold and Ice and Darkness Fill the World’

2016-12-06T20:07:22.912Z

With Jon and Sansa defeating Ramsay, Daenerys beginning her journey across the Narrow Sea and Arya returning to Westeros, Game of Thrones’ most recent season seemed to end on an uplifting note. However, George R.R. Martin — who wrote the A Song of Ice and Fire book series that the show is based on — wants fans to know that his upcoming sixth novel may not be as triumphant.

Watch the Grim New Trailer for Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

“There are a lot of dark chapters right now in the book that I’m writing,” he said during a Q&A at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, according to Entertainment Weekly. “It is called The Winds of Winter, and I’ve been telling you for 20 years that winter was coming. Winter is the time when things die, and cold and ice and darkness fill the world, so this is not going to be the happy feel-good that people may be hoping for. Some of the characters [are] in very dark places.”

The author went on to tease the series’ long-awaited conclusion — the seventh and final book, A Dream of Spring — noting that there will be no fairytale ending. “I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to end my book, but I suspect the overall flavor is going to be as much bittersweet as it is happy.”

20 Times Mariah Carey Was the Undisputed Queen of Christmas

Katy Perry Reigns Supreme Again as Twitter’s Most-Followed Celebrity of 2016

2016-12-06T20:04:29.722Z

Once again, pop powerhouse Katy Perry can claim the crown as most-followed celebrity on Twitter for 2016.

These Were the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Tweets Everyone Shared the Most This Year

The politically-active superstar was joined by fellow music moguls Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift on top of the social media platform’s ranking, an order that remains unchanged from 2015. President Barack Obama nabbed the number four seat once more for his personal handle (@POTUS, meanwhile, only has 12 million), followed by Rihanna and Lady Gaga. The only other guy on the list was another Justin; Justin “Can’t Stop the Feeling” Timberlake, that is. The biggest switch-up is the addition of a certain Kim Kardashian West, who made the list for the first time this year, at number nine. Pop royalty Britney Spears completes the top ten, while soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 10th in 2015, is now out.

Of the ten, eight are musicians (with TV host Ellen DeGeneres and the infamous Kardashian taking the other spots). And despite questions about Twitter’s popularity in the age of Snapchat, raw numbers suggest there’s still plenty of growth going on: while Perry had 78.3 million followers in 2015, she appears to have gained more than 16 million this year. In fact, all of last year’s follower counts are eclipsed by this year’s list.

Prince and K-Pop Top the 10 Most-Talked About Musical Artists on Twitter in 2016

Here’s the complete breakdown:

Katy Perry — 94.5 million
Justin Bieber — 90.2 million
Taylor Swift — 82.2 million
Barack Obama —80.1 million
Rihanna — 68.1 million
Lady Gaga — 64.6 million
Ellen DeGeneres — 63.8 million
Justin Timberlake — 57.3 million
Kim Kardashian West — 49.3 million
Britney Spears — 49.3 million

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch the First Trailer for Transformers: The Last Knight

2016-12-06T19:59:29.137Z

The first trailer for Transformers: The Last Knight, the fifth in the Michael Bay-directed series, shows the film pick up at the end of 2014’s Age of Extinction. Optimus Prime appears to have died, though he returns later to stab Bumblebee. The trailer features a voiceover from Sir Anthony Hopkins explaining the audience will find out why sentient robots keep coming to Earth, where war has broken out between two species, “one flesh, one metal.” Hopkins plays a professor who researches the Transformers’ origin and recurrent presence.

Watch Emma Watson Join The Circle in Intense First Trailer

The film, which stars Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yaeger, hits theaters on June 23. Although it’s the last film in the franchise directed by Michael Bay, a Bumblebee spinoff and Transformers 6 are expected in the coming years. Watch the trailer above.

Watch Jimmy Kimmel Casually Confirm His Oscar-Hosting Duties

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen to The Gods Themselves' "Cool" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-06T17:37:56.068Z

The Gods Themselves want you to get down. Atop a bed of ‘80s shimmer, “Cool” is the spacey disco single you didn’t know you needed. It’s the latest from the Seattle art rockers that believe in the magic of the dance floor.

It’s a tightly wound retro pop song with an undeniably catchy chorus (“Everything I do / Everything I say / It’s gonna be cool”). And it has a simple, uplifting message.

"I am hugely moved by Giorgio Moroder. So this is my take on a breathy, Donna Summer type late night, gay disco, cocaine induced dance song,” says vocalist and guitarist Astra Elane to Myspace. “It is an anthem for all the hearts who long to be recognized for their individuality and greatness."

“Cool” is off of their upcoming full-length, Be My Animal, out on January 20. Listen below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

The Hollows Love to do It Live: “It feels like church, but with bourbon”

2016-12-06T17:30:00.000Z

They’re a Brooklyn-based band that sounds like they’re from the country. They’re a sextet with no set frontman. They’re a mixture of instruments you wouldn’t necessarily think fit together. They are The Hollows, and after just one listen one can’t help but marvel at how they make all of these disparate ideas come together to create a unique sound that’s equal parts classic Americana and modern indie folk.

The band, which consists of Jeffrey Kurtze, Daniel Kwiatkowski, Rob Morrison, David Paarlberg, Erik Saxvik and Justin Aaronson, released their latest album, Between the Water and the Wonder Wheel, earlier this year, and have been touring ever since.

During some time in between performances, Myspace caught up with The Hollows to find out more about their music, their writing process, and their wild live shows. The band also revealed a tour incident involving the authorities they’ll never forget.

Homebase: Brooklyn, NY

Your music features mandolins, banjos, guitars, accordions, horns and harmonicas. How did you end up with this many instruments? Is there a self-control issue when you're in music stores that you'd like to talk about?

Rob: At the end of the day, I love sounds. When I hear a new sound, I want to learn how to make it. That has led to a fascination I have with music from so many parts of the world, and from different time periods.

Erik: It has been a combination of looking for unique ways to fit into the bigger soundscape, and plain old curiosity, that has driven us to throw everything but the kitchen sink at our orchestrations.

Jeff: We're always looking for what fits best with what's bouncing around in our heads. Who ever said self-control was a good thing?

How does having no set frontman affect the writing process? Do you write with a specific member's vocals in mind, or does that aspect of the song make itself apparent later?

Dave: Usually the main songwriter assumes lead vocal duties, though verses will often get passed around.

Rob: But every song is truly a different beast. It's always good to remain open to the group's ideas and contributions. Sometimes an arrangement comes together quickly, other times it's more piecemeal.

Erik: Yeah, our willingness as a group to test everyone's ideas is what helps distill the magic.

DK: I never know what to expect from myself, or my bandmates, when we start fleshing out a new song, and that's an exciting risk to take.

We hear your concerts can be pretty wild. Tell us about a moment from a show that's a perfect example of The Hollows' live experience.

Jeff: I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. I guarantee you will lose control, and start dancing, bouncing, jumping, running, shaking, and/or stomping. At least, that's what I do.

DK: There are times in our shows when it feels like every single person in the room is just letting out their demons. It feels like church, but with bourbon.

You all, obviously, were in bands before this one. Which one of you would you say had the most radically different musical venture before the formation of The Hollows?

DK: I was the lead singer of my high school band called ZAE. We were a product of the alt-90s scene. Yikes. I did, however, pen my first lyrics to a couple of songs: “Caught the Bug,” and “I'm Still Sick as a Dog.”

Dave: And as for radically different, I definitely performed "Run's House" by Run–D.M.C. at a high school talent show.

You toured the country this year, and I know it wasn't your first rodeo, so to speak. The van can be a cramped place that can create horrific eating habits. What’s the worst thing you’ve eaten simply because you were on tour?

DK: We actually ate pretty damn good! We hit dozens of local spots and ate like kings and queens.

Erik: Though I did enjoy a number of gas station hot dogs this summer … a practice I generally consider questionable.

Jeff: And I learned that I should never, ever, ever, drink coffee from a gas station. Never again.

During all your time on the road, what’s the closest you’ve come to getting arrested without actually getting arrested?

DK: Oh that's easy!

Erik: US Customs and Border Patrol blew up our spot eight miles from the Mexico border in the mountains east of San Diego.

Jeff: A pleasantly tense encounter, reaffirming the lesson that honesty is always the best policy.

Finally, what are your plans for 2017?

Erik: Drive. Set up instruments. Play. Break down instruments. Do it again.

DK: Yeah, we have a bunch of dates for the winter, and we're looking at summer festivals as well.

Jeff: Anything beyond that, give us a call, we're on board for adventures!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Nicki Minaj Under Fire for Making Fun of Mentally Ill Woman

2016-12-06T17:20:17.742Z

Nicki Minaj is currently being criticized for mocking a woman who reportedly has a mental illness. Nicki posted a video of herself laughing at a woman who she filmed on the street in Miami and posted on Instagram.

As the woman starts yelling at her for whatever reason, Nicki is filmed giggling in the background as she said, "Miss, what did I do? Can we talk?"

The video has generated over 11,000 comments. Some of them are from local residents who claimed that the woman had a mental illness.

"I love how you think this is appropriate to show all the young followers that look up to you," one user wrote. "That dehumanizing is ok and bullying... then you have the nerve to laugh... smh," one person wrote in the comments.

Do you think that Nicki was really being offensive? Watch the clip and tell us what you think.

😭

A video posted by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on Dec 4, 2016 at 6:06pm PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Madonna Twerks and Vogues with James Corden on New 'Carpool Karaoke'

2016-12-06T17:10:54.830Z

James Corden's musical ride alongs on "Carpool Karaoke" are getting bigger and bigger. And his latest brings pop legend, Madonna, to the passenger seat. The actor and late night host shared a clip from the ride today (Decemeber 6), which shows Madge singing, voguing and even twerking in the front the seat. James also makes sure to ask the tough questions and tries to coax her to kiss and tell about her past flames, especially the late Michael Jackson.

The new edition of "Carpool Karaoke" with Madonna will air on Wednesday (December 8) on The Late Late Show with James Corden. So be sure to tune in. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Beyonce Leads in 2017 Grammy Nominations

2016-12-06T17:03:31.223Z

The nominees for the 59th Grammy Awards have were announced earlier this morning (December 6), and Beyonce walks away as the frontrunner with nine nods including Album, Song and Record of the Year. However, Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake didn't do badly either and picked up eight. Bey's little sis, Solange, also received her first nomination in the Best R&B Performance for "Cranes in the Sky," off her latest album, A Seat at the Table.

Per usual, Best New Artist is a group of heavyhitters including Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers, Chance The Rapper, Maren Morris and Anderson .Paak. Last year's winner, Meghan Trainor, in that category announced the 2017 nominees.

And the Netflix breakout show, Stranger Things, also got nods in the Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for its two score tracks.

You can find the complete list of Grammy nominees here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Is It Time to De-Sexualize the Tattoo?

2016-12-06T08:00:00.000Z

Dear Instagram,

I really like what you've been doing in recent years (although the whole "stories" thing still seems stolen from Snapchat), but we really need to talk about something.

See, the tattoo industry kind of revolves around you these days. You make it a million times easier for clients and artists to find each other, and tattooers can now see the work of others from all around the world just by scrolling through their phone. For artistic purposes, you (and sometimes Facebook) have really made the 2010s the golden age of tattooing. What a time to be alive, right?

A photo posted by Angelica_Anderson (@angelica_anders) on Dec 5, 2016 at 1:11pm PST

As anyone who uses you undoubtedly already knows, tattoos are more popular and accepted now than they ever have been before. No longer is ink confined to bikers, rock stars, and other nonconforming outlaws. It's not uncommon to see a fully sleeved teacher or a cop with a back piece. It's also obvious that the popularity and "coolness" has led to more people getting heavily tattooed without really thinking twice about it, and being tattooed is now no more rebellious than smoking cigarettes or buying a t-shirt from Hot Topic.

At the same time, your accessibility and the popularity of tattooing has given rise to a group of people who never existed before: "tattoo models." Now, there's nothing innately wrong about being a "tattoo model," and there are plenty of companies and publications that fund and rely on them for content and advertising, but we have to draw the line somewhere.

There will always be men and women taking their clothes off in front of a camera for money (or likes and followers, in this case), and as a visual platform, there's nothing you can do about that. What we (well, not you as an app, but the collective "we" as a people) can do is stop perpetuating the stereotype that tattoos are automatically sexy no matter how questionable of a decision they may be.

Ask the 40-year-old (and older) folks who were getting tattooed in the early and mid '90s if their tribal armbands and tramp stamps are still sexy now. That's not to say they should regret getting them, but a 47-year-old mother of three probably doesn't see that lower back tattoo in the same light she did when she got it during Spring Break 1991. That one uncle you only have to see at Thanksgiving and Easter still has a faded version of the same barbwire near his shoulder he got in 1994 during his freshman year of college, but it's probably not picking up quite as many ladies as it used to.

A photo posted by ♠️TATTOO MODEL FROM RUSSIA♠️ (@crow_of_spades) on Dec 5, 2016 at 10:51pm PST

But really, all of those middle-aged folks who got inked decades ago are probably still plenty happy with their choices. Why? Because they didn't get a tattoo to show it off in selfies on social media, they did it because they wanted to stand out and rebel against what was popular at the time. The people who had sleeves before TLC had ever even thought of running a TV program about tattooing still love their sleeves because they weren't just committing their bodies to a trend, they were sinking time and money into an off-beat subculture they wanted to be a part of.

Unfortunately, that's not the case these days. Thanks to the influence of TV shows and social media's "tattoo models," ink has become super sexualized. Whether it's using a tiny tattoo as an excuse to show off a shirtless bathroom mirror selfie or someone getting their throat and hands tattooed early on just to look like they're covered when fully-clothed, plenty of people are getting inked in an attempt just to look hotter, and it's ultimately going to lead to a generation of parents and grandparents with face, hand, and throat tattoos long after anyone wants to see them mostly nude.

Sooner rather than later, the trend of being heavily tattooed is likely going to wane. There've been ebbs and flows in tattooing's popularity over the course of its relatively modern history, but this is arguably the highest peak tattooing has ever seen. Unlike a trendy clothing style or haircut, the trendsetting masses aren't going to be able to bust out scissors or a new wardrobe to pretend like they never got that underboob mandala or terribly drawn stick and poke wrist tattoo.

I would never wish for tattoos to become uncool, I simply think people should be getting inked because they like tattoos and their artist's work rather than because they're "sexy" and they'll get a few more likes on social media. Eventually, tattoo models will be on the cover of AARP the Magazine rather than Maxim and Inked, and while there's nothing wrong with tattooed grandmas, those bikini shots are going to make for an interesting conversation with the grandkids.

A photo posted by MADISON SKYE ⚡️ (@itsmadisonskye) on Oct 28, 2016 at 10:14am PDT

Even a decade ago, it wasn't easy to find nude tattooed models on the internet (it was pretty much just the niche that Suicide Girls built their name on). These days, you can't get away from them. That's largely in thanks to you, Instagram.

All I'm saying is let's make tattoos cool for being tattoos again rather than just being a sex symbol.

8 Indie Artists to Look Out For in 2017

2016-12-06T08:00:00.000Z

Anyone who says music isn’t as good today as it once was just isn’t paying attention. The global scope of the digital age has made it easier than ever to find interesting artists from around the world melding genres and otherwise pushing the constraints of popular music. Unfortunately, many of the most exciting artists aren’t the pop stars you hear on FM radio, but rather the independent musicians toiling away at small venues around the nation in between intimate studio releases. Not all of them will make it big, but here are a few of the modern independent artists we think might gain some kind of mainstream attention in 2017. They certainly deserve to.

Moses Sumney

Moses Sumney knows how to use the range of his emotive voice to get a listener’s attention. Often it’s all he needs to create a melody that’s not only memorable, but also unforgettable for its emotional resonance. In concert and on his scattered single releases, Sumney creates fascinatingly evolving beats by looping his own voice ad infinitum, then delicately croons confessional lyrics on top of them. The stripped-back sound of some tracks might be labeled folk, but the crucial element that makes Sumney stand out is soul. The LA-based songwriter conveys more soul, more impassioned feeling, in a single track than most artists manage in a full album. Now we’re just waiting to see what he can do with a full album of his own.

Oddisee

This year was the first since 2011 to go without an LP release from DC-based rapper Oddisee, though he kept plenty busy touring with his tightly honed live band Good Company. Given his prolific past, we can expect another release sometime in 2017, though whether it’s a rap album like 2015’s The Good Fight, or an entirely instrumental release, remains to be seen. With or without lyrics, Oddisee crafts richly melodic tracks built upon squelchy ‘70s keyboards, soulful refrains and jazzy instrumentation equally indebted to influences like A Tribe Called Quest and The Meters. Hopefully this time around more critics and listeners will take note of his workmanship and unwavering focus on credibly fusing soul and hip-hop.

Vic Mensa

Few rappers seem quite so at home writing songs both deeply personal and overtly political as Vic Mensa. The Chicago-based rapper has already made waves as a frequent collaborator with Chance the Rapper, and together the two make a strong case for Chicago as the most exciting city for modern hip-hop. Mensa’s unique strengths lie in his musical and lyrical diversity. Just compare the confrontational beat and righteous anger of “16 Shots” to the tinkling piano riff and guilty political introspection of “Shades of Blue,” both songs from his 2016 EP There’s Alot Going On. And that’s not even mentioning the electrifying, often hilarious wordsmanship displayed on his earlier mixtape Innanetape.

Beat Connection

Named after an LCD Soundsystem song and originally formed just to DJ college house parties, Seattle’s Beat Connection have grown beyond their origins and their influences into a full band boasting strong vocal hooks and a particularly irresistible blend of indie synthpop and electronica. Their 2015 LP Product 3 was a collection of tropicalia-infused should-be hits, unified by a concept that aptly portrays modern pop music as both art and commodity. It’s just a wonder Beat Connection’s releases so far haven’t been hotter commodities.

Cherry Glazerr

LA-based rock trio Cherry Glazerr was conceived by a couple of high schoolers from the city’s affluent Westside, but their wall-of-guitars sound and entertainingly mundane lyrics (the song “Grilled Cheese” from their debut LP about exactly what you’d expect given the title) found a better home at Orange County’s garage rock label Burger Records. After enduring a flurry of local media attention that might have seen the band fade from memory like so many other promising fads, Cherry Glazerr has now added two new members and continued to hone their propulsive band dynamic with each new single. “Told You I’d Be with the Guys,” their first single since signing to Secretly Canadian, is their best yet and places the band near the forefront of an independent rock world increasingly (and deservedly) dominated by women.

Sheer Mag

The polish of arena rock and the do-it-yourself rawness of punk seemed like polar opposites in the late ‘70s, but nowadays it’s clear the two genres were just two sides of the same catchy coin. Philadelphia’s Sheer Mag is equally indebted to both, repeatedly combining snot-nosed punk attitude, radio-ready hooks and lead guitar bravado for a series of three seven-inch singles, each one a little stronger than the last. Their tight band dynamic and energetic live shows have been generating buzz since the band first started in 2014, but 2017 may yet be the year they gain the much-deserved attention of riff-starved rock fans everywhere — if they decide to put out a longer release, that is.

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

Though originally trained in classical piano and guitar, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has spent most of her musical career so far exploring the endless possibilities afforded by synthesizers and then adding loopy woodwind instrumentation on top of them, creating orchestral soundscapes for self-released albums that sound like miniature film scores that require no visuals to tell their stories. This year saw the release of Ears, her second LP under independent label Western Vinyl, as well as a new track called “Riparian” with accompanying visuals from glitch artist Pixlpa that somehow match the expressionistic textures of Smith’s latest track.

Hazel English

There’s a fantastic clarity to the guitar sound on Hazel English’s debut EP Never Going Home — a clean tone that directly contrasts with English’s reverb-soaked vocals. The effect conjures the feeling of a hazy summer day, warm and beautiful but with just a hint of uncertainty. Originally hailing from Australia but now based in Oakland, English has already achieved a fully realized, sun-soaked sound that occasionally eclipses but never completely obscures her substantive lyrics about the uncertainties of life, and particularly life as a 20-something. Hopefully a successful LP as confident as this year’s Never Going Home will help make English’s life a little more certain in the near future.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

5 International Wonders on Kendall Schmidt’s Photography Bucket List

2016-12-06T08:00:00.000Z

If you catch Heffron Drive’s Kendall Schmidt during one of his days off while he’s on tour, there’s a good chance he’ll be looking at life through the lens of a camera. Take, for example, his recent tour of Italy, which included accepting the Ischia Global Icon Award. “On my days off, I would run around taking pictures,” he tells us.

“I would go out in Florence, for instance, and I would have my Pentax K1000, and I also had one of those instant mini Polaroid cameras strapped to my shoulder.”

Schmidt knows that his love of film, versus digital, makes him a bit old school, saying, “It’s kind of out of character to see a normal camera anymore.”

Although his passion for photography is relatively new – he estimates he started to get serious about it within the past year – he knows it had been bubbling up inside him for a while.

“I can’t tell you how many cameras I have that I purchased from the Best Buy kiosk at the airport,” he says with a laugh. “I have so many Sony Cyber-shots, because I would go on a tour, and I didn’t have a camera ... so I would buy one of those cameras. Eventually, one day, I don’t know what came over me, I just wanted to take film photos. I got a Lomography camera when I was in New Zealand, and I came home, and took a couple photos, and I just loved it. I went on eBay, I got myself a 1977 Pentax K1000, (and) I figured it out. Now, Pentax is a learning camera. I’d eventually like to get to a place where I could get a Leica, or a Hasselblad, or something like that.”

Interestingly, in an age of social media, where everyone is quick to share everything, Schmidt has kept the vast majority of his photos private. “I’ve taken 50 rolls since last year, so far, and I’ve posted like seven pictures,” he says of his photography. “It’s 95% for me, and I’ll share the stuff that’s like, ‘That’s too cool. I have to post that.”

Schmidt continues, “I’m a very nostalgic guy, and I really want these photos for later on in life. That’s a really big reason why I’m taking them ... I’m trying to document more for my kids eventually, and their kids. It’s a historical thing, as well.”

While Schmidt’s passport is already littered with stamps, five places still on his photography bucket list include...

Eastern Asia

“I’m a big animal guy. A place like Borneo is like one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, and it’s experiencing a lot of extinctions, so that would be an interesting trip to take.”

Russia

“I think taking pictures of the government buildings in Russia, and all the Russian design buildings, would be great, especially in black and white.”

Under The Sea

“Beautiful, clear, underwater images that are digital are cool, and everything, but there’s something about being underwater, and having it on film. Being that film and water don’t go together, there’s something really interesting about that, that I think is very cool.”

The Great Barrier Reef

“I’d love to go to the Great Barrier Reef, especially since it’s arguably dying. I want to check it out before it’s gone.”

The Rainforests

“I’d love to go to Brazil. I’d love to go see the Amazon. I’d love to go down the Amazon River.”

Currently, Schmidt is enjoying the first time he’s had four consecutive months at home in six years. “I’m loving it. I get up in the morning, and I go to work in my studio, polish off a song, and send it out.

“This is like a vacation for me, being able to make up whatever my heart desires, and come up with any ideas I have. It’s wonderful. I’ve been needing some creative time like this.”

In addition to finishing up the next Heffron Drive album, the lead single from which he hopes to release either before the end of this year, or in early 2017, Schmidt is running his label, TOLbooth Records, and working on production for a number of artists, including Instagram, and YouTube, fave Avonlea.

For Schmidt, he sees a big similarity in his passions for music, and photography, saying, “It parallels in the sense of creativity, because a good photo is just being in the right place at the right time, and having the right eye to know that something’s gonna turn out well.

“I’ll give you an example, when I was in France I went to this cafe. I just wanted bacon and eggs. I was cool with croissants, but after a while you just want bacon and eggs, so we found this cafe, and there was this honey bear (squeeze bottle), and I had this idea of taking this photo of the honey bear with silverware in front of him, like he was ready for breakfast."

"At the time, just taking the picture was a really stupid idea, and then when I got it printed up, and saw it on a larger scale, it was actually a really cool photo. It looked very artistic, and very interesting. That’s the same thing with music. In music you experiment, you try things. A lot of times, the first half of a song that you did in the beginning, you end up erasing, and using the second half. It’s really just a creative avenue for me to express, just like music is.”

Come 2017, expect Schmidt to hit the road again for his music, strapped with his cameras.

“I’ve done probably 5% of the traveling that I’d like to do, and I’ve had pages added to my passport twice. I’ve gone a lot of places, and I also want to go to a lot of places still.”

See some more out-of-the-box articles by visiting out Feature page.

Adam Friedman Looks to Build on His Breakout Year

2016-12-05T17:30:00.000Z

When an artist has a single that’s streamed over 1.5 million times, it’s usually considered a pinnacle for their year. For Adam Friedman, that song was “Pretty Things,” and it was just the beginning of an incredibly wild 2016.

In addition to the success of “Pretty Things,” he collaborated with Mike Posner on the follow up single, “Lemonade,” which Friedman debuted on the Today show. Friedman also caught the attention of veteran radio personality Elvis Duran, who named him his Artist of the Month for June.

So who is Adam Friedman? We caught up with him to find out more about his journey, his very big year, and some action sports injuries from his past.

Homebase: Santa Monica, CA

Your journey started in Arizona, and has led you to Santa Monica, CA. How young were you when you moved to chase your dream, and what sort of nerves, or loneliness, did you experience when you first arrived in CA?

I moved to Boston when I was 19 for college. After spending four years there, I moved to Santa Monica. I was 23 at the time.

When I first got to LA, I immediately started working on projects, so I kept busy. In the meantime, I enjoyed the solitude. I can spend long periods of time alone. It’s something I got used to as a kid, and it’s something I still enjoy now. With a balance, I believe solitude is the best time to get to know myself.

What moment, or moments, made you realize you were on the right path?

When I made my first recording on my tape player when I was 10, and it gave me goose bumps.

When I played my first show in my band called Winnetka when I was 13. It was a religious experience.

When I got into music school.

When I impressed my production class in college.

When I got my first big paycheck because of music I made.

Whenever I gain respect from a musician who I admire.

Every day I wake up and the only thing on my calendar is where and when I’m going to perform/make more music.

You were on the Today show earlier this year. Which member of your family was most excited about this, and told everyone in your old neighborhood?

Mom. Totally 100% my mother. My brother did a little bit, too, and my dad was very proud, but momma takes the excitement trophy home for sure.

After watching your video for "Lemonade," I'd like to know where you do your grocery shopping. I NEVER see women like that in the produce section!

Go to Vintage Grocery at Trancas in Malibu, California. You’ll fall in love in the produce section. 100%!

You're skateboarding in the clip. No one just casually skateboards. How young were you when you started, and did you have any X Games aspirations?

I started skateboarding when I was nine. I can only do three tricks, but I mostly use it as a means for transportation. It’s the quintessential choice for the airport. I’ve saved more time in airports with my skateboard than some save in TSA pre-check. Seriously.

Did you ever do any wild stunts that could have resulted in serious injury, or at the very least a starring role in an embarrassing YouTube video?

When I was 11 years old I briefly got into BMX. I had a wash (the dry bed of a stream) behind my parents house growing up, and my friends and I used to build little jumps out of dirt, and jump them. It was “cute.”

One day these guys who were much older than us found our spot and started building legit six foot tall jumps. In true Adam fashion I HAD to jump these, too.

Long story short, I landed three times! I was king! But, on the fourth time, I face planted into the dirt, six of my teeth fell out, and I split my lip open and scraped a huge chunk of skin off the left side of my face. I’m still fixing my teeth to this day.

Moving to something less painful, from Nat King Cole, to Chainsmokers, you have a wide variety of covers on your YouTube channel. What qualities make a song one you want to cover?

That’s a good question. I think what makes me connect with a song are two main things. First, the words and vibes have to represent an emotional state I’m currently in. I’m very stubborn about this. Second, it has to feel genuine to me. Like the singer, and the production, and everything going on with the song, was made because it NEEDED to say something. Once my brain checks both of those off, I’m in!

With your penchant for covers, when you’re driving in your car, what’s the most embarrassing thing someone might catch you singing along to?

My own music. I mix my tracks mostly in my car while I drive. The speakers in there aren’t particularly great, but they’re the most consistent speakers I’ve had for the past six years, so I know how things should sound in there.

If you ever want to hear my unreleased music, find me driving, and follow me ... not really, but, you know.

Finally, what are your plans for 2017?

Write, write, write, perform, perform, perform, and drop my debut EP. Literally, that’s it. I have some other things going on, but they can’t be disclosed yet.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Kesha's New Music Aims to Show Us Her True Self

2016-12-05T17:22:47.634Z

Following the legal issues Kesha has had to deal with over the past couple of years, the pop singer is finally ready to share music that she actually wants release.

In an interview with Billboard, she revealed that her new material will "showcase my vulnerabilities as a strength and not as a weakness."

"In the past, I always felt like I was trying to prove something," she told the magazine, which named her Billboard's Women in Music Trailblazer this year. "Now, I'm writing what I want to share with the world, rather than trying to give the world what it wants. For better or worse, I’m just me."

She also revealed that she co-wrote with Wrabel, which was "so much fun," and also opened up about the support she got from Adele.

"Adele is nothing but class," she said. "She reached out to me privately and publicly in the middle of winning her own award [at the BRIT Awards]. What a beautiful soul."

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Here's What George Lucas Thought of 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'

2016-12-05T17:06:43.158Z

Even though George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, the man behind the epic Star Wars franchise still has a hand in the projects — even if it's just approval. So with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story premiering in theaters in a few weeks, everyone, including Rogue One director Gareth Edwards, wanted to know what he would think of the intergalactic spin-off starring Felicity Jones and Diego Luna.

"Two days ago we got to show George the movie," Edwards told Sunday World, "and we all had a phone call and I got to speak with him yesterday, and I don't want to put words into his mouth, but I can honestly say that I can die happy now."

He added, "He really liked the movie. It meant a lot. To be honest, and no offense to anyone here, it was the most important review to me."

That's not to say that the director doesn't care about film critics' opinions, but George's was special.

"You know, you guys are important too, but he's kind of God," he said. "I will take that conversation to my grave. His opinion means the world to me."

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on December 15. Watch the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Tom Cruise Escape a Falling Plane in 'The Mummy' Reboot

2016-12-05T16:36:04.909Z

It's been 17 years since The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser, hit theaters. However, like many TV shows and films these days, it is getting a big facelift and is being remade for today's audience. Starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella and Russell Crowe, the film follows the same premise as the old one: a mummified Egyptian ruler is wreaking havoc on a major city, in this case, London. The Mummy is set to hit theaters on June 9, 2017.

Watch the first trailer for the reboot below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Jennifer Aniston Subtly Tells the World to Get Over 'Friends' and Sansa Stark is the Absolute Worst

2016-12-05T08:23:38.354Z

'SNL' poked fun at Donald Trump, so he got mad and tweeted about it. Sad. Shia LaBeouf is about to start history's biggest rap feud — if only rappers took him seriously. Amy Schumer looks ready to stick it to the haters on the big screen, and Sophie Turner may have just destroyed our hopes for a Jon Snow and Khalessi-fronted team. Here's what you missed over the weekend.

While We're Being Honest...

Election Day may have already come and gone, but Alec Baldwin is nowhere near finished reprising his favorite new role as Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live. On this weekend’s episode, the eldest Baldwin brother decided to tackle Trump’s absolute favorite pastime: Twitter. However, Trump himself was less than thrilled to tune in and see his likeness appear on the famous sketch comedy program yet again, so in typical Trump fashion, he took to the social media platform to voice his frustrations on the alleged abuse. Upon seeing the PEOTUS’ laments online, Baldwin offered a truce. He agreed to end the parodies on the condition that Trump publish his tax returns.

...@realDonaldTrump

Release your tax returns and I'll stop.
Ha
— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) December 4, 2016

If there was an award for being a good sport, it would go to Vanessa Bayer. Not only did she survive Jennifer Aniston crashing her Weekend Update segment to call her out for hilarious (but truthful) take on Aniston’s beloved Friends character, Rachel, but she then endured being put on blast by Aniston for blowing up her phone non-stop and for her obsession with the ‘90s sitcom. "Friends was like five million and five years ago, so I think you've got to move on." Bayer kept it together when most would’ve shed tears, and Aniston ultimately broke bread...err, nachos together with her.

“Faker than Drake’s Jamaican Accent”

No longer the Disney darling we fell in love with so long ago, Shia LaBeouf has made it his mission to prove that he’s all grown up. From starring in controversial films like Nymphomaniac, to possibly maybe sort of getting married to longtime girlfriend, Mia Goth — officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator no less — turns out the Even Stevens actor has another passion that he’s now making known: freestyle rap. Oh yes, LaBeouf first displayed his hidden talent about a month ago, but it seems he’s been taking the craft more seriously as of late. In a bold display of distaste for the current state of hip-hop and some of its most popular artists, LaBeouf created a mixtape and sent it to radio personality, Charlamagne tha God.

The track, which surprisingly sounds like an Odd Future demo, takes aim at Drake, Lil Yachty and even Vin Diesel. But LaBeouf wasn’t the only one calling out Drake and other names in the rap game. Just the day before, J. Cole released his thought-provoking track, “False Prophets.” Although it’s always interesting and entertaining to see what kind of spontaneous responses come from these so-called “beefs,” the accusations for once are warranted and welcome. Since it’s their originality and artistry being called out, hopefully these musicians listen to what’s really being said and go back to doing what they used to do well: create good music.

Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” Sales are About to Skyrocket

Have you ever found yourself wishing for a movie in which Amy Schumer plays live-action Barbie? Then you’re in luck, because Mattel and Sony heard your pleas and have teamed up to deliver this random fantasy to you! According to "sources," the untitled project features Schumer as one of the nostalgic, plastic figures, living amongst other dolls in a sort of perfect Barbie utopia. Schumer’s character becomes aware that she possesses different traits, ultimately leaving the “perfect” world to embark on a personal journey of imperfect self-acceptance. It’s a great storyline for body positivity, which Schumer has been advocating for years. With her comedic background, fans of the idea are hopeful that the script will be full of witty banter and non-stop jokes.

Sadly, not everyone is onboard with the concept, unnecessarily pointing out the difference in body type and the impact that the unaltered, original plastic ladies had for decades. Considering the famous creators of the doll have already made incredible strides in rebranding the product to be all-encompassing for multiple body types to be more realistic, it’s too bad more people aren’t in support of the idea. But trolls will be trolls. While we’re excited to see what Amy does with this project. Here’s hoping Tyra Banks reprises her Life Size role as Eve!

A photo posted by @amyschumer on Oct 24, 2016 at 1:10pm PDT

More Like Game of Sansa Stark’s Betrayal

Though our upset with Bran Stark for “Hold the Door” still runs deep, that side story distracted us from a certain entitled redhead who first broke our hearts: his sister, Sansa. Had her thirst for Queendom not been so strong, her entire family and their badass, overprotective pack of direwolves would all likely still be alive. But now that she’s been married off to two physically abusive homicidal men and narrowly escaped the clutches of both before being rescued by people who were way too nice, we’d hope that Sophie Turner’s character might finally learn some humility and stop causing problems for the few remaining Stark family members and the residents of Winterfell, right? Apparently not.

During her interview with TheWrap, Turner shared her perspective on the alliances made at the end of Season 6 and what she personally hopes will come of them. However, what stood out the most was comment on the fan theory that Sansa will ultimately betray Jon Snow out of jealousy. "From Sansa's perspective, she really feels like she would like the recognition that she deserves because at the end of the day, she did save the day at the Battle of the Bastards." She is still secretly in cahoots with creepy Lord Baelish, whose influence over the Knights of the Vale is what changed the outcome of that Battle. Guess we’ll have to wait until Spring 2017!

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

8 Must Watch Anime for Sci-fi Junkies

2016-12-05T08:00:00.000Z

Calling all space junkies, robot enthusiasts and time travel theorists! If you love all things science fiction – aliens, time travel, galaxy hopping, robots, dystopias, virtual reality, etc. – then this is the list for you! It may come as a surprise to newer fans of the genre, but science fiction and animation have always gone hand in hand. In the days before high quality CGI and VFX, the genre relied on animation to bring its high-concept tales to life. The popularity of the original Star Wars trilogy in the late '70s and early '80s triggered an explosion of anime in Japan that hoped to emulate the space opera.

What followed was a rich and dazzling body of work that fanned all facets of the genre. Below, I’ve highlighted 8 must watch anime for all sci-fi junkies. For the sake of variety, I’ve selected one anime per sub-genre, but I leave out fantasy titles. To make it on this list, science and technology must be forefronts in the realities of each series.

Virtual Reality Gone Awry: ‘Dennō Coil’

This indie darling deserves an order of magnitude more love and attention than it’s gotten. The brainchild of veteran animator and creator Mitsuo Iso, whose animation has been featured in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise and the works of Studio Ghibli and Satoshi Kon among countless others, Dennō Coil revolves around the Yūko Okonogi and her mysterious connection to Daikoku city — the epicenter of the emerging augmented reality (AR) world.

Seamlessly and gorgeously animated, Dennō Coil tricks viewers into thinking that the series will be a whimsical, light-hearted affair, but instead delivers a wholly immersive, intricate and heart-pounding experience from the first episode that only continues to escalate until the very end. Iso effortlessly creates an AR world that is introduced and developed organically, and the character designs — especially for the ‘pets’ of the show — are some of the most memorable I’ve seen. Although a sci-fi by designation, it would be a disservice to Dennō Coil to pigeonhole it to one category — the show is equally a mystery, a thriller and an action-adventure. Show this amazing series some love and check it out sooner rather than later!

The Space Western: ‘Cowboy Bebop’

Directed by the famed Shinichiro Watanabe, Cowboy Bebop is the definitive space western anime. I debated between Cowboy Bebop and Trigun, which to me is a mix between the former and Yu Yu Hakusho, but I had to give it to the mismatched crew of the Bebop and its iconic soundtrack by Yoko Kanno, which oozes seamlessly between each scene.

Cowboy Bebop is everything you want in a space western — cooler than ice, larger than life characters who follow nobody’s code but their own, a lawless frontier, a whole lot of dope spaceships, and a metric ton of ennui. The series provides no answers, only more questions as you peer into the lives of bounty hunters Spike Spiegel and Jet Black, con-artist Faye Valentine, hacker extraordinaire Edward Wong and genetically-engineered Welsh Corgi Ein as they travel around the cosmos in an escape from the past and present and future. In all seriousness, if you have any taste at all, sci-fi fan or not, you must add this critically acclaimed series to your watch list.

The Cyberpunk Thriller: ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’

Chances are, you’ve heard of Ghost in the Shell. The original film and subsequent sequels and TV series have delighted audiences for over two decades. The first television adaption of the original 1995 film, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, introduces its audience to Public Security Section 9, an elite special operations task force, and its fearless squad leader Major Motoko Kusanagi in their pursuit of a Super Class A corporate hacker known as The Laughing Man.

Set against a futuristic Japan in which over half the population are cyborgs, Section 9 must unearth the sordid truth behind The Laughing Man and his vendetta against micromachine mega-corporations. Not for the faint of heart, the cyberpunk thriller is made all the more pulse pumping with an electronic soundtrack by, you guessed it, Yoko Kanno. This timeless classic narrowly beat out Akira for the spot on this list with its explicit focus on technology, cybernetics, technological terrorism, and systemic corruption.

The Mecha Anime: ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’

This series never fails to incite the flames of controversy, and rightly so. While the original series is a widely praised deconstruction and critique of the mecha genre, its subsequent sequels such as The End of Evangelion have been less well-received. Regardless, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a cultural icon.

More than just your typical mecha anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion opens on an apocalyptic Tokyo on the brink of destruction following an attack by mysterious monsters known as Angels. The series then follows the emotional journey of Shinji, a shy teenager who is recruited by the organization NERV to pilot an Evangelion in the hopes of preventing another extinction-level catastrophe. The series is fraught with religious iconography, imagery and symbolism spanning both the Western and Eastern canon, and is rife with references to the psychoanalytic catalog of Freud, Hegel, Sartre and Schopenhauer. Over its 26-episode run, Neon Genesis Evangelion touches heavily upon depression, mental illness and trauma to examine how the past permeates the present. Prepare to be thoroughly wrecked by the time this series closes the curtains.

The Tech/Neo-Noir: ‘Psycho-Pass’

In Psycho-Pass, a futuristic Japan has adopted the Sibyl System — an omnipresent network of psychometric scanners — to predict future criminals based on a person’s aggregated personality traits and history. Those concluded to be potentially dangerous to society are dealt with by a team of Enforcers from the Criminal Investigations Division who are armed with weapons that automatically gauges an enemy’s threat level and modulates its power in response.

Psycho-Pass explores the concepts of free will, determinism, emotional subjugation and the moral cost and legal legitimacy of the Sibyl System. The central dilemma that guides the series is, “should we punish a person for a crime they have yet to commit?” In a world without crime, what happens when we fear the judge and executioner more than the criminal? Thematically, the series draws heavily from Minority Report, Blade Runner, and LA Confidential, so if you’re a fan of those films, Psycho-Pass is a must see.

The Time Travel Paradox: ‘Steins; Gate’

What if I told you that you could change the future by sending your memories back in time using a microwave? Sound absurd? Well in Steins; Gate, that absurdity is a reality. The invention of a self-proclaimed “mad scientist” named Rintaro — a cell-phone operated, time traveling microwave wreaks havoc on the space time continuum.

The series offers up a trifecta of time travel delights: death, love and alternative timelines! Surprisingly enough, this overall wacky series is one of the best in the genre for its smart, albeit far from perfect, treatment on the classic time travel paradox. Although criticized for uneven pacing and tone in the beginning, Steins; Gate has become a critical darling and fan favorite, spawning four original video animations (OVAs) and a film sequel. Next time you’re itching for a thriller that will leave you both delightfully confused and thoroughly content by the end, give Steins; Gate a try, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

The Slice-of-Life Critique: ‘Time of Eve’

This slice-of-life drama takes a slower approach to the normally fast-paced genre. In Time of Eve, futuristic Japan is oddly familiar, with much of the scenery and technology taking on a much homelier aesthetic. Androids, now commonplace across Japan, serve as service industry workers and caretakers and are generally regarded as second class citizens.

Time of Eve follows the lives and patrons of “The Time of Eve,” a café in which androids and humans enjoy equal status. The main rule: in “Time of Eve,” never ask a patron if they are android or human. In this café, Rikuo Sakisaka and his friend Masakazu meet many different patrons and try to determine whether they are android or human, oftentimes interpreting Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics in new and surprising ways. Time of Eve deals primarily with the emerging independence of androids and how that independence takes shape within the bounds of the Three Laws. Time of Eve is the thinking man’s drama, posing many unanswered questions for the viewers to ponder and contemplate.

The Hard Sci-fi: ‘Planetes’

If you enjoyed Andy Weir’s The Martian (the book, not the movie), you should expect to enjoy Makoto Yukimura’s hard science-fiction series Planetes, which revolves around the crew of the DS-12 “Toy Box” as they perform routine trash collections to prevent debris from colliding with Earth’s many satellites and space crafts. Although a banal concept from the outside, Planetes is quite rich in character development and explores many sociopolitical concepts surrounding space travel. The series, however, does not solely direct its gaze outward. Ideas concerning class structure and warfare, environmentalism, and other decidedly more Earthly affairs are just as much a focus in this series as the vast vacuum of space.

As a hard science series, Planetes does not shy away from the scientific and mechanical aspects of space exploration, focusing in on many of the minute technical details with living in space. Animators took great care portraying space and the conditions living in space accurately, and writers took equal care to present a nuanced and compelling story with a uniquely multicultural cast. Planetes is a great destination for those searching for a down-to-earth tale that’s a little further from home.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Gin Wigmore Looks Back on a Wild 2016

2016-12-05T08:00:00.000Z

With her distinctive, soulful vocals, Gin Wigmore has carved out a unique place for herself in listeners' playlists. The New Zealand native, who now calls Los Angeles home, has always been about embracing individuality, even as far back as age 14, when she came home one day with a tattoo across her entire back.

Last month, Wigmore released her latest single, “Dirty Mercy,” which is the first off her as of yet unnamed fourth studio album, due out in 2017.

Currently finishing up her second US tour of the year, Wigmore sat down with us before a recent show to recount her many highs, and a few lows, of 2016.

Most important lesson you learned, or that was reinforced, in 2016: Not to worry about things, because it is gonna be what it is gonna be. That was reinforced after stressing about trying to get an album budget, and whether I was going to be able to release an album, and who was gonna put it out, and all that kind of stuff. I spent about two weeks making myself sick at the end of September/early October, and it really was out of my hands completely.

Biggest point of pride from this year: My ability to just get on with it, basically. Rise above, and get on with it. Very rarely am I held back by someone telling me I can’t do something, or that “this is not an option.” I just make it so it is an option, and it is executed, and it’s done.

Person who floored you with their kindness this year: My husband, Jason Butler. He is always kind to me. Even though I can be really unkind, at times, to him, he always follows that with kindness. I don’t know where he finds it, but he does.

Moment that made you cry tears of joy: An offer to play in Antarctica. Scott Base is having its 50th anniversary, that’s in the New Zealand part of Antarctica, and they are having a celebration, and they’ve invited me and my band to come and play in January 2017. For six days we’d go down there, and basically see Antarctica, go to a penguin colony, visit the glaciers and play a show. It will be the best thing I ever do in my life, I’m 100% sure of it. It’s fucking awesome.

Moment that made you cry tears of sadness: There was a huge amount of sadness around the fact that this whole presidential election — I live in the States, I live in Los Angeles, I have now for three years, and it’s not my home country, but it is where I live, and it’s where I love — and having this president be elected, really it’s not so much him that brought about the tears of sadness, it’s the fact that climate change, and the environment, and our world, are now most likely being put on the back burner. That brought tears of sadness, a huge amount of sadness, actually.

Favorite moment on a tour bus in 2016: Not having to pack up my suitcase and take it to a hotel every day. I love that about tour buses. There’s something about having to unzip a really packed suitcase that’s such a fucking pain, so when you don’t have to do that, on a tour bus, it’s awesome.

Personal travel horror story of 2016: [laughs] I’m the only girl in my whole touring party. I have an all boy band, and all my management is male. I have to deal with snoring; I have to deal with the video games and shitty eating from the boys; drinking and figuring out where to go meet chicks. There’s a lot of that, but you know what I hate the most? On tour buses, everyone thinks air conditioning is God’s gift to the world, and I fucking hate it. I hate that the most about tour buses, everyone thinks it’s gotta be like 50 degrees on the fucking tour bus.

Favorite concert you performed in 2016: I really liked playing in Buffalo, NY. It was really awesome. It helps that three of the members of my five person band are from Buffalo, so we had all their family out, and it was just a really awesome show. The tickets were like half sold before we went there, and then on the night (of the show) it sold out, and a sold out show is always wicked. Buffalo, NY, really fucking turned out.

Favorite concert you attended in 2016: We went to Adele, and she was fucking awesome. She is, hands down, one of the best, if not the best, female singer of my lifetime. During my 30 years of being on this planet, and who’s been born in this time, I’d say Adele would be the best singer. She’s fucking on it.

Favorite musical discovery: One is Breakbot. They’ve been around for a while, but I just discovered them. They’re awesome. And then I found this dude, Michel Polnareff, he’s a French dude (age 72). I’m always digging in the past. I think the past is most exciting for me.

Album, new or old, that stayed in heavy rotation in your personal playlist in 2016: Band of Skulls was a really big one in heavy rotation. So was Ryuichi Sakamoto. He did the soundtrack for The Revenant.

Favorite TV addiction: I loved The Killing, and then, because I’m a massive sap, Grey’s Anatomy. It’s such reliable drama. You know someone is gonna fall in love, have sex with the wrong person, or die, in the span of half an hour.

Favorite movie you watched in 2016: The Jungle Book. That was awesome.

Most embarrassing song you caught yourself singing along to this year: “Call Me Maybe.” [laughs] You get so judged on that.

Most moving fan interaction you had this year: I got offered to play at someone’s wedding in Palm Springs, which we are gonna do. That was really moving. I’m also really moved when people cry at shows. I think it’s quite a phenomenon for me to experience. It’s such an outpour of emotion over me singing, and I think it’s really cool. It’s really moving.

Favorite married moment of 2016: I’d say I’m properly obsessed with animals. We’ve got three dogs. The third dog came about because I was dead set on getting a French bulldog. I presented my case to my husband, and explained why this is a really good move for us. It was like a PowerPoint presentation. I won.

We got the French Bulldog, and then he cried all through the night for the next three nights, and on the third night I rolled over in bed, and I said, “Babe, I think I’ve made a big mistake getting this bulldog.” He was like, “It’s alright, we’ll make it work. We’ll figure it out. We’ll get through it. We can’t give it away. We’re sticking to it. It’s gonna be OK.”

I think that was a really nice married moment, for me, at 2am, to be like, “I fucked up, you were right,” and for him to be like, “It’s alright babe, we’ll deal with it.” He’s very good at that, and I think that’s a really cool thing about marriage, we’ll get through it together.

We kept that little dog, and I’m so glad. He’s the sweetest thing in the world. It was a very nice moment in marriage to be such a team even though I clearly made an impulse decision.

Best new skill you learned in 2016: How to ask for help. I stand by my decisions so much, and I’m very impulsive, so it’s like, “I made this decision, it’s the best decision, and I’m gonna do it, and I don’t need your help, I’m gonna do it all by myself, and everything’s gonna be fine. Everything’s gonna be great.” I had a really hard time admitting that I was wrong, and then asking for help.

Thing from 2016 you hope stays in 2016: Donald Trump.

Trend you can’t believe you, or a loved one, hopped on in 2016: You know those shoes that have the toes? A friend of mine loved them about two months ago, and I kinda couldn’t believe it. We met for coffee, and he walked up in these shoes, and I was like, “What are you thinking?”

Thing you’re most looking forward to in 2017: Releasing my album, and getting pregnant. We’re taking every means to make both things possible.

See your favorite artists' best and worsts of the year by visiting our 20 Questions page.

This Mashup Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Pop Music in 2016

2016-12-02T21:53:30.247Z

It’s officially the end of the year: DJ Earworm has released his “United State of Pop” video for 2016, the epic annual mashup of all the year’s biggest songs and videos. Featuring samples from 25 different tracks, the four-minute mashup kicks off with The Weeknd’s latest hit “Starboy” before folding in Justin Bieber, Twenty One Pilots, The Chainsmokers, ZAYN and more.

It’s DJ Earworm’s trademark to tap into pop’s zeitgeist and deliver us this cultural artifact, a quick walk through everything that dominated the airwaves over the calendar year. As usual, he finds a through-line in matched rhythms that cut across hits, from “Work” to “Love Yourself.” (In listening to this mashup, it’s especially easy to identify the similarities in so much of our mainstream music.) Subtitled “Into Pieces,” this year’s track has a melancholy current, despite working in Justin Timberlake’s saccharine “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and Flo Rida’s upbeat “My House.” Twenty One Pilots take the prize for most songs sampled, with three of their hits in the mix.

There are two artists, however, who are distinctly missing from this year’s lineup. One is Beyoncé—none of the songs from Lemonade found their way into this cut. And the other is Kanye West, whose Life of Pablo raps are also absent. But that comes down to math, not favoritism: DJ Earworm only uses the 25 top-selling songs in the U.S. of the past year, so despite the popularity of those two albums, they didn’t surface singles that hit Earworm’s high bar.

Take a listen and feel the 2016 nostalgia already.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Chris Pratt Cropping Jennifer Lawrence Out of Passengers Photos Is Just the Best

2016-12-02T21:47:29.146Z

Chris Pratt is starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence in the upcoming movie Passengers, but based on his Instagram feed, you wouldn’t know it. The 37-year-old actor has taken it upon himself to share a steady stream of behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the intergalactic film’s press tour. However, fans are lucky to catch even a glimpse of Lawrence in them.

It all began Monday when Pratt posted a close-up selfie with only half of Lawrence’s face visible at the edge of the picture. “Finally got that selfie with Jen y’all wanted,” he wrote.

Finally got that selfie with Jen y'all wanted. #passengersmovie

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Nov 29, 2016 at 7:06am PST

He then continued the trend with a series of similarly hilarious shots that just never seemed to properly capture his co-star.

Just hanging with my bestie Jen. #passengersmovie

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Nov 30, 2016 at 2:57am PST

Here Jen and I pose with @elrubiuswtf

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Nov 30, 2016 at 6:54am PST

Here's an extremely artistic and meaningful video I made in which Jen is heavily featured. #passengersmovie

A video posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Dec 1, 2016 at 3:37am PST

Another day down with me and my best buddy Jen. #London #passengersmovie

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Dec 1, 2016 at 7:11am PST

The latest prank pic came Thursday, as Pratt shared a photo from backstage at The Graham Norton Show. “Me, #JenniferLawrence and @jamieoliver backstage at @thegrahamnortonshow promoting a film called #Passengers coming soon to a theatre near you,” he captioned the post. “Can’t believe I got to meet the naked chef!!! He was wearing clothes, but still!!!”

Me, #JenniferLawrence and @jamieoliver backstage at @thegrahamnortonshow promoting a film called #Passengers coming soon to a theatre near you. Can't believe I got to meet the naked chef!!! He was wearing clothes, but still!!!

A photo posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on Dec 1, 2016 at 12:10pm PST

Passengers hits theaters Dec. 21.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

See Khloe Kardashian’s ’90s-Inspired Workout Video

2016-12-02T21:36:42.926Z

Khloé Kardashian has become known for her “revenge body” in recent years, and luckily for fans, she’s sharing the wealth. The youngest Kardashian sister often gives tips and tricks for weight loss and muscle gain, but if you’ve missed one of her workout Snapchat stories lately, there’s a new way to get inspired and lift like a la Khloé.

Sarah Jessica Parker Used to Find Fashion Inspiration on the Subway

In a video created with Vogue, Khloé presents her “Better Butt Workout” like a true ’90s icon. “These are a few of my favorite sculpting moves to look great in a pair of jeans,” she says, illustrating various techniques like the “back lunge side squat” and “sandbag bridge.”

Ashley Graham Says Losing Weight Would Be ‘Disloyal’ to Herself

“For this workout, you don’t have to go anywhere. There’s nobody standing between me and you. This is your workout. You are front and center,” she encourages fans. “And remember, you guys will never regret doing your workout, you’ll regret not doing your workout.”

The Clever Harry Potter Reference You Probably Missed in 'Fantastic Beasts'

2016-12-02T21:29:18.626Z

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

We Might Get Another Iconic Star Wars Character Cameo in Rogue One

There were plenty of nods to the original Harry Potter series scattered throughout Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but the one that may have been the most difficult to catch came at the very beginning of the film.

As images of various wizarding newspapers flashed across the screen, there was a brief moment when a 1926 issue of The Daily Prophet was visible. And while the main takeaway from the page was that dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald had become an increasing threat to Europe, there was also a mention of a certain Harry Potter family member hidden near the bottom of the page, according to Mashable.

Chris Pratt Cropping Jennifer Lawrence Out of Passengers Photos Is Just the Best

“Potioneer Fleamont Potter’s Hair Potion Woos American Wizards,” read the headline, referencing Harry’s grandfather and the famous hair potion — Sleekeazy’s — that quadrupled the Potter family’s gold.

Light & Seaver MAKO Songs the Old Fashioned Way

2016-12-02T17:36:06.754Z

MAKO are an electronic candy-step duo comprised of DJ Logan Light on knobs, and Alex Seaver, a Julliard-pedigreed singer and pianist, playing MacBook. Each are masters of the digital tabletop and living the vampire life in LA studios — working with powerhouse European producers like Avicii and basically the entire Dutch progressive dance scene, among others. The fellas rock sets at Electric Daisy Carnival and the Coachella Sahara Tent with anthemic jams that kick you right in the synapses.

In a drastic change of pace, the duo unplugs for the first time ever this month. Light and Seaver are showcasing their analog instrumental prowess at club shows in LA, NYC and San Francisco next week, performing tunes from their debut LP Hourglass, which drops December 9. They checked in from the rehearsal room and shared a fresh cut from the record.

Hometown: San Diego, California (Alex); Los Angeles, California (Logan)

Homebase: Los Angeles

You guys know each other from way back in the day, right?

Logan: We actually met through our fathers who were college roommates at Syracuse (Go Orange!) in the mid ‘70s. They were having a dinner when Alex was moving to LA in 2012, and I happened to tag along and then it grew from there. Apparently there is photo evidence that we met once when were three, but unfortunately don't remember it.

Is ‘70s dad-rock what turned you onto music?

Alex: Not really! We had an old piano of my grandmother's lying around that I become curious about in high school, but other than that it was sort of miraculous that I ended up making music.

How did you discover music and realize you wanted to make music for a living?

Alex: It all started in middle school band here [in LA]. The thought to take it seriously really popped in when considering college. Since I attended an arts-only school, I was locked into doing music as a career but at that point I knew it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.

Hourglass is a huge departure for you. Can you point to specific influences that helped it come together?

Alex: There might not be one artist more than any other--but we were listening to a lot of alternative and indie electronic music throughout the whole experience... mixed in with pop for good measure. Artists like Radiohead, One Republic, M83, Coldplay... I have no idea if what we created sounds at all like those artists, but they kept us inspired and creative in all the right ways while we ventured for our first steps away from Electronic Dance Music.

What does ‘Mako’ mean?

Logan: So I am certainly quite a nerd at heart. As a child (and still to this day) my favorite video game was Final Fantasy VII. When we were deciding on a name for the group we wanted it to be something from our youth that meant something to us. Mako comes from the game and is the life force that flows through and heals the planet. If you haven't played it, I highly recommend it.

So, besides hot women and awesome drugs why did you get into EDM?

Alex: I became absolutely infatuated with it but not until I spent most of my life listening exclusively to classical music. Ironically I don't own a single analog instrument, but I love the endless possibility of it. You are literally creating your own instruments that no one ever yet created. You are stacking, layering, fusing noises together and there are no limits beyond your imagination. In a lot of ways it reminds me of writing for Orchestra because of how much depth and color you can draw out of it the better experienced you become.

Who is in your dream collab project?

Logan: Radiohead is my favorite band of all time so I would say them but I would be too intimidated, nor do i want to ruin any sort of flow with their creative process--they are a once in a lifetime act. In terms of contemporaries we both love Porter Robinson and Madeon so would love to work with them if we could.

When you’re not making music what are you doing?

Logan: I love sports--especially my Denver Broncos. I enjoy golfing (especially mini golf) and running quite a bit too. I don't know, I'm really up for anything except hot air balloons.

Oh? Bad experience?

Logan: It was terrifying.

Were you in other bands before? What were they like?

Alex: Just orchestras! And I miss them! That experience of playing live breathing music in a room together is a fix I don't ever get in electronic music. Which is one of the reasons were pushing everything towards our new live band setup.

Say I never heard a Mako song. Tell me what it sounds like.

Alex: It's been fun working on all this new material for Hourglass mostly because I fumble a lot with the right words to describe it, really keen to find out what our audience starts calling it. It definitely fits under electronic, alternative, pop -- but it flies off into some pretty bizarre cinematic places. I always try really hard to make something beautiful, inspiring and impactful. With whatever instruments and noises I can to help achieve that.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Logan: Haha. I'm not really too sure.

Wow, it must be good...

Logan: Nothing crazy at all really. All the fans are so nice and caring, no one is that crazy. We just love to meet and interact with anyone who connects with and enjoys our music.

What about connecting in a songwriting sense, how does that come about for you guys?

Alex: I've been trying to mix up the process lately to stumble into some different end results, but on Hourglass it almost always started with a title and an idea. The integrity of the storytelling is huge for me, so when I've landed on a story I want to tell then its about spreading those ideas across melodies and recording. I am in love with those songwriters that maintain a real beautiful sense of storytelling but also are so artful at writing melodies that appeal across the board. Ed Sheeran and Ryan Tedder are phenomenal at this. I love the personality of James Bay, and I'm even very inspired by the 'sing-about-anything-you-want' feeling I get when I listen to Twenty One Pilots.

Twitter is about to die, so one last chance to give yourself a hashtag--what is it?

Logan: We do have a friend on every post we make (and at shows comes with a flag) that just a giant hashtag that says #2HotGuyz--so Jared, wherever you are, we are still embarrassed. If we had to choose it may be something like #OurDogsAreCoolerThanUs

Are there any year-end goals you haven’t yet hit for 2016?

Alex: GET THIS ALBUM UP! We asked our fans to be so patient with us and we really want to get this music straight into their hands.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Is J. Cole Throwing Shade at Kanye West on New Song?

2016-12-02T17:25:34.669Z

J. Cole may have dissed Kanye West on his new song "False Prophets." The music video for the song was released last night as part of his new documentary Eyez, which tells the making of his new record 4 Your Eyez Only. And some critics think some of the lyrics for "False Prophets" are a direct jab at Mr. West.

Over the course of a couple verses, J. Cole talks about a star who "caught our hearts" but is now "falling apart."

"There was a time when this nigga was my hero maybe," raps J. Cole. "That’s why his fall from grace is hard to take, cause I believed him when he said his shit was purer and he / The type of nigga swear he real but all around is fake."

West recently cancelled his Saint Pablo tour and was hospitalized for "temporary psychosis."

Watch the music video for "False Prophets" as part of Eyez (around the 30 minute mark) via Tidal.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To Sia's Moving Ballad "Angel By The Wings"

2016-12-02T17:07:49.493Z

Sia channels her inspirational side on "Angel By The Wings," her latest song, which she recorded for the The Eagle Huntress. It begins quietly as Sia sings lyrics about taking an "angel by the wings" over piano. The song then builds to an epic crescendo, while she belts "You can do anything!"

"I'm incredibly grateful that Sia took the time to write and record this very special song,” said the film's director Otto Bell to Billboard earlier this year. "It's a wonderful vote of confidence for our documentary. I could not have imagined a more fitting, timeless piece of music for the film — it's such a beautiful girl power anthem!"

Listen to the soaring track below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch The Retro Video For The Rolling Stones' "Ride ‘Em On Down"

2016-12-02T17:04:01.512Z

The Rolling Stones want you to take a ride through LA with Kristen Stewart. That's the premise of the new music video for "Ride 'Em On Down," which features the Twilight star driving through the streets to the Stones' rollicking cover of the Eddie Thomas song in a '65 Mustang.

The sun-soaked visuals also feature a hot cop and a zebra cameo — why not? With the help of Drive cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, it's shot beautifully. In sum, it's just a gal rockin' out on a joy ride.

Watch closely for lots of Stones references throughout the video.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Binge Watch: 'Westworld' Edition

2016-12-02T08:00:00.000Z

This week, we're saying goodbye to our dear friend, satire.

Ready To Be Let Down: 'Westworld' Edition

Recommended Pairing: A Sioux City sasparilla and some sex-bots.

I was one of the few lucky Americans who "missed out" on going home for the Thanksgiving break. Instead of passing around stuffing while daydreaming about shoving a turkey leg down your AM Radio "fact-quoting" uncle's throat or trying to calmly explain what a meme is and why it isn't a respectable news source to your great aunt who just got onto Facebook, I made a rib roast and hosted a hodgepodge of fellow stragglers for dinner.

We still talked politics, sure, I mean we were drinking. So we argued, joked, swapped stories and anecdotes, then shook our heads at the sad irony of celebrating Thanksgiving while there was a showdown between "indians" and corporate interests.

After everyone was sufficiently stuffed, my girlfriend and I waved goodbye as our friends waddled out to their respective Ubers and Lyfts. Thanksgiving wasn't quite over yet, though.

The recently added second round of the great American holiday celebrating bingeing was just about to start — fire up your laptops.

Just a head's up – I'm going to talk Westworld on the next page, but real quick we need to talk about the Gilmore Girls.

Every single girl I am friends with on social media hyped this show up to the point where I was genuinely excited to plop down on the couch with my lady and rip through a year in the life of the Gilmore women.

I made it about 15 minutes into the first episode before I volunteered to start cleaning up the remnants of the evening's feast. I tried one last time to be a good boyfriend and snuggle up on the couch and take in some caffeine injected dialogue, but then there was a musical thing happening so I got permission to get up and spend the next hour or so reading up on all of the newest Westworld fan-theories on Reddit.

A few months back I was cautiously optimistic about Westworld based on the cast, crew, a love of the "so bad it's good" '70's film and a few leaked production details of an inordinate amount of filmed genitals. (HBO rules.)

It took me a few weeks before I had a chance to really sit down and give the show a shot.

Here's a pretty accurate depiction once the credits rolled.

I love this show. And I am doing everything in my power to try to temper my expectations for the finale, especially when you have the cast tweeting about how the finale is going to blow our minds right out of our assholes and JJ Abrams on talk shows hamming it up.

So many shows have amazing seasons up until the finale. I am terrified that roughly 90 minutes after I start the finale this Sunday, I'm going to be massively let down. Shows like this — shows that are tightly wound and meant to be slowly unraveled — have a tendency of having a truth in the middle that falls miles short of the promise of the build up.

This show feels different. God I hope so.

OK. Let's talk theories.

Westworld is the perfect show for the modern television watcher. It's a show that blends genres and some could argue mediums. It feels very much a show that is made of equal parts movie and video game.

It's a show so good that even when you get the payoff of some of your favorite theories playing out on the screen, the execution is so fantastic you don't feel cheated —

Multiple time frames? Check.
Bernard is a host? Check.
William is the Man in Black? We'll see, but it looks that way to me. (Unless of course the Man in Black is the Man in Black talking to his friend in the train in the first episode as Teddy rides the train.)

It's also a show that has the perfect amount of intrigue and mystery to keep people talking for a week before cramming around their screens each Sunday, though I feel it's also a show perfectly crafted to live on for a long time as a go-to for multiple binge watchings. Hell, it might be a new day after Thanksgiving tradition.

So what do we want to know for the finale?

Here's my list:

What is the top level of the pyramid that Ford mentions? Imagination, improvisation, self-interest...and could it be procreation? Could the maze we have seen over and over be a clue about the final step to become "real"?

There's already a ton of nods to another famous Michael Crichton work, Jurassic Park. Is Ford the first host to begin reproducing other hosts? Is Delores? Maeve?

Consider this:

That's my big leap right now is that we see that the hosts are reproducing.

Is that diamond under the figure a baby, a giant poop, or just a meaningless shape?

Some of the other little nagging bits I'm hoping to get some closure on are —

Is Elsie really dead?
What's up with the Ghost Nation? Will we learn a little more about the "natives" of Westworld any time soon or is that season two stuff?
Are Felix and Sylvester idiots, pawns, hosts, or the collective Jar Jar Binks of this universe?
Is this a good show or are we all getting caught up in the perfect amount of not enough information?
Are we machines? Fuck.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

8 Artists We Think Will Receive Multiple Grammy Nominations This Year

2016-12-02T08:00:00.000Z

With just a few days to go before the nominees for the 2017 Grammy Awards are announced, the entire music industry is abuzz with predictions and guesses about who is sure to be honored, who should be nominated and which artists may or may not surprise the world by garnering a nod. While it’s impossible to be certain about almost anything when it comes to the Grammys, there are a handful of names that simply must be named, because they were the movers and shakers of the past year in music.

If you’re keeping track of the Grammys and suring up your predictions, here are a 8 artists you’d be a fool to exclude.

Adele

What She’ll Be Nominated For: Album, Record, and Song, of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Solo Pop Vocal Performance

If Adele releases music, Adele gets nominated for Grammys. It’s just that simple, and it’s certainly going to happen again this year. The British superstar will not only be up for some trophies, she’ll probably wind up one of the most-nominated people of the year. She’s definitely going to be up for three of the four major awards thanks to the massive popularity of her album 25 and its lead single “Hello,” and she’ll also probably win out in the pop categories as well.

Beyoncé

What She’ll Be Nominated For: Album, Record, and Song of the Year, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Music Video

Is there ever a year when Beyoncé isn’t nominated for at least one Grammy? If there is, it’s rare, and 2017 will not be one of those years. The singer’s semi-surprise album Lemonade could not have been better-timed with its televised release, and everybody loved it. Lead single “Formation” is the standout track from the record, but it might not be the only one that receives recognition. Bey’s albums vary in style enough that she can sometimes see her name end up in several different categories, and this coming ceremony might see her do just that.

Chance The Rapper

What He’ll Be Nominated For: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Rap Album

2016 was a massive year for Chance, as it was when he finally broke out in a very big, very meaningful way. His album Coloring Book became the first to debut in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 based entirely and solely on streams, which forced the Recording Academy to alter its rules, finally allowing streaming-only titles to be eligible for prizes. With that new change, there’s little reason why Chance and Coloring Book shouldn’t both be nominated, and he may even wind up in the top category.

David Bowie

What He’ll Be Nominated For: Album, Record, and Song of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Music Video

The legendary rock star has only won a single Grammy in his lifetime, and that was for a music video, not even for his music. Now that Bowie has passed away, voters are surely going to do their best to honor his legacy, and the last album he released in his lifetime, by nominating his album Blackstar, and likely the single “Lazarus,” though the album’s title track is also a standout and a possibility.

Drake

What He’ll Be Nominated For: Album and Record of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Album

2016 belongs to Drake, there is no arguing that, and while his output was good, but perhaps not the absolute best music he’s ever made, it will probably win him some more Grammys in early 2017. Views will likely earn a nomination for Album of the Year, and his single “One Dance” was probably too big for the Academy to ignore in a category like Record of the Year. Beyond that, his name will surely appear in every rap vertical there is.

Justin Bieber

What He’ll Be Nominated For: Record and Song of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance

He might be one of the most successful pop singers of all time, but Bieber has only ever won a single Grammy, and he’s only been recognized three times in total. That number will probably rise when nominations are announced in just a few days, as his last album, Purpose, was one of the biggest of his career, especially when it came to the singles. Purpose could grab a spot in the pop album category, and his chart-topping songs “Sorry” and “Love Yourself” could end up in Record and Song of the Year, respectively...though that’s a big could.

Rihanna

What She’ll Be Nominated For: Best Pop Duo-Group Performance, Best Urban Contemporary Album

RiRi is a big Grammy favorite, and her luck probably won’t change in 2017. Her Drake collaboration “Work,” which topped the Hot 100 for nine weeks earlier this year, will probably collect at least one or two nominations, and her album Anti could also be honored, though if her team submits it for the same category as Beyoncé, she probably doesn’t have a great chance of winning that one.

Sia

What She’ll Be Nominated For: Best Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album

She may be one of the biggest and most successful songwriters in the game right now, but believe it or not, Sia has never won a Grammy. That should change in 2017, though it’s anybody’s guess if it actually will or not. Her album This Is Acting is eligible, and it is truly one of the best pop records that’s in the running, and she finally made it to number one with her song “Cheap Thrills” earlier in 2016. Depending on whether or not her team submits the solo, album version of the song or the one featuring Sean Paul that the world heard is yet to be seen, but whichever one ends up being sent to Grammy voters, it’s probably going to be nominated.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

2016-12-02T08:00:00.000Z

We might be getting closer to the end of 2016, but that doesn't mean artists haven't stopped churning out new music. And this week, we've got a nice mix of heavy hitters and up-and-comers. John Legend returns with his fifth album, Darkness and Light, while Childish Gambino is back with his third effort, "Awaken, My Love!". Aly Tadros returns with her new album, Hungry Ghost, and Leeds-based group Living Body with their debut record, Body Is Working. And finally, The Hamilton Mixtape also drops today (December 2)!

Find out more about this week's album releases below.

'Darkness and Light' - John Legend

John Legend may have focused on spreading love, especially highlighting the love her has for wife, Chrissy Teigen, on 2013's Love in the Future. John wanted to take it in a different direction, or should we say multiple directions, on the new LP, Darkness and Light. Slimming down his production team to one main man, Blake Mills, who was the producer behind the Grammy-nominated 2015 Alabama Shakes' Sound & Color. And because of this collaboration, the band's frontwoman, Brittany Howard, lends her vocals to the title track, which carries the same sultry grit that we hear from the Alabama rock band.

"Right By You" has a smokey jazz club vibe to it while the album closer, "Marching in the Dark," floats on the a smooth groove and is reminiscent of the late Marvin Gaye, who was an influenced on this particular album. Unlike John's past work, there's definitely a lot more groove on this one, which very evident on his single, "Penthouse Floor," featuring Chance the Rapper, as well as the lead track, "Love Me Now." While we don't mind some upbeat poppy tunes from the R&B singer, the only one that seems to fall a little short is "Temporarily Painless." But we can forgive that because he's got social awareness going strong throughout the LP including the unapologetic opener, "I Know Better."

'The Hamilton Mixtape' - Various Artists

Lin-Manuel Miranda, better known as the mastermind behind the Broadway hit, Hamilton, always wanted to turn the musical's soundtrack into some kind of mixtape. And although fans had to wait a little more than a year for it, the final product was worth the wait.

As you go from track to track, you not only hear why Lin wanted that person to get involved in the project, but also why he or she covered a particular song. And while Hamilton purists may feel longing for the original lyrics and instrumental arrangements, that is what makes what Lin, Black Thought and Questlove did with the featured artists much more powerful.

Not only did it still keep the foundation of the original musical, but the hooks and different verses, especially on "Wrote My Way Out" by Nas, Dave East, Lin and Aloe Blacc, and K'Naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC and Resident's version of "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)," more relevance to today's current environment. While it's clear that the team behind the mixtape took care in their musical choices, there are gems that could easily stand alone as singles including Sia, Miguel and Queen Latifah's version of "Satisfied" and Andra Day's "Burn." Then there's the nice surprise of Jimmy Fallon's cover of "You'll Be Back." And how could we forget about the reunion that early 2000s kids have been waiting for — Ashanti and Ja Rule and their cover of "Satisfied." With so much to cover on this record, it could take forever. So you should just take a listen to it and let it empower, inspire and soothe you.

'"Awaken My Love!'" - Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino may have spent much of last year working on sets and promoting his films — The Lazarus Effect, Magic Mike XXL and The Martian. However, it looks like he's managed to take some time to work on some new music for us. Following his 2014 EP, Kauai, Gambino, aka Donald Glover, returns with "Awaken, My Love!". Although he (and his team) has been pretty good about keeping the actual music under wraps, what he's released so far shows not only how he's progressed as an artist but also where it seems music is going. In a time when artists no longer want to be tossed into a box and categorized, Gambino screams that idea out to the heavens with his two singles, "Redbone" and "Me and Your Mama," containing new rap in it. Instead, we get something with '70s soul vibe, emotion in the pockets and a side of the hip-hop artist that we've not seen until now.

"Redbone" is that throwback tune that you play when you're trying to move things from the dinner table to the bedroom. Aside from the body-roll-worthy beat, lyrics like "If you want it / You can have it" and that raspy falsetto wail throughout the middle part of the song will easily make you melt. Then there's "Me and Your Mama," which begins with a lullaby-like melody till it goes into full-blown crooner mode. With the top of the track feeling like The Temptations, the latter part of the tune throws you into a world of psychedelic rock a la Jimi Hendrix. And on top of the sonic shift, the actual songs are much longer than we've heard in years. While new music these days gives you 15 seconds of an intro and straight into the first verse, Gambino really takes his time with minute-long instrumentation in the beginning. While many who were hoping for something like "3005" or "IV. Sweatpants" will feel like Childish Gambino has jumped off the deep end with this one, we can't hate him for even taking that risk.

'Body is Working' - Living Body

Leeds has been known for giving us some of the UK's best sounds, and here's another one to add to the roster: Living Body. Made up of Jeff T. Smith, formerly of Juffage, Katie Harkin and Tom Evans of Vessels, along with Alice Rowan, Jenna Isherwood, Sarah Statham. The pop-rock sextet have been working for the past couple of years to bring us their debut album, Body Is Working. The music is pretty straightforward and without any frills — just good songwriting and great harmonies. While "Penumbra" and "Slowburner" will reverberate inside you, their single, "I Recollect," as well as "Last Few True" are the standouts of the record.

'Hungry Ghost' - Aly Tadros

Singer-songwriter Aly Tadros is no stranger to showing vulnerability on her records. However, on her latest, Hungry Ghost, she ventures into some heavy topics including overcoming alcoholism, her father's death and the ups and downs of relationships. Working with producer Kevin Salem, you hear the pains, joys and heartaches in songs like "This Is How You Lose Her," "Slow This Heart" and "Silence of the City." "Your Escape" takes you on a dark and mysterious ride while "Higher Than the Moon" is cathartic. If you're looking to tap into the feels, Aly Tadros' Hungry Ghost is the perfect medicine.

Get your new music fix any day of the week by visiting out New Music Friday page.

What Happened When Prince Harry Met Rihanna

2016-12-01T21:25:11.206Z

Prince Harry and Rihanna were all smiles when they met each other this week.

A Gilmore Girls Fan Fixed the Revival’s Opening Credits for You

The royals—one a British prince, the other a princess of pop music—met twice on Wednesday as Prince Harry visited Rihanna’s native Barbados during a tour of the Caribbean. They first spoke at an afternoon event in Bridgetown, Barbados, and then sat next to each other on stage at a benefit concert that evening, the BBC reports.

“Hello, it’s very nice to meet you,” Prince Harry said, turning to Rihanna after he met the President of Guyana. Later, at the concert, the pair smiled frequently as they sat next to each other and talked during free moments.

Drake and Rihanna Top Spotify’s Year-End Most-Played Lists

When Harry met RiRi: Prince Harry meets Rihanna during his royal tour of the Caribbean https://t.co/FFdrL2lyeo pic.twitter.com/90sBQvFsJp
— billboard (@billboard) December 1, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

America Ferrera Completed a Triathlon to Overcome Her Insecurities

2016-12-01T21:07:27.604Z

America Ferrera can now officially dub herself a triathlete, as well as being an Emmy award-winning actress. The journey to accomplishing the athletic feat didn’t come easily, however. In an essay for the New York Times, Ferrera opens up about quieting her inner critics that prevented her from enjoying her accomplishments and success.

Ferrera first decided to battle the negative voices in her head after winning a coveted Emmy in 2007 for Ugly Betty. Ferrera recalls that standing on stage accepting the award “should have been a moment of sublime celebration,” but that wasn’t the case. Instead, she thought to herself, “Who do you think you are? You don’t belong here. No one here thinks you deserve this. Hurry up and get off the stage.”

Irina Shayk Walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show While Pregnant

She settled on combatting the negativity by beginning therapy, where she “worked really hard to recognize and silence that nagging internal critic.” About a year ago, Ferrera explained that her friend was training for a triathlon, which left her “equal parts enthralled and horrified.” After her husband decided to participate in one as well, Ferrera was inspired to do the same. Upon her decision, the voices returned calling her “a procrastinator,” “the fat kid” and “the quitter,” but she began training regardless.

With the help of her trainer, Ferrera shut off the negative self-talk little by little. She writes, “It occurred to me then that if I really wanted to make it through this challenge, I needed to rewrite my inner dialogue,” which included singing Beyoncé to herself and writing new mantras for herself.

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Her mentality changed when she “stopped thinking about training as a physical challenge,” and rather, a mental one. It was in this mindset where she “began to have a real conversation with my mean, scared voice.” And Ferrera won. She completed her triathlon. She Said, “For five months, I showed up to defend myself against a scared and angry voice. In the end, I didn’t eradicate her. But I had transformed her.”

Read the rest of her essay here.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Dolly Parton Will Give Tennessee Wildfire Victims a Helping Hand

2016-12-01T21:01:59.830Z

Dolly Parton is establishing a relief fund to help those who have lost their homes in the Great Smoky Mountain wildfire raging through part of Tennessee.

This Catchy Remix of 1944’s ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ Emphasizes Consent and Respect

Parton announced Wednesday that the “My People Fund” will provide $1,000 per month to families in Sevier County affected by the fire. Parton was born in Sevier County, and the fire threatened to damage her “Dollywood” theme park on Tuesday.

“I’ve always believed charity begins at home and my home is some place special,” she said in the video. “We want to provide a hand up to those families who have lost everything in the fires. I know it has been a trying time for my people and this assistance will help get them back on their feet.”

It’s World AIDS Day and There’s a New AIDS Memorial in New York City

Parton said the various “Dollywood” companies, including the theme park and dinner theater attractions, will help with funding the initiative. A website for the “My People Fund” said more information will be available on Friday, Dec. 2.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Act As If Keeps it Honest While Having Fun

2016-12-01T17:30:00.000Z

Driven by the desire to do anything but, catchy and cool Los Angeles-based indie rock band Act As If is carving out a place for itself in the music scene. Peter Verdell (vocals and guitar), Diego De La Rosa (drums), Derrick Wong (bass) and Tristen Whaley (guitar) have gained notoriety through the years, with some of their songs being featured on shows ranging from ABC to MTV television networks. No strangers to topics like love and failed relationships, their newest EP, Lovers Online, and its debut single "All the Girls" highlight the trials and tribulations of Verdell's personal experiences with online dating.

Homebase: Los Angeles, CA

For an audience that has never heard your music before, how would you describe it?

A lot of people say we remind them of bands like Walk the Moon, Grouplove, and Young the Giant; we'll take that.

Who are some of the artists or bands that inspired you?

Mostly a bunch of bands that apparently we don't sound like! Haha. The Beatles, Smashing Pumpkins, The Cure, U2, Third Eye Blind.

What's life like for an up-and-coming band in 2016?

Hard to navigate, for sure. I know that we're making better and better music all the time, so that remains the focus. But in terms of "making it" on a large scale...it feels like we've been close and far and close and far. So I don't know! But we are in love with our new EP and excited for things to come.

Tell us the story behind the band’s name.

I sold women's shoes at Nordstrom throughout college, and there were an overwhelming amount of facts and rules and shoes that I had to know about on my first day of work. My manager said "Just act as if you know what you're doing"and that phrase stuck with me. I think he got it from the movie Boiler Room.

How did the band come to be?

I'd worked at a record label (Drive-Thru Records) and played drums in some local bands, but always felt an itch to pursue writing and singing. So I started devoting more time to it, which led to me self-recording the first Act As If LP, There's A Light. I started getting a good response from friends and some industry people as well...so I recruited some rad musicians and we've been chipping away since.

How did you figure out your unique sound?

That is a very nice question — thank you! Years and years of watching hundreds of bands around LA, practicing, writing, listening...and I think we've gotten better with every release...and hopefully more unique as well. I'm trying to get better at realizing that if the songs I write are authentic and appealing to myself — as opposed to being concerned with impressing others — the art is gonna be better.

What's the coolest experience the band has had so far?

The coolest so far is probably getting to hear our songs "Oh My My" and "L.A. Kid" played on KROQ FM. It's a radio station that everyone in the band grew up knowing about and listening to...pretty surreal and fun.

Where do you draw inspiration for your music?

For our latest EP Lovers Online, all the songs are inspired by online dates that I went on. So there's that, haha. Our last album Steady explored some themes outside of the love thing, like faith and death, but we got back to the basics this time around: songs about girls.

What's something you've learned in your time as a band?

That we have to enjoy our music, first and foremost. Otherwise, what's the point? It's good to have goals and big ideas for things, but that has to be secondary.

Are there any specific goals you all have in mind?

We want to get on great tours, we want to be signed, we want our songs to be on the radio; we want this thing to be as big as it can be. So...pretty much the same goals as everyone in every band :)

What's the songwriting process like?

I usually come up with a main idea at home and then send a demo around to the band. The demos are usually at like 75% of what the song ends of being. The extra 25% comes together from group ideas and experimenting a bit.

If there's one thing you wish everyone on the planet would do with your music, what would it be?

I wish everyone knew our song "All the Girls" and danced along to it every morning. Does that count?

What does 2017 hold for Act As If?

We'll be playing shows in LA, shooting a music video or two for our new EP, and going from there!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch Jolan's Acoustic Performance of "Somebody Else" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-12-01T17:29:48.097Z

23-year-old British singer Jolan Gidney-Craigen (or simply Jolan) doesn’t take no for an answer. After being told to go home after his The Voice UK audition back in 2014, he didn’t give up on his dream of conquering the ears and hearts of the British public with music and came back this year, finishing second on the fifth season of the hit show.

Now that people are familiar with his voice, Jolan’s ready to show what kind of artist he wants to be with his new EP, Parallel. The album features covers of songs by The 1975, Beyoncé, Terence Trent D’Arby and Prince.

Today we’re premiering the video recording of Jolan performing his version of The 1975’s “Somebody Else.” “I chose 'Somebody Else' for the EP because it is such a brilliant, current song that people can relate to. I love The 1975's new album,” Jolan told us. “The whole EP is going down so well with everyone, and I'm so pleased people like it. It's had a far better reaction than I ever thought."

Watch the exclusive premiere of the performance below. (Fun fact: that's another popstar, Florrie, on the drums in the video.)

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Drake, Justin Bieber & Rihanna Were the Most Streamed Artists on Spotify in 2016

2016-12-01T17:21:58.888Z

Drake can add one more accomplishment to his list this year: most streamed artist on Spotify. The Canadian rapper received 4.7 billion streams in 2016 according to the service, on the back of his megahit "One Dance (feat. WizKid and Kyla)" and his 2016 record Views.

"Drake has been unstoppable this year — he's a true global superstar," said Spotify exec Stefan Blom in a statement (via Billboard). "With the top album and the top song this year, as well as his successful Summer Sixteen tour, Drake continues to engage his fans in a way that only Drake can; it's no surprise he is dominating the music industry."

Justin Bieber and Rihanna were the second and third most streamed artists. Rihanna takes the honor as the most streamed female artist (beating out Ariana Grande, Sia and Adele). After Views, Bieber's 2015 record Purpose was the second most streamed record.

If you haven't gotten your fair share of "One Dance" yet this year, watch Drake performing the hit song on SNL below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Kid Cudi Drops Song with Travis Scott Ahead of New Album

2016-12-01T17:15:47.122Z

Kid Cudi and Travis Scott trade fiery verses on "Baptized in Fire," the latest offering off Cudi's new full-length. It's a dark, slow-going track hinting at Kid Cudi's life struggles.

"Nightmares kept a nigga from closin' his lids," raps Cudi. "Since a kid, I've been haunted by visions of death."

Last month, the rapper made his personal issues public when announcing that he was entering rehab to get help for "depression and suicidal urges." A couple of weeks ago, he thanked fans and friends for the support and noted that he felt "brand new."

"Baptized in Fire" is now available on iTunes and is being streamed via Complex.

Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin', which also features André 3000, Pharrell, and Willow Smith, is set to come out December 16.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Bob Dylan Did Not Attend Ceremony For Nobel Prize Winners At White House

2016-12-01T17:10:00.662Z

Bob Dylan just doesn't want to make an appearance in honor of his Nobel Prize Award. The legendary singer-songwriter didn't attend an event in honor of American Nobel Prize winners at the White House yesterday, according to The Hill.

"Unfortunately, Bob Dylan will not be at the White House today. So everyone can relax," said press secretary Josh Earnest to reporters.

Dylan previously said that he couldn't attend the Noble Price Ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden because of "pre-existing commitments." The news came after the Swedish Academy had a very difficult time getting ahold of him to let him know that he won.

The Academy is still hopeful that Dylan will give a Nobel lecture, the only requirement for accepting the award. Let's just say we'll be surprised if that happens.

Revisit Dylan in his prime with his rendition of "The Times They Are A Changin'" from 1964.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

8 Country Artists To Look Out For In 2017

2016-12-01T08:00:00.000Z

With 2017 just around the corner, it’s time to start looking and listening for who might be the next big thing in every genre of music. It’s impossible to know which artists will come out of nowhere and surprise the world with a masterpiece, or which musicians might disappoint when their time to shine seems to come, but it is exciting to look around and discover new talent and guess which ones have the best chances at breaking through.

Nashville is filled with young singer-songwriters just waiting to be discovered, and so many of them have their own special sound and style. It was difficult coming up with a list of eight new names for this ranking simply because there truly are a ton of country artists that all deserve the attention, but here are a handful that seem as if they could explode at any minute.

Russell Dickerson

Even if the up-and-comer never truly makes it big, he’s sure to have one song that country music enthusiasts will be begging to hear for years to come in the form of “Yours.” In fact, the song has already been played so many times, and Dickerson clearly knows he’s onto something with the romantic tune, because he re-recorded the track and created a special “wedding version,” which is the perfect soundtrack to a nuptial slow dance.

High Valley

Brotherly duo High Valley are already somewhat well-known in their home country of Canada, but they haven’t crossed over into the US market in a major way just yet. The group, which used to be three members until brother Bryan stepped out, leaving just Brad and Curtis Rempel to continue the brand, has dropped five albums, including 2016’s Dear Life, and while they have charted nine top 100 hits up north, the same can’t be said for America, though it’s only a matter of time...

Ryan Hurd

Hurd is the kind of artist that is being created by streaming, so it’s clear that the young people really have a thing for him. The singer-songwriter has only properly released three tracks — “We Do Us,” “Love In A Bar” and “City Girl” — and all three have racked up millions of plays on Spotify in 2016 alone. With that kind of sustained success, it isn’t difficult to imagine that whenever Hurd decides to release a full collection, be it an EP or an album, it will be played over and over again by millions.

Aubrie Sellers

Sellers dropped her debut full-length New City Blues in January of 2016, and while it didn’t make much of an impact on the charts and it can’t be considered a best-seller, the record got her name out there in a very powerful way. The musician, who is actually Lee Ann Womack’s daughter, is helping to create a new genre that blends country with a truly grungy rock and roll, which helps her stand out in Nashville.

Ward Thomas

Earlier this year, Ward Thomas became the first British country act to score a Number One album in their home nation, proving that they’re big enough to make the jump over to the US. The twin sisters have talent, a growing fan base and both a sound and a look that could catapult them to international fame. America has already accepted Australian country artists (think Keith Urban), so isn’t it time we got some more English talent on this side of the pond?

Runaway June

With the Dixie Chicks still doing their own thing separate from one another (except, of course, for when Beyoncé comes calling and needs their help at the CMAs), there is room in the country music world for a new trio of all ladies to succeed, and Runaway June could be just that group. The three women —Naomi Cooke, Hannah Mulholland, and Jennifer Wayne — only have one track out, but “Lipstick” is so catchy, it could be enough to hook you from the first guitar pluck.

Trent Harmon

We haven’t heard a whole lot from Trent Harmon since he won the final season of American Idol, but I mean, come on! He won American Idol! How could I not put him on this list? In the months since the show wrapped its incredible 15-season run and Harmon signed a major label deal, he has been hard at work on what will eventually be his debut full-length, and already the country world seems to be interested. Both of his two singles — “Falling” and “There’s A Girl” — have broken into the Top 40 on the country-specific chart, and with plenty of resources behind him, there might be another Idolfavorite in the country world soon enough.

Ryan Follese

Country-pop seems to have been missing something since Taylor Swift made the transition to pure pop, and somebody needs to step in and take the reigns. Former Hot Chelle Rae member Ryan Follese could do a fantastic job in such a role, as he’s already had major success in the music industry with unavoidable pop hooks. HCR are best known for their Top 10 hit “Tonight, Tonight,” and if you remember that tune, you’ll get a sense for just how hook-heavy Ryan’s country-leaning solo work is.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Top 5 Games to Play in December

2016-12-01T08:00:00.000Z

It’s all over, folks. With December’s scant few releases, we’ve reached the end of one of the most bountiful years in gaming history. By now, your Black Friday bruises should be healing nicely and what better way to mend the scars and wounds suffered while trying to buy $2 flash drives than picking up a few new games before the New Year? While this month is light, one of the games has been in development for nearly a decade, and Nintendo fans have two big releases to look forward too, although of course neither are coming to the Wii U. Check out the top five games releasing this month!

Super Mario Maker

This isn’t your father’s Super Mario Maker, as the slimmed-down 3DS version is built for speed and mobility. The game packs in 100 levels out of the gate, and of course includes the ability to download courses from the internet. You can build awesome new levels as well, but if sharing those levels with a larger community is how you got your jollies on the Wii U version, then maybe hold off. While the 3DS has a functional internet browser, levels can only be shared locally with your friends. So you better hope that your friends want to play your levels and are good at making them as well!

Steep

HEY BRO, YOU LIKE DOING SICK TRICKS!?! Sorry, sorry, we spent a little too much time on the mountain and now we have too much Red Bull running through our veins. This is all thanks to Steep, Ubisoft’s big bet on people’s fascination with all things snow sports. You can snowboard, ski, and wingsuit through the Alps and Alaska, with beautifully modeled mountains and trees in the back and foregrounds, providing a gorgeous landscape and visceral danger. If you love GoPro videos of people doing insane stunts, this might be the game for you, but we haven’t seen how deep the game is beyond online multiplayer and time trials.

Dead Rising 4

While Halloween seems like the time for a Dead Rising game, it makes sense for this obvious follow-up to grace us with its presence. Consider this an almost greatest hits of the series, as we have Frank West back in Willamette, the original scene of the zombie crime from the first Dead Rising. But this time you get to leave the mall and explore the larger Colorado town, but with way more insane weaponry and vehicles than ever before. The biggest change is the control scheme, and in a fundamentally better way, giving each of the top three face buttons a dedicated weapon (range, melee, and throwable), instead of having to scroll through a cumbersome weapon wheel mid-combat. Dead Rising 3 showed that the new consoles can handle hundreds of enemies on screen, so DR4 is simply piling on the tech and gore and looks amazing while doing so.

The Last Guardian

It seems fitting that after Final Fantasy XV finally came out last month after 10 years of development, The Last Guardian will actually be a real thing you can buy after being worked on for nine years. First announced in 2009 to the joy and wonder of all that watched the first trailer, Team Ico’s story about a young boy and his catbird friend is coming to PS4. It’s a puzzle and adventure game at heart, continuing the tradition put forth by Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. But little has been revealed as far as the depth of the puzzles, what combat looks like, and if it’s as historically short as the team’s prior output. Still, this game is one of the industry’s most anticipated relics from a prior generation and it’s mere existence is cause for celebration.

Super Mario Run

They finally did it. Nintendo has finally caved in and accepted the inevitable mobile future by bringing their most prized icon to Apple’s iPhones and iPads. Mario will grace your tiny screens on December 10 in a somewhat endless runner, where our titular hero runs right and you tap to make him jump on the heads of Goombas, collecting coins and racking up a high score along the way. It’s free to play, but $10 to own if you want unlimited access to the game and it’s various modes. You can also race against ghost Marios to beat the record times of your friends, as well as a kingdom building mode that lets you spend those hard-earned coins. Android folks have to wait 'til next year to get their hands on it, but wait and see how much $10 gets you by letting the Apple people test drive it first.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

13 Notable Names (Other Than Drake) Who Got Their Start on Degrassi

2016-12-01T08:00:00.000Z

As we all know, Drake didn’t really start from the bottom, he started on Degrassi, but “Started from Degrassi, now we’re here” isn’t nearly as catchy as they lyric he went with, so we’ll forgive the former wheelchair Jimmy for the exaggeration.

Drake, however, isn’t the only person who “started from Degrassi.” The following 13 notable names were also on the long-running Canadian teen melodrama.

Nina Dobrev

Where you know her from: Dobrev vaulted onto the A-list thanks to her role as Elena Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries. Come 2017 she’ll be seen on the big screen in xXx: Return of Xander Cage (aka xXx: Reactivated) alongside Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, and Ruby Rose.

Her role on Degrassi: Teen mom Mia, who arrived at Degrassi with a daughter, and would eventually leave the school for a burgeoning modeling career.

Jordan Gavaris

Where you know him from: Gavaris plays Felix Dawkins on the BBC America sci-fi drama Orphan Black. He deals with the many clones of his adoptive sister that have all become part of his very unique extended family.

His role on Degrassi: For two episodes Gavaris played Nathan, a potential love interest of Degrassi star quarterback Riley Stavros, but at the time of their meeting Riley isn’t out of the closet, or anywhere near comfortable with his sexuality.

Shenae Grimes-Beech

Where you know her from: Grimes-Beech starred in the reboot of 90210 as Annie Wilson, and was in Scream 4.

Her role on Degrassi: One of the most memorable characters in the show’s long history, Grimes-Beech played Darcy Edwards, who captained the school’s Spirit Squad, but whose life took a dark turn after she was drugged and raped while attending a party. The results of this were a case of chlamydia, and some serious mental instability. Once she came to terms with what happened to her, she left Degrassi during her senior year to build schools in Kenya.

Shanice Banton

Where you know her from: Banton played the role of Ruth Solomon in the 2016 Jesse Owens’ biographical drama Race.

Her role on Degrassi: Spirit Squad member, and eventual student council president, Marisol Lewis.

Landon Liboiron

Where you know him from: Liboiron starred in Eli Roth’s Netflix series Hemlock Grove, Steven Spielberg’s Fox series Terra Nova, and had a recurring role on the CW series, Life Unexpected.

His role on Degrassi: Declan Coyne, the rich son of a diplomat. He oftentimes came off as arrogant, whether intended, or not, and was close with his fraternal twin, Fiona.

Cassie Steele

Where you know her from: Steele had a starring role on the short lived, but brilliant, CW drama The L.A. Complex.

Her role on Degrassi: Who could possibly forget Manny Santos? We literally saw Steele grow up before our eyes during her 180 episode run on the show.

Shannon Kook

Where you know him from: Kook was in both The Conjuring, and The Conjuring 2.

His role on Degrassi: Zane Park, soccer player, turned football kicker, who pushed quarterback Riley Stavros to come out of the closet in the midst of their tumultuous on-again, off-again, relationship.

Raymond Ablack

Where you know him from: The second of three Degrassi actors to have appeared on Orphan Black, Ablack not only has a small role on the sci-fi hit (maybe we’ll see him again), he also did six episodes of the Syfy series Defiance, and three episodes of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments.

His role on Degrassi: The level-headed Sav Bhandari, who came from a strict Muslim background, but disobeyed a few of the rules his parents laid down, including dating girls outside of his religion. Sav’s sister, Alli, would prove to be a far bigger headache for their parents.

Miriam McDonald

Where you know her from: McDonald appeared on an episode of Orphan Black, and was also in Poison Ivy: The Secret Society, certain scenes from which we definitely can’t put on this site, but let’s just say a whole lotta guys had some visual fantasies fulfilled.

Her role on Degrassi: For 180 episodes McDonald played Emma Nelson. The daughter of a teen mother, she was known for being mature, and responsible, as well as being an idealist, and an environmentalist, who was never shy about voicing her opinion.

Evan Williams

Where you know him from: Williams played Luke on the MTV series Awkward.

His role on Degrassi: Kelly Ashoona, the unlikeliest college roommate of Emma, Manny, and Liberty. He and Emma dated, but he was kicked out of the dorms while attempting to dispose of weed brownies.

Aislinn Paul

Where you know her from: Paul played Phoebe Frady on Heroes Reborn.

Her role on Degrassi: Clare Edwards, a character who had more major story arcs than the law should allow. From being the straight laced, all about the books girl, to attempting to break out of her shell, to having her ex-boyfriend become her step-brother, to developing cancer, which she beat, to having a Bipolar boyfriend, to getting pregnant, to having a miscarriage, Clare probably won’t be looking back on her high school years with any sort of fondness.

Dylan Everett

Where you know him from: Technically a child actor before Degrassi, Everett is most known by American audiences for his role as Mark-Paul Gosselaar in The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story. He currently has a starring role in the Starz series Insomnia, and previously portrayed the teenage version of Dean Winchester on Supernatural.

His role on Degrassi: Tortured hockey prodigy Campbell Saunders. While an excellent hockey player, Campbell had issues with stress, anxiety, loneliness, and depression, the combination of which led him to hang himself on school grounds where his body was found by another student.

Samantha Munro

Where you know her from: Munro played Shannen Doherty in The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story, and co-stars in the Netflix series Between with former iCarly actress Jennette McCurdy, as well as former fellow Degrassi cast members Jordan Todosey (who played Adam Torres), and Justin Kelly (who played Jake Martin).

Her role on Degrassi: Anya MacPherson, a follower who eventually learned to stand up for herself. Anya suffered from dyslexia, and dabbled with cocaine, before deciding to pursue basic training in order to join the Canadian Forces.

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro Are Still BFFs in a Hilarious New Burger King Tater Tots Commercial

2016-11-30T19:28:12.126Z

Twelve years after Napoleon Dynamite won our hearts (and Deb’s) with his dexterous dancing skills in the film that shares his name, he’s teaming up with his old pal Pedro to make a commercial for — what else? — tater tots.

Pope Francis Met Martin Scorsese to Discuss His New Movie About Priests

Following the “Whopperito” and those infamous Cheeto chicken fries, Burger King is now offering cheesy tater tots and they enlisted Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) and Pedro (Efren Ramirez) to recreate their memorable cafeteria scene from the movie in one of their restaurants.

Matthew McConaughey Is Giving College Kids Safe Rides Home to Ensure Everyone’s ‘Alright’

In the clip, Heder asks Ramirez for one of his tater tots before proceeding to steal all of his tots; unfortunately for us, Heder doesn’t put them all in his pocket as Napoleon did in the film.

Watch the full commercial below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Netflix Will Now Let You Download Shows To Watch Offline

2016-11-30T19:17:43.563Z

Netflix is adding the ability to download certain shows and movies so they can be watched later without an Internet connection, the company announced on Wednesday.

This Drone-On-a-Leash Looks Perfect for First-Time Flyers

The feature will begin rolling out immediately via an app update for iOS and Android devices. After updating to the most recent version of the Netflix app, users should see a download icon on the details page for some shows and films.

Netflix says shows like Orange is the New Black, Narcos, and The Crown,are already available for download, but hasn’t said how many shows in total will be watchable offline.

Your Favorite Arcade Games Are Coming To Facebook

Netflix is also adding an “Available for Download” option in its menu so that users can browse through all downloadable content. To access content that has already been downloaded to a mobile device, users can navigate to the app menu and select the “My Downloads” option. In this section of the app, users will be able to select individual TV episodes to watch and delete titles they no longer wish to save to their phone or tablet.

The new download option could help the company compete in global markets where wireless data connectivity is limited or expensive. It also comes as Amazon’s Netflix competitor, Amazon Prime Video, is set to see a massive global rollout.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus Sing a Jaw-Dropping Version of ‘Jolene’ on ‘The Voice’

2016-11-30T19:05:35.387Z

It was a family affair on The Voice on Tuesday night when country legend Dolly Parton joined her goddaughter Miley Cyrus on stage to bless everything with a stunning rendition of her trademark 1973 hit song, “Jolene.”

Hillary Clinton Honors Katy Perry in Surprise Appearance at Charity Ball

The duo performed alongside the Pentatonix, who had previously collaborated with Dolly on an a cappella version of “Jolene” this September; Cyrus, as well, is no stranger to the beloved song, as she’s performed it solo on The Voice previously and multiple times live.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Dwayne Johnson Release Millennials: The Musical

However, nothing could top the Queen of Country leading them all in a rousing rendition of her signature ballad, all while clad in bedazzled black leather. Dolly, we’re not worthy.

Watch the full performance in the clip above.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

J Motor's Slinky Electropop from Down Under

2016-11-30T17:56:30.259Z

If a sound can be sleek and fizzy, loungey and hopping, and hypnotic and bouncy all at the same, that would be J Motor. The electropop artist from Australia makes soundscapes — which is apt, considering he’s not just a musician, but a creative director and producer as well. As a content creator, the audio-visual experience J Motor likes to present is something he calls “boho/hip-hop.” The epitome of this is the single “Jungle Daze,” which is featured on Bud Light's 'Are You Game Ready' NFL TV Spot. Break out the blunts while you're listening to the slinky track, which was recently remixed by producer Luke Million (whom you might know for his remix of the extended theme song of Netfilx show Stranger Things”). Enjoy.

Hometown and homebase: Sydney, but am looking to spend quite a bit of time in LA from next year, onwards.

Why do you call yourself J Motor?

J is my nickname, and the motor came from my determination I guess. It's not easy learning two crafts and trying to establish myself in both music and film at the same time. A lot of people have advised my to stick to one or the other over the years, but I pushed through and aligned myself with great people who have helped me get to where I want to be.

What's your songwriting process?

It kind of varies... most of the time i'll work on a beat and put together a song structure, then i'll work on vocal melodies before adding in keys/synths or anything like that. I may have some key lyrics then, but I usually hone in on the lyrics once I'm happy with the vocal melodies.

How did you know you wanted to be a musician? Did you grow up in a musical family?

My dad always used to play Led Zeppelin when I was a kid, so i guess I was lucky to have been surrounded by good music from a young age. It was probably in my early teen years when I became fascinated with creating music.

What inspired the single "Jungle Daze"?

I was inspired by the connections that humans have with animals. There's an understanding that transcends through verbal communication.. like when an animal can sense when you're happy, in pain, or otherwise. It's an amazing thing. The title really represents this level of connection and encourages all of us to be a little more in tune with ourselves so we can help each other.

What's a piece of musical gear that you can't live without?

I know this is not actually a piece of musical gear per se, but my iMac would be my fav piece of gear. It's a bit of a beast of a thing.. quad core and a few other cool specs, which allows me to work on both music and videos without any issues / lagging ... no spinning wheel of death etc. Having a machine that doesn't slow you down is essential!

Who are your musical heroes?

John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Oasis

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

It's still early days for me so i can't say I've had an over-the-top fan moment, but I'm constantly blown away by people from all around the world who drop me a line and let me know how much they love the song, and how it makes them feel. This is what music is all about.

What do you like better, writing music or directing?

I love creating! At the moment, I'm loving songwriting. I'm working with a bunch of great writers in LA and Australia … writers who come from very different musical backgrounds, so it's been great to challenge each other and I've loved learning how other people work. Directing will always be a passion of mine, but for now, music is my focus.

How do you describe your music to people who haven't heard it before?

I'd say electronic, boho / indie, hip hop / pop. I don't really want to be put in a box. I want to make music that breaks genre barriers and connects with a wider audience. I think I've achieved that with "Jungle Daze."

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#underdog

What’s your big bucketlist for the rest of 2016?

Next J Motor single in the bag
Make the most of the rest of my time in LA
Spend time with my fam for Christmas
Get ready for a big 2017!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Prince Documentary Biopic Set for 2017

2016-11-30T17:32:44.636Z

Following Paisley Park's tribute event announcement yesterday (November 29), there will also be a documentary biopic about Prince in the works for 2017 as well, according to Screen Daily.

Entitled Prince: R U Listening?, the film is supposed to look at the late artist's early life and rise to fame as seen by his former band members, close friends and family including Prince's first guitar player, Dez Dickerson, and his original bassist, Andre Cymone. Bono, Mick Jagger, Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz and Sheila E. will also make appearances in the doc.

Prince: R U Listening? will be directed and produced by Michael Kirk and is set to premiere next year.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Alex Di Leo's “So We Go” Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-30T17:30:00.000Z

While some may debate the notion of love at first sight, there’s no debating the feeling one gets in their heart, stomach, and mind, when they lay eyes on someone and immediately feel a spark. This is the feeling Florida native Alex Di Leo harnesses with his latest single, “So We Go.”

The title track of Di Leo’s recently released EP, the video for “So We Go” features a love story intertwined with creativity and art, and Myspace has the exclusive premiere.

Wanting to know more about “So We Go,” and the love story in the video, we caught up with Di Leo to dive deeper into both the song and the clip.

Tell us about the concept behind the video for “So We Go,” and in what ways it represents the song.

“So We Go” is a story of two artists from distinct, and separate, worlds – she, a visual mixed media artist from the city, and he, a musician from the country.

As the video opens we see each in solitude in their specific, and unique, worlds, searching for inspiration and reflecting on those moments when pure ecstasy, joy, love and creative passion overtook and inspired their lives. I think those visuals, and exciting moments in the video are felt, and heard, throughout the song.

As each artist dwells in their memories and attempts to distract, and inspire, themselves, they come across objects, sights and feelings that spark flashbacks. We go back and forth between the two as we see what it was about the other that made them fall in love with them, and above all be creatively inspired by them.

Are you a fan of fine art, like the paintings in the clip?

I've always been a big fan of abstract art, and although I'm not a painter myself, I truly admire the work and creativity behind it.

“So We Go” is the title track of your debut EP, but it isn’t the first single off of the EP. What went into your decision to have this be the fourth song you released, rather than the first?

I thought that "So We Go" would be a perfect last impression, as it wraps up the whole concept of the EP.

The video for “So We Go” features Lexi Atkins. I have to ask, did you see Zombeavers, and did her role in that movie influence your decision at all to have her in your video?

Unfortunately, I haven't seen Zombeavers yet, but the director of the "So We Go" video, Cameron Uranick, sent over some actresses he'd worked with, and we thought she fit the character we were looking for. She was also in The Boy Next Door with Jennifer Lopez, which happened to come on a couple nights after we shot the video.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Nintendo Land Is Coming to a Universal Theme Park Near You

2016-11-30T17:13:56.189Z

Ever wanted to race cars and collect coins with Mario and the gang? Well, it looks like you'll soon have the chance. Nintendo has teamed up with Universal Studios to bring us Nintendo Land.

The idea behind this is "to bring the characters, action and adventure of Nintendo video games to life within Universal theme parks."

While it's currently in the planning process and won't be open until a few years from now, the attractions will include different worlds that look like the video games — complete with shops, restaurants and other interactive elements.

Nintendo Land will be built in Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Find out more about it below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Calvin Harris and Rihanna's "This Is What You Came For" Video Hit One Billion Views

2016-11-30T17:04:04.606Z

Congratulations to Calvin Harris and Rihanna! Their video for the hit song "This is What You Came For" just topped one billion views on YouTube. While videos might have a hard time getting any viewership, the dancey track is straightforward but quickly draws you in with all those lights and Rihanna. And you can't turn away from either...

Calvin was pleased with the milestone and made sure to share the news with all his fans.

1 billion views on This is what you came for video 👀
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) November 29, 2016

Aside from the video, the track has been quite successful this year — topping the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and hitting number three on the Hot 100. Earlier this month, Calvin made sure to give thanks to his collaborators — RiRi and Taylor Swift (yes, we said Taylor!) — for the success of this song.

I am blessed to work with incredible artists @rihanna @taylorswift13 thank you!!! https://t.co/xJrRwrbvr1
— Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) November 4, 2016

Keep that view tally going by checking out the video below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-11-30T08:00:00.000Z

This week Frank Ocean finally announces his return to the stage, and Clapton holds off from retirement yet another year. Plus, Bonnie Raitt and James Taylor become besties. Here's who we're most excited to see hit the road.

Eric Clapton 50th Anniversary Shows

Despite threats of retirement, guitar god Eric Clapton is back with a small string of tour dates. to celebrate his 50-year-long career, he'll perform two shows at NYC's Madison Square Garden on March 19 and 20th, and two shows at The Forum in Los Angeles on March 25 and 26th. Click here for more info.

James Taylor + Bonnie Raitt Stadium Tour

Beloved singer/songwriter James Taylor has announced a stadium tour for summer 2017. Joining him for the four-show run is none other than Bonnie Raitt, with the duo performing in DC, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston at each cities' respective ballparks. Click here for more info.

Devendra Banhart Winter Tour

In support of his ninth studio album, Ape in Pink Marble, singer/songwriter Devendra Banhart has announced a North American tour. It kicks off on January 23 at The Showbox in Seattle, WA, followed by stops throughout the West, South and East Coast. Click here for more info.

Frank Ocean Festival Performances

For the first time in three years, Frank Ocean will return to the stage with a string of headlining festival performances. The R&B singer will appear at Hangout, Sasquatch and Panorama music fests, in addition to slots at London’s Lovebox Festival and Denmark’s NorthSide Festival. Click here for more info.

Kiss UK/European Tour

The unstoppable KISS have just announced a tour of Europe and the UK next year. Taking place for the duration of May, catch the face-painted foursome on their KISSWORLD 2017 tour, kicking off in Moscow at Olympiski on May 1. Click here for more info.

Getting to Know... PAPA

2016-11-30T08:00:00.000Z

Wasting no time following their departure from their previous major music label, PAPA hit the ground running and took their career paths into their own hands. Their sophomore studio album, Kick at the Dust, is a reflection of what they aim to achieve and the influence they intend to leave — a legacy unburdened by fame and monetary distractions.

Myspace caught up with PAPA fresh from their tour to talk about the significance of their new album, the subsequent tour and the stability they've found in the ever-fluctuating music industry.

Darren Weiss

Instrument: Vocals and drums

About the Tour and New Album, Kick at the Dust: So far we’ve done two little trips to support this record — one in Europe and one here. We’ve been sort of functioning on a DIY level. and this last tour we booked ourselves. It was kind of like going back to the beginning of how the band started. Much like the album itself, this series of chores that we’ve done so far has all been about taking the control and the power back after we went through the whole major label run-through and were left feeling very disenfranchised, but then taking that back. It was a sort of manifesting of the future that we wanted and believed in.

Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: I’d be lying if I said my favorite drummer wasn’t Travis Barker from Blink 182 when I was younger. As we grew up and developed our own style of musicianship and figured out what kind of artists we wanted to be, what kind of music we wanted to write, that coincided with our discovery and immersion into underground punk culture. Whether it’s bands like The Clash, Fugazi or Hot Snakes — those bands were crucial to the development of our ethos and musical aesthetic. While we were living in New York, there was more of an immersion into the works of artists like Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Patti Smith.

Favorite Stop on Tour: San Francisco was always like a home away from home to us. From the very beginning of the band and for whatever combination of reasons, it’s always been a place where we have a really deep connection with our fanbase.

On Maintaining Originality: For us and looking at what our favorite artists have done in the past, the ones who seem to have the most lasting power are the ones who want to emulate rather than try to catch up with what other people are doing. I don’t think either of us are interested in making music for right now, we’re interested in making music for forever. In order to do that, you have to reach into a deeper truth than thinking about what’s happening right now. That’s not to say that we don’t pull interest culturally, politically, or socially — we hear everything that’s going on — but in terms of where we want to go, we reach for something deeper and try to get ahead of our own selves and our own tendencies.

Aspects Which Elevate Your Performances: If you’ve been to a PAPA show, you know there’s a lot of humor and jovial behavior, but I take that fun and that connection very seriously. Each performance is a true and honest reflection of where we are as artists in that moment. Because of that, every audience is getting a genuine performance, and every audience is helping us create that moment. We want each night to be unique. It’s more of a conversation than a monologue, and it’s what’s made our live show such an important part of our career and artistic growth.

Danny Presant

Instrument: Backup vocals and bass

About the Tour and New Album, Kick at the Dust: The whole release of this record has been a process. It’s been basically that we got away from our label, we made this record on our own, and it’s gone right back to where we were at the beginning of the record. There were highs and lows about it. There was definitely that feeling when you connect with the audience that’s wonderful, and then there are nights when you played in weird areas where there weren’t as many people. It felt that like the beginning again, and there was a nice feeling of getting back to our roots.

Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: I had three posters — the [Red Hot] Chili Peppers, Led Zeppelin and Blink 182. Of course our parents raised us with The Beatles and classics like that, but I wasn’t as blessed to have the “cool” parents. My dad used to play a lot of Lionel Richie and Hall and Oates. Another band that really fucked us up as kids was Mars Volta — their level of musicianship was kind of unmatched at that time for a bigger band in the indie rock/alternative scene.

Favorite Stop on Tour: The Chapel in San Francisco is my favorite venue we've ever played in. I like to go to places where people leave their egos at the door. It’s more fun when you can feel that connection with the audience.

On Maintaining Originality: There are so many elements that aren’t musical anymore about the music industry, mainly being social media and all of that. A lot of times, I would spend my day on it and wondering “Is that cool?” I don’t do this anymore, but I did and it was making me anxious. It was really annoying. I understand the power of social media and, believe me, it’s done good things for a lot of people. For me personally, it feels like high school.

Aspects Which Elevate Your Performances: One thing I think is missing from today’s rock shows is spontaneity because everything is played to tracks for the most part. The sounds are so programmed these days, and one thing that we’ve strived to do — and so far have succeeded in — is practicing the fuck out of our instruments. When you come see us, we may hit a wrong note here or there, but it’s still a right note, it still sounds good. When you do that — when you take away everything — there’s a level of intimacy that I think is heightened when you can hear and see the notes being played. That to me is my favorite part of my show, and the fact that we put on a fucking great show.

See more intimate photos of your favorite bands by visiting our Portraits page.

7 Wrestlers Who Had an Epic Year in 2016

2016-11-30T08:00:00.000Z

Another year of professional wrestling is winding down as we head into December. Many people are ready to forget 2016 or wished that these past 11 months never existed. As terrible as 2016 has been, we take a look at the stars of professional wrestling that made the most out of their opportunities and ascended to the top of the food chain. Regardless of the brand or country, pro wrestling is always a mix bag of amazing matches, terrible gimmicks and WTF moments. Even with all of that madness, we’re now in a new era of wrestling driven by youth, indie talent and five-star entertainers. Here’s the best of the best when it came to 2016!

Honorable Mentions:

- Samoa Joe

- The Revival

Kenny Omega

The greatest wrestler outside of WWE is “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega. The casual wrestling fan may not know of Kenny, but boy are they missing out. Performing out of Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Kenny is the #1 wrestler on WWE’s wish list. If you haven’t seen him, imagine Shawn Michaels, mixed with some Brian Pillman and a dash of video game geek and you get the awesome that is Kenny.

From his epic entrance to delivering match-of-the-year candidates every time he steps into the ring, and cutting vicious and hilarious promos on the mic, Kenny has the “It” factor that only few wrestling superstars have. Omega started the year by removing AJ Styles as leader of Bullet Club and took over the role. On top of winning the IWGP Intercontinental Champion and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship this year, Kenny became the first ever Gaijin (foreigner) to win the G1 Climax tournament. With a Heavyweight Championship run in his future, Kenny is solidifying his place as one the Elites.

Asuka

No woman in professional wrestling had a better 2016 than the “Empress of Tomorrow.” Upon arriving in NXT in late 2015, Asuka has been exactly as she was billed as, an unstoppable force in the women’s division. In April at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, Asuka beat Bayley to win the NXT Women’s Championship. Since then, all that she’s done is go undefeated and literally cleaned out the NXT women’s division. Bayley, Nia Jax, Eva Marie, Dana Brooke, Emma, Alexa Bliss and Carmella all left NXT with losses to Asuka on their resume.

Having just defended her title against soon-to-be Hall of Famer Mickie James at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, what’s next for Asuka? Outside of a feud with Mickie or the fast-rising Ember Moon, there’s not much left for her to do in the division. Having Asuka feud with a male competitor would make things really interesting and give her character a different spin that not many women could achieve.

A.J. Styles

A year ago AJ Styles was in NJPW battling for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Today he’s the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. No one would have believed that the former TNA Champion would reach the heights he’s had in WWE. But AJ’s broken that TNA glass ceiling and made himself a top WWE Superstar.

From making his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in January to then reuniting with Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows as The Club, Styles has turned into a fan favorite. He spent much of the summer doing one of his favorite things: beating up John Cena! Pinning Cena a few times and dubbing himself the “New face that runs the place,” Styles set his sights on the WWE championship. At Backlash in September, AJ won his first WWE Heavyweight Championship by beating Dean Ambrose. Since then he’s been in an ongoing feud with Dean. With no signs of slowing down, we better get used to Styles being the top man on Smackdown Live.

Broken Matt Hardy

Had Matt not accomplished anything in the ring in 2016, he’d be on this list just for his epic YouTube videos. The Hardys (Jeff and Matt) have been floundering in TNA the past couples of years, so no one was expecting much of anything from Matt. This summer, however, Matt proved us all wrong when we were introduced to his new persona, Broken Matt Hardy. Sounding like a bad Shakespearian actor and sporting a new white streak in his fuzzy black hair, Broken Matt became “must-see” TV as he released bizarre, low-grade productions of his feud with brother Jeff that he renamed “Brother Nero.”

Channeling his best Tommy Wiseau impersonation, Broken Matt created these long, deliciously awful videos that are on par with anything seen in Wiseau’s The Room. With TNA’s current murky future, these viral videos are the best thing the company has produced in 2016. Even fellow wrestlers like Chris Jericho are fans of videos like “The Final Deletion.” Now with Brother Nero fighting alongside Broken Matt as Tag Team Champions, let the campy goodness continue!

Shinsuke Nakamura

For years WWE had a bad track record in utilizing and pushing Japanese stars. When news broke that “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura was heading to WWE, many fans, including us, were nervous about how Vince and company were going to use the enigmatic star. Upon arriving to NXT in April at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, it’s been nothing but money as the Nakamura craze has taken over WWE.

The man can wrestle, as we’ve seen in classic matches against the likes of Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe. His charisma and energy is contagious the moment his entrance music hits, driving the crowd to serenade him with his own theme song. It’s easily one of the most impressive things you’ll ever see in wrestling.

Nakamura topped off his magical run by winning the NXT Championship against Samoa Joe at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in August. Even though he just lost the belt back to Joe, we couldn’t have scripted a better first year for Shinsuke in WWE.

Charlotte Flair

When you’re the daughter of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, you’re already winning in life. While fans love to cheer and fanboy/girl over Sasha Banks or Becky Lynch, the most consistent female performer on the main roster has been Charlotte. It’s easy to hate Charlotte because of her lineage or because WWE positioned her as the face of the women’s division, but all she does is deliver week after week.

“The Queen” has had quite the marquee year, highlighted by becoming the first new WWE Women’s Champion at the biggest stage of them all, WrestleMania 32. Charlotte has made 2016 her year by being involved in the most talked about and important women’s main events. Additionally, she keeps improving as a wrestler in every match. Even though she’s been playing hot potato with the championship belt with Sasha Banks (having just lost the title to Sasha again this week on RAW) since WrestleMania, using Charlotte as a pillar to build the women’s division on, is what’s best for business.

Kevin Owens

What did you accomplish this year? Kevin Owens won the Intercontinental Championship, got the best of his longtime rival Sami Zayn in their feud, became the new WWE Universal Champion and had the best bromance of 2016 with his friendship with Chris Jericho. I’d say all of that qualifies as a pretty good year.

At this point, Kevin should have merch with “Entertain Owens Entertain,” because that’s all he does every time he comes on TV. We’ve already declared our love and admiration for KO, and 2016 just cemented his position as one of the pivotal stars of the current WWE generation. Owens is 100% a classic wrestling heel and loves wearing that black hat. In a time when most wrestlers love getting the cheers and chants from crowds, Owens spends his time insulting the WWE Universe and doing anything he has to in order to stay on top of the mountain. He does underhanded and conniving very well, and the wrestling galaxy is lucky to call him champ.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

Young Guns Discuss Band's New Chapter Over Summer Rolls and Pad Thai

2016-11-30T08:00:00.000Z

Young Guns have been bringing us big sounds, thoughtful lyrics and one helluva a good gig for the past eight years. And while their last three albums solidified their place in rock music, the band hit a crossroads in late 2015 when founding member and drummer Ben Jolliffe decided to leave the band.

"One of the founding members of the band left," lead singer Gustav Wood told Myspace over thai food. "And he wasn’t just a bandmate, we were all best friends. It was a real shift to our friendship. We lost our friend to another country. We lost a bandmate."

However, Ben's departure allowed the UK band to really look at themselves and figure out what they wanted to do next. And during the time of introspection, they came up with their latest effort, Echoes. We had the chance to take the band out for some vegan summer rolls and vegetarian pad thai at the outdoor food market, Mad. Sq. Eats, in New York City to talk about this and other changes in the band's dynamic as well as their new record.

As the guys dug into their meals and sipped on pineapple agua frescas from the Two Tablespoons pop-up stand, we chatted about how Echoes was unlike their other work — not only because of who collaborated on this effort, but also because this really was a personal one for Gus.

"Everything that I wrote, from a lyrical perspective and all of that, was all that I could talk about. And that was the only thing on my mind," he explained. "I think if I tried to write about anything else, it would be insincere. And we definitely as a band, we’ve been very lucky with our careers so far. We’ve been really productive and excited. And we’ve come to a place, and I as a person, found myself in a place, in 2015 where it was time for a change."

Delving into the end of a six-year relationship, followed by Ben's departure, Gus saw the album as an opportunity to really let his and the other band members' creativity soar.

"To be honest with you, it just felt appropriate and a way for me to address things and put them to bed and look forward," he explained. "So for me, it’s a record for I was at that point in time, where we were in that point in time. We had to do what we had to do to move forward. So we had to be frank with ourselves and talk and think about everything in order to move on. The album is about not living the past anymore and putting those things to bed and putting our best foot forward and looking ahead to a brighter future."

Since the band used to live in one house in London, Gus admitted that "it streamlined the process a little bit. We wrote most of the album in [Fraser Taylor's] bedroom."

And starting Echoes as a foursome, Young Guns got back to their roots and found a new energy for their music. "I think it was really good for us as a group of four," Gus admitted. "We reconnected a little bit and listened to each other and the dynamics in the group had to change because there was one person less. And we had to reconnect in a positive way, and that came out in the writing. There was a great emphasis on Simon’s bass playing, which came to the forefront more. Things like that were really good for us as a new chapter."

But the rock quartet needed to find a new drummer and found it in Chris Kamrada. The Florida drummer, who had previously worked with PVRIS and Saints of Valory, joined the band in February while Echoes was still in recording stage. And after a little more than a week with his new band members, Chris just jumped right in and contributed his two cents.

"It was an interesting dynamic meeting them for the first time," he admitted. "I had to sit there and pick apart songs and be brutally honest. I think it was a healthy way to all meet. It was a good start to be creative and being honest and going for something great and not just good. It felt like a turning point."

With Chris' previous music experience, he empathized with Gus, guitarists John and Fraser Taylor and bassist Simon Mitchell. "It was exciting for me to also help them feel excited again," he explained. "I know that position when you put out records, and you feel disappointment from record labels and so on and so forth. A lot of bands have that issue. And it’s awesome to feel something new, a new presence, a new energy, anything that really brings a creative atmosphere that brings positivity. I think that happened when we were working on the album and everything. Even if it was rushed and things were done on the fly, sometimes just letting go and saying, 'Fuck it,' and playing and making the music is very important."

Guitarist John Taylor felt that the addition of Chris "gave us a new invigoration" and that really showed when the band worked on "Mercury in Retrograde." John and Gus worked tirelessly on the track to get it right.

"We kept saying to ourselves that we had to finish this song," John conveyed. "We sat up all night, just drinking, smoking cigarettes, just making it happen. And it turned out to be one of my favorites."

Gus agreed. "Yeah, and I think it’s all about that. It’s capturing the moment. Sometimes the best things come out of very stressful situations. I mean, these guys came in the next day, and John and I have been up for about 28 hours. We were just goblins, blinking from the darkness. But it was great because it was a creative atmosphere in the studio."

Meanwhile, Chris had to contribute his part of that song on his way to the airport. And while that sounds like a crazy way to put a song together, the final product proves that nothing could stop these guys from putting together a great record. And they also could thank multi-platinum award-winning producer David Bendeth for that, too.

"He really liked our tracks, and he wanted to work with us," Simon explained. "And we wanted to work with someone who can really tear a track to shreds and really get the best out of us. We wanted someone to challenge us as musicians as well. So that’s what we got by working with David. And that first day when we went to the studio and went through all the demos and the songs, it wasn’t going to be an easy process. But we weren’t expecting that. So he made us work for it. It was definitely worthwhile. He’s great at what he does."

As we wrapped up lunch, we ended the conversation on their favorite parts of touring. And while Chris and Simon pointed to the obvious answer of performing live every night. Gus highlighted the point that they've been lucky to have the opportunity to do what they do.

"We’re fortunate that when we go to New York, we’re able to meet with these people and these people," he said. "Then we go to our favorite pizza spot that we know because we’ve been to this city enough times. Those are not things that, as a child, I would ever be able to say or to know. So as a group of friends, we’ve been to Thailand. We’ve been to China. We've been to Japan. We’ve been all around Europe. We’ve been to the States. We’ve been to all these places that I’ve been desperate to go to my whole life and assumed I’d never be able to. So getting to do that by playing music for a living with my friends is a pretty spectacular thing. And it's important to take a step back and appreciate that."

Still hungry? Visit our Free Lunch page.

Race Through All 8 Harry Potter Movies in This Impressive Supercut

2016-11-29T21:36:24.243Z

While it’s thrilling to read and watch the Harry Potter story, with a book series that is over 4,200 pages long and movies that clock in at nearly 20 hours total, it’s hard to find the time to get through the entire tale of the boy who lived. Luckily, someone has now made a supercut of all eight films that has a runtime of just under 80 minutes.

This Movie Just Won the Award That Predicted the Last Two Best Picture Winners

Dubbed Wizardhood, the Tim Stiefler-created montage compresses footage from The Sorcerer’s Stone all the way through to The Deathly Hallows — Part 2 to paint a shorter picture of Harry, Ron and Hermione’s quest to defeat Voldemort.

The Girl on the Train Author Paula Hawkins Will Publish New Suspense Story in 2017

Watch the full video below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Michelle Williams Opens Up About Parenting Without Heath Ledger

2016-11-29T21:21:07.259Z

It’s been nearly eight years since Heath Ledger’s tragic death, but ex-wife (and mother of their 11-year-old daughter, Matilda) Michelle Williams has remained a successful parent and Oscar-nominated actress on her own. In a recent interview with Porter magazine, Williams shed a little insight into motherhood during the grieving process — as seen through the lens of her character in the critically acclaimed new drama Manchester by the Sea.

Paisley Park Will Honor Prince’s Death With 4-Day Celebration

“It’s like the darkest part of your heart, something happening to your child … She’s making a brave choice, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day,” Williams explains of her character’s drive to reclaim her life after loss. “Because it is a choice. I would exit,” she said. “It would be so much easier than living with the loss.” (In the movie, Williams’s character Mia becomes estranged from main actor Casey Affleck.)

“In all honesty, for pretty much everything else, I feel like I’m a believer in not fighting circumstances, accepting where you are and where you’ve been,” she told the fashion magazine. “I would be able to go totally down that line of thinking were it not for Matilda not having her dad… I mean, it just won’t ever be right.”

Alexis Bledel Has a Very Rory Gilmore Girls Character Ranking

Williams also shared a tender moment realizing her daughter was growing up happily.

“Not only are we OK, she’s happy. Life has brought us to a place that’s not just surviving, but thriving,” she said.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Carrie Fisher on Her Affair With Harrison Ford: ‘I Was in Infatuation’

2016-11-29T21:12:30.277Z

Since revealing that she had an affair with Harrison Ford while filming Star Wars: A New Hope, Carrie Fisher has been getting many questions about the three-month-long fling. And so her Tuesday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show was no different.

Race Through All 8 Harry Potter Movies in This Impressive Supercut

While DeGeneres began by asking the Princess Leia actress about her Coca-Cola drinking habits, she quickly segued into chatting about Fisher’s long-held secret. “I told other stuff to distract people so they wouldn’t figure it out,” Fisher said. “No one thought it was happening at the time – I don’t even know if he did!”

She went on to explain that although she had feelings for Ford at the time, the relationship developed out of the on-set atmosphere. “I was in infatuation, probably — love is more mature,” she said. “I was 19. No one told me about location rules, or lack of rules. But you can do whatever you want, as long as you film the movie.”

Michelle Williams Opens Up About Parenting Without Heath Ledger

Watch the full clip below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Alexis Bledel Has a Very Rory Gilmore Girls Character Ranking

2016-11-29T20:53:20.245Z

Ever since Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life debuted on Netflix, longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise have been abuzz about Rory, Lorelai, and the whole town of Stars Hollow.

Some of the series’ characters are more beloved than others, however, which Alexis Bledel revealed when she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to talk about the Netflix revival with the late night funnyman.

Gilmore Girls’ Matt Czuchry: ‘I Don’t Feel I Need to Defend Logan’

Fallon, who recently started watching the show, revealed that he was upset with the pivotal plot twist in Rory Gilmore’s love life in the fourth season of the show, before also revealing that he was “Team Jess” — referring, of course, to Rory’s bad boy (and best) ex-boyfriend. He then told Bledel that besides Rory, his favorite characters on the show were Luke, Kirk, and Rory’s inimitable rival-turned-bestie Paris Geller. Bledel chimed in with her own.

“I think Caesar is awesome,” she said referring to the long suffering cook at Luke’s Diner. “He’s underrated, he’s amazing.”

Bledel also revealed that she loves the double trouble duo of Rory’s neighbor Babette and Stars Hollow’s resident dance teacher Miss Patty.

“They were on All in the Family together and every time they would come to set and sing show tunes, and it was such a raucous day on set every day they were there, so I have to appreciate them.”

Here’s What Cheryl Strayed and Reese Witherspoon Say About Their Gilmore Girls Revival Moment

Her final favorite character? The town’s quirky everyman, Kirk.

Watch the full interview in the clip above.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

American Wrestlers' Stripped-Down, Homemade Pop

2016-11-29T17:07:38.637Z

Gary McClure’s American Wrestlers was once an anonymous project. Making music, he says, “is truly about becoming good enough to write the album you wanted to listen to when you were 15.” He adds, “Every time I make a new record, I feel like I’m getting closer.”

The songwriter released Goodbye Terrible Youth this month by disavowing his Tascam mixer (the home recording device apparently broke down from overuse) and creating a bigger sound. “I wanted to write songs that bridged the gap better between audience and stage,” he says. “Faster, louder more distortion. Something you can do handstands and backflips and start small fires to.”

McClure, who moved to Missouri from Scotland for love, has said that the midwest has been a key influence, with a bigger music scene than the one he came of age in Europe. It was while he was working a warehouse job for UPS that McClure began working on his American Wrestlers album. “I’m always surprised by how each record brings me closer to writing simpler, heavier, catchier songs like those bands who gave me my musical epiphany: Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, Hole and that first Foo Fighters record,” he says. “I first learned how to write by copying them and got lost for a decade in intricacy and experimentation. Now, it feels like I’m heading back.”

Hometown: I was born in East Kilbride near Glasgow, Scotland

Homebase: Just by the Mississippi river, Saint Louis, MO

Why are you called American Wrestlers? Aren't you from Scotland?

You know, Paul McCartney isn't actually a beetle.

Did you grow up in a musical household?

Music was my own kept secret after I caught myself addicted to the fighting cartoon show theme tunes rolling on the gogglebox in the afternoons. Then a man screamed and I cried until someone gave me a guitar.

What most influenced Goodbye Terrible Youth? And why that title?

The title is a joke. Pure phonetics actually. The vowels fit the tune. So, personally it means nothing. I saw a gap in the market for just writing actual songs without fucking around like a gimp.

Does living in St. Louis vs. Scotland influence your sound a lot?

I don't know. Not to a degree that I'm aware of. I never bought into the idea that a place is responsible for quality or quantity of art. I would think it's more to do with age. I seem to give less of a shit the older I get.

How did you meet your bandmates and get them to join your musical journey?

I recorded some dumb song to a stupid cassette and left it in the cafe of the local art museum, or it might have been a public toilet. Josh and Ian found it and put a gun to my head 'til I signed a contract to dance to the music therein for exactly four years.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I really wish I coulda jammed with Derek Bailey.

What do you do for fun?

I watch the injustice network.

Were you in other bands before? What were they like?

Working for a Nuclear Free City. They were better than pretty much every band that's around right now.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard of you?

A sad old man whose nostalgia trip coincidentally turned out to be exactly what was hip for a couple of years.

What is your day job? Does it help you make music for the band?

No they just get in the way and depress me every minute I spend working them. I move things around for some fat white guy so his self-absorbed wife can pamper her inconsequential kids.

Who are your biggest songwriting influences?

Manic Street Preachers, Therapy?, Mansun.

What’s your big rest-of-2016 goal?

Tour. Try to avoid work.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch a Sneak Peak of Lin-Manuel Miranda's 'Hamilton' on 'Drunk History'

2016-11-29T17:01:08.988Z

With Hamilton tickets sold out well into the end of spring 2017, fans of the Broadway show can get their American history fix with the premiere of Lin-Manel Miranda's episode of Drunk History on Comedy Central. Airing tonight (November 29), the creator and former star of the award-winning musical had the opportunity to retell the story for the hilariously informative show and share some of the details that he couldn't fit into the musical — while lit on Tennessee whiskey of course.

Keeping things modern and twisted, Alia Shawkat from Arrested Development plays Alexander Hamilton while Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza takes on Aaron Burr.

The Alexander Hamilton edition of Drunk History airs on Comedy Central tonight at 10:30pm EST. See clips below of what to expect from the episode.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Taylor Swift Will Have Her Own Channel on AT&T's DirecTV Now

2016-11-29T16:47:46.050Z

While Taylor Swift has been taking a step back from the spotlight, that doesn't mean the pop star has stopped running her business affairs. According to Variety, T-Swift will have her own channel on AT&T's DirecTV Now — a streaming service set to launch on November 30. Taylor Swift Now will air everything from music videos to concert footage to behind-the-scenes clips that even the biggest of fans have yet to see. And the service intends to present the content in 13 chapters, paying homage to Taylor's favorite number.

While her actual channel doesn't have an exact live date yet, we're sure that Swifties from all over will be ready to sign up in order to see the unreleased footage.

.@TaylorSwift13 fans have a new destination for unique and never seen videos, #TaylorSwiftNOW – coming soon, only on AT&T. pic.twitter.com/mRqMtCGXD4
— AT&T (@ATT) November 28, 2016

After inking a multi-year deal with AT&T in October, Taylor is also slated to perform at the Pre-Super Bowl Concert on February 4 in Houston.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Paisley Park Will Host Four-Day Fest to Celebrate Prince in April

2016-11-29T16:36:36.646Z

Following the approval of Paisley Park turning into a museum, the place that Prince called home until his final days will now be hosting a four-day event to celebrate the late musical legend's life.

Taking place from April 20 to April 23, Celebration 2017 will bring together musicians, close collaborators and fans to talk about the music he made and the life he led. There will be panel discussions and guided tours of the property. The Revolution, New Power Generation and 3RDEYEGIRL are slated to perform.

General admission tickets will be $499 while VIP passes will be $999 plus service fees. You can find out more information about the event as well as how to get tickets at the Paisley Park website.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

8 Lessons Tattoo TV Shows Can Teach You

2016-11-29T08:00:00.000Z

Generally speaking, tattoo TV shows don't do a great job of showing the reality of tattooing. They're centered more around drama and ratings than actual tattooing, and a lot of artists take issue with them for exactly that reason.

But for someone who doesn't know much of anything about tattoos, programs like Ink Master, Miami Ink and Tattoo Nightmares can teach a good amount about the art form. Sure, it's watered down with plenty of falsities and nonsense, but here are the Top 8 things you can learn from tattooing's reality TV shows.

A photo posted by Kat Von D (@thekatvond) on Nov 23, 2016 at 1:22pm PST

All Tattoos Are Not Created Equal

As obvious as this one might sound, there are plenty of people who believe that one tattoo (and tattoo artist) is as good as the next. Regardless of what you think of the artists on TV, there are obvious differences in skill level between many of them. Typically, the tattooers found on shows like LA Ink or Miami Ink are going to be well-known and reputable artists. On the other hand, Ink Master would rather have cast members who won't get along rather than truly top notch artists a lot of the time.

The Basic Fundamentals of Tattooing

You're not going to see a lot of the finer points of tattooing (or even simple things like how many hours and sessions a bigger piece takes), but for someone who really isn't familiar with the art form at all, TV shows can help familiarize people on a very fundamental level. As crazy as it may be to some folks, there are people watching reruns of Tattoos After Dark who have never seen a tattoo machine before. TV shows can give audiences a very elementary understanding to build on.

A photo posted by Tim Hendricks (@timhendricks) on Nov 27, 2016 at 1:38pm PST

Good (& Bad) Tattoo Shop Dynamics

Like just about any business, some tattoo shops function better than others. The interpersonal dynamics of a shop can be just as important as the artwork coming out of it. Although TV shows tend to push negative relationships because they make for better drama, they still often show the familial side of the tattooing industry.

There Are All Types of Tattooers Everywhere

Sure, major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are going to have a bigger variety of tattoo artists than small towns, but one look at just about any season of Ink Master will show you that you can find tattooers of all styles, skill levels and backgrounds in just about any part of the country. It's a lot easier if you know what you're looking for, so seek out the right artist in your area for your tattoo even if it's not the one next door.

A photo posted by Kruseman (@davekruseman) on Nov 21, 2016 at 8:57pm PST

Different Styles of Tattooing

Wanting a tattoo is kind of like wanting something to eat. Yes, all tattoos are tattoos, but that's like saying all food is food. There's a big difference between a bacon cheeseburger and a kale salad, and there's a big difference between a Japanese bodysuit and a two-hour black and gray banger. Just about any of the TV shows will show you several different styles, so that way you can take note of the ones you like the best.

The Importance of Placement

There's nothing like watching someone get a good tattoo in a terrible spot on their body to remind you of how important it is to think carefully about where you want your ink. When a show has an entire episode dedicated to hand tattoos and one person wants enough detail to fill out an entire sleeve, the sloppy and crammed end result will likely remind you why it's best to listen to your artist when they tell you where your tattoo would look best.

A photo posted by Luke Wessman (@lukewessman) on Nov 26, 2016 at 9:13pm PST

Not to Make Stupid Tattooing Decisions

Ultimately, one of the biggest takeaways you can have from watching any tattoo show is learning from other people's mistakes. Tattoo Nightmares might be a bit overdramatic (and may make coverups look a little easier and quicker than they generally are), but it still serves as a great reminder that people get tattooed for all of the wrong reasons. Tattoos are permanent, so don't rush into things and take your time to make a decent decision before you just go get inked.

A photo posted by BIG GUS (@biggusink) on Nov 26, 2016 at 7:00pm PST

What a Good Tattoo Looks Like

No matter what your favorite program is, there are good and bad tattoos to be found on all of them. Whether you're listening to Oliver Peck and Dave Navarro pick apart a tattoo or just seeing the reactions from clients in cities around the country, really good tattoos are pretty easy to see. If you see something that stands out from the pack, remember it and figure out what draws you to it. It'll help you with every tattoo you get in the future.

Get your tattoo fix every day by visiting out Tattoosday page.

50 Celebrities You’ll Never Believe Ended Up in Debt

2016-11-29T08:00:00.000Z

Most of us imagine that celebrities bathe in champagne, drive around in limousines and travel whenever and wherever they please at any given moment. But we hardly ever think about how famous people sustain their lavish lifestyle, especially the ones who faded into obscurity. And the bitter truth is that a lot of them can’t. Here are 50 celebrities who struggled (or still do) with money.

Sinbad

Image: RichestCelebrities.org

Famous comedian Sinbad filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after ending up $11 million in debt, most of which came from unpaid taxes. Somebody should have told him that taxes are no joke.

MC Hammer

Image: BBC

Being a ‘90s star doesn’t mean you’ll be financially stable in 2016. Lucky for MC Hammer, he managed to pay back his massive $13 million debt in 2014.

Nicholas Cage

Image: Youtube

Film critics aren’t the only ones who act rough with Nicholas Cage these days. Creditors also love to harass the movie star since his debt is almost $14 million. That explains the weird role choices he makes these days.

50 Cent

Image: G-Unit

Spending too much time “in da club” and living the lifestyle of a P.I.M.P. cost 50 Cent massive debts (the sources reveal it’s somewhat between $10 to $50 million). He announced bankruptcy in 2015.

R.Kelly

Image: BET

Now we know why R.Kelly was “trapped in the closet” — he was most likely hiding from the debt collectors, since he owes the bank a lot of money after taking out a $3.5 million mortgage back in 1997.

Willie Nelson

Image: Music Times

In 1990, Willie Nelson found himself $16.7 million in debt and had to give the IRS most of his property. Luckily the free-spirited rocker managed to get back on track since then.

Tori Spelling

Image: Getty

Gone are her 90210 days. In 2013, Tori Spelling couldn’t even pay for her rental house in LA. What would Donna say?!

Kim Basinger

Image: Getty

Always think twice when agreeing on taking a role. When Kim Basigner walked out of the Boxing Helena production, the actress ended up with an $8 million debt.

Courtney Love

Image: PageSix

Paying for the house of your deceased husband may not look reasonable, unless you work in the IRS. That’s how Courtney Love ended up in $386,000 debt back in 2003 and had to auction the house she bought for Kurt Cobain.

Lena Headey

Image: RichestCelebrities.org

You would think that her stint in Game of Thrones would make Lena Headey filthy rich, but her recent divorce actually sucked the actress dry and made her sell her house.

Mike Tyson

Image: Fox

One day you’re a world-renowned mighty boxer with $400 million net worth and the next you end up in $23 million debt. That’s what happened to Mike Tyson, who’s been battling debt collectors instead of boxing partners since the mid-00s.

Michael Vick

Image: ABC

Things didn’t go so well for NFL star Michael Vick when it was discovered that he organized an illegal dog fighting club at his own property. He ended up in prison and filed for bankruptcy once he got out.

Heidi Montag

Image: Gazette Review

Life wasn’t so sweet for The Hills alum either. Once her scripted-reality MTV show was over, Heidi Montag and her husband Spencer Pratt couldn’t make good use of their fame and money and eventually got broke.

Toni Braxton

Image: KudaGo

Toni Braxton should’ve followed her ‘90s smash “Un-break My Heart” with “Un-spend My Money” as she filed for bankruptcy in 2011, but quickly settled the case two years later.

Annie Leibovitz

Image: UBS

We can’t even begin to imagine how much Annie Leibovitz, a world-renowned photographer, would charge us for a photoshoot. Probably a lot since at some point she was in $24 million debt.

Brendan Fraser

Image: Getty

At one point Brendan Fraser was ‘90s go-to hot guy, but these days we never see him on the big screen. That obviously hurt his financial situation, which got even worse after a bitter divorce.

Joe Francis

Image: Alchetron

You would think that founding the Girls Gone Wild franchise would set Joe Francis for life, but messing up his tax information left the entrepreneur with almost $30 million in debt.

Nas

Image: Billboard

Divorcing Kelis was not such a bright idea for rapper Nas, since it cost him a lot and added to his already existing debt of $7 million.

Meatloaf

Image: WSJ

Singing tons of ‘80s rock classics doesn’t secure your financial status apparently. It all went out of control for Meatloaf after he fired his manager, who in return froze his assets, leaving the rockstar no other option but to file for bankruptcy.

Wayne Newton

Image: Wayne Newton

In 1983 Wayne Newton was named the highest-paid entertainer in the world. Yet he still ended up with a $20 million debt just 10 years later.

Larry King

Image: Youtube

The world knows Larry King as the powerful host of his own show. That show didn’t just put him on the TV map for good, it also saved him from starvation, since he filed for bankruptcy just before it got picked up.

Natasha Lyonne

Image: JustJared

She may have been one of the late ‘90s indie filmmakers’ darlings, but it didn’t pay her enough. Health issues and her notoriously bad temper brought the actress tons of financial struggles over the years.

Burt Reynolds

Image: Mirror

His career spanned over several decades, but by ‘90s Burt Reynolds had to file for bankruptcy — his debt was more than $9.4 million.

Rihanna

Image: Youtube

“Bitch Better Have My Money” didn’t come from nowhere. Back in 2009, Rihanna’s accountant spent $9 of her $11 million fortune and the singer had to proclaim herself “effectively bankrupt.”

Janice Dickinson

Image: Getty

Ex-supermodel and talent show host Janice Dickinson found herself in a $1 million debt recently. You can’t strut away from the debt collectors.

Dennis Rodman

Image: Fox News

He may know how to jump high, but even mighty Dennis Rodman couldn’t run away from the debt collectors. He stated that he could no longer pay child support, which left him penniless (at least according to the athlete).

Gary Busey

Image: The Telegraph

Gone are the days when the Hollywood actor was enjoying good offers and fame. He had to file for bankruptcy in 2012 after owing $500,000 to creditors. No wonder he ended up on reality TV.

Lindsay Lohan

Image: Day Herald

At one point, the ginger troublemaker had a $600,000 debt in credit cards. No wonder she had to start stealing jewelry and coats from the nightclub.

Gary Coleman

Image: Youtube

The Diff’rent Strokes star’s career took a sour turn when he ended up in legal battles with his adoptive parents and started having major medical troubles, which eventually led to his death in 2010.

Pamela Anderson

Image: speakerscorner.me

When her Baywatch swimsuit dried up, her finances did too. In 2009, it was rumored that Pamela Anderson owed more than $1.5 million to creditors.

Chris Tucker

Image: Fan World

For this comedian the missing Fifth Element was obviously money. Several years ago he ended up with $11 million debt.

Lady Gaga

Image: StarPulse

Lady Gaga overestimated her pop powers when she invested $3 million into her Monster Ball tour and failed to reach an agreement with Live Nation that would help getting the money back. That’s how she ended up at her financial low and career’s peak in the very same year.

Busta Rhymes

Image: Getty

In 2014, it was revealed that rapper Busta Rhymes owed $800,000 in taxes. And it’s just one of the troubles Rhymes faced over the years — he was also accused of several assaults.

TLC

Image: Getty

Don’t go chasing waterfalls indeed. In 1995, the R&B trio had to file for bankruptcy after they ended up with $3.5 million in debt.

Nelly

Image: Getty

Apparently it was quite a “Dilemma” for Nelly to decide how to spend his money. So he lost it all gambling instead.

Abraham Lincoln

Image: BBC

That’s right! Abraham Lincoln filed for bankruptcy not once, but twice, and spent years paying it all back.

Lauryn Hill

Image: Only Hip Hop Facts

The soul singer’s situation with debt got so bad that she even had to go to jail for three months after she failed to pay back her debt.

Marvin Gaye

Image: The Shade Room

He may be a legend, but he also had some legendary lifestyle choices that led to bankruptcy in 1979. He ended up in his parents’ house, where his father notoriously shot the singer to death.

Dorothy Hamill

Image: Parade

Dorothy Hamill may have won the gold medal at the Olympics, but made the wrong move by acquiring a travelling ice skating group, which resulted in a $1.6 million debt.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Image: Biography

The Hungarian-American actress and socialite is 99 years old, and the last thing she’d like to be dealing with now is financial troubles. Yet in 2009, it was reported that she lost $10 million due to investment in Bernie Madoff’s company.

Teresa Giudice

Image: ABC News

The reality TV star ended up in jail for numerous frauds: mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud in particular. Giudice and her husband Joe Giudice even got themselves involved in the bankruptcy fraud.

Leif Garrett

Image: R8Lst

The ‘70s teen idol was one of the early examples of spoiled Hollywood child stars. He ended up in debt with a serious drug addiction around the time he was 18.

Lorraine Bracco

Image: ABC

Divorce was a losing game for The Sopranos actress, who ended up in $2 million debt after separating from actor Harvey Keitel.

Wesley Snipes

Image: Youtube

Wesley Snipes tried to avoid paying taxes but was eventually caught by the IRS and imprisoned for three years.

Evander Holyfield

Image: Evander Holyfield

Boxer Evander Holyfield had to auction off his $10 million Atlanta estate to pay off his debt in 2008. Several years later, The Independent called him “flat broke and bankrupt.”

Jose Canseco

Image: Zero Hatch

MLB star player Jose Canseco wasn’t as good with money as he was on the field, so he had to file for bankruptcy in 2012.

Stephen Baldwin

Image: Today

Not every Baldwin brother is equally successful. Stephen Baldwin found himself in some major debt in 2009 and filed for bankruptcy.

Bonnie McKee

Image: Getty

Before she wrote most of the hits off Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, Bonnie McKee was just another failed pop singer in Hollywood who was broke and desperate after getting dropped by her label. She didn’t have hot water, a car or even a cell phone.

Michael Jackson

Image: Getty

It was rumored that the King of Pop died leaving behind an incredible debt of $500 million. It was caused by all the lawsuits regarding child molestation accusations, as well as legal complaints by concert promoters.

Donald Trump

Image: TV Guide

The President-elect was not always good with money. In fact, he filed for bankruptcy four times. But Trump hardly sees it as a defeat. “I used the law four times and made a tremendous thing. I'm in business. I did a very good job,” he said during the 2016 presidential debates.

8 Truly Terrible Anime to Never Watch

2016-11-29T08:00:00.000Z

Break out your brain bleach and prepare to be thoroughly bored out of your mind, here are 8 of the worst animes I’ve ever seen. I’ve done the dirty work and suffered through countless terrible animes to bring you this list. While some verge on "so-bad-it’s-good" territory, others are just downright awful. Bear in mind, I am only human, so I’m sure this list only uncovers the tip of the cringe-worthy iceberg.

(Disclaimer: Excluded from this list are any works of hentai (Japanese anime porn), any blatantly pedophilic content (nope, nope, nope!) or meme-tier animes like Shitcom because those are such low-hanging fruit they’re not even worth mentioning anyway.)

School Days

Starting off this list is School Days, an anime that falls under the "so-bad-it’s-good" category. School Days is sure to grace nearly every "worst anime ever" list out there, and for good reason, too. This infamous harem anime is a complete and utter train wreck from start to finish, with an extremely bland cast of characters and over-the-top violence.

The two acts feel incongruous: the beginning ambles along while the second act is equivalent to an extravagant but low budget gore porn flick. Fans of the series argue that School Days is a misunderstood deconstruction of the popular harem genre akin to Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the magical girl genre. While I did appreciate the series for its treatment of the main character and how it subverts common tropes in the harem genre, the execution was so poor that it was more comedic than enlightening. If you’re looking for a good laugh and are willing to suffer through more bad than good, I suggest giving School Days a try.

Mayoiga

Like School Days, Mayoiga also falls into the class of "so-bad-it’s-good" anime. Given that this treats viewers to one of anime’s first ever male yandere characters and features a hilarious scene where our protagonists are being chased by a giant silicone breast implant on crab legs, how could it not be?

Mayoiga follows a group of social misfits who find themselves stuck in an abandoned village and terrorized by a host of fantastical monsters for no apparent reason. Initially, I was super hyped for this anime, but as it progressed I soon realized how totally awful it was destined to be. The plot is both incomprehensible and painfully simple, and the main character is insufferably dense and incompetent. Except for a few with names like Soy Latte, Pink Goddess and Lovepon, the ridiculously large cast is also mostly forgettable. The story and characters are all so absurd that I’m almost convinced Mayoiga is actually a satirical comedy instead of a supernatural mystery, as it claims.

Mars of Destruction

With a mere 2.38 on My Anime List, Mars of Destruction is the lowest rated entry on this list. The problem with Mars of Destruction is that it tries to do too much and subsequently accomplishes nothing. Interspersed between pointless battle scenes, Mars of Destruction tries to introduce half a dozen original characters and jam in a complicated plot about alien "Ancients" and the true origins of humanity all in a mere 20-minute time frame. Everything about this original video animation (OVA) is senseless and offensively basic, so do yourself, and your brain cells, a favor and skip this anime completely.

Eiken

If I had to describe Eiken in one word, it would be: boobs. Boobs, or breasts for the more dignified crowd, are the stars of this one hour OVA. The well-endowed females are mere props to carry the boobs from one location to another. If this sounds like an exploitative, demeaning premise, it’s because it is. The worst part is that Eiken isn’t even content to embrace its true nature as pornographic wish-fulfillment, but instead tries to masquerade as a slice-of-life romantic comedy with a threadbare plot about a boy named Densuke Mifune who is forced to join the Eiken club, which otherwise admits only the bustiest of ladies. True to its form, Eiken goes so far to sexualize an 11-year-old with a 111 cm bust. So there’s that. Going to go rinse my brain with sulfuric acid.

Glasslip

Don’t be fooled by Glasslip’s stunning visuals; underneath the lush colors and fluid animation is a vague and pretentious sci-fi about a group of friends whose tranquil lives are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious boy who holds the secrets to Earth’s survival. Plot wise, Glasslip goes nowhere and substitutes gimmicks for real substance. The only memorable thing about this anime is how totally unmemorable it is. While far from the worst entry on this list, the series suffers from devastating mediocracy.

Sky Wizards Academy

Sky Wizards Academy is one of those anime so mind-numbingly generic that I can immediately identify one just from the promotional videos or the posters. Much in the same vein of The Asterisk War but even worse, Sky Wizards Academy is so generic that it attempts almost every genre — magical girl, harem, mystery, mecha, action, drama, fantasy, romance, comedy — yet commits to none. Even the art style is generic, a mix between Sword Art Online, whose art style I actually enjoy, and a lesson out of a How to Draw Manga 101 textbook you can buy on Amazon for $12.99.

The plot could be used to describe dozens of other anime (or young adult novels) as well: in a dystopian future, teenagers are enrolled in special universities that teach them how to fight against giant armored bugs (in this specific case, bug can replace it with any type of menace) that threaten to wipe out humanity. Like I said, generic.

Pupa

Pupa is one I’m sad to include on this list. Having read the manga and mostly liked it, I was disappointed with how utterly WTF the anime was. Each episode is only four minutes long and the entire 12-episode season is basically unintelligible. Normally I’m a fan of anything experimental, and I applaud creators for trying something new even if they don’t do a great job. Pupa, however, feels lazy, relying mostly on fairly tame shock and gore to keep viewers mildly engaged. By breaking it up into four-minute episodes, all the suspense and anticipation that makes horror so addictive and thrilling is lost. Worst of all, for a psychological horror series, it’s just incredibly boring.

Momo Kyun Sword

Closing this list is Momo Kyun Sword, based on the Japanese folk tale of a mythical warrior born inside a peach who, accompanied by the animal gods Inugami, Saurgami and Kijigami, travels in search of the devil king who is stealing the sacred treasures that protect the Earth.

With an awesome premise, it’s even more tragic that this anime is so superficial and banks on such blatant fan service to keep audiences watching. Although Momo Kyun Sword has a premise, it certainly doesn’t have a plot — each episode is so pointless and predictable it’s like the entire series is comprised solely of fillers, the bane of all anime fans. I even liked Mayoiga and School Days more than Momo Kyun Sword because at least they were entertaining at some points. The anime is so bland and inoffensive that I can’t believe anyone (myself included) even watched through all 12 episodes.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

Niall Horan Says One Direction ‘Will Be Back’

2016-11-28T20:59:51.415Z

Irish heartthrob Niall Horan was once just the blonde member of boy band sensation One Direction. But after the mega-group’s ‘break,‘ however, he’s come into his own as a solo artist with the release of chart-topping ballad “This Town.” And now he’s about to be known as every diehard Directioner’s favorite guy in the group, given this latest update:

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“We will be back,” he told Britain’s Sunday People of One Direction’s future, noting it would be “silly” for the group not to reunite. “I don’t think anyone needs to worry about us,” he added. “We are fine.”

The original fivesome, known for earworm hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” lost member Zayn Malik back in March 2015; Malik went on to develop his own solo career. The four remaining members continued to tour together before announcing an indefinite hiatus that began in August 2015. Since then, Horan, Liam Payne and Harry Styles have all inked independent record deals (and Styles will appear in the upcoming war movie Dunkirk directed by Christopher Nolan), while Louis Tomlinson has been spending his time as a new father.

Watch James Marsden Reveal His ‘Massive’ Crush on Helen Mirren Before Meeting Her

While no official reunion date or plans have been made, Horan’s statement gives a legion of adoring fans enough hope to keep them in good spirits through the holidays.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Japan Plans to Fulfill Your Wildest Dreams With a Spa Amusement Park

2016-11-28T20:53:11.624Z

In what might be the best idea of 2016, Japan has announced plans to open a spa amusement park in Beppu, which is famous for its hot springs.

And Now Here’s Tom Hanks Recreating Your Favorite Scene From Forrest Gump

Thanks to a now-viral video that depicts a hypothetical “spamusement” park complete with bubble bath roller coasters and steam room trolley rides, a spa amusement park is now actually in the works. In addition to showing many potential relaxing activities, the clip also featured Beppu’s mayor Yasuhiro Nagano saying that he’ll work to make this fantastical idea a reality if the video hit one million views.

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Now, nearly a week later, the video has garnered almost two million views. Furthermore, it looks like Mayor Nagano will be making good on his promise — according to RocketNews24, the mayor’s office issued a press release that confirmed that plans for the amusement park are underway.

Watch the full video below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Went to a (Non-Red) Wedding Together

2016-11-28T20:44:12.846Z

In an unexpected crossover between the worlds of TV and music, it turns out that Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner and Jonas brother Joe (now of peppy punk rock band DNCE) are pals. Good enough pals, in fact, to attend a recent wedding together, popping up in Instagrammed photos taken in one of those ubiquitous on-site photobooths. The two stars are somewhat hidden in the mix of friends, but alongside fellow Jonas brother Kevin, they certainly amp up the group’s collective star power. (Looks like Table 5 is certainly the place to be, based on the snap.) Hopefully Turner didn’t bring any of her bad Sansa Stark luck to the celebration.

Watch Brandy Bring the ’90s Back at the Soul Train Awards

About last night table 5 madness... #rp @pariscarney

A photo posted by Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) on Nov 27, 2016 at 2:15pm PST

Another snap also popped up recently on Instagram of Turner with both Jonas brothers… and a baby. Looks like a fun weekend was had by all, child included.

Niall Horan Says One Direction ‘Will Be Back’

ZaZa was chilling with Sansa Stark when these Jonas Brothers moved in on her convo. But she was like, "y'all can hang with us." #petrofftothealtar

A photo posted by Berndt Mader (@admiral_bernside) on Nov 27, 2016 at 7:03pm PST

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Will More Gilmore Girls Episodes Come to Netflix?

2016-11-28T20:30:19.006Z

Warning: Spoilers for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

The Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life ending raised a number of questions among fans: namely whether the show will come back for even more episodes.

Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival ended with the much-hyped final four words that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino had originally planned, with Rory revealing to her mother that she is pregnant. Although the dialogue is what Sherman-Palladino had intended to finish the show’s original run, the cliffhanger ending has provided countless theories for viewers who might not be ready to say goodbye to the girls just yet.

Let’s Talk About That Gilmore Girls Ending

When asked about the possibility of more episodes of Gilmore Girls at Netflix, Sherman-Palladino told The Hollywood Reporter that she was waiting to see how the new episodes went over with audiences.

“We really had a very specific journey in our minds and we fulfilled the journey,” she said. “So to us, this is the piece that we wanted to do. And the whole thought about, ‘Is there more, is there more, is there more?’—this has to go out into the universe now. We’ve got to put this to bed. And then whatever happens, happens.”

Natalie Portman Slams Lack of Hollywood Diversity: ‘Movies Are All About White Men’

Bringing the show back for a second run at Netflix would involve a lot of coordination among the very busy cast and executive producers. But Scott Patterson, who plays Luke Danes, seemed more enthusiastic about the prospect when asked about it earlier this year.

“It’d be nice to do it every year,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “Maybe every two years, do a three-month thing, do four more chapters. It was easy to do. It was fun. It was really rewarding and people got a sense that if this was going to be the last thing that we now have some closure.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen To Lungs And Limbs' 'Big Bang' Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-28T17:49:30.344Z

Three years into their life as a band, and Lungs and Limbs have found their stride. Their sophomore EP Big Bang (out December 2) is a six-track collection of confident, spacey synthpop.

The first song "Ricochet" embodies its title, meshing singer Karina Rousseau's fervent vocals with billowy, echoey synths. "Buried" is a starry ode to new wave. And "Less Ordinary," an alt. pop banger, shows off the dynamic chops of the band.

"Big Bang was inspired by our love of writing," says Rousseau. "It's our second release as a band and also the second project produced and engineered by our guitarist Nick Tudor out of our horse stable-turned- recording studio, so it felt to us like a more coherent, developed release. Thematically, "Big Bang" was inspired by death, love, loneliness and psilocybin. Our favorite track is 'Buried,' which has a new-wave Police arrangement mixed with a Sylvan Esso-style production."

Listen to our exclusive premiere of Big Bang ahead of its Friday release below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

The xx Pay Homage to America in "On Hold" Video

2016-11-28T17:34:03.420Z

Since The xx dropped their debut album, xx, in 2009, the British trio have been embraced by fans all over the world, especially the US. And so they decided to not only pay homage to the country, but also give us their take on what small-town America looks like, in their new visual for "On Hold."

Filmed in Marfa, TX, which is where a fair amount of their upcoming album, I See You, was written and recorded, the band centers the visual on a group of local high school students, their every day musings and culminates in a house party with Jamie xx as the DJ, of course. We also get to see The xx have their own in the town.

The xx say in a statement, “Today we get to share our new video for ‘On Hold’ with you! The video is directed by the brilliant Alasdair McLellan, whose work we all adore...It was filmed in Marfa, Texas, a very special place to us, where we wrote and recorded some of our new album. We have a lot of love and respect for the people of the USA, having played hundreds of shows across the country over the past years. We hope this video reflects just some of the warmth and acceptance we have encountered there.”

I See You drops on January 13, 2017. In the meantime, watch the video below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

9ELECTRIC Makes Fast and Furious Music

2016-11-28T17:30:00.000Z

Los Angeles band 9ELECTRIC feels like a fast and furious racecar — from the names of the band (Thunderwood on vocals, Mikey Lopez on guitar, Casey DC on bass and Micah Electric on drums/programming) to their sound, thunderous and grinding rock with a side of electronica, to their debut album, The Damaged Ones. "The album describes the human condition — no one is truly safe, because at some point we're all damaged," says frontman Thunderwood. “With 9ELECTRIC, I really want to create music that makes you feel like you can’t stand still, and I think we’ve achieved that," Micah Electric says.

Bassist Casey DC adds, "The album's title track is about the process of becoming damaged and how it leads to being socially ostracized — a common feeling amongst bands and fans. This has been a theme in rock music for decades, and this song is about how we band together and become part of the rock scene as opposed to the mainstream."

And in the end, 9ELECTRIC is "about empowerment and living with a sense of intention," frontman Thunderwood says. "Whatever you do, do it with some fucking conviction. Make something happen in your life." He talks to Myspace about the band’s evolution.

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Homebase: Hollywood, CA

Why are you called 9ELECTRIC?

Mikey and Micah came up with the name before I joined. They wanted an electronic element in the music, so it seemed to make sense in the name, and the number nine is Mikey's favorite. It also sounds similar to "nine-eleven," so it carries a sense of urgency. I like number nine's esoteric value, where it means the apex of a cycle.

Describe your music to someone who's never heard you before.

Hard rock with an electronic edge.

How did you all meet?

It was really a timing thing — Mikey (guitarist) and Micah (drummer) had a band called My Evolution, and I sang for a band called Opiate for the Masses. Both of our bands had done big tours and worked with big producers but broke up around the same time. Our mutual friend and attorney put us in touch, and I loved their demos and started recording with them ASAP. CaseyDC (bassist) was an old friend of mine and answered Mikey and Micah's Craigslist ad, not knowing that I was already working with them. So nobody really tried out for this band, we all kind of just invited each other in.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

I really like dark and hard-hitting mojo, whether it's the actual music or just the emotional weight of something. Depeche Mode has always been up there for me. Bowie, Ministry, and The Prodigy get me going, too.

Does living in Los Angeles influence your music?

I think all the traffic helps us write the angrier tunes.

Is there anyone you'd love to collaborate with?

I want to collaborate with lots of people — I think we could make a really cool track with Maria Brink from In This Moment.

What do you do for fun?

Besides music? I direct music videos for bands and labels. I'm obsessed with cameras, lenses, and cinematography.

What's the craziest thing that’s happened to you in 9ELECTRIC?

I've had lots of dudes offer me their girlfriends. That's probably the strangest. I suppose it's a nice gesture, but what're you gonna do with that, like, "Cool man, see you in five then?"

Why is your album called The Damaged Ones?

To me, The Damaged Ones means that when all is said and done, no matter who you are or what your advantages or disadvantages are in life, we all end up damaged. It really sums up the human condition, so in that sense it unites us all. The themes on the album are pretty much personal struggles and social commentary.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#Chickentimebomb. We have a song called "Time Bomb" that opens with "I'm like a ticking time bomb" and people always hear it as "chicken time bomb". Little kids have sent us crayon drawings of chickens with bombs strapped to them. Very cute.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about creating your debut album?

I learned that mix is king... our drummer produced a demo that we sent to outside producer Kane Churko (In This Moment, Five Finger Death Punch). We figured we may have to re track everything for the final version, but then we were blown away with what he mixed and sent back to us. The remixed demo ended up being the album version and consequently the title track and first single, "The Damaged Ones." It was a huge epiphany for me about how much an awesome mix can do for your song.

Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?

Myspace has been a huge part of my music career; before Myspace, e-mail was the only way to really interact with fans unless you were in their town. Myspace completely changed that dynamic forever. Suddenly they weren't just fans- they were all people you had gotten to know. It's pretty incredible.

How did you end up touring with Drowning Pool? What are you most excited about that tour?

Well for starters, we have the same manager so I'm sure that didn't hurt, haha! Actually I'm really excited for this tour... I first met CaseyDC while his former band Dry Kill Logic and my former band were touring with Drowning Pool. It's gonna be an awesome reunion for us all!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Adrien Brody Stars in New H&M Holiday Short Film

2016-11-28T17:23:45.007Z

With the Christmas season well underway, it's time to not only start knocking out a our holiday shopping lists but also see all the great Christmas videos floating around the interwebs. And with the help of director Wes Anderson, H&M's latest visual will definitely make you feel the holiday spirit.

Starring Adrien Brody, the spot, entitled Come Together, feels just like it's a scene from one of Wes' famous films like The Grand Budapest Hotel. The video takes place on Christmas Day, and the conductor, played by Brody, is on a mission to bring the holidays to his passengers.

Watch how it all unfolds below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Lady Gaga Opens Up about the Sacrifices That Come With Fame

2016-11-28T16:59:26.519Z

Lady Gaga always wears her heart on her sleeve. However, she really shows her vulnerability in a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, especially when she talked about what she has been missing since she has been famous.

"I miss people. I miss going anywhere and meeting a random person and saying hi and having a conversation about life. I love people."

She also said, "I'm very acutely aware that once I cross that property line, I'm not free anymore. As soon as I go out into the world, I belong, in a way, to everyone else. It's legal to follow me. It’s legal to stalk me at the beach. And I can't call the police or ask them to leave. And I took a long, hard look at that property line, and I said, 'Well, if I can't be free out there, I can be free in here.'"

Gaga also opened up about the end of her engagement to Taylor Kinney. "I think women love very hard," she explained. "We love men. We just love with everything we have. And sometimes I don't know that that love is met with the type of dignity that we wish it would be met with. You know, we're not trying to make you less of a man. We just want you to love us as deeply and as wholesomely and as fully as we love you."

Watch the full interview below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Colin Kaepernick Continues to Fight for His Beliefs While Anthony Michael Hall Just Keeps Fighting

2016-11-28T08:00:00.000Z

While you were busy chowing down on leftover turkey and avoiding awkward conversations about politics and your personal life with your least favorite relatives, there were a whole bunch of celebrities acting up and acting out. From mostly nude models to battling Breakfast Club actors, here’s what you missed over the weekend.

Model Behavior

Thanksgiving may have ended, but there’s one more international holiday before Christmas that so many look forward to each year. It’s that one time of year when people everywhere unite for the spectacle of legs and cleavage known as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The most coveted name in lacy undergarments and overpriced sweatpants is once again bringing together some of the most popular models for an evening full of music, visible skin and of course that show-stopping, diamond-encrusted Fantasy Bra estimated at a measly $3 million.

And we are off to paris 🤗🤗🤗❤️ #vsfsparis16 #vsfs2016 #vsfashionshow

A photo posted by Sara Sampaio (@sarasampaio) on Nov 27, 2016 at 6:03am PST

Shaking things up a little, Victoria’s Secret flew their beloved Angels to France in preparation for the December 5 television debut. It’s the first time that the fashion show is being held in Paris, and while the city might be thrilled to host such a celebrated event, no one is more excited than the models themselves. Taking to their Instagram accounts, veteran Angels such as Sara Sampaio and Adriana Lima posted photos and videos of the large entourage boarding their private jet and getting settled in for their long flight abroad.

💋💋💋💋

A video posted by Adriana Lima (@adrianalima) on Nov 27, 2016 at 6:04am PST

Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor

Former Brat Pack star Anthony Michael Hall is now potentially facing a minimum of a few years in prison following a dispute with a neighbor back in September. The ‘80s cinema icon is being charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney with domestic battery for his role in the physical altercation that allegedly left the other man with a broken wrist and injured back. Due to confidential circumstances, the crime may come with an increased sentence of up to seven years behind bars.

WENN.com

The surveillance camera footage captured Hall’s encounter with the tenant outside of their building in Los Angeles County’s Playa del Rey suburb. Hall allegedly raised his voice towards the neighbor, demanding that the man close a property gate. However, some kind of disagreement ensued, because the next part of the video feed shows Hall walking over to close the gate himself, pushing the other man to the ground before turning his back and walking away. His defense team is going to have an uphill battle, as Hall has been accused of confronting other occupants in the past with profanity and threats of physical violence.

Two Men, One Shirt

What began for him as a protest against racial injustice and police brutality has escalated into something far beyond comprehension. Back in August, the shirt Colin Kaepernick wore to a pre-season press conference featured a montage of photos depicting Malcolm X and Fidel Castro during their 1960 meeting in New York. When asked by Armando Salguero, the Cuban-born journalist for the Miami Herald, why someone fighting so diligently for equality would wear something so offensive, he denied the accusation, claiming that he was only celebrating the ideology of Malcolm X. Instead of owning up to his mistake and growing from it, Colin Kaepernick ended up putting his foot in his mouth and upsetting a lot of people.

Ben M., AP

What the 49ers quarterback claimed to admire was the fact that such a meeting took place — that despite their differences, these two men united to discuss each other’s philosophies. Refusing to acknowledge the oppression endured under Castro’s rule, Kaepernick went on to incorrectly praise the Cuban Dictator for investing more in education and literacy than the prison system. Salguero’s article was published on Friday, hours before Castro’s death and two days before the 49ers were scheduled to play the Dolphins in Miami. When he walked onto the field, Kaepernick was met with incredible hostility, booed by the very people who once believed in his fight for equality for everyone. Kaepernick answered the boos by posting one of his best games of the season.

It was hard not to take notice of Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron, on Election night. It was after 3 A.M. and the 10-year-old boy was trying his best not to fall asleep while standing up. The poor kid was exhausted, nodding off while listening to his father ramble on during his drawn-out victory speech. Even spectators all the way out in Japan found him to be adorable, but questioned whether the boy was in good health. They weren’t the only ones to wonder, because comedian Rosie O’Donnell also took to social media to voice her concerns.

Barron Trump Autistic? if so - what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic https://t.co/Acgy1Qxyqi via @YouTube
— Rosie (@Rosie) November 22, 2016

O’Donnell turned to Twitter, asking if anyone else believed that Barron possessed the signs of a child with autism, with an accompanying video to support her suspicions. Unfortunately, people assumed that the tweet was malicious, coming from the troubled interactions between her and Trump in the past. What they didn’t realize though is that one of O’Donnell’s four children is autistic, making her personally intimate with the mental disorder and its characteristics. She returned to social media to defend her use of the video footage, emphasizing that she didn’t personally create it, and that she was only looking to bring awareness to this particular situation that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

not my movie clip - lots of us - who raise autistic children notice things many would miss... somethings felt familiar #NOshameAUTISM
— Rosie (@Rosie) November 23, 2016

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

8 Most WTF Cyber Monday Deals

2016-11-28T08:00:00.000Z

For those looking to save money on blenders, cameras, clothes, laptops and a million other things we love to splurge on during the holidays, Americans invariably turn to Black Friday and Cyber Monday to quench their oversized savings thirst. Luckily, we’ve stumbled through the Cyber Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday dross of discounts to bring you a cautionary tale of the most dreadful deals out there. Buyer beware!

Sharper Image SBT5005 Lava Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker 17.5"

Sale Price: $69.99 Original Price: $100

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone under the age of 30 who has visited a JCPenney store in the last couple of years. The declining retail giant was once a cornerstone of malls nationwide, but has seen closures in recent years, including seven this calendar year. Naturally, their Cyber Monday Deals leave something to be desired, with the sale items resembling a garage junk sale from 1980. Take this Lava Lamp Bluetooth Speaker for instance. Who’s buying this? Either your super nostalgic uncle, or your 13-year-old son who just put up his first blacklight Bob Marley poster. It’s made by Sharper Image, which, if you’ve ever bought anything from them, you’ll know this self-proclaimed “funkadelic” Bluetooth speaker probably has a life of about three months. This kid's disappointing "I don't know what this is," at the end of the above clip says everything.

Instant Pot IP-LUX60-ENW Stainless Steel 6-in-1 Pressure Cooker with Mini Mitts

Sale Price: $99.95 Original Price: $125.99

I’m no expert, but pressure cookers just sound like a home disaster waiting to happen. They’ve been used by bomb builders in terror attacks in recent years, and even the digital timer on this thing looks like the digital readout from a bomb in a '90s action movie. Even if this thing can cook a whole chicken in under 20 minutes, who needs the stress of having the nuclear bomb version of a Crock-Pot in their kitchen?

Holiday Family Pajamas Snowflake Sleep Pant & Top 2 Piece Sleepwear

Sale Price: $12.97

The family with the pressure cooker in their kitchen is probably the same family wearing these godawful coordinated pajamas. Steer clear of these if your family has any sense of decency.

Crocband™ Holiday Lights Clog

Price: $54.99 Discount: 40% off

Unless you’re someone that purposefully takes bad taste Christmas photos with their goofy self-aware friends, these Holiday themed Crocs should be the last thing you put in your shopping cart on Cyber Monday. Crocs apparently have had the best site wide deals on Cyber Monday for the past three years running, but that doesn’t sweeten the deal for us — because well, they’re Crocs. These “clogs” are so full of festive holiday cheer that the soles light up with each step. What are you, five? Save yourself the sheer embarrassment of wearing these giant rubber watermelons on your feet and thank us later.

Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Quadcopter (Jungle)

Sale Price: $206.79 Original Price: $299.99

I think we’re still a little ways off from the drone future everyone predicted. Most people expected Amazon to have drone deliveries by now, after making an announcement nearly two years ago. Since then, Wal-Mart and Google have entered the fold for potential drone delivery, but we’re still a couple years out from seeing packages delivered via drone. Which leaves the drone consumer market open to weird, fringe hobbyists, and peeping toms. The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Quadcopter, seems perfect for your 50-year-old neighbor that lives by himself and has a strange obsession with old radios and other weird pieces of antisocial vintage technology. The Quadcopter’s jungle color scheme also gives off some ultra creepy military vibes that are totally unnecessary. Apart from being totally annoying (a simple YouTube search reveals a host of videos of drones being shot down by perturbed citizens) they can be unwieldy, like the time one almost took Enrique Iglesias’ hand clean off. No thanks.

Sales without the Psychopaths Mousepad

Sale Price: $13.15

This mousepad is not technically on sale during Cyber Monday, but it’s sure to quench the thirst of the most ravenous of Cyber Monday shoppers. The pad presumes that people shopping online for Cyber Monday are somehow less psychotic than those shopping on Black Friday. While Monday shoppers might avoid losing a limb at Target, or witnessing a homicide outside of Wal-Mart over a blender, the Cyber Monday super-shopper surely has some skeletons in the closet, figuratively and literally. The toothy grin the mouse is making is vaguely unsettling, and the mouse looks like something you’d find in your company’s old cardboard box of computer gear circa 2008. We’ll pass.

Sheetz Gift Card

Sale Price: $25 Original Price: $30

Sheetz, the most poorly named gas station fast food spot in America, has claimed in a recent advertising campaign that “fries are the new lettuce.” As much as we want to get behind this, we just can’t look beyond the easy-target name and myriad possibilities of bad puns it presents. Ebay is selling $30 Sheetz gift cards for $25, which seems like a pretty good deal, but one look at the menu will have you thinking otherwise. Reading like a combination of every worst fast food joint combined (think Green Burrito meets Papa John’s meets Carl’s Jr meets 7-Eleven meets PopEyes meets Subway), most items on the menu are bound to have you asking your local pentecostal priest for forgiveness. There are a ton of other discounted gift cards around this Cyber Monday, so spare yourself a case of the sheetz and feel good about food again.

BetterBack

Price: $59.00 Discount: 35% off (with Forbes promo code)

If this were a giant fruit slingshot made for real life Fruit Ninja, maybe we could see a reason to shell out 60 bucks. The BetterBack is infomercial fodder and one of the most cumbersome and embarrassing things you could ever choose to strap on yourself in a public place. Goes hand in hand with people with a gluten intolerance.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

8 Movies and TV Specials To Help You Find Your Holiday Spirit

2016-11-28T07:00:00.000Z

Break out the brandy and rum, as we’re now officially in eggnog season! You don’t need a reason to enjoy a yuletide drink, but 2016 has been rough. We’re talking cutthroat bad. From the passing of talented artists, to the everlasting heatwave known as global warming and the craziest presidential election ever, 2016 has been no joke. Having gone through all that, we now brace ourselves for the holidays. As fun as decorations and presents can be, there’s no escaping long shopping lines, parking nightmares and family members we intentionally avoid seeing the rest of the year.

But there’s no need for “Bah! Humbug!” or locking yourself in your room for the remainder of the year. Let Myspace be your holiday safety blanket. We’re that never-ending candy cane that reenergizes your holiday spirit. And what better way to feel the magic of the season than to have an evening of classic movies and TV specials to spread the holiday cheer! From the heart-warming to the weird to the just plain “Ho, Ho, Ho!”, here are 8 holiday favorites guaranteed to go well with any eggnog drink!

Home Alone

Growing up, no movie better captured Christmas during the ‘90s than Home Alone. From the humor, fashion styles and blatant product placements (Pepsi, American Airlines, etc.), this film screams that decade, while perfectly delivering the essence of being a kid during the holidays. Considering the film is on basic cable heavy rotation starting around Thanksgiving, it won’t be hard to find.

Even though Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) relishes having a house of his own with no rules, the story ends up being a love letter to the best present one can receive during the season: family. John Hughes’ holiday classic also gives us the crazy antics of the “Wet Bandits” (or “Sticky Bandits”), a pair of bumbling robbers played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. Watching them get pummeled by Macaulay every year never gets old.

Bonus tip: if you’re looking for a DIY ugly sweater design this year, you can’t go wrong with Buzz’s girlfriend…Woof!

Lethal Weapon

Now this may come as a shock, but not everyone loves holiday movies. You might have a family member like your dad, who immediately changes the channel whenever a Christmas themed movie appears onscreen. For those people, we have the right amount of macho and violence delivered with a side of Christmas music. Shane Black’s 1987 Lethal Weapon was the first action film that embraced the festivities of December. From the opening moments when we hear “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms, the audience knows what season it is, promptly followed by a woman jumping off a high-rise to her death. If that doesn’t say “Merry Christmas,” we don’t know what does!

The film’s huge success created a path for other action films to deliver holiday violence. We could have easily gone with Die Hard or Die Hard 2, considering the festive jollies you’ll find amongst those explosions.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

You really can’t have Christmas without Chevy Chase and the Griswold clan. At this point, the Griswolds are like America’s first family of comedy. As much as we liked their adventures going to Wally World or traveling through Europe, their Christmas celebration is regarded as one of the funniest films of all time.

Everyone can relate to Clark Griswold (Chase) and the stress of trying to pull off the perfect family Christmas. As things go haywire and he buckles under the holiday pressure of money, work and family, the laughs keep mounting for the audience. The Griswolds' dysfunction drives the story and the wonderful collection of supporting characters is what makes it an instant classic. From that maniac Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), to Julia Louis-Dreyfuss as the snotty neighbor — and the senile Uncle Lewis (William Hickey) and Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel) — a normal Christmas is unthinkable.

Bonus tip: always remember to check your Christmas tree for squirrels!

Scrooged

Even though Billy Murray had his own holiday Netflix special last year — A Very Murray Christmas — skip that and just watch this movie.

He may be a literary legend, but the character of Ebenezer Scrooge is rather “blah” in today’s world. Only a talent like Bill Murray could make you care about a boring character like Scrooge, giving him edge and humor. Murray makes being a Class-A jerk, cool. The 1988 comedy Scrooged is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with Bill playing a greedy TV executive who is paid a visit by the three ghosts of Christmas.

From watching Bill bully Bobcat Goldthwait, to him getting into a fist-fight with the Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane), this movie offers nonstop laughs having no qualms with stepping over the line. Instead of Ghostbusters, people should have been asking for a sequel to this comedy masterpiece!

Christmas at Pee Wee’s Playhouse

From Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas to the Rankin/Bass productions like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, watching Christmas specials has become a family tradition for most. As fun and nostalgic as those classics are, they pale in comparison to what you will find inside the festive happenings of the Playhouse. Just imagine a fruitcake dipped in LSD, exploding in your living room and turning everything into a twisted winter wonderland. That’s what this is.

The master of ceremonies is that fun-loving adult child, Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens), as he takes the world of his children’s show and sprays it with garland and ornaments. As that genie-in-a-box, Jambi would say: Guest stars? Did somebody say guest stars? This show is crammed with famous faces like Oprah, Little Richard, Magic Johnson and Whoopi Goldberg. Not random enough for you? How about Grace Jones, Charo and KD Lang. The wackiness of this special is tailored made to be a drinking game at your next holiday party!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The word timeless and A Charlie Brown Christmas go hand in hand. They’re one in the same. Whichever way you wish to describe it, you can’t have a holiday list and not include this universal classic. From the soundtrack, to the themes of friendship, tiny tree and Linus’ “true meaning of Christmas” speech, this half-hour animated special has been a staple in our lives for over 50 years.

The magic of the cartoon is the holiday cheer and spirit found in the animation. Viewers either reinforce their love of the season or rediscover the meaning of why family and friends come together. Over the years, the cartoon’s impact has steadily grown, so much so that countless pieces of merchandise have been produced, including the tree replica with Linus’ blanket, a personal favorite. Regardless of where we are in life, a nice constant is that every year we’ll be able to unwrap and enjoy this treasure.

One Magic Christmas

A lesser known holiday gem is this 1985 film that is the perfect embodiment of trying to find the holiday spirit during difficult times. Mary Steenburgen plays Ginny, a working class mother to a small family that is facing hardships during Christmas. From the loss of a job and having no money, to experiencing a tragic death in the family, Ginny has lost her Christmas spirit. That’s when the supernatural intervenes in the form of the angel Gideon (played by Harry Dean Stanton), who, with the assistance of Ginny’s young daughter, helps her rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.

Packed with emotion, charm and some Christmas magic, you’ll be sure to get the feels. A bonus treat for viewers is quite possibly the best incarnation of Santa Claus in cinema. Even though we’ve seen Santa and his elves countless times before, this version feels textured and authentic.

Love Actually

As much as I wanted to stick Batman Returns on the list, I have to go with this modern holiday favorite. You’ve all seen this film by now. It’s the rom-com with The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) declaring his love for Keira Knightley at her doorway with cue cards. The film has an all-star team of British actors featuring Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth and the late Alan Rickman. Basically any actor living in the UK at the time was included in the film.

Since the holidays are a good time to infuse love into your life, this is a must-see if you’re trying to set the mood with that special someone, or looking to seal the deal under the mistletoe. Packed with entertaining characters that each have their own love story, fans have taken to claiming allegiance to favorite storylines that have them smiling every December.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

EXCLUSIVE: FIVES Premiere "Lovers in Lullaby"

2016-11-23T19:53:49.347Z

Baltimore band FIVES, made up of vocalist Marc Cashin, keyboardist Matt White, Nate Lanzino, Billy Toti, and Max Rosenstein, blend jams in a perfect meld of acoustic rock and indie pop (with some electronica thrown into the mix) with their sound. After a band Marc and Matt were in fizzled out, the pair started FIVES as their own project. “We wanted guys that would take the band seriously, and had really solid musical chops!”

FIVES just released their EP Heart and Thunder, which represents a change in their sound. "It has evolved over the past couple of years — more layers, more synths, drums that you might find on a current EDM track, and maybe a touch of the '80s." Today, they are are premiering "Lovers in Lullaby" on Myspace. Hear it below!

Hometown: We all grew up in different parts of the country; Maryland, Indiana, New Jersey, and Hawaii. Most of us come from small towns so the Baltimore/DC area is much bigger and metropolitan.

Why are you called FIVES?

We laugh because everyone always asks that question, and we have such a lame answer. We keep saying that we should create a really crazy backstory - but the real answer is that each member of the band got to place three names into a hat and we randomly drew one. There were some pretty bad options in that hat - we narrowly avoided Chimp Overboard and Mourning Would!

Describe your music to someone who's never heard you before.

We have an acoustic influence underneath layers of indie pop and rock.

What's the story behind your EP Heart & Thunder?

The words heart and thunder represent the good and bad parts of relationships. All of the songs on the EP are about love, but they aren't necessarily "love songs". We wanted to capture the emotions of real relationships, not the sappy perfect kinds of love songs that you typically find in pop music. Lyrically and tonally we wanted to show the ups and downs, the excitement of sharing that first moment of eye contact, the struggle to find love at the same time, and the fear of unrequited love and commitment.

What inspired you to write "Lovers in Lullaby"?

“Lovers” is lyrically sexy. It's about a passionate romance that was so intense it burned out quickly. Musically there is a lot of tension. The whole song feels like you're sneaking out to do something you're not supposed to do which is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. We are currently working on a video for this song - it has been fun exploring some of these themes in a visual way and we can't wait for people to see it!

Who are your biggest musical influences?

We all have very eclectic tastes in music; we listen to The 1975 , Radiohead, Coldplay, The Griswolds, Gallant, Kanye. There's so much good music out there that it's impossible to be influenced by only one type.

You’re from Baltimore/Washington as a band; does that influence your music?

Not really. You would think that living in the nation's capital we would feel the influence of politics and the related craziness of the past year, but after you live here for a while, you become desensitized to it. It wasn't intentional, but our song-writing process for this album was very personal — we didn't leave much room for external influence.

Do you have day jobs? What do you do for fun?

Marc: I spend a lot of time on my Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, but outside of FIVES I'm also a firefighter with the Baltimore City Fire Department. I'm a member of our Special Operations Command. In addition to regular firefighting and EMS responsibilities, we're also responsible for rescuing people who get trapped in extraordinary situations. If a window washer gets stuck on a skyscraper, a person gets trapped under a collapsed building, someone drives their car into the water, or someone gets exposed to hazardous chemicals , it's our job to help. It's a dangerous and exciting job — almost as exciting being on stage.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#yestherearefivepeopleintheband or maybe #FIVESnotTheFIVES

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Justin Bieber Punches Fan in Barcelona

2016-11-23T17:34:45.578Z

Justin Bieber may have been really close to his Beliebers. But nowadays, he's been keeping fans at bay. And if you get too close, like one fan was, you may walk away with a bloody lip.

TMZ reported Justin was in a car that drove past a group of fans in Barcelona on Tuesday night (November 22). One of them ended up reaching in though the window, which was completely open. And while the fan didn't touch the pop singer, Justin went in and punched him in the face.

The fan walked away saying "He punched me," in Spanish as well as showed other fans.

Watch the incident below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Adele Reveals Final World Tour Dates

2016-11-23T17:09:16.083Z

After finishing the final date on the US leg of her world tour, Adele announced the last two shows to close out her live run. And of course, she'll be ending her epic world tour in the her hometown, London.

She will be playing on June 29, 2017 and July 1, 2017, in Wembley Stadium. The gig will be a 360° in-the-round, similar to one of the stages in her current tour — in order to fans to see her regardless of where your seats are.

Advanced tickets go on sale on November 30 at 10AM GMT, and general tix sales will open on December 2 at 10 AM GMT. Check out Adele.com for more updates.

Following her last US show in Phoenix on Monday (November 21), she thanked fans and announced that she'd be having another baby. While we're not too sure if she was joking or actually serious (especially considering her recent Australian tour announcement), she did share the sweetest welcome home present from her son on Instagram, which you can see below.

I just finished my 107 shows in 10 months. 100% live every night. I bloody smashed it, even if I do say so myself. You lot have been incredible, every night you've been so beautiful, loving and engaged. My band and my crew you made the whole thing turn. And my beautiful family made it easy for me to do. Big love x

A photo posted by @adele on Nov 22, 2016 at 12:05am PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Bono Perform New Holiday Tune "We're Going to Hell" With Celebs for Charity

2016-11-23T17:00:30.721Z

With World AIDS Day two weeks away, Bono is hard at work to get people to donate to his charity (RED). And last night (November 22), he brought Kristen Bell, Halsey, The Killers' Brandon Flowers, Neil Patrick Harris, Channing Tatum, Julia Roberts and DJ Khaled to Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform the original holiday tune, "We're Going to Hell."

Brandon played the piano while Neil Patrick and Channing had a tap dance battle on carpet. And to top it all off, Bono rolls onto the stage in a bathtub and is dressed like some kind of demon.

So how did singing about going to hell become the next big Christmas song? Jimmy Kimmel, who kicked off the performance, teamed up with Brandon to write the tune.

"I wrote that line," Jimmy revealed to Billboard regarding the song's big lyric. "But that's true — if you don't help people with AIDS you are going to hell, and that seems like a good enough reason to help alone. I mean, just think of yourselves."

Watch their performance below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-11-23T08:19:27.097Z

This week, Blake Shelton drops a batch of winter shows and some of the best indie rock groups announce massive tours... but who cares because New Kids on the Block are going on tour with Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men.

The xx European Tour

After previously announcing shows in the Czech Republic, Tokyo, Poland and Croatia, indie trio The xx are now headed for Europe. The band just released two months worth of concerts throughout the continent, culminating in a March 17 show at Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Click here for more info.

Dawes 2017 Tour

In support of their new album, We're All Gonna Die, Dawes has just revealed some ambitious 2017 touring plans. The rockers will kick things off on January 10 at Belly Up in San Diego, followed by stops in every nook and cranny of the US. Click here for more info.

NKOTB, Paula Abdul & Boyz II Men Tour

The '90s revival continues as New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul have announced they'll be hitting the road for a joint summer trek. Dubbed The Total Package Tour, catch this dream team starting on May 12 in Columbus, OH. Click here for more info.

Parquet Courts 2017 Tour

In addition to their previously announced December shows, Parquet Courts have just announced a fresh round of winter concerts. Listen to tunes from their latest effort, Human Performance, from January 31 to February 13, starting with a show in Philly at Union Transfer. They'll be joined by Mary Lattimore as tour support. Click here for more info.

Blake Shelton Winter Tour

Blake Shelton is taking a break from judging duties on The Voice to hit the road for a winter tour. Joining him this time around will be RaeLynn, his mentee and contestant from the show's 2012 season. The tour will take place predominately on the West Coast, kicking off on February 16 in Bakersfield, CA. Click here for more info.

7 Things We Learned Watching Survivor Series & NXT TakeOver: Toronto

2016-11-23T08:10:20.242Z

WWE delivered us a double-bill this past weekend as NXT TakeOver: Toronto took place on Saturday night, while Survivor Series was held on Sunday. As has been the case the past couple of years, NXT delivered a five-star event while WWE struggled to keep up with its “developmental” brand. A year from now the only thing Survivor Series 2016 will be remembered for is how Goldberg beat Brock Lesnar.

Gone are the days of the Gobbledy Gooker and Survivor Series actually taking place on Thanksgiving night. The days when Survivor Series teams were actually built around rivalries and well thought-out storylines. Granted those early incarnations of the wrestling “Thanksgiving tradition” had their share of camp and kiddie moments, but the show was always fun. The 2016 version, which also marks the 30^th anniversary of the annual event, was a mishmash of results, WTF booking decisions and a shocking main event.

Now that we’ve had time to soak everything in, we look back and examine what we learned from both shows — the good and the bad.

Goldberg Squashes Brock Lesnar

Goldberg decimated Brock Lesnar in under two minutes. I repeat, the almost 50-year-old Goldberg, who hasn’t wrestled in 12 years, destroyed Brock Lesnar, a man that is a legit UFC fighting machine, and built as a WWE monster. Even though Kayfabe is long dead, this fantasy is what WWE sold us. Just like Trump’s victory, no one could believe this end result. The shock-value and buzz worthy headlines it’s created is exactly what WWE hoped for. On that front they succeeded, as no main event result has been as controversial or talked about, since Brock ended The Undertaker’s WrestleMania win streak.

On the flip side, WWE wasted a golden opportunity of letting a younger, current WWE superstar be the one to slay the Beast Incarnate. Letting a future face of the company get that rub of defeating Brock is what’s best for business. But rational decisions and WWE never go hand-in-hand. As we’ve seen in the past, WWE prefers going with these small weird moments, over clever satisfying storylines that are told over the course of months.

Fingers-crossed WWE has a real plan on where they go from here. Either the Goldberg/Lesnar feud continues on at Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 33, or WWE spent millions of dollars on promotion and hype to undermine Brock’s unbeatable persona.

WWE Is Not a Fan of Smackdown Live

For whatever reason, the Smackdown roster was booked to look weak at Survivor Series. Sure, Smackdown won the traditional 5-on-5 match and The Miz ended up retaining the Intercontinental title, but the show ended up feeling like a RAW PPV. Everyone knows RAW has the deeper roster but this would have been an excellent opportunity to really push or highlight some key Smackdown superstars.

In the women’s match, no Smackdown woman looked good or got any sort of push. Becky Lynch came across as a paper champion, while fan-favorite heel, Alexa Bliss wasn’t given much to work with. Instead the focus revolved around Charlotte, just like every episode of RAW.

The men’s tag team match was a trainwreck. It’s the type of match you have playing in the background while you do some chores. Regardless, when The Shining Stars get better spots than any Smackdown teams, you know it’s gonna be a long night. American Alpha should have been the victors, establishing themselves as the most dominant tag team in WWE. Instead, the booking went to Cesaro and Sheamus, two men who will probably split up before the year ends.

At this point fans are used to bad or questionable booking by WWE, but devaluing one of its brands at one of biggest events of the year doesn’t make any sense.

The Shield Reunites…For a Moment

There’s been rumors about a possible reunion between former members of The Shield: Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. Much to the delight of the WWE Universe, it happened — however so briefly — at Survivor Series as the three former friends took out AJ Styles by triple power-bombing him through a table.

With Seth and Roman on Raw and Dean on Smackdown, chances are slim the three former friends will bring back The Shield full-time. That and they all now have successful singles careers. However, if AJ Styles seeks revenge and reaches out to his buddies Gallows and Anderson for help, The Club vs The Shield would be a WrestleMania 33 must-see match.

SIERRA HOTEL INDIA ECHO LIMA DELTA! @WWERomanReigns @WWERollins and @TheDeanAmbrose take out @AJStylesOrg! #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/fffpVsxGHE
— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2016

NXT is So Fresh and So Clean

No surprise here but NXT delivers another solid night of wrestling and amazing moments. The TakeOver PPV’s have been widely successful, setting the bar on what fans should expect and demand when it comes to top pro wrestling shows. Having recently attended a live NXT show, we know full well the magic this brand creates in the ring.

Match of the weekend honors (for both shows) goes to DIY vs The Revival. Going into the match people were expecting something special and that’s exactly what they got when Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano finally defeated Dawson and Wilder for the NXT Tag Team Championship. Kudos to Triple H and his creative team for building a compelling angle with a satisfying conclusion. Chances are The Revival will get bumped up to the main roster, as DIY is poised to start a program with The Authors of Pain.

Somebody give Mickie James a contract, because the former Women’s Champion showed that she’s still a top player in women’s wrestling. Even though Mickie failed to hand Asuka her first loss, she dominated the majority of the match against the NXT Women’s Champion. So what’s next? Does Mickie and Asuka build on this creating a feud? Does Mickie move up to the main roster and give those women a run for their money? As we’ve stated before, WWE should sign her and hopefully they give her a good final run with the company.

The Wyatts Finally Win

Is WWE finally planning on utilizing The Wyatt Family? Being wasted numerous times in feuds that have gone nowhere, The Wyatts finally got their first big PPV victory. With a little help from Luke Harper, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton survived the 5-on-5 match giving Smackdown its first team win. Unfortunately for the men, there’s slim pickings in the Smackdown roster for a meaningful feud. Low on top-shelf babyfaces, WWE might have to bring in some big name talent to square off against this crazy faction. Finn Balor would be ideal, if he weren’t already on RAW.

The #WyattFamily's @WWEBrayWyatt and @RandyOrton are survivors for Team #SDLive! #SurvivorSeries #FollowTheBuzzards pic.twitter.com/TlyYDPz1iw
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) November 21, 2016

10! 10! 10!

“10” is the new “What?” in the world of wrestling chants. Doesn’t matter if you were watching Survivor Series or NXT TakeOver: Toronto, you couldn’t escape the “10” chants as they were heard in almost every match. “The Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger is over with the WWE Universe and they’ve embraced his “10” chants most of all. As we noticed in the LA show, the number 10 was shouted for everything from near-falls to count-outs. With Royal Rumble just around the corner, the perfect entry for Tye to make his surprise appearance would be “10,” naturally!

Cruiserweights' Failure to Launch

As much as WWE would like to have a successful cruiserweight division, their booking says otherwise. The Cruiserweight Classic tournament was highly praised and exciting, but the RAW version has been a dud with poor storytelling and rushed matches. The sluggish start falls directly on WWE creative. The talented cruiserweights can put on wrestling clinics but if they aren’t given any structure, no one will care.

Kalisto and Brian Kendrick put on a great match at Survivor Series, only to have to Baron Corbin end the match via a disqualification. Baron Corbin?!!! WWE figured it would be better to have Baron Corbin be spotlighted than to have a full Cruiserweight title match, that would determine the future of the division. There goes that wrestling logic again!

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

8 Gadgets That are Worth Camping Out For on Black Friday

2016-11-23T08:00:00.000Z

Remember when you made a promise days before Christmas 2015 that you wouldn’t save all of your shopping to the last minute this year? Before you find yourself in the same predicament again, take a look at our guide to the best Black Friday deals.

From one of the most reasonably priced 4K smart TVs and the new Xbox One S to a compact, inexpensive drone, there’s bound to be some high tech gifts perfect for your friends, family — and maybe even you — on this list.

49-inch Toshiba 4K smart TV with Chromecast

($199.99 in-store, Best Buy)

We’re pretty sure you won’t find a better mid-size smart TV deal this Black Friday. This door buster, available only in-store at Best Buy, is for the early birds and likely won’t stay in stock very long. The half-price 4K TV comes equipped with Ultra HD picture quality, Wi-Fi connectivity and high quality DTS Studio Sound. Chromecast is also built-in, so expect easy access to Netflix, YouTube, Spotify and more.

Xbox One S Battlefield 1 Bundle

($249.99, Sam’s Club)

Add the Xbox’s new edition to your list to stay up to date in the gaming world. The streamlined console (with a built-in power supply!) features high dynamic range picture quality, top-notch performance and a robust 500 GB hard drive. It also features an Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray player, besting both the previous Xbox and the new PS4 models. Complete with the new WW1-themed first-person shooter Battlefield 1, this deal is a must for hardcore gamers.

Apple Watch Series 1

($198, Target)

Optimize your digital life with the updated basic edition of the Apple Watch. Series 1 offers similar features as the original Apple Watch, yet has a significantly lower price tag (even before the $70 Black Friday discount). Get this smart watch, pair it with your iPhone and have the ability to track your workouts, communicate with friends and use apps from your wrist.

Beats By Dr. Dre: Beats Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones

($219.99, Best Buy)

In the market for quality headphones? Beats Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones are a pretty good bet, featuring Beats’ own Acoustic Engine to provide a superior listening experience. With a lightweight design and Bluetooth connectivity, these headphones let you listen without a bulky design or tangled cords. They also feature Adaptive Noise Cancellation that automatically optimizes sound levels for the "optimal blend of music and outside sound."

Microsoft 12.3’’ Surface Pro 4 (with keyboard)

($599.99, Best Buy)

This compact tablet could actually be a sound replacement for your old laptop. Best for web browsing, email and word processing, this 2-in-1 device lets you write on it like a tablet (with a Surface Pen) and then use it like a desktop computer. This edition has a 12.3 inch screen, 4 GB RAM and a 128 GB hard drive. In laymen’s terms: big and fast enough to surf the web and watch movies, with enough storage for the average everyday computer user.

Jetson V6 Hoverboard w/ Bluetooth Speakers

($284.99, Target)

This is the item on your Black Friday list that you didn’t know you needed. The Jetson V6 is a good bet for beginner hoverboarders, featuring the company’s user-friendly Active Balance Technology. The hoverboard comes with an iOS and Android compatible app called Ride Ready, which allows you to stream music directly through the unit’s Bluetooth audio system, control the lights and track your ride. It’s also safe, complying with new regulations in response to last year's concerns about hoverboards.

RC Quadcopter Scout Drone 2.4GHz 6-Axis Remote Control Video/Photo Camera

($54.95, Walmart)

Haven’t you always wanted your own personal drone? The Scout Drone is a compact, inexpensive way to realize that wish for the adventurous kid on your list. It gives you the chance to view and photograph the land from up to 300 feet away. It also lets you put on your own mini airshow: the Drone can flip 360 degrees with the help of its self-leveling 6-axis gyroscope. For those shaky crash landings, the Drone also features protective guards.

Special Edition Nintendo 3DS

($99.99, multiple stores)

Just in time for the new Pokémon Sun & Moon games, Nintendo is releasing a special edition 3DS at its lowest price ever. This version will feature designs from the Mushroom Kingdom on its case, including characters like Mario and Toad. A favorite handheld console for both young and old, this Nintendo 3DS is bound to please both the occasional and frequent gamer in the family.

8 Unconventional Thanksgiving Movies to Watch with Your Dysfunctional Family

2016-11-23T08:00:00.000Z

Newsflash: your family isn’t the most screwed up one. Thanksgiving season is hardly easy for anyone. Some have to travel hundreds of miles to see the people they don’t even get along with. Others have to spend hours in the kitchen making dishes they don’t even like. But for some reason we still follow all the Thanksgiving tropes every November. If you want to spice up your holiday just a little, we’ve got you covered with our list of creative viewing options to eat with your after-dinner pumpkin pie.

House of Yes (1997)

“I’m going to base the turkey and hide the kitchen knives.”

Gotta love the '90s! Back then teen idols Tori Spelling and Freddie Prinze jr. could star in a movie dedicated solely to the topic of incest. Imagine going to your fiancé's family's house for Thanksgiving during a Hurricane, only to discover he had an affair with his twin sister who’s not just obsessed with Jackie Kennedy but also plans to do everything to keep the love of her life home. The movie featured a career-defying performance by Parker Posey and was directed by Mark Waters, who later made Mean Girls.

Scent of a Woman (1992)

Don’t want to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with your family and need some extra cash? You can follow the example of the student (played by Chris O’Donnell) from this drama and babysit a retired blind Army lieutenant (Al Pacino), who’ll turn out to be an alcoholic and the best teacher a young man can have. Quick question: how many of you signed up for a tango lesson after this famous scene?

ThanksKilling (2009)

This movie is exactly what you think it is: a lowest-budget horror comedy about a joke-cracking demonic Turkie that runs around town murdering idiots. Turkie was a creation of some devious Native American shaman who got pissed at a Pilgrim and created a monster bound to kill every Caucasian person he meets. The movie was so nihilistic that the filmmakers skipped a sequel and went straight to ThanksKilling 3.

Kristy (2014)

Thinking about staying at the dorm with your best friend and having a family-free Thanksgiving? Well, your BFF may leave you last minute and you’ll be left all alone at this huge dark dormitory. To make matters even worse, a bunch of hooded members of some murderous cybercult may pop up at your door to slay you and gain some sort of internet fame. That’s the premise of this holiday-themed slasher, which sees the titular character running for her life instead of passing the gravy to her relatives. Next year maybe just go see your family, Kristy?

The Ice Storm (1997)

This Ang Lee-directed drama was based on the novel of the same name by Rick Moody and told the story of not one, but two uber-dysfunctional families in Connecticut during early '70s. The characters stuff their lives with all sorts of activities — from sexual partner swapping to uncontrolled alcohol consumption. The movie was a major career opportunity for Christina Ricci, Katie Holmes, Tobey Maguire and Elijah Wood and stood the test of time as a universally appealing story of excess that can either break a family or unite it.

Thanksgiving (2007)

Out of all the Grindhouse-related projects, this one got the horror genre’s fans bothered the most. This is basically a trailer for a movie-that-never-was, which promised us the raunchiest, cheesiest and most fun Thanksgiving-themed slasher of all time. No wonder it was directed by Eli Roth, responsible for shock-flicks like Hostel and Cabin Fever. Our advice: do not watch this short before sitting down to family dinner. “This year there will be no leftovers,” promised the blood-tastic trailer. Please turn it into a proper feature already, mister Roth!

Blood Rage (1987)

What a charming title, isn’t it? The late '80s horror movie told a story of a serial killer named Todd, who escaped the mental institution to turn Thanksgiving night at his hometown into one hell of a bloody mess. The twist: what if Todd isn’t really the killer and someone else is here to carve his family? This Halloween/Friday the 13^th knockoff is long-forgotten and hardly a masterpiece, but may serve as nice after-meal, old-school entertainment for the blood-thirsty genre fans.

Pieces of April (2003)

After her stint on The Ice Storm, Katie Holmes was called to carry another Thanksgiving-themed movie all on her own in this indie production. A far cry from her character on Dawson’s Creek, Holmes plays a rebellious New York girl, who’s desperate to make this family gathering work no matter what. Can’t cook? There are cans for that. Broken stove? Time to befriend the neighbors. Your family doesn’t even like you? That’s what Thanksgivings are for!

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Of Gentlemen & Cowards Endure Cruise from Hell to Create 'Modern Jukebox'

2016-11-22T21:01:43.142Z

Of Gentlemen & Cowards are not of Montreal but close — eastern Canada around Toronto, a swinging Toronto suburb called Hamilton on the shore of Lake Ontario. There this quartet of nice guys met as undergraduates and formed a rock ‘n roll band. Then they did what any sensible Canadian band would do during lake effect snow season. Book a six month gig aboard a cruise ship touring the Caribbean.

Brilliant, right? Not so much. It ended with holding cells and fingerprints. They got deported back up north, and then came the breakups.

Fortunately this kind of stuff makes excellent source material. The drama fueled the songwriting and soul for vocalist Simon Edwards which the band channeled into a debut record. Edwards tells us the whole story of how Modern Jukebox came together when things were falling apart. Bandmate Joshua Dawson provides support here as any good bassist would.

Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario

Homebase: Toronto, Ontario

Did you guys know each other before starting the band?

Simon: Jake [Warren, drums] and I played in a previous band together, having met in high school. Just after our first year of university we were looking for a guitarist and bassist for a new musical project, and immediately joined up with Christian [Fedele, guitar], who was a really good friend. We held auditions for a bassist, and Josh was added to the band’s lineup just a few months later.

What sparked your interest in playing music?

Simon: I grew up in a pretty unique household, with my mum fully deaf, and my father also slightly hard of hearing. It essentially lead to me growing up with relatively zero musical knowledge beyond ‘90s pop radio until getting to university, where all at once, I was exposed to the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd… In terms of musicianship, I had been singing all my life, but began meddling around with my sister’s guitar and our piano, which no one in my house played, around the age of 13 or 14. My chops developed to a totally different level when I began playing in Of Gentlemen & Cowards.

How about local bands? Was the Hamilton scene happening?

Simon: We’ve always drawn a lot of influence from our fellow Canadian and Hamiltonian bands, such as The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Arkells...

Joshua: ...Teenage Head, Junkhouse, The Killjoys, Monster Truck… Southern Ontario in general has produced great talent, and our music has definitely been influenced by all these bands we listened to growing up. The general culture of the city, and lots of venues to take in new music--it’s a great incubator for local talent. There's room for a lot of different styles.

I always think of Rush when someone says Ontario. What bands do you name when describing your own sound?

Simon: Just last week an Italian blog posted that, “If you like Kings of Leon and Band of Horses, this band’s for you!” We’ll take that any day, we’re fans of both of those bands.

I can dig it. You guys share that old-timey vibe in your band name.

Simon: Christian’s always been interested in historical events. While reading a book about the Titanic, he read a story of a man who paid a lifeboat to leave when it was only halfway full. During the investigation later on, this event came to light, and he was brought to court. After all the evidence was put forward, the judge called this man to the front of the courtroom, and asked, “Did you act as a gentlemen? Or a coward?” From that, we got our name Of Gentlemen and Cowards.

Besides Billy Zane, who is in your dream collaboration project?

Simon: There’s tons of artists on our wishlist, but if we had to pick just one person to collaborate with, we’d choose to write a song or record with Max Martin. That guy’s written over 20 Billboard #1s and is a creative mind we’d love to bounce ideas off of. Not to mention, he helped write Taylor Swift’s 1989!

A sense of the classics is important. What do you do when you’re not playing in the band?

Josh: We’re all music fans first and foremost, and find ourselves going to concerts pretty often. We have also been know to get into a heated game of Settlers of Catan or two. We have stopped playing before shows because it was getting too competitive.

Is that what happened on the cruise ship?

Simon: In March 2014 we signed a six-and-a-half-month contract with a cruise line. Nine days after signing they flew us down to Miami and we boarded the boat and played 42 sets over two weeks. The music director then called us up to his office and told us we were fired. The cruise line had meant to hire a jazz band.

Yikes. I’m guessing you didn’t have a Real Book with you. Then what?

We were taken off the boat, put in a holding room under supervision, and then had two armed TSA agents lead us through the airport-- fingerprinting us and everything--deporting us back to Canada. One of the guys doing the fingerprinting asked if we were a metal band…

Yeah, the TSA hates metal and liquids. How'd that mess turn into Modern Jukebox? What else is the record about?

Simon: Early on, we knew that we wanted to write the album that we were missing from our record collections. One that fit in with other favorites, and that we wanted to listen to when we were driving. While writing after the cruise ship, we found that each of the various genres we’d been playing on the boat were finding their way into our writing, and that each song sounded just a tiny bit different than the previous one. The album name ultimately came from our relationship with the record, as a curated playlist, or a Modern Jukebox. With regards to lyrical themes, most was drawn from what was going on at the time--not only with us, but other people around us--breakups, new relationships, changes in politics, changes in the music industry, that kind of stuff.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Simon: #Theonlythingwecruiseanymoreisradiowaves

More characters than a George R.R. Martin epic. About writing your first song, what do you remember about it?

Simon: The first song I ever wrote was called "The Difference," and it was a terrible song about changing the world. Cut me some slack, I think I was 14?

If Michael gets a pass for “Heal The World" you're all good. Did you have a Myspace account back in the day?

Josh: Actually, yes, when I was auditioning for this band, Simon sent me a link to the first couple songs they had written. The link was their Myspace account and so I actually practiced for the audition playing along to their Myspace recordings.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Apple Is Teasing a Black Friday Sale for the First Time in Years

2016-11-22T20:43:40.192Z

Holiday shoppers looking for a bargain on Apple gadgets may not have to turn to third-party retailers this Black Friday. On its website, the company is teasing a one-day sales event set to take place Nov. 25, prompting Apple fans to “save the date.”

The Ultimate Apple MacBook Buyer’s Guide

Apple has not yet revealed which items will be on sale, but the Apple Watch is prominently displayed on the page. Shoppers ordering in-stock items through Apple’s website before 5 p.m. this Friday will also be eligible for free two-day delivery, the company says.

Apple didn’t offer any Black Friday specials last year. In previous years, it bundled iTunes gift cards with certain purchases made on the shopping holiday. The teaser for this year’s event hints at deals that may include discounts on specific gadgets rather than just gift cards. It’s unclear whether the deals will be online only or in-store as well, but the teaser page says to “Come back this Friday to check everyone off your list.”

Why Smart Home Tech Makes a Terrible Holiday Gift

Apple’s Black Friday announcement comes as the company may be looking to boost sales around the holidays. Apple’s latest earnings results marked the third consecutive quarter in which year-over-year revenue had declined. And although Apple sold more iPhones than expected in the previous quarter, iPhone shipments fell by 5%, as CNBC notes.

Retailers such as Target, Best Buy, and Walmart have already started promoting their Black Friday bargains on Apple products, including deals on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and the Apple Watch.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

This Beyoncé-Hamilton Mashup Is Straight Out of Your Dreams

2016-11-22T20:30:56.656Z

In what might be the most glorious pop culture pairing ever, LA artist Michael Korte and arranger Jared Jenkins dropped #HAM4BEY, the Beyoncé–Hamilton musical mashup of your dreams.

Donald Trump’s Duel With Hamilton Inspired a Hip Hop Musical on Colbert’s The Late Show

The nearly 7-minute clip features singers India Carney, Vincint, Mariah Maxwell, Jej Millanes, Kelly Margareth Lee and Jamond McCoy performing a melody of songs from the hit Broadway musical Hamilton and the fiercest tracks from Beyoncé’s songbook.

James Corden Will Host the 2017 Grammy Awards

While singing about one of America’s founding fathers with tracks like “Alexander Hamilton” and “My Shot” in tandem with Queen Bey’s “Countdown” and “Formation” might seem like an odd match, the mashup effortlessly melds the two genres in a way that will delight the Beyhive and Hamilton fans alike.

Watch the full video below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch The Trailer For Barry, Netflix’s Barack Obama Biopic

2016-11-22T20:24:24.258Z

There are just under two months until Donald Trump is inaugurated, but a sentimental nostalgia for Barack Obama’s presidency has been building for quite some time. The new trailer for Barry, a biographical film about Obama’s days as a student at Columbia University in the early 1980s, might help stoke it.

Shonda Rhimes Urges the Importance of Diversity on TV Under Donald Trump

Newcomer Devon Terrell will play the 44th President as a 20-year-old undergraduate, grappling with his identity as a mixed-race kid from Honolulu in a largely white scene. “You a whole different type of brother,” a peer tells him at one point. “You do realize that, don’t you?”

“I fit in nowhere,” Terrell as Obama says later.

Jimmy Kimmel Had Kids Make A Politically Correct Thanksgiving

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year, and will begin streaming on Netflix on Dec. 16.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Hallelujah! Leonard Cohen’s Signature Song Appears on Billboard Hot 100 Chart for First Time

2016-11-22T20:20:18.470Z

Leonard Cohen‘s enduring ballad “Hallelujah” has made its first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, two weeks after the musician’s death.

Howard Hughes and the Bizarre True Story Behind Rules Don’t Apply

According to Billboard and Nielsen Music, the song received 33,000 downloads (up 1,177%) and 3.8 million U.S. steams (a 279% increase) in the week ending Nov. 17. “Gains for ‘Hallelujah’ on the latest charts reflect a full week of consumption following the news of [Cohen’s] passing,” the article reads. The song is currently listed at No. 59 on the chart.

According to a recent profile of Cohen in the New Yorker, ‘Hallelujah’ took the singer five years and multiple drafts to write before he settled on the finished version. It was released as a track on Cohen’s 1984 album Various Positions, but it was not well received by the singer’s record label at first.

Anna Kendrick and Billy Eichner Sing An Ode To Growing Up With James Corden

The song’s growth in popularity was instead driven by other artists, including Bono, Willie Nelson and Justin Timberlake, who translated their admiration for Cohen’s song into their own versions. Bob Dylan performed the song on the road in the late ’80s, telling The New Yorker “That song ‘Hallelujah’ has resonance for me…this song has a connective chorus, which when it comes in has a power all of its own.”

The Canadian singer/songwriter died on Nov. 7 at the age of 82.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Little Monarch's "No Matter What" Lyric Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-22T17:37:32.115Z

Asking us to be more ambitious and to put our fate into our hands, Little Monarch, the indie-pop Los Angeles-based trio shares the official lyric video for "No Matter What." The song is the lead single from their eponymous debut EP. It's a song about shaking off doubt and disappointment.

"No matter what, one foot after the other / When times are tough, you can never let it get you down," are the curing words of the chorus for the upbeat track.

Today, Little Monarch, the group full of merriment, gives us a pick-me-up, just in time for the holidays. “‘No Matter What’ is an uplifter and motivator. It screams good vibes and the message it sends to the universe is to keep moving forward despite obstacles; you got this, no matter what!” says keyboardist Lanita Smith.

Watch the exclusive premiere of the lyric video below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

James Corden Will Be Hosting 2017 Grammy Awards

2016-11-22T17:06:49.276Z

After years of seeing LL Cool J host the Grammy Awards, 2017 marks the year he'll be handing the hosting duties over to James Corden. With the success of The Late Late Show With James Corden and his viral segment, Carpool Karaoke, Corden has proven he can entertain the masses with his humor and musical know-how. It seemed that the combo would make for a great host for next year's Grammys, and let's not forget that he did a very good job hosting The Tony Awards earlier this year.

"I am truly honored to be hosting The Grammys next year," he said (via Billboard). "It's the biggest, most prestigious award show in music, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of such an incredible night."

Be sure to tune in on February 12, 2017 to see what James Corden brings to the Grammys.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Gigi Hadid Responds to the Backlash from Her Melania Trump Impersonation

2016-11-22T17:03:02.041Z

Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah threw down the comedic punches during their hosting stint at the 2016 American Music Awards. Gigi really went there when she impersonated Melania Trump by recanting her RNC speech where Melania was caught picking lines from one of Michelle Obama's previous speeches. "I love my husband, President Barack Obama and our children, Sasha and Malia," Gigi said with pursed lips and in an accent.

Many who tuned in found the joke to be distasteful and quickly grilled the supermodel on social media. So in an effort to make things right, Gigi hand-wrote a letter apologizing for her behavior.

"I too have been the center of a nationally televised comedy skit that poked fun at my actions, and was able to find the humor in it," she wrote. "I believe Melania understands show business and the way shows are written and run. I apologize to anyone that I offended and have only the best wishes for our country."

See the whole message below.

pic.twitter.com/6NuxjKx68o
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) November 22, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Kim Kardashian Skips Angel Ball and Rushes to Kanye West After Hospitalization

2016-11-22T16:50:31.878Z

After Kanye West reportedly went to the hospital due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation yesterday following the cancellation of his Saint Pablo Tour, Kim Kardashian quickly skipped the Angel Ball in New York City (which was honoring her late father, Robert Kardashian} in order to be by her husband's side in Los Angeles. It was supposed to be her first big red carpet appearance since she was held at gunpoint in Paris in October.

Following the news of Kanye's hospitalization, celebs instantly took sides on the matter. Coincidentally (or not?), Ray J dropped his single, "Famous," which snaps back at both Kanye and Kim since he was featured in Ye's video for his song of the same name. The song features Chris Brown, who was also depicted in Kanye's video.

Ray J, who's reportedly releasing his new album, Reydemption, really lets the couple have it by singing, "Look at the family, they walk around proud/All because she had my dick in her mouth.” After a few similar barbs toward the West/Kardashian family, he ends the verse with this: “I got me a badass wife and I’m happy now."

Listen to it below.

Meanwhile, others are showing their support for Kanye. Kid Cudi wrote a heartfelt thank you to him on his Facebook page while Janelle Monae sent good vibes his way.

PRAYING FOR KANYE. PRAYING HE HAS THE RIGHT ENERGY SURROUNDING HIM DURING THIS TIME. SENDING PEACE AND LOVE. 🙏🏿
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) November 22, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

8 Extraordinary Artists Whose Artwork You Can Actually Afford

2016-11-22T12:12:21.409Z

What do you get the friend who has everything? A piece of original artwork, that's what. Unfortunately, not anyone can just go out and buy a high-dollar painting from a museum collection, so we found the next best thing. Here are our favorite modern artists who you can actually buy pieces (or at least a print) from online.

Sam Brown

Courtesy of Sam Brown

What better way for an artist to source inspiration than directly from one’s fans? Sam Brown, best known for his work on his website, explodingdog. The way he works is simple: people send him anything ranging from a simple phrase to an intricate thought via e-mail, the site or even through social media. From there, the digital artist uses some of his many quirky characters — like robots, fish and birds — to bring those random trains of thought to life in his own, unique perspective. While the store remains open, explodingdog is currently in hiatus. Brown’s work is also accessible from his new site, Building A World.

Sam's new site can be found here, but be sure to check out his classic masterpieces here.

Joel Cross

Courtesy of Joseph Cross

Attempting to bring the complexities of human existence to life through art can be challenging, but Joel Cross manages to do so with the utmost finesse. The Columbus, Ohio resident draws his influence from his day-to-day surroundings — everything from food and music, to things he sees and smells. Each one of his pieces is incredibly diverse, only happening naturally and never by force. Depending on what Cross is looking to express through his work, the paintings can take him anywhere for one week to one year to complete. One thing that sets him apart from so many others is his commitment to continue to improve his craft, never settling for mediocrity.

He's most active on his Instagram account, but Joel's newest creations can be found for purchase here.

Brianna Miele

A photo posted by Bunny Miele (@bunnymiele) on May 11, 2016 at 11:54am PDT

Need a mug with traditional-style artwork? Brianna "Bunny" Miele has got you covered. Do you love Twin Peaks and wish you could sport your favorite character’s face in the form of a cute pin? She’s two steps ahead of you. Have you completed your X-Files marathon but find yourself yearning for more Mulder and Scully? Never fear — this creative visual illustrator has thought of everything. She’s got stickers, buttons and all kinds of charming goodies that you never knew you needed.

Briana's work can be purchased here. You can also show your support by visiting her GoFundMe page here.

Sherri DuPree-Bemis

Equal Vision Records

When the Texas native isn’t recording albums, on tour, or flooding Instagram with photos and videos of her two adorable toddlers whom she shares with rocker husband, Max Bemis, the Eisley frontwoman makes it a point to exercise one of her additional talents: drawing. Though she tends to keep the palette simple by utilizing darker pigments, her distinct, whimsical sketches are incredibly elaborate and beyond gorgeous. Some of her most popular pieces can typically be found gracing the jackets of Eisley records, tattooed on her biggest fans (and herself) and online under the hashtag #sherrisink.

Check out more of Sherri's purchasable ink here.

Audrey Kawasaki

Courtesy of Audrey Kawasaki

When it comes to being an all-around rebel, Audrey Kawasaki takes the cake. After sticking it to her college professors who advised her to stay away from the nude figures and style of art that she so loved, she moved to Los Angeles and made a living off of those very things. In addition to creating the artwork for an Alice Smith album, one of her paintings was even featured on an episode of LA Ink, tattooed on singer Christina Perri by Kat Von D herself. If you happen to be a connoisseur who prefers wood paintings of dreamy eyed girls with a dash of tasteful eroticism and mystery, then Kawasaki is definitely the artist for you.

More of Audrey's incredible work, more can be found here.

Mab Graves

A photo posted by Mab Graves (@mabgraves) on Nov 6, 2016 at 5:52pm PST

Peculiar and pretty, the work of pop-surrealist Mab Graves is something one would expect if Tim Burton were to do a collaboration with Hot Topic. The illustrator, who favors things like outer space and fairy tales, looks to the things she loves to add symbolism depth to each creation. As for taking welcoming one of her works of art into your home, Graves only has one request: “My greatest goal in letting my darlings go, is that they will pass from my loving arms to yours. To delight, inspire, and vaguely creep you out.”

Ready to take one home? You can adopt on of her girls here.

Shawn Coss

Courtesy of Shawn Coss

In stark contrast to his other job, illustrating those delightfully mischievous figures for webcomic Cyanide and Happiness, Shawn Cross’ art tends to be on the ghoulish-side. Think more along the lines of Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark. Although he’s been professionally commissioning work for years, a particular series that he completed for October’s 31-day #Inktober drawing challenge gained a lot of momentum on the internet. His particular macabre-style of work lent itself perfectly to the task of trying to illustrate different types of mental health disorders. The project aimed to assist in letting people experiencing them know that they aren’t alone and that help is closer than they might realize.

Shawn's work is available for purchase here.

Leah Goren

Rainy day at Kaye's

A photo posted by Leah Goren (@leahreenagoren) on Oct 9, 2016 at 1:39pm PDT

Much like something your parents would bring back after vacationing in the South of France, Leah Goren’s uncomplicated depictions of ladies, animals and flowers are bright and full of color. Her book, BESTIES is a super cute, illustrated catalogue of all of the reasons why a girl should celebrate her best friend. Based out of Brooklyn, Goren runs a studio where her lighthearted illustrations and patterns have been picked up by big companies like Revlon and Anthropology.

Leah's paintings are for purchase here.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

5 Reasons 'Final Fantasy XV' Will Get the Series Back on Track

2016-11-22T08:00:00.000Z

Final Fantasy may not have been the first prominent Japanese role-playing game ever released — that honor goes to Dragon Quest (or Dragon Warrior in the States) — but it was arguably the game that propelled the genre into the international gaming spotlight. Virtually every J-RPG released within the last 30 years is in some way indebted to the first few Final Fantasy titles.

The series continued to be an industry bellwether well into the ‘90s, even setting precedents for games that fell outside the RPG idiom. 1994’s Final Fantasy VI pushed the Super Nintendo’s limited hardware capabilities to their limits: it overhauled and refined its predecessors’ relatively simplistic battle systems — a seemingly boundless over world map allowed for hours of exploration — and its most memorable, cinematic scenes, such as the infamous “opera” segment, are among the first examples of a video game advocating for its artistic legitimacy. This was not your parents’ Pong cabinet.

Final Fantasy VII for the PlayStation is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Japanese role-playing experience, and there’s not a lot to say (or write) about it that hasn’t already been thoroughly chronicled. Its marriage of anime tropes and cyber-punk grit made it the first extraordinarily successful J-RPG with the non-Japanese gaming mainstream.

Since then, the series’ canon entries have been slightly hit-or-miss. Most “gaming pundits” agree that the last truly great addition to the franchise was 2001’s Final Fantasy X, a jam-packed composite of everything that made the series so memorable up that point. Final Fantasies XI and XIV were lackluster forays into the realm of massively multiplayer online gaming that hardly did justice to their suffixed roman numerals. XII — while a return to form in some ways, suffered from being onerously narrative-driven and featured a battle system that was almost too complex, and its successor — Final Fantasy XIII, the last bona fide installment in the series — went in the opposite direction, belittling experienced players by placing them in prohibitively linear (albeit gorgeous) worlds.

In short: there’s a lot banking on Final Fantasy XV. It’s no mystery that Americans’ deteriorating patience for J-RPGs has coincided with the Final Fantasy games’ diminishing quality. But thankfully (for gamers and for developer Square-Enix) there’s a lot to suggest that XV will be a massive hit. Here are five ways in which Final Fantasy XV looks to get the series back on track.

It Feels Like a Final Fantasy Game

The most recent entries in the Final Fantasy series have lacked an ineffable atmospheric component that made the worlds of VI, VII and X so compelling. Eos, the world in which Final Fantasy XV occurs, evokes VII’s Gaia: it’s a slightly futuristic, vaguely dystopian take on our own present-day earth, but it’s filled with enough of the series’ signature lore (e.g. crystals, summons, Chocobos) to still feel distinctly like a Final Fantasy game.

Its Battle System Is Forward Thinking

Final Fantasy XV will do away with the turn-based battle system that the series has seldom deviated from in its three-decade long history, which finally feels like a step in the right direction — and it’s definitely a huge improvement over the barely interactive battle system of XIII. Like the most recent canon entries in the series, enemies appear on the overhead map (as opposed to the classic “random battles” of early Final Fantasy games), but this time, battles aren’t separate gameplay segments: XV’s battle system, which is being termed the “Active Cross Battle” system, has more in common with the lightning-fast, action-oriented battles from series spinoff, Kingdom Hearts.

The Main Characters Aren’t Merely Lifeless, Goofy-Haired Automatons

Early RPGs deliberately made their protagonists as nondescript as possible, so the player could project their identity onto the character they were controlling. MMOs and modern single-player RPGs like Mass Effect and The Elder Scrolls games have taken this concept and evolved it drastically, giving the player a basic model at the start of the game that they can mold into a reflection of their corporeal selves. J-RPGs — and the Final Fantasy games, by extension — have taken a different route over the years, becoming more linear and story-focused than their western counterparts. But it’s hard to stay invested in a story anchored by wholly unmemorable characters, and protagonists from the past several Final Fantasy games had pretty much the same amount of personality as their 8-bit forebears, even if they looked way cooler (see: big hair).

XV’s lead Noctis already seems more interesting, based on what little we know about him: he’s the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Lucis, the last country in Eos whose infrastructure and society still relies on old-fashioned magic. Noctis is sympathetically reserved, but he doesn’t seem disinterested or “mute” like the series’ weaker leads. Plus, he doesn’t have big hair.

It’s The Same Old Story, But Told in a Much Bigger Way

Magical crystals have long played an important role in the Final Fantasy mythology, but they seem more important than ever in Final Fantasy XV. Every kingdom in the game’s world once possessed a crystal, but years of warring resulted in only Lucis’ crystal remaining. This creates a schism between the technophobic Lucis and its rivaling countries, who have overcompensated for their lack of magical power with advanced, manmade weaponry. The game begins with Niflheim — the country particularly desirous of Lucis’ crystal — launching an invasion on the magical kingdom.

At Least Half of the Game is Open-World

The series’ signature overhead maps notwithstanding, gamers have long been tempted by the premise of a sandbox Final Fantasy game (that wasn’t an MMO). With XV, the series will finally deliver, at least partially: according to the game’s director Hajime Tabata, the first half of the game will take place in an open-world environment, but will become more linear during its latter half for reasons related to the story.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

An Anatomical Guide to Tattoo Collecting

2016-11-22T08:00:00.000Z

We've already done our best to explain basic tattoo placement tips, but we didn't touch on any specific body parts or guidelines other than general suggestions you should follow to avoid putting your new ink in a bad spot (or just making it look bad in general). Realistically, those all apply to every time you get a tattoo, but sometimes you're going to need a little more poignant advice when it comes to sleeving your arms or picking the exact design you want on your back.

Don't worry, we'll take care of that now. Whether you're looking to get half of your body done or just a little hour-long banger, here's some useful advice from those of us who didn't have body part-by-body part guides when getting started on our tattoo collections.

Plan Your Back

A photo posted by CHEYENNE - MADE FOR ARTISTS (@cheyenne_tattooequipment) on Nov 20, 2016 at 1:02pm PST

You might think half of a back piece sounds cool. It might even look good in your head. But in practicality, it won't look nearly as good or work out as well as a full back piece. If you don't want to do a single big piece, there's no shame in doing a series of smaller tattoos as long as you plan it well. Don't throw the first small tattoo right in the middle where every other one will have to work around it, think about the future as you start. One way to do it is to start in a corner and work outward from there, or at least leave some decent spaces for future pieces.

The back is your biggest readily available canvas, so don't mess it up. It can be a beautiful piece of artwork unlike anything else on your body. Let your favorite artist handle the bulk of your back, and let them do what they think is best. As long as your taste in tattooer isn't terrible, you'll leave with something worth being very excited about.

Theme Your Arms

A photo posted by Japanese Ink (@japanese.ink) on Nov 20, 2016 at 12:56pm PST

We're not saying you need a sleeve to have your tattoos look like they all belong together. Unless you get your neck or face done, your arms will likely be the most visible ink you ever get, so it's worth it to have everything flow together. Now, theming a limb doesn't necessarily mean you have to get all one subject matter or all done by one artist. It can be as simple as dedicating an entire arm to a certain color scheme (or no color at all) or getting similar styles of tattoos done throughout.

A detailed black and gray portrait might look a little out of place next to an old school American traditional pinup in the same way that a watercolor mandala might not fit perfectly with that blackwork skull you got done at a tattoo convention. Considering that arms are usually some of the first locations to get tattooed, don't be afraid to work with what you already have to tie everything together. Having one out of place tattoo is better than having an entirely randomly assorted limb.

Don't Ignore Your Legs

A photo posted by Gustavo Henrique (@gustavominhoca) on Nov 21, 2016 at 11:47am PST

There's some prime real estate on your legs if you approach them the right way. Sure, leg tattoos may not be seen as often as some other spots (unless you live life with your pants off, in which case you should definitely decorate your legs), but they provide great opportunities that you can't otherwise get.

For one thing, getting your entire leg sleeved provides an unmatched canvas for an artist to do some extremely big work. If we're talking from your butt to your foot, that's a sizable chunk of your body for anyone to fill in. But beyond getting your entire leg blasted by one artist, your thighs can be fantastic areas to get inked both because of the size and the fact that they're (probably) not exposed to the elements quite as much as the rest of you. The other nice benefit of getting your legs covered is that they're a great place to collect from random artists, as you can always cover them up with a pair of jeans if you're in a situation in which you don't want to show off that "Rick Walters Hates You" flash to your grandparents.

Avoid Leaving Gaps

A photo posted by hazza (@yo_itshazza19) on Nov 21, 2016 at 12:24pm PST

Although you never want to put tattoos too close together (the black ink will expand a bit over time, and then they'll look smooshed), there's a lot of value in making sure your ink lines up relatively well. Rather than leaving small oddly shaped holes for artists to work in and around, try to cluster your tattoos together as best as you can (again, without really laying them on top of each other) so you're not stuck with tiny designs for the second half of your tattoo-collecting life. A clean forearm is a lot easier to work with than an entire arm splattered with a handful of random palm-sized tattoos.

Some Spots Hurt More

A photo posted by Satsugai Lens (@satsugailens_tattoo) on Sep 30, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

It's just a fact of life. Some parts of your body will hurt more to get tattooed, and there's nothing you can do about it. From the shin and foot to the armpit and inner thigh, not every tattoo is going to be fun to get. When you get inked in a spot that doesn't hurt so badly, you should cherish it because you don't know what it'll feel like the next time.

Get your tattoo fix every day by visiting out Tattoosday page.

Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone Are Hilariously Honest About Competition

2016-11-21T19:54:40.225Z

It was almost a year ago to the day that Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone made the world jealous of their friendship by sharing a night out on the town with Adele in New York City. Now, J. Law has revealed how the two starlets were first introduced.

During an interview with Vanity Fair for the magazine’s December issue, the 26-year-old actress said she received a text from Stone after mutual co-star Woody Harrelson — who appeared in The Hunger Games with Lawrence and Zombieland with Stone — helped them exchange numbers. “I replied, ‘F—k off!’ And we’ve been really good friends ever since,” Lawrence explained.

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She went on to say that they then texted each other daily for an entire year: “I feel like it was our version of The Notebook—365 texts.”

However, Stone admitted that she didn’t always feel secure about Lawrence’s presence in Hollywood. “She may not even know this,” she told Vanity Fair in an email. “But there was definitely a time early on when I was like ‘OH HEY MY EGO IS GOING NUTS SHE’S SO GREAT AND VIBRANT AND TALENTED I’M SCREWED I’LL NEVER WORK AGAIN GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD.’ Then I chilled the f—k out—and remembered we’re completely different and there is room for everyone, even if it’s an industry that doesn’t really seem to support that idea up front.”

Kanye West Cancels the Rest of His Saint Pablo Tour Dates

Lawrence put it more bluntly: “If I wasn’t her biggest fan, I would’ve Tonya Harding’d her in the kneecaps.”

No One Sees Eye to Eye on What Color These Flip Flops Are

2016-11-21T19:48:50.909Z

Do you remember The Dress? It’s back, with a twist.

Back in February 2015 the internet broke after Scottish musician Caitlin McNeill posted a picture of a dress on the micro-blogging website Tumblr with the caption “guys please help me — is this dress white and gold , or blue and black? Me and my friends can’t agree and we are freaking the f*** out.” The photo went viral as people made impassioned arguments over the colors in the photo.

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Now it’s happening again, but with a photo of flip-flops. On Nov. 17, Twitter user @positivedemi posted a photo of a pair of Havianas flip-flops and asked, “What color do you see?”

que cor vocês tão vendo? pic.twitter.com/IBk6upSZz7
— arthur (@positivedemi) November 17, 2016

And with that simple question, the internet machine was off and running again arguing about whether the sandals were black and blue or white and gold.

Read Selena Gomez’s Emotional Speech at the American Music Awards

The reason that people see different colors is that human eyes evolved to see in daylight, but daylight changes color at different times of day. “The wavelength composition of the light reflected from an object changes considerably in different conditions of illumination,” Science Daily wrote at the height of the frenzy over The Dress. “Nevertheless, the color of the object remains the same.”

For the record, Buzzfeed was able to confirm that the flip-flips are actually blue and black. Strangely that hasn’t settled the argument online yet.

What do you see?

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

This App Can Help You Beat Black Friday Traffic

2016-11-21T19:37:18.065Z

When it comes to collecting and analyzing traffic data, Google is king of the road. With Google Maps installed by default on all Android smartphones and many iPhones, the company is able to pluck tons of traffic information from its users as they zip around. The company also owns Waze, another popular free navigation app. Waze not only shares traffic hotspots with Google, but also with fellow users.

Last year, analyzing the data generated by these two apps gave drivers a solid game plan for dodging Thanksgiving traffic. Highlights of this research included the best time to get behind the wheel (Thanksgiving morning), and the worst (the two days before turkey day).

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Still, AAA says 1.8 million more Americans will hit the road this year compared to last. All of 2015’s driving tips still apply in 2016. But this year,the search giant is adding another (unofficial) U.S. holiday to its dataset: Black Friday. Crunching the numbers across retail-related searches on the company’s two apps reveals not only the smartest times to make your shopping run, but the best shops and restaurants to avoid if you want to escape the crowds.

What’s the intel? Timing is everything, of course. During last year’s Black Friday, Waze saw more people on the roads from midnight to 2 p.m. compared to average November days. That means that if your game plan is to get out after lunch Friday to cross items off your gift lists, you might find the shelves empty.

Strategically mapping out a shopping route may help. Waze also listed the top stores sought out on Black Friday, and while the results may not surprise you, they might encourage you to rethink your route. For instance, Walmart is the top navigation destination for the first day of the holiday shopping season. For clothing stores, cost-conscious chains like Old Navy and T.J. Maxx pack ’em in. Department stores are also popular destinations — be sure to lump Costco in with the Kohl’s and Macy’s locations as the busiest spots.

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Another insight Waze uncovered: Don’t be fooled by the legend of the leftover sandwich. As appetizing as turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce piled high in a roll may sound, it’s not enough to pull shoppers off the streets. At noontime, more road warriors than usual hit restaurants, with fast food joints like McDonald’s, Panera Bread, and Chipotle drawing the lines.

If all that gridlock has convinced you to steer clear of consumerism and to spend time with family instead, Google offers one more bit of advice: Don’t go hunting for a Christmas tree. Sure, Black Friday tree hunting will assure you the pick of the patch, but more than outlet mall, electronics store, furniture store, and appliance store, “Christmas tree farm” is the top search term on Google Maps that day. But not all hope is lost, because no one ever asks Google to find their remote control, recliner, and copy of It’s a Wonderful Life.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

machineheart Explore the Aftermath of Broken Relationships on "Stonecold"

2016-11-21T18:55:44.909Z

machineheart (spelled in all lowercase) made a name for themselves with their breakout 2015 debut EP, In Your Dreams, along with their single, "Circles," featuring Vanic. And the Los Angeles alt-pop quartet wanted to keep that momentum going by releasing "Stonecold," the lead single off their upcoming sophomore EP. We sat down with singer Stevie Scott, drummer Harry Allen, bassist Jake Randle and guitarist Carman Kubanda in New York City after they wrapped the video for the tune and got to know them a little bit better.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Let's start at the beginning. How did you guys get together?

Stevie Scott: We met through mutual friends. The guys are from the Seattle area and all grew up playing in a bunch of bands and playing in bands together. So when we met, we started writing and playing together and hanging out. And it just went really effortless and natural. We also had a lot of fun writing together so we thought we should give ourselves a band name, and so began machineheart.

What's the story behind the band name?

Jake Randle: We sat around in a group with a bunch of band names for a while, and we just started brainstorming daily, monthly, weekly...

Scott: I think that's the hardest thing about being in a band right now is picking a name.

Randle: Yeah totally. And then Carman brought up "machineheart," and it kind of stuck. And we were like, "Oh well, we don't hate it."

Carman Kubanda: We kinda said it as a joke at first. We [the guys] all grew up listening to harder rock and heavier things. And Stevie liked more ethereal kind of stuff. You know [makes air quotes] quote-unquote "girly music." So it was like a blending of the two.

Harry [Allen], Jake, Carman, you all have been playing for a while before Stevie came in, and you just mentioned that you were into harder rock. How did you all get to that happy medium in your sound?

Scott: That's what was so cool about working together. It wasn't like, "OK, 40 percent of that will be this and 60 percent the other." It was the combination of everyone's taste.

Allen: I think we're all influenced by many things. We didn't just listen to hard rock music, but there are so many bands with lots of different styles [that we were into]. I don't think we were trying to right anything specific but just music in general.

Scott: I think that's most songs, too. We have a friend who draws and doesn't just always start from the left-hand corner, and that's the same with music, too. You don't know where you're heading necessarily. You just let it flow and see what comes out.

What's "Stonecold" about?

Scott: Well, I love your quote on what a song means. [Looks at Allen.]

Allen: Oh my Dave Grohl quote? [Laughs.] Well, Dave Grohl just says, or one of the things he says, is that he loves music because he can sing it to a thousand people who'll sing it back to him for a thousand different reasons. So it's what it means to you.

Scott: It's that, too. But it's really a special song that Carman and I were messing around with, and it happened super fast. In 30 minutes, the song was written. It was one of those days where it really pours out of you. And it really felt true to what I was going through, and it was the most tangible way for me to express emotion. It's also [about] that place in a relationship where one day you're on and one day you're off. How do you navigate that terrain, and for me, I see it as this topography of this land, this place, that was a wasteland. That's just what I felt about it.

"Stonecold" has a different sound to what you've previously released. So what inspired that musical direction?

Allen: Funny thing is the first song we put out, "Stonecold," is a specific direction, but the rest of the songs people haven't heard yet. They're not really that different. So for us, we haven't really changed direction. But to other people, it might seem that way. And as we release music, people will know what sound we're going for.

Scott: And the EP, In Your Dreams, only gave a small sampling of sounds. It was only three songs; so it didn't show as much of our dynamics.

Allen: And on our breakout song, "Circles," we collaborated with another artist. So you'll hear a lot of their influence on that song, too.

Scott: We're excited to release new music, too, so you could get a broader taste of what we have to offer.

So what can you tell us about upcoming EP?

Allen: These are songs we've been working on for quite a while that we think are the next step for us.

And what can you say about the video you just shot for "Stonecold"?

Scott: "Stonecold" definitely feels like a bookmark for us, and it's a start of a new chapter for us. Each song or new album is like that. So for this video, we really wanted to dig our heels in for the visuals of the video and allow it to be a little bit more dramatic. [Picks at her jacket.] I had to wear all rhinestones for this one scene, and now I keep finding them everywhere!

I really wanted it to be symbolic of the lyrics. So we decided to go on a less narrative music video path and created something that was more conceptual and mystical and show that desolate place at the end of a relationship or post-relationship.

Randle: Visually it will be really unique.

Allen: Yeah, we shot it on film. So we didn't have a chance to see what it looked like after every shot. And so, we just go with moment.

Randle: You just spray and pray. [Laughs]

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Watch gP.'s "Let's Not Forget Holly Golightly" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-21T17:43:14.236Z

gP. want to remind you of the dangers of emulating some of your idols. The emo-tinged rockers came up with "Let's Not Forget Holly Golightly" when one of the band members noticed that his younger sister had begun to take to Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly character in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

"When I noticed my sister idolizing this lavish woman, I started to write lyrics about how I didn’t want her to end up facing these same cosmetic issues," writes the band. "Life isn't about finding purpose in the world of good looking, cool people. Holly Golightly is an iconic female character in the film and I wanted to give my own take on her misrepresentation."

In their new music video, gP. performs their track, which the group self-describes as "catchy as well as heavy and driving," while showing shadowy shots of liquor, cigarettes, pills and half-naked ladies.

Let's just say that it doesn't end on a happy note. See for yourself below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Kanye West Cancels Remaining Saint Pablo Tour Dates

2016-11-21T17:08:58.788Z

A few dramatic days in California and 99 Instagram posts later, and Kanye West has officially pulled the plug on the rest of The Life of Pablo tour, which kicked off in August.

News about Kanye canceling the entire tour started after he nixed the makeup show at The Forum in Los Angeles on Sunday night (November 20). Los Angeles Times reporter Gerrick D. Kennedy posted about it on Twitter following the cancelation.

Just got word from a source that @kanyewest informed his crew that remaining dates of U.S. #SaintPabloTour are nixed.
— Gerrick D. Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) November 21, 2016

However, the news was finally confirmed by Pitchfork earlier today (November 21) and promised that "tickets will be fully refunded at point of purchase."

The canceled dates are listed below.

November 22 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
November 23 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
November 26 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
November 28 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
December 1 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
December 2 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
December 4 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - BB&T Center
December 6 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center
December 8 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
December 9 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena
December 11 - Albany, NY - The Times Union Center
December 13 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
December 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
December 16 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
December 18 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
December 20 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
December 22 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
December 27 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
December 28 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
December 30 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center
December 31 - Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Drake Lip Sync's Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" in New Apple Music Spot

2016-11-21T16:44:19.513Z

After Taylor Swift's viral treadmill video for Apple dropped in April, we wondered if Drake would ever show the 1989 singer the same love. And now the wait is over as the Toronto rapper has paid his own homage to the Taylor's hit "Bad Blood." Premiering at the 2016 American Music Awards on Sunday night (November 20), Drake pumps iron and breaks out into dance as he lip syncs to the epic tune.

Watch his emotive performance of Taylor's "Bad Blood" below.

No mercy this year. LET'S GET IT.@Drake @taylorswift13 #AMAs #DrakevsBenchPress https://t.co/jOT9o5HK28 pic.twitter.com/uL1gbg2Ycz
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) November 21, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Selena Gomez's Heartfelt Speech at 2016 American Music Awards

2016-11-21T16:30:28.242Z

After stepping away from the spotlight in August, Selena Gomez made her first public appearance in months at the 2016 American Music Awards. And while she tried to keep a semi-low profile at the AMAs, she was finally back on the stage when she accepted the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.

"In 2014, this stage was actually the first time that I was authentically 100 percent honest with you," she said, referring to her emotional performance of "The Heart Wants What It Wants."

She continued, "I think it's safe to say that a lot of you know a lot of my life whether I liked it or not and I had to stop. Because I had everything, and I was absolutely broken. And I kept it together and I swore I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down." Gomez continued, "I'm not trying to get validation, nor do I need it anymore."

She held back tears and ended her speech by saying, "If you are broke, you don't have to stay broken."

Watch her speech below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

MCA's Peaceful Legacy Thrives & Kanye West Loses His Remaining Cool

2016-11-21T09:27:53.494Z

Going to the movies isn't as spellbinding as it used to be, and one person's stupidity brought together a whole city. Kylie Jenner is about to make a fortune, and Kanye West is busy issuing refunds. Here's what you missed over the weekend.

Shop Talk

Whether it’s to serve as a distraction from internet sleuths discovering that she’s actually the lead singer of Terror Jr. (mhmm, we all know it's her voice on “3 Strikes”) or not, the youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner household has taken a cue from brother-in-law Kanye West and is making serious moves. Since the launch of her wildly successful, online-exclusive cosmetics, the product has constantly sold out faster than it can be re-stocked. Now, she’s taking the craze one step further, taking to social media this weekend to announce the opening of her very first pop-up store.

@thekylieshop

A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Nov 18, 2016 at 1:52pm PST

For those lucky enough to live near Topanga Canyon mall — or serious enough to make the commute — the temporary brick-and-mortar facade will open on December 9. In addition to the original insanely coveted lip kits that led to people stealing the recognizable packaging from their neighbors’ doorsteps, the shelves will also be stocked with limited edition holiday sets and other assortments of merchandise. The catch: once supplies run out, the shop will close its doors. All of you diehard fans out there better get your sleeping bags ready — it’s going to be all-out pandemonium.

Brooklyn Protects Its Own

The absurdities surrounding the election and subsequent victory of President-elect Donald Trump are only becoming more and more out of hand. On Friday, civilians approached Brooklyn’s Adam Yauch Park to discover it had been vandalized by an unidentified culprit who defaced the public playground with (poorly) drawn Swastikas and the message “Go Trump.” The park — dedicated to the beloved member of the Beastie Boys after he passed away following a long battle with throat cancer — is meant to be a safe haven for the city’s children to play. Needless to say, city residents and government officials didn’t take lightly to the act and held a peaceful event in the park to protest the hatred.

Standing with people of Brooklyn, my daughter, @adrock, @DanielSquadron, and many more in Adam Yauch Park. #MCA #NYC #StandUpAgainstHate pic.twitter.com/C4pg6YFoJR
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) November 20, 2016

Thousands gathered in the park, outfitted with signs adorned with messages like “Love Trumps Hate” and “Trump: Where’s your anti-Nazi tweet?” Once the jungle gym was repainted, children decorated the fixture with their own handcrafted artwork. What makes this particular crime so ridiculous is that Yauch, who was raised by his Jewish mother and Catholic father, didn’t grow up following any particular religion. It wasn’t until the 1990s that he chose to follow the path of Buddhism, becoming a champion of tolerance and acceptance for all.

Thanks to the families of Brooklyn Heights for showing that love trumps hate (photo by @buttermilk1). And to @NYCParks for fast re-painting. pic.twitter.com/ftQo3dk6bS
— Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 19, 2016

We're Worried About Kanye

Just a couple of days after being booed at his San Jose, CA show for saying that had he voted, he would’ve done so in favor of Donald Trump, Kanye West decided to continue down the path of devastation by trolling fans at back-to-back tour stops. After arriving over an hour late to his Sacramento show, West was on stage for roughly 15 minutes — even bringing out a newly rehabilitated Kid Cudi for two duets — before angrily addressing the crowd about his current problems and then ultimately walking off stage.

Kanye tonight in Sacramento. No words. #SaintPabloTour pic.twitter.com/TV7fZ4YO1w
— Matt G. 👻 (@OhMattG) November 20, 2016

To open his rant, West called out both MTV and Beyoncé for allegedly rigging their annual Video Music Awards, claiming he heard through the grapevine that Bey would only perform live if she was promised to win Video of the Year for "Lemonade." But he couldn’t put her in the hot seat without also dragging her husband and his former friend under the bus as well: “Jay Z — call me, bruh. You still ain't called me. Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please don't send them at my head. Please call me. Talk to me like a man.” Apparently the couple hasn’t gone out of their way to express their condolences to West’s wife, Kim Kardashian, following her Paris robbery. He didn’t stop there, though. He also took on Mark Zuckerberg, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and even DJ Khaled. Upon finishing his remarks and having something thrown at him, the angered musician dropped his microphone and walked off stage, ending the show. His Sunday evening concert in Los Angeles (and the remaining dates on his St. Pablo Tour) was canceled altogether, mere hours before attendees were scheduled to begin arriving.

Kanye West tells the crowd the show is over after performing 3 songs. #SaintPabloTour #SaintPablo so much disbelief.. 😳 pic.twitter.com/skre0y678Z
— Daniel (@Danielll309) November 20, 2016

Wow. #SaintPabloTour #Sacramento @kanyewest @TMZ pic.twitter.com/6tkG1QKDNg
— Orphan Andrew (@OrphanAndrew) November 20, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and a Sorcerer With a Conscience

Although it’s been five years since Deathly Hallows: Part Two premiered in theaters, drawing the original Harry Potter series to a close, the first edition of JK Rowling’s spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, landed in US theaters on Friday. The new film, starring Eddie Redmayne, ushers in a new era of wizards and mischief for audiences to be captivated by. Off to a good start, the film has managed to bring in $75 million at US box offices, with a total of $218.3 worldwide.

Falling into the second spot is Marvel’s Dr. Strange. Currently in its third weekend, the Benedict Cumberbatch-fronted film, which received a lot of praise from critics (with the exception of the typical Hollywood whitewashing), is losing momentum. Strange brought in $17.7 million this weekend for a total of $571 million worldwide since its debut. Disney can rest assured knowing that Marvel’s 14th comic adaptation was a box office success.

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

From Indian Lakes' Joey Vannucchi Talks Musical Growth Over Bone Broth & Ginger Kombucha

2016-11-21T08:00:00.000Z

Joey Vannucchi has probably done more for From Indian Lakes than your favorite artist has done for any of their musical projects. When he first started, Vannucchi was writing, recording, producing and releasing every bit of music with only a bit of technical assistance from his friend Drew, who the songwriter describes as "the engineer."

It wasn't necessarily by choice though. Vannucchi grew up in an extremely rural area of central California, so he wasn't exactly flush with people to collaborate with. That same isolated upbringing that helped Vannucchi get his start as a one-man production also helped him discover the unique indie/folky/experimental sound that has made From Indian Lakes a fan favorite for over half of a decade.

"I think I would've clung to anything that I was exposed to," Vannucchi says of how his early life affected the sound of his music. "I didn't hang out with many people because I lived so far from everybody. I only spent time with some of my neighbors, and even my bus ride [to school] was like two hours. I was alone a lot, so I got into experimental music."

To this day, Vannucchi still doesn't live near the musicians he tours with and prefers to fall back into the singer-songwriter way of doing things when he writes and records new music. Although he's not opposed to doing acoustic material and From Indian Lakes isn't exactly a full band all of the time, the young songwriter prefers his wide range of music to be performed with the instruments with which it was intended (even if those instruments aren't played that well).

"I think when we were touring together, it gave the appearance online that we were always together," Vannucchi explains as he takes a sip of bone broth at a table inside of the OC Mix in Costa Mesa, CA. "I never wanted to be the one who was like 'Excuse me...' Writing and recording was so secondary to playing shows for a while, and then recently we've had a fan base and real press and these cool vibes building that pushed writing and recording to the forefront. The guys who tour with me, we were just hanging out one day and I asked if they'd play with me because I had promoters who wanted me to play shows. Some of them didn't even play instruments at the time, so our first couple of tours were pretty bad. It's cool though, because I've never really cared about people playing my music perfectly."

On last month's Everything Feels Better Now, Vannucchi began building out his basement studio to go even more DIY than ever before. In order to better understand the technological aspects of recoding, the multi-instrumentalist began watching YouTube tutorials on how to properly record and use all of the hardware and software. He wanted From Indian Lakes' fourth full-length release to be entirely him from start to finish, but then Vannucchi got a phone call from veteran engineer Kevin Augunas (Delta Spirit, Cold War Kids) to see if they could work together.

"When Kevin [Augunas] and I talked on the phone, I thought it didn't make any sense why he'd be interested, but he liked the demo so much and wanted to let me be as weird as possible," Vannucchi says before he drinks a little ginger kombucha from a paper cup. "My friends who have always been so DIY-forward, they told me I had to do it because it was a once in a lifetime kind of thing. I was really nervous, but it changed my whole way of thinking about how to record music."

But while Vannucchi's thought process on recording might be forever changed, his songwriting process maintains the same. In order to keep things weird, fresh and interesting, Vannucchi doesn't allow himself to fall into a pattern when making songs. There's no one way he likes to go about things, other than never wanting to be comfortable while he's doing it.

"I believe in sticking really really firmly to having no process and being uncomfortable," Vannucchi says. "I'll sit down at the drum kit and play a strange beat in some weird time signature and see what comes of it, or I'll play a strange riff on a weird guitar or buy a vintage keyboard and plug it into a bunch of pedals and see what kind of weird never-heard-before sound comes out. I just totally believe in putting yourself in a weird spot and letting the songs balloon naturally. I'm happy for people with a process, but I think it's something that can lead to stale music. I just really want to make strange records and the most accessible experimental music you can make. People think they're listening to pop, but I'm tricking them into listening to something that's really strange."

Still hungry? Visit our Free Lunch page.

10 Things You Should Know About Kungs

2016-11-21T08:00:00.000Z

It's one thing to have a hit in your home country, but for the tune to go worldwide is a whole other story. And for 19-year-old Valentin Brunel, better known to his fans as Kungs, this is exactly what happened when his single, "This Girl," dropped. Currently on tour, Kungs also recently released his debut album, Layers, earlier this month. From sharing the stage with David Guetta to having a chart-topper on his hands, it's clear that this young DJ and producer is one to look out for. We had the chance to get to know him a little better and compiled a series of facts you should about this artist.

Find out the 10 Things You Should Know About Kungs below.

He Can Thank the Djembe for His Musical Start

While some people get into music by playing the guitar, piano or drums, Kungs started his path with the djembe — a percussion instrument from North Africa.

"It's kind of a funny story," he says. "I was on holiday with my family, and my parents found a djembe. So they offered [it] to me, and I started playing it naturally. And it was amazing because I was playing with my mother. That's how it all started."

Learning Djembe Influenced His Production Approach

And by playing the djembe as a kid, he thinks it may have influenced his approach as a producer. "When you produce music, you just let yourself go into your own world," Kungs explains. "You just make stuff happen. And when I was a kid, it was the same thing. I play my djembe and guitar for fun."

And His Parents' Support Helped Him Achieve His Dreams

"I had some software [that] my parents gave me at Christmas when I was 13 years old," he says. "It wasn't really producing but more like mixing some stuff. [My parents] always knew I was really into music, and I was in a musical environment."

Google Translate Gave Kungs His Stage Name

"I started making music three years ago, and my name is Valentin Brunel," Kungs explains. "So it's a bit long and not beautiful. I was making remixes, and one of them was called 'Valentin Remix.' It was too long. So I had to find something else. I went on Google translate with my brother. We typed "gentleman" in every language. And in Latvian, it's 'Kungs.'"

He Never Thought "This Girl" Would Be a Hit

"It's been amazing," he conveys. "I never expected so much success for this track, because I just made it a year alone in my apartment. I just discovered the track [sample], the soul track, from an Australian band. I just made it for fun. But when we gave it to some labels, Universal [Music Group] was into the project. So I signed with Universal, and then I wasn't expecting it to be worldwide like this. It began blowing up in France then in Europe, and now in the U.S. It's crazy!"

He Wants to Collaborate with Aloe Blacc

"I would love to collaborate with Aloe Blacc because I love his voice," he reveals. "And Diplo because, for me, he's the best producer at the moment because he's got three projects – Jack Ü, Diplo, Major Lazer – and also, Calvin Harris. It would be sick."

He Doesn't Go Into The Studio with a Set Goal

He explains, "One time in London, in Shoreditch, one artist came, and we created something new every day. The goal wasn't to make a specific track. The goal was to have fun and to create something and enjoy the moment."

Playing Around in the Studio Resulted in a Collab with Jamie N Commons

Always up for playing around in the studio, a session with Jamie N Commons turned into his single, "Don't You Know." "I've been in the studio with him in London before the release of "This Girl," he states. "It was in January. We made the track really quickly. We were just having a jam in the studio with djembe and the guitar, and we were playing around. Then I said that this riff was really cool and tried to do something with it. So we made this track, and it was a great follow-up to "This Girl" because it had the same groove and soul vibes."

His Favorite Gigs Were in Ibiza and Switzerland

"This year, I played Ushuia and Pacha in Ibiza. It was just amazing because Ibiza, for me, has a fresh vibe. Everybody is happy. Everybody is partying Nobody's taking care of anything. They're just having fun. And I also had a gig in Switzerland [Energy Air 2016]. It was in a stadium for 40,000 people. It was amazing. It was the best gig ever. And also Corsica, and I played on the beach, and people were just crazy and partying on boats. It's amazing."

The Best Advice He Ever Got Was From David Guetta

"I talked to [David Guetta] and his managers," he says, "and they told me that environment is the most important thing when you're an artist. So that's what I try to keep — the best environment — like my friends, family, my managers. I keep those people around me. That's the best advice I've ever gotten."

Learn more fun facts about your favorite up-and-coming artists by visiting our 10 Things page.

5 Beloved TV Shows That Have Aged Poorly

2016-11-21T08:00:00.000Z

Everyone looks at the past through their own rose-colored glasses, especially when it comes to media that meant a lot to us when we were younger. It’s hard to set aside one’s personal feelings of nostalgia for a beloved TV show you grew up with, even though the internet and online streaming services make it easier to revisit your old favorites anytime.

Just because something meant a lot to you back in the day unfortunately doesn’t mean it’s just as good today. Instead of giving into the nostalgia culture that seems to drive most of the internet, let’s remove our rose-colored glasses and look at a few TV shows that have not stood the test of time.

Friends

For a show about living in Manhattan, Friends was always surprisingly white bread, starring six attractive white twenty-somethings who never really seemed to struggle for cash and spent most of their free time sipping coffee or dating other attractive white twenty-somethings. Today, the most dated part of Friends is unquestionably its archaic approach to gender and sexuality.

Watching Season Three once more — often considered one of the show’s prime years — there are several plot lines that conform to weird gender norms that would inspire a thousand thinkpieces today. First, there’s the strong smart actress who (correctly) believes Joey is too dumb — until she finds out he’s a good kisser. There’s the billionaire (Jon Favreau) who relentlessly pursues Monica using lavish displays of wealth, flying her to Rome for their first date and later offering her a job as head chef of his new restaurant after she’s refused his advances multiple times. He keeps insisting Monica might care for him if she just tried, while Monica thinks less of herself for not immediately swooning over this rich creep — until they kiss, and Monica finally falls for her stalker.

It doesn’t help matters that one of the show’s most ubiquitous sources of humor was implying its male characters might be gay — hilarious, right?

The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch was a hit in the early ‘70s for many of the same reasons it’s so dull today — it’s safe, it’s straightforward, it’s unapologetically escapist. During the show’s original run, audiences were content to watch the dull conflicts of the Brady clan, laughing along with the studio audience and just waiting for each episode to deliver a generic overly moralizing theme.

The show is even surprisingly light on jokes, and even those that do make it in are reliant on puns and cutesy kid antics instead of the actual characters that seem far more pandering than funny through a modern lens.

Full House

Full House was sort of like the ‘90s version of The Brady Bunch. The family setup was more unconventional, but the humor was just as safe and bland, and all the episodes still ended with a force-fed message about being polite or valuing your education, usually delivered by patriarch Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), who is the human embodiment of the show’s inoffensive blandness.

Costars John Stamos and Dave Coulier play respective outdated stereotypes of the vain hunky guy and the goofy comedian (who seems clinically insane rather than funny half the time), but the show really builds itself around the character of Michelle Tanner (played by both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in infancy), the baby of the family who exists only to be cute and say sassy things a child normally wouldn’t say. The gimmick is painfully transparent today, but apparently enough people still enjoy Full House to warrant a Netflix reboot, titled Fuller House, of the old sitcom staple.

Saved by the Bell

You can’t even sit through the theme song for Saved by the Bell without seeing how poorly the show has aged. This popular sitcom depiction of high school life was one of ABC’s greatest TGIF successes, but it’s focused entirely around teenage stereotypes that become more tired with each passing year.

You have a jock, a cheerleader, a smart girl, a surprisingly unlikable leading man and one of the most aggressively unrealistic “kooky” nerds ever put on the small screen: Screech, a character with a shrill voice and personality who becomes an alien that can play the radio through his mouth in one episode — just one of many outlandish plots the show favored instead of anything actually realistic to the high school experience.

For a truly hilarious snapshot of the show’s worst acting and fashions, try sitting through the episode “Jessie’s Song,” now famous for a crazed meltdown that involves both caffeine pills and the one hit wonder “I’m So Excited.”

Will & Grace

When it first began airing in 1998, Will & Grace was admirable for being one of television’s first series to star several openly gay characters and educating the American public on LGBT issues they otherwise might not have been exposed to. But as forward-thinking as it was for the time, Will and Grace was still a safe traditional sitcom that didn’t leave much room for complexity in its depiction of gay characters.

To make him safer for heterosexual viewers, Will’s homosexuality was always downplayed by his lack of luck in finding sexual partners, while his friend Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) is the very embodiment of the sassy gay friend stereotype that’s only become more tired since Will & Grace came to a close in 2006. For all the positive impact it might have made — though it’s hard to measure anything like that with any certainty — the show still feels like an outsider view of the gay community, and one that accidentally pioneered some of mainstream media’s biggest problems in depicting LGBT characters.

Grandma Accidentally Invites a Stranger to Thanksgiving. Now, 600 Others Want In

2016-11-18T20:35:47.246Z

Jamal Hinton, 17, was in class at Desert Vista High School when he received a text from a Mesa, Arizona woman who thought she was inviting her own grandson to turkey dinner.

“I texted back and I said ‘who is this’ And she was like, ‘it’s your grandma.’ Hinton told KNXV.

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A selfie confirmed it was not, in fact, his grandma with a new number, and he sent back a selfie of his own. But instead of dropping the exchange there, he asked if he could still get a plate of food. Her reply: “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do…feed everyone!”

Touched by the kind message, Jamal quickly posted their exchange online, but without editing out her digits.

Man Tried to Burn Down His Ex-Girlfriend’s House Using Cheetos

“Everyone” responded accordingly. The Arizona Republic reported that the grandma was flooded with 600 text message requests for a Thanksgiving plate. But there were no hard feelings —according to KNXV, the grandma stayed connected with Hinton who is still invited for the feast.

“People can actually connect and be so nice to each other with people they don’t even know,” Hinton told KNXV.

Serving it up in Arizona, and keeping hope alive. What a gal.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ Dress Sells for Record $4.8 Million

2016-11-18T20:28:33.853Z

The iconic dress Marilyn Monroe wore to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy has been sold for a record breaking $4.8million, making it the most expensive dress to be sold at auction.

Watch Simone Biles Teach Stephen Colbert How to Nail a Landing Like Simone Biles

At Thursday evening’s auction in Los Angeles, the garment was sold to international museum chain Ripley’s Believe It Or Not who will display it at their Hollywood branch before exhibiting it at its outlets around the world, the Guardian reports. The custom-made Jean Louis dress features over 2,500 hand stitched crystals on a flesh colored bodice, rumored to be so tight that Monroe had to be sewn into it. Edward Meyer, vice-president of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, told the Press Association: “We believe this is the most iconic piece of pop culture that there is.”

Monroe wore it as she serenaded Kennedy for his 45th birthday at Madison Square Gardens, a sultry performance that would go on to spark rumors of a romance between the two. As TIME reported on the event in 1962, “Marilyn who was the hit of the evening, and Kennedy plainly meant it when he said, ‘I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.'”

Leonardo DiCaprio Did Lunch to Support the Homeless

The sale of Monroe’s gown surpasses the previous record for the most expensive dress sold at auction, which was also worn by the actress when she starred in The Seven Year Itch in 1955. Actress Debbie Reynolds bought the white halter-neck dress for $4.6 million at a 2011 auction.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Nicole Kidman and Jimmy Fallon Basically Relive Their Terrible First Date

2016-11-18T20:20:06.747Z

One of the most memorable moments in recent late-night television history was in 2015 when Jimmy Fallon and Nicole Kidman awkwardly recounted a terrible first date that they shared together — as fate would have it, it wasn’t meant to be.

However, Kidman and Fallon both revisited that brief, if uncomfortable dalliance on The Tonight Show, where the Aussie actress told host Fallon that she “so didn’t want to come back” because of the awkwardness of her last visit to the show. Fallon was determined, however, to make it even more awkward by adding mood lighting and romantic music every time Kidman spoke.

Alec Baldwin Is Returning as Donald Trump on the Next Saturday Night Live

Kidman eventually revealed that she and Fallon had even more history together that involved running into him in the kitchen at a party at David Finch’s house.

“We were at David Finch’s house, I think it was David’s house, and it was when Brad [Pitt] and Jen [Aniston] were still together, so it was a long time ago,” Kidman said. “And you could’ve asked for my number then ‘cause it was round two… and you still didn’t ask for it, and you know that’s true. So do not pretend!”

Watch Adam Sandler Bid Farewell to an Old Chair With a Hilarious New Song

Later, Kidman’s husband, country singer Keith Urban showed up to hang out with Kidman and Fallon. Fallon took the opportunity to ask Urban if he would ever invite Fallon to their house, to which Urban responded by saying that he didn’t feel threatened by Fallon at all, given Fallon and Kidman’s rocky romantic past.

“Yeah, I feel quite safe because you have no problem ignoring my wife in the kitchen,” Urban joked.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Vampire Weekend May Drop Fourth Record In 2017

2016-11-18T17:41:52.293Z

Beloved Afro-pop-inspired rockers Vampire Weekend may release new music next year. Reputable music industry insiders Hits Daily Double report that Vampire Weekend has signed to Columbia Records for a new record to come out midway through 2017 (via Stereogum).

The members have been involved in their own musical projects — frontman Ezra Koenig was even credited on Beyoncé's latest album — since Vampire Weekend's last record, Modern Vampires in the City from 2013. Multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij departed from the band this year, but he may not be gone for long.

In reply to a question about working with Vampire Weekend again, Batmanglij hinted yes. “I don’t want to make any announcements," said the musician to Rolling Stone. "I want some surprises for 2017."

Revisit classic Vampire Weekend cut "A-Punk" below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

OLSSON Sends Positive Vibes with "Hold On"

2016-11-18T17:30:00.000Z

Though he's based out in Stockholm, Christian Olsson's music is quickly gaining transcontinental recognition. Following the release of his summertime hit "Hold On" featuring fellow Swedish artist Mapei, the multi-instrumental songwriter and producer released his EP of the same title back in August. We talked with him about the album, how he started producing music, and his upcoming cheese label.

Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden

How would you describe your music to people who had never heard it before?

Its like John Lennon on speed waking up from the dead in Manchester 1992. It´s dirty housepianos, groovy beats, gospel and simple melodies. It´s the best thing you've heard since you were a kid.

Who are some of your musical influences?

I grew up in the '90s era being absolutely mad about the groove from the Madchester and Hacienda scene with Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Primal Scream as my house gods. I´m also mad about gospel, Nina Simone, Grace Jones, Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West, Dennis Wilson, The Pharcyde, Mike Skinner and Disclosure. It´s all a big musical cocktail.

What's life like for an up-and-coming musician in 2016?

I feel it's an era of no genres, no rules and complete freedom. Pretty much everybody can get a laptop and create a record. It all comes down to what you have to say and to find your own expression. I find it bloody inspiring, but I know a lot of people are freaking out about it.

Can you explain how you chose your stage name?

It´s pretty easy — OLSSON is my last name, which is the Swedish equivalent of the surname "Smith." It translates as quite simply "Son of Royalty," which has got everything and nothing to do with me.

How did you get your start?

For the last couple of years I've been having a folder in my laptop called SOLO mostly with ideas comprised of Madchester style beats and images taken from early '90s raves in my hometown Gothenburg. I started seeing visuals with strong and bright colours. I wanted to make music out of that illusion. The only thing I new in the beginning was that I wanted to sound like nothing out there.

How did your unique sound come about?

It took me ages to transfer the sound and ideas in my head to actual tracks. But my music is really all about the songs, the sound itself is only about finding the right costume and mood. I've had a vision of making a soundtrack to your 3pm party after a couple of cocktails. When you're hopeful, excited and life feels like a playground. And you are not sure what the fuck is going to happen next. It's all of that and years of hard work. The best thing about music is that you can't control it. What comes out, comes out and this is what I got.

What's the coolest experience you’ve had so far?

That's a tough question. Let's limit ourselves to this album process. I've been obsessed with gospel choirs since I was a kid and I knew I had to have it on my record. By pure luck I ran into Eska Mtungwazi who put together a choir of Vula Malinga (Basement Jaxx, Sam Smith), Adeleye Omotayo (Amy Whinehouse) and Sam White (Florence & the Machine). I recorded them during a session in the magic Sleeper Sound studios in London. I was in heaven and cried during most of the recordings.

What's something you've learned in your time as a musician?

It's all about understanding your limitations. Surround yourself with amazing people. And then create music with them. Be nice and humble but don't back off from your vision. Also music is a pure drug to me but I've learned how to deal with it to not overdose.

Are there any specific goals that you have in mind?

I've always dreamed about doing an album with Phil Collins on the drums. I heard he quit doing music, so I might have to find another dream. But I still believe we would create a pretty hot duo...

What's the songwriting process like for you?

I'm a melody hunter. I chase it 24/7. So for me that's how it always starts. First melody, then a beat. If I manage to dance to the track for six hours on repeat and still love it, I know it's a keeper.

If there's one thing you wish everyone on the planet knew about you, what would it be?

I'm about to start my own cheese label cause I'm mad about cheese. Any suggestions for a good label name please?

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Check out the track Virile by The Blaze if you haven't heard it. It will change your day.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Listen To Two New Tracks From The Weeknd Ft. Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey

2016-11-18T17:23:52.545Z

The Weeknd has released two more songs from his highly anticipated album Starboy: "I Feel It Coming" ft. Daft Punk and "Party Monster" with guest vocals from Lana Del Rey.

"I Feel It Coming" is a synthy, romantic dance track for a late night. Daft Punk's signature electronic touch stars on the song, and the French duo even contribute vocals. The Weeknd also worked with Daft Punk for the album's title track.

On the other hand, "Party Monster" is a fearful hip hop-inspired song about a drunken hookup. "Woke up by a girl, I don't even know her name," sings Abel Tesfaye.

Starboy is set to drop November 25.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Britney Spears' Seductive Video For "Slumber Party"

2016-11-18T17:20:36.549Z

Britney Spears wants you to join in on her "Slumber Party." She's in classic form in the new music video, which features her sensually dancing in suggestive outfits.

"We use our bodies to make our own videos," sings Spears on the single from Glory.

With some help from Tinashe, she does just that. At a decadent mansion party, she cuddles and dances with Tinashe, flirts with a classy dude, crawls across tables and ends up in a heap of partygoers.

Watch it all go down below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

RIP to the Golden Era of Fake News

2016-11-18T16:56:58.243Z

This week, we're saying goodbye to our dear friend, satire.

The Onion and Other Beautifully Broken News

Recommended Pairing: A strong spliff and some breath mints.

When my friend Jesse moved to Los Angeles from Denver he brought with him his most beloved collection: boxes full of old issues of the actual Onion newspaper he walked down to grab from a street corner every week. I had never seen or heard of the Onion the first time I hung out at his house. The idea of a fake newspaper covering actual news blew my teenage mind. It was the most brilliant thing I had ever seen. Then when I dug past the headlines into the smaller articles steeped in observational humor and a fresh take on existential dread, I was instantly a fan for life. Sure, we played some video games and tried the occasional round of convincing old dirty guys to buy us beers, but for the most part, our hangs simply consisted of leafing through those old black and white treasures while the Beastie Boys recounted the exploits of a horse named Paul Revere. The '90s were weird.

Here's some of my favorite headlines through the years:

(About a week or two after Anna Nicole Smith dies)
Anna Nicole Smith Finally Reaches Target Weight

Johnson & Johnson Introduces 'Nothing But Tears' Shampoo To Toughen Up Newborns

(Two weeks after 9/11)
Not Knowing What Else To Do, Woman Bakes American-Flag Cake

Scientists Successfully Teach Gorilla It Will Die Someday

Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids

Fake news has been a huge part of my life, from the Onion through the Daily Show (with a little "Weekend Update" thrown in there). Over the course of my adult life, I got to watch the rise of satirical news foster a momentum for common sense positions on a wide range of social issues. The rise of 24-hour news programming forced every issue into a debate instead of a thoughtful presentation of the facts. The younger generations were rejecting traditional news outlets and searching for a way to consume information that could hold their interest.

Enter Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert — two lovable scamps that tirelessly eviscerated journalists and politicians for hypocrisy and championed decency, discourse and above all the joy of being knowledgeable.

I honestly believe if Jon had been behind the desk for one more year, the vast majority of America would be pretty jazzed about either our first openly female president or our first openly non-Christian president appointing their transition team. You know, instead of our first openly pussy grabbing president handing the car keys to a known white nationalist.

John Oliver has been doing a fine job at using the satirical news desk as a means to deliver some semblance of journalism to people, but it's too little too late. In an ironic twist, we're slowly learning that "Fake News" may have actually paved the way for one of the most depressing weeks I've had as an adult.

So add the golden age of satirical news to the long list of things I loved that 2016 killed.

#ffff00 Journalism

Recommended Pairing: A spicy yellow mustard eaten directly off of unread newsprint.

Welcome to the all-new, digital age of yellow journalism — Sensationalized news coverage and deliberate make-believe bullshit specifically written to generate clicks, shares, hate and money.

Here's an example of how broken our system for news consumption is:

If you've read this column, you know that my family is staunchly Republican. And although we don't agree on policy, we can usually find ways to talk about issues in a way that could deliver a semblance of compromise that both sides would be happy with. It's safe to say that your typical American conservative is much closer to the center than the loudest on the fringe would have you believe. Same goes with the left of this country.

This current epidemic of targeting fabricated and inflammatory content to specific people based on their political leanings is quite literally tearing the country apart. One of my favorite things I saw online this week was a side by side comparison of the content feeds of "blue" versus "red".

This all but confirms the idea that keeps so many of us frustrated during conversations and debates with people from different ideological leanings — we are literally fighting with entire different swaths of facts, figures and information. And yes, some of it is utter bullshit. No wonder we feel so far apart.

Google has already begun removing payment incentives through their advertising channels for fake news stories, and I hope the folks at Facebook can get their shit together, even though it must be hard for them — on account of the sudden passing of their founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. That's right I saw a post on my Facebook feed, apparently he died of a heart attack. RIP, nerd.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

20 Mannequin Challenge Videos That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

2016-11-18T08:00:00.000Z

We’ve been throwing ice-cold water on ourselves. We’ve been dancing like they do in Gangnam. We’ve even planked and dabbed. In a couple of weeks #MannequinChallenge took over the world, and we’ve collected the ones you can’t miss. Let’s watch the best ones, from Big Bird to the First Lady.

When Mannequins Get Married

A lot of people are trying their hands (and bodies) at the recent Internet craze, but some succeed better than others. This family in Austin, TX, for example, took it to the next level by their incredible wedding-themed #MannequinChallenge video. They wired beer bottles on strings; they trained their eyelids to resist the urge to bat and they simply kicked ass with their video.

Red Carpet Freeze

That’s how you do a red carpet! All cast and publicists froze to make their own #MannequinChallenge video during the premiere of Edge of 17 in Los Angeles. That included Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Hayden Szeto, Blake Jenner, Kelly Fremon Craig and Kyra Sedgwick.

Hairspray Live!

Okay, now that we’ve forgotten Fox’s truly horrendous Rocky Horror Picture Show rendition, can we get a bit optimistic about the oncoming Hairspray Live? The TV special will air on December 7 with Maddie Baillio leading the cast. The team behind the newest version of John Waters’ classic decided to modernize things a little bit and shot a special promo in the style of #MannequinChallenge.

USA Gymnastics Strike Some Poses

The stars of USA Gymnastics jumped on the bandwagon and posted their take on the challenge. Everyone from Simone Biles to Nastia Liukin showed their money poses during the Kellogg’s Tour in Boston.

Police Goes “Freeze!”

Police officers in Kingston, UK, took their own catchphrase “Freeze!” literally and shot their own version of #MannequinChallenge, which they posted on Kingston Police’s official YouTube channel. One of the policemen is inspecting a bike and the other two are apprehending a man drinking tea (they ARE British after all!).

America’s Got Mannequins

The America’s Got Talent crew couldn’t resist showing that they have some talents themselves. The talent for posing, for example. And the knack for clever trend-accumulating marketing. The video is everything you’d expect it to be — the contestants are getting ready to audition; the judges show all kinds of reactions and we’re left to wonder if this creative outburst is a good enough reason to give the show another try…

Sesame Street Goes Static

The Mannequin Challenge has found its way to where the air is sweet... pic.twitter.com/FXHbiWYeB0
— Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) November 15, 2016

Who said Sesame Street was old-fashioned? The ever-entertaining creatures living on this street are up-to-date with all the trends and #challenges.

Top 8 Tennis Players Unite

Top eight best tennis players of the world met in London… the rest wasn’t an anecdote but more of a viral video. Novak Djokovic, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori, Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray, Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka all starred in the tuxedo-heavy video, which reportedly took just ten minutes to pull off.

It’s Britney’s Mannequin, Bitch!

Britney Spears couldn’t stay away from the craze and made sure all of her Las Vegas crew was in on the action, too. Spears also used the video as an opportunity to showcase her latest “Best Resident Performer” award.

Ronaldo as a Naked Mannequin

The Portugal national football team invited the world into their dressing room and Cristiano Ronaldo apparently didn’t get the memo, as the owner of the most famous six-pack in football appeared dressed only in his boxers in the video. But who are we kidding? The guy clearly loves showing off his body which, when you think about it, is pretty similar to these near-perfect plastic bodies of mannequins.

Challenging with the Stars

A great dance is a series of perfectly timed moves, but sometimes it feels like the whole dancefloor freezes when you’re caught in a moment. That’s what happened to the cast and crew of the current season of Dancing with the Stars competition series.

Dine And Pose With Stephen Curry

The NBA player, who is often referred to as the best shooter in NBA history, didn’t have to move a single muscle to become the latest Internet sensation. All he had to do was convince his wife and the whole restaurant to star in his #MannequinChallenge video.

Rae Sremmurd Do “The Rae Sremmurd”

Since a lot of the #MannequinChallenge videos feature Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” song, the hip-hop duo recently stopped their concert to film their own version of the challenge.

Blac Chyna Gives Birth to a Meme

Blac Chyna went an extra mile to film her #MannequinChallenge video. The model filmed it while giving birth to her daughter Dream Renee Kardashian and invited some Kardashians to be in her video, too.

Hillary Clinton Flies High

On the night before the election Hillary Clinton needed to chill for a bit and shot her #MannequinChallenge plane video that starred Jon Bon Jovi of all people. Guess it’s her life and it’s now or never.

Ellen DeGeneres Lays It On the Table

For Ellen DeGeneres #MannequinChallenge was also a good way of showing her table tennis skills and playing on the same team as Warren Beatty.

James Corden Goes Epic

James Corden’s #MannequinChallenge video was truly epic. The British comedian shot his two-minute-long video on the set of Late Late Show and featured both the crew and the audience.

Adele Goes Western

Her music may be a far cry from your typical Western soundtrack, yet British superstar Adele decided to put a cowboy hat on for her stylish Mannequin Challenge video. It did keep the “Hello” music video’s noir theme though.

Destiny’s Reunited

Pop fans all over the world are tired of waiting for the holy trinity of R&B — Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly — to reunite and release more Destiny’s Child music. But while they’re not getting back to the studio, the ladies are willing to reform at some extent as proven by their #MannequinChallenge video.

NBA Does the White House

What happens when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the White House? They do the most epic Mannequin Challenge video in history with the coolest first lady in history. Sadly Barack Obama was out that day. Maybe pass a challenge to him?

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

2016-11-18T08:00:00.000Z

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And as many start preparing to get their eat on, there are also lots of others who need to make sure their homes are ready for the family. So what better way to make the holiday cleaning easier than by listening to new tunes? And we've got a few fine picks this week. For the pop lovers, Little Mix's Glory Days and DNCE's self-titled debut will tickle your fancy. Meanwhile, those who want a little atmosphere can pick up Dawn Richard's Redemption or Denitia and Sene's love and noir. Finally the headbangers can rock out to Highly Suspect's The Boy Who Died Wolf.

Find out more about this week's Top 5 Albums Releases below.

'Glory Days' - Little Mix

Fans have been wondering (and waiting for) when or if Perrie Edwards would express her feelings about her split from Zayn in 2015. And it looks like we don't have to wait any longer with Little Mix's latest record, Glory Days. If it wasn't clear with their lead single, "Shout Out to My Ex," then a fair amount of the tunes on the album convey the ups and downs of getting over someone. But instead of just dwelling on the pain and sorrow, the ladies provide us with an array of upbeat tunes like the punchy "You Gotta Not," which they collaborated on with Meghan Trainor. Then there's "F.U.," a mid-tempo doo wop track that gives off the Meghan vibes. While it is of the slower variety, the lyrics clearly address the distaste they have for their exes.

Following that old school pop vibe, they team up with Charlie Puth on "Oops," a tune about two exes who still hooked up even though they're technically done. And while the album centers around the "I didn't need him anyway" mentality, that doesn't mean that they can't break either. But "No More Sad Songs" is the best musical remedy for anyone trying to move on. Despite the fact that many of the songs on the record highlight independence and the breakup, their ballad, "Nobody Like You," "Your Love" and "Touch" show that they still want to find love. So if you're a Little Mixer who wants to know how Perrie's doing or someone who's looking for some sonic solace, give Glory Days a spin and you're likely to walk away feeling a little lighter.

'DNCE' - DNCE

From the moment we heard about cakes being had by the ocean last year, Joe Jonas and his band of partying pop rockers, DNCE, have been making moves onstage, the red carpet and the spotlight. And while they dropped their first single, "Cake by the Ocean" had some radio love and chart traction, it's only now that we're getting their self-titled debut.

If you managed to get your hands on their EP, Swaay, then you got a fairly good introduction to what DNCE was going for on this record. They want to make you sweat — on the dancefloor and hopefully in the bedroom, if you're luckily. There are songs like "Body Moves" and "Doctor You" are laden with heavy bass riffs and throwback club funk sounds that are perfect for the holiday playlists. But while it's meant to be a dancey record, they start to bounce into different sounds from the the mid-tempo pop ballad "Truthfully" to the glow stick-friendly "Naked." Like his brother Nick Jonas, Joe has proven that he's beyond his squeaky clean Jonas Brothers years and is treading into new territory that will leave you needing a cold shower afterwards.

'Redemption' - Dawn Richards

For anyone who has followed Dawn Richard's journey through her musical trilogy, we finally have the final installment of that series with Redemption. And for Dawn, her sonic allegory ends with fragmented beats, electronic layers and some good ol' fashion dance music. Ready for the dark and smokey discos, Redemption is more than just a collection of groove tunes.

The former Danity Kane member eloquently sings about big social issues including acceptance, sexuality and integration of all people — in this case, bringing them to one dance floor. While "Love Under Lights" and "Renegades" tap into high tones and lighter vibes. Songs like "LA," featuring Trombone Shorty, and "Sands" have more of that R&B meets trip hop vibe. Jungle tones are laced with bells on "Lazarus," while you get a whimsical piano on "Lilies." Redemption aims to celebrate the human race and love for all because that's all we really need, right?

'Love and Noir.' - Denetia and Sene

We've heard the title alternative R&B tossed around and attached to artists like Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs and The Internet. However, brooklyn duo Denitia and Sene really embrace the notion with their supple beats and buttery vocals. While they wowed with their debut album, His and Hers, the two artists are back with Love and Noir.

Moody and atmospheric, the 12-track record falls into the world of love-making sonic perfection. Sure, the opening staccato beats of songs like "Strung." and buzzing of "Open Wide." will make you think twice about playing that one in the bedroom. However, "The Rum Diaries," sultry "Favorite." and "Roulette." will instantly put you in the mood. It's their laissez faire vibe of the whole album makes this the one that can pair nicely with a full-bodied wine with the lights taken down low.

'The Boy Who Died Wolf' - Highly Suspect

If the four previous picks were a little too soft and you're looking for something rough around the edges, Highly Suspect may be the perfect dose of tuneage for you. After grabbing people's attention — including those at the Grammys — with their LP Mister Asylum last year, the Brooklyn band is back with their latest, The Boy Who Died Wolf.

From the moment, LP opener "My Name is Human," you instantly want to grab for that flannel and docs. The '90s grunge and rock feel is heavy throughout the record, which for some might be a setback, but for others is the charm of the album. "Serotonia," the lead single, puts Jimi Hendrix guitar licks over a Bush kind of vibe. The grim side of rock music shines in other tunes like "Send Me an Angel," "Look Alive, Stay Alive" and "Viper Strike." Despite their raw energy and unapologetic lyrics, Highly Suspect show their more emotional sides on the piano-driven LP closer, "Wolf."

Get your new music fix any day of the week by visiting out New Music Friday page.

Watch Will Ferrell and the Anchorman News Team Hilariously React to the Cubs’ World Series Win

2016-11-17T20:54:03.542Z

When Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo told catcher David Ross he was in a “glass case of emotion” during Game 7 of the World Series, he likely echoed the feelings of every Chicago fan in the world that night. At the time, the team’s 108-year-long championship drought was no joking matter. But now that it has officially ended, who better to poke fun at the situation than the originator of that saying himself, Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgundy.

How Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Fits Into the Harry Potter Timeline

In a new mashup from Funny or Die, scenes from both Anchorman and Anchorman 2 are juxtaposed with big plays from the Cubs’ historic win, resulting in a hilarious reaction video. “What is this amateur hour!?,” Burgundy shouts following a clip of Cleveland’s Rajai Davis hitting his game-tying home run in the eighth inning.

Watch Tom Hiddleston March in a Gorilla Suit Like the Committed Actor He Is

Watch the full video below.

The 'Anchorman' news team watches the @Cubs win the World Series. pic.twitter.com/16QbyCVEZA
— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) November 16, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Mariah Carey Already Performed ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ to Spread Holiday Cheer

2016-11-17T20:47:12.280Z

Diva extraordinaire, shade queen, and official winter holiday ambassador Mariah Carey has been especially benevolent to her lambs this year — between an upcoming (and predictably dramatic) “docu-series” Mariah’s World and a glitter-encrusted holiday collection with MAC Cosmetics, there’s been no shortage of the access to the elusive chanteuse.

Leonard Cohen Died in His Sleep After Falling Down at Home

However, MC decided to bless the Lambily even more magnaminously by kicking off the holiday season in what might be the most Mariah way possible — with a very shiny, very festive performance of her penultimate Christmas anthem, “All I Want for Christmas” in front of a Christmas-light bedazzled “It’s a Small World” ride at Disneyland.

Watch the First Full Trailer For Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

The performance has all the tenets of a truly fabulous Mariah Carey production: festive dancers, angelic vocals, and no shortage of glitter, glitz, and glamour. Watch the full performance below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Drake Asked ESPN Reporter Doris Burke on a Romantic Dinner Date During a Courtside Interview

2016-11-17T20:37:00.397Z

Noted basketball enthusiast and sometimes bandwagon fan Drake took full advantage of “Drake Night” where his beloved Toronto Raptors took on the Golden State Warriors — to ask out ESPN sideline reporter Doris Burke during the game.

The Canadian rapper, a global ambassador for the Raptors, made his intentions known early during the evening by sporting a customized sweatshirt with Burke’s face printed on it and the declaration, “Woman Crush Everyday.”

A Comprehensive Guide to Drake the NBA’s Most Enthusiastic Bandwagon Fan

Later during a court side interview with ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez, he expressed admiration for Burke, calling her his “inspiration” and layering on praise.

“I think she’s a stunning woman, incredible at what she does,” he said. “I wish she was here tonight.”

Eddie Redmayne Has the Details on That Time Taylor Swift Auditioned to Be Eponine in Les Misérables

Drake ended the interview by extending an invitation for a dinner date with Burke with an interesting caveat.

“Dinner at my house anytime, as long as she comes alone,” he said.

Iz talks to Drake about Doris Burke pic.twitter.com/5fYqPptuaa
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 17, 2016

Lucky for Drizzy, however, Burke was open to the idea and sent her reply via Twitter.

@Drake dinner is on ❤️️
— Doris Burke (@heydb) November 17, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Yasmine Van Wilt is Bringing Bluesy Americana Music Back to the Masses

2016-11-17T20:30:00.000Z

Yasmine Van Wilt has accomplished more in a couple of decades than the average person would in a lifetime. Not only does she have a Ph. D. in Creative Writing — which she's taught at some of the world's most prestigious universities — she's also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and the Canadian ambassador to Greenpeace's climate change action marches. When she's not acting or winning awards for her work in literature or Earth's preservation, Van Wilt stays busy playing guitar and singing in her bluesy Americana band, Van Wild.

Hometown: Montreal

Current residence: Nashville & New York

How would you describe your music to people who had never heard it before?

Van Wild is a solo project; I am aiming to write music that challenges mainstream narratives of history. These songs explore stories of women that have been written out of the mediatized, documented historical narratives. My aim is to empower young women to see themselves as forces of nature; I am hoping young women listen to my work and feel that they are being represented, spoken-to, remembered: I want to make the stories of women important, part of the throbbing centre of our evolving Millennial Zeitgeist.

When were you first influenced by music, and who were some of those inspirations?

I am as much influenced by music as I am by critics, writers and activists. I find the work of Mary Woolstonecraft has been crucial to my evolving voice as a writer-artist. Marina Abromovich is possibly my greatest artistic influence; I so appreciate her comfort with danger, with the stakes necessary to include, to challenge audiences. Margaret Atwood ranks amongst the writers who have most impacted by thinking about writing; Pete Seeger, Richie Havens and Lucinda Willliams have had formative influences on my notion of narrative, the role of art in society, the relationship between story and the act of storytelling. I believe art exists to form an important dialogue between the populous and a higher, collective consciousness. I believe, like the ancient Greeks, that the act of making and performing music, theatre and writing is a direct action of citizenship. I feel I am making a worthwhile contribution to society when I am helping to advance dialogue about domestic violence, climate change, mental health, the role of the citizen…that dialogue makes this work meaningful for me.

How did the band start?

I’ve been writing and performing for 15 years. This is my newest performance art-music project. I have brought in wonderful collaborators since the project’s beginning, creating band sounds, bringing my writing and compositions to life. It is a joy to work with people like Dominic John Davis who are far greater at what they do than I am at my bit; I am very challenged by our collaboration. I think it is important to be the least talented person in the room. I am growing, hard and fast.

How did the band's unique sound come about?

My voice naturally lends itself to the blues; I have always have a natural inclination to the folk genre because I am, first and foremost, a storyteller. With a range more akin to that of a man’s these narratives allow me to challenge every aspect of the way women are perceived, even aurally, in the media. The collaborators bring rock, bluesrock and country tonality to my otherwise naturally folk-like writing.

What's the coolest experience the band has had so far?

I have just joined forces with Michelle Obama’s Change Direction campaign; I will be working with The Bellamy Brothers and many other bands to contribute music to this campaign; this is an extraordinary opportunity to help challenge the existing narrative about mental health, to challenge negative stigmas.

What's the songwriting process like for you?

I am a workhorse; I don’t think anything comes particularly easily to me. Before recording a song, I tend to go through an extensive period of performance, tweaking, exercise, massaging of melody. It takes an extraordinary amount of work to make something appear simple. I do extensive research; most of my songs begin with my own examination of personal experience. Bluebird and Momma explore my experiences of sexual and domestic abuse. I looked to greater contexts, far beyond my own to examine how women across space and time have dealt with this kind of trauma. Bluebird follows a woman refugee who is pursued by an obsessive jailor; she is a Hugenot, one of the early immigrants/colonizers of Quebec. I tried to parallel my own experience with that of contemporary refugees; I am trying to reverse my own vulnerability, to make a conversation about what women are dealing with today. My own experiences are small in comparison to what women face in countries ravaged by war, pestilence and conflict.

How do you balance your life as a musician with all of your academic endeavors?

My academic work serves my artistic work and vice versa; I have been lucky that my academic work has helped support my artistic work. It has given me the space and and time to develop my voice, to understand where I fit in the pantheon of music and the arts today. Being a Mellon Fellow is an extraordinary gift; I feel very lucky to have the support of this grant to continue exploring my work, post PhD. The RSA (Royal Society of the Arts) have also been very good to me. I appreciate the support of academia, of academics.

How did Innocence and Awakening come to be?

My father was my best friend; we worked closely together all my life. He began writing this double volume when I was a child. When he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, I made it my mission to see the work published, to help him achieve his dream of “reaching a wider audience”. I decided we needed to have an additional spoken word volume so that we could do this, so we could reach people who like audiobooks, who like Americana music and spoken word poetry. It was a long labor of love, for he and I. The Bellamy family and my family have a history of inter-collaboration and partnership. I was very lucky to work with Jesse and Noah to create the audiobook. I feel they brought a great deal to the project. It also brought my father tremendous joy in the last month of his life. This remains the only professional recording I have of my father’s voice; it is my most precious “possession”; it is a joy to share it, for others to hear him speak his beautiful work. It is both sacred and profance; this work is profound. He was an extraordinary poet, entirely at home in the void-like space between life and death. He lived without fear; thus, his poetry is fearless. It delves into places most of us would rather avoid, the very crevices of the ego.

What was it like for you to work on this project?

It has been the most important creative project of my life; I cherish this opportunity. I take my responsibility, to help build and share my father’s legacy with the utmost importance. I feel as though, somehow, I am helping him to continue beyond the ether. It is heart-wrenching but important.

What kind of impression do you think will be left upon readers?

I believe people will be left with a deep sense of comfort and catharsis; I hope people feel the same sense with my music. Both my father and I were motivated by the desire to get far below the skin, to tap into some kind of direct communication with the audience.

If there's one thing you wish everyone on the planet knew about you what would it be?

I don’t really feel knowing much about me is important; I think it would be really wonderful if we all shared a little more love and worked at being less hateful. The obsession with celebrity and the celebration of the individual has probably done a lot of harm to our evolving sense of community. I’m definitely a humanist, in the real sense of the word, but I also feel humans really aren’t as important as we think we are. We just need to stop screwing things up for a minute.

What's next for you/the band?

I am recording a follow-up album, working hard at the performance-art show that goes with it, filming the music video for my single with The Bellamy Brothers and cracking away at my collaboration with the Change Direction foundation. I am also working at a women’s international political performance festival; my buddy Amy Jephta is helping me; she’s one of the most brilliant writers on the planet. Please check her out! She’s a gem.

Watch The Thrilling Trailer For 'Kong: Skull Island'

2016-11-17T17:57:45.748Z

It looks like Kong: Skull Island will be a bumpy ride. After King Kong destroys a group of soldiers and scientists on an island in the South Pacific, only a small group of survivors are left. The A-list group of actors, including Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman, then have to fend for themselves against what turns out to be many monsters.

Kong: Skull Island was directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and was filmed in Hawaii, Australia's Gold Coast and Vietnam. It hits the silver screen on March 10, 2017.

Watch the action-packed trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To Pharrell's Funky New Song "Crave"

2016-11-17T17:47:59.684Z

Pharrell has released another earworm. The soulful song has it all: dynamic vocals and harmonies, hand-clapping, guitar licks, horns and even falsetto.

He wrote the song for Hidden Figures, which tells the inspirational tale of three African-American women — Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson — working at NASA.

"I think those brilliant women were a victim of the era and circumstance. Up until recently, a woman’s contribution to history has often been dismissed and discounted and oftentimes erased from public acknowledgment," noted Pharrell about the film (via Billboard).

"Crave" is just one of eight songs that Pharrell recorded for Hidden Figures. The soundtrack to the film, which also features Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys, is set to come out on December 9.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch Metallica Perform "Enter Sandman" With Toy Instruments On 'Fallon'

2016-11-17T17:37:11.974Z

When Metallica recorded "Enter Sandman," we're pretty sure they weren't planning to play a toy instrument version of the song on national TV 25 years later. The heavy metal legends did just that last night on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — and it certainly looks like James Hetfield and Co. had fun with it.

Hetfield sang the iconic lines, Kirk Hammett joined in on melodica and Lars Ulrich kept the beat with an incredibly small toy drum and cymbals. We can't say that it sounds great, but it is a cute spectacle to watch.

See it for yourself below. Metallica release their 10th record Hardwired… to Self-Destruct tomorrow (November 18).

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen to Kid Indigo's "Cali" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-17T17:30:00.000Z

Madison Fisher is known best for being the co-frontman of the indie pop band Foreign Talks. However, this year he's testing the solo waters and dropped a number of projects. His latest is a tune called, "Cali."

"I wrote this song at 3am one night, when it was pouring rain," Kid Indigo tells Myspace. "It came to me while I was watching Adult Swim, in the dark, the glow of the TV inspiring me for some reason."

He also adds, "I was pretty sick and hopped up on cough medicine. To me, the song is about the struggle between growth and stagnation, as pertained in a relationship, a relationship that you know is going nowhere, but you still hope it is going somewhere."

Listen to "Cali" below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting our Premiere page.

Getting to Know... The Suffers

2016-11-17T11:35:16.027Z

“Who are we?” The Suffers! “And where are we from?” Houston!

Kam Franklin pauses for a few moments to quiz the crowd as the rest of the band jazzily transitions into their second song. Her kind, soulful vocals welcome the concertgoers to the evening’s festivities. “We want you to know who we are and where we come from, so that you remember who it was that made you feel this good!” she tells them with the utmost confidence, noticing people beginning to rise to their feet to sway and clap along with the rhythmic sounds of of the brass, percussion, and guitars.

Myspace caught up with The Suffers during their sunset performance on the Santa Monica Pier to get to know the big band a little better.

Kam Franklin

Age: 29
Instrument: Lead singer
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: Both Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton’s renditions of “I Will Always Love You”
Favorite Song to Perform Live: In “Giver” I’m storytelling and reminiscing on lovers that didn’t work out. It’s about no matter how much I gave, I never won. I know a lot of people have been there — it’s a realistic outlook on love.
Guilty Pleasure: I’m a big punk rock and Tejano music fan. If you catch a peek on my iPod on any given day you’ll be like “Are you actually listening to that?”

Adam Castaneda

Age: 33
Instrument: Bass
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: My parents listened to a lot of ‘70s rock like Queen and Pink Floyd, so I was into that as a kid. When I became a teenager, the first punk rock band I heard was Operation Ivy. It was really raw.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: There’s nothing technically difficult about the song, but “Giver”is built on drama — it’s built on a feeling.
Guilty Pleasure: I’m a huge fan of obscure ‘70’s reggae. The band is actually named after something in the movie Rockers, which is about that. I’m a collector and nerd about it all.

Jose Luna

Age: 27
Instrument: Percussion
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: My Uncles are musicians. They used to play at little hole-in-the-wall joints and I grew up playing like that. Oh, and KISS — my cousins and I used to dress up as them all the time.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: I don’t do anything but little snaps, but the way the band performs “Giver” and the feeling that they send is amazing.
Guilty Pleasure: I like cooking. I think we’re all pretty good at it — except for Kevin. I’m kidding...just don’t let him cook bacon.

Kevin Bernier

Age: 37
Instrument: Guitar
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: I grew up listening to a wide variety of music. Eventually I started discovering bands on my own. I loved the Red Hot Chili Peppers and I was there when Nirvana came out. I think it was Kurt Cobain who inspired me to play guitar.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: “Who’s Gonna Love You” is the only time I get to play a guitar solo. Usually I’m hanging back with the rhythm section, but that’s the only time they let me out to play.
Guilty Pleasure: I’ve been skateboarding since I was 10-years-old. I was doing that before I was playing music.

Patrick Kelly

Age: 37
Instrument: Keyboard and a tiny bit of drums
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: My Grandfather sang in a huge barbershop chorus. He was always singing, so from a really young age I was always into music. When I got bored with piano I switched to drums. I went a got a drumset the year when Nirvana’s Nevermind came out.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: I get to play drums on our song “Peanuts” so that’s always fun for me since I’m playing keys the rest of the time.
Guilty Pleasure: I’m really addicted to bad movies — the worse it is, the more I like it.

Michael Razo

Age: 29
Instrument: Trombone
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: Rico Rodriguez was a trombonist who played reggae music. He played with The Specials at one point. The way he plays is real chill and relaxed, the notes and rhythms he plays are really simple, which inspired me to move away from only Classical music.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: We cover “Ghost Town” by The Specials. It changes our setup a lot since we usually play R&B and soul, now we’re suddenly playing ska reggae.
Guilty Pleasure: I’m not the greatest, but I like to cook. It’s fun and I watch a lot of Chopped.

Jon Durbin

Age: 37
Instrument: Trumpet
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: Clifford Brown inspired me musically, especially in a soloistic way. His albums got me into jazz, got me into small ensembles and communicating with other instruments. He was awesome and the way he spoke through his horn was revolutionary to me.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: “Giver.” The song is very linear and modal — when I’m soloing I play textural so I can really get a lot of feeling put out into the song. Since there aren’t a lot of chord changes, I can really mess with that and play with sound.
Guilty Pleasure: Skateboarding.

Nick Zamora

Age: 36
Instrument: Drums...and I sing, and play some keyboard and...I’m like the band Mom.
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: My dad used to play guitar sing us songs before bed every night when we were kids. Nevermind had just come out when I was in middle school and that was an exciting moment.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: Pat and I decided we would switch instruments on a couple songs. I can play keyboard, but I’m not a keyboard player. It was a challenging moment for me to go on stage and play these songs. It keeps me on my toes musically and as a performer.
Guilty Pleasure: It’s kind of a hidden talent, but I can twist my tongue both directions!

Get an intimate look at your favorite artists by visiting our Portraits page.

20 Animated Characters We'd Be Friends With in Real Life

2016-11-17T08:00:00.000Z

There are times when we can all agree that people suck. Humans will let you down as often as they won't, but you know who will always be there for you? Cartoons.

But not every cartoon would be worth having there for you. Befriending Bugs Bunny or SpongeBob would probably get annoying real quick, and who would really want to invite a pantsless and forgetful Winnie the Pooh or someone as young as Stewie Griffin to their next kickback? We compiled a bunch of the cartoon characters who would probably be awesome to roll with and make every day feel like Saturday morning.

Gerald Johanssen

Plain and simple, Hey Arnold! holds up better than arguably any other cartoon from the late '90s and early 2000s. Of the kids on that show, there's no doubt that Gerald was the coolest. He'd be setting all the latest trends these days.

Bart Simpson

If we're being honest, we've wanted to be friends with Bart Simpson since we were in elementary school. He's the ultimate troublemaking friend who always brings the party with him.

Crona

For those who haven't watched Soul Eater, you should. It's a fantastic introductory anime with a great cast of characters. It also introduces maybe the most emo cartoon teenager to date in the form of Crona. If you ever shopped at Hot Topic, you'd totally be friends with Crona.

Jake the Dog

Although a wide variety of Adventure Time characters would make for great friends (the Earl of Lemongrab and Lumpy Space Princess would also be on our short list), there's no doubt that Jake would be the best option. He's as loyal as they come and can shapeshift into whatever you need him to be at any given time.

Big Gay Al

When looking at South Park characters, you really have to question who would you be able to tolerate being friends with on a regular basis. Randy Marsh would be cool, but no one would top Big Gay Al. He's super, after all.

Rick Sanchez

Would Rick be a lot to deal with as a daily friend? Yes, but he'd also bring a hell of a lot of entertainment into your life. What other 60-year-old cartoon characters are you going to hang with?

Skeeter Valentine

If you want to talk about diversifying your group of friends, having Skeeter in your crew would mean rolling with the only blue kid around. Plus, he's way cooler than anyone else on Doug except for maybe Porkchop. Now back to your regular argument about what race Patti Mayonnaise was.

Mordecai

Anyone on Regular Show would be a mixed bag to hang out with. No one's perfect, but they'd all be pretty solid pals. Frankly, Rigby is pretty annoying, but Mordecai would be fun to chill with.

Piccolo Jr.

Alright, so Piccolo might not be the most fun cartoon to hang out with, but can you imagine having a friend that powerful? Plus, he's less of a prick than any of Dragon Ball Z's true antagonists but isn't a sissy unless called upon to do something great like most of the good guys. Don't forget, Piccolo Day is May 9.

The Animaniacs

We wanted to pick one of the Animaniacs, but we just couldn't. Yakko, Wakko and Dot come as a package, and a great one at that. Pinky and the Brain should be considered too, but we couldn't deal with the Brain's condescending attitude.

Beavis

Beavis and Butt-Head are absolutely the friends you'd want when no one else is around. They're quote machines, and you know you'd always be laughing or rocking out with them. We gave a slight edge to Beavis just for his ability to show initiative.

Crush

You don't want to hang out with a giant sea turtle? What about the coolest turtle in history (except for maybe Lockjaw from Hey Arnold!)? Yeah, that's what we thought. It'd be totally radical, dude.

Space Ghost

He can fight evil, tell the best terrible jokes and host his own talk show. What more could you want out of a friend?

Eeyore

Some people might call Eeyore depressing, but we see him more as a realist. He's got things way more figured out than anyone else in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Olaf the Snowman

Do you want to befriend a snowman? If you don't, you're a filthy monster. Olaf is easily the best part of Frozen, and that's an undeniable fact.

Stimpson "Stimpy" J. Cat

Stimpy might not be the smartest friend you ever make, but is there anyone who could put you in a better mood on a regular basis? Unlike Ren, this cat's pretty much always happy, and we all need one friend who can cheer us up when the world (or 2016, at least) brings us down.

Joe Swanson

Being friends with cops can be tricky business, but Joe seems like he's one of the good ones. He'd be a far better person to have in your corner than anyone else in Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad or Bob's Burgers, and you'd be able to get to the front of the line at Disneyland every time.

Daria Morgendorffer

Life sucks, but Daria can help you get through it.

Edna Mode

While everyone else is running around with the superheroes in The Incredibles, we'd be hanging out with the real hero we all need. She could dress you, provide life advice and wouldn't take sass from anyone. You go girl!

Marvin the Martian

Seriously, he's a conquerer of world and can incinerate people with his ray gun. He's also resilient as hell just based on all of the times he's been blown to pieces and back in the next episode.

10 Reasons We Miss 'Rock N’ Jock'

2016-11-17T08:00:00.000Z

There was a time when MTV liked to crank everything up to eleven. This is why when they decided to have celebrity softball, and basketball, games, it wasn’t going to be enough to just have celebs playing sports. To make things interesting, MTV mixed together celebs and professional athletes, made some unique rule changes, and created Rock N’ Jock.

Rock N’ Jock’s softball, and basketball, games were an annual event for the better part of a decade, and whether you remember a jump shot that was worth five times as much as a normal shot, or the time Ken Griffey Jr. and his teammates in the outfield were lounging on reclining beach chairs for an inning, there is no doubt the mere mention of Rock N’ Jock evokes memories.

Here are 10 reasons why we miss this ‘90s staple.

Teaming of People You’d Never See Together Otherwise

Outside of Rock N’ Jock it’s highly unlikely you’d see members of Boyz II Men and Body Count, cast members of Home Improvement and Baywatch, and the founder of No Limit Records breaking bread together.

The same goes for Ozzie Smith, Warren G, Kenny Lofton and George Clooney.

Awkward Celebrity Matchups

My good friend Lee once jokingly told me the only reason he got into music was because he wanted to play basketball against Frankie Muniz. The above photo shows a similar matchup, as Flea works for position against teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

The 10 Point Shot

While NBA commentators continue to debate the merits of the three point shot, Rock N’ Jock had specific spots on the court where, if you were to make a shot, it counted for 10 points (fast-forward 40 sec into the video). This made comebacks a lot easier.

The 25 Point and 50 Point Baskets

In addition to the 10 point shot, late in the game a hoop would appear that was 25 feet in the air, and making a shot in it would count for 25 points. In later games, a 50 point basket was added that was even higher than the 25 point hoop (fast-forward to 7 min 18 sec into the video).

If the NBA had these, and the 10 points spots on the court, the Warriors would have averaged 850 points per game last season.

Derek Jeter & A-Rod … and Carmen Electra

Before they were teammates on the Yankees, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were foes both in MLB, and in Rock N’ Jock.

There’s no word on if Carmen Electra ever received one of Jeter’s infamous gift baskets, or saw the painting A-Rod reportedly has of himself as a centaur.

Bobby Bonilla was Traded for Salt & Pepa

Maybe this one’s more of a personal reason, but as a lifelong Mets fan, I can’t help but wish that Dan Cortese had been our GM, as instead of giving Bonilla a contract that pays him a million dollars per year for 25 years, he’d have shipped him off for a couple legendary hip-hop artists.

Saved by the Big Men

Only in Rock N’ Jock do you get this image of Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) being given a boost by Rick Mahorn and Vlade Divac.

Fun Fact: Vlade Divac was the player the Lakers traded to Charlotte for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant. Personally, I think Charlotte should have held out until Thiessen was included in the deal.

Chris Mullin vs. Shawn Kemp

Rock N’ Jock was the only sporting event in the world that could begin with a mock fight between Chris Mullin and Shawn Kemp. A fight that would result in a “brawl” that also involved Marky Mark and Joey Lawrence.

Albert Belle & Roger Clemens on the Same Team

Albert Belle and Roger Clemens were two of baseball’s biggest hotheads.

Belle once gave a forearm shiver to Fernando Vina while running to second (actually, while stopping in-between first and second to commit assault and battery and Vina).

Clemens had a reputation for intentionally throwing at players — just ask Derek Jeter, and Mike Piazza — and once threw a severed part of a bat at Piazza.

For Rock N’ Jock, they were on the same team … with Pamela Anderson.

A Glimpse Into the Future

The above picture is of Cecil Fielder and his son, Prince, at the fifth annual Rock N’ Jock softball game. Both men would finish their MLB careers with 319 homers. Only the elder Fielder, however, played for a season in Japan, where he had the nickname “Wild Bear,” and once reportedly stopped an impending brawl simply by walking up the steps of the dugout and making his presence known.

Watch Eddie Redmayne Emotionally Defend Hufflepuff

2016-11-16T20:41:37.153Z

Of the four Hogwarts houses, Hufflepuff has long been considered by many Harry Potter fans to be the most extraordinarily ordinary of the bunch — not good or bad, just there. But in a new PSA released by MTVTuesday, Eddie Redmayne — who plays famous Hufflepuff Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — comes to the defense of the yellow and black badgers.

Watch Adele’s Hilarious Freakout As a Rogue Bat Crashes Her Concert

“For far too long, Hufflepuffs have been victimized,” he says. “They call us boring, they call us beige — so we’re the nice guys.”

The 34-year-old actor then emotionally lists the reasons he is proud to be one of the Puffs, including their loyalty, work ethic and compassion. “Also Hufflepuff is J.K. Rowling’s favorite house so frankly f—k you,” he adds.

Here’s Proof That the New Beauty and the Beast Trailer Is Pretty Much the Same as the Original

Watch the full clip below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Why Actress Liza Weil Is So Proud of Her Role on ‘Gilmore Girls’

2016-11-16T20:33:54.630Z

Gilmore Girls is set to return this month, and the famous characters who left our screens almost a decade ago are finally easing back into our conversations. Liza Weil, who portrayed the unique, trailblazing Paris Geller, is definitely aware of her character’s impact — on her own life and on the lives of the show’s fans.

“The thing that’s the most lovely to me, looking back at my time on Gilmore Girls, was how fortunate I was to be a young actor and to be on a show that made it really cool for girls to be smart,” Weil told Cosmopolitan.“There were a lot of beauty shows, teen soaps, a lot of attention on looking pretty and being sexualized. It was really a gift for me to not have to do that and to really be able to explore the real issues of what it is to grow up.”

Jimmy Fallon Has Much Deeper Feelings About Gilmore Girls Than You

But Paris wasn’t immediately the role model Weil ended up bringing to the screen: In the earlier years, Weil struggled with her characters’ mean dialogue. “In season one, it was hard. I do remember feeling like, oh gosh, what is the value of portraying a mean girl on television? I’m not sure if it was helping anybody. It didn’t feel good to do it. Once we started learning more about Paris, it really made sense to me very quickly.”

She says she can relate to the part of Paris that made her initially come off as mean: “I think I can get a little passionate about things that I believe in and maybe that can be a little intense for people. And I think a lot of that stuff comes out of the need of wanting to belong, and being insecure and uncomfortable. Like all of us, [Paris] figured out who she was and became less apologetic about it.”

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Weil also weighed in on the long-asked question: Dean, Jess or Logan? It turns out, like Amy Sherman-Palladino, she doesn’t think Gilmore Girls is about picking a boy. “I don’t know that when that show was on, if people were so focused on [Rory’s boyfriends]. I think that’s something that’s developed over time. I think like we were talking about it earlier, these are very strong women who don’t need men to go through life with or have them be a part of their identity; they’re very capable of standing on their own.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

SNL’s Mannequin Challenge With Host Kristen Wiig Is Next Level

2016-11-16T20:28:21.904Z

The Saturday Night Live cast offered their own take on the Mannequin Challenge to promote this week’s episode along with the upcoming host, Kristen Wiig.

Watch Drake and Dave Chappelle Lose It Over a David Blaine Trick

For their addition to the viral trend that has gone transatlantic, the cast froze all the backstage action, and the skeletons from the show’s recent big hit David Pumpkins joined in. This mannequin challenge really upped the ante by taking full advantage of SNL’s props. Who else could serve up a spilling paint can? Best of all, Aidy Bryant’s bubblegum bubble didn’t pop the whole time. Even though Leslie Jones participates in the scene, it ends with her as the outsider who just doesn’t understand why everyone’s acting so weird.

Tom Brady Hilariously Mocks Deflategate in New Commercial

Watch below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Adele’s Hilarious Freakout As a Rogue Bat Crashes Her Concert

2016-11-16T20:21:08.530Z

Adele might have 10 Grammy awards, but that doesn’t mean that she’s exempt from being caught off-guard by a bat every now and then.

The powerhouse singer was surprised during a concert in Mexico City, Mexico on Monday night when a rogue bat crashed her stage, eventually attacking one of her audience members.

Frank Ocean Says Snubbing the Grammys Is His ‘Colin Kaepernick Moment’

Adele, of course, reacted in the most Adele manner ever, by good-naturedly releasing a string of obscenities while flapping her arms like a bat herself on the stage.

“Welcome to Mexico,” she joked. “It’s really good to be here – but a f—ing bat?”

Anna Kendrick Sings ‘I’m Still Here’ on Stephen Colbert for Everyone Powering Through 2016

This isn’t the first time that the British singer has shared a moment with a friendly animal during her tour; during a Los Angeles stop, the singer welcomed a puppy to the stage with a smooch.

Watch Adele’s hilarious freakout over the bat below.

When a bat welcomes you to a new country @Adele #adelemexico pic.twitter.com/YvCZ7ImDTb
— H Ramos (@Hect) November 16, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Black Foxxes Open the Discussion About Mental Health in 'I'm Not Well'

2016-11-16T19:24:12.177Z

While we're in the 21st century, there are still topics that are deemed as taboo. And one of them is mental health. While awareness about things like depression, anxiety and even PTSD are starting to spread and get talked about, Black Foxxes wanted to blow the idea wide open. And they did on their album, I'm Not Well. We sat down with guitarist and singer Mark Holley, bassist Tristan Jane and drummer Ant Thornton to talk about the new record, its themes and what they hope to accomplish as Black Foxxes in the future.

Hometown: Exeter, UK

How did the Black Foxxes get together?

Ant Thronton: Mark started the project with two friends, and I heard about it and thought it was pretty cool. Then a month later, he was looking for a drummer and asked me to [join]. Then a month after that, the bass player left. So he asked Trist, and that's how we're here.

You guys have been playing together for a bit. So how does it feel to have the album out now around the world?

Mark Holley: I think it feels weird bringing it over [to America] actually, because it felt proper for me when the album was out in the shops. And they were on the shelves. That was really cool. It feels real now. But when you're abroad, you realize your album's out here, too. You just assume that people have heard you through a YouTube video or something, so it does feel a bit weird that it's translated across the world. But it feels wicked.

We had a guy fly from Chicago to LA to see us at the back of our set, which is nuts. It was the first time he's seen us. And for us, that's crazy. So it's all going well. We're living the dream at the moment.

I'm Not Well delves into some heavy themes like getting through emotions and mental health. Why did you feel it was important to bring those to life?

Holley: I think I just reached a point in time where I was tired of not speaking more about it. When you start having panic attacks and anxiety, it's really weird because you actually don't know what it is. It feels like you're dying. It really does, and it's because of something you can't put your finger on. And it wasn't until I went into therapy and stuff, [I] realized that it's anxiety. And when you can put your finger on what it is, it becomes a lot easier.

I just got fed up, and I just wanted to open the topic. I've got nothing to be afraid about. And hopefully people will listen and think, Cool, I'm like that, too. Now let's talk about it. Let's champion it and not criticize them because their minds work a certain way. It's stupid that it's gone on this long with that mentality. So if anything, I'm championing the fact that it's cool to be weird and to talk about mental health issues.

Do you feel that by delving into these kinds of topics that you now have a new sense of responsibility, especially with your fans' reactions?

Tristan Jane: I don't feel responsible. I feel happy when people come toward us and ask us questions and find out more about what we do. But I don't feel responsible personally.

Thornton: I don't think it's a about being this kind of figurehead for some kind of movement. It's just bringing light from the dark. That sounds really cliche and cheesy. I mean, Mark has been getting messages from fans about how they're struggling with this stuff, too. They say, "I listened to your album, and it made me feel a whole lot better." So it's just nice to get that reaction. It's not like we're going to start a movement though.

What is your definition of success?

Holley: For me, it would be to have a large back catalog of albums, like a lot of albums, and to have a storied career. Bands that say it's not about the money. It's a lie. Obviously, money is important. We all live at home with our parents at the moment. So for us to be able to move out, and we're always looking toward the next steps like a new flat somewhere. But having said that, money is at the bottom of a pile of other things that are far more important. If we can travel the world, have a fan base and do this for the rest of our lives, that's success.

Watch Shane Tutmarc's "What Is This Love?" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-16T17:03:42.095Z

Shane Tutmarc gets a little heavy in his new song, "What Is This Love?". The Nashville artist questions the ideas of love and spirituality while seductive melodies play in the background on the sultry track.

"'What is This Love?' is one of my favorite songs from the single-a-month series," he tells Myspace. "It sort of toes the line between the mystery of love and spirituality, the flesh and the spirit. With a heavy nod to the romantic ballads of Latin America and Spain."

And going along with the steamy vibe, the visual will definitely make you feel a little hot under the collar. "This steamy clip of Salma Hayek doing her snake dance in From Dusk Till Dawn seemed like the perfect accompaniment to this song of lust and wonder," he reveals.

Watch the video for "What Is This Love?" below.

Watch more exclusive videos by visiting our Premiere page.

Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford Hooked Up on the 'Star Wars' Set

2016-11-16T16:59:15.274Z

While Princess Leia and Han Solo were meant to be together as we saw in the Star Wars film series, fans always wondered if Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford had a thing going on. And it looks like our questions have been answered as Carrie has just revealed some of the details regarding their three-month affair in her new book The Princess Diarist.

"I didn’t say anything to anybody for years but it’s not like anyone’s deeply affected by it anymore," she told People.

Although Harrison Ford, who was married at the time, has yet to confirm the information, Carrie hopes that it won't put him in a bad light.

"I would never want to embarrass him," she said. "I was so inexperienced, but I trusted something about him. He was kind."

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Prince's Estate is Suing Jay Z Over Tidal's Streaming Rights

2016-11-16T16:41:18.838Z

Prince's estate has slammed Jay Z and Roc Nation with a federal lawsuit citing alleged copyright infringement.

NPG Records Inc., and NPG Music Publishing, Prince's entities, acknowledged that they went into an agreement with Tidal to allow the streaming and selling of HitNRun: Phase 1 for 90 days. The complaint was that Tidal was "exploiting many copyrighted Prince works in addition to the works that comprise the HitNRun: Phase 1 album," as reported by the StarTribune.

According to the lawsuit, Roc Nation filed documents on October 21, November 7 and November 11 with the Carver County District Court that said they had "both oral and writtem" agreements to stream Prince's whole song catalog on Tidal. However, Roc Nation has yet to show documentation that supports this claim.

The lawsuit wants to take Roc Nation and Jay to court to be decided by a jury.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Britney Spears and Tinashe Invite You to a Seductive "Slumber Party"

2016-11-16T16:34:14.819Z

If you picked up a copy of Britney Spears' Glory, then you already heard her pillow talk track, "Slumber Party." And while that's already a sultry one, she brought Tinashe on to turn up the heat a little bit more.

The collaboration isn't necessarily news since Tinashe teased it on Instagram.

"The face you make when the rumors are true and you collabed with your idol & basically your whole life is a dream so you keep it cute for Brit but inside you are wigless and dead #slumberparty #ultimatestangoals #whatislife #reallyhappening #💀," she captioned a photo of herself with Brit.

The face you make when the rumors are true and you collabed with your idol & basically your whole life is a dream so you keep it cute for Brit but inside you are wigless and dead #slumberparty #ultimatestangoals #whatislife #reallyhappening #💀

A photo posted by TINASHE (@tinashenow) on Oct 25, 2016 at 3:00pm PDT

They also shot a video for the tune, which Britney described has "a younger Eyes Wide Shut theme."

"So it's a little risky," she tells Extra. "It's sexy. It's a little moody and very fun."

While we wait for the video, listen to the track below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-11-16T08:00:00.000Z

This week, Adele, Sting and Blink 182 announce overseas plans while Wilco takes root in Chicago. Meanwhile, Bruno Mars commits to a very busy 2017 in support of his new album. Here's who we're most excited to see hit the road.

Bruno Mars '24K Magic' World Tour

Bruno Mars has a busy year ahead of him. The "Uptown Funk" singer has just announced the "24K Magic" tour, which will have him touring worldwide from March 28 to November 11 of 2017. The North American leg kicks off on July 15 in Las Vegas, NV, and includes multiple stops in the NYC area. The tour is in support of his upcoming album of the same name. Click here for more info.

Wilco Chicago 'Winterlude' Tour

Wilco lovers of Chicago, rejoice! The beloved indie band will take up residence in their Illinois hometown with three performances at the Chicago Theatre. The shows are scheduled for February 22, 23 and 25, with the general on-sale beginning on November 18. Click here for more info.

Adele Australian Tour

With her massive "25" tour coming to an end, it only makes sense that Adele would announce a fresh batch of shows in an exciting new location. For the first time in the singer's 10-year career she'll be touring throughout Australia, with shows slated for Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Click here for more info.

Sting 2017 Tour Dates

In support of his new album, 57th and 9th, the prolific Sting has announced a round of tour dates which includes stops in Canada, Europe and the US. The fun begins on February 1 in Vancouver, BC, at the Commodore Ballroom and wraps up on April 13 in Paris at Olympia. In between catch him in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, NYC and more. Click here for more info.

Blink 182 UK Tour

After a successful summer tour with new guitarist Matt Skiba, Blink 182 are taking their act overseas for a headlining European tour. The shows, in support of this year's California release, are slated to run from July 3 to July 19, beginning in Cardiff at the Motorpoint Arena. Click here for more info.

10 Things You Should Know About LOLO

2016-11-16T08:00:00.000Z

LOLO has always known what she wants. At age 16, Lauren Pritchard moved to Los Angeles to take her chances at becoming a singer. She did find showbiz success — but it was in theater (on Broadway in New York, no less), not music.

Fast-forward a decade and the artist now known as LOLO has become a soulful, versatile singer with the chops to belt out her feelings with the best of her peers in Motown. It shows on her sophomore record In Loving Memory Of When I Gave A Shit, which melds her heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics with vocals just as passionate.

We spoke with the 28 year-old singer-songwriter about what it was like to perform on Broadway, writing songs for Panic! At The Disco and her provocatively titled new album. Here’s 10 things you need to know about LOLO.

She’s Always Wanted to be a Singer

"For me, it’s the thing that I wanted to do because it brought me the greatest joy and still does," says LOLO. "So for me to be able to do that for my livelihood, it seemed like a no brainer."

She Liked Classical Music, Steely Dan and Prince Growing Up

"I grew up dancing ballet. I was really into classical music, actually. My dad loved Steely Dan and the Eagles, and that was always playing. My mom loved Prince and Elton John and that was always playing. There was a lot of music going on in the house always. And I loved it all."

**She Played Ilse in 'Spring Awakening' on Broadway**

"It’s really fun. It’s exhausting, though," she says about performing on Broadway. "I think that’s a thing that people don’t talk a lot about is how grueling the schedule is. And the thing that you have to learn right away is really how to take care of yourself."

She Has Written Songs for Panic! At The Disco

Her manager hooked her up with Panic! At The Disco in 2013, and she clicked with the pop punk heroes. She ended up being featured on one of their songs ("Miss Jackson," from Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!) and touring with the band. When it came time for P!ATD to record 2016’s Death of A Bachelor, she was called to help out again. "I had grown to being close friends with them,” she says. "Getting to know them better and working with them more. So I was able to get involved early on and write a couple of songs on the record. They’re an absolute dream to work with."

She Still Thinks It’s Cool to Hear P!ATD’s Brendon Urie Sing Her Songs

"I find [songwriting] to be extremely rewarding because to hear somebody else sing something that you’ve written is so cool. Particularly in the case of somebody like Brendon… He’s such an interesting, fascinating person and he’s lovely. It’s interesting to try to write songs for him and try to think about the world through his eyes."

**The Name of Her Album — "In Loving Memory of When I Gave A Shit" — is Definitely a Statement**

"I spent a lot of time trying to be what other people wanted me to be — to try and make other people happy instead of making myself happy. Where that title comes from is not doing that anymore. It’s doing what makes me happy and doing what brings me joy in life and living my life to the fullest the best way that I can according to me."

She Wrote a Breakup Song… and the Ex-Boyfriend In Question Heard It

"I knew I wasn’t going to get an apology. I knew the only way I was going to make myself feel better was just to talk about it. Interestingly enough, that person has heard ["Not Gonna Let You Walk Away"]. We’ve talked about it."

She Likes to Write About Love

"One way or another, we’re all just really looking for love. Now, it’s not necessarily always a relationship. We all have a genuine desire to be loved, feel loved… My first two main topics that I’ve always written a lot about are religion and love. Both of those things [have been] huge contemplations for me throughout my life. I think most people can relate to that in some way too. We’re all just trying to figure it out."

"Dandelion" is about Her Two-City Lifestyle

The singer-songwriter splits her time between Tennessee and New York City. "It’s been that way my whole adult life. The last line in the chorus of that song is 'There’s a Mason-Dixon line in the life I’ve made.' The song, for me, is really a commentary to the overall… my overall contemplation in life for me is what is the balance between my quiet life in Tennessee and my city life in New York. How does that effect my life and what I do and who I spend time with?"

She’d Like to Collaborate with Future

"I really like his music. I think he’s kind of bonkers but I actually really love his music. I think it would be really fun to work with him. What he does and what I do are not anything alike except for the fact that I think we both are very honest. I think it would be interesting to work with him. I would love to collaborate with him."

5 Reasons Why Vince McMahon Will Be The Next US President

2016-11-16T08:00:00.000Z

All rise for the 46^th President of the United States of America, Mr. Vincent Kennedy McMahon. A year ago that would have gotten some laughs and sarcastic remarks, but today we live in a new reality. Literally anybody can be the President of the United States, including this humble yet diabolical writer. Whether you’re embarrassed or excited about having a former reality show star as our new President, this eye-opening news only opens the door for Mr. McMahon. Every circus needs a ringleader, and there’s nobody better at controversy, controlled chaos and antagonizing the masses than Vince McMahon Jr.

Honestly, Donald Trump should be sending Vince gifts and singing his praises considering he catapulted himself into the White House using the “evil Mr. McMahon” gimmick. Having already squared off in a ring at WrestleMania 23, just imagine the political campaigns these two would unleash on each other in 2020. It’d be rapture-level stuff! Our money is with Vinnie Mac, because why would we want a watered-down copy of an ego maniacal madman, when we could have the original?!

In combating crazy with crazy, Vince McMahon as President would not only boost ratings for WWE programming, but it’d finally give him what he’s always wanted: world domination. After the break are five reasons why we should expect a McMahon ticket in 2020.

People Will Vote for Anyone/Anything

You can be openly racist, or berate Santa Claus, or punt a dog off a stage in front of thousands and people will turn a blind-eye if it means potentially gaining something out of it. We Americans have no shame. You will gain our vote if you promise us 2% gains on our 401(k) plans or 15% off every meal at every Cracker Barrel and Waffle House. Vince McMahon knows this having built an entertainment empire off the sheep mentality of large crowds. Not only will he capitalize on it, but he’ll make people feel as if he’s doing them the favor.

Many wrestlers including the likes of Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan and the late Ultimate Warrior, have professed their dislike for McMahon, vowing to never again do business with the “evil” chairman of WWE. But that’s the beauty of his genius — as a master manipulator like McMahon can get back into the good graces of former superstars who wanted to hurt him. They always come back.

Making his way to cities and towns during his campaign, McMahon would insult and tell crowds to “SHUT UP!” and they’ll eat it up, cheering and chanting his name. This is a me, not us country and McMahon wouldn’t have it any other way.

The McMahon Power Strut

Picture this: It’s the first 2020 State of the Union as the Sergeant at Arms enters the chamber and loudly announces “Mister Speaker, the President of the United States!” The next thing we hear is the theme song “No Chance in Hell” as President Vince McMahon appears, chest out and arms swinging as he power walks through the room. Just that walk alone will net him 20% of votes.

The man knows he’s great and expresses it by his appearance and awesome walk. Politicians nowadays have no swagger or charisma. Besides being pariahs, a reason why people hate politicians is that they’re all cookie-cutter clichés. Stick all the members of Senate and Congress in a room and you’d couldn’t tell them apart. It’d look like a morticians conference with all those sagging faces and dull suits. McMahon’s strut is a slice of Americana, symbolizing greed, power and success. As the leader of the free world, people want a strong, confident commander, which Vince certainly is.

From getting extra time on a parking meter or winning a $5 lotto ticket, we’ve all had those brief moments when we’ve incorporated that walk into our lives. Even UFC champion Conor McGregor (who added another title to his collection over the weekend) imitates the walk, channeling his Vince McMahon spirit animal for success.

The Hell in a Cell Border Fence

Do you remember this scene from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, where Max fights Master Blaster?

Well that’s what you should expect when it comes to Vince McMahon’s version of the border wall. Because why have a boring plain wall when it can become a spectacle for the eyes?!

A promise to build a border wall is a key element that pushed Trump’s platform to victory. We’ve all seen the videos of those Confederate flag waving groups chanting “Build the Wall!” That may bring fuzzy feelings to Klan members, but what about the rest of the country? You may not want a wall protecting us from those “bad hombres” but wait till you see what Vince has in store for us. Having created terrifying structures like the Hell in a Cell, the Elimination Chamber and various steel cages, McMahon knows how to present extreme violence in an edible manner.

Sure the end result might resemble a dystopian world but isn’t that why we go to the movies? On one side we have government sponsored Master Blaster-type agents, while on the other are immigrants willing to sacrifice everything to reach the promised land. Win and get in. With weapons hanging from the cage wall and booby traps shooting fire, crossing the border would rival anything you’ve seen in The Hunger Games or The Running Man.

McMahon’s New World Order

Some might point to Trump’s election as the biggest sign of the existence of a New World Order. Haven’t heard of it? Well, conspiracy theorists consider the New World Order a secretive group of powerful elites, lurking in the shadows pulling the political and economic strings of the world for their own agenda. While that sounds like something your regular incompetent politician might aspire to join, it’s not Vince McMahon’s style.

Transparency is the name of McMahon’s game. No need to align oneself to secretive groups when you’re the emperor. The type of NWO President McMahon would unleash on the world comes in black and white colors, run by men named Hogan, Nash and Hall.

Having already brought back this renegade faction in 2002, Vinnie Mac would proudly announce their formation, taking care of issues facing his office. Vince will send over the NWO to smooth things out with politicians who aren’t onboard with his policies. If there’s bank CEOs or high ranking banking officials sucking money out of the country, the NWO will make them see the error of their ways. Scott Hall would greet Putin and team Russia with a “Hey Yo!” to start diplomacy on international matters. And if anyone gets in McMahon’s way he’d guarantee you that “there will be no way out!”

The Kiss My Ass Club

The Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club is exactly what it sounds like. Vince will bend over and pull down his pants, as a person not in his good graces has to literally kiss his ass. Some of you may think this is going too far or an act a dictator would pull, but in four years it’ll seem tame.

While Trump loves ranting against his detractors and critics on social media, President McMahon doesn’t have time for that. He could care less what you tweet or Facebook message him. Past unfortunate members of the Kiss My Ass Club have included William Regal, Jim Ross, Shawn Michaels and Vince’s own son, Shane McMahon. The Presidential version is sure to include politicians, reasonable intellectuals, ‘dem Hollywood liberals and foreign leaders.

The same keyboard tough guys that have been overusing “America Love It or Leave It” would eat this act up. Because of that, Trump may incorporate it into his plan just like he stole Vince’s famous line “You’re Fired!” for The Apprentice. Unfortunately for Trump, payback will arrive four years from now on election night, when President-elect Vince McMahon gives Trump his walking orders like he did once before!

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

20 Gifts Every Gamer Needs

2016-11-15T21:30:13.384Z

This article has referral links which might generate revenue for us. Read our Terms of Use for more info.

If you're not so up on the whole online shopping thing, you may not realize just how many good deals Amazon has for the gaming world. Sure, they sold out of the NES Classic pretty much instantly, but that's only because it's the hot new item that everyone wants (and apparently Nintendo didn't realize that).

Check out these other steals from Amazon for the game in you or the gamer in your life.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Let's start with something way off in the future before we bring things back in a little bit. The long-awaited next game in the Red Dead series doesn't come out until the end of next year, but it's already one of the most hyped games of the near future. Not much is known about Red Dead Redemption 2 other than what can be guessed from the previous games, but that's enough to know it's going to be a western-themed gory good time.

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Xbox One S

Before the Xbox One S came out, the Xbox One looked like it was a loss. More people were buying PS4s each and every month, and many of the new titles were going that direction as well. Realistically, the Xbox One S is probably what the Xbox One should've been in the first place, but at least we have it now.

Madden 17

If there's one game that you know is going to get talked about year after year, it's whatever the latest installment in the Madden series is. It's still football season for another couple of months, and Madden season is year-round, so go ahead and treat yourself to this one.

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Kootek PS4 Vertical Stand

So you already have a PS4, but you're tired of looking at it laying on its side like that? We don't blame you. There are plenty of vertical stands for your system out there, but the Kootek Vertical Stand is our favorite. You can charge controllers and cool off your PS4 at the same time. What more could you want?

Urban Camo DualShock 4

While we're talking PS4 accessories (don't worry, Microsoft fans, Xbox One add-ons are on the next page), you're going to need an extra controller or two, aren't you? Unless you want to shell out on eBay for the Darth Vader remote or one of the other limited ones, the Urban Camo DualShock 4 is probably the coolest looking official PS4 controller you'll find. Finally, a controller to match your favorite Call of Duty weapon.

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Xbox Controller Dual Charging System

Nothing's worse than grabbing a new game and firing up your system just to find out the controllers are dead. With this certified Dual Charging System, that concern will be a thing of the past for all Xbox users. Charge your controllers while you do something else, it's the way of the future.

Xbox One Special Edition Controller

Oh, so you're serious about Call of Duty? Not as serious as someone who has one of these bad boys. Yeah, it's an official military-themed Xbox controller so you can feel like part of the action, and you need to get it.

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Dishonored 2

With all the amazing games coming out in the future, it's easy to get lost in the ones we already have. In case you haven't picked up Dishonored 2 yet, it's definitely one you need to buy. Think of Assassin's Creed, but what you wish the new ones were like.

PlayStation 4 Pro

Although the price tag and size of the new PlayStation are both heavy, the PS4 Pro seems to be the way of the immediate future. Even if it's not as big of a half-step as its primary competitor made, the PS4 was pretty much always viewed as the better game-playing console between the two. Now the best just gets better.

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Gaming Headset

How much you ultimately want to spend on a gaming headset determines the quality of the product you're going to get, but we happen to like this universal one that only costs $25. You're obviously going to need something to talk smack to people online.

NBA 2K17

Saying NBA 2K17 is unanimously considered the best sports game of all time might be a bit of an overstatement, but it also may not be wrong. The best in the business continues to separate itself from the pack, and everyone from casual basketball fans to diehards will find something to love in this one.

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Battlefield 1

While everyone else is trying to get more and more futuristic with their war games, Battlefield 1 went the other direction and took it back in history. It's a good time for anyone who likes shooters or 20th century history, and we're guessing there's a lot of us.

Online Subscription Cards

Regardless of if you need Xbox Live Gold or PS+, you're going to need to regularly re-up your subscription to keep playing online. Which is why you also know that when you see a sale on them, you take it.

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GameSir Gamepad Controller

You're always playing games on your phone anyway, so why not embrace it? The GameSir Gamepad Controller lets you hook up your phone to use a controller on the go. Now that's some magic.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Special Edition

Remember in late 2011 when you suddenly lost all of your free time because Skyrim came out and you couldn't do anything else? Well, clear your schedule again because Skyrim - Special Edition is available for all current consoles. There goes your productivity.

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Fantom Drives 2TB Update Kit for PS4

Sure, you could figure out how to upgrade the hard drive on your PS4 by using a regular laptop hard drive, but then you have to make sure you have all the specifications exactly right and ask Google and YouTube for advice on how to do it. For a little more money, this Fantom Drives kit gives you everything you need and tells you how to do it. Don't be fooled, it makes a big improvement on your PS4.

XPack Xbox One Hard Drive Enclosure

Until you can save up to get that 2TB Xbox One S, just slap this bad boy on your existing Xbox One to make your hard drive look more natural. It doesn't come with a hard drive, but it tells you what to look for and makes it look way cooler, so that's a pretty good deal for $30.

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Nintendo 3DS XL

Will the new Nintendo console be awesome? Probably. But it may not be able to top the greatness known as the 3DS XL. Nintendo's really cornered the portable system market, and this one likely isn't going anywhere for quite some time. Plus, you can get the OG Pokemon games for $10 a piece on it.

Pokemon Sun and Moon

You didn't think we'd tell you to get a 3DS without any games, did you? The new Pokemon games are sure to be what everyone is playing this winter, so pick them up before you have to go hunt them down during the holidays.

Kingdom Hearts III

Oh yes, it's back. Kingdom Hearts returns at the end of this year, and we couldn't be ready to get back into it with the Keyblade master. You'll also be able to get practically every other Kingdom Hearts game remastered next spring for one low price, so maybe grab that at the same time. Remember, you get 20% off new games with Amazon, so you really can't lose on this one.

Blue Healer Explain How They've Made Music to Appeal To the Masses

2016-11-15T21:19:11.081Z

When Austin's Sons of Fathers split, members David Beck, Bryan Mammel and Dees Stribling weren't ready to say goodbye to playing together. So they decided to do the next best thing: start a completely new project.

Blue Healer, which just released its debut record, combine pop melodies, earnest songwriting with upbeat indie rock vibes that not only reach wider audiences but also are a lot of fun to listen to. We grabbed a coffee with David, Bryan and Dees while they were in New York City earlier this month to chat about the new music as well as their experiences putting it all together.

Hometown: Austin and San Marcos, TX

How did you guys get together?

Bryan Mammel: We started about two years ago in Austin. We had all been in another band before that. When the band broke up, we were swimming around Austin and kind of came back together because we were all friends. And we started making new music.

The band you guys were previously in was an Americana band...

Mammel: Yeah, it was an Americana band and more folk oriented. So this is a totally different direction but also not too different in certain ways.

David Beck: Well, it was a music band. So when we started making music, that's what came out. [Everyone laughs]

How did the electronic elements come into Blue Healer's sound?

Dees Stribling: The bass. With the base, David started to try to distort it and make it bigger. And what I tried to do when I'm not playing drums was in an effort to keep it to three people instead of four. Then for keyboards...

Mammel: Yeah, David also found a Roland Juno 106 keyboard at Goodwill somewhere, which is a big part of the sound. So David pieced it together sound-wise around the new and different bass tones and the analog keyboard and some other things, too. The rest of it just developed organically to whatever is going on.

Beck: I think those tones together create a very different sound palette, and you just run songs through that. And they sound like other songs. But I think it's different from what's out there right but fairly accessible. People would come up to us who have different musical tastes, but they seem to get it.

Stribling: The last comparison I heard was My Morning Jacket mixed with Phil Collins but with an electric upright bass. So it's a thing.

Beck: Some of our friends who like death metal and punk like it, but also my grandma likes it. So that combo is good. I just don't want those two groups hanging out.

What's the story behind the band name?

Beck: Unfortunately there is no real good story for it. I have a scar from a blue heeler dog, and I was in a lake. And this guy threw the dog into the water, and it never swam before. And it swam to me out of all the people who were wading in the lake and tried to hold on. It's true.

Mammel: And now he has super songwriting powers.

Beck: And now I have super songwriting powers, and it's thanks to the blue healer.

What's your favorite song to perform right now and what was the most memorable to work on?

Beck: Well, my favorite one to perform is not on the album, but that's not a good answer. So I would have to say... Let's do a vote here and see if we say the same one.

[All name different songs.]

Mammel: "O-Y-O" is good, "Empty Bottles" is my favorite right now. It was fun to develop. The unison lines were a lot of fun to work on.

Stribling: We actually worked on the album at a house in San Marcos [Texas], which is actually David's ex-girlfriend's house. It was over the winter kind of, and it was cold there. We'd drive from Austin. And I remember when we would scream in that part in "Bad Weather," where we'd do that over and over for 15-20 minutes to get the right words in the right spots. So that was memorable for "Bad Weather."

The cops came one time. But we played San Marcos [last] month, and the same cops came. So it was cool. San Marcos isn't that big. We were like, "Hey, you guys were at the show."

Beck: And they asked if we could play acoustic.

Mammel: It's like your dad trying to be cool. "Can you uh play it acoustic?"

What is "Bad Weather" about?

Stribling: That's an older one that David wrote.

Beck: "Bad Weather" is about a shitty relationship in a house -- at me and my parents' house. Who knows...

How has Austin influenced you guys as musicians and as Blue Healer?

Beck: Well in some ways, we all met in San Marcos, which is south of Austin.

Mammel: And in some ways, Austin can be competitive. Seeing a lot of the musicians who play there are session musicians or you end up playing with a bunch of different bands, depending on their schedule and your schedule and no really having a project of your own. For us, being in that environment and coming from another band together, I think that's why we're a band that are making it happen as a unit opposed to session guys.

Here’s How to Make Ross’s Beloved Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich From Friends

2016-11-15T20:52:06.672Z

Thanksgiving dinner is great, but plenty of people look forward to the day after just as much.

That’s because the inevitable Thanksgiving leftover selection makes for perfect turkey sandwiches packed with unique ingredients that just don’t get much play the rest of the year. The lust for leftovers is especially acute for Ross Geller on Friends who makes multiple mentions of the distinctive turkey sandwiches that his sister Monica whipped up for him.

Here’s Jon Stewart Wistfully Coloring a Thanksgiving Turkey Now That the Election’s Over

The critical component is what Ross calls a “moist-maker,” a center slice of bread soaked in gravy. YouTube user Andrew Rea decided to tackle this otherwise undefined recipe (with that “disgustingly named,” moist-maker addition, he notes), putting together one of the most soothing cooking videos you’ll watch this week, a six-minute tutorial interspersed with his subtly dry humor. Rea takes the time to make everything from scratch, from the bird to the stuffing and cranberry sauce to create one giant, delectable-looking double-decker sandwich. He also shares his tips on how to create your own turkey and stuffing, too.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Is People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2016

Watch below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

This Could Be Apple’s Next Big Product

2016-11-15T20:46:47.231Z

Apple could be considering developing smart glasses that would connect to an iPhone to display images and information in a wearer’s field of view, according to Bloomberg. These glasses, which may use augmented reality technology, wouldn’t be released until at least 2018 at the earliest, the report says.

The 45 Best Tech Gifts For Every Budget

The company is said to be in exploring the idea and has spoken with potential suppliers regarding the project. Although Apple is said to have ordered some components for testing, it hasn’t ordered enough to indicate it intends to mass produce these glasses.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has made comments in the past suggesting his company is interested in exploring augmented reality. When speaking with The Washington Post in August, Cook referred to augmented reality as a “core technology” and “something we’re doing a lot of things on behind that curtain we talked about.” Cook also said Apple is “high on augmented reality for the long run” during the company’s earnings call this summer. Much of this excitement came following the success of Pokémon Go, which launched in July. A previous report from The Financial Times also suggested Apple has been building a team to work on an augmented reality headset.

Google’s New App Can Help You Scan Old Family Photos

The introduction of smart glasses would mark the first time Apple has expanded into a new product category since it unveiled the Apple Watch in 2014. Apple declined to comment for this story.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Dwayne Johnson is People's Sexiest Man Alive

2016-11-15T17:38:50.509Z

He's buff. He can kick anyone's ass and he's one sweet dad. With that combination, it's no surprise that People has decided to pick Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the "Sexiest Man Alive" for 2016.

"Still up at 4am trainin' hard & takin' care of my babies.. sexily;). Thank U @people & all the fans. Grateful for the luv! #SexiestManAlive," the former WWE champion tweeted this morning (November 15).

Still up at 4am trainin' hard & takin' care of my babies.. sexily;).
Thank U @people & all the fans. Grateful for the luv! #SexiestManAlive pic.twitter.com/e8O2orOBJR
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 15, 2016

He also posted, "And I smell good... on most days. Truly an honor. Sexy time. #SexiestManAlive."

And I smell good... on most days. Truly an honor. Sexy time. #SexiestManAlive https://t.co/puZ7TLMqHN
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) November 15, 2016

Dwayne has now joined the renowned club of hotties that include everyone from Harrison Ford and Denzel Washington to Ryan Reynolds and David Beckham, who graced the cover last year.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Bruno Mars Announces 24K Magic World Tour 2017

2016-11-15T17:25:20.215Z

Days before his new album, 24K Magic, Bruno Mars has just announced the first round of dates for the 24K Magic World Tour 2017. Kicking off on March 28 in Antwerp, Bruno will start off the tour by going all over Europe with stops in Madrid, Lisbon, London, Oslo, Berlin and Stockholm. Then he will launch the US leg in Las Vegas on July 15 and travel to Vancouver, Brooklyn, Miami, Denver and end with four dates in Los Angeles.

See the fill roster of dates below and go to Bruno's website for more information on how to get tickets.

On sale this Monday

A photo posted by Bruno Mars (@brunomars) on Nov 14, 2016 at 9:18pm PST

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Lady Gaga on Today's Women: "It Means Being a Survivor"

2016-11-15T17:15:48.215Z

Lady Gaga has been one of Hillary Clinton's big supporters. So after the election results, she expressed her feelings in a moving essay in Harper's Bazaar.

"Being a lady today means being a fighter," she wrote. "It means being a survivor. It means letting yourself be vulnerable and acknowledging your shame or that you're sad or you're angry. It takes strength to do that."

She spoke about how women were portrayed in the media during the election and the language used to describe women. "I felt depressed and hurt by it because that's what that kind of language does," she said. "Then I watched our incredible first lady, Michelle Obama, talk in New Hampshire about how hurt she felt seeing it too. She talked about how women are often afraid to say anything because we're worried that we will appear weak — that we'll be told we're being over-the-top, dramatic, emotional. But we're not. We're fighting for our lives."

Read the full essay here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

5 Tattoo Trends That Need to Go Away Forever

2016-11-15T08:00:00.000Z

You know when you look back in your high school yearbook and can't believe some of the things you thought were cool back in the day? Yeah, us neither... But if you did, you'd probably be pretty thankful that you threw out that Hawaiian shirt with the flower-print skull pattern all over it or that you shaved the wispy goatee that your 17-year-old self thought was super awesome. Unless you went and got a really dumb tattoo in high school, which means you probably still have it unless you can afford to get it covered up and/or lasered off.

That's the problem with tattoo trends, and while we've written about some of the current ones to avoid before, there are some truly bad trends (many of which are long gone, thankfully) that somehow missed the cut. Here are a handful of the tattoo trends new and old that we're perfectly cool with never seeing again... ever.

Chrome Everything

A photo posted by Adrian Evans LTD (@adrianevans528) on Jul 26, 2016 at 5:57pm PDT

Almost nothing says 1990s and early 2000s like a chrome tattoo. Yes, your sweet red heart with chrome flames looked awesome back when you got it on South Padre Island in '99, but it's not exactly a timeless design. Even on things that should be metal and shiny (like your super rad Terminator tattoo, bro), modern artists are going for a darker and more detailed look that makes the silver skull chest piece you've been dreaming of stand out all the better.

We're not sure where chrome tattoos started or who thought they were a good idea, but we're thankful that they're no longer in style. Unfortunately, tattoos (like most fashion) tend to be cyclical, so we could see a major rebirth of chrome tattoos coming in the near future. Hopefully we'll be done with watercolor designs by then.

'90s Tribal

A photo posted by Amber Holbrook (@amberholbrook920) on Nov 14, 2016 at 2:27pm PST

Remember how we just said "Almost nothing says 1990s and early 2000s like a chrome tattoo"? Well, that's because there's still some tribal ink from a couple of decades ago floating around as well. If there's any worse tattoo than a bad tribal armband, it's not much worse, and it's probably way less plentiful than the all-black disasters. Tribal in the '90s was an easy way to mark the douchebags and misogynistic bros of the world way before the Chainsmokers existed (just kidding, there are some decent people out there who just happen to have terrible tribal tattoos), but these days it just looks kind of pathetic.

That's not to knock a lot of the Polynesian style tattoos that are going on in shops these days. Current artists are doing crazy intricate designs with their work and making them every bit as tough and beautiful as people had hoped for in the '90s. When people say "Tribal is back!" they mean the new (old) version of more authentically Polynesian tattoos, not the dumb swirls that are barely a baby step above a barbed wire armband. We're not even going to go into barbed wire though, because ew.

Tramp Stamps

A photo posted by A•MARGARIDA•DIGITAL (@amargaridadigital) on Nov 14, 2016 at 1:35pm PST

Thankfully, the lower back tattoo is almost certainly on its way out. Although it was primarily a bad decision for many women in the '90s and 2000s, there have also been plenty of dudes who made the poor choice to get something like the name of their hometown or favorite sports team across the small of their back. It's unfortunately been replaced by the under-boob sternum tattoo, but at least it's progress, right?

Stick 'n' Poke

A photo posted by hand poked. QLD. AUS (@gothmuney) on Nov 14, 2016 at 10:05pm PST

Stick and poke tattoos aren't a bad way for a young tattoo artist to get a little practice in before they're ready to tackle the art of making real tattoos with machines (or other tools). Unfortunately, they've also become quite the little trend for tattooers who are looking to make a quick buck without having to use or have any artistic skill.

As "cool" as your equally dumb friends might think you are for getting tattooed by someone using a guitar string and a battery, that spotty little stick figure is going to look even worse than it already does soon enough. That's not to say that every one of your tattoos needs to be taken seriously, but they should at least look decent if you're going to spend your hard-earned money. And if you're not shelling out much for some new ink, then you probably deserve the crap you're going to get.

Instagram Tattoos

A photo posted by Violet Page (@baroness_tattoo) on Nov 14, 2016 at 7:58pm PST

Just stop getting tattoos for the sole reason of showing them off on Instagram. It's not smart, and your pizza hand tattoo isn't going to be cool in a few years when people no longer remember your pizza blog. Stop while you're ahead (or at least not that far behind).

10 Things You Should Know About Anne-Marie

2016-11-15T08:00:00.000Z

Do you find yourself suddenly singing “Rockabye, baby, rockabye” recently? Then it’s almost entirely Anne-Marie’s fault. British singer provided vocals for Clean Bandit’s latest chart smash and she’s been on our radar for a while now. Here’s all you need to know about one of 2016’s main pop exports from the UK.

She’s a Drew Barrymore Lookalike

The first thought that struck us the moment we saw Anne-Marie get on stage to play an acoustic set at the Warner Music Russia showcase in Moscow was her resemblance to Drew Barrymore. She was dressed in a white-and-pink outfit, got furry flip-flops and got her hair up Drew-style — as if she was paying homage to late-90s over-the-top fashion trends immortalized in Never Been Kissed. “Listen, everyone says that,” Anne-Marie says when we interview her later that night in her dressing room. “No, it’s not intentional.” When her tour manager tells her she should finally see Never Been Kissed, the singer agrees though: “I guess so.”

Warner Music Russia

She Got Her Start at West End

The 25-year-old singer was born in Essex and got her start in musicals, starring in two West End staples, Les Miserables and Whistle Down the Wind, during her pre-teens. Apparently, she had to call it quits when her voice broke and those big dramatic musical numbers suddenly got out of her reach.

She Goes Way Back With Jessie J

Her West End days did bring her a friend for life Jessie J. Is there any collaboration on the horizon? “Maybe!” Anne-Marie says quite enthusiastically. When we tell her this pairing will most definitely ruin our speakers, the singer lets out her trademark laugh: “Oh yes. We’ve known each other since we were about ten. We’ve been friends since then.” Did her much more pop-experienced BFF give her any valuable advices about dealing with pop life? “She tells me to be selfish sometimes. And get the window seat on the plane.”

She’s a Karate Champion

Music is just one of Anne-Marie’s passions, the other one being Shotokan, a style of karate. Apparently she was pretty good at it, since she won several World Championships. When we ask her if she would pick music over karate, she jokingly punches us: “Jesus, you’re horrible! I think I’d say it’s music right now. Because I’ve kinda done karate. It’s still a very big part of me, but it’s in my past. And now my life is music.”

Since she’s a pro when it comes to high-pressure events like World Championships, we feel obligated to put her on the spot and ask her to quickly recall the biggest highlight of her life. “Of my whole life?! Oh God. The highlight of my life has been being able to write my own songs and sing them to people. And people to be singing them back when I’m performing them live. Just being able to put my feelings into a song. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Would she consider starring in a karate movie? “Yes.” And since there are no offers yet, we promised her to mention this in the article. Filmmakers, now you know where to scout for your next action heroine.

She’s an Alanis Morissette Fan

Isn’t it ironic that Anne-Marie’s all-time favorite artist is Alanis Morissette? Okay, it totally isn’t. Her favorite song is “Uninvited” by the way. “It’s so beautiful and inspiring!”

She Worked With Rudimental

Anne-Marie has been trying to break onto the music scene for several years. Eventually she caught the attention of acclaimed drum-and-bass band Rudimental, who invited the singer to tour with them. This led to a three-year-long collaboration, which still goes on (Anne-Marie came to Moscow with Rudimental’s guitarist/her writing partner).

That’s the best boom camp any artist can get. “The lowlights were not sleeping and traveling a lot, which is hard. But then the highlights were traveling a lot and meeting amazing people. I’ve met my best friend there. I’ve learned so much, too. I wouldn’t be the artist that I am now without that experience.”

She Rang The “Alarm”

Anne-Marie’s big solo moment occurred this summer, when her single “Alarm” started rising in the charts even beyond her native United Kingdom (it’s right now about to break into Billboard Hot 100). With full-on swag-vigour, its Romeo + Juliette-referencing music video and catchy chorus “Alarm” was destined to put Anne-Marie’s name on the pop map which it did with flying colors (of Union Jack surely).

Does anyone ever have to ring the alarm when she was partying? “I get very crazy when I’m partying,” she laughs, leaving us begging for more but eventually giving us no details. Guess we’ll have to wait for more party tunes to come out from her studio.

She’s No. 1 in the UK

British band Clean Bandit is responsible for turning Jesse Glynne into a star, so they were perfect collaborators for crossover rising star like Anne-Marie. The classically trained band invited the singer to provide vocals for their Sean Paul-assisted single “Rockabye,” which saw the band channeling their inner Ace of Base and making the catchiest song in music history about the issue of being a single mother. The irresistibly catchy song hit the #1 spot in the UK chart in mid-November.

When we tell Anne-Marie we’ve been singing along to this chorus for the last three weeks, she nods: “I’m so sorry, it’s one of these songs. It gets into your head and just won’t leave.”

She Likes to Dress Comfortably

Anne-Marie’s looks are pretty diverse. One day she’s rocking a girly dress and the next one she’s a total tomboy. “I like little bralette tops and furry flip-flops as you can see. I mean, I like to be comfortable, but then I also got to try to look like a pop star. So I’m trying to match both. It’s hard!”

She’s Never Been On a Date

Anne-Marie doesn’t joke around when she says she’s all about her art. Part of the reason she’s been so active and successful is because she never paid much attention to dating. “I still haven’t had a date before ever.” When we tell her that’s something to look up to, she sounds suspicious: “Maybe… Is it good?” We give it a thought and tell her she’s better off continuously conquering the charts.

Learn more fun facts about your favorite up-and-coming artists by visiting our 10 Things page.

Ryan Reynolds Discusses the Pivotal Moment When He ‘Crossed a Line’ With Blake Lively

2016-11-14T20:35:10.575Z

The deadpan, tart-tongued Ryan Reynolds—Deadpool actor, father of two, and Twitter ingenue—is also something of a romantic, it turns out. Blake Lively’s husband shared the sweet story of the early stages of his relationship with the Cafe Society actor in a new interview with GQ, and there is dancing involved.

Watch the Enchanting First Beauty and the Beast Trailer

He said he knew it was “going to happen” with Lively when the two were on a date. The specific moment?

“Probably after the sex,” he joked. “No, we were hanging out at this little restaurant in Tribeca that’s open really late, and this song came on and I was just like, ‘Want to dance?’ No one was in there, so it was just totally empty. And it was just one of those moments where halfway through the dance, it was like, ‘Oh, I think I just crossed a line.’ And then I walked her home. And, uh, you know, I don’t really need to go into what happened after that.”

But when it came to the important part of the story, that all-important first-dance song, he was unusually tight-lipped. Looks like even motormouth superhero Deadpool needs to keep some secrets about his love life.

J.K. Rowling Shut Down a Fantastic Beasts Sequel Rumor

Golden couple Lively and Reynolds, who have been married for four years, welcomed their second daughter together in September.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Read Leonard Cohen’s Son’s Emotional ‘Thank You’ to His Father: ‘For the Wisdom he Dispensed’

2016-11-14T20:25:45.938Z

Leonard Cohen’s son, singer-songwriter Adam Cohen, took to Instagram Sunday night to pen a heartwarming tribute to his father, following the elder 82-year-old Cohen’s passing last Thursday.

In the tribute, Cohen described the many life lessons that he learned from his remarkable father and what he would thank his father for if he had one more opportunity to talk to him.

Hundreds of Strangers Join Man Taking Beloved Dog for One Last Walk

“There’s so much I wish I could thank him for, just one last time,” Cohen wrote. “I’d thank him for the comfort he always provided, for the wisdom he dispensed, for the marathon conversations, for his dazzling wit and humor.”

Cohen closed by thanking those who had sent sympathy notes and kind messages following his father’s passing. Read the full tribute below.

The Rock n’Roll Photography Career of Michael Zagaris

My sister and I just buried my father in Montreal. With only immediate family and a few lifelong friends present, he was lowered into the ground in an unadorned pine box, next to his mother and father. Exactly as he’d asked. As I write this I’m thinking of my father’s unique blend of self-deprecation and dignity, his approachable elegance, his charisma without audacity, his old-world gentlemanliness and the hand-forged tower of his work. There’s so much I wish I could thank him for, just one last time. I’d thank him for the comfort he always provided, for the wisdom he dispensed, for the marathon conversations, for his dazzling wit and humor. I’d thank him for giving me, and teaching me to love Montreal and Greece. And I’d thank him for music; first for his music which seduced me as a boy, then for his encouragement of my own music, and finally for the privilege of being able to make music with him. Thank you for your kind messages, for the outpouring of sympathy and for your love of my father.

A photo posted by 🌶 (@commandercohen) on Nov 12, 2016 at 10:44pm PST

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Peanut the Baby Panda Take Her First Adorably Clumsy Steps

2016-11-14T20:16:28.087Z

Four-month-old Peanut the panda is bringing joy to many today.

New Google Doodle Tips Hat to Sir Frederick Banting, Father of Diabetes Treatment

The 15-lb. fur ball, born in captivity at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park to 20-year-old mother panda Guo Guo, recently took her first steps—all captured on film, of course. If you like pandas, delightfully clumsy creatures, baby animals, or good things in the world, then you’ll probably want to take a look at the heartwarming video. Highlights include a failed attempt to perch on her hind legs and a cozy mother-daughter cuddle. Peanut, whose name was chosen in a public poll, is one of a lucky few bred-in-captivity panda cubs like Washington, D.C.’s baby panda Bei Bei who have become iconic representations of the embattled species. Aside from zoo-bred pandas, 67 protected panda reserves worldwide have helped the unique species elevate itself off of the endangered species list in the last year.

Three Cows Have Been Marooned on Tiny Patch of Land in New Zealand Earthquake

For more panda therapy you can check out these 23 panda cubs making their own first public appearances. All together, now: awww.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen To The Silhouette Era's "Tides" Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-14T17:29:09.317Z

Joyful, yet bittersweet. That’s the tone of "Tides," the jangly new single from The Silhouette Era. Taking a page from the space where shoegaze and surf rock meet, it communicates how moving on is sometimes the best option.

"'Tides' is kind of a triumphant breakup song. It's about the moment you realize that dragging things out isn't really doing much, so you gotta just let go and get to a point where you can feel good about it," says singer/guitarist Carlos J. Gonzalez.

The four-piece group recorded the track with Jay Pellicci on reel to reel tape at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco and New Improved Recording in Oakland. It’s the follow-up to Beacons, their full-length from 2015.

Spin "Tides" for yourself below and reflect on your current — or past — relationships.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

Nuela Charles Slinks in with 'The Grand Hustle'

2016-11-14T17:24:17.113Z

When doe-eyed Canadian Nuela Charles released her debut Aware in 2012, she became the very first recipient of the inaugural Edmonton Music Prize in 2013. (She won $8,000 and Edmonton street cred for having the city’s best album.) Since then, you’ve probably heard her songs — "Crash," "Final Round," "Unfortunate Love" and "Good In Me" — on MTV, Showtime and VH1, as well as regular spins on Los Angeles station KCRW. Her sophomore set, The Grand Hustle, is “the culmination of four very transformative years,” Charles says. “Through discovery, love, loss and recovery I have learned to fight for what I want.” Its songs are about overcoming hardships. She adds, “My story is all about the comeback. Sometimes you have to fall. Hard. And then you get back up, dust yourself off and return even stronger.”

Hometown: I was born in Kenya, then moved to Switzerland, Canada, the Bahamas and then back to Canada. So….the world?

Homebase: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Is Nuela your real name? Does it mean anything?

My real name is Manuela — but Nuela just has so much more drama behind it, no?

Describe your music to people who haven't heard it before.

I tend to say it’s like a soundtrack to a James Bond movie — “cinematic soul."

How did you discover music?

As a child I was fortunate enough to have parents who both loved music. I grew up on a mix of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Stevie Ray Vaughn and even Garth Brooks. As a child I was in the school choir, but it wasn’t until we moved to the Bahamas, during the female singer-songwriter era (Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, Fefe Dobson), when I started teaching myself how to play the guitar and as a result started writing songs. I then ended up leading the youth group music team at my church for a couple of years. I loved being able to play music and see people’s mood get lifted and it was then that I knew that I wanted to be an artist.

Why is your album called The Grand Hustle?

This album is called “The Grand Hustle” because it encapsulates this feeling that I have had over the last few years. It’s been a continual “hustle.” Every day it seemed to be one step forward, another step back, and so on. It would’ve been easy for me to just give up, but I can’t see myself doing anything else. So for me it’s “The Grand Hustle."

Describe your songwriting process.

This differs all the time. Sometimes if inspiration hits, I’ll grab my guitar and roughly map out the song. If not near an instrument, I’ll grab my phone and “voice memo” my idea. I’ve really fallen in love with co-writing, so I tend to [gravitate] towards getting in on sessions. Usually there will be a producer and two top liners, who would then write the lyric overtop of the track that’s being worked on - it creates such a great creative energy. I love it.

Who are your musical heroes?

I’m constantly inspired by artists who are continually pushing forward and not falling on the trends.

Always love: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Alanis Morissette.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

A couple of years ago I played at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and there were some ladies who drove up to my show from Detroit. Made my week!!!

Does living in Edmonton influence your songwriting?

I love traveling — I get so much inspiration from it — but I think living in Edmonton allows me to focus and develop new ideas. There’s such a great community of artists here. Everyone supports each other — it’s so great.

Were you on Myspace back in the day?

Myspace was really my first endeavor into publicly showcasing my music. It was a great beginning for me.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#TheGrandHustle

What’s on your bucket list for the rest of 2016?

Finish strong.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Big Sean Promises New Music and Twenty88 Album in 2017

2016-11-14T17:06:12.406Z

After dropping "No More Interviews" and "Bounce Back," Big Sean is clearly ready to head back into the spotlight with new material. And apparently those two songs are just appetizers. The Santa Monica rapper hopped on Twitter to announce that he's not only working on a new project but also teaming up with Jhene Aiko on another Twenty88 project. Both are set to drop in 2017.

"Thank you the next @twenty88 album is coming next year. We gon get our solo's off too though! #Dons #Soulmates #88," Sean tweeted on Saturday (November 12).

Thank you the next @twenty88 album is coming next year. We gon get our solo's off too though! #Dons #Soulmates #88 https://t.co/bXNP2VxAbd
— Sean Don (@BigSean) November 12, 2016

He also promised fans that he'll be hitting the road some time soon.

Tour is coming soon!! When we announce tho u better cop them tics n come thru! I only wanna tour for the live ones tho who give no fucks!! https://t.co/PY7XYH7vKm
— Sean Don (@BigSean) November 12, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Jackie Chan Finally Receives First Ever Academy Award

2016-11-14T16:53:17.329Z

Jackie Chan may not have been necessarily known for making films that would be up for an Academy Award. However, with 56 years in the film industry, it's safe to say he's earned his stripes.

The Hong Kong actor was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors awards on Saturday (November 12). Tom Hanks introduced Jackie and said that his many years of slapstick comedy and martial arts expertise has been "historically underrepresented at the Oscars."

"Standing here is a dream," the 62-year-old actor said. "After 56 years in the film industry, making more than 200 films, breaking so many bones, finally this is mine."

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Watch the First Magical 'Beauty and the Beast' Trailer

2016-11-14T16:40:51.818Z

While we've been teased with a few details about Disney's latest live action remake of Beauty and the Beast, we finally get to see how it all comes together in the movie's first official trailer. Like the animated version, the film follows the same storyline, including that moment when Belle needs to fight off wolves and the Beast comes to her aid. We also get to see some the famed Lumiere and Cogsworth played by Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen, respectively. And we also see Emma Watson, who portrays Belle, show off her dance moves in the grand ballroom scene.

Beauty and the Beast hits theaters on March 17. In the meantime, see what to expect in the trailer below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Dave Chappelle Takes Over 'SNL' While Tyler, the Creator Takes Over LA

2016-11-14T14:23:52.318Z

It’s been a somber week, and while most of us appreciate outlets flooding our pages with pictures of puppies and baked goods to get us through it, we need a little more pick-me-up. Thanks to some gifts from the pop culture gods, it seems as though we might very well be back on the road to recovery. Here’s what you missed over the weekend.

Dave Chappelle's Triumphant Return to TV

For the first episode to air following the rollercoaster of an election, Saturday Night Live lent this weekend’s highly coveted hosting responsibilities to none other than Dave Chappelle. The elusive comedian didn’t disappoint, and his ability to make an audience breakout into fits of laughter is still matched by very few. Before he took on The Walking Dead’s Negan with the help from good ol' Tyrone, he led into the episode with an uplifting sermon dedicated to those who felt downtrodden after last week’s political outcome.

In the most elegant and humorous opening soliloquy, Chappelle decided to shine a light on the current situations across the United States with people protesting Donald Trump’s victory in becoming the next President. He too found himself in disbelief over the results — not because he didn’t see it as a possibility — but because Hillary seemed to have such favorability amongst the masses. “I watched a white riot in Portland, Oregon, on television the other night. The news said they did $1 million worth of damage. Every black person was watching it like, ‘Amateurs.’” He ended his speech by saying that although he doesn’t like the current state of things, that he is willing to give Trump a chance to prove himself, but that we as a nation should expect the same in return.

P!nk’s Surprise Pregnancy

Taking a page from Michael Phelps’ playbook on how to magically keep secrets from the world, pop singer P!nk took to social media to reveal some good news that she’s been keeping from the public. She and her husband, professional motocross rider Carey Hart, are expecting their second child together. The catch: P!nk isn’t just now beginning to show. She’s several months along and probably due to welcome her new addition to the family in just a few short months. Sqwee!

The formerly pink-haired singer took to her Instagram to share the touching family photo this weekend. Her daughter Willow lovingly clings to her as the songstress cooly looks ahead as though she’s staring bravely into the future with one hand on her very prominent belly bump. Both gals are wearing matching light-colored dresses that billow in the autumn wind and the caption says “Surprise!” If that image were any sweeter, we’d have diabetes. How she managed to not be found out about is amazing, but we’re happy for them!

Surprise!

A photo posted by P!NK (@pink) on Nov 12, 2016 at 9:52am PST

Today the Octagon, Tomorrow the World

We thought Conor McGregor had accomplished a lot of what he had set out to professionally, and most of us probably didn’t anticipate the likelihood of him adding more to his sprawling resume. However, the notoriously unforgiving mixed-martial artist found a way to out-do even himself on Saturday evening. When he knocked out Eddie Alvarez early in the second round of their UFC 205 match, making McGregor the first fighter to ever hold two different division championships simultaneously.

At just 28 years old, McGregor entered the cage in Madison Square Garden in possession of the title of reigning UFC Featherweight Champion. But just seconds after the first round, McGregor landed three back-to-back punches that knocked Alvarez to the floor, open to attacks from the Irishman. Two minutes later, McGregor found himself the new UFC Lightweight Champion as well. Following his victorious bout, McGregor stated during his press conference that his intention that evening was simply to announce that he and his long-time love are expecting their first baby together.

Trippin' Donuts at Camp Flog Gnaw

Tyler, the Creator and a few of his incredibly famous friends took over the Los Angeles Coliseum and USC’s campus for two straight days of hip-hop, rides and food at the fifth annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival. The weekend-long event that most festivals could learn a thing or two from sold out nearly 40,000 tickets for both days. No expense was spared, as the USC stadium was decked out in GOLF WANG banners, Odd Future artwork and light displays. The carnival was equipped with a multitude of rides, a wide assortment of fun food vendors, two large arcades, and every sweet treat under the sun.

Fans were treated to some incredible performances on Saturday from artists such as Domo Genesis, Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne and Tyler himself. Sunday brought the likes of Action Bronson, Taco, Erykah Badu and Earl Sweatshirt. To end the last night on a high note, Rae Sremmurd attempted to one-up themselves by partaking in the Mannequin Challenge once again, only this time on a much larger scale. It’s safe to say that they pulled it off! Tyler can rest assured knowing that Camp Flog Gnaw was once again a huge success.

.@RaeSremmurd #MannequinChallenge #CampFlogGnaw edition 📸📸 pic.twitter.com/4CIpeDUVo4
— The FADER (@thefader) November 14, 2016

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

8 Bands That Repped the Softer Side of Emo (and Got Forgotten for It)

2016-11-14T10:54:49.708Z

With the golden age of “scene bands” now firmly in the rear-view mirror, emo’s mid-2000 era is now mostly remembered for its penchant for sharply angled hair and similarly incisive grooves — the bombastic danger of My Chemical Romance, the spiteful bloodletting of Taking Back Sunday, the wry, doomy wordplay of Fall Out Boy. But beyond the overdriven guitars and angsty post-hardcore howling was a wave of cooler-headed kids armed with a weapon of their own: the piano. Inspired by the bright brashness of outfits like Something Corporate, the eight bands below plied their own brand of joyful noise on the same stages as their grumpier counterparts, you just may not remember them.

Mêlée

Debuting on Sub City, the charitable arm of scene stalwarts Hopeless Records, piano rockers Mêlée made the jump to major label Warner Bros. for 2007’s Devils & Angels. Despite a stint on the Warped Tour and appearances at large festivals like Bamboozle, Mêlée never quite managed to break through in the US. Abroad, though, they found a great deal of success, scoring a No. 1 single in Japan with “Built To Last,” a fact singer Chris Cron recently detailed on an episode of NBC’s The Voice. He sang well, but couldn’t convince the judges to turn their chairs — something Cron is no doubt used to by now.

My Favorite Highway

Fairfax, VA pop-rockers My Favorite Highway only managed to release a single full-length — 2009’s How To Call A Bluff — before fading away, but it’s a start-to-finish perfect album, a tour de force of hooky, creative songwriting delivered with passion and verve; the kind of record that demands to be listened to with the windows down on a summer night.

Since disbanding, frontman/pianist David Cook switched his last name to Wazeter (his mother’s maiden name) to avoid confusion with the same-named American Idol winner and has taken to disappearing for years at a time, with brief reappearances to announce new projects that barely last the blink of an eye. It’s our loss — the band’s parting gift to fans, the dramatic ballad “I Cannot Speak,” is as good a song as has ever been written.

Waking Ashland

A vehicle for San Diego vocalist/pianist Jonathan Jones, Waking Ashland brought bright piano pop to some of Warped Tour’s angriest years, drumming up Myspace plays in the millions and earning them a roster spot at Tooth And Nail records, where they became labelmates of acts like Emery and Underoath, who couldn’t have been further sonically from Waking Ashland’s super-melodic grooves. The band split in 2007, after which Jones went on to front the equally-laudable (and, unfortunately, equally obscure) We Shot The Moon.

Mae

At a time when the scene was trending toward the heavy, angsty and dark, Mae (an acronym for Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience) brought grandiose compositions and a relentlessly hopeful missive to emo’s mopey denizens. The band reached their peak with 2005’s The Everglow, a concept album about love and young parenthood bursting with maximalist, multitracked anthems that aimed for the rafters. Though the band largely stepped back from active duty following the 2009-10 EP trilogy of (m)orning, (a)fternoon and (e)vening, they continue to reunite on occasion for brief tours, including a 10-year anniversary trek for The Everglow.

The Morning Light

Though they toured with acts like Sing It Loud and All Time Low (whom guitarist Matt Colussy went on to tour with following the band’s dissolution), the Morning Light edged away from pop-punk and toward more diverse fare, lacing their piano-powered pop with horns and strings, even toying with slinky western vibes on tracks like “Honest (Apologies Endless),” from 2008’s self-titled LP. The band went their separate ways in 2009, with co-vocalists Bobby Garver and Harrison Wargo releasing worthy solo material in the ensuing years.

The Narrative

Drawing from influences like Death Cab For Cutie and Brand New (whose “Tautou” they covered on their B-Sides And Seasides album), Nashville-via-Long-Island indie-pop duo the Narrative have toyed with everything from driving rock to spare torch songs over the course of their career. The band have taken their piano-forward pop rock across the country on the Vans Warped Tour, and landed songs on a litany of TV shows while piling up a lengthy list of accolades, all independently. Emerging from a years-long silence just this month, the Narrative have announced a new album, Golden Silence, set for release on December 2.

Making April

Hailing from upstate New York, piano rockers Making April never shied away from their poppiest instincts. The trio built their reputation touring with acts like Secondhand Serenade and making appearances at both Bamboozle and Bamboozle left, garnering the attention of Universal Republic, who signed them to a first-of-its-kind “singles deal” at the height of iTunes’ dominion. Though the group disbanded in 2010, you might still hear vocalist/pianist Sean Scanlon’s voice on your radio today — as the frontman of major label indie-poppers Smallpools, a band that also features ex-members of veteran scene acts Rookie Of The Year and Kaddisfly.

The Morning Of

New York’s chipper the Morning Of became one of the scene’s first true digital hits — though the septet rarely toured, they were a constant presence on SmartPunk and PureVolume’s rankings, and even landed on the Billboard Heatseekers chart twice, with 2008’s The World As We Know It and 2010’s The Way I Fell In. Though they’ve been radio silent for going on three years now, the band has never officially called it a day, which means the hope for new tunes just around the corner remains, endlessly tantalizing

10 Things You Should Know About Hellberg

2016-11-14T08:00:00.000Z

We find it pretty cool that Swedish producer has the word “hell” in his last/stage name. Was he destined for success? Hell, yes! Especially when he caught the ear of producer/label owner Afrojack. Here’s all you need to know about the rising electro star who’s conquered the festival season with his uplifting stomper “All the Way.”

He’s Swedish

When we call 22-year-old producer Hellberg, he’s in his studio in his hometown Stockholm, Sweden, “working on new music, as always.” For a country as small as Sweden, it surely hosts an unbelievable amount of creative energy flowing in the air. We feel obligated to ask Hellberg if he has a key to that special formula of music talent every Swede seems to possess. “I think it’s just having a lot of people you can look up to growing up. It’s pretty realistic to actually become a musician in Sweden. There are special schools and the whole country supports music.” Talking about fellow Swedes, he says his favorite ones are Galantis.

He May Be Related to a Rock Star

There is a well-known Swedish rock artist named Mattias Hellberg, and the producer’s real name is Jonathan Hellberg. Are they related? “I don’t know actually. Maybe in some weird way.” Ask your parents.

He Loves Both Dance and Rap

So who exactly did he look up to growing up? “I always loved both dance and hip-hop scenes. I looked up to producers like Timbaland and Avicii and Swedish House Mafia.” Did he always want to produce or did he consider singing, too? “I sang when I was younger a bit, but I’ve given that up.”

Would he like to follow Timbaland’s example and start producing tracks for hip-hop artists? “For sure. I wanna do all of it: I wanna produce for hip-hop and EDM and pop. I feel like I’m diverse when it comes to producing. So anything works. The dream is to produce for Drake and Kanye.”

What about his all-time favorite dance record though? “Porter Robinson’s “Language”. It’s what really got me into that style of music.”

He May Sing Though

“I might surprise you,” Hellberg laughs when asked if we should expect him to follow Calvin Harris’ footsteps and cut his own vocals for a track.

He’s Been Making Music Since He Was 13

Yes, these European producers are early bloomers. “I’ve started producing nine years ago when I was 13. And since then it’s been a lot of hard work. It’s tough getting anywhere in the music industry. For me it’s been about trying to get one milestone at a time and definitely having a very popular track last year called “The Girl.”

He’s an Afrojack Protégé

Hellberg’s latest single “All The Way” came out on Afrojack’s label Wall Recordings. “For a year my manager has been in touch with Afrojack’s team at Wall. And then then they liked my music and hopefully something in the future will go on.”

Speaking about the actual single, we had a couple of questions since there are no lyrics in the track. What is “All the Way” about: sex, a road to success or something else? “I think the beauty of tracks like 'All the Way' is that people can make it whatever they want. I wanted to do a very uplifting track, very happy one that keeps the 'Hellberg style.' That’s also my first festival track.”

He already knows where he’s heading next. “I’m going to do more singles with vocals soon. As for the genres, I plan to do future bass/trap and a bit more prog/melodic house. I want to show some variety.”

He’s Got Good Intuition

It’s relatively easy to lock yourself up in the studio and make tons of music. But it’s way harder to filter through all of that and pick the right material to push. Does Hellberg think he’s got a good sixth sense when it comes to choosing a single? “I think I always know when I’m making something very much for my fans or for the general public, something that will push me to the new market.”

He’s a Big Snapchat-er

He does spend a serious amount of time on Snapchat, so he’s got to have a favorite filter. “I don’t know what they’re called. It’s the second one that makes your face very round and your eyes big, I use that one a lot.”

He’s also into video games. “I love video games. It’s just that right now I don’t really have that much time to play. And I’m also into YouTube: I watch YouTube more than anything. My favorite vlogger is Casey Neistat.”

We decided to leave it a mystery if you can meet Hellberg on Tinder, but did ask him what his bio would say. Would he go the “Hey, I’m a DJ” road? “If I was single (I’ve been with my girlfriend for a few years now), I would definitely play the whole musician/DJ/producer card. I would not hold back!”

He Loves Touring Because of the Sun

The DJ lifestyle takes an artist around the globe and Hellberg surely had an intense festival seasons. “Man, just being warm was nice. Sweden gets very cold especially during winter. So in summer I’m all good just because of the weather. Apart from that, I love working all-year-round. Miami earlier this year was crazy. I was there during Ultra, playing a show for Spotify. I ended up playing back-to-back with Don Diablo, which was insane.”

He’s Not A Big Party Guy

He may just be 22, but he’s all about work (as if you hadn’t figured out by now). “I party so little. But I remember one time when I was very young, 18 or 19, I was out drinking with my friends and my girlfriend and things just got way out of control. I can’t remember most of the night. All I remember is heading from the bar to the nearest McDonald’s at 3am to grab something to eat. I was very, very sick. That was not a fun night.”

Six Leonard Cohen Tracks You Should Listen to Right Now

2016-11-11T20:47:51.484Z

Leonard Cohen, the singer and bard who spoke in gravelly, zen-like frankness about sex and God, and who oscillated between folk and funk and who could even do them both at once, is dead. He was 82.

Listen to Betty Who’s Bittersweet New Song About the Start of a Relationship

From the time he released his first record, The Songs of Leonard Cohen, in 1967, he was prolific; You Want It Darker, his 14th studio album, was released just three weeks ago. And so there’s a lot of material to work with when it comes to grieving his loss appropriately — by listening to him, of course — but here’s where you should start:

“Hallelujah” (1984)

Maybe it’s trite to list his best-known track, perhaps, but how could you not? It’s been called one of the most lyrically beautiful songs ever written, and that’s hard to disagree with.

How Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah Became an Undisputed Classic

“Suzanne” (1967)

Cohen’s debut album was thoroughly acoustic and thoughtful. Its first track, “Suzanne,” is a sad, sweet meditation on love.

“So Long, Marianne” (1967)

The beautiful “So Long, Marianne” was inspired by Cohen’s muse and girlfriend Marianne Jensen, who he lived with for most of the 60s.

“Ain’t No Cure for Love” (1988)

This is one of those cases where the cover of a song is superior to the original. An underrated ballad.

“I’m Your Man” (1988)

The synth-pop-style “I’m Your Man” is a thinly-disguised homage to the act of lovemaking. “If you want a doctor,” Cohen sings, “I’ll examine every inch of you.”

“You Want It Darker” (2016)

Even at the very end of his career, Cohen was true to his roots — haunting, spare lyrics that offered both commentary and poetry. The titular track from his final album speaks to this.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Blac Chyna Does the Mannequin Challenge – While Giving Birth

2016-11-11T20:30:04.497Z

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna have created their own version of the popular Mannequin Challenge, although it was probably more challenging than most.

We Ranked the 17 Best ‘Mannequin Challenge’ Videos

Dream Team 💙💙☘🙇🏿 #MannequinChallenge

A video posted by ROBERT KARDASHIAN (@robkardashian) on Nov 10, 2016 at 2:55pm PST

In the video posted on Kardashian’s Instagram, the couple and their loved ones are frozen in various poses in the delivery room, as a nervous-looking Kris Jenner holds the mother-to-be’s hand. Chyna and Kardashian welcomed baby Dream Renée on Thursday, Nov. 10, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Jimmy Fallon and Amy Adams Had an Absolutely Magical Sing-Off

The Mannequin Challenge craze has swept social media in recent weeks, with Hillary Clinton posting her own election themed Challenge earlier this week.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen To The Susan Constant's "The Hour Hand" Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-11T18:28:19.594Z

Love is difficult. That’s certainly no secret, but each way it’s explained illuminates new light on just how difficult it can be. For power poppers The Susan Constant, "The Hour Hand" puts it in the context of time, saying "You’re the second hand / you’re spinning ‘round my head" and "I’m the hour hand / I can’t move quite as fast."

Wherever It Is You Are Now by The Susan Constant

“The Hour Hand was one of the first songs we demoed for the project, and we knew right away it had a home," the band explains. "Its methodical build is the perfect counter to the punch of the rest of the album. And its reflective lyrics and emotion bursts tie the EP together."

"The Hour Hand" comes off of The Susan Constant's new album Wherever It Is You Are Now, out tomorrow (November 12).

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

EXCLUSIVE: David and the Curse Premiere “Diamond Ring”

2016-11-11T18:03:07.002Z

Singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer David Stücken, frontman for LA-based rock band David and The Curse, is set to release his debut, An Epitaph For Love. He wrote and produced the autobiographical album; Stücken has said that recording music is his therapy, and on his debut, he tells tales about battling personal demons and feeling the deepest love through an anti-hero lens.

Hometown: I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Orange County.

Homebase: I live on the beach in Long Beach, CA

What's the story behind "Diamond Ring"?

To me, the definition of love is when two people cross paths and decide to unite together down one singular path in perfect harmony. "Diamond Ring" reflects a time in my life when I experienced this sense of harmony with a love of my own. "Take the high road now pretty lady" is a lyric speaking about that path that two people embark on together on the road of life. "Diamond Ring" is a straight up love song written while in love by a hopeless romantic like myself.

Why call yourselves David and The Curse?

"The Curse" represents the drive to keep being relentless in a market of music that is extremely difficult to pursue. I won't stop. I have no reservations. I will continue regardless of trends, the market or the status quo. I'm relentless in my fight to make my songs heard.

Describe your music to people who haven't heard it before.

Refined. Listen to it. The beauty of songwriting is that every listener hears their own meaning.

Why is your album called An Epitaph For Love?

It was inspired by unrequited love and also by the violent state of the world we live in. From the news you see so much anger, and that is something that echoes in this record.

How did you discover music?

I was four years old and singing songs in pre-school. I really liked "The Phantom Of The Opera" and I sang “The Music Of The Night" for all of the teachers. I also saw Jerry Lee Lewis as a kid at Knott's Berry Farm and remember being really angry that I wasn't old enough to dance with the hot teenage girl in front of me. I mean, I was only fucking 4, but I loved rock 'n roll even then!

Music was everything to me. I just knew music was me. I wanted to connect with the world through music and the only way the world connected to me was through music.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

It was called “Heatheralla." I wrote it about a girl I had a crush on. I guess some things never change.

Does living in SoCal influence your songwriting?

I don't know because I've just grown up here. I was born with the California Dream already in my head. I remember driving up La Cienga Blvd. and thinking as a young kid, "This is where I want to be. I want to play these clubs. I want to work here.”

You've played with TSOL, the Buzzcocks and other titans of SoCal hardcore. How did you end up playing the music that you do -- which is pretty far removed from hardcore?

Well that's just refinement. I have my own sound.

What's your songwriting process?

I write when I least expect. I'll write a song while driving in LA traffic. I record rough lyrics and then add music. For me, songwriting is absolutely nothing I have to force. It just happens. I add the guitars and drums and everything else later. But, I usually write the chorus first.

Who are your musical heroes?

I LOVE the Rolling Stones for their longevity. I also love Tom Petty and Mike Campbell. I could list for days musicians that I love but this interview would take too long. Ok... Don Henley is my favorite singer of rock 'n roll. He can out-perform anyone. Now, that being said, Lightin’ Hopkins (the ol blues man) has a thing of his own. And everything in rock 'n roll is a building block.

Do you have a Myspace story as a musician that you love to tell?

I grew up in the days where MySpace was the main "artery" of music. We used to count our plays. I have a lot of respect for MySpace and thank you for taking the time to talk to me. MySpace changed the industry. You guys made it possible for unknown bands to have an outlet to broadcast their music worldwide.

Listen To Fergie's Upbeat, Tropical-Inspired Single "Life Goes On"

2016-11-11T17:56:51.252Z

Fergie has returned with an optimistic, heartfelt song called "Life Goes On."

"Life goes on with or without you," sings Fergie on the track. "It’s up to you what you’re gonna do."

Beginning as a soft R&B song, "Life Goes On" then explodes into an electropop chorus as Fergie voices her hopeful lyrics.

She announced the song on Twitter yesterday, telling her fans to remember that "life is beautiful."

In the midst of all the madness, remember life is beautiful. #LifeGoesOn 11/11 pic.twitter.com/2TRCKHEaoE
— Fergie (@Fergie) November 10, 2016

"Life Goes On" follows her summer single "M.I.L.F.$," both of which will most likely be on her second solo record Double Dutchess.

Listen to her new single below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To Sia, Miguel And Queen Latifah's Take On "Satisfied" From 'Hamilton'

2016-11-11T17:45:14.261Z

Sia, Miguel and Queen Latifah have teamed up for their own spin on Hamilton song "Satisfied." It showcases all of their top-notch voices (including some hot flows from Queen Latifah) while telling the love story between Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler. The remix is also a veritable R&B-tinged pop song in its own right.

The Hamilton Mixtape also features Nas, Usher, Aloe Blacc, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, the Roots, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Fallon and Chance the Rapper, among others. It will be released on December 2.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Leonard Cohen Dies at Age 82

2016-11-11T17:32:45.421Z

Singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen died yesterday, according to his son Adam Cohen.

"My father passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles," said Adam Cohen in a statement. "He was writing up until his last moments with his unique brand of humor."

The Canadian-born musician who developed a name for himself during the folk revival of the '60s was known for deep vocals and introspective, masterful lyrics. He released 14 studio records over the course of his career.

Cohen had just released a new album, You Want It Darker, last month.

Watch Cohen perform "Hallelujah" below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Welp, At Least Weed's Legal in Four New States

2016-11-11T17:23:32.263Z

This week, we're begrudgingly retracing the path that got America to this place and wondering how we get her back on track.

Faithless Electors

Recommended Pairing: A miracle and a yet to be released bombshell.

On Tuesday roughly fifty-seven percent of the country's eligible voters bothered to make it out to the polls. Of those people who waited in lines to get their "I voted sticker", most cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton. That being said, when everything was counted up and the electoral votes were doled out Donald Trump celebrated a victory and accepted his new title of "President Elect". My family lives in Tennessee, all of them, except for me. I live in Los Angeles. When the news outlets finally called the election my family and the rest of the twenty-seven percent of voters that voted for Trump celebrated. The slight majority of voters that dabbed ink for Secretary Clinton sat in silence just staring blankly at the screen.

As I've mentioned before, the second Bernie lost the nomination I knew this was going to happen. Anyone who had any sort of civil conversation with a Republican over the past twelve months knew this was an election more about keeping Clinton out of the office than getting Trump in.

No need to go down that rabbit hole. It's been covered before.

For the last few months, I've been referring to this clusterfuck of an election cycle as The False Equivalency Election.

Here's a pretty good summary of what I mean:

I have no anger towards people who voted for Trump, in that l mean, the people like my family that thought they were voting anti-establishment despite voting against their own interests and the country's. The people that voted for Trump because they are also racist, xenophobic, misogynist pussy-grabbers I have zero love or tolerance for. Here's what I think is about to happen from now until December 19th. The fury of the anti-Hillary crowd will finally take a breath having seemingly achieved their goal. They'll look around and think...

In the next thirty some odd days there will be a groundswell for the appointed electorates to vote against the states and keep Donald Trump from making it past the inauguration. [quick note, since I wrote that line over a million people signed this petition.] I think this will be a movement by not only Democrats that wanted Hillary, but true progressives, moderates, sensible Republicans, and the masses of people who couldn't be bothered to vote.

Trump has proven that with each passing day he is unable to refrain from saying inflammatory statements in public and online and when you pair that with a motivated country to bring all of his dirt to light I think we will get to a point where it will seem patriotic for the electoral college to keep Trump out of the Oval Office.

Here's where I think it gets interesting. Here's my pitch to fix this mess.

If we can come together and unite under the sentiment that we want neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump to reside in the White House we can finally start to heal. He is most certainly unfit to lead and she most certainly does not deserve to be president after all of this. So what should we do? Let's come together and demand that the electoral college write in the names of our forefathers, civil right leaders, strong women, and other legendary Americans who sacrificed to make this country great. Let's make it so neither achieves the 270 electoral votes to be declared president. Let's start this whole thing over with a real discussion about what we want as a nation.

It would go down as one of the most incredible showings of democracy in the history of the world. People who once considered each other political enemies coming together to agree that at the end of the day, neither are happy with the outcome of this election. Let's work together to bury the establishment and rebuild a stronger, safer, more perfect union capable of meeting the challenges of a modern world.

Bernie Sanders

Recommended Pairing: American pie topped with Vermont Cheddar Cheese.

Ok, obviously none of that is going to happen. So what do we have to protect us from the onslaught of Trump's America? Who's going to dig their feet?

My man, Bern Sizzle.

“Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media. People are tired of working longer hours for lower wages, of seeing decent paying jobs go to China and other low-wage countries, of billionaires not paying any federal income taxes and of not being able to afford a college education for their kids - all while the very rich become much richer.

“To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.”

Please believe me, I want nothing more than civil discourse with my family and the rest of the Americans who want something better out of their lives. I don't believe people should be punished for disagreeing politically, but I also believe we should start on a baseline of decency and learn to debate facts into fair compromise.

Until that happens, Bernie please, hold the door.

Pot Luck

Recommended Pairing: Lots of newly legal weed from California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine

Maybe if all of these angry folks spend some more time giggling and relaxing, we'll figure out what to do with our Republic at the mid-terms. For now, here's a video that brought me a little joy while processing this election.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

20 Celebrities Who’ve Spent Time Behind Bars

2016-11-11T08:00:00.000Z

Celebrities often say that fame is like a prison. But there are also the ones who know that the real sentence is nothing like being chased by the paparazzi or getting asked for an autograph every time you’re grabbing your latte. Let’s go down memory lane, re-visit a criminal file or two and remember 20 celebrities who had to pose not just on the red carpet, but for a mug shot, too.

Paris Hilton

AP

She could surely navigate the wild lanes of a socialite lifestyle, but actual driving wasn’t Paris’ best skill. Reckless driving and probation violation put her in jail in a highly publicized case back in 2007. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail, but spent only several days in the actual prison, and most of the time she was kept in the medical wing due to health issues anyway.

Nicole Ritchie

People

Paris Hilton’s ex-BFF and Simple Life co-star Nicole Ritchie also got herself into some major troubles when she was arrested while driving under the influence of drugs. It sent the party girl behind bars for a whole four days.

Robert Downey Jr.

Handout

We think that these days if mister Iron Man would show up at a neighbor’s door unannounced, nobody would be complaining. But back in the '90s Downey Jr. had quite a troublemaking reputation ,so when he passed out in a nearby house (while being on parole), he got the court to order drug testing. Missing one of them cost him six months in jail in 1997. He served more time for missing one more test in 1999.

T.I.

People

Yes, the Atlanta rap star did worse things than saying he’d rather vote for the Loch Ness Monster than Hillary Clinton because he can’t trust a woman. He served several prison sentences as the result of drug charges. The last one was an 11-month stint in 2011.

Lil’ Kim

Getty

The Notorious K.I.M. spent one year and a day in prison back in 2005-2006 for lying before the grand jury about the whereabouts of her friends the night of a Manhattan shootings outside Hot 97 studios back in 2001.

Lindsay Lohan

People

Surprisingly, Lindsay Lohan wasn’t arrested for ruining our teenage memories and her wholesome image but for multiple violations of her probation in DUI and theft. All of that brought her in and out of a prison cell so many times that we’d need a separate article to cover everything. Sometimes she served days, sometimes, not much than an hour.

Mark Wahlberg

Getty

Back in 1988, future rapper Marky Mark, Calvin Klein underwear model and a movie star, 16 at the time, attacked two Vietnamese men on the same day and beat them with a large wooden stick. One of them (as it was later reported) lost sight in one of his eyes. Wahlberg was arrested for attempted murder and sentenced to two years in prison, yet only served 45 days.

Martha Stewart

Getty

If we ever end up in jail, we’d like to get the cell decorated by Martha Stewart. In 2004-2005 the businesswoman with a knack for all things cozy spent five months in prison and five months of house arrest for making false statements to federal officials and insider trading. She did manage to rebuild her empire soon after her release, so the prison life didn’t affect her trademark style.

Kiefer Sutherland

AP

The action star had to spend more than just 24 hours behind bars when he was arrested for drunk driving in 2007. He spent 48 days in prison and next year decided it was the right moment to physically attack fashion designer Jack McCollough at a fundraiser in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of all places. At least this episode didn’t bring him additional jail time.

Wesley Snipes

Getty

Blade may have been a skillful vampire fighter, but Wesley Snipes, who played the leather-clad Marvel Comics character, was not as good with taxes as he was with swords. In 2006, he was caught on tax fraud dating back to 1996. He was eventually convicted in December 2010 and released in April 2013, and immediately headed back to movie sets.

50 Cent

Getty

These days you can find him “in da club,” but before he was discovered by Eminem, 50 Cent was living the real #ThugLife, selling drugs and getting shot. In 1994, he tried selling cocaine to an undercover cop and spent six months in a boot camp, where he also got his high school diploma.

Tim Allen

AP

Long before he was the nation’s beloved handy patriarch in Home Improvement, the comedian was caught possessing cocaine and found guilty in drug trafficking in the late '70s. Allen served two years and four months in prison. Playboy later called his mug shot one of the best ones in show business: you can just tell there’s a future movie star in it.

Paul McCartney

Getty

The police decided not to follow The Beatles’ advice to “Let It Be” and punished Paul McCartney when cannabis was found in his luggage in the Tokyo airport in 1980. McCartney ended up spending ten days in Japanese prison. That’s another way of saying you’re “big in Japan.”

Pete Doherty

NME

Great Britain’s greatest troublemaker of '00s, the frontman of Babyshambles and The Libertines and Kate Moss’ on-again off-again boyfriend was arrested too many times to count. He’s done it all: stealing, breaking-in, drug possessions, drunk driving, brawls. He only spent several weeks in total behind bars though.

Lauryn Hill

Getty

Lauryn Hill’s behavior was always eccentric to say the least. So it’s almost ironic that the thing that put the singer in jail for three months was as ordinary as… taxes. In 2012, she was found guilty of tax evasion and served three months in prison and three months of house arrest upon paying back everything that she owned.

Danny Trejo

Getty

You don’t get cast of the menacing Machete if you didn’t serve time, right? Future go-to movie bad guy spent a lot of time in his youth in prisons and the last sentence lasted as long as five years. That’s the best preparation you can get to catchy the eye of people like Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

Michelle Rodriguez

Getty

Anyone surprised that The Fast And Furious star had a long and complicated story with driving? She had several short sentences connected to DUIs, probation violation and even a hit-and-run. The longest she’s spent in prison though was just 18 days.

Lil’ Wayne

MTV

Taking drugs and guns on your tour bus? Not the brightest idea. Lil’ Wayne learned this lesson the hard way when he was sentenced to eight months in jail for all this extra stuff on board.

Matthew McConaughey

Getty

Long before he was a rom-com celebrity or a brooding True Detective, Matthew McConaughey was young and wild. In 1999, at the age of 29, he was arrested in Austin on suspicion of possession of drugs, but only charged with resisting transportation. The cops found the actor naked playing drums to his friend in the middle of the night. That’s how McConaughey spent a night in a cellblock. "I don't want to rent a place there, but it was a nice stay for a night," the actor said at the time.

Mike Tyson

Getty

Mike Tyson went down in history as the boxer who could literally bite your ear off. But he was not imprisoned for cannibalism. In 1991, he was arrested for raping 18-year-old Miss Black Rhode Island and served three years in prison. He also has to register as a tier II sex offender under federal law since then.

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

2016-11-11T08:00:00.000Z

Lots of good stuff this week. First, Sleigh Bells are back with another round of robust tunes called Jessica Rabbit, while Dragonette will keep the party going with their new record, Royal Blues. Scottish R&B singer Emeli Sande returns with her sophomore effort, Long Live the Angels. Then, Speedy Ortiz's frontwoman Sadie Dupuis drops Slugger under her solo project moniker Sad13. And finally we simmer things down a bit with the release of Matt Pond PA's new record, Winter Lives.

Find out more about this week's new releases below.

'Jessica Rabbit' - Sleigh Bells

From "Riot Rhythm" to "Comeback Kid," Sleigh Bells have been known for heavy beats that will get your heart thumping and guitar riffs that send chills down your spine. However, on their fourth album, Jessica Rabbit, they try to do something a little different.

Sure, the rhythms are still there and essence of the Brooklyn duo is still ever present in their new album, but there are also lots of twists and surprises that they throw at you as you go down the playlist. Let's start with the fact that they've thrown out the manual of how a song's progression should go. Not only do they play with tempos and melodies, but they also chop them up in such a way that it feels like the flight of beers you tried at that new brewery in town. "It's Just Us Now" is a great example of this. Starting off with an ambient tone, Derek E. Miller's guitar booms, and the drums crash down. Then there's an interesting musical break that's like melodic liquid that flows into this otherwise prickly tune. We also get to enjoy more of Alexis Krauss' vocal abilities on this one. It's that she didn't really sing on past records. However, it was her wails on anthemic songs like "Kids" that drew the crowds to the stages. However, when you listen to "I Can't Stand You Anymore " or the '80s-tinged "I Can Only Stare," the strong yet at times delicate vocals shine.

Sleigh Bells have made a name for themselves when it comes to live performances. Between the lights and the volume turned up just right, they have undoubtedly blown the roof off many sets. And so it's no surprise that Jessica Rabbit is also filled with tunes that we can all get down to.

'Long Live the Angels' - Emeli Sande

In 2012, Emeli Sande won the spotlight with her hit single, "Next to Me," which was later re-released with a feature by Kendrick Lamar, as well as her debut album, Our Version of Events. And after four years, Emeli finally returns with her sophomore effort, Long Live the Angels.

While the likes of Adele and Florence Welch have dominated as some of the UK's most revered voices, Emeli can hang with the best of them. The 16-track LP not only highlights the power and control of her vocals, but also the thoughtfulness she puts into each song. Having a hand in writing each tune, songs like "Shakes," the acoustic "Give Me Something" and her epic single, "Hurts," will move you to your core. She also teamed up with Jay Electronica and Áine Zion on the self-aware "Garden." But perhaps no song has more meaning to the 29-year-old chanteuse than "Tenderly," which she recorded with her father and cousins. While some follow-up releases can fall flat, Long Live the Angels shows Emeli at her best while leaving her some more room to grow in her next record.

'Royal Blues' - Dragonette

It's been four years since we were grooving to any new Dragonette material — until now. The Canadian electro-pop group have finally dropped their latest, Royal Blues. And while it seems that we hear synth pop songs all over the place, Dragonette are the real deal and have been doing this since 2005. And Royal Blues solidifies why we love them so much. Bouncing beats, atmospheric synths and bubbly vocals thanks to Martina Sobara, they can get the party started with the best of them.

While their collabs on "Sweet Poison" with Dada and "Secret Stash" with Mike Mago are great, tunes like "Body 2 Body" and "Save My Neck are so catchy that you can't help but move — no matter where you are. Royal Blues should be added to your playlist if you're ready to party this weekend.

'Slugger' - Sad13

It might be 2016, but for some, sex is still that thing you mouth without an ounce of air coming out as your lip move. However, Sadie Dupuis, also known as Sad13, wants to get this conversation going and in the best way she knows how — through music.

With pop songs being an indirect sex-ed teacher for people of all ages (not necessarily how to do it but how one communicates about it) her 11-track record delves into everything from the differences between sex and romance to the true meaning of consent. With witty lyrics, the Speedy Ortiz lead singer explains that whole idea of consent through her single, "Get a Yes" and that Ben and her are not romantic on "Just a Friend." Meanwhile, you may need to press repeat on "Hype," especially when she sings about licking a particular body part. Produced, recorded and written all by Sadie, she explores some unmarked, or loosely explored, territory with this one.

'Winter Lives' - Matt Pond PA

Matt Pond PA may have gotten their start in New York City and Philadelphia, but listening to their new album, Winter Lives, you may be fooled into thinking that they are from somewhere less metropolitan. And that instinct is on the right track as their latest effort draws inspiration from founder Matt Pond's childhood in New Hampshire.

Collaborating with Chris Hansen (guitar) and Shawn Alpay (cello and strings), the 12-track project is a carefully crafted set of tunes that will keep you warm by the fire. And Matt's vocals on songs like "Dirty Looks" and the album's closer, "The Forest of Frost on the Windshield," are like security blankets that keep you safe from all the chaos and craziness in the outside world. Matt also throws us with orchestral interpretations of "Fotzepolitic" by the Cocteau Twins, as well as Beach House's "Used to Be." If you're looking for something to wind down to, Winter Lives is the best medicine.

Get your new music fix any day of the week by visiting out New Music Friday page.

Here’s How You Can Buy Snapchat’s New Camera Glasses

2016-11-10T22:34:36.817Z

Snap Inc., the parent company behind Snapchat, has finally revealed how and where it will sell its new Spectacles to the public: through vending machines called “Snapbots.”

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The first of these dispensaries is located in Venice Beach, Calif., right near the company’s headquarters. Snap says using one of its bots is currently the only way interested customers will be able to purchase its $129.99 camera glasses. These vending machines will relocate regularly to appear in new locations throughout the U.S.

A map on the company’s website shows where these Snapbots are located, and it will display where new machines are headed 24 hours before they arrive. A special Spectacles-themed geofilter will also be available in the Snapchat app when a bot is nearby.

@Spectacles is here! pic.twitter.com/6L558uslFW
— Senthil Sundaram (@2senthil) November 10, 2016

Buyers will be able to virtually try on a pair of Spectacles by pressing one of the buttons on the machine, each of which represents a different color option for the glasses. Each pair of glasses comes with a charging case, a charging cable, and a cleaning cloth. (If you’re really desperate and have money to burn, we’ve spotted Spectacles on eBay for north of $500.)

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The announcement comes after Snap Inc. first unveiled its camera-equipped glasses in September, which are capable of recording footage and wirelessly transmitting it to the Snapchat app on a user’s phone.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

See Rihanna and Cara Delevingne in the Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Trailer

2016-11-10T22:20:13.072Z

Rihanna is coming back to the big screen in a big way. The 28-year-old singer — who seemed to take a hiatus from acting while recording her most recent album, Anti — has what looks to be an iconic supporting role in director Luc Besson’s upcoming sic-fi epic, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

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She will appear alongside Cara Delevingne and Dane DeHaan, who appears to be her one-man audience in the clip. In a new teaser trailer that debuted Thursday, RiRi can be seen magically transforming her appearance at the (literal) drop of a hat.

“Rihanna was my first wish,” Besson told Entertainment Weekly about casting the film. “First, because of her voice and the way she smiles and looks and how she expresses herself. Second, because you know she won’t be intimidated on the set. She plays stadiums with 100,000 people. You know that girl isn’t shy about the camera and the crew and all this.”

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Valerian hits theaters July 21.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Jennifer Lawrence Do an Excellent Cher Impression on Ellen

2016-11-10T22:03:00.449Z

Notoriously relatable actress Jennifer Lawrence has an interesting on-set quirk: she loves to burst into song. Specifically, Cher’s “Believe.”

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On an episode of The Ellen Show with upcoming sci-fi drama film Passengers co-star Chris Pratt, the actress apologized for what she said must be an “annoying tic”—because she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

“No, it’s great! You just have an incredible singing voice,” the gracious Pratt assured her, although he admitted it could get difficult to remember his lines when she was serenading him, consciously or not. She even treated audiences to a piece of the song.

“I was like, I do, I believe in life after love, I get it,” Pratt added.

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It turns out Pratt also has a hidden music talent: he can rap. But he cleverly avoided having to demonstrate his lyrical ways on the show by saying he would sweat too much.

Watch the full clip below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch The Moving Trailer For Will Smith's 'Collateral Beauty'

2016-11-10T17:37:03.075Z

When Will Smith's Howard wrote letters to amorphous entities like 'love,' 'time,' and 'death,' he was doing it out of desperation. In Collateral Beauty, though, it works out: he receives responses to his notes from these emotions personified by characters (played by Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley and Jacob Latimore).

"It’s a little bit It’s a Wonderful Life and a little bit The Wizard of Oz," explained Smith to EW. "It’s the process of Howard putting his life back together, but there’s also some interesting mystical elements. Yeah, there’s huuuuge spoilers. It’s delicately framed in a way that’s going to be tough to promote."

Collateral Beauty, directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada), also stars Kate Winslet, Edward Norton and Michael Peña and hits theaters December 16.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen to Blake Rainey and His Demon's "Losing My Way" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-10T17:30:00.000Z

With all the chaos in the world right now, sometimes you just need some good music to soothe our souls. And Blake Rainey and His Demons are here to provide a track for that soundtrack with their song, "Losing My Way."

Off their upcoming album, Helicopter Rose, which you can pre-order here, the song's title explains what Blake and company were trying to convey.

"The bulk of the song is about losing one's confidence and feeling lost in life. I've certainly been there before," Blake tells Myspace. "'I went out of my mind / When you said that I was fine' is the first line of the song, and it conveys the frustration you might experience with those who are closest to you, but who can’t seem to see the problem you're having in life. Everyone has been there before and can relate to it."

He continues to break down the track by saying, "The chorus of the song is a cry for honesty from those who know him best. The narrator has realized that he might be a bit off-course, so he reminds his close loved ones to 'Please tell me if I'm losing my way.' That's always a better course of action than just trying to reassure someone that everything is OK and that they’re 'just fine.' The lyric carries on in a surreal fashion with references to hedgerow mazes and being alone in a boat in the dark and out to sea. That can be pretty scary stuff if you think about it. I also coupled this surreal and insecure setting with a beat that you can dance to—or perhaps be hypnotized by."

Blake has been a fan of combining heavier messages with lighter melodies that will make you groove.

"I've always loved writing songs that are happy or upbeat in tempo with moodier lyrics," he says. "I feel like the listener gets presented a more complex and realistic situation with that juxtaposition. 'Losing My Way' also has a universal groove to it that I feel lucky to have latched onto."

Listen to the exclusive premiere of the track below.

The Tigerlilies Keep Things Old School in the Cincinnati Music Scene

2016-11-10T17:30:00.000Z

No strangers to hard work and perseverance, post-punk band the Tigerlilies have experienced more than their fair share of trials and tribulations. From opening shows for Joan Jett and the Violent Femmes, to experiencing the loss of their dear friend and manager in a tragic crash while on tour, Pat Hennessy, Brendan Bogosian, Brian Driscoll and Steve Hennessy have endured the best and the worst of life, all while continuing to thrive. The recent release of their newest EP, 123456, became more than just a musical endeavor, but also a form of emotional and psychological catharsis.

With influences ranging from the Clash and the Kinks to the Buzzcocks and Oasis, the Tigerlilies took a minute to chat with Myspace about the history and future of the band.

What's opportunities has 2016 brought for the band?

Well you take every show you can get, whenever and wherever it is. You try to use all means available to distribute your music and get people to hear it. It’s still a lot of out of pocket expenses. The music business reflects the culture. There are the haves and have-nots. But truly, all of these things are peripheral to just continuing to play and write good songs.

What's the story behind the band's name?

Brothers Pat and Steve Hennessy were driving back from a show in Athens, Ohio that they played with their previous band, the Thangs. They were calling names out and then notified some tiger lilies growing on the side of the road and decided to call their next band the Tigerlilies.

When and how did the band form?

At the end of their last band, Pat and Steve Hennessy decided to forge on with guitarist Steve Schmoll (Lazy) and were looking for a bass player. Those three came to see Brian Driscoll in his band The Tenant. An audition followed where Steve Schmoll said “He dresses well, he is in.” And the lineup was set!

How did you all ultimately decide on your unique sound?

The sound came from everyone bringing their influences in and then hashing out an idea. Pat will come in with a chord progression, and we’ll start the process. We play the song over and over until we have all the parts and Pat just starts singing over it. Nothing is ever written down.

Tell us about one of your favorite experiences as a band.

A few come to mind. Opening for Paul Weller of the Jam and getting to meet him. The magic of the night is hard to capture in words. Admiring an artist for so long and then getting to meet and play on the same stage. Another was opening for the Violent Femmes again at Bogarts in Cincinnati. Earlier in the day, Brian purchased a cheap bass at a thrift store for $25. At the end of the set, Brian smashed that bass and the crowd was up for grabs! The curtain closed and Brian came out holding the neck of the bass to thunderous applause.

Where do you draw inspiration for your music?

Inspiration comes from everyday life. For example, the song “Shipwrecked” came about after Pat was looking at an auction website called “Shipwreck.” He thought it was a good descriptor as he thought about the band's fatal van wreck on the way to SXSW. Isolation, alienation and a part of a line from a Temptations song are included as “inspiration” in this song. For "Lovers Du," the umlauts are a tribute to Husker Du, a band favorite. The phrase “What do lovers do?” was Googled and a list popped up. Mixing that with everyday life observations results in the sparks for a song.

As musicians, what's something that you all have taken to heart?

We’ve learned how to be more patient, how to persevere and be resilient. And, a 7 o’clock load in means sound check is at 9!

What is the band currently focused on?

We want to keep writing good songs and we want those songs to be heard by as many people as possible.

What's the songwriting process like?

Part of the lyrical process we already explained, the music from a chord or two brought in and then built around by playing it over and over, until other parts are added. Pat starts singing and we repeat it over and over until we know it’s done. It can take a few hours, days, weeks or months!

If there's one thing you wish everyone on the planet knew about the band, what would it be?

I wish everyone could hear our songs!

What can we expect from the Tigerlilies in the future?

More shows, more practice, more songwriting and recording.

Paul McCartney Takes On #MannequinChallenge With Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles”

2016-11-10T17:13:05.227Z

Paul McCartney has joined in on the #MannequinChallenge, and he's having some fun with it.

Macca soundtracked the video, which shows the former Beatle standing with one hand on a piano, with Rae Sremmurd's track "Black Beatles" in the background. "Black Beatle, bitch, me and Paul McCartney related," sings Sremmund on the track.

Love those Black Beatles #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/aAu9umHKI7
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 10, 2016

McCartney joins other musicians, including Sremmurd and a reunited Destiny's Child, in this new fad which features people filming themselves as a mannequin with music (often "Black Beatles") in the background.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

The XX Announce New LP 'I See You,' Share Lead Single

2016-11-10T16:51:13.887Z

The XX have returned. In advance of the celebrated London electropop group's upcoming LP, they have released the lead single "On Hold."

While it has the same dark energy The XX is known for, this track has a poppier, late night dance feel. The song samples Hall & Oates 1981 hit “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)," according to Pitchfork.

“We know these are uncertain times and we hope the joy & love we found making the record will get out into the world, in however small a way,” said the band in a statement.

I See You is the The XX's third record, following 2009's xx and 2012's Coexist.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Sum 41 Discusses Comeback, Live Shows & Recovery Through Music

2016-11-10T10:54:24.294Z

In case you somehow hadn't heard, Sum 41 is back.

Following a couple of years off and singer Deryck Whibley's well-documented health scare, everyone's favorite Canadian pop punks are back in action and better than ever. After all, how could the great '00s revival of 2016 go on without the crew behind classics like "Fat Lip" and "The Hell Song"?

With their latest album, 13 Voices, releasing last month and already gaining steam for "Comeback of the Year" awards, Myspace caught up with Whibley to chat about everything from the band's new expanded lineup to the dark inspiration for the new record.

MORE: 5 Reasons Sum 41’s ’13 Voices’ is the Best Comeback Album in Modern Punk

After all these years, how does it feel to have Sum 41 back as a band?

It feels amazing to be back and doing this all again. It’s what I live for. It’s what I love to do. The fact that people are reacting to us in a certain way is a nice surprise. I guess I wasn’t expecting that there would be this much attention on our band and all of the other bands in this genre like Blink [182] and Green Day. There’s this thing going on, and everyone’s calling it a “comeback” for everybody. I didn’t expect that because a lot of us all put out our last albums at the same time too.

Does the band still feel like the same guys who put out those early records like All Killer, No Filler and Does This Look Infected? or is it like playing with a brand new group?

It feels similar but different. We’re a five-piece band now, so that’s totally different. We’re different guys, but at the same time we totally still have the same sense of humor. We still tell the same kind of dumb jokes, and we still have all of the same stupid old stories that we tell over and over again. There is a familiarity, but musically it feels different. On stage it feels different. I think we've all gotten better as musicians, so we can just do more things now.

In what ways was making 13 Voices similar or different to some of those earlier albums?

It’s a totally different kind of thing. When I look back at all of the records, they all kind of have their own vibe. They all kind of stand out from each other. They don’t really seem to sound the same to me. I don’t know. It makes it fun to play live because when we put a setlist together, there’s a lot of dynamic and different kinds of music. Sometimes it can be difficult putting songs on a setlist, but it’s also kind of fun. The live show is just such a different show than it’s ever been. I feel like it’s the best version of this band that we’ve ever been and probably the most exciting concert that we’ve ever put on. If it feels good on stage then it feels good to us.

What's it like being in the band as an adult compared to when you first started it?

I think it’s better now. When you’re doing stuff when you’re so young, it’s great and it’s fun but you just don’t take things in the same way. Things don’t mean as much to you as they do when you’re older. You have no point of reference. Things go by so fast that they kind of seem like they’re normal when it’s really not. When you’re older, you look at these kinds of things that you’re doing and realize how hard it is sometimes to get to these places and to do these things — to have longevity. It makes you appreciate things way more.

You went through some very dark times over the years. How did those years and your recovery affect the band musically?

This record of ours was inspired and written through my whole recovery, so I think the whole album is about my journey through all of that darkness. I would say that it is a big part of what I do musically. Every record is a snapshot of who I am at that time, so this just happens to be what it’s about this time. Who knows what it’ll be about next time?

Now that Sum 41 is officially back, what does the band have planned for the future?

The next few years, we’re touring. This is really just the beginning. The next year-and-a-half I’d say is already booked up around the world and just kind of keeps going. That’s the best part. That’s all we ever want to do is play live. That’s our favorite part about being in this band. We’re just going to travel the world and play rock shows for the next two years. It's not a bad job!

Catch up with more of your favorite bands by visiting our Q&A page.

5 Reasons Doctor Strange is the New Iron Man

2016-11-10T08:00:00.000Z

When Iron Man first came out in 2008, the film set the tone for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was our doorway into a new and amazing world, and the character we were introduced to — the one that would ground this new reality — was Tony Stark as portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.

While characters are immortal, actors and contracts aren’t. Eventually, there was going to be the need to introduce a new character into the mix that would not only be the touchpoint for fans, but also a guiding light going into the future. Here are five reasons why it appears that Marvel is setting up Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange to usurp that title from Iron Man.

They're Men Out of Their Place and Element

The hero’s journey is an age-old storytelling trope, but the tales of Stephen Strange and Tony Stark are eerily similar. Both are men of wealth, prestige and power whose lives revolve around collecting more of the same. They are firmly ensconced in a world that they are fully in charge of and very comfortable with... Until some crazy shit happens causing them to abandon their previous world (and worldview) and embrace a new reality that they have a really hard time accepting.

Tony Stark is confronted with the error of his ways as an arms dealer and — in saving his own life — is given a chance to make a real difference in the world by becoming a force that fights against the thing that built his fortune. Stephen Strange is a man of practicality and science who — in an effort to save his old life — finds a way to embrace a reality that he didn’t think was even possible and make the world a better place by fighting for something he didn’t believe existed.

The Films Set the Tone for the Phases of the MCU

The post-credits scene in Iron Man was the first time we found out that the movie wasn’t simply a really cool one-off, but the beginning of a bigger thing. We weren't sure what that thing was at first, but it held the possibility of a lot of amazing things. What followed were — for the most part — movies that were grounded in the reality that Iron Man created for us. Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Ant-Man, aside from Thor, all of these heroes were grounded in the reality of the military industrial complex and super science. Even Thor, to an extent, explained magic as simply being science that people hadn’t learned how to understand yet.

Holy shit, that was only four years ago?

But Doctor Strange brings straight up magic into this mostly grounded, reality-based fantasy world. Not magic that might be science, but real Criss-Angel-is-the-devil magic — and that bending of reality begins to propagate out from Doctor Strange. Black Panther is a hero who derives his power both from a royal lineage and a mystical realm. Captain Marvel is a hero who obtained her powers from an alien artifact. If Iron Man taught us that science and will could create heroes that we could believe in, Doctor Strange tells us that not only are magic and mystical realms a real thing, but that there is also a multiverse of possibilities that surround this fantastic new world.

The Films are Connected but Alone

Iron Man was a solo movie without any of the trappings of what is now a vastly connected universe. It tied itself into the greater whole at the end and continued to build on its foundation, but it was — at its heart — all alone. Doctor Strange fits into the same picture. Other than a name drop of The Avengers, this is his — and only his — world. It sits alone outside of what we’ve seen before. The effects of this movie (much like Iron Man) will likely be felt in the future of the expanding MCU, but for now it’s only Doctor Strange’s magical world, and it’s his duty to defend it.

Awesome Facial Hair Bros!

For a while now, there’s been an ongoing love affair between Bruce Banner and Tony Stark, calling them the Science Bros. Well recently in the comics, the same love affair has been brewing — much to Doctor Strange’s chagrin — with Stark declaring himself and Strange as “Awesome Facial Hair Bros”.

Aside from the facial hair similarities, the characters have quite a bit in common. Both are brilliant without the powers or technology that they posess. Both are sharp-minded and quick-witted, making them natural — if reluctant — leaders. Iron Man has funded and brought together The Avengers over the course of several movies, and it’s not too far-fetched to think that Doctor Strange might lead them into the broader and weirder world.

Strange Even Has His Own Inanimate Sidekick

Sometimes, amongst all of the bombast and the insanely cool fight scenes in superhero movies, there are quiet little moments that stand out. Small characters who are a part of the larger ensemble but help to round out the harder edges and provide moments of heart and humor. In Iron Man, there was one unsung character that never got the attention it deserved: Dummy. Dummy was the robot helper in Stark’s lab who couldn’t help but screw up in his attempts to make things right and made us laugh each time he did it.

Well, Doctor Strange has his very own non-human sidekick in The Cloak of Levitation. Originally conceived in the comics as a mystical artifact that made the character look mysterious and allowed him to fly, The Cloak of Levitation has a personality in the film. Not unlike other magical artifacts we’ve seen in films like Harry Potter, The Cloak of Levitation takes a liking to Doctor Strange — even going so far as to defend him by wrapping himself around a bad guy’s head and repeatedly smashing it into the floor ad nauseum in the same way that Family Guy runs a gag into the ground to the point where it goes from funny to not funny and then back to funny because it’s dead.

8 Cartoons From the ‘90s We Wish Were Still on TV

2016-11-10T08:00:00.000Z

You’d think with all of the channels dedicated to cartoons, everything we could possibly want to watch would be available to us. Sadly, this is not the case, as while many networks are content to rerun the same shows over and over again, we’re being denied the ability to watch some of the greatest, and some of the most underrated, cartoons of all-time.

We, obviously, don’t run a television network (if we did, it would probably end up looking something like what Weird Al did in the movie UHF), but here are 8 cartoons from the ‘90s we wish were still on TV.

Darkwing Duck

He is the terror that flaps in the night. He is the winged scourge that pecks at your nightmares. He is Darkwing Duck!

A staple of the Disney Afternoon lineup, Darkwing Duck followed the adventures of a crime fighting hero who, along with his sidekick Launchpad McQuick, continually saved the city of St. Canard from the fiendish plots of F.O.W.L. (Fiendish Organization of World Larceny).

Darkwing Duck was a heck of a personality, and he had enemies who were similarly over the top, such as Steelbeak (who had a steel beak), Bushroot (a scientist who turned himself into a half duck, half plant, creature), Megavolt (a character who gained the power to control electricity through an experiment gone bad), Liquidator (a water based dog who could control all water, and spoke in salesman catch phrases), Quackerjack (a toy maker gone mad, who wore a harlequin style jester costume) and Negaduck (Darkwing’s evil twin from a parallel universe).

Darkwing’s suburban alter-ego Drake Mallard, was a single dad, having an adopted daughter named Gosalyn. There was a single parent theme with quite a few Disney Afternoon cartoons, as TaleSpin, and Goof Troop, also featured single parents as main characters.

The Tick

Spooooon!

The Tick — mighty blue justice, a hero who was nigh-invulnerable and had his trusty sidekick Arthur — was another over the top superhero who had equally over the top friends, and enemies.

Allied with the likes of American Maid, Die Fledermaus and Sewer Urchin, The Tick had some sometimes effective friends on his side. Working against him were a litany of evildoers — my personal favorite being Chairface Chippendale, a refined criminal who had a chair for a face, and once attempted to write his name on the moon.

The Tick was also the only superhero to have a pet capybara, the largest living species of rodent.

Gargoyles

The story of reawakened nocturnal creatures that turn to stone during the day, but come to life at night, and defend New York City, Gargoyles was a Disney Afternoon cartoon that was significantly darker than the company’s usual fare.

One episode, titled "Deadly Force," was pulled in the US after its initial airing, due to on screen violence involving a gun, and the gargoyles’ human friend, a police officer named Eliza Maza, being shot (yes, you can draw some pretty obvious parallels between their relationship with her, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ relationship with April O’Neil).

Gargoyles was a legitimately cool cartoon. I especially loved that most of the gargoyles were named after NYC streets and boroughs, and I still think of the show every time I see a gargoyle on a building in NYC.

Tiny Toon Adventures

Tiny Toon Adventures followed in the footsteps (or I guess technically paw and hoof prints) of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, as it was in the grand tradition of cartoons that are supposedly meant for kids, but over 50% of the jokes are for the adults.

From a kid’s point of view, it was a funny show. From an adult’s point of view, it was fucking hilarious. How else would you describe a cartoon that does a parody of the dueling banjos scene from Deliverance?

If we missed that reference the first time around, what else did we miss?!?!

This is why we need Babs and Buster Bunny, and the rest of the crew, back on air ASAP.

The Ren & Stimpy Show

A precursor to shows such as Beavis and Butt-Head, South Park and everything on Adult Swim, Ren & Stimpy were trailblazers who paved the way for epic weirdness. Whether they were door-to-door rubber nipple salesman, doing the “Happy Happy Joy Joy” dance or leaving some nerve endings for the nerve ending fairy, we’d never seen anything like this before, and it was amazing.

In addition to the main twosome, Ren & Stimpy had an array of fantastic secondary characters, including Mr. Horse, and my personal favorite, Powdered Toast Man.

A crowning achievement of Ren & Stimpy was the creation of a fictional toy nobody else could have imagined ... especially the neighbor’s dog.

Occasionally TeenNick will air reruns of Ren & Stimpy in a ‘90s block late at night, but it really deserves a better, more consistent, time slot. Whoever doesn’t agree, is an eeeediot!

The Original Beavis and Butt-Head

MTV Classic came SO CLOSE to giving us what we want when they started airing episodes of Beavis & Butt-Head. Unfortunately, the only episodes they air are from the short lived second run of the show from 2011.

The original Beavis and Butt-Head was incredibly smart through being incredibly dumb, and the duo became the world’s most unlikely cultural arbiters thanks to their critiques of music videos. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago that Kip Winger forgave the cartoon duo for his band being a running punch line on the show.

Beavis and Butt-Head also gave us Cornholio, so if you disagree that the original episodes should be back on air, I only have one think to ask you – “Are you threatening me?!?!”

The Critic

“It stinks!”

Anyone who watched The Critic, whose main character was film critic Jay Sherman (voiced by Jon Lovitz), recognizes this catch phrase as Sherman’s oft-used two word review of films.

Of course, that’s not how we felt about the show, as The Critic was an intelligent, witty, cartoon whose format, with it’s numerous side jokes that had little to do with the plot, gave birth to shows such as Family Guy.

My personal favorite side joke was the occasional reference to “the kid from Easter Island,” whose head was one of the stone heads the Island is famous for.

Duckman

I know I may be in the minority here, but I think Duckman was a cartoon that was ahead of its time. Had it been released a decade later, in a world where offbeat cartoons had found a home with Adult Swim, Duckman could have been a hit.

The tale of a horny, loud mouthed, private detective who solved crimes with his partner, a pig named Cornfed, Duckman also had a very unique home life with his kids (including one, Ajax, that was voiced by Dweezil Zappa), sister-in-law and aged mother-in-law (the character of Duckman, voiced by Jason Alexander, was widowed).

Duckman was outlandish and hilarious, while also having moments that were extremely real. He was a complete character, and this is a cartoon that deserves to be revisited.

Mac Sabbath Delivers Drive Thru Metal at its Finest

2016-11-09T18:18:10.428Z

Here’s everything you need to know about Mac Sabbath: They’ve recreated metal band Black Sabbath’s songs into food-themed ditties, into a genre they like to call “drive-thru metal.” So instead of Iron Man, there’s “Frying Pan.” Instead of “Paranoid,” it’s “Pair-a-buns.” That, and they perform in costume, as vilified versions of McDonald’s characters: Ronald Osbourne, Slayer MacCheeze, Grimalice and Catburglar (aka "Peter Criss Cut Fries"). It’s a novelty act, sure, but a fun one, as “manager” Mike Odd explains to Myspace. (Mac Sabbath’s members refuse to do interviews and speak only through Odd, lead singer of the Los Angeles hard rock band Rosemary's Billygoat.)

Hometown: Mac Sabbath hails from Briminghamburger England.

Homebase: The band is currently based In Los Angeles, as am I. But I have been informed by Ronald Osbourne that he has traveled here through a worm hole in the time space continuum from the 1970's to save us all from the current state of rock and food and bring us back to the time when they were both genuine.

How did Mac Sabbath’s members get together?

I started receiving strange secret messages. Finally I agreed to meet up and solve the mystery at a fast food franchise in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. In walks an abomination. Dripping with smeared face paint and dirty red and yellow tassels scraping the ground. I was shocked horrified and delighted at the same time. He sat down in the booth with me and I listened to the clown pitch, by the time we were thrown out, he had convinced me to comeback late night after they were closed for a secret sauce session in the basement where I first saw these mutated fast food mascots playing Black Sabbath songs and screaming about Monsanto and GMOs. My life has not been the same since.

Why form a Black Sabbath cover band themed around junk food?

Ronald's message is very focused on 70s culture being superior to ours in the way of natural foods and real rock. Listen and you will hear. Build it and they will come.

Who are your biggest musical influences aside from the obvious Black Sabbath?

Ronald seems to be very influenced by Bozo as far as I can tell. he has no references past the 1970s.

How do you describe your music to someone who's never heard you before?

Black Sabbath while pelted with magical cheese burgers grown on magical burger trees.

Is Halloween Mac Sabbath’s favorite holiday?

Indeed!

Do you really think clowns are scary?

Well if you had to work with Ronald Osbourne you would know the answer to that. Nothing scares me more at this point in time!

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Well, I'm sure Black Sabbath would be Ronald's first choice. But we welcome any endorsement from legitimate organic food companies.

What's the craziest thing that’s happened to the band so far?

There was a very small girl who literally inserted herself into Grimalice in the middle of the show. She got past security and somehow crawled up inside of… well it's hard to explain, but once security figured it out they could not figure out how to remove her. None of us could. She stayed in for several songs, although he was moving awkwardly he was smiling the whole time and never missed a beat. So I guess no harm done. He had never spoke of the incident.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Mac Sabbath is a family band, so we cannot indorse hash in any way.

What was the first song you ever wrote?

Rum-tum-da-bun-em cakes.

What was it about?

Smacking little chefs.

What's on your bucket list for the rest of 2016?

Quit as manager of Mac Sabbath. That clown is driving me MAAAAAD!

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Dumbledore Will Be in 'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' Movies

2016-11-09T17:31:21.166Z

While Harry Potter fans across the globe mourned the death of Albus Dumbledore, they'll be more than happy about this news. David Yates, who directed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, has confirmed that Dumbledore will be in the upcoming films in the five-part series.

"In the second movie Dumbledore comes back. He's got a couple of good scenes with Newt (played by Eddie Redmayne)," Yates told Screen Rant. "We're discussing who would play Dumbledore, any suggestions would be good."

Since Fantastic Beasts will be taking place 70 years before Harry, Hermione and Ron attended Hogwarts, fans will see a much younger wizard.

Who would you like to see play the younger Dumbledore? Give that some thought and remember that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will open in theaters on November 18.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Martin Shkreli Drops Unreleased Wu-Tang Clan Album 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'

2016-11-09T17:23:12.092Z

Michael Shkreli, the pharmaceutical exec who drastically increased the HIV/AIDS drug Daraprim, bought the only copy of Wu-Tang Clan's unreleased, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, earilier this year. And he publicly promised that if Donald Trump actually won the presidency, then he would release it to the masses. And like clockwork, he started to post videos with some of the tracks playing in the background. While he admitted that he didn't expect Trump to actually win the election, he's making good on his promise. He also revealed that he would need to negotiate a bigger release of the record with Wu-Tang Clan.

See Michael's videos below.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Sting Won't Wear a Hearing Aid Anymore

2016-11-09T17:11:23.560Z

While Sting doesn't let it stop him from giving a great performance, the English musician has admitted to losing his hearing over the years. And while he has worn a hearing aid, he's pretty much over the device.

“I’m fairly deaf. ‘What?’ is my favorite word,” he admitted to SiriusXM’s "Artist Confidential" on November 8.

He also added, "I tried wearing a hearing aid, but I heard more than I wanted to hear! People talk a lot of s—!"

Despite the hearing issue, Sting is ready and excited to share his latest effort, 57th & 9th, which releases on Friday (November 11).

Inspired by his walks in his New York City home, the record takes on the frenetic vibe of the Big Apple. "You could write a play just by listening to people’s phone conversations on the street in New York," he said. "The energy of New York gave [the album] an urgency."

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-11-09T08:14:30.308Z

A little indie, a little rock, a little rap, and a little Regina Spektor. What's not to love about this week's top tour announcements?

Run the Jewels 'Run the World' Tour

In support of their upcoming album, RTJ3, Run the Jewels will hit the road for a lengthy world tour. Kicking off in January, catch the rap duo from Philly to Florida, California to NYC, and everywhere in between. They'll also be headlining the two Texas festivals Sound on Sound and Day For Night. Click here for more info.

Radiohead 'A Moon Shaped Pool' Tour

While no new US dates have been revealed, indie rock gods Radiohead have just announced another batch of shows in support of their latest album, A Moon Shaped Pool. The dates take them to Sweden, Ireland, the UK and more, starting on June 6. Click here for more info.

The Weeknd 'His Starboy: Legend of the Fall' Tour

The Weeknd will drop his third album, Starboy, on November 25, so it only makes sense that he'd also be dropping some corresponding tour dates. Those will come a bit later though, as the "His Starboy: Legend of the Fall" tour doesn't begin until February 17 in Stockholm, with the North American leg kicking off on April 25. Click here for more info.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds 2017 Tour

In keeping with the theme of new albums, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds dropped Skeleton Tree last month, and they'll be touring in January, May and June to promote it. The January dates are spread throughout New Zealand and London, while the summer will be devoted to North America. Click here for more info.

**Regina Spektor Remember Us To Life Tour**

Regina Spektor is finally doing a proper North American tour in support of her latest album, Remember Us To Life. Catch her on the East Coast plus a stint of Midwest and Pacific Northwest shows, kicking off on March 3 in Montreal at Metropolis. Click here for more info.

5 Attractions We Want to See at Disney's Star Wars Land

2016-11-09T08:08:30.036Z

Had you told the 10-year-old me (or 21-year-old-me) that there’d come a time when we would be getting a Star Wars theme park INSIDE a Disney resort, I’d probably punch you in the face and call you a liar. But the future is now and geekdom is king, as Disney is currently under construction on Star Wars Land at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Considering we live in a world where a new Star Wars film is set to be released each year till infinity, there will be no shortage of planets and characters to choose from in building rides, attractions and dining.

While no opening dates have been set for either park, the upcoming December release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has got our imaginations on hyperdrive on creations Disney Imagineers might have in store for us. So far there’s only been a few pieces of concept art that’ve been released giving us a sneak peek inside the new parks. Instead of waiting for Disney to release details on attractions, we’ve gone ahead and made a list of 5 rides and experiences we want to see once Star Wars Land opens.

Speeder Bikes Ride (Return of the Jedi)

Outside of the Millennium Falcon, if there’s going to be rides based on Star Wars vehicles, a must have is the Aratech 74-Z, better known to us all as the speeder bike. The moment Luke and Leia jumped on these things to chase down some scout troopers, we were hooked! Who wouldn’t want to go speeding around the forest moon of Endor, fighting the Empire with the wind in their hair?!

Creating a ride around this vehicle, the mechanics would be something along the lines of the Radiator Springs Racers from Cars Land, mixed with the ill-fated Rocket Rods. While the Rocket Rods found in Tomorrowland weren’t reliable with the ride always down, the high speed premise would work great for the speeders. This would be a partial open air thrill ride just like the racers, where guests would be strapped on to a speeder bike as they zip through a forest setting, similar to the chase scene in Return of the Jedi.

After an exhilarating journey, the ride ends when you’re greeted by festive animatronic Ewoks as they cheer and sing you the unforgettable hit “Yub Nub.”

The Sarlacc Pit Motion Ride (Return of the Jedi)

Everyone loves the Indiana Jones Adventure Ride at Disneyland. It’s easily a Top 5 ride in all of the Disney resorts, so we’re applying that winning formula and putting a Star Wars spin on it. Welcome to the "Great Pit of Carkoon," where guests board a ship-like vehicle (possibly resembling the Slave I) as it then proceeds to get swallowed by the infamous Sarlacc! Guests and Star Wars fanatics will finally experience what that badass bounty hunter Boba Fett went through when he became a snack for the Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi.

This enhanced motion vehicle dark ride will take us deep into the bowels of the creature as we discover other aliens, vehicles and mysterious items that have fallen victim to the Sarlacc over time. Of course, it’s a race against time as the transport ship looks for a way out, traversing through dangerous and disgusting passages. Just like Indiana Jones serves as the narrator for the Indiana Jones Adventure — popping up throughout — Boba Fett would do the same, appearing and guiding us through (for a price of course) the Sarlacc’s innards as the jet-packed villain leads us back to the surface of Tatooine.

AT-AT Walker Dining (The Empire Strikes Back)

It goes without saying that every Star Wars fan wants to eat and drink at the Mos Eisley Cantina, which per early reports, a version of the Tattoine hot spot will be included at Star Wars Land. Since that watering hole will be represented, what other dining options will fans be able to try? Why not have a bite to eat inside those robotic elephant-looking All Terrain Armored Transport vehicles better known as the AT-AT. Serving as an eat and greet, grab a burger or salad inside one of these stationary hulking machines, where you can take a picture with some of the most revered Empire figures such as Darth Vader, Kylo Ren and the newest villain, Director Orson Krennic.

First seen on the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, the AT-AT’s also make an appearance in Rogue One as seen in the trailers for the film. Sixty-five feet up in the air, this will be the best view you can find, as guests will be able to gaze out over Star Wars Land and the rest of the Disney park. The dining experience will be interactive as well, with all of the tables and booths having screens where guests can rack-up points practice targeting those rebel scum!

Millennium Falcon - Laser Cannon Dogfight (A New Hope)

“Great kid, don’t get cocky” yelled out Han Solo to a young Luke Skywalker during a space battle in 1977’s Star Wars. Inspired by the aerial dogfights of World War II, George Lucas wanted to incorporate that fighting style but with spaceships for the space battles in his story. His vision was successful, as one of the most thrilling scenes in all the series has Luke and Han teaming up against TIE Fighters that were attacking the Millennium Falcon.

It doesn’t matter who you are, if you’ve seen that scene you’ve imagined yourself right there with Luke and Han. The adrenaline rush and excitement of being in that cockpit using the Falcon’s laser cannons is tailored made for a ride. Using that as inspiration, our state-of-the-art ride will pull elements from two Toy Story rides: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Toy Story Midway Mania. The 4D interactive 2-person ride will have guests sitting back-to-back in vehicles made to look like the Millennium Falcon cockpit, featuring mini cannons and a target screen. Wearing 3-D glasses, guests will shoot at a combination of physical and virtual targets of the Imperial fleet including TIE Fighters and Star Destroyers. Best part of all, you’ll have Harrison Ford as Han Solo providing audio commentary guiding and insulting you at the same time!

The Power Of The Force: Soarin’ Ride

If you’re looking for a chill ride to relax at Star Wars Land, this is it. One of the most underrated rides in all of the Disney parks is Soarin’ Around the World (formerly Soarin’ Over California) at the California Adventure Park. The flight motion simulator that uses a 180-degree OMNIMAX projection screen takes riders around the world as they sit on a lift system. Taking that technology, we apply it to the Star Wars universe exploring those popular planets we’ve come to love through the movies.

The ride begins in the dark as we then hear the voice of Jedi master Yoda explaining the force just like he taught Luke at the Dagobah swamps. As Yoda teaches us, light begins to appear and we find ourselves on Tatooine looking at the dual sunset. The chairs are then lifted into the air as the journey begins, taking the riders out of Tatooine and across the galaxy. Guests will be taken to various planets like Coruscant and Naboo, experiencing the uniqueness of each. Feel the icy cold air of Hoth with tauntauns running below and smell the forest scents of Endor as we move through the Ewok village. The ride ends with Obi-Wan Kenobi telling us “Remember, the Force will be with you, always.”

8 Best Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Matches of All Time

2016-11-09T08:05:29.852Z

Editor's Note: Our Tattoosday columnist Josh Chesler and Wrestling Wednesday columnist Erick Salomon decided to change places this week, because who doesn't like to switch it up a bit?

No matter how hardcore or casual of a wrestling fan you are, there are three letters that get you excited: TLC (and probably WWE, NXT, TNA, NWA, WCW, ECW and a whole host of other wrestling-based tri-character abbreviations). Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches combine many of wrestling's best aspects — aerial techniques from ridiculous heights, the encouraged use of weapons, the ever-dramatic progress of an impossibly slow climb up a metal object — without having to change the entire look and feel of a match by dropping a cage/cell/elimination chamber in or around the ring.

With the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match now old enough to get its driver's license and the WWE World Championship up for grabs in a TLC match once again next month, let's take a look back at the Top 8 high-flying table-splitting performances of all time.

Kane vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Christian and Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam - RAW (2002)

Even if it's not super memorable 14 years later, watching Kane singlehandedly take on some of the finest TLC veterans WWE has to offer was a sight to behold in 2002. It was one of RAW's greatest moments back in the early 2000s, and it was proof that Kane could win and hold the Tag Team Championships no matter how terrible his partner was — particularly since the Hurricane didn't even show up to this one.

D-Generation X vs. Jeri-Show - TLC (2009)

Broken ladder? No problem. In DX's only appearance in a TLC match, Triple H had to hold the ladder together to allow Shawn Michaels to reach the straps and unify the WWE Tag Team Championship. Packed with fan favorites and amazing action, the PPV main event was a perfect example of how great performances can carry not just a match, but also an entire evening of wrestling.

Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz - Smackdown (2001)

What happens when you add a fourth tag team to the three that started it all? Chaos ensues. Outside of Jeff Hardy and Edge, Chris Jericho is (not so) quietly one of the best performers in the history of TLC matches, and this was the one that introduced the two to each other. Unfortunately, you'll never see this one on any official WWE features or lists since they're not exactly keen on promoting old Chris Benoit matches.

CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy - SummerSlam (2009)

Although he never won a TLC match (unless you count the Full Metal Mayhem matches in TNA), Jeff Hardy is arguably the wrestler most responsible for our ability to watch people fly off of ladders and through tables. While Edge has both won and appeared in the most TLC matches, Hardy's aerial techniques were ultimately what people tuned in to see.

In his WWE swan song, Hardy gave his final TLC battle — and the World Heavyweight Championship — to CM Punk in a match for the ages. The sight of Hardy getting carried off by the medical team after missing a Swanton Bomb and landing on a table is one that many fans won't forget, even if he managed to come back and make one final push before succumbing to the then-heel.

Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz - SummerSlam 2000

We wouldn't even be talking about TLC matches if it wasn't for this one. The three tag teams responsible for the match put on a better show than anyone would've expected and cemented it as a fan favorite after just one 15-minute match.

John Cena vs. Edge - Unforgiven (2006)

One-on-one TLC matches can be tough to pull off (just look at the last handful outside of El Torito vs. Hornswoggle), but many of the best two-man performances include the most experienced TLC superstar of all time, Edge. The Hall of Famer has seen great matches against everyone from the Undertaker to Ric Flair, but his performance against John Cena is the one that stands above all others.

The ending sequence — in which Cena hit Edge with his signature FU from atop a ladder — remains one of the greatest final moments in TLC history, and it also gave Edge his first TLC loss in a packed arena in his native Toronto.

The Shield vs. Team Hell No and Ryback - TLC (2012)

Although it's not largely considered one of the "classic" TLC matches, the six-man tag team match served as The Shield's first real match as a dominant force while also giving the ridiculous duo of Kane and Daniel Bryan a memorable moment just a few months into their relatively short run. As a bonus, it was the rare TLC match that carried on one of pro wrestling's finest traditions with Ryback getting powerbombed through the Spanish announcers' table.

Edge and Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz - WrestleMania X-Seven

Beyond being easily the best TLC match of all time, the second rendition of the beloved match type is also home to some of the most iconic moments in the history of professional wrestling. While the entrants, stakes, and outcome all remained identical to the inaugural match that occurred less than eight months prior, the rematch outshone the original in every way possible.

Like the first time around, chaos ensued for a solid 15 minutes as three of the top tag teams of the era all vied for the championship. But this time each team received a little outside help thanks to the interference of Rhyno (for Edge and Christian), Spike Dudley (for The Dudley Boyz), and Lita (for The Hardy Boyz). Aside from the 6-turned-9-person scramble going on in and around the ring, there was one sequence of TLC II that'll forever be in highlight reels and the record books.

After hitting Rhyno and Spike Dudley with one of the biggest Swanton Bombs ever seen — off of a 16-foot ladder and through two tables — Jeff Hardy looked to have the match won as he climbed the ladder once again to grab the World Tag Team Titles. That is, until Bubba Ray Dudley pulled the ladder away with Hardy hanging from the belts and Edge hit him with a Spear from a dozen feet in the air to start the beginning of the end for what would be Edge and Christian's most memorable TLC victory.

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

Taylor Swift Threw Lorde a Celebrity-Packed Birthday Party Full of Cat Fashion

2016-11-08T20:01:16.729Z

On Monday night, Taylor Swift threw fellow pop star and best friend Lorde a star-studded birthday party dinner in downtown New York City—and some unexpected guests attended, including comedian/love guru Aziz Ansari. (Others, like Girls creator Lena Dunham, model Karlie Kloss, and actor Tavi Gevinson are known to be friendly with the two singer/songwriters).

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While the party itself was a predictably cozy-looking balloon-filled affair, as Instagram snaps can attest, there’s one picture of the night that might inspire a double take. It’s Swift and Ansari, posing together as… cats. Why cats? Because both of them came to the party dressed up in black sweatshirts emblazoned with large feline faces on the front.

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Swift’s love of cats is no secret; she currently owns two named after TV characters, Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson. Ansari’s affection for the felines, however, is less clear. It can probably be attributed to the fact that the sweater is some good fashion-forward kitsch.

When you both wear cat shirts 🐾@azizansari

A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 7, 2016 at 11:31pm PST

Surrounded by party-hat-bedecked friends like Arrested Development‘s Mae Whitman and precocious fashion blogger-turned-actor Tavi Gevinson, Lorde looked to be having a great evening, backed by balloons and a trendy exposed-brick wall.

happy birthday tiny bro from all your other tiny bros @lordemusic n thanks for the birthday carbs @taylorswift #cake #pasta #yum

A photo posted by mae margaret whitman (@mistergarf) on Nov 8, 2016 at 6:22am PST

Swift and model Karlie Kloss sandwiched the birthday girl in a cheeky kiss. Lorde said in her caption she had the “best birthday party I’ve ever had tonight.”

had the best birthday party i've ever had tonight surrounded by my nyc family. all organised by tay who is as she says "a mom with no kids". i am ur kid and u love me so hard i could burst. here's to our 3 magic years of best friendship and more moments like this squished between angels

A photo posted by Lorde (@lordemusic) on Nov 7, 2016 at 11:34pm PST

Before the party, Swift posted a handmade card that she designed for her BFF, complete with Lorde’s real name, Ella, and plenty of sparkle.

Thank you for the music you make, the advice you give, the thoughts you provoke, and the way you've made my life more beautiful since the first day we met up in New York and ate burgers on a park bench and got attacked by squirrels. I. Love. You. So. Much. Ella. @lordemusic

A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 7, 2016 at 12:52pm PST

Lena Dunham tried to snap a glamour shot but instead ended up with this blurry pic. “Tried to get her still but all she wants to do is dance,” Dunham explained in the caption.

happy 20th bday to my friend who is both 8 & 88. Tried to get her still but all she wants to do is dance. All the love @lordemusic.

A photo posted by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on Nov 7, 2016 at 6:26pm PST

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Harlequins Share Their Secret to Musical Longevity

2016-11-08T17:38:11.550Z

The Harlequins have been entertaining crowds in their hometown of Cincinnati as well as throughout the US for about a decade. And while they're pretty much veterans in the music scene, their new album, One With You, marks their label debut. We had the chance to chat with the band about their favorites on the new record, as well as their plans for the new year.

Hometown/Homebase: Cincinnati, OH

You've been a band for almost 10 years, and that's a feat many can only dream of. What's your secret to keeping it all going?

Michael Oliva: Well, thank you, but there is no secret really. We three share a common goal and passion for music. The goal has not yet truly been achieved (it is ever changing) and the passion has not been sucked out of us. Still running the wheel so to say and still enjoying the exercise while sacrificing aspects of our life some other people may not be willing to.

One With You is your first label release. How does it feel to be putting this one out?

Oliva: It felt so great to release One With You, as it was a great step in the right direction. We were lucky to meet dizzybird [Records] and get their support. After self releasing for 10 years, it's nice to have someone behind you.

What's your favorite track to perform from this record?

Oliva: I feel like this answer should be split. My favorite is "What Laughs in a Mirror;" it's so dramatic with the chord ring outs in the beginning, it has a slow, yet sharp pace that's full of purpose. Every note counts. It is a song that haunts me.

Alex Stenard: "Step Inside" because it has a delicate bass melody that's just really fun to play. It also allows me to improvise on certain parts during live shows. The song itself is also very powerful.

Rob Stamler: New Drug. We've only played it once live, but the build up is great and once it gets to the end the drums are very simple but it's so powerful.

What's the title track about and what inspired you to make that the album title?

Oliva: It is about love, two becoming one. There is no subtext, no deep poetry. Just pure emotion; to the point. We thought it was a very strong track and visually just enjoyed the play on words and how it looked in print. "One With You" could play with the relationship of band to listener, the album to listener, or could just be taken as is.

How has Cincinnati influenced your sound?

Oliva: It is our home as a band, though its musical history never shaped us. In fact I would say there was a great change in the music scene a year or two after we started, a shift. Not that we sparked it, but we were right there when it happened and have been apart of it our whole career as a band. We've grown together with Cincinnati and its music scene and have been very lucky for that!

If you could go back to your 2007 self when the band was starting, what advice would you give?

Oliva: Get on the road ASAP because that's where you'll find yourself and your resolve.

We've no regrets and generally cannot say. Our journey is still in progress, you'll have to check back with our 2027 selves.

What's next for the band?

Oliva: We're on our third tour right now promoting One With You. When we get home we'll work a lot at our jobs, then plan on writing and recording, touring and promoting. Rinse, wash, repeat.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Listen to Luna City Express' “Downtown Berlin” Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-08T17:30:00.000Z

German duo Marco Resmann and Norman Weber, better known as Luna City Express, are all about raising the roof… preferably all the way to outer space. There’s a reason why the house producers’ avatars are shown blissfully dancing on the moon on the cover of their brand new album Lunation. As the musicians say, the record “plays out like a party in the cosmos.”

Judging by the groovy track “Downtown Berlin,” you’re better off finding yourself a space suit and finding it quick — this is one party you don’t want to miss. But let’s hear it from the intergalactic party hosts themselves: “'Downtown Berlin' is one of the older album tunes. It exists since more than two years and was the track which inspired us to start with a second album ‘cause it was clear that this kind of music belongs on a long-player. It's a very simple but powerful downbeat track with some dirty and funky keys played by our Dutch friend Floris aka Flowing.”

Listen to our exclusive premiere of "Downtown Berlin" below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

David Bowie Fans Are Raising Money For New Tribute Statue

2016-11-08T17:01:26.947Z

David Bowie may no longer be with us, but it's clear that his memory and legacy will live on forever. But just in case, the people of Friars Aylesbury, England, want to build something to make sure this continues, and in order for the townspeople to have a statue standing in Aylesbury Square Market, they need some funds.

So organizers for the tribute have set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise a minimum of £26,420 or about $30,000 to put this up in their town.

Why Friars Aylesbury? Well, according to the Kickstarter page, "Bowie played an experimental gig at the Friars club in Aylesbury in September 1971 to see if he could cut it playing live. We were aware of his The Man Who Sold the World album and the 'Space Oddity' single which had been a hit two years before. He needn’t have worried. Not only did he go down a storm that night, but he gave us the world debut of Hunky Dory which at that time had not been released. After the gig, in the Friars dressing room, he said to Woody Woodmansey, Mick Ronson and Trevor Bolder 'This was great tonight. Let's form a band and go out and do it properly.' Four months later he played Friars Aylesbury for the second time. In the interim period Hunky Dory had been released and immediately went to No 1 in the local Aylesbury album chart. So on 29 January 1972 we were very excited about seeing him play Hunky Dory. He did play a few songs from that album but the majority of the set was a completely stunning new suite of songs which turned out to be the Ziggy Stardust album. So, Aylesbury was the place that one of the greatest stars of the modern era chose to perform the world debut of both Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust."

You can find out more about the Kickstarter fund and how to donate here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Chance the Rapper Leads Parade of Fans to the Polls

2016-11-08T16:39:29.848Z

Instead of partying it up after a successful concert, Chance the Rapper felt it was his duty to get as many of his fans to vote. So instead of just making a speech to inspire people to get to the polls, he felt that he should just take them there himself and led crowds of people through the streets of Chicago's business district to cast their ballots. And as long as people made it to the line of the early voting site, then they could vote.

Illinois' State Board of Elections reported that almost 1.3 million people filled out early ballots through Sunday (November 6), which blew turnout numbers in past presidential elections.

See the footage of last night's parade below.

Another clip from tonight's #paradetothepolls w/ @chancetherapper bringing thousands out to cast their vote. pic.twitter.com/9UNrYmzcSF
— Alexis Wainwright (@AlexisW_Reports) November 8, 2016

Early voting line after Chance the Rapper #paradetothepolls concert in Chicago's Loop #Elections2016 pic.twitter.com/Eg8GfQ0CCd
— John Owens (@john_p_owens) November 8, 2016

Felt crazy to be part of this. @chancetherapper #paradetothepolls #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/WASY7Zp0uf
— sophia. (@SooFeeYah) November 8, 2016

all these people on their way to vote thanks to @chancetherapper #StayWokeAndVote pic.twitter.com/usAjmjUhsr
— mads (@madelinejane__) November 8, 2016

Special thanks to @BYP_100 for partnering with us to bring you #paradetothepolls
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) November 8, 2016

*thousands 😬 https://t.co/nBwqCVoNJt
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) November 8, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Prince Harry Issues Statemant on Press About Girlfriend Meghan Markle

2016-11-08T16:30:55.690Z

Following Meghan Markle's cryptic Instagram posts about her rumored new boyfriend, Prince Harry, the Suits star has been subjected to a brutal media storm that has angered the UK royal. While Prince Harry has been known to keep his dating life as quiet as possible, he couldn't hold back and released a statement that not only confirmed his relationship with the American actress, but also clapped back at the media for their unfair treatment of her and those close to her lately.

"His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment," said a statement from his communications secretary (via People). "Some of this has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. Some of it has been hidden from the public — the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."

It also went on to say, "Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game.’ He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his."

The two have been dating seriously for two months, and he hopes that this issue won't get in the way of their relationship. You can read Prince Harry's full statement here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Cursive, FIDLAR, The Dillinger Escape Plan & More Strike a Pose at Sound on Sound Festival

2016-11-08T08:00:00.000Z

The inaugural Sound on Sound Festival wasn't without its problems. Rain soaked much of Sunday's lineup while technical difficulties and delays hindered a few other sets.

Regardless, some pretty great acts took the stage at the Renaissance-themed grounds of Texas' Sherwood Forest Faire over the weekend, and few fans left disappointed in the least.

While we were there checking out the dragon's and rocking out to our favorite bands, Myspace photographer Eran Ryan snapped some portraits of the festival's best acts hanging out behind the scenes.

American Sharks

Cursive

Diet Cig

The Dillinger Escape Plan

FIDLAR

Hard Proof

Planes Mistaken For Stars

The Frights

The Relationship (Brian Bell)

Bleached

8 Most Iconic Tattoos in Professional Wrestling

2016-11-08T06:00:00.000Z

Editor's Note: Our Tattoosday columnist Josh Chesler and Wrestling Wednesday columnist Erick Salomon decided to change places this week, because who doesn't like to switch it up a bit?

Trying to find a clean-cut pro wrestler free of any tattoos nowadays is a difficult thing to do. What was once a rarity prior to the mid ‘90s is now the norm. Only “bad guys” or legit tough guys like Harley Race would have ink. Over the last 20 years, however, with the rise and acceptance of tattoos in pop culture, the world of professional wrestling has embraced the body art-form.

From baby faces to heels and on-air personalities, tattoos have become just as important to a wrestler’s gimmick as their attire, entrance music or catchphrase. Getting some ink on one’s body has gotten so popular that it’s converted life long, clean cut wrestlers like “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan and “Y2J” Chris Jericho. The right piece of ink on a wrestler can also bolster their brand, becoming their logo getting used on all their merch.

Looking at legends, anti-heroes and villains, we spotlight the most iconic tattoos in wrestling that left an indelible mark on sports entertainment.

The Rock

The current box-office champ and King of Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has two tattoos that are key parts of his persona. Early on in his WWE career when Rocky Maivia transformed into The Rock, the Brahma bull’s head tattoo (with trademark raised eyebrow) on his right bicep symbolized the smack-talking, brash and charismatic performer as he rose to the top of industry. The bull’s head image is a favorite with fans, as it captures a character and era that were all about attitude.

The Rock’s other notable ink is the Polynesian tribal design that covers his shoulder and left side of his chest. This piece is more personal to the man, as it pays tribute to his family and heritage. Getting the piece in 2003, this intricate and painful tat is connected more to The Rock’s other career, that of action movie star. Every time The Rock returns to the ring, his famous markings are reminders of the journey he’s been through.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin

The yin to The Rock’s yang inside the squared circle is “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, as the two were the top wrestlers of their era. In addition to the legendary success both men achieved, what they also share is their love of cattle tattoos. The Rock has the Brahma bull, while Austin has ink of a Texas Longhorn. Located on Austin’s left calf is the tattoo of the state of Texas colored in red with the skeleton head of a Texas Longhorn in the middle. Every time he’d make his way to the ring or kick somebody for the stunner, you’d see that tat right between his basic black boot and knee brace.

That Texas tattoo represents the mean, tough, S.O.B. that Steve Austin is. It’s just as integral to the Rattlesnake’s iconic look as his skull adorned black vest, gold necklace or “Austin 3:16” shirts.

Goldberg

If you got a generic, awful tribal tattoo and now regret it, you can blame Goldberg for that.

Chants of “Goldberg!” have started to fill arenas again as one of WCW’s most legendary wrestlers is set to make his return later this month at Survivor Series against the always terrifying Brock Lesnar. With Goldberg back in the WWE fold, younger audiences are getting reacquainted or introduced to the talent that brought WCW to new heights during the Monday Night Wars of the late '90s.

Next to his muscular build and smoke-filled entrance, the symbol most synonymous with the man is his large tribal tattoo on his left shoulder. Not only did the tattoo become the logo for his character — slapped on t-shirts and everything else — but his tattoo also contributed to the tribal tattoo craze of the era. Many fans would stumble into a tattoo shop hoping to be as cool or tough as their hero, but left as anything but.

Brock Lesnar

Would I tell Brock Lesnar that his tattoos are poorly designed? No way, and you shouldn’t either if you want to avoid a long hospital stay. Regardless if you like Brock’s tattoos or not, you can’t deny how recognizable and important they are to his almost monster-like persona. Brock’s size and personality is nightmare-inducing to begin with, but add those large, intimidating pieces of ink and he’s next level scary. Let’s start with that large knife/sword that starts at his stomach then goes up to his sternum. According to Brock, he got it during a drunken night, as a reminder of Vince McMahon not letting him compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).

Only Brock’s back tattoos could put his chest to shame. Who other than Lesnar would have a massive demon skull piece in the middle of his back?! It’s probably the last thing his opponents see while on the floor, as he walks away after destroying them. Let’s not forget the two pieces of hands gripping ice hooks on the back of his shoulders to complete the terror!

Bam Bam Bigelow

Hands down the most famous tattooed wrestler during the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling era of the ‘80s is Bam Bam Bigelow. Watching his matches on TV or in person, he was probably the only man wrestling fans knew who had a full tattoo on his scalp. Looking like the leader of a biker gang or comic book super villain, the tattoo flames on his scalp became Bam Bam’s signature look, instantly making him a bad man. Standing at 6'4" and over 400 pounds, he didn’t need much else to part the crowds as he made his way through.

Bam Bam’s unique look helped him build a long career, mostly known as a heel. When tattoos were scarce on wrestlers he embraced the art-form and helped start the trend that we see today in all promotions.

“The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels

Arguably the most talented in-ring performer ever, Shawn Michaels helped solidify his bad boy persona with the addition of the tattoo on his arm of a sword piercing a heart with a serpent wrapped around. Breaking away as a tag-team wrestler as part of The Rockers in the ‘80s, the talented wrestler got the tattoo that would become his character’s symbol at the start of his singles run as “The Heartbreak Kid (HBK).” As he told WWE.com, “The heart and sword encapsulates my personality. When I was younger, I was always a shy, decent kid. But as I grew older, I got a little harder, that’s the snake. And then I did things I’m not proud of. So that tattoo encapsulates who I was as a person.”

Over the years, HBK has added to his ink collection with the names of wife and son and the outline of his home state of Texas, a la Steve Austin.

The Undertaker

The gimmicks of “Mean Mark” Callous or The Master of Pain were ink free and as generic as you could find in the late ‘80s. That all changed once Mark Calaway made his way to WWE and was resurrected from the grave as The Undertaker. Decked out in black, the gimmick was pushed as an undead Western mortician with supernatural powers. With the new persona came fresh ink, mainly a collage of skulls, demons and more evil imagery that you’d expect to find on “The Deadman.”

Now sporting two full sleeves on both arms, The Undertaker has become a widely respected tattooed icon in wrestling and the sports world. On his right arm you’ll find the two most recognizable pieces of ink — that of a skull-faced undertaker on his forearm and the “thinking demon” above on his bicep. As badass as The Phenom is, he’s not immune to the significant other tattoo, as he once had his ex-wife’s name Sara across his throat.

Batista

Following in the footsteps of The Rock, Batista has made his way to Hollywood making a name for himself with roles in films like Spectre and Guardians of the Galaxy as Drax the Destroyer. Even though now he sports tribal sleeves on both arms, during his wrestling days “The Animal” was known for three pieces of ink. The first and funniest is a small sun pattern around his belly button, followed by the original tribal style ink on his right arm with the word “DC Solider,” referencing the city he was born in. The third and most popular piece of ink is found on his back, which is a massive intricate Chinese dragon. Starting from his neck and ending at his his lower back, the dragon represents his warrior spirit. Don’t be surprised if Batista adds some Marvel ink at some point!

Get your tattoo fix every day by visiting out Tattoosday page.

8 Reasons to Vote Yeezy 2020

2016-11-08T06:00:00.000Z

The time has come for us to pick the next POTUS. As exciting or depressing as you may find our current candidates, they'll only be leading the free world for four years.

Why will they only be President for one term? What happened to the possibility of re-election? Well, that's simple. We already know who's going to be in the White House in 2020 and beyond. Here are the Top 8 reasons you should vote for President West.

After famously announcing his intention to run for office at the VMAs last year, West has mentioned multiple times that he wants to follow through on his plan. Hell, there's already an unofficial website supporting him and more fan-made merchandise than you could fit in a polling station.

Read on after the break.

He Speaks to the Masses

If you're looking for a candidate who speaks to the youth, minorities and other underrepresented groups, look no further than Kanye. He's a hero to just about anyone under the age of 30 (35 by the time he becomes POTUS), and he's famously gone on record about the government taking care of minorities and other protected groups. Ye is one of the few people who could make politics less of a stuffy environment for old white people and bring in the youth and energy that campaigns like "Rock the Vote" have been trying to gather for decades. Rather than political rallies, every Yeezy 2020 campaign event could just be a concert with a giant afterparty.

Creativity is Key

Now they know pic.twitter.com/6c3OXYmkPG
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 9, 2016

Sure, we've had other presidents who act or play an instrument, but we've never seen an artist of Kanye's caliber in office. As a rapper, West has one of the greatest catalogues of all time. As a fashion designer, he's stormed the industry and sold millions upon millions of shoes and clothing pieces. Even if you think he's a prick as a person, you're foolish not to admit that Kanye West is one of the greatest creative minds of our time. Maybe he could think up new ways to solve old problems.

The Most Entertaining First Family

So Proud pic.twitter.com/pCJCvph2Xr
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 12, 2016

No matter how much you like or dislike the Kardashians, you have to admit that they know how to make the news. Rather than boring reports of whatever normal stuff most political families get in trouble for, West's adopted family will undoubtedly keep the media busy and the world entertained. It's not like the Kardashian clan will be gone in the next four years anyway, so why not embrace their lunacy and make it a point of pride in our country?

His Branding is Unmatched

BOSTON pic.twitter.com/9oL2zvtjHy
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 21, 2016

For the last handful of years, you can put the word "Yeezy" on pretty much anything and guarantee that it sells out damn near immediately. Regardless of how overpriced and impractical it may be, anything Kanye touches becomes a must-have item for millions of people across the globe. Considering that he has arguably more brand name marketing power than any other individual on the planet at this point, why not let West create a new brand for America in the international marketplace? Given how some foreign nations see the States, maybe it's due time we go for a solid rebranding.

No More Political Parties (in LA)

unity love pic.twitter.com/TunqfPuWfY
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) August 29, 2016

If there's one thing this election has shown, it's that the political system as we know it has some major flaws. Maybe it's time to abandon the two-party system, and Yeezus could be just the one we need to cross those lines. Kanye's never been afraid to speak his mind, and it seems unlikely he'd stop sharing from the heart to conform to one party or another. Could we see The Party of Pablo?

Make America Cool Again

ROLLING STONE SHOT BY TYLER THE CREATOR pic.twitter.com/lOMtOdOEel
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 3, 2016

Whether you like him or not, President Obama is the coolest leader this country has seen in a long time. No matter who wins the election, no one will touch Obama's "cool dad" air. But while Barack is "cool" in an "I wish he was my dad..." kind of way for most millennials, President West has the potential to be a global trendsetter. Much of the rest of the world turns to America for its culture anyway, why not elect a leader who represents it?

Imagine the Potential Cabinet

The boss: thank so much Anna for coming to my show!!! pic.twitter.com/VAwzk0SDUw
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 12, 2016

Let's think about all of the worlds Ye could potentially draw from when picking not only his running mate, but also the rest of his presidential cabinet. Beyond politicians, West could easily choose from a slew of rappers and producers (from young guns like Travis Scott to icons like No I.D.), fashion designers, TV stars, and a host of other famous faces who would be happy to have a job in the White House. Plus, he could bring in a certain someone as VP to really complete the ticket...

Watch the Oval Office?

We've already heard that there's not going to be a sequel to the legendary Watch the Throne, but if Yeezy runs for President, he's going to need Hov's backing. Jay Z has too much cultural and political influence these days for Kanye to campaign without the legend's support, so maybe a White House run is exactly what they need in order to set aside their differences. After all, Jay is already clearly friends with President Obama.

See what else made it into our Top 8 by visiting its official page.

Beyoncé’s Mom Just Pulled Off Her ‘Formation’ Look and It’s a Dream Come True

2016-11-07T22:04:36.262Z

Beyoncé and Solange Knowles may have gotten their flair for the dramatic from their mother, Tina Lawson.

On Halloween, Lawson saw how the now-iconic looks of her very famous daughters inspired a lot of incredible Halloween costumes and wanted in on the fun. On Instagram she noted, that the costumes were so cool that she just might try it herself. Over the weekend, she made good on her promise and posted the results to Instagram and, naturally, she completely nailed her daughters’ dramatic looks.

Her take on Beyoncé’s braids-and-fedora look from the “Formation” video was perfection. (Maybe she borrowed some gear for the photo?)

This is my rendition of Beyonce'

A photo posted by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Nov 6, 2016 at 12:24am PDT

She also replicated Solange’s look from her chart-topping album, A Seat at the Table, and, of course, nailed it. As Solange’s album is meant to pay tribute to her parents, it’s only fitting that her mother would pay homage right back.

This is my rendition of Solange❤️

A photo posted by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Nov 6, 2016 at 12:23am PDT

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Jennifer Aniston Is Just Fine Without Kids, Thanks

2016-11-07T21:57:52.708Z

Earlier this year, Jennifer Aniston wrote a piece for the Huffington Post on not wanting children. “For the record, I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up,” the star wrote. Now, she’s elaborating on that sentiment.

“My marital status has been shamed; my divorce status was shamed; my lack of a mate had been shamed; my nipples have been shamed,” Aniston told Marie Claire in their December issue. “It’s like, Why are we only looking at women through this particular lens of picking us apart? Why are we listening to it? I just thought: I have worked too hard in this life and this career to be whittled down to a sad, childless human.”

Cameron Diaz Was ‘Scared’ of Publishing Her First Book

In the Huffington Post piece, Aniston said she was sick of the rhetoric around motherhood. “I have grown tired of being part of this narrative. Yes, I may become a mother some day, and since I’m laying it all out there, if I ever do, I will be the first to let you know,” she wrote. “But I’m not in pursuit of motherhood because I feel incomplete in some way, as our celebrity news culture would lead us all to believe.”

In the Marie Claire interview, Aniston further proved her exemplary outlook on life and relationships by commenting on why husband Justin Theroux is the one for her. “All I know is that I feel completely seen, and adored, in no matter what state,” she said. “There’s no part of me that I don’t feel comfortable showing, exposing. And it brings forth the best part of myself, because I care about him so much. And he’s such a good person. It hurts me to think of anything hurting him.”

Kendall Jenner #FreestheNipple on Instagram

Read the full interview at MarieClaire.com

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Kendall Jenner #FreestheNipple on Instagram

2016-11-07T20:55:17.515Z

Kendall Jenner found a clever way to #freethenipple on Instagram.

The model covered her nipples with pizza emojis in an Instagram posted on Saturday as a way to get around the social media platform’s much-scrutinized community guidelines, which ban nudity. In the past, the platform has removed semi-nude photos posted by Rihanna, Chelsea Handler and Miley Cyrus.

Lady Gaga Calls Out Melania Trump For ‘Hypocrisy’

A photo posted by Kendall (@kendalljenner) on Nov 5, 2016 at 8:45pm PDT

Instagram has faced frequent criticism for its handling of explicit photos on the service. After the platform received heat for removing a number of photos showing mothers breastfeeding or breast cancer survivors showing their mastectomy scars, Instagram revamped its policies in April 2015 to explicitly exempt those photos from its nudity policy. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom said at an event in October 2015 that the app’s controversial policy was mandated by Apple, which bans nudity on apps with ratings under 17+.

But some women aren’t happy with that reasoning, and argue that taking down photos of nipples suggests that female breasts are shameful. Free the Nipple, a movement sparked by a 2012 documentary by director Lina Esco, has fought to allow women to bare their breasts — in public and on social media. Women have staged topless protests, filed lawsuits against state’s nudity laws and complained to social networking platforms about strict nudity guidelines. “Why can you show public beheadings from Saudi Arabia on Facebook, but not a nipple? Why can you sell guns on Instagram, but yet they will suspend your account for posting the most natural part of a woman’s body?” Esco wrote in a blog post in 2013.

Kim Kardashian West Says She Suffers From Anxiety

And Jenner, who has posted a number of semi-nude photos on her social media platforms before, clearly agrees.

“I really don’t see what the big deal is with going braless,” Jenner wrote in a blog post on her website earlier this year. “It’s sexy, it’s comfortable, and I’m cool with my breasts. That’s it!”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

9 Cosplayers We Geeked Out with at BlizzCon

2016-11-07T18:12:34.793Z

2016 was a big year for Blizzard Entertainment. It's been 25 years since founders Allen Adham, Frank Pearce and Mike Morhaime opened the doors to Silicon & Synapse, a small company dedicated to creating game ports. Since then, they've come a long way, blossoming into the video game development company we know and love.

So it was no surprise that this year's BlizzCon, the tenth annual celebration of everything Blizzard, was all about milestones. With massive titles like Diablo, World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone and the newest hit, Overwatch, BlizzCon packed the Anaheim Convention Center with exciting announcements, live tournament arenas, and tens of thousands of the most hardcore fans.

For the nerds, there were a lot of great highlights:

Heroes of the Storm is getting Varian Wrynn and Ragnaros as heroes.
The new Overwatch hero Sombra was finally revealed.
Artificial intelligence is literally learning Starcraft with Google's DeepMind.
Diablo III got much needed new content.
Hearthstone is getting a new expansion with tri-class cards.
Weird Al Yankovic closed out the convention with a weird show.

If none of that matters to you, don't worry. BlizzCon was also all about the cosplay, and this year the fans did not disappoint. From World of Warcraft to Overwatch, hundreds of cosplayers dressed up as their favorite heroes and brought the vibrant fantasy of Blizzard to life.

Before shamelessly buying Pachimari Plushes and trying out Sombra, we met with some of our favorite cosplayers hanging outside the convention center.

Beth, 36

Hometown: Lake Elsinore, CA
Who are you cosplaying as: Arcanist Regalia redesigned by Zack Fischer.
Tell me about your cosplay: It was difficult sectioning out the pieces for the cosplay. I think the easiest part was making the center core and working outward. Surprisingly, I didn't run into too much trouble and normally I do. But it was hard figuring out the layers and it was a real process thinking about it.
Total cost of your cosplay: A little over $700.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: My favorite part is being a character for a day that's impossible to be in real life. I'd say the worst part is how heavy it is. I'm getting older, so it's not as easy as it used to be.
Favorite Blizzard game: It used to be World of Warcraft, but it's impossible to play when you have kids. So now I'd say Hearthstone.
Why Blizzcon: It's nice meeting people and other cosplayers. Everyone's been so nice. The costume contest is so fun and it's great seeing everyone's hard work.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: I haven't bought anything yet but probably $300-$400 on food and the hotel alone.

Kelly, 26

Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Who are you cosplaying as: D.Va from Overwatch.
Tell me about your cosplay: I spent maybe a month painting the entire bodysuit in Photoshop from scratch, so I had a basic bodysuit outline and then I just painted in all of the details. A friend told me about a place where you can get your custom fabric printed on spandex, and I thought I can paint a pretty good bodysuit that's actually proportional to me and not something commercially made for a bunch of people. It was a learning process, I had never sewn anything before either and I had to start with spandex.
Total cost of your cosplay: Total for material alone was around $400-$500.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: Worst thing is my shoulder pads. There's some seams on them that I don't like and didn't have time to redo them. My headphones are also pretty heavy and keep falling off my head. The best thing I think is the bodysuit itself.
Favorite Blizzard game: Definitely Overwatch
Why Blizzcon: I like being able to come somewhere where everyone is guaranteed to at least like something that I like and don't think I'm a crazy weirdo. This year I'm really excited for Sombra, the new Overwatch character. But I'm also looking forward for Blizzard revitalizing the Starcraft 2 scene as an E-Sport.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: Hopefully I don't spend more than I already have. Maybe less than $100?

Alicia, 26

Hometown: Orange County, CA
Who are you cosplaying as: Arthas Menethil the Lich King.
Tell me about your cosplay: I digitally sculpted most of it in ZBrush. It's a 3D modeling tool that's basically like using clay but on a computer. Everything including the armor is 3D printed. The hilt has smoke, but it takes two minutes to recharge after I use it.
Total cost of your cosplay: A couple thousand.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: My chest plate and shoulders are heavy, but otherwise I feel like a badass.
Favorite Blizzard game: It's between World of Warcraft or Diablo.
Why Blizzcon: The costume contest is pretty great. All of the costumes are amazing and I just love seeing everyone's work.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: Nothing.

Natalie, 21

Hometown: Colorado
Who are you cosplaying as: Widowmaker from Overwatch.
Tell me about your cosplay: Well it was very long and tedious process. I always choose pretty elaborate character and spend months putting everything together. I specialize in making armor so this was a little different. And it was the first time painting myself blue. Overall it took around 3 weeks to actually make.
Total cost of your cosplay: $1000.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: Wearing latex is really hot. I'm trying really hard not to rub off paint. But the costume is really comfortable and I love wearing it.
Favorite Blizzard game: Currently Overwatch.
Why Blizzcon: It's got an amazing atmosphere with amazing events. I was really looking forward to new Overwatch characters and maps, and some new content for Diablo. Other than that, the merch is great and every person here cosplaying really brings their A-Game.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: Maybe almost a thousand. There's a lot of really cool Overwatch stuff.

Koriel, 25

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Who are you cosplaying as: Swimsuit Valkyrie Mercy.
Tell me about your cosplay: Everything is made of EVA foam, craft wire and hot glue. I figured out a good way to make the wings light enough and sturdy enough not to break when I dissemble the shield.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: Best part I guess is seeing everyone's reactions. Worst part is not knowing how to pose for photos. I'm out of poses.
Favorite Blizzard game: Overwatch
Why Blizzcon: It's my first time. I like the energy everyone has and the excitement around the games. It's just fun seeing all the costumes and meeting up with friends.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: $200

Ryan, 38

Hometown: Bellingham, WA
Who are you cosplaying as: King Varian Wrynn from World of Warcraft
Tell me about your cosplay: I'm using all foam core mats. It's a pretty cheap material. I create the entire costume from poster board, then I take it all out, transfer it to foam and glue it together and finish it. It took about 200 hours.
Total cost of your cosplay: $700-$800
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: This is actually the most maneuverable and coolest costume that I have worn. The worst part is I don't like wigs. They're hot and uncomfortable and I feel weird wearing one.
Favorite Blizzard game: Right now it's Overwatch.
Why Blizzcon: The cosplay is on another level. The community is really small but really passionate. When I get inside I really I want to play the new Overwatch character.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: I'm on a very strict budget, but most of my money is going towards alcohol.

Melanie, 19

Hometown: Ecuador
Who are you cosplaying as: Symmetra from Overwatch
Tell me about your cosplay: I had spent just four days making the gems. There's about 200 gems between the small and big ones. I made the pattern of the fabric by myself. I made this with foam, fake leather. It took me 3 hours to paint completely blue, plus 1 hour of makeup. I think I have 3 coats of blue paint on me. It's so terrible. But I feel awesome.
Total cost of your cosplay: $400 in just materials.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: I would say the worst part is when you're by yourself and you have a lot of stuff on you, and you feel hot, or you have to go to the bathroom or you're hungry and there's no one else to help you around. The best part is when people look at me as their favorite character and freak out.
Favorite Blizzard game: Overwatch all the way.
Why Blizzcon: BlizzCon is one of my dream cons and this is my first year here so I'm super excited. I can't wait to get inside and explore.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: I think I've spent over $600 so far.

Jennifer, 25

Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Who are you cosplaying as: Sargeras the Lord of the Burning Region
Tell me about your cosplay: I had another concept but I ended up not liking it, so I made up stuff and this is how it turned out. I think I made the sword months ago and procrastinated until last month. I didn't have time to make the wings and I literally painted the rest of this in the hotel.
Total cost of your cosplay: $700-$800.
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: It's already falling apart. The worst are the shoulders because they hurt my back. And the contacts are really uncomfortable to wear. Best part is I can take the shoes off.
Favorite Blizzard game: Definitely World of Warcraft. I've played for nine years.
Why Blizzcon: Everything about it is great, from the announcements to the cosplay. I'm really excited for possibly a new Diablo, but mostly just being able to wear my costume.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: $150.

Alina, 26

Hometown: Boston, MA
Who are you cosplaying as: Mei from Overwatch
Tell me about your cosplay: This is actually my first really big cosplay and I was working with a lot of new techniques I had never done before, like foam and sewing. It took about five weeks for the whole thing.
Total cost of your cosplay: $1000
Best part and worst part about your cosplay: The worst is just the heat. It's not terrible but its nice being inside. There isn't a lot of breath-ability in the costume. The best part though is that it makes everyone happy.
Favorite Blizzard game: World of Warcraft
Why Blizzcon?: It's my first time here so I'm excited to learn what happens at BlizzCon.
How much do you think you spent this weekend: $200

Listen to Arc North's "Meant to Be" Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-11-07T17:51:59.982Z

"'Meant To Be' is a tale of uncertainty and unanswered love I think most of us can relate to.”, says 19-year-old Swedish producer Arc North about his latest offering. “Music for me is all about connecting with people and that I can put my experiences to life through rhythm and share the way I felt is just incredible.”

For his latest bittersweet record, Arc North connected with singer Krista Marina, previously heard on Goblins From Mars single “Cold Blooded Love.” Marina’s vocals perfectly capture frames this melodrama on the dancefloor and makes it our go-to cry-your-heart-out sing-your-lungs-out club record of the season.

Listen to the exclusive premiere of "Meant To Be" below.

Deadmau5 is Back With "4Ware"

2016-11-07T17:44:14.774Z

deadmau5 is ready for us to hear his latest, W:/2016Album. So he stopped by Peter Tong's BBC1 Radio show recently to share some details about the record and one of the tracks.

"There’s an ‘80s, sci-fi, fantasy film vibe to some of the melodies," he said during the interview, where he explained that the sound was thanks to the Prophet 10. This was the same instrument that helped compose many of the 1980s sci-fi fantasy film soundtracks.

W:/2016Album releases on December 2. But you can hear "4Ware" below.

Lorde Celebrates 20th Birthday with New LP Details

2016-11-07T17:38:11.719Z

Aside from the occasional red carpet or squad hangout, Lorde has kept a relatively low profile. Not only has she been working on her new album, but she's also been trying to just go back to being herself again.

"I made a very deliberate choice to withdraw for a little while from a public life," she wrote in an open letter on Facebook. "I haven’t had my hair or makeup done in a year, the free handbags dried up LONG ago, and the paparazzi at the airport are almost always for someone else. And let me tell you, as much as I love being full noise album cycle girl, it's been a motherfucking joy. (every once in a while I am recognised on the street - one of you breathlessly clutches my hand, shaking and speaking quickly, and I feel this SHOCK of love.)
I turned inwards to my friends, my family, towards this moment, so I could learn more about who I was, and so I could let this new project show itself to me."

Writing the note until the clock struck midnight when Lorde officially turned 20, the singer also explained that the new LP is still in the works. So fans had to wait a little longer.

"I want nothing more than to spill my guts RIGHT NOW about the whole thing," she wrote. "I want you to see the album cover, pore over the lyrics (the best I’ve written in my life), touch the merch, experience the live show. I can hardly stop myself from typing out the name. I just need to keep working a while longer to make it as good as it can be. You'll have to hold on. The big day is not tomorrow, or even next month realistically, but soon. I know you understand."

Read the letter below.

Carly Robyn Green Follows Her True North on Debut Single

2016-11-07T17:30:00.000Z

You could say that BMG recording artist and songwriter Carly Robyn Green — who sings modern, classic, love songs that cross the adult-contemporary and smooth jazz worlds and has been dubbed the “female Michael Buble” — has been there, done that.

She's graced venues from the Madison Square Garden and the Staples Center to the Grammy stage (as back up to Cee Lo Green). She’s opened for Chris Brown and Buddy Guy, but she’s also been the spokeswoman (singer?) for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Campaign for pediatric cancer research. Songs that she’s written or sung have appeared around the world: on TV shows as varied as 30 Rock, Scandal, The Young & The Restless and Keeping Up with the Kardashians; she’s also penned hits for Asian pop stars Min Hei (in Korea) and Anri (in Japan).

The clear and bell-like tones of her voice make her a singer for all seasons, perfect for everything from TV theme songs to Broadway to movie promos. She talks to Myspace about her love for pure pop music, and how Cee Lo Green inspired her to follow her true North and become a real singer.

Hometown: A suburb of Philadelphia called Meadowbrook, PA. A lot of talent has come from my hometown, including actor Bradley Cooper and film producer J.C. Spink. You might know the town from the hit ABC sitcom, The Goldbergs!

Homebase: I live in Los Angeles, and I also spend a lot of time writing and recording in New York City.

You have quite a lengthy resume as a songwriter, but this is your debut single. Did you always know you were going to be a musician?

Yes. [There were] a series of experiences I can remember where I just knew I’d be a singer one day. For example, in second grade, when students were asked to create business cards for their future selves, sure enough, I designed a hot pink card that said “C.G. The Singer!” I also vividly remember going into the mobile recording studio at Hershey’s Theme Park at a young age, recording my rendition of the New Kids on the Block hit “I’ll Be Loving You Forever.” As a little girl, I begged my parents for singing lessons… I’ve always been so taken with music.

What were your early musical influences?

I was influenced during car rides back and forth to elementary school with my mom back home in Philadelphia, listening to B101 soft rock hits by Richard Marx, Peabo Bryson, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion, and my mom gave me an early appreciation for Streisand and Linda Ronstadt. My dad used to sing his own original silly songs to me as a little girl, with made-up words to celebrate whatever the occasion was, and he introduced me to The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. Music has always had a strong presence in my life, and I’ve been exposed to classic, timeless music for as long as I can remember.

So you always wanted to sing … what are your earliest memories of performing for others?

As a small child, I always played with toy microphones, singing around the house and entertaining everyone at family dinners. I even ran up to the piano players at restaurants with my parents in South Philadelphia, asking if I could sing. My first public performance — my parents remember — was “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” when I was two years old! I’ve just always been drawn to performing.

The moment when I first took performing seriously was when a kindergarten teacher told me that I brought a tear to her eye when I sang a song from Fiddler on the Roof during an elementary school talent show. To learn that I could move people by singing was to understand the power of music. From that point on, whether I’m singing for 40,000 people at a stadium, or 200 people in an intimate jazz club, it is motivating to know that I’m affecting people somehow — making them feel something.

And you’ve written hits for singers around the world; do you remember first song you ever wrote for yourself?

One of the very first songs I ever wrote was called “Loose Tooth.” Yes, true story! I was about seven years old… And sure enough, I wrote about what I was personally experiencing at that particular moment in time!

Who are your musical heroes?

Since I was very young, I’ve always responded to the powerhouse, soulful vocals of Natalie Cole, Linda Ronstadt, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha, Dionne Warwick, and my favorite, Barbra Streisand. The first CD I ever purchased was Michael Bolton’s Soul Survivor. Those soaring voices have always influenced me most… The voices that make the hair on your arms stand on end because they take you somewhere and move you somehow.

But it was Cee Lo Green who personally inspired me in such a significant way that it changed the whole course of my career as an artist. For a very long time, I was writing and recording songs that were super trendy and of-the-moment, being told by producers to fit a certain pop mold. The songs were fun to write and were very catchy, but they did not at all reflect who I was as an artist.

When I had the opportunity to sing back up for Cee Lo at the Grammy Awards several years ago, I expressed to Cee Lo that I admired him for staying true to his artistry, for decades ignoring trends and doing his own thing. He smiled that huge grin of his, and said, so simply, “you gotta just do what you love!”

It was that moment when I pivoted and began focusing on my own artist project.

Was there a specific inspiration for your single "What Love is All About"?

Several different inspirations came together in my debut single!

Lyrically, I’ve been very influenced by Hal David in whimsy and romanticism. The song is about experiencing love for the first time. We’ve all imagined it, but love really remains a mystery until the first time you experience that magic.

I wanted to convey the timelessness of that message in the music as well. So, the melody and arrangement has soulful chord progressions and sweeping strings and horns that reflect my Philadelphia roots working with Gamble & Huff.

I co-wrote the song with a longtime favorite composer of mine as well, Frank Wildhorn, who penned hits for Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston. I’ve been told that you can hear their influences in the powerful, emotional vocals as well.

How did you end up writing songs for other people and then transition back to writing for yourself?

Upon moving to LA, I spent many years writing and recording music for film and television… My songs have been featured in over 120 television shows and films to date. After doing that for several years, I signed my publishing deal with BMG and my attention turned to writing for multiplatinum artists worldwide. I began writing for artists in Korea, like hit single “You and Me” for Min Hae, and in Japan, including hit single “Ready to Love” for Anri. I’ve also written many songs for groups like f(x), Code V, StarMarie, Harajuku Theater and others. I even had a cut in Romania, and in the US, I wrote “Walls” for the band Airspoken.

I transitioned to writing for myself when Cee Lo inspired me to pursue my own artistry. At that point, I started seeking out collaborations with the producers and songwriters whose music inspired me to become a singer in the first place… Writers who wrote hits for Whitney, Celine, Natalie, and Barbra… I wanted to make that kind of timeless, classic music that I had always appreciated — the kind of music that lasts generation after generation. My new project was born out of those collaborations and it’s a collection of songs that I’m truly passionate about.

What's your songwriting process?

My songwriting process always begins with establishing a great title. It needs to be a title that sounds catchy, yet familiar — it must grab people’s attention but also emotionally resonate. It also sets up the theme for the story being told in the song, so it serves as an anchor moving forward through the writing process.

From that point on, the process varies depending upon my collaborator. Sometimes, we will start from scratch on piano or guitar and create a melody and lyrics together. Sometimes, I’ll write an entire lyric to my co-writer’s existing melody. Or sometimes, my co-writer will give me a track over which I’ll write a melody and lyric. It’s always a fluid process, and I enjoy each variation.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#powerhair

Green Day Breathe New Life Into "American Idiot" for 2016 MTV EMAs

2016-11-07T17:21:35.943Z

"American Idiot" may have been written for the 2004 world, but Green Day updated the song to fit into today's world. When they stepped onto the stage at the 2016 MTV EMA Awards, they brought back their classic hit. However, instead of singing the song verbatim, Billie Joe Armtstrong and co. gave it a more current twist.

"The subliminal mind Trump America," the Green Day frontman sang instead of the original line, "The subliminal mind fucking America."

They echoed the performance during their acceptance speech for the Global Icon Award by saying, "Most of all, it’s nice to be out of America just for a second, because of this horrendous election that’s going on right now. Our entire country is about to have one big, collective heart attack."

Watch the performance below.

What an epic performance from @GreenDay! Don't miss the 2016 #MTVEMA at 8p EST 💥 https://t.co/J1vdHHH8VO
— MTV (@MTV) November 7, 2016

Mannequins & Penguins Take Over the Internet

2016-11-07T08:00:00.000Z

Spend all weekend trying to figure out what to vote for on Tuesday? Don't worry, we've got you covered on everything that didn't involve The Walking Dead or football.

The #MannequinChallenge Takes Over

If you haven’t been on social media in the past few days, you may not have noticed that the #MannequinChallenge has really blown up recently. Although it’s been kicking around for well over a week in the high school and college corners of the internet, the latest viral craze has spread so far that it’s only a matter of time before the news (and your parents) start to talk about it. For those completely unfamiliar with it, the challenge involves a group of people holding various poses for several seconds while a videographer slowly moves through crowd to show the subjects looking as mannequin-like as possible.

#mannequinchallenge

A video posted by James Harrison (@jhharrison92) on Nov 4, 2016 at 10:29am PDT

One of the common threads through many of the videos is the soundtrack of Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles.” The hip-hop duo joined the craze over the weekend, as they froze their live performance (as well as everyone in the audience) during the intro to the song before showing everyone going wild as soon as it kicked in. Check out the Instagram video below.

#BlackBeatles #MannequinChallenge l shot by @verrlust

A video posted by Rae Sremmurd (@raesremmurd) on Nov 4, 2016 at 10:07am PDT

Bey and Jay’s Big Weekend

#otr #mcwt #theformationworldtour #beyonceknowles #beyoncecarter #beyhive #beyonceknowlescarter #queenbey #myqueen #bgkc #Bey #Beyoncé #Queenbey #lemonade #ivypark #jayonceforever #beyoncegiselleknowlescarter #formationworldtour #formation #2016 #blueivy #ivy #beyoncehair #thecarters #bootyyonce

A video posted by Shea Brady (@booty_yonce) on Nov 5, 2016 at 6:30am PDT

With Hillary Clinton making a massive final push in Cleveland over the weekend, she called in the city’s biggest hero to help her campaign. But beyond LeBron James, Clinton also brought the combined powers of Beyoncé, Jay Z, Chance the Rapper, J. Cole and Big Sean together for a Friday night concert in The Land.

Yuuuuuuuuup!!

A photo posted by Leslie Jones (@lesdogggg) on Nov 6, 2016 at 12:53am PDT

As if that wasn’t enough for music’s favorite power couple, Jay and Bey then hit up the taping of Saturday Night Live in support of Solange (who was performing on the show for the first time). While there, the ’03 Bonnie and Clyde hung out with everyone’s favorite Olympics superfan (and SNL cast member), Leslie Jones. Of course, the political and sibling support comes less than a week after the duo and their adorable offspring absolutely killed it with their family Halloween costumes. Yeah, safe to say the Carter-Knowles clan is doing things the right way these days (and every other day).

NatGeo and the Cheating Penguin

If you’ve been fortunate enough to avoid this story all weekend and want to continue living a happy life, this is your cue to stop reading.

In the most devastating news since we all watched our favorite pizza delivery boy get bludgeoned to death with a vampiric baseball bat, it turns out that everything you learned about penguins being monogamous creatures in lifelong relationships was a life. National Geographic tweeted out what seemed to be an innocent enough video about a penguin love triangle, but it ended up turning the entire internet on its head.

In short, the video features a male penguin returning home to find his partner shacked up with another penguin. After the two males fight to a draw, the adulterous female chooses to stay with the homewrecker while leaving the father of her children out in the cold. According to the narrator, the heartbroken male will likely find another partner in time (if he doesn’t get eaten first), but we’ll never be the same for having watched the video.

Check out the whole thing below if you don’t want to believe in penguin love any longer.

A fight breaks out when a husband comes home and finds his wife with another penguin. pic.twitter.com/9ejYGcJ5TJ
— Nat Geo Channel (@NatGeoChannel) November 4, 2016

Nintendo Goes Classic

Looking for the perfect gift for the hardcore gamer in your life? Then you’re in luck! Nintendo has finally gotten wise to the success of fellow developers like Atari, Namco and Sega, and released it’s own pre-loaded throwback to the classic Nintendo Entertainment System. The best part of the Nintendo NES Classic Edition? It’s teeny tiny! That’s right, your friend, family member or significant other can now spend even more time in front of the television, reminiscing about their younger years in full 8-bit glory. Gone are the days of blowing ferociously into the underside of those game cartridges and hoping they would load smoothly. Players will breathe a sigh of relief to learn that the mini-console comes equipped with 30 old school games built right into the system, such as Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and (of course) multiple editions of Super Mario Bros.

Other than size, the biggest difference between the 1985 edition and its 2016 doppelganger is connectivity. The multi-colored A/V jacks that were once a tangled mess on the backside of your television have been replaced with a single HDMI cable, and that bulky power adapter is now attached via a mini-USB. One full-sized remote is included with the console, but it isn’t wireless. That just means players can really get in on the action. The system supports up to two players though, so a second controller can be purchased for an additional $10, or simply connect a compatible Wii remote. Retailing for $59.99, the technological nostalgia will be in stores on November 11th.

Busy on the weekends? Get more at our What You Missed Over The Weekend page!

Nitty Scott Talks Overcoming Adversity to Become a Rapper Over Chuletas

2016-11-07T08:00:00.000Z

It’s hard to extinguish the fire burning inside of 26-year-old Nitty Scott. After being nearly trampled by some of life’s grueling challenges, she found a way to circumvent through her traumatic experiences and forge a lane for herself as a highly-touted independent artist. While innumerable acts struggled to slither their way through the concrete jungle that is New York City, Scott finessed her way through the underground with her scintillating wordplay. As she knifes her way through her mouth-watering arroz blanco con chuleta frita at the Bronx’s Spanish diner Cuchifritos, she begins ruminating on her complicated, yet beautiful struggle, as a Black and Puerto Rican emcee trying to capture her once-elusive rap dreams.

"I did poetry and spoken word. I was actually a creative writing major at my art school. I'm an art school kid,” she says. Sporting a long pink crewneck with an infectious smile to match, the bubbly rapper speaks with fervor about how she nearly took a different journey in life revolving around her love for writing.

“During all of the poetry and spoken word, I would do oration contests, speech contests, and I got a lot of awards and stuff for things of that nature. I was always part of the yearbook and newspaper staff. I was actually the Editor-in-Chief. I was going to go the journalism route. I would have gone to school for journalism and communications if I didn't do the rap thing."

While already showing early signs of being a dynamic writer, one Atlanta rapper solidified her admiration for music. For Nitty, it was a rousing verbal exhibition laid down by Andre 3000 on TLC's "Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes." His poignant verse did enough to stir up her creative juices and helped her consider stepping into an ultra-competitive sport dominated by men.

"I gotta say it was probably when I was 12 or 13 living in my dad's house. I was listening to the TLC CrazySexyCool album and the last record on that album was kind of like an obscure kind of record. It wasn't a single or anything, but it was called something ‘Sumthin' Wicked This Way Comes’ featuring Andre 3000. He sets off the whole song with a verse and when I heard that verse, I just froze."

From there, Nitty polished her skills and began scripting indelible bars to match the intensity of Andre's masterful verse. Before she segued into an Andre 3000 style of rapper, she morphed into B. Rabbit from 8 Mile, after partaking in a lyrical spar with an opposing student at her school.

"I was beefing with this girl at school and it had transferred over to our Myspace profiles! [laughs] We were on Myspace abusing all of the terms and conditions, right? Just coming for each other. I remember one night being with my brother, who at the time was really into like battles, like with Fight Klub. He actually put me on to the battle scene and I think getting put on to the battle stuff while simultaneously dealing with this girl I don't like who's coming for me, I was like, ‘Yo, I'm about to write a rap. I'm about to come for her head,’ and that's what we did."

With an abundance of talent and charisma, Nitty harnessed her God-given gifts and began sparking different ideas to tackle her dreams of being a rapper. After being embroiled in a web of drama involving her parents’ muddy relationship, she daringly attempted to do the unthinkable.

"I was in a very dysfunctional home situation. There was really a lack of stability. I went to nine different schools. My parents had gotten divorced and then re-married. It was just a very messy home life. I was very depressed about that at 17. At 17 years old, I was like clinically depressed. Then, I had discovered this love for making music and also being received and accepted as a dope artist just on campus, nothing crazy. But just being embraced by all the other artists around me and having them validate that was kind of like a ray of hope in the midst of a very shitty home life."

Despite her gloomy home life, Nitty's parents were supportive of her dreams. They encouraged her to tap into her creativeness and become a rapper, even if that meant leaving Florida for the Big Apple with no family members in sight.

“I feel like my parents nourished and supported my artsyness,” she says. I think they recognized that their kid is super creative. I had tested super positive for Gifted. So, I think they knew that I needed to stimulate that, but I think at the same time, they also had the typical outlook on creative professions, as most people do, where they don't totally regard it as a real profession. You hear people tell artists to get a real job all the time or to not quit their day jobs. I think for a parent it was a little scary to know that your kid wants to pursue something that has a very low ratio of success.”

Despite encountering numerous hindrances consisting of dead-end jobs, going couch to couch and a messy business relationship with her former management team, Nitty slowly began cultivating a fan-base. After demolishing her freestyle on Kanye West’s “Monster,” she emerged on the scene as a fiery lyricist with bars for days. By rapping alongside Action Bronson, Kendrick Lamar and more, she instantly bubbled as a potential rap slayer with untapped potential. In 2014, she released her conscious-laden Art of Chill mixtape, which illustrated her innate ability to delve into deep concepts.

While Art of Chill was accepted as a strong effort, Scott wasn’t content with her brand and image. So, from there, she decided to up the ante. The cute girl whose lyrical dexterity could make any rapper blush grew up and began showing a bit more skin. To many, this move was a perplexing one considering Nitty wasn’t deemed as the type to show off her body. Critics became skeptical and questioned her motives.

“Here’s my thing. Nitty Scott became a brand, right? So, the brand has to elevate. I don’t see why a brand cannot elevate externally and suddenly you have to question everything internally,” she explains. “I don’t like the idea that you can only be Nicki Minaj or Lauryn Hill. I don’t like that. It’s oppressive to a woman who can’t express her sexuality and not be questioned as to if she’s deep or smart.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFmKy6Vm8Co" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Rather than sulk, Nitty flexed on her haters by joining forces with fellow New York rappers in Joell Ortiz and Bodega Bamz to form the rap triumvirate No Panty. This past August, alongside super producer Saleem Remi, they released their debut mixtape, Westside Highway Story. A rejuvenated Scott used the booth as her refuge and penned some flavorful verses alongside her Hispanic comrades. With the mixtape serving as the proverbial kick in the butt she needed to restart her engine, Scott is back in the studio working on her debut endeavor, Creature!, a project she dubs her as a “celebration.”

“The Westside Highway Story has done wonders for me. For people who already are fans and everything, this is what they expect from Nitty Scott, I think. I think they’re like, ‘Yo. We knew Nitty Scott was this nice for this long, but maybe you had to see her next to a crazy lyricist like Joell Ortiz and not get washed up to appreciate what this woman is doing on records.’”

With her Creature! album looking at a Spring 2017 release, Scott is ready to showcase her versatility to the world.

“I sing, I dance, and I don’t just rap on boom-bap beats,” she says while finishing her hefty meal. “It’s just funny how the things you do to show people that you appreciate and respect culture can kind of get you boxed in, as well. It’s just like a painter. I paint bomb ass oranges, but I want to paint grapes. I do some ill ass grapes, too. I’m not going to be painting oranges for the rest of my life. I specifically wanted people to respect my spit game and that was achieved. Now, I need y’all to know that I’m a star.”

Still hungry? Visit our Free Lunch page.

Michael Buble’s 3-Year-Old Son Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer

2016-11-04T20:03:28.026Z

Michael Buble has asked for privacy following the news that his 3-year-old son, Noah, has been diagnosed with cancer.

“We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the U.S. We have always been very vocal about the importance of family and the love we have for our children,” a statement on the musician’s Facebook page read.

Rachel Bloom, Elizabeth Banks and Moby Passionately Sing a Star-Studded ‘You’ve Got to Vote’

The ‘Everything’ singer, 41, has two sons, Noah and Elias, with his wife, the Argentine actress and model Luisana Lopilato. “Luisana and I have put our careers on hold in order to devote all our time and attention to helping Noah get well,” the statement added. “At this difficult time, we ask only for your prayers and respect for our privacy. We have a long journey in front of us and hope that with the support of family, friends and fans around the world, we will win this battle, God willing.”

Jimmy Kimmel Got Even More Parents to Eat All Their Kids’ Halloween Candy

Speaking about his family to E! News earlier this year, Buble said being a father gave him perspective. “I think really being a parent is a massive blessing,” he said. “It’s allowed me to understand deeply that what I do for a living—creating music and art and getting to be a part of a fragrance or a movie—is my job. It isn’t what defines me. What defines me is I’m Noah and Eli’s dad.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Justin Timberlake Explain the ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ Lyrics You’re Getting Wrong

2016-11-04T19:52:52.267Z

Justin Timberlake stopped by The Ellen Show on Thursday to chat about Trolls, his “pretty rad” 18-month old Silas, and his upcoming album (he’s currently in the studio with Pharrell Williams, “Tim” [Timbaland], and “Max” [legendary Swedish producer Max Martin], he said). He also set the record straight about a line from his popular summer hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling” that a lot of people might be getting wrong.

People Are Flipping Out Over These Kelly Clarkson and Busta Rhymes Hamilton Covers

Ellen noted that she had sent him a video of her singing along to the song, which he got a kick out of.

“There was no tequila involved,” Timberlake jokes about the clip she had sent him one evening. “My favorite was when you were like ‘just electric, just electric, just electric’… I was like that’s… that’s not the words,” Timberlake admitted, prompting DeGeneres’s surprise. “It pretty clearly says ‘just imagine,'” he breaks it to her.

Sting Will Reopen Le Bataclan Theater in Paris With Charity Show

“You should just change the lyric,” DeGeneres counters. Watch their full encounter, below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Alicia Keys Just Gave Us the Body-Positive Anthem We Need

2016-11-04T19:38:49.921Z

Singer and The Voice coach Alicia Keys has made all of her recent public appearances makeup-free, embracing her natural beauty in the hopes of inspiring others to do the same. In her new album, Here, Keys addresses this new look and reflects on the state of body positivity in today’s society with the song “Girl Can’t Be Herself.”

“When a girl can’t be herself no more, I just wanna cry, I just wanna cry for the world,” Key sings in the chorus of the song. The first verse directly discusses her decision to stop wearing makeup: “In the morning from the minute that I wake up, what if I don’t want to put on all that make up?
Who says I must conceal what I’m made of? Maybe all this Maybelline is covering my self-esteem.”

How Chrissy Teigen Deals With John Legend’s Exes

Keys elaborated on this verse when she teased the tune in Lenny this May. “No disrespect to Maybelline, the word just worked after the maybe. But the truth is … I was really starting to feel like that — that, as I am, I was not good enough for the world to see,” she wrote. “This started manifesting on many levels, and it was not healthy.”

Earlier this year, Keys clarified that her makeup-free stance isn’t about getting rid of all makeup, it’s just about letting women be themselves. “I love makeup too, and it’s all good,” Keys said during a TODAY show segment. “It’s about how you feel, it’s about who you are, it’s about just being who you are and not letting anybody tell you who you should be.”

Julianne Hough Shares Her Secret for Staying Positive

As she wrote in Lenny, for her, no makeup means more freedom: “‘Cause I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”

Listen to the song below:

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Lori Cullen Heads a Power-folk Trio on 'Sexsmith Swinghammer Songs'

2016-11-04T16:57:59.059Z

Canadian singer-songwriter Lori Cullen’s songs are like:

A whispered term of endearment
A forgotten lullabye
A dream you don’t want to wake up from
All of the above

On the just-released Sexsmith Swinghammer Songs, Cullen teamed up with her husband, Kurt Swinghammer, and another powerhouse, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith (who wrote "Secret Heart" made popular by Feist) to create a 12-song set that is so intimate and beautiful that it's hard to imagine it's a collaboration of three minds instead of just one. Swinghammer wrote all the music, Sexsmith wrote all the lyrics, and Cullen sang all the songs. The trinity delved into motherhood, family and more for 12 songs — a true family affair — and the love shines through on all of them, especially "Then There Were Three." She talks about how everything came together with Myspace.

Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario. A large suburb of Toronto. We had the same mayor for 36 years, she finally gave up her chair when she was 93!

Homebase: I moved to Toronto after my mother died when I was 22. I'm still here now and I love my city.

How did you discover music and end up wanting to be a musician?

Growing up as a fat girl in the '80s I always felt like an outsider. Not interested in shopping, no interest from boys — or at least none they would ever admit to — so I turned to music. I was an intense music fan for all of high school. Choosing concerts over graduations and painting album covers on the back of all my jean jackets. My father bought me an acoustic guitar after high school, and I started writing songs immediately. I taught myself guitar by taping a local folk TV show and pausing the VRC to figure out the chord grips. This was the first time in my life that I got the attention I craved. I was finally noticed and it became my identity.

How did you come to working with Ron Sexsmith on this album?

I met Ron through my partner Kurt Swinghammer — they have been friends for decades. Kurt produced Ron's very first cassette tape and they have been friends ever since. Ron and his wife Colleen are two of our closest friends. We have spent a lot of time together.

What inspired the collaboration?

After I had my baby in 2013, it was Ron's idea to write a group of songs with Kurt for me to sing. He saw that I was struggling to figure out what to do next with my music career after being so submerged in motherhood. Kurt Swinghammer wrote all the music and Ron Sexsmith wrote all the lyrics and I am the singer. Lucky me.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?

Oh let me go back into the vaults for that one. I guess I was 18, maybe even 17. It was called "Lady Diana" ha ha. The royal couple was in the Canadian news all the time. I grew up with them on my TV. My mother and all her friends were always talking about them. I even had a lady Diana haircut for half of middle school. The song was very simple, three chords describing the burden of her life and the struggles with being thrown into this huge position. I think the song was terrible but my first boyfriend, who was also a musician, hand wrote the song in huge letters on bristol board and presented it to me for my birthday with such support I think it made me feel confident enough to keep writing. We all need people in our corner, it can make all the difference.

How does living in Toronto influence your music?

Living in the largest city in Canada has always been the place I want to be. Being a bike ride away from so many of my peers and friends makes it easy to stay connected. For example, we were able to walk home from sound check for our release concert last week. We don't have a car so we stay local. Almost everyone who appears on our new recording is a close musical friend. Our recording is full of people who come over for dinner and even people who babysit our kid. I found my people in this city and my people inform my music.

Listen To Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande's New Song, "Faith"

2016-11-04T16:40:27.401Z

Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande have joined forces for "Faith" — a soulful, upbeat new single.

The duo both show off their superb vocal chops, trading off verses and harmonizing on the chorus. "I got faith in you, baby," sing Wonder and Grande. "I get around you and my mind goes crazy."

The duo teamed up with pop music mega-producers Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco for the song.

The track was recorded for the upcoming animated film Sing, voiced by Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Seth MacFarlane.

Listen to "Faith" below and try not to snap your fingers to the vibrant song.

Watch the Charming New Trailer For 'The Lego Batman Movie'

2016-11-04T16:33:21.941Z

The Lego Batman Movie isn't just a money grab. That quickly becomes clear from the new trailer for the film, which shows Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) returning home and teaming up with Robin (Michael Cera) and the new police commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson) to fight the Joker (Zach Galifianakis).

The animation is top-notch; the characters are en pointe and there's even some drama. Watching Batman sulk alone in his luxury home is pretty much a perfect scene.

“Famously, Batman works alone, so when he’s put into this situation, he’s forced to confront a lot of issues,” explained Arnett at Comic-Con (via SlashFilm).

The Lego Batman Movie is set to hit theaters on February 10, 2017.

Watch Ishi's "Juno" Video Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-04T16:13:29.433Z

Ishi's sultry vocals, undulating synths and trippy visuals make up "Juno." The video cruises through '80s-inspired 3D art while the duo powers through the electro-disco cut. It's hard to imagine better video direction to accompany such a sweaty, atmospheric song.

"I have worked with [video producer] Kevin Lords off & on for over a decade," said the group to Myspace. "Truly grateful to tap into his creative mind to bring this video to life."

"Juno" is the lead single from the latest EP from the duo made up of JT Mudd (lead singer, producer) and Brad Dale (producer, synth, guitar, bass).

Watch the video below and be sure to keep these guys on your radar.

Listen To Bruno Mars' Sensual Ballad "Versace on the Floor"

2016-11-04T15:56:31.083Z

Bruno Mars just wants to slow dance with a lover on his new single "Versace on the Floor." It's a smooth '80s ballad — complete with big synths — and it's pretty suggestive too.

“So, baby, let’s just turn down the lights and close the door," croons Mars. "Oh, I love that dress, but you won’t need it anymore."

In an interview with Rolling Stone, he noted that the song was initially supposed to be a big ballad. "But I'm not giving it to 'em! If we're gonna really, dramatically slow things down, I've got to be singing some shit."

"Versace on the Floor" is the second single from 24K Magic, following the funky title track released last month.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Sports Curses and Why Bill Murray Won the World Series

2016-11-04T15:39:38.411Z

This week, we're exploring the sports world and its history, full of heartbreak, unbridled celebration, curses and redemption. We'll also talk a little bit about Bill Murray, America's cool, fun uncle.

The Cursed Cubs of Chicago

Recommended Pairing: A deep dish pizza chased with polish sausage and Goose Island Bourbon Barrel Stout.

The last time we talked sports in this column LeBron and his Cavaliers of Cleveland had just upset the historically dominant Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, rallying back from being down three games to one in an epic comeback. Up to that point, Cleveland was a cursed city (at least in regards to sports) — a perpetual punching bag and punch line.

The Browns gave us "The Fumble":

Michael Jordan skied over Craig Ehlo, crushed their dreams and gave us "The Shot":

The Indians and Chief Wahoo gave us, well, not much besides Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn and a ragtag tribe of outcasts:

The only team with a richer tradition of losing was the Cubs of Chicago and their curse of the billy goat. But wouldn't you know it, 2016 gave us an epic comeback in the NBA to break the curse in Cleveland and now it's given us an epic comeback in the World Series to make the perennial lovable losers the champions — over Cleveland no less.

Amazing right?

Let's recap this fucked up year. 2016 took Prince, David Bowie, Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman, Gary Shandling, amongst others — and gave us the World Champion Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Cavaliers. Now it's teasing us about a potential Donald Trump presidency or a "historic" Hilary Clinton presidency.

I think the world is broken.

Bill "FUCKING" Murray

Recommended Pairing: Cannonballs: Alternating pulls from a bottle and a joint.

Despite what ESPN says, I firmly believe Bill Murray won the World Series. Chicago Cub fans deserved every bit of jubilation they have exercised over the few dozen hours, sure. But despite all of the footage of drunken Cubs fans celebrating in the streets and all of the highlights from the game(s), the one thing we'll remember about this World Series is how much we love Bill Murray. He's a goddamn national treasure.

Remember when the Red Sox broke their curse a few years back and randomly Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore were spotted making out on the field while the entire city of Boston flipping bananas? I'm not surprised. It was for a scene in a terrible movie. The best thing that came from it was when she gets beaned in the dome.

They shouldn't have been allowed within ten feet of the grass at Fenway, that was a historic night sullied by some lame ass guerilla film-making.

Bill Murray was essentially catapulted out onto the field in the moments after the Cubs recorded the last out.

With the absence of Harry Caray and "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Bill Murray has inherited the weight of being the face of a franchise over a century removed from a championship. He's achieved the rare air of fame where you don't just get away with anything you want, you're actively celebrated for just being in the vicinity.

With any other celebrity, being on the field, doing interviews and celebrating in the locker room would be met with at least some aggressive eye-rolling. Yet, here we are in an age of unfiltered snark, an age of dissenting opinions just for the hell of it, and we have an overwhelming cavalcade of praise for a single man celebrating a team's achievement.

This is my favorite:

So I checked the calendar and we have roughly 65 days left in this terribly weird year, but I just want to say one thing: I swear to god, 2016, if you hurt Bill Murray I will beat you to death with an old VHS copy of Ghostbusters.

Championship Celebration Etiquette

Recommended Pairing: Random bits of confetti and looted malt liquor.

I was genuinely surprised to wake up the morning after the Cubs won the pennant to find no news of an entire city again ablaze. In fact, it's been a while since we had one of those bizarre "I'm so happy my city won the championship I'm going to destroy it" celebrations.

The last real smash 'em up job I can remember wasn't a celebration or even in America. It was a bunch of Canadians freaking out after losing the Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins.

The Cubs fans did it right. They drank and danced and did trust falls and all sorts of other fantastic displays of pure shared bliss.

Here's to hoping the Dodgers, Lakers, or Rams can win a chip sometime soon — I'm really pumped to try one of those trust falls.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

20 Actors You Never Knew Used a Pseudonym

2016-11-04T15:36:30.672Z

These days it seems that we know everything about celebrities. We know what movies they’re “secretly” filming this very moment; what they just had for lunch; who they asked on a date and who they’re voting for at this year’s elections. But sometimes we miss the very obvious thing: their real names. Some actors have to change it because someone else is already using the same name, some want an easier stage name and some just want to look cooler and start anew. We made a list of 20 actors whose real names you wouldn’t recognize.

Michael Keaton

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Real Name: Michael Douglas

It’s pretty obvious why the ex-Batman/Birdman decided to change his last name. He didn’t want to cause any confusion with Michael Douglas.

Winona Ryder

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Real Name: Winona Horowitz

The Stranger Things’ star was named after the city of Winona. Her family’s original last name was Tomchin, but it was changed to Horowitz after the family moved to the US from Russia. And then the actress changed her last name for Hollywood — long before the Horowitz last name got immortalized through Clueless.

Demi Moore

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Real Name: Demetria Guynes

Demi Moore shortened her beautiful but long name Demetria and borrowed her first husband Freddy Moore’s last name.

Bruce Willis

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Real Name: Walter Bruce Willis

Demi Moore’s ex-husband Bruce also tweaked his real name. Bruce is actually his middle name. It could’ve been way different though: his teenage nickname was Bruno. Bruno Willis? Nah, we like Bruce better.

Ashton Kutcher

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Real Name: Christopher Ashton Kutcher

Demi Moore’s other ex-husband is also using his middle name as his professional one. Kutcher’s full name is Christopher Ashton Kutcher, but he shortened it to Ashton Kutcher when he was 19, because there was already another Chris Kutcher at his modeling agency at the time.

Blake Lively

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Real Name: Blake Ellender Brown

The story behind Blake Lively’s name is so long it needed its own article. Lively is basically her mother’s ex-husband’s last name, while Brown is the real name of Blake’s father. Her father actually uses Lively as his last name and Blake followed his example when it was time for her to pick a stage name. Yes, we are totally lost, too.

Whoopi Goldberg

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Real Name: Caryn Elaine Johnson

The story behind Whoopi’s stage name is a pretty stinky one. Apparently she was known to gleefully let out a fart or two, so her friends used to compare her to a whoopee cushion.

Woody Allen

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Real Name: Allen Konigsberg

It took Allen a while to settle with his name. At the age of 17 he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen and then decided to use Woody Allen as his stage one.

Helen Mirren

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Real Name: Ilyena Vasilievna Mironoff

Helen Mirren’s grandfather left Russia during the Revolution and his son, Helen’s father, decided to give the family’s last name an English spin, changing Mironoff to Mirren. Helen is also an Anglicized version of common Russian name Ilyena.

Ben Kingsley

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Real Name: Krishna Bhanji

The British actor was born to a Kenyan father of Gujarati Indian descent and was given an Indian name. He also has British, German and potentially Russian blood. No wonder he decided to pay respects to his family when he was choosing a stage name: Benji was his father’s nickname while his grandfather was called King Cloves, which turned into Kingsley.

Portia de Rossi

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Real Name: Amanda Lee Rogers

Yes, we’re shocked just as much as you are. While most celebrities want an easier stage name, Amanda Lee Rogers wanted something, well, complicated. She borrowed Portia from William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice and added De Rossi as something foreign-esque.

Joaquin Phoenix

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Real Name: Joaquin Rafael Bottom

Joaquin Phoenix’s parents were involved with a religious group called Children of God several years before the future actor was born, but eventually decided to exit the group and have a new beginning. That’s why they opted to change their last name to Phoenix (a mythical bird that rises from the ashes). Joaquin’s siblings all used nature-related nicknames and his was Leaf — so until Joaquin was 15 he was known in the industry as Leaf Phoenix.

Tina Fey

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Real Name: Elizabeth Samantha Fey

Tina Fey probably had zero trouble getting used to people calling her Liz on set of 30 Rock since it is her real name.

Olivia Wilde

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Real Name: Olivia Jane Cockburn

If Olivia Wilde wanted to pursue a career in journalism, she’d be smart to keep her real last name since both her parents are acclaimed journalists. But she was interested in acting since a young age as evident by her last name — she got an idea for a new last name after participating in an Oscar Wilde play back in her teenage years.

Natalie Portman

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Real Name: Neta-Lee Herschlag

When picking a catchier last name, Natalie also paid respects to her grandmother — Portman was her maiden name. She also turned her given Hebrew name Neta-Lee into Americanized Natalie.

Julianne Moore

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Real Name: Julie Anne Smith

If Julianne Moore would have it her way, she wouldn’t change her name. But it was the Actors Guild’s insistence — all of the variations of the actresses’ real name were taken by that point. So she joined her fist and middle name and added her father’s middle name into the mix.

Louis C.K.

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Real Name: Louis Szekely

Here’s a nice way to make the world say your last name properly: just change the spelling. That’s how the comedian’s real last name Szekely turned into cryptic C.K. Guess it’s not because he’s such a Calvin Klein fan after all.

Emma Stone

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Real Name: Emily Jean Stone

We all knew Emma Stone was cool. Now prepare to get your mind blown — her stage name is a direct homage to Baby Spice, Emma Bunton. As Stone revealed in an interview, she couldn’t use her real name (“My name was taken at the Screen Actors Guild by one of the girls on Australia’s Next Top Model”), so she thought it would be nice to use Baby Spice’s real name. “When I was in second grade I did ask the teacher on the first day of school to call me Emma because I always wanted to be Baby Spice,” she told Jimmy Kimmel. Maybe it’s time for Spice World 2 with Stone as a guest star?

Vin Diesel

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Real Name: Mark Sinclair Vincent

You didn’t really think someone could have such a cool real last name (even if he’s fast and furious), did you?! Diesel didn’t change his name for Hollywood — he did it years earlier when he was working on the New York nightlife scene as a bouncer. Apparently he did his job well, which secured him this nickname. Let’s just say we wouldn’t want to get thrown out of the bar by the future star of xXx.

Michael Caine

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Real Name: Maurice Joseph Micklewhite

Back in 2000 actor Michael Caine became Sir Maurice Micklewhite. At the time he commented: “I was named after my father and I was knighted in his name because I love my father. I always kept my real name — I'm a very private and family-orientated person." The media was fired up: should they refer to him as Sir Maurice or Sir Michael? To which the legendary actor asked to be referred to as Sir Michael Caine.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

2016-11-04T05:00:00.000Z

If there's on thing that links all of this week's new album picks, it's that element of soul. Alicia Keys finally returns to the mic and piano with her new album, Here, while Common follows up his 2014 record, Nobody's Smiling, with Black America Again. Nathan Sykes shows his growth — both musically and personally — on Unfinished Business. France's up-and-coming DJ export, Kungs, drops his debut album, Layers. Then finally, Nouvelle Vague blend the old and new on their latest LP, I Could Be Happy.

Find out more about this week's new album release picks below.

'Here' - Alicia Keys

After four years of keeping a low-ish profile, having a child, doing philanthropy work and just living life, Alicia Keys is finally back with her new musical masterpiece, Here. The follow-up to Girl on Fire, Alicia aims to sing about the bigger issues on the new record.

While she's doled out hits like "Superwoman" and "Girl on Fire," which celebrate the amazing abilities of females throughout the world, she continues this conversation as well as touch on other society ills and issues on "Here." Alicia follows the journey of one female from naive girl to grown woman in "She Don’t Really Care_1 Luv." Meanwhile, she reveals the ups and downs of building her family with husband Swizz Beatz in "Blended Family," which features a verse form A$AP Rocky. She explores the evolution of a relationship with "In Common." Then there's "Holy War." With acoustic guitar laying the melodic foundation, you can really listen to Alicia's plea to stop the hate, ignorance and prejudice. And between the powerful tenderness in her vocals, you're moved to start making changes in your own life.

I once heard Clive Davis say, years ago, that you never tell Alicia Keys what to sing, and it's obvious why he and I believe that. Here isn't only Alicia's comeback record, it's also her own way of fighting the good fight for peace and love.

'Black America' - Common

While Common hasn't really stopped making music, his latest album feels like a comeback more than just a follow up to his last LP, 2014's Nobody's Smiling. And it isn't because that record wasn't good, because it is. However, his latest effort, Black America Again, is dropping at the best time it could ever have been released.

With the Presidential Election only days away, Common brings to light everything from police brutality and the overpopulation of prisons to institutionalized racism and the increase of violence in the US against the black community. And since he's considered a master when it comes to lyrics, the 44-year-old Chicago rapper and actor doesn't only have a flow but also delivers in a beautifully eloquent way. The title track relays all America's ills at the moment, while "The Day Women Took Over" celebrates females from all walks of life. And if you thought Common wouldn't take aim at Donald Trump, think again as you listen to "Letter to the Free."

'Unfinished Business' - Nathan Sykes

EDITOR'S NOTE: This album's release date has been pushed back to November 11.

Nathan Sykes may be new to most. However if you were a big follower of the British pop scene, you'll know that he was 1/5 of The Wanted, which had their own claims to fame in the US and across the pond. But even though he was part of that group, it was pretty obvious early on that he'd be one of those pop singers who could make it on his own. And following The Wanted's hiatus announcement in 2014, here were are in 2016 with Nathan's debut solo effort, Unfinished Business.

The 12-track record is filled with songs that are will make you want to dance, fall in love and potentially tear up. With vocals that are layered with R&B influences, Nathan lets his pipes run wild on the doo-wop ballad "Famous" and wedding-friendly "Over and Over Again," which he did a duet version with ex-girlfriend Ariana Grande. They may no longer be together, but it's clear that they're vocally meant to be. He gets the party started with "Give It Up," his collab with G-Eazy that also samples Blackstreet's 1996 ballad, "Don't Leave Me Girl." What makes Unfinished Business a great debut effort though is the fact that Nathan opened himself to a variety of sonic styles like the horn-heavy "Freedom," the gospel-esque "Good Things Come to Those Who Wait" and flirty big band track, "Kiss Me Quick." Perfect for the teenyboppers looking for a new star to swoon over as well as those who can't help but love a nice feel good hook.

'Layers' - Kungs

Electronic music has hit a point in its lifespan where it's evolving into things that older DJs and producers only used to imagine. And now there's a generation of young and creatively eager EDM artists who are turning their bedrooms into their own studios. One of those artists is Kungs.

Hailing from France, the 19- (soon to be 20-) year-old artist started off as a kid with djembe and now is doing the music fest circuit. And now he's ready to release his repertoire to the masses with Layers. Including his hit, "This Girl, featuring Cookin' On 3 Burners," he blends pop and funk melodies with elements of tropical and deep house. He also brings on some interesting vocalists into the album like Jamie N Commons on his single, "Don't You Know," Luke Pritchard on "Melody" and Grace Kelly on "When You're Gone." Though many of the tracks have a similar flair, Kungs tosses in "Bangalore Streets," which feels like a curve ball, but one you'll be glad you caught.

'I Could Be Happy' - Nouvelle Vague

To some people, Bossa Nova may sound a lot like the music your grandparents listened to or a default ringtone on your smartphone. However, Nouvelle Vague bring this musical style to life on their new album, I Could Be Happy. Following their 2010 album, Couleurs sur Paris, the French group breathe new life into some classic punk and post-punk tunes.

Their slowed down and sassy version of The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" is a bit of a mind fuck. But once you open yourself up to how unusual it sounds compared to frenetic original, it's a one you won't want to stop listening to. They transform "I Could Be Happy" by Altered Images into a sweet serenade, while The Cure's "All Cats Are Grey" is like an ethereal lullaby. Nouvelle Vauge also include a number of original tunes — sung in French, of course. If you're looking for something quirky, fun and majorly different, I Could Be Happy is the way to go.

Watch Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and More CMA Stars Read Mean Tweets

2016-11-03T20:11:37.565Z

Wednesday night’s 50th annual Country Music Awards were, as ever, a celebratory affair. But not everyone is enamored by the country stars—especially not all the (mostly) anonymous denizens of Twitter. As has now become routine, Jimmy Kimmel Live scraped the social site for the best insulting tweets about everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Miranda Lambert to Little Big Town, and got the musicians themselves to read them out (and respond, of course).

“Why does the blonde in Little Big Town have hair like a Zoolander villain?” asks one detractor, as the singing quartet bursts out laughing. “Aw, man,” the blonde in question sighs.

These Justin Bieber Superfans Are Already Camping Out for His 2017 Show

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dolly Parton also gets lampooned.

“It’s not a hooker convention, it’s a Dolly Parton concert,” Parton reads. Her response? “I guess I should feel hurt, but I don’t, because I pattern my look after a hooker,” she explains with an unconcerned pout. Dolly: yes, still flawless.

Watch Lupita Nyong’o Slay Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Whatta Man’ Surrounded by Firefighters

For further gems from country legends like Willie Nelson and modern favorites like Florida Georgia Line and Hunter Hayes, you’ll want to watch the video above.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

No, Tommy Hilfiger Doesn’t Think Gigi Hadid Is Fat

2016-11-03T19:57:50.502Z

Tommy Hilfiger wants to set the record straight about his feelings on model and business collaborator Gigi Hadid.

The designer spoke with Yahoo! Style Wednesday about his career and relationship with the model. The two launched a new clothing line in September, called Tommy x Gigi. However, that partnership almost didn’t happen because of some disagreement about her look during New York Fashion Week in 2015.

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“Our casting director said, ‘She doesn’t really fit because you know she’s not quite as tall as the other girls, she’s not quite as thin,'” Hilfiger said about Hadid. The compromise was for her to model in a poncho that “covered a lot of her body unfortunately,” Hilfiger shared.

While it was the casting director, not Hilfiger, who made the disparaging comments about Hadid’s appearance, the story made headlines earlier this week.

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“The casting people put Gigi in the poncho, and I was not happy,” Hilfiger said to Page Six Wednesday evening. “I was saying, ‘Don’t hide her body.'” He added: “The suggestion that I thought she wasn’t thin enough upsets me to no end. Gigi is the epitome of perfection.” In the end, however, the poncho ended up being the best selling item from his collection that season.

Hadid has also starred in other Tommy Hilfiger shows since 2015, and is the face of the Tommy Hilfiger perfume “the Girl.”

Thankfully, Hadid has in the past been able to weather criticism about her body. In an interview for Vogue’s podcast in July, Hadid said that as difficult as it can be to deal with comments about her appearance, she tries not to let it affect her self-worth. “I never didn’t like my body. I was very athletic. I was proud of why my body was the way it was.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

This Breaking Bad–Walking Dead Theory May Blow Your Mind

2016-11-03T19:49:56.245Z

Could two of television’s most popular shows ever possibly be connected? Some fans think so. In a new video from Netflix exploring the theory that Breaking Bad is a prequel to The Walking Dead, the streaming service posits that Walter White’s infamous blue meth is what started the zombie apocalypse.

Parks and Recreation Totally Called the Chicago Cubs World Series Win Last Year

“What if Breaking Bad was about more than Walter White starting as a bumbling chemistry teacher and turning himself into a full fledged monster?,” the voiceover begins. “What if he turned everyone into full-fledged monsters?”

The evidence connecting the two series seems shaky at best — especially considering one is set in New Mexico while the other takes place in Georgia and Virginia — but it’s still cool too see the Easter eggs that AMC appears to have left for viewers to pick up on.

Gal Gadot Tests Out Wonder Woman’s Bulletproof Bracelets in New Trailer

Watch the full video below.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

These Are The Highest-Paid Women in Music

2016-11-03T19:13:04.822Z

On Wednesday, Forbes released its ranking of the highest-paid women in the music industry. As you probably guessed, Taylor Swift came in at number one with $170 million in earnings, most of which came from a combination of her 1989 tour and endorsement deals.

Adele, who earned $80.5 million in 2016, came in second and is somewhat of an outlier in how she generates income as she tends to avoid endorsement deals and relies instead on income from album sales.

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The gap between Swift and Adele is considerable, but things get more comparable among the runners up. Madonna and Rihanna came behind Adele at $76.5 and $75 million, respectively. And though you might have expected Beyonce’s Lemonade tour to rake in the dough, the singer came in fifth with earnings of $54 million. As Forbes noted, that will almost certainly change next year with the inclusion of her Formation World Tour. Since this year’s rankings were generated from data gathered between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016, most of her absurdly lucrative tour – it grossed more than $250 million – wasn’t factored in.

“I take enormous pleasure and comfort in the fact that female artists are growing in success both in terms of revenues earned and their influence in the music industry,” entertainment attorney Lori Landew of Fox Rothschild told Forbes. “Many of these artists are enjoying what I see as a continuing cultural shift that allows and enables them to shed prior societal constructs imposed on them about how they should sound or look or dress on stage or on screen in order to appeal to a broader audience.”

Mila Kunis Is Sick of Playing by Hollywood’s ‘Boy’s Club’ Rules

The rest of the top 10 was rounded out with Katy Perry ($41 million), Jennifer Lopez ($39.5 million), Brittany Spears ($30.5 million), Shania Twain ($27.5 million, the highest-paid woman in country music this year since Swift’s gone full pop) and Celine Dion ($27 million).

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Parks and Recreation Totally Called the Chicago Cubs World Series Win Last Year

2016-11-03T18:48:54.502Z

The Chicago Cubs finally ended a 108-year-long championship drought by defeating the Cleveland Indians in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series Wednesday night. But while the team’s victory was a nail-biter to the very end, for the writers of Parks and Recreation, it should have come as no surprise.

During the NBC sitcom’s season 7 episode “Ron & Jammy,” Tom’s ex-girlfriend Lucy tells Tom and Andy — who are visiting her in Chicago — that the Cubs’ long-awaited MLB title has made the people of the Windy City much more pleasant to be around. “Yeah, I think you’re really gonna like it here,” she says. “And obviously, everyone’s in a really great mood now because of the Cubs winning the series.”

These Fans Are Feeling All the Feelings After the Chicago Cubs’ World Series Win

Although this episode aired in 2015, within the timeline of the show, Tom and Andy’s trip took place in the summer of 2017, meaning the Cubbies could only have pulled it off in none other than — you guessed it — 2016.

Two years ago, in a season that took place in the summer of 2017: pic.twitter.com/p8jaYZNwcT
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) November 3, 2016

“As soon as we decided to throw the last season of Parks and Rec into the future, into 2017, we sort of started calculating what the world might be like,” co-creator Michael Schur told the Washington Post. “We talked about . . . aspects of America that we could sort of casually mention that we thought would be funny.”

Bill Murray Celebrating the Chicago Cubs Win Will Make You Feel Better About This Crazy Year

Of course, the Parks team weren’t the only ones to predict this historical day would come to pass. Twitter user GIO shared an eerily accurate prediction about the outcome of this year’s series back in 2014.

2016 World Series.

Cubs vs Indians

And then the world will end with the score tied in game seven in extra innings #apocalypse
— GIO (@RaysFanGio) November 4, 2014

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch The Charming New Trailer For Ryan Gosling And Emma Stone's "La La Land"

2016-11-03T16:55:55.669Z

An aspiring actress (Emma Stone) meets an enticing jazz musician (Ryan Gosling), and romance ensues. Sure, the duo's upcoming film La La Land has a simple premise, but the film's buzz — and the exciting new trailer — makes this one greater than the sum of its parts. And it even features a cameo from John Legend.

Damien Chazelle, best known for Oscar nominee Whiplash, wrote and directed the film. And it's looking like La La Land may score him another Oscar nomination or two.

La La Land opens in theaters on December 9.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To Rebekah Pahl's New EP 'Canyons' Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-03T16:41:52.636Z

Canyons has lots of grit. On the surface, it offers gorgeous new Americana songs from the rising singer. Pahl's voice is nearly angelic on cuts like the title track and Paul Moak's production on the EP is elegant.

But dig a little deeper, and it's an emotion-filled reflection on a woman's difficult journey through her late 20s and marriage. And it gets dark. "Trail of Tears" is the highlight, featuring Pahl's dynamic vocals, eerie production and a muted bluesy guitar segment.

Grit also inspired Canyons, in a very literal way.

"The concept for Canyons was inspired by the desert landscape — it's where my husband and I spent our honeymoon, and we've taken multiple trips to Joshua Tree to find solace and reflection before making some monumental decisions," says Pahl to Myspace.

"There's something calming to me about the resilience of its wildlife, and the sparseness feels mysterious, daunting and like an invitation all at once. My inner world has felt like walking into a wilderness at times, with mild depression being part of my experience. I've found that creating something with my questions, curiosities, and internal conversations is empowering because it's carving a way forward even when there seems to be none. Canyons is about exploring the ruggedness and grit living deep down, and welcoming the weathering that has marked you. You have to go inside and face what's there before you can bring out something of substance."

Listen to Canyons exclusively on Myspace below before its official release date tomorrow (November 4).

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

Watch An Overjoyed Bill Murray After The Cubs' World Series Win

2016-11-03T16:31:13.838Z

For once, the Chicago Cubs don't disappoint — and Bill Murray is downright ecstatic.

The joy on Bill Murray's face pic.twitter.com/veA2lzSU35
— The Cauldron (ICYMI) (@CauldronICYMI) November 3, 2016

The iconic actor was caught on camera, interviewed about the Cubs historic win ("It means a huge weight has been lifted")... and he even got to interview Cubs president Theo Epstein.

THIS IS AMAZING. Bill Murray interviews & celebrates with @Cubs' President Theo Epstein. #WorldSeries https://t.co/VVfUUEbbNb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 3, 2016

Today's a incredible day for Cubs fans everywhere, but we're not sure any of them can show more utter bliss than Bill Murray.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Lydia Loveless Reminices About a Not-So-Bad Breakup on 'Real'

2016-11-03T16:30:00.000Z

Lydia Loveless isn’t your average country singer. With rock guitars and unapologetic and, at times, abrasive lyrics, Lydia tells it like it is without the frills and fluff. And with her latest album, Real, she delves into the breakdown of a relationship but leaves you feeling closure without the bitter taste in your mouth. Since it’s been two years since her last record, Somewhere Else, she’s glad to have new material out.

“It’s been good,” she tells Myspace. “It’s nice to be back because we had a lot of time off. I like staying busy.”

Lydia is currently on the road and more than happy to be bouncing from city to city.

“I love to travel,” she admits. “I’m constantly flying anyway. So it’s my natural state to just be somewhere else, and that’s basically because I grew up on the road. I don’t know what came first having to be on the road constantly or hating being in one place. I also just love to perform, and that’s the best part. It’s what makes me happy.”

Despite all the movement, she took some time to chat with us about the new album, documentary and her love of pop music Britney Spears.

Hometown: Columbus, OH

What are some of your musical memories?

I have really nerdy ones. Definitely hearing “White Weddings” is one. My song that no one else knew because I was five. And the “U Drive Me Crazy” video by Britney Spears. That’s probably what made me want to be a performer.

Did you learn all the choreography for it?

Oh yeah. Totally.

Britney Spears and Lydia Loveless are really different. So how did seeing her inspire you to become a performer? Do you still listen to her stuff?

I do. I still listen to a lot of pop music, and I think it’s because what I do is so draining. And I’m kind of a miserable person. [Laughs] And with pop music, that’s how I think I survive.

So what’s your go-to pop song?

“Teenage Dream” [by Katy Perry], definitely that one.

So now moving onto your new record, how is this one different from your past work?

I think it’s a lot more universal and easier to find something to enjoy it. I think it’s less pigeon-holed than a lot of previous work. And I was really happy making it, and it was fun and challenging. I just had a lot of good feelings about it. I think it’s one of my most diverse [pieces of] work yet. That’s what makes it special to me.

Are there any songs that you found to be the most memorable to work on?

Probably “Longer” and “Heaven.” Those two were the most involved and experimental for me. I just had really excited feeling, and I couldn’t wait to go back to it and do more.

Do you struggle with overworking a song?

It kind of depends on the song. There were a few songs that had too much going on, and I had to take away from them to make them better. But with this [album], we had to do more and more and more that I just had to stop myself. But I feel like the balance is pretty good on this. I don’t think I did too much, which is good.

What’s “Clumps” about?

[Laughs] That one’s about… actually the whole record is about the end of a relationship and not really having negative feelings about it and seeing it more as an evolution than an ending. And that’s maybe because I’m the asshole in the relationship. It’s easy for me to say. [Laughs] It’s also just choosing to have a more positive outlook on relationships and not becoming bitter and hard-hearted and saying something isn’t real just because it’s over. That song is about that basically.

You also did a documentary called Who Is Lydia Loveless?. What do you hope people take away from it?

Hopefully they find us likable as a band, and I don’t come across as a huge jerk. I mean I come across all right. I do a lot of self-loathing, so some of it was cringe-worthy. But for the most part, it was about me and my music, and I hope people find us endearing while watching it.

How did the whole project even come together?

This director Gorman Bechard approached me, and we’re both Replacements fans. That’s how we started talking, and someone recommended me to him. He came to one of our shows, and I could tell he was hinting around that he wanted to do a movie about me. And I thought, “Yeah, why not?” Because it would be stupid to say no.

What was the best part of making the film, and what was the hardest part to watch when it was all done?

Pretty much anything with me. [Laughs] The best part was getting to capture [the band] in the studio and doing what we love to do. That was the coolest part, but the hardest part was just critiquing all the dumb things you do until you don’t think about yourself.

Watch The Riveting Trailer For 'Trainspotting 2'

2016-11-03T16:22:04.535Z

"Here's watching history repeat itself," says a voiceover in the new Trainspotting 2 trailer. It's just two minutes long, but the first glimpse of T2 makes it clear that we'll be seeing all of the extravagant sex, drug use, addiction and scheming that helped make the 1996 film so iconic.

Also included in the trailer for the sequel — set 20 years later — is an updated version of the "Choose life" monologue, which now mentions Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Irvine Welsh's book Porno, the sequel to his Trainspotting novel, is the inspiration for T2. The film's original screenwriter John Hodge again adapted the story for the silver screen.

Trainspotting 2 hits theaters on January 27, 2017.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Getting To Know… Summer Cannibals

2016-11-03T05:00:00.000Z

With its rich diversity and reputation in the hardcore punk scene, it’s no wonder that Portland continues to churn out melodically cohesive, cogent and buzzworthy bands. Summer Cannibals is a prime archetype, fresh off an album release (Full of It) off Kill Rock Stars, the lady-led band is already making waves at festivals like Sasquatch! and Riot Fest, just to name a few, and embarking on a full-throttled UK tour that started in October. While the burst in hype has been relatively fast-paced for the band, it took front-woman Jessica Boudreaux some time to figure out exactly where music fit in her life.

“I didn't know how great it would feel to play rock music,” she admits. “And when I did, it was like, 'I've gotta do this all the time.' I feel like I found my voice when I started this band. I just try to focus on being tasteful while still making it fucked up and cool and intense and [exactly] like rock music.”

Even with the drive ever present, Boudreaux still found a greater push within her Pacific Northwest region that allowed her to really pull the trigger and pursue music.

“I saw Ty Segall around the same time I was starting this band at Bumbershoot,” she reminisces. “My boyfriend at the time had won tickets, so we were going from stage to stage, and it was all really boring. I was not enjoying myself at all, and then we just randomly happened upon Ty playing, and it was like, 'Oh, my God.' They go so hard, and the energy is amazing. My first thought was, 'I wonder why I haven't been seeing women performing like that at that level,' and now that I've started, I've been finding more and more, but at the time, it just wasn't something that was easily visible. That was really inspiring and made me want to play constantly so that I could get to a place in my playing and singing and performing — where I could push that hard and still play the guitar.”

With the addition of Devon Shirley, Jenny Logan and Harrison Rapp, Summer Cannibals are sharper than a Kasumi knife and pack a harder punk punch than one to the gut. During their extensive headline tour this summer, we had the chance to get to know Summer Cannibals a little better in Chicago.

Jessica Boudreaux

Age: 25
Instrument: Vocals, guitar
Moment/experience when you knew you wanted to pursue music: I had always been interested in music, but it wasn't until I started writing songs for Summer Cannibals and played my first show with this kind of music almost four years ago that I decided to wholeheartedly pursue music as a career path.
What being in a band has taught you: It's currently teaching me how to not stress too hard about the small stuff. And how to be stuck in a van with four other people for nine hours at a time.
Most noteworthy musical career highlight to date: Signing with Kill Rock Stars and releasing this third album.
Pre-show rituals: Hide, stretch, drink a beer.
Animal that most illustrates your style in playing/performing: Bull.
Greatest influences: My mom, all different kinds of movies, art, Patti Smith, books, bad relationships.

Devon Shirley

Age: 32
Instrument: Drums
Moment/experience when you knew you wanted to pursue music: Watching my close friends Gregg Ziemba and Kyle Gray play little DIY punk shows with their band A.D.D. completely changed my life. I was probably 14 and was like "This. This is what I want to do. I need to learn an instrument and be in a band. Thanks, guys! :)”
What being in a band has taught you: I've been touring and paying music since I was 19. I've grown into myself on the road and in bands, and I've gone through a lot of hard times while on tour and living out of a van, essentially. I could make a giant list of a million things that being in a band has taught me, but I suppose the biggest thing is it's taught me how to never surrender and to never give up on something you love to do no matter how low things get — perseverance.
Most noteworthy musical career highlight to date: Years ago I played some Mountain Dew Festival and people were not feeling us AT ALL. I dodged multiple nacho cheese bombs, but my drum kit wasn't as lucky. The floor tom took a direct hit. I left that cheese on there for at least two years.
Pre-show rituals: Tequila.
Animal that most illustrates your style in playing/performing: A ring tail lemur...on fire...in space. Fire in space, you ask? How can that be?! It's a vacuum! To which I reply....magic.
Greatest influences: (Early years) Cursive, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, ATDI, Refused, Dead Kennedys, The Damned. (Later Years) Radiohead, Autolux, The Velvet Teen, My Bloody Valentine, Pizza, Burritos, Whiskey, Ramen, Tequila, Synthesizers, Albert The Dog, Captain Walker, Naps.

Harrison Rapp

Age: 35
Instrument: Guitar
Moment/experience when you knew you wanted to pursue music: Playing with my sister’s guitar when I was a kid. I couldn't play chords or anything. I was four years old and no one was trying to teach me, but I would make up "songs" on the open strings that reminded me of music I'd heard on the television. Scores for crime dramas or suspense films.
What being in a band has taught you: Equanimity.
Most noteworthy musical career highlight to date: We played in San Antonio two nights ago and it was awesome!
Pre-show rituals: Four stretches, 10 breaths, one shot of tequila
Animal that most illustrates your style in playing/performing: Fried Alligator
Greatest influences: Movies, friends.

Jenny Logan

Age: 32
Instrument: Bass
Moment/experience when you knew you wanted to pursue music: There was no single moment. I was playing piano and making guitars out of rubber bands since before I learned how to talk properly.
What being in a band has taught you: How to be part of a functional family.
Most noteworthy musical career highlight to date: Opening for L7. I've loved them since I was a teenager, and they've had a big impact on my thinking about women and performance. They still slay live, and they're super fucking nice, too.
Pre-show rituals: Wandering off to explore whatever city we're in.
Animal that most illustrates your style in playing/performing: Excitable dog with poor sense of balance.
Greatest influences: Joy Division, Jay Reatard, Denis Johnson, Roberto Bolano.

See more intimate photos of your favorite bands by visiting our Portraits page.

10 Things You Should Know About Farewell, My Love

2016-11-03T05:00:00.000Z

After releasing three EPs and their 2013 full-length record, Gold Tattoos, Farewell, My Love were ready for something new. Aside from having a number of lineup changes over the course of the Phoenix band's history as well as a fresh look, the emo rock quartet have finally found their sweet spot and created their latest album, Above It All. With a rejuvenated energy and their creative juices flowing, we caught up with singer and drummer Chad Kowal and to find out more about Farewell, My Love. Whether you're an OG fan or someone who recently picked up their new LP, Chad gave us the lowdown on what you should know about the band.

The Band Name Was Inspired By a LOVEHEATEHERO LYRIC

"Röbby [Creasey] is the one who came up with it," Chad revealed. "I believe it’s a lyric in a LOVEHATEHERO song, if I’m correct. The meaning of the band name is sometimes in order to move on in life, you just have to kind of let go of things that hold you back. So I think Farewell, My Love is a great representation of what we want our fans to feel. They can listen to our music, and then they can let go of what’s bothering them."

They Ditched the Makeup

After years of donning the emo made-up look, the guys took that all away and grew up into a new look and style. "Progression is an important part of any band’s success, even if you don’t always want to," Chad said. "You don’t want to do the same thing over and over again. And for us, we kind of did the makeup image thing since the beginning of the band, and we felt this was an opportunity to do something new. For us, we just felt ourselves growing out of it. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that we don’t enjoy bands who do that or enjoy doing it [ourselves] now and again. But we felt that it was time to change."

This Isn't the First Time Chad Played Drums and Sang in a Band

"I had some prior experience doing that in my previous band — a metalcore band — where I was the drummer but also the vocalist," he explained. "So I had the experience — not necessarily being in the front of the stage — but singing on tracks."

So Chad's Move From the Drum Kit to the Mic Was "Seamless"

Because of the experience in the previous band, Chad said the transition "seemed pretty seamless honestly. I think I always had it in the back of my mind that I would love to do that some day. And when things weren’t really working with the lineup we had with vocals, I was excited to explore this new area and give it my best shot."

They Met Their Newest Member Through Another Musician's Dad

"We are friends with Chris Biersack, who’s the father of the singer of Black Veil Brides," Chad shared. "And when I moved to vocals, we were looking for a guitar player. We put the feelers out for somebody, and [Chris] suggested London [Mckuffey]. We went through the process of trying him out, and he’s been an absolutely amazing addition to the band. He’s one of the best guitar players I’ve ever seen. He’s very driven to make this band the best it could possibly be, so it was very positive thing overall."

They Run Their Own Label

Wanting to have more creative control, Farewell, My Love started their own label, CRCL Records — taking the first letter of each band member's first name — in order to put out their latest effort, Above It All. "We kind of wanted to create something that was eclectic and were like our favorite records growing up — like an album by Queen or Guns N’ Roses or My Chemical Romance or AFI," Chad conveyed. "We kind of just took our time to make it as unique as we possibly could."

And Despite the Hard Work, It's All Paid Off

"I feel we create our best material — whether it’s video work or touring — the best stuff we’ve ever done was when there were no [other] hands involved," he said. "It’s basically us all coming together, throwing our ideas on the table and making it happen. And for us, it only seemed natural to create our own label. It’s been a lot more work and a lot more hours dedicated to different aspects of the band. But with the reception of this new record and the reactions so far, it seems to be 100 percent worth it."

"Don't Stop" Aims to Inspire The Fans

"A lot of our songs are messages to the fans," Chad said. "So for 'Never Stop,' we didn't want them to stop fighting for what they believed in and to always go after their dreams and make what they thought was unachievable achievable."

But They Also Inspire the Band, Too

"I actually have 'Never Stop' tattooed on my hand as a reminder to myself that no matter how hard everything can get to, to always give my best effort," he revealed. "I need to try get lost in the shuffle that is the music business."

And If You Tweet Them, They Will Reply

"Probably the most fan interaction we get is on Twitter," Chad said. "If you ever want to get a hold of us or anything, tweet at us and we'll try our best to get back to you as soon as possible."

Revisiting 6 Classic Hip-Hop Albums From November '93

2016-11-03T05:00:00.000Z

Very rarely do the events of a single month change everything for a genre of music, but thanks to six landmark releases, November of ’93 changed hip-hop forever.

There were legendary debut albums, incredible sonic shifts, sampling the likes of which we hadn’t heard before and lyricism that was completely on another level.

The following six albums, all of which were released in November of 1993, elevated multiple aspects of hip-hop, and continue to inspire artists to this day.

Wu-Tang Clan – 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'

At a time when hip-hop was feeling a heavy funk influence from the West Coast, and pop rap had just had its first of many days in the sun, Wu-Tang Clan brought rugged East Coast hip-hop back to the forefront with Enter the Wu-Tang.

With gritty beats that featured samples from old kung fu films, and raw lyrical content from all nine emcees, every track on Enter the Wu-Tang hit harder than a wrecking ball and re-announced the East Coast’s presence in hip-hop.

While “C.R.E.A.M.” ended up the biggest hit off of the album, the legend of Wu-Tang’s self-funded video for the album’s lead single, “Protect Ya Neck,” with each member reportedly chipping in $100 for the project, might be the best story from it.

A Tribe Called Quest – 'Midnight Marauders'

Back when a city didn’t have to have one distinct sound, on the same day Wu-Tang released Enter the Wu-Tang (November 9, 1993), A Tribe Called Quest released Midnight Marauders.

While Wu-Tang was gritty, ATCQ was jazz influenced, and while Wu-Tang were fresh faces on the scene, ATCQ were veterans with two albums already under their belts, including the widely lauded The Low End Theory.

When Midnight Marauders’ lead single, “Award Tour,” hit radio, it showed jazz influenced hip-hop that was big on lyricism was still going to be an important part of the genre and could co-exist alongside both its gritty, and its funky, brothers.

Snoop Dogg – 'Doggystyle'

While the East Coast was embracing everything from raw rhymes to jazz, in 1993 much of the West Coast was all about the funk. Warren G and Nate Dogg would rap about the G-Funk era a year later, but the genre was actually in full swing in November of ’93 when Snoop Dogg released his debut album, Doggystyle.

The funk sample laced, Dr. Dre produced, beats, combined with Snoop’s smooth flow and lyrical dexterity, proved to be a combination pretty much everybody loved.

It’s funny to think about how the man who once told us, “It ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none,” now has a show with Martha Stewart, but it just goes to show that NO ONE is immune to Snoop’s funky charm.

Del the Funky Homosapien – 'No Need for Alarm'

Considered one of the essential Hiero albums, in a throwback review of Del the Funky Homosapien's No Need for Alarm, RapReviews.com wrote, “... in true school circles, No Need for Alarm was a seminal recording which pre-dated, and eventually spawned, an entire generation of underground rappers with off-beat flows ...”

A split from the G-Funk a large percentage of the West Coast was embracing, song likes “Catch A Bad One” showed there were some true lyricists out west.

No Need for Alarm became a blueprint for underground hip-hop artists for years to come, and it could be argued that 23 years later it’s STILL the blueprint for many underground hip-hop artists.

E-40 – 'Federal'

Before Biggie, and Jay Z were telling their stories of street life in their rhymes, Kool G Rap and E-40 were bridging the gap between the so-called gangster rap of N.W.A., and the street life storytelling that has made so many artists famous.

With an unconventional rhyme style, E-40 not only managed to fit more words into a single bar than most emcees, he also oftentimes created his own language.

His storytelling was nothing short of vivid, and songs like “Extra Manish” are a perfect example of how he helped to shape many of our current favorite emcees.

Us3 – 'Hand on the Torch'

Perhaps the ultimate combination of jazz and hip-hop, Us3 was born when Geoff Wilkinson was given access to the Blue Note Records archives, and told he could work his magic with the music.

Armed with that access, along with a host of collaborators, he created Hand on the Torch, an album that featured Blue Note samples, live jazz musicians and top notch emceeing.

The album’s lead single, “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia),” was inescapable for the better part of a year, and for good reason, it still stands up as a fantastic example of how joyous, funky, and fun, jazz and hip-hop can be when married by the right musical minister.

Want more blasts from the past? Check out our #ThrowbackThursday page.

Emma Watson Has Taken to Hiding Free Books on Public Transit

2016-11-02T21:04:14.737Z

If you’re traveling by London tube, you might come across some hidden free book gems along the way: Emma Watson has been craftily placing 100 paperback copies of beloved writer Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Momaround the busy stations.

The Beauty and the Beast actor and U.N. Goodwill Ambassador heads up an open, feminist book club, called “My Shared Shelf”—and the Angelou autobiography is November’s read. To make it happen, Watson partnered with Books on the Underground, a “community project” that regular drops free books in unexpected spots around London’s tube network.

On her Instagram, Watson cheekily shared her secretive antics as she deposited the copies throughout stations and in train cars. And for those not lucky enough to snag a free autobiographies in London, they can always get in on the action by picking up our own copy and joining the book club conversation online.

I've been hiding copies of Mom & Me & Mom for @booksontheunderground on the tube today! See if you can find one tomorrow! 📚👀 @oursharedshelf

A photo posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Nov 1, 2016 at 2:29pm PDT

📚👀 @booksontheunderground @oursharedshelf #Mom&Me&Mom

A video posted by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Nov 1, 2016 at 2:40pm PDT

Commuters have already started spotting and picking up the tomes, hidden in plain sight. They even get a handwritten note from Watson enclosed.

Another piece of helpful advice, there. #booksontheunderground

A photo posted by Books On The Underground (@booksontheunderground) on Nov 1, 2016 at 6:32am PDT

When @emmawatson makes your day with secret books on the tube #booksontheunderground #oursharedshelf

A photo posted by Jenny (@jennnnysymonds) on Nov 1, 2016 at 7:02am PDT

Will your morning be worth talking about? More copies of Mom&Me&Mom will hit the London Underground today with @emmawatson's note inside... @metro.co.uk

A photo posted by Books On The Underground (@booksontheunderground) on Nov 2, 2016 at 1:07am PDT

As to why Watson chose this Angelou work, the seventh in her series of autobiographies?

“Vivian Baxter [Angelou’s mother] cuts a fiercely unapologetic figure, imperfect but admirable, and we discover not just how she had a hand in Angelou’s evolution as a black woman but also in her feminist perspective, her independence and self-awareness, all of which contributed to her unique way of looking at the world and the way she expressed herself on the page,” she explained on Our Shared Shelf’s site, calling the book a “favorite.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Louis C.K.: ‘If You Vote for Trump, You’re a Sucker’

2016-11-02T20:53:18.802Z

Louis C.K. doesn’t think Hillary Clinton is the lesser of two evils. He believes she’s the strongest candidate for the job.

During an interview on Tuesday night’s Conan, the 49-year-old comedian voiced his views on the election to O’Brien.

Bryan Cranston Will ‘Definitely Move’ if Donald Trump Wins

“I think she’s great. I think she’s really talented, and I think she’s super smart, and I’d take her over anybody that would do it,” he told the host. “To me, it’s really exciting to have the first mother in the White House … it’s not about the first woman, it’s about the first mom.”

Louis, who is known for his material on inept parenting, went on to explain why he feels mothers are better caretakers than fathers. He then launched into a monologue about why a U.S. President has to be able to endure critics.

“Every time [Trump is] criticized, everything stops and he makes everybody pay. That’s not how it works. We need somebody who can take abuse. Hillary Clinton can take abuse.”

He continued:

“She’s been taking it and taking it. This is what’s been going on. We’ve been hazing her. We’ve been holding her down and spitting in her mouth, and yelling at her, and she just gets up and keeps working, so I’m totally for her.”

After touching on the investigation of Clinton’s e-mails and the question of whether she’s likable, he divided voters into three categories.

Watch Jon Stewart Turn His Twitter Beef With Donald Trump Into a Stand-Up Routine

“If you vote for Hillary, you’re a grown-up, if you vote for Trump, you’re a sucker, if you don’t vote for anybody, you’re an a–hole.”

He’s far from the first comedian or public figure to criticize Trump, and has previously compared him to Hitler.

Watch the full clip above.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Meghan Markle Posts Cryptic Instagram Photos as Prince Harry Dating Rumors Fly

2016-11-02T20:45:51.858Z

Meghan Markle has posted a series of cryptic photos on social media after news of her rumored romance with Prince Harry broke over the weekend.

Is Prince Harry Dating Actress Meghan Markle? Here’s What We Know

News of the Suits actress’ rumored relationship with the royal emerged in the British press over the weekend, and People reported the story on Monday, pointing to the pair’s matching bracelets and shared love of animals, children and humanitarian work as evidence for their compatibility.

Bosch puzzle & tea ✔️ #Bosch #teatime #TheTig

A photo posted by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Nov 1, 2016 at 11:29am PDT

Sleep tight xx

A photo posted by Meghan Markle (@meghanmarkle) on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:19pm PDT

British outlet The Sun said Markle’s Instagram photos could hint at a royal romance because the elephant shape of the teapot could be “a subtle nod” to the prince’s campaigning for the protection of the endangered species.

Gilmore Girls Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino Wishes You Weren’t So Obsessed With Rory’s Boyfriends

According to the Daily Express, the pair are rumored to have met in May when Harry was promoting the Invictus Games in Toronto, where Suits is filmed. Markle, 35, plays paralegal Rachel Zane on the popular legal drama series, and is also an advocate for the U.N. and the charity World Vision.

Kensington Palace has not commented on reports regarding the rumored new couple.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

5 Times I Fangirled During Brand New's 'TDAGARIM' Vegas Tour Stop

2016-11-02T19:13:51.549Z

I have been a fan of Brand New for half my life. I've seen them nearly two dozen times, and every time feels like the first. That's what they do to you.

So when I heard they were going on a fall tour (despite just ending a co-headlining tour with Modest Mouse near the end of the summer) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, I had to go. No Los Angeles date? Oh well, guess I'll have to make a trip to Vegas.

They were playing at The Chelsea, the newest intimate venue at my favorite hotel on the strip: The Cosmopolitan. The choice wasn't hard. I was going to fly to Sin City for the night to watch my favorite band play my favorite album. Last night, Brand New performed not only TDAGARIM in its entirety, but also selections off Daisy and Deja Entendu. It was magnificent, and I was just as much a fangirl as I was when I first saw them 15 years ago. Here's what excited me the most.

The Merch

Katrina Nattress

During their tour with Modest Mouse, Brand New was pedaling shirts that read "Brand New 2000-2018" separated by an upside down cross made of flowers. This shirt upset me, as it did many fans. What does it mean? Is our beloved band breaking up? I refused to buy it. But last night at The Chelsea, I wanted everything. They were selling TDAGARIM merch from t-shirts to pins to the mask worn on the album cover. It was glorious. I was in heaven...until I got to the front of the line only to find out all the shirts were strictly men's sizes. I'll forgive you, Brand New, but next time think of the ladies!

Selections off 'Daisy' and 'Deja Entendu'

Erik Kabik/erikkabik.com

As I mentioned previously, before delving into the album of the night Brand New treated us to a couple songs off Daisy ("Sink" and "Gasoline") and a handful off fan-favorite Deja Entendu, including "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" and "Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't." This was all wonderful, however, the most magical selection was "Play Crack The Sky." This song just speaks to me, it always has. Lyrics from this track caption my senior yearbook picture. I get goosebumps every time I hear it. And to see it performed live — that's just another level. Last night was not the first time I've seen Jesse Lacey serenade us with this melancholic masterpiece, but it doesn't matter, I still burst into tears. (I cry every time I see this live, don't judge me.)

The Crowd Singing Along

Erik Kabik/erikkabik.com

The Chelsea is intimate by relative standards. It holds just over 3,000 people, whereas the last venue I saw Brand New play holds closer to 20,000. But 3,000 people is still a lot, especially when they're all singing along. And that's exactly what happened last night, for the full hour-and-forty-minute-long set. That's what's great about Brand New fans. They're passionate and not afraid to belt out the lyrics to their favorite songs (which, let's be honest, is all of them).

Jesse Lacey's Choice Words

Erik Kabik/erikkabik.com

Anyone who's seen Brand New knows Jesse Lacey isn't much of a talker. That was the case last night, aside from a few choice words. Near the end of "Degausser," a fight broke out in the pit. "GET THE FUCK OUT!" Lacey started screaming, abruptly ending the song to stop the violence. After expressing his true feelings about mosh pits and crowd surfing and revealing a bit about his family life and two children, he apologized for yelling and went back to the music. But that wasn't the end of it. As the set concluded, he lamented to the crowd once again. "Sorry for getting mad earlier," he said. "I feel really embarrassed by that. Thirty-eight and still figuring out how to be...Thank you, crazy, weird city. We hope to make it back soon."

Other than the vulnerability he showed onstage, what was most exciting about this statement was the last bit. After all the talk of their summer tour being their last, you never know when they'll call it quits (though 2018 is looming), so it's nice to get some reassurance.

Old Video Footage During "Untitled"

Erik Kabik/erikkabik.com

Though they played TDAGARIM from front to back, Brand New did something a little different. Instead of playing "Untitled" where it lands on the track list, they saved the eery instrumental for last, extending it to a celebrated jam session. As the first chord chimed, flashes of old video footage lit up the screens behind the band members. We saw a young Vinnie Accardi sporting an "I

It truly is amazing when a band that's been together for over 15 years keeps its core members intact. Brand New grew into adults playing music together, and we grew into adults watching them.

Want to see more lists? Check out our Everybody Loves a List! page.

Disco Fries Dish on Their Delicious Collaboration with Shanahan and Shy Martin

2016-11-02T17:01:53.104Z

Dr. Dre meets Radiohead meets Sigur Ros: those are the reference points that the producer-DJ duo Disco Fries uses to describe their sound. Danny Danger and Nick Ditri met at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, randomly paired in the freshman dorm. “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia, and “MMMBop” by Hanson; these songs top the guys’ list of all-time guilty pleasures. (Millennial artists and their ‘90s fetish, it’s a thing!)

In truth, Disco Fries’ sonic ground lies in the atmospheric EDM space. Definitely club candy, but not too far from that weird ‘90s Bermuda Triangle they draw for themselves. Both Danger and Ditri have the range you would expect from their pedigree; they have writing credits on records by Tiesto, Krewella and Ditri composes songs for artists on several major recording labels.

Their collaboration with fist-pumping club producer Shanahan, “Is It Over,” features Shy Martin on vocals reminds that warm days are behind us. The season for scarves and comfort food is here, and Danny and Nick are excited — after all, their name comes from a dish that should be called Jersey Poutine.

Hometown: Danny Danger grew up in northern Virginia and Nick [Ditri] is from New Jersey.

Homebase:

Danny: After a few years in New York City, I’m back down in Virginia.

Nick: I’m in Red Bank, NJ.

What is the history of Disco Fries as a duo and where is the name from?

Nick: We randomly met as college roommates freshman year at Berklee College of Music and the rest is history. As far as the name goes, we got it when we were eating in a local diner in New Jersey after ordering a dish called “Disco Fries.” French fries with cheese and gravy. Not the best tasting stuff on the planet but the name did the trick.

What do you say about your music to someone who'd never heard you before?

Nick: Our catalog as a whole is very disjointed. We tend to make whatever the hell we want and hopefully it is well received. We’ve been pretty lucky on that front to date. The Disco Fries sound is melodic, uplifting dance music with hints of funk, ‘90s rock, classical, and hip-hop. This is always the hardest thing to try and verbalize.

Do you have an EDM experience that changed your life?

Danny: First DJ I ever saw was Benny Benassi at a club in Boston when I had just turned 21, probably. I don’t even know that I’d consider it EDM since the term hadn’t been coined yet, but it was the first time I got to experience that nightclub atmosphere.

Nick: I think I was in 8th grade, around 13 years old, when I had my first club experience thanks to a spot called Hunka Bunka that used to host teen nights. It’s interesting to think about since I got into DJing parties prior to that but seeing a proper club DJ in action definitely solidified that this is what I wanted to do.

You were trained at the Berklee School of Music; how on earth did you end up playing electronic music?

Nick: I realized when I was about 11 or 12 that I wanted to DJ. It sounds absolutely ridiculous but I was mesmerized by what the local DJ was doing at school dances. Something about the blending of genres, tempos, and changing the vibe in the room grabbed me. We never “formally” learned to DJ but I think that beyond some of the technical aspects, formal education on DJing is impossible. If you can’t read a room, it doesn’t matter how much you know about mixing in-key or beat-matching; you’ll fall flat.

Danny: After we made a few bootlegs and mashups of ‘80s records with some uptempo beats, dance music just grabbed us. It was a snowball effect where one successful remix led to the next and then eventually original records came into play.

What do you like better, DJing or producing?

Danny: Producing came first for me and it’s still what I enjoy doing the most. With that said, being on the road and meeting fans is inspiring and an important part of our creative process, too.

Nick: I’m an equal parts production and DJing guy. Being involved in dance music, if you are detached from the live element, the music seems to suffer. That said, if we’re on the road too much, it’s impossible to create in a clear headspace.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Nick: I absolutely love what Gallant is doing at the moment. He is equal parts classic soul, next generation R&B, and has unbelievable range. I’d imagine we’d create some kind of musical journey together on a record that is absolutely unplayable in a club but would take you on an epic trip if you were high. We’ve also been working with a new artist by the name of DOMENICO that has some killer indie R&B coming out.

Whose songs do you love to remix?

Danny: Generally we like to remix songs that are super interesting melodically and the vocal has some sort of unique characteristic too it. If we aren’t keen on the original song, it’s usually tough for us to vibe with doing a remix.

Which artists do you enjoy listening to and inspire you?

Danny: I enjoy listening to so much recently because it seems like there’s an endless stream of good music being made right now. A lot of it isn’t even what we play in our sets but it’s still something I draw inspiration from. Lemaitre, Swindail, Virtual Riot, and Myrne are a few I’ve been following recently that I think are doing really cool things.

Name your favorite cities in the world to play shows in.

Danny: Scottsdale, Arizona is always a fun one. People like to party and our style of playing works well for the crowds out there. Least favorite? I don’t think I have one. Every city we’ve been to has had something interesting to offer and I’d feel bad calling one out for being lame..

Nick: I’m with Danny on this. Love Scottsdale to death. We just hit Ireland on tour and did some really small cities in the countryside. Those small towns know how to party hard.

What's your relationship with Shanahan? How did you meet?

Danny: We’d never been in contact prior to working on this record and was cool getting to know him through the process. The collaboration was orchestrated by the guys at Enhanced who thought we’d all get along nicely and we’re very grateful to them for setting us up together.

What songs are your guilty pleasures?

Danny: I’m partial to Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn.” But actually I don’t even really feel that guilty about that one. Does it still count?

Nick: I’ve been known to add Hanson “MMMBop” to party playlists at family events.

What influenced the making of "Is it Over?”

Danny: Sonically we wanted to take a sound we had used before and use it in a new way. We approached in a similar fashion to our records ‘"Stars Come Out," "We Are One," and “The Light,” but at a slower tempo it takes on a very different feel.

If you were a hashtag what would you be?

Nick: #WhatsWrongWithTheseTwo

Pretty Little Liars' Shay Mitchell Shares Tearful Goodbye Video

2016-11-02T16:57:19.902Z

After seven seasons, Pretty Little Liars will be coming to a close. And the cast, while excited to move onto new endeavors, is very sad about it. Shay Mitchell, who plays Emily Fields on the show, shared her feelings on her YouTube channel Tuesday (November 1).

"Please excuse my crying because this was a very emotional moment for me. I wanted to be able to share this moment with all of you, who have helped me get to where I am today. I am so thankful for all of the support that you guys have given me in the past seven years, and I am excited to continue this journey with you," she captioned the video.

Over the course of the almost nine-minute video, Shay recounted the memories, emotions and how she felt the show changed her life.

"I don't know what my life would look like without Pretty Little Liars … Not saying that there weren’t tears, or heartbreak, or any other obstacles," she said tearfully.

She continued, "But as a whole PLL and Emily Fields shaped me into something that I’m not sure can ever be topped, and I am still awestruck by the whole experience and can’t believe it’s over."

The seventh and final season of Pretty Little Liars will air in 2017.

Grab some Kleenex and watch Shay's video below.

Justin Timberlake Talks About Recording New Music With Pharrell

2016-11-02T16:47:23.046Z

Between his new film, Trolls, and being a family man, Justin Timberlake has kept himself busy. However, that doesn't mean that he's stepped away from making new music. After all, he did take the lead on the Trolls soundtrack, which included the smash hit, "Can't Stop the Feeling."

Justin recently told Variety about getting into the studio with longtime collaborator and mentor, Pharrell, and where they are with the new material.

"I wouldn't say [my new music] is the antithesis of 20/20, but it does sound more singular," he explained. If 20/20 sounded like it literally surrounds your entire head, this stuff feels more like it just punches you between the eyes."

Meanwhile Pharrell said, "Songwise, I think we've got a good solid six that are like, 'Whoa, what was that? Play that again."

Pharrell also talked about how JT has grown musically. "I would pay Justin a huge compliment to say he’s just discovering who he is now," he said.

He continued, "For the biggest pop stars in the world, the place where they have the most trouble is honesty. It’s hard for them to know that the beauty of a record, the sweetest spot in the song, is where they show vulnerability. Because there’s a formulaic sort of vulnerability, like, 'Baby, I can't sleep without you …' and that’s not really it. But if you’re able to really screenshot your own vulnerability, and frame it properly, and color-correct it, then it becomes something that every human can relate to. And I think Justin is in the place where he’s mastering that right now."

Justin still has no set time frame for the release of the new music, but we're looking forward to hear what he comes up with.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen To Marcus Alan Ward’s “Devil In Popular Culture” Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-02T16:42:36.685Z

Marcus Alan Ward knows how to artfully mix and mash different genres. That’s especially true on “Devil In Popular Culture,” the newest single from the Cleveland, OH-based musician. It’s an electro-laced R&B song — but it also brings in industrial elements and an epic '70s guitar solo. And, surprisingly, everything fits.

"'Devil In Popular Culture' is a psychedelic commentary on the adverse effects of social media, oversharing, and surveillance," says Marcus Alan Ward to Myspace. "I think it taps into an increasing paranoia and cultural unease that's present in 2016. Sonically it's a healthy mix of soul, garage rock, electro and beyond. I had lots of fun with this one."

Sit down, take a breath and lose yourself in Marcus Alan Ward's funky world below.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

Lil Wayne Doesn't Relate to Black Lives Matter Movement

2016-11-02T16:19:48.160Z

Lil Wayne is one of the biggest rappers in music right now. And due to his success, the New Orleans artists doesn't think the Black Lives Matter movement affects him.

In an interview with ABC's Nightline, he was confused by reporter Lindsey Davis' questions regarding social issues and remarked, "I don't feel connected to a damn thing that ain't got nothin' to do with me."

He then went on to say, " I'm a young black rich motherfucker. If that don’t let you know that America understand."

Watch the full interview with Nightline here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Getting to Know... Aaron Gillespie, Ace Enders & Vinnie Caruana

2016-11-02T08:26:38.797Z

After reaching the biggest of stages with famous rock bands, there are a number of ways you can go as a successful musician.

For Aaron Gillespie, Ace Enders and Vinnie Caruana, the latest step in their musical journey has been to band together and travel across the country with nothing but their acoustic guitars (and an electric guitar... and a bass drum) on the aptly named Acoustic Tour Across the USA.

Hailing from some of the most influential bands of the late ‘90s through present day, the three musical icons are currently pursuing their own solo projects and playing in smaller venues, allowing them to reconnect on a more personal level with their audiences. Myspace hung out with Vinnie, Ace and Aaron before their acoustic sets at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California in order to get to know them a little better.

Vinnie Caruana

Bands: Singer for The Movielife, I Am The Avalanche, Peace’d Out
Smaller Venues versus Large Concerts: The last Taste of Chaos show, I think there was close to 12,000 people there. It was awesome, and I’ll never forget it. On the downside, I was still 20 feet from the closest person. This is totally different because you could fit this entire room on that stage. When you break it down, you get real close and it’s not this “Look at me!” thing. It’s a different kind of moment, and it’s super cool. I love that closeness, and it makes you feel like you’re doing something special.
Finding Balance in Life and Other Projects: I’m marrying the right person. Speaking on a personal level, almost every other relationship I’ve been in has in some way or another died because I was traveling a lot — whether it was me being young and an asshole or fighting because you don’t know how to deal with the distance. I have a very understanding fiancée who has traveled for a living for most of her life as well. Now, it has a lot to do with being older too. You have a better idea of what you want, and you know what kind of relationships are going to work. You know what to do and the sacrifices you need to make, and you’re willing to do those things to make sure that your personal life doesn’t fall apart. Musically, it’s easy for me to juggle the bands because The Movielife will play so many shows a year. I Am The Avalanche basically gets together three or four times a year to drink beer. The solo stuff seems like an awful lot of touring, but it’s not that much. You get used to being away, and you get used to this being your lifestyle.
Continued Success of Original Band: The Movielife definitely played our best shows last year — 12 years after we broke up. That’s something that we’re very lucky to have, and I know that kind of happens a lot when bands get back together — they seem to play to bigger rooms than they thought they would. Speaking for myself and for The Movielife, we’re very lucky. It’s awesome, and I have a lot of fun singing songs from when I was younger and working on new music with the band as well. That’s the kind of stuff that I don’t take for granted because I do realize that not only did I not plan on being in a band, but I didn’t plan on being in the same band in 2016 and having our best shows.

Aaron Gillespie

Bands: Drummer for Underoath
Acoustic Tour Across the USA: We’re having a good time playing to small rooms. It’s cool to get to be face to face and talk to people. It’s really simple and there isn’t a lot of ego — except for Vinnie. But no, really, no one is a diva. I think that we all just do our own thing.
Smaller Venues versus Large Concerts: A lot of artists get wrapped up in how big the show is and how much money was spent on production and you forget that the songs are still what people connect with. That’s what your vehicle is for your message or for your reason or whatever, and I think that when you get into a situation like this and distill it down to just the songs, that’s all you have. You aren’t doing anything expressly cool. You’re just sitting there with a guitar. It’s super fun for me because I think that you really hear the effect that the songs have, and you can actually look at someone and see it — especially for me as a drummer who sings. I typically don’t see anything, so it’s good for me.
Finding Balance in Life and Other Projects: It’s your new normal. I don’t think any of us have ever really done much else. I think if you ask a 21-year-old the same question, it’d be a completely different answer. Once you’re in your 30s, you know the right things to say and the dumb shit not to do. As far as projects go, it’s your passion and it’s your job — which is pretty special to be able to do what you love for money because art for money is always a fucked up thing. To actually see it happen to where you can support yourself and your family is really interesting, and I think you either cherish that and do it the right way or you don’t.

Arthur “Ace” Enders

Bands: Singer for The Early November, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business
Acoustic Tour Across the USA: My favorite type of touring involves the more intimate shows where you can connect with people in a different way. I have a hard time connecting sometimes with people and communicating well enough, so at this level, it’s fantastic. You can really get in and create a moment with the people who attend the show, and that’s what it’s all about for me. I feel like this group of guys is great for that too, because it seems like everybody has that moment on stage where they create something cool that somebody hopefully will remember and take something positive from it. That’s why we do these types of shows.
Smaller Venues versus Large Concerts: The songs really come out and take on a new life, and I think it’s a real showcase for that. I experience the songs in a way that I’ll kind of snap into a zone while I’m singing these songs in this setting where I’m even hearing them better since I’m not distracted by lights and noise, and I’ll think “Whoa, damn I’m good!” I don’t mean that, but more “Wow, this is what I meant when I wrote that, and I’m really feeling it right now.” You get to play these songs and have people really hear them. You can’t hide at all. This is it. If you don’t like this, then you definitely won’t like anything else I do.
Evolution as a Songwriter: I started writing songs in high school. I try to keep a similar process because I like to not forget what that initial spark was of why I started writing. I got lost for many years trying to chase that one song that’s going to be the song. If I’m being real, you go down that road and it’s very hard to come back from that. I just try now to be as — I don’t want to say ignorant, but when you’re young and you write a song you just do it. You don’t really know when you’re writing something because it’s just a feeling. Now, I try to take pieces of that to get back to that "in the moment" or "stream of consciousness" type of place. I went from not knowing anything but writing songs, and then knowing a lot of stuff and writing a bunch of songs. Now I’m trying to find a happy medium between the two worlds.

The 7 Most Epic Moments of LA's First NXT Show

2016-11-02T07:00:00.000Z

Inside the world famous Hollywood Palladium, we witnessed one of the best live wrestling events in years — going back to the days of the Attitude Era.

NXT made its way to Los Angeles this past Sunday night, and we were there for the final night of the five-city California tour. "Finally!" Southern California fans yelled out in excitement as WWE’s most popular brand made its much anticipated debut in the City of Angels. Did NXT live up to the hype? “Oh Hell Yeah!” as Stone Cold Steve Austin would say. Superstars like Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, Asuka and Bobby Roode — amongst many others — delivered exciting and memorable matches, as they fed off the palpable energy the LA crowd delivered all night.

Far different from any of the WWE main brand shows that usually fill up arenas like the Staples Center, this intimate venue felt special — like being invited to a hidden speakeasy. Instead of overpriced spirits and cocktails, what we found inside were dropkicks, clotheslines and a Kinshasa! From the chants that started outside in the lines, to the OMG moves delivered in the ring, the night was a “Glorious” spectacle.

Breaking everything down for you, here are the main highlights and moments that made an impression on us.

(Warning: Spoilers after the break!)

Well It’s About Time!

Over the last three years, NXT has risen to become arguably the premiere wrestling brand. Based in Orlando, NXT has toured throughout the country (primarily the east coast) and around the world, but had not done a show in Los Angeles — one of WWE’s most coveted markets. Who knows why it took NXT so long to make it out to Hollywood? But when they finally arrived, the Los Angeles faithful were ready. Lines wrapped all around the Hollywood Palladium. Once inside, it was shoulder to shoulder with fans showing their love and appreciation for the wrestlers on the NXT roster.

Many of the current NXT superstars have strong ties and live in the LA area. From local boy Samoa Joe to Shinsuke Nakamura — who trained with Joe at the NJPW dojo in Los Angeles— and the Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG) alum like Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong, this city knew how to pop for the NXT show. Hopefully the NXT brass took notice and will treat the fans with an LA TakeOver event soon.

💥🤘😜🤘💥 #shinsukenakamura #wwenxt #nxtlosangeles #nakamura https://t.co/hKpsOkWE0K pic.twitter.com/QPKZSD9KBY
— Jonathan Bowles (@JonathanBowles) October 31, 2016

The Best Match of the Night Was…

This could easily be a toss up between #DIY (Gargano and Ciampa) vs. The Authors of Pain or the “Glorious” Bobby Roode vs. Kota Ibushi. The edge goes to Roode vs. Ibushi, considering Kota’s appearance was a bonus treat for the crowd. But before we get to that match, the “Holy Shit” chant spot-of-the-night occurred when Rezar from The Authors of Pain caught both Gargano and Ciampa in midair then violently drove them into the mat with a simultaneous Samoan drop and fall-away slam! Many people were left saying "Wow!" after that.

Booby Roode is definitely over with the crowds. As has been the case all across the country, the moment Roode’s entrance music hits, fans stretch out their arms and serenade the man with “Glorious.” He’s found the right gimmick at the right time. As much love as Bobby got, Kota Ibushi got the same with possibly a bigger pop once his name appeared on the screen. Making a name for himself in WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic tournament, the Japanese high-flyer is an amazing in-ring talent, and his match with Roode showed a potential rivalry down the line. Even though Bobby got the W, both men came out looking good as the match got a standing applause at the end.

I also got to see Ibushi wrestle live for the first time. His match with Roode was GLORIOUS #NXTLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/jD82TGCACh
— John Ernenputsch (@jpooch21) October 31, 2016

Crowds Love to Chant

Fans love being part of the show, and how they demonstrate it is by chanting their praise or disapproval of wrestlers or matches. Sure, sometimes it gets obnoxious — bordering on the line of being self-congratulatory — but it’s pro wrestling. LA was no different in providing the soundtrack for the evening which included these favorites:

"This is Awesome"
"This is Wrestling"
"Fight Forever"
"10"
"Asuka/Joe’s Gonna Kill You"

Most of these you’ve heard before, as they’ve been used countless times at Full Sail Live and TakeOver events. Being LA, you heard a high volume of “PWG” chants in addition to “10” being used for everything. From near-falls to count-outs and punches thrown, the only number heard was “10,” much to the referees’ displeasure. Tye Dillinger’s “10” has become the “What?” of NXT.

The new thing for this crowd in LA to do is to yell "10" whenever a ref is counting. Big Tye Dillinger fans here. #NXTLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/me0niP7inv
— Piero P. (@THAT_G0MEZ) October 31, 2016

The Perfect 10 Is A Hit

Speaking of Tye Dillinger, the journeyman underdog has truly done the work and paid his dues to finally be climbing the NXT card. Fans have embraced his character and the “10” chants (as stated) have spread like wildfire. Here, he was pitted against the Australian Buddy Murphy, who has yet to find the right gimmick but is slowly becoming an enjoyable heel. Both men put on an entertaining, enjoyable match that was crisp and well-told. Tye’s upcoming match against Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, is sure to establish him as an upper-card talent for the brand.

@WWEDillinger at #NXTLosAngeles #Ten pic.twitter.com/iPf5V1o0Uf
— No Way José (@elJGY) October 31, 2016

Asuka Vs. Ember Moon???

Even though both women partnered up in a tag team match against Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, it’s only a matter of time before they battle each other. There’s no other alternative with the way things are. After cleaning out the division, there’s no real challenge left for Asuka. It’s gotten to the point where WWE is bringing in free agent names like Mickie James to compete against her. While fairly new to the company, Ember Moon has the skill set and experience to go toe-to-toe with Asuka and compete for the title. After Asuka’s match with Mickie, expect Ember to jump to the front of the line and begin a must-see rivalry with “The Empress of Tomorrow."

Dream team of @WWEAsuka and @WWEEmberMoon was insane but nothing compared to the matches they will have against each other. #NXTLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/AGDddnUi4T
— Steve Kazee (@SteveKazee) November 1, 2016

Halloween Love

Being the night before Halloween, many festive fans came dressed as their favorite wrestling superstars. There were many Shinsuke’s and Asuka’s in attendance, but you could also spot some Kevin Owens doppelgangers and costumes of Ric Flair, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Maybe cosplay is the norm at NXT, but considering this is Hollywood — right off the Sunset Strip — people blended right in.

The King of Strong Style

Nakamura, Nakamura and, oh yeah, Nakamura. People came out in droves to see the excitement of NXT but also to see Shinsuke Nakamura live. With his career primarily based in Japan, outside of a few scattered Ring of Honor appearances, people stateside haven’t had the opportunity to see Shinsuke in person. That’s all changed now that he’s part of NXT, and SoCal fans wanted to experience the marvel for themselves. From the shirts, merchandise and aforementioned cosplay, Nakamura was the theme of the night, and rightfully so. Fingers crossed that this is the first of many matches Nakamura has in Los Angeles.

Still hyped that I got to see the King of Strong Style @ShinsukeN in person. #WWE #NXT #NXTLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/Cxvpld1V5G
— SportsFYI (@SportsFYI) November 1, 2016

Get your wrestling fix any day of the week by visiting our Wrestling Wednesday page.

Watch This Man Dressed as a CVS Receipt Go to CVS for Most Meta Halloween Costume

2016-11-01T18:43:55.430Z

This is about to get really meta: for Halloween, YouTube user Jeremy Schneider decided to dress up as a 12-foot printed, larger-than-life CVS receipt. Then he decided to visit his local CVS.

See Taylor Swift Dressed Up as Deadpool for Halloween

“I’m about to walk in to CVS to see what the reaction is and see if they’ll take my CVS bucks here,” he explains in the video he posted to document the adventure. Inside, casual shoppers and employees look on in amusement at his trailing costume, snapping photos of his unlikely outfit. Then he goes to check out, after picking up some bags of Halloween candy, naturally.

“Oh my God, does that work?” asks the giggling cashier when he asks her to scan the CVS bucks bar code he had printed on his costume. And it does.

Hero Dad Takes Daughter Trick-or-Treating on Cross-Country Flight

On his way out—after receiving another hefty receipt—he gets one final compliment: “That totally made my night,” one of the CVS employees admits. Well played, Jeremy Schneider.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Heidi Klum Took Halloween to the Next Level by Cloning Herself Five Times

2016-11-01T18:32:43.096Z

Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween party has become the stuff of legends, with the German supermodel often showing up in fantastical and seriously jaw-dropping ensembles that require major commitment to the costume (for example, last year, she showed up in a Jessica Rabbit costume complete with full body prosthetics)

Beyoncé, Jay Z and Blue Ivy Slayed in Their Family Halloween Costume

This year, however, Klum’s costume was much less labor-intensive, but that doesn’t mean that it was low-key. She showed up to her party as herself, but brought along five look-a-like models who were made up with prosthetics, hair, and makeup to look just like her “clones.” All six women wore nude thigh high boots, nude bodysuits, gold accessories, and sported Klum’s signature waves.

Lest you think that creating five gorgeous clones of Heidi Klum was easy, the supermodel posted Instagram videos of the hours-long process on her Instagram, which showed the girls getting made up from head to toe.

Starbucks Kicks Off Holiday Season With New Meaningful Green Cup

Watch Heidi’s clones come to life below.

Happy Halloween 😛#heidihalloween Thank you to @mitzipeirone @kelsey_elliot @rachelmwo @sashadubrovskaya @gabrielle_covers @bschmidtfx @scottmwallace @mikefontaine_ @prorenfx @nikkifontaine @anthonycanonica @gregpikulski @newyorknorm @lindahaymakeup @robeauhair @enamelle @tombachik

A photo posted by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) on Oct 31, 2016 at 11:44pm PDT

Soooooo much hair @robeauhair 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

A video posted by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) on Oct 31, 2016 at 5:45pm PDT

sooooooooooo much to do 💅🏻

A video posted by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) on Oct 31, 2016 at 4:43pm PDT

@prorenfx #heidihalloween

A video posted by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) on Oct 31, 2016 at 3:33pm PDT

What am I going to be? 👁🎃👻 #heidihalloween @prorenfx @mikefontaine_

A video posted by Heidi Klum (@heidiklum) on Oct 31, 2016 at 12:25pm PDT

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Zayn Delves Into "Eating Disorder" in New Book

2016-11-01T16:43:31.704Z

Zayn hasn't been shy about talking about his anxiety. However, in his autobiography, appropriately titled Zayn, the singer opened up about his unhealthy dietary habits while on the road with One Direction. Apparently it got so bad that he referred to it as an "eating disorder."

"When I look back at the images of myself from around November 2014, before the final tour, I can see how ill I was," he wrote in the book.

He further explained it to the AP and said, "I realized that I wasn't eating as much just down to the amount of work that we were doing ... our schedule was kind of crazy so we were all over the place."

He also added, "It was just more down to losing track of, you know, actually eating and being super busy and getting caught up with other things that 17- or 18-year-olds do, which normally entails them going out, drinking or partying, so it was a mixture of everything."

By the end of the interview, he did attempt to downplay it and say that he was never officially diagnosed with an eating disorder and that he was "a bit older and a bit more wiser."

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Listen to Marga Lane’s “Forgiven” Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-11-01T16:35:21.242Z

Forgiveness isn’t easy — both for the giver and the receiver. The LA-via-New York singer-songwriter Marga Lane channels the difficult feeling of having trouble accepting forgiveness on her new song “Forgiven,” which we’re premiering exclusively on Myspace today.

The visceral single blends Lane’s intricate, personal songwriting with her breathy, dynamic vocals. Sometimes so laden with emotion, “Forgiven” becomes almost haunting.

"Everyone deserves the chance to be forgiven, but we all at some point have felt like we may not be worthy of another person's forgiveness for whatever the reason may be. My song, "Forgiven", portrays that sentiment,” says Lane to Myspace.

“I wrote 'Forgiven' drawing from events in a previous relationship, incorporating all the thoughts and words I wish this person would have felt and expressed to me at that time. I changed the point of view so many times during the writing process, but really gravitated more towards flipping the narrative around and singing it in first person, as if I was the one who caused the hurt, similar to Rihanna's 'Unfaithful,'" continues the singer.

"I may not have been the person who had to be forgiven, but I had to forgive, especially forgive myself for the choices I made and just as with loving yourself, the more you forgive yourself, the easier it becomes to forgive others."

"Forgiven" will be released as part of Lane's upcoming EP called Undressed, which comes out on December 2.

Listen to more exclusive tunes by visiting out Premiere page.

Mariya May Wants You to Connect with Her

2016-11-01T16:30:00.000Z

Portland-based singer Mariya May marries a charming mix of musical styles and eras to create a distinct, folky sound, all united by her soulful voice. Ask her to describe her own sound and she'll list off enough genres to fill a record store, but that truly all do have a place in her sound. For the record, she says she sounds like, "Portland-style indie-pop music with elements of folk, classic soul/R&B, '60s and '70s reggae and dub. And to a lesser extent these days, Shoegaze, '80s new-wave, and 90s underground/experimental rock."

For her latest album, Call Me Back if You Can Dig the Music, May partnered up with her husband and most frequent collaborator Ryan Michael Block for the 12 tracks, who handled production duties as well as much of the instrumentation. The two have operated around Portland both as session musicians and in various bands together.

Fresh off the release of her latest single, "I Am the Wind," we got to chat with May about her songwriting process, how their collaboration works and what it's like to be a creative in Portland, OR.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Homebase: Portland, OR

When did you write your first song and what was it about?

I've been writing songs my whole life, ever since I was a little girl. I grew up with a mother who would break out into song at any given moment, often made up in the moment songs, often at really embarrassing times, like in the store or something. I guess my first real memory of actually composing a song was when I wrote a one song musical at the age of eight called the "The Irish Washer Woman." I made my mother dress up with me and perform it in the backyard for my grandmother.

What's your songwriting process like nowadays?

I usually just sit down and start tinkering something out on the piano. I never get long to figure anything out because me tinkering at the piano always attracts my kids to come get in on the fun. But the melody will get stuck in my head and then haunt me for a while with some emerging idea of a story. For "I Remember," I had recently watched a documentary about Thelonious Monk, and they way he played chords on the piano was so strange and awesome, I wanted to write something using chords in a way I was totally uncomfortable with.

What's it like working with your husband in the producer role for the music? How does your collaboration work?

Well besides the fact that he's a prolific song writer and an amazing producer, it's great in the sense that he knows me better than any one else and that he's the type of person who can stay very focused and really get things done. I can be pretty all over the place creatively, with usually quite a few projects swimming around in my head, plus a lot of other things constantly coming at me. He's really good at motivating me to focus on one thing and get it done, usually by helping me figure out specific things to work on while keeping the kids at bay so I can actually get it done. It can get heated sometimes, as with any couple who works together, sometimes we can drive each other a little batty, but we always end up with something completed that we're both really pleased with.

What do you want listeners to take away from your music?

I want them to feel a connection with the stories I tell. I want to make people feel good, either by putting a positive twist in my lyrics even if the subject matter isn't always chipper, or by really exploring a feeling of sadness in a way that can hopefully reach someone and make them not feel so alone in their own head.

What music did you grow up listening to?

I listened to a lot of music. I grew up listening to bands like Sonic Youth, Swans, T-Rex, PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Mazzy Star, Mercury Rev, Spiritualized, The Pogues and the Pixies.

What's it like being a musician in Portland?

Portland is a city of artists. There is always something here to be inspired by: the geography, the people. It can be pretty saturated with musicians, which can make it difficult to stand out.

How do you spend your time out of music?

I am a mother of three children ranging from toddler to teenager, and I am a preschool teacher. I spend a lot of time being silly, nurturing small humans and growing things in the garden.

What's next?

More songs. Just keep writing songs.

For more profiles on up-and-coming artists, visit our Artist of the Day page.

Chance the Rapper Teases Role in 'Slice'

2016-11-01T16:28:09.401Z

It's no secret that 2016 has become Chance the Rapper's year. And as he continues to become a household name, the Chicago rapper has taken on a new endeavor: starring in a feature film.

Chance will be playing Dax Lycander, a werewolf who was once a Chinese food delivery man. And excited about the new project, Chance revealed the teaser via social media on Monday (October 31). While it's only 19 seconds, it is just enough to gauge your interest into this new movie.

And director Austin Vesley had nothing but good things to say about Chance. "Being friends and colleagues with Chance the Rapper was cool because he’s interested in movies too," Austin told redeyechicago.com. "He basically told me that when the time comes that I could make something, he’d be there for me. So I wrote a role for him in the piece. While he wasn’t involved in the writing up to this point, I told him what the general idea of the role I had for him was, and he was cool with that. When we get more into production we’re going to tailor the role more to his voice and his humor."

Slice is set to release in 2017, but in the meantime, check out the teaser below.

Slice. Starring Me the Actor. In theatres 2017 @A24 @AustinVesely pic.twitter.com/NaCJr30rgC
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) October 31, 2016

They can't stop us now, budski. @chancetherapper #SLICE pic.twitter.com/ndkO9txCxv
— Austin Vesely (@AustinVesely) November 1, 2016

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Adele Opens Up About Postpartum Depression, Her Man and Future Plans

2016-11-01T15:44:59.250Z

If you've seen her in concert, Adele is quite the chatterbox. Despite poking fun at her own stage follies and talking about her failed relationships onstage, there was one thing that she's kept a secret for a while: postpartum depression.

In an interview with Vanity Fair for its December issue, the 28-year-old UK singer opened up about dealing with this obstacle.

"I'm too scared. I had really bad postpartum depression after I had my son, and it frightened me," she said.

She said she didn't take medication for it but was convinced by her boyfriend, Simon Konecki, to talk to other pregnant women and mothers to help her sort through it, which she admitted helped. And later on, she was able to pay it forward.

"One day I said to a friend, 'I fuckin’ hate this,' she said, "and she just burst into tears and said, 'I fuckin’ hate this, too.' And it was done. It lifted. My knowledge of postpartum — or postnatal, as we call it in England — is that you don't want to be with your child; you're worried you might hurt your child; you're worried you weren’t doing a good job. But I was obsessed with my child. I felt very inadequate; I felt like I'd made the worst decision of my life… It can come in many different forms."

Despite her extensive tour supporting her latest album, 25, Adele has mentioned on occasion that this is probably her last tour for a long time. During the interview, she further explained what she meant by that.

"I'm on tour simply to see everyone who's been so supportive," she explained. "I don’t care about money. I'm British, and we don't have that… thing of having to earn more money all the time."

However, that doesn't mean she's done writing songs. "I'd still like to make records, but I’d be fine if I never heard [the applause] again," she said.

She also revealed that her family comes before anything else.

"All of my relationships are more important to me than any tour I'll ever do," she said. "If my relationship with [partner] Simon or my relationship with [son] Angelo started to flounder a bit now, I would pull out of my tour."

She also added, "My life is more important to me than anything 'I'm doing because how the fuck am I supposed to write a record if I don’t have a life? If I don’t have a real life, then it’s game over anyway."

You can read the full Vanity Fair interview here.

Keep up to date with all the best music and entertainment happenings by visiting out News page.

Tenacious D, Fred Armisen & Patton Oswalt Bring the Laughs at Festival Supreme

2016-11-01T10:00:50.104Z

For comedy fans, Festival Supreme brings an entire day of the beloved art form to Los Angeles every year. This year was no exception, as everyone from hosts Tenacious D and Weird Al to Patton Oswalt and Fred Armisen got the chance to make the crowd laugh in their own way on Saturday, October 29.

MORE: 5 Funniest Moments of Festival Supreme

Myspace was there to catch every hilarious moment of Festival Supreme in all of its glory. Check out our favorite photos.

Tenacious DJ

Music of Wet Hot American Summer

Michael Carbonaro

Fred Armisen

Maya Rudolph

Ken Marino

Bill Hader

Mac DeMarco

Jenny Slate

Patton Oswalt

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Flight of the Conchords

Getting to Know... KOLARS

2016-11-01T09:03:29.577Z

When a band is comprised of only two people, things can be either really complicated or really simple. LA's KOLARS likes to do a bit of both.

The basic structure of a vocalist/guitarist and a drummer can work wonders for simplistic songwriting, but most of those duos don't contain any tap dancing. That's where KOLARS break the mold, as drummer Lauren Brown prefers to play their neo-retro tunes with her feet rather than her hand.

Myspace caught up with KOLARS before they took the stage at the Echo Park Rising festival to learn about who inspires them and the importance of originality.

Rob Kolar

Age: Mentally 15
Instrument: Guitar and vocals
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: For me, it’s a mix. I’ve been incorporating sounds from newer bands like Ratatat or Gorillaz. From a production sense, I’m into Gnarls Barkley and I like a lot of what Danger Mouse does sonically in the studio. I’m trying to find middle ground between that and older T-Rex glam rock from the ‘70s like Bo Diddley or blues musician Howlin’ Wolf. Eddie and the Hotrods, The Cars — Cyndi Lauper and Prince even — punk and post-punk new wave artists that started using synthesizers and blended sounds and genres.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: Our sets are kind of like two different chapters. The first chapter is more of a stripped down guitar, vocal and drum set which we end with “Mystery Train.” For the second portion we bring in tracks that we created in the studio, like pre-recorded bass, keyboards and percussion that we play with before ending that set with “One More Thrill.” They’re also the highest energy moments of the sets, and by the end of it we’re pouring sweat.
Dream Collaboration: I’ve always wanted to collaborate with Snoop Dogg. I think he’s a fucking incredible rapper and I love his sound. We’re so different, but I think if you were to put his voice rapping over a cool rock-bluesy riff and a good fucking beat — I don’t know. I think it could be great. Who knows? It might happen one day.
On Maintaining Originality: It’s basically just following your instinct. You don’t want to think too much about “What’s going to make me successful?” or “What’s going to get me paid?” or “What’s going to get me on the radio?” I do believe artists who last are doing something that feels very genuine to themselves, and they’re always constantly exploring. You take risks, you take chances and just enjoy it. Instead of doing it for the wrong reasons — well, you could argue what the right reasons are — do it just because you want to express yourself and share that experience with people, because you want to create art that moves people and maybe even changes their perception.
Guilty Pleasure: I captain a roller hockey team. I’m really into hockey and it keeps my beer gut that I get from touring down. I’m really into the Premier League English soccer. I play soccer, but I also play FIFA. I do a bit of cooking, too.

Lauren Brown

Age: 33
Instrument: Tap dancing drummer
Song or Band That Inspired You to Become a Musician: We were just listening to one of my favorite bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival before we came out tonight. I love them. I started listening to them in middle school. It was rock ‘n roll and blues, but it’s also kind of dirty and raunchy. It’s also simple, and I can dance to it. I think that opened up my mind to music in general. I was in a dance company and dancing to things that weren’t expected or super poppy. Old Tina Turner: my favorite of all time. She was a performer, singer and dancer.
Favorite Song to Perform Live: I much prefer playing live. Recording makes me so nervous because you’re almost hyper-aware of every beat and where it’s landing. But in live performances, you’re vibing off of the crowd. You’re vibing off of the energy and the air where you’re at, so it becomes sort of like a spiritual experience. You become less hyper-aware of where things are. We do some acoustic-y songs and also some songs with tracks that feel more full. Acoustic-wise, we do a cover of Elvis Presley's “Mystery Train,” and I love that song. Out of our songs, “One More Thrill” is my favorite because it feels sort of nasty.
Dream Collaboration: Sheila E. and I side-by-side, drumming together. That would be kind of fun! Or maybe a tap artist, like Savion Glover or Johnnie Hobbs, who’s my tap dance teacher here in Los Angeles. Just being able to riff off each other while I’m playing my drums at the same time would be the best.
On Maintaining Originality: I agree with Rob, and it’s really hard to do that. Every day we grapple with it because you think “Oh, I want this to pay my bills,” and you’re trying to not let that be the focus. There is no expectation, and there’s no outcome that I want to put on it. I feel that the more that I focus on that stuff, the more untrue I am to myself. The same goes for clothing or anything. You shouldn’t care what other people think and what the outcome is supposed to be, but just what you enjoy.
Guilty Pleasure: Eating is my favorite thing to do in the whole world. We both like to travel. We just came back from Turkey and Egypt and that was an amazing journey. I love television, film, and theater. I have IMDB brain.

Dmitriy Troshin on Russian Tattooing, Action Bronson and Visiting America

2016-11-01T07:00:00.000Z

A couple of months ago, a photo of an incredible Action Bronson portrait took over the tattoo world's Instagram accounts. The artist — known only as Mister Troshin — was clearly a master of black and gray tattooing who much of the American public was unfamiliar with.

A photo posted by Mistertroshin (@mistertroshin) on Aug 1, 2016 at 6:51am PDT

As it turns out, the man behind the ink was relatively new Russian tattoo wizard Dmitriy Troshin, one of the country's many bright up-and-coming artists (but one of the few focused primarily on colorless work). Although the Bronsolini portrait may be one of the first pieces that crossed over into the mainstream social media eye, Troshin has actually been knocking out his unique brand of fine line black and gray realism for years now. He's one of the few young tattooers who still believes in single-needle pieces — tattoos created either entirely or primarily by a lone thin liner needle rather than a fatter tip generally used for shading — which has helped him earn the respect of some of tattooing's most established names around the world.

MORE: 8 Great Tattoos of Musicians You Need to See

With Troshin just about set to wrap up his first visit to sunny Southern California, Myspace caught up with the international artist to talk about tattooing around the world, that famous Action Bronson piece, and what it was like to finally come to America and meet some of the people he's always looked up to.

A photo posted by Mistertroshin (@mistertroshin) on Oct 30, 2016 at 11:26am PDT

With tattoo culture being so different in Russia compared to America, how did you even first get interested in tattooing for a career?

I was never interested in tattooing before about five or six years ago. That was when I saw some really amazing tattoos from guys like Franco Vescovi, Carlos Torres, and Jose Lopez. I was always interested in pencil drawing, so I decided to try it. Before the only tattoos that I knew were old school color pieces, and it wasn't so interesting for me. This style is great and I love it.

A photo posted by Mistertroshin (@mistertroshin) on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:40am PDT

How does tattooing in Russia compare to tattooing in America? Are there specific problems you see back home that you haven't noticed in the shops you've seen out here?

The main problem in Russia is respect from clients to tattoo artists. Here, tattoo artists are much more respected people. The clients respect you, and everyone wants your vision and your style. In Russia, it's like you're in a store or in the market. You have to do what the client wants. It's changing right now, so it's much better than it was a few years ago, but it's still not like it is here.

What has it been like for you to come out to California and meet the black and gray artists who are responsible for you getting interested in tattooing like Franco Vescovi and Carlos Torres?

It's great because just a few years ago all of those guys were idols for me. I didn't think I could come here and meet them, so I'm happy to be here and meet everyone. It's a great opportunity for me. I'm just happy to be here and I hope to be back soon.

A video posted by Mistertroshin (@mistertroshin) on Oct 9, 2016 at 2:58pm PDT

How does the tattoo industry in Russia match up to the artists here in America? Is it as popular there as it is here?

It's very popular. It's crazy popular right now. We have very long waiting lists in Russia. It may be much more than it is here or anywhere else. We have a lot of crazy color artists for color realistic, but not so many black and gray artists. But it's getting better and better every year.

A photo posted by Mistertroshin (@mistertroshin) on Sep 30, 2016 at 9:49am PDT

You recently had a portrait tattoo of Action Bronson go viral on social media. What was it like to see your work pop up on so many popular tattooing pages, and how does that affect your life off of social media?

It's cool. I have more followers on Instagram from every popular tattoo that everybody reposts on Instagram and Facebook, so it's good for me.

Top 5 Games to Play in November

2016-11-01T07:00:00.000Z

If the gaming calendar year is a turkey, November is the stuffing. It’s not so much that it has the most games, just some of the biggest. It’s a sequel fest, as are most Novembers, but only one of them is of the annual variety, meaning gamers have been waiting years to get their hands on a few of these. We’re getting a game that has literally been in development for 10 years, another that follows in the grand tradition of handheld RPGs, an open-world improvement, a stealth steampunk spectacular and Call of Duty. Yup, they made another one.

Find out what we’re most excited to play after the break.

Final Fantasy XV

2006 feels like the Stone Age in terms of video games, their impact and the technology involved in making them. That’s when Final Fantasy XV was first announced as a spin-off of Final Fantasy XIII, dubbed “Versus.” Many years in development hell and a few directors later, we finally have the game many Final Fantasy fans have been waiting for. FFXV bucks the trend of past mainline single-player campaigns by offering an open world to explore, including a drivable car and a bunch of companions with which to take your road trip. The combat is fast and fluid, the graphics are stunning and early previews are praising the lack of load times and dearth of content. Hopefully all of the pieces fit when it hits modern consoles on November 29.

Pokémon Sun and Moon

Pokemon Go kind of exploded. With over half a billion downloads across the world, little cute pocket monsters crept back into the social consciousness for the first time since the 1990s. But for diehards of the series, the only part of the franchise they truly care about are the RPGs released every few years on Nintendo’s mobile platform. The 3DS is getting a double dose of Pokemon (as is tradition) in Pokemon Sun and Moon, but the game hasn’t changed very much. Players will assume the role of a young trainer, gathering little animals and training them to fight against one another. It sounds brutal, but it’s charming in that Nintendo way. Choose your celestial body on November 18.

Watch Dogs 2

Poor, poor Watch Dogs. After breaking Ubisoft’s record for pre-orders and looking like the best reason to join the next generation of consoles, it came out to middling reviews and general apathy as the final product missed the mark on nearly all fronts. But Ubisoft can’t not make sequels, so we have the follow-up, which at least took enough time to hopefully fix the major issues with the original. First up, San Francisco is the new host to your hacktivist activities and it looks like the developers actually took the time to replicate the Bay Area’s golden city with recognizable landmarks and distinct neighborhoods. The new protagonist looks way more complex than Aiden Pierce’s dry paint demeanor and the various missions seem way more fun. We got some hands-on time at E3 and enjoyed what we saw, so here’s hoping the whole thing comes together on November 15.

Dishonored 2

Against a few odds, Bethesda managed to bring a new IP to the masses that actually worked. The steampunk stealth combat world of Dishonored broke into the market in 2012 and gave gamers plenty to do in its Victorian-era murder sandbox. The powers were nuts, the story was crazy and the art was striking. But the sequel seems to ramp up each of those aspects, introducing a second playable character with all new powers and abilities. Our main character, Corvo, now has voice over dialogue and the environment is completely different, giving people plenty of reason to revisit the Empire of the Isles. Arkane consistently puts out high-quality projects and the time and care taken to make this feel worthwhile shows in every trailer. Check it out on November 11.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

One day the sun will explode. Earth will be engulfed in flames and someway, somehow, a new Call of Duty game will find its way through the rubble and ash to appear as the last sign of civilization. But we’ve got a while until that happens, so we have Infinite Warfare to hold us over. The newest big budget shooter from Activision sees the whole squad going to space to fight enemies above and below, taking the franchise to even crazier sci-fi depths than Black Ops III. This is also the first Infinity Ward version of the game to have zombies, something traditionally associated with the Black Ops series. Jon Snow and Conor McGregor are also in the game, which is a weird transition from Kevin Spacey, and Seth Green and Paul Reubens show up in the zombie mode. With a ton of shooters out this holiday season, only you know for sure if this one is up your alley and you can pick it up on November 4.

Christina Aguilera Is All About Kylie Jenner’s ‘Dirrty’ Halloween Costume

2016-10-31T22:58:55.698Z

The Kardashian-Jenner clan has a history of going all out for Halloween, but this year, Kylie Jenner took her costume game to the next level.

We Ranked the Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes This Year

The youngest member of the famous family won the holiday with a recreation of Christina Aguilera’s outfit from her “Dirrty” music video. Jenner showed off her perfect throwback look on Instagram Saturday before attending a party at West Hollywood’s Bootsy Bellows nightclub, garnering millions of likes from her social media followers and praise from Xtina herself.

Hilary Duff Is Sorry for Her Controversial Halloween Costume

“‘YAASSSSS’…..Killin it @kyliejenner yes to dirrty 2016!!,” she captioned a repost of one of King Kylie’s photos. “Get it girrrl!!!”

See Jenner’s take on the iconic early 2000s fashion moment below.

"YAASSSSS".....Killin it @kyliejenner yes to dirrty 2016!! Get it girrrl!!! 👏👏☠️😈👻😻💋

A photo posted by Christina Aguilera (@xtina) on Oct 30, 2016 at 4:08pm PDT

#kingkylie #xtina

A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Oct 30, 2016 at 12:54am PDT

Dirty, Filthy, Nasty, you nasty yeah. Too dirty to clean my act up...If you ain't dirty..You ain't here to partyyyyy whooo

A photo posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Oct 30, 2016 at 10:51am PDT

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Absolute Best Stranger Things Halloween Costumes

2016-10-31T22:50:48.979Z

Netflix’s not-that-scary series Stranger Things has become a cultural phenomenon. Having already inspired its own costume party in Brooklyn, New York, the show scored a devoted fan base early on. Case in point: Stranger Things cosplay started long before October. But this Halloween, fan tributes to the nostalgic thriller reached a fever pitch as people pulled out all the stops to pay tribute to their favorite ordinary heroes from Hawkins, Indiana. From the ever-popular Eleven costume to the elaborate demon, here are the best of the Stranger Things Halloween getups.

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Dressed Up as Salt-N-Pepa for Halloween and It Was Epic

People captured the group friendship spirit of the series by dressing up as the adventurous crew.

Carson Daly Dressed Up as Himself in the TRL Glory Days

Stranger Things theme party @lot45bushwick on Sunday night. 😝 Why, what do you do when you get home on a red eye from Vegas? #cantstopwontstop #strangerthings #upsidedown #findwillbyers #whataboutbarb

A photo posted by Krystal Bowden (@krystalbowden) on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:24pm PDT

Character tableaux remix... 😜 #youcandoitbarb #sheriffhopperinvestigates #whatsinthewall #strangerthings #upsidedown #findwillbyers

A photo posted by Krystal Bowden (@krystalbowden) on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:37pm PDT

Mess with me you mess with my whole damn crew. #strangerthings #barb #thewall #joyce #hopper

A photo posted by Sara Clemens (@saralemons) on Oct 23, 2016 at 7:01pm PDT

stranger tangs!

A photo posted by Michael Palmer (@mcpalmnj) on Oct 22, 2016 at 11:22pm PDT

Dustin and not 11, but 12. #strangerthanyou

A photo posted by Billie Beth Ricca (@billiebethricca) on Oct 22, 2016 at 9:23am PDT

One way ticket to the upside down world... #strangerthings #halloween2016

A video posted by Candice King (@craccola) on Oct 29, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT

#happyhalloween #halloween #buildium #mycoworkersarebetterthanyours #strangerthings #netflix #freebarb #whereswill #trickortreat #groupcostume #costume 🎃

A photo posted by Sam Halloran (@sh.mckenzie) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:33am PDT

Stranger Things fans nailed it all—right down to the facial expressions.

I mean, I'm working on it. #halloween #johnathanbyers #cosplay #dragking #strangerthings #strangerthingscostume

A photo posted by Lish Ciambrone (@the_wildest_ride) on Oct 28, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

@strangerthingstv can I be the stunt double for @finnwolfhardofficial or we gon keep playin that we ain't related #strangerthings #finnwolfhard #mikewheeler 🎃👀🌌📽🔦🚲

A photo posted by soph 🐉 62models (@sophiafrankish) on Oct 31, 2016 at 12:06am PDT

#inbarbwetrust #neverforget #barb #strangerthings #cosplay #costume #netflix #fucktheupsidedown #halloween #halloweencostume #halloween2016

A photo posted by Rachel (@dameindetroit) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:39am PDT

#ontheblog this morning: Happy Halloween, friends. I'm back from a blog hiatus and feeling more like myself than I have in months. Oddly, shaving my head again and dressing up as one of my favorite recent pop culture icons has a lot to do with it. Link in profile (including more pics of the costume!) 🎃

A photo posted by Liz (@stylishdisaster) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:38am PDT

@barrytx as Dustin from #StrangerThings.🎃👍👏

A photo posted by Melissa Stewart (@meow_kapow) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

Babies and dogs got in on the fun.

Stranger things...have happened. #strangerthings #halloweencostume #halloween #childhoodunplugged #thatsdarling #eggo #eleven #dustin #demagorgon #costume #ellendegeneres #ellenshow #ihadto #whpsupernatural #netflix #tonightshow #jimmyfallon

A photo posted by Hop & Howl (@hopandhowl) on Oct 30, 2016 at 1:33pm PDT

Bring me more Eggos. Please. Now. ••• #🎃 #happyhalloween #bestmondayever ••• Thanks for all the #StrangerThings Halloween costume love, and the features by @dogsoftsp, @intellinyc, @mic, @gothamist, @slate, @pix11news, @teenvogue, and #snapchat!

A photo posted by Edgar The Mighty (@edgar_the_mighty) on Oct 31, 2016 at 5:38am PDT

In addition to dressing up as characters, several people recreated the show’s iconic wallpapered message board wall that Joyce (Winona Ryder) strung with brightly colored Christmas lights to communicate with her lost son.

Stranger Things🎃

A photo posted by Cassandra Kullman (@andhernamewas_cassandra) on Oct 22, 2016 at 7:40pm PDT

WILL???¿¿¿!!! 🎄 #strangerthings #happyhalloween

A photo posted by ®❗️💤 👐🏽 ⚠️ 📈 (@rizwansamma) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

Custom Stranger Things Halloween Costume

Some diehard fans even recreated scenes from the show as Eleven.

📷:@andrea_here #StrangerThings #Eleven #El @strangerthingstv @milliebobby_brown ❤️ Happy Halloween!

A photo posted by Gabrielle Louise (@gabbyrodrigue) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

Leggo my eggo.

A photo posted by Rachel Additon (@racheladditon) on Oct 30, 2016 at 6:05pm PDT

Happy Halloween, mouth breathers. #strangerthings #halloween #costume #el #eleven #eggo

A photo posted by Emmalaine 🌙 (@emmaraiine) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:34am PDT

The eggo to your eleven.

A photo posted by ✈🐕🐈🐈🐢🍻🎨 (@reccashay) on Oct 30, 2016 at 9:02am PDT

All the points to the partiers who dared to go as the show’s flower-faced demon.

Demogorgon at the stranger things party #lot45 #Demogorgon #strangerthings #netflix ##fun #80s

A photo posted by David Williams (@davewms) on Oct 22, 2016 at 9:17pm PDT

The Demogorgon is probably my favorite costume I've made. Going to have to start planning soon on how to one-up this next year! #strangerthings #demogorgon #theupsidedown #demogorgoncostume #strangerthingscostume #happyhalloween #halloweenspirit

A photo posted by Paula Kidwell 🙃 (@glamslackerpaula) on Oct 30, 2016 at 11:24am PDT

Woke up like dis. #Selfie #Me #NoMakeup #NoFilter #Smile #ShowThosePearlyWhites #Instagood #Cute #LongFlairDontCare #StrangerThings #Demogorgon #WheresWill #WhosBarb #PajamasNotPartOfCostume

A photo posted by Ariya Norinth (@anorinth) on Oct 31, 2016 at 6:33am PDT

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Game of Thrones Cast Took a Break From Filming Season 7 to Party Together

2016-10-31T22:28:00.852Z

While Game of Thrones fans around the world were dressing up as their favorite characters for Halloween this weekend, the show’s cast shed their Westerosi garb for a night out on the town.

Watch Fiercely Committed Kelly Clarkson Sing ‘Chandelier’ in a Sia Wig

Emilia Clarke — who plays Daenerys — took to Instagram Sunday to share a photo of herself with fellow Targaryen Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and her loyal translator Missandei (Nathalie Emmanual) at Saturday night’s Chemical Brothers concert in Bilbao, Spain, where the actors are currently filming season 7 of the HBO drama.

Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson Share Photos of Their Wedding Ceremony Bliss

“@thechemicalbrothers know how to get this cast on its FEET,” she wrote. “Bringing that badass beat to Bilbao baby.
All the love to @nathalieemmanuel my girl never leaves a bredren in da club.”

@thechemicalbrothers know how to get this cast on its FEET... 🙌🎉 bringing that badass beat to Bilbao baby. All the love to @nathalieemmanuel my girl never leaves a bredren in da club....😂❤️💃#shinyhappysweatypeopleparties

A photo posted by @emilia_clarke on Oct 30, 2016 at 3:39am PDT

Couldn't resist a mutual appreciation society photo... EPIC NIGHT! 🙌 #jonsnowknowshowtorockouttochemicalbrothers #chemicalbrothersknowhowtothrowdown #motherofelectroletherwigdown 💃 @nathalieemmanuel #donttouchmygirlshairnow! 💪🏻

A photo posted by @emilia_clarke on Oct 30, 2016 at 1:07pm PDT

Onscreen Stark sisters Maisie Williams (Arya) and Sophie Turner (Sansa) also partied together, with Williams documenting the pair’s time off on social media. “I’ll remember this noooorrrrty weekend for the rest of my life,” Williams captioned a mirror selfie of the two.

I'll remember this noooorrrrty weekend for the rest of my life

A photo posted by Maisie Williams (@maisie_williams) on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:12am PDT

Most people bring alcohol to house parties, @sophiet brings lollypops 🍭

A photo posted by Maisie Williams (@maisie_williams) on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:15am PDT

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Watch Bumpin' Uglies' "Sorry I'm Not Sorry" Lyric Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-10-31T16:30:00.000Z

Typically, groovy reggae music is reserved for songs about feeling good and having fun. But that's not the case for Bumpin' Uglies' "Sorry I'm Not Sorry" though, as the surprise hit is actually focused on the end of a bad relationship.

"'Sorry I’m Not Sorry' is a song about ending the wrong relationship for the right reason," says guitarist and vocalist Brandon Hardesty. "It’s become the most popular song off of our new album, Keep It Together, and we’re excited for everyone to see the lyric video."

The creative lyric video follows the band's official video for "Stop the Fall" and lands just before the band sets off for a run of east coast shows in November and December.

Check out the brand new lyric video (complete with animated stick figures) below before you can see it anywhere else, and feel free to snag a copy of Keep It Together on iTunes and other music retailers.

EXCLUSIVE: Celebrate Halloween with Death Valley High and Creepypastas

2016-10-31T16:30:00.000Z

You could call Death Valley High an alt-industrial rock band, but that sterile term ignores the band’s kooky sense of humor that’s evident in its latest set, CVLT [AS FVK], out November 4 on minusHEAD Records. Produced by Grammy-nominated Ulrich Wild (who has experience with scary, industrial rock, having produced several White Zombie and Deftones tracks) the band describes the new album as “traditional goth magic and modern alternative majesty” … or you know, you could label it in more positive terms, such as “doom electropop.” In many ways, their sound is perfect for Halloween as we know it — fun, slightly scary and immensely enjoyable.

After all, vocalist and guitarist Reyka Osburn says it doesn't take much for him to scare people: “I'm 6'1" and look scary, so most people want to walk on the other side of the street.”

To celebrate today’s holiday, Osburn lists his Top 5 Creepypastas stories and discusses them in this Myspace exclusive. “You can go down the rabbit hole with Creepypastas,” he said. “The fright can be addicting. I've done it many times; especially with videos. But you can really ick yourself out!”

He also talks about Death Valley High’s band origins in the interview below. Enjoy!

Hometown: I spent my formative years up in Sacramento, CA.

Homebase: I live and grind in San Francisco. The band is based out of here.

Why are you called Death Valley High?

It's a play on the Sweet Valley High book series. The idea was a dark, parallel universe to the school. An alternate under-side where the "doom and gloom" kids play.

Describe your music to someone who's never heard you before.

First, I always say, "we're ROCK." Then I normally say, "but we're harder than that... It's more like PUNK." If they're still listening, I segue into the dancey side of our music, "It's like DARK '80s ELECTRO PUNK with some METAL." The best explanation I've seen of us recently is "Californian electronic/industrial disco noisefucks."

How did everyone in the band meet?

We met through other bands; sometimes sharing stages too. We'd play shows together, go to bars and clubs together. Combining efforts just seemed like the right thing to do.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Currently it might be Drake! [laughs] But that might just be because I like his producer(s)! Personally, I love big nasty synths, tribal drums and dark sounds. Everything from Bauhaus and Suicide, to HEALTH and NIN.

Did you always want to play music?

I started off wanting to play drums, but I had found a friend's acoustic guitar in a trashcan when he moved away. It was just sitting there on top of all of his other belongings. I don't know what made me grab it, but ever since I could tune the thing, I was "writing" songs. At first, I was teaching myself metal songs, but my first composition wasn't even metal, it was a love song about the girl next door.

Did growing up in Sacramento and now living in the Bay area influence your music?

Sacramento was a boring city to grow up in. The music scene was really all we had. I dreamed of moving to SF since there were many more like-minded people in The City back then. So, we instilled as much of the "Bay Area DIY" ethos into our local scene as we could. But even then, it wasn't all California. We all still had mad love for Chicago noise rock and UK Post-Punk. All of that influenced my output.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Maybe somebody like Diplo or Evian Christ. Just to see what we could come up with. We're about to go on tour with some of my biggest musical heroes, Killing Joke. So maybe something will come of that?

Why is your album called CVLT [AS FVK]?

It's a traditional gothic term, mixed with something current; "Occult as a Mother Fucker." We were wanting to say something undeniably "us" and we tend to dip into dark sarcasm over dark sentimentality. We don't think there's any better title for our attitude, at least at this moment in time.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Probably something like #ALTOGETHEROOKY or #OFCORPSE

Of corpse! That’s awesome. Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?

I would record Death Valley High demos on my laptop and put it on MySpace! You can reach a wide audience from around the globe just from being in other people's Top 8! In fact, we recently toured in Germany with the band Unzucht just because their drummer loved our song "DVH the Movie" on our MySpace!

Mark Ronson Snaps at The Chainsmokers' Lady Gaga Comment

2016-10-31T16:15:43.701Z

Although The Chainsmokers have already shown some love for Lady Gaga's "A-Yo" despite disliking her lead single, "Perfect Illusion," producer Mark Ronson clapped back at the "Closer" duo about their "sucked" comment.

"Back to being the charisma-bypassed champions of 2 bar Ableton loops? Well, smash it while it lasts, fellas!!" Mark tweeted at The Chainsmokers.

Back to being the charisma-bypassed champions of 2 bar Ableton loops? Well, smash it while it lasts, fellas!! P.S. https://t.co/GAH1x0AGOI https://t.co/kQWsjfKTn0
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) October 29, 2016

Clearly Mark wanted to school the up-and-coming chart-toppers. However, The Chainsmokers explained via Twitter that they weren't throwing shade at Lady Gaga in their previous tweet.

@markronson was actually talking about being back in America after Europe but okay
— BOB LIGHT (@TheChainsmokers) October 29, 2016

While the beef seems to have stopped there, The Chainsmokers may want to watch what they say next time.

And while The Chainsmokers are in the clear, Mark and collaborator Bruno Mars are in some legal trouble. Collage, an '80s band, released a song, "Young Girls," in 1983, which they claim sounds exactly like "Uptown Funk."

"Upon information and belief, many of the main instrumental attributes and themes of 'Uptown Funk' are deliberately and clearly copied from 'Young Girls,' including, but not limited to, the distinct funky specifically noted and timed consistent guitar riffs present throughout the compositions, virtually if not identical bass notes and sequence, rhythm, structure, crescendo of horns and synthesizers rendering the compositions almost indistinguishable if played over each other and strikingly similar if played in consecutively," the complaint stated (via Pitchfork).

The Weeknd Reveals 'Starboy: Legend of the Fall 2017 World Tour'

2016-10-31T15:42:05.473Z

The Weeknd's new album, Starboy, won't be out until November 25th, but the Toronto crooner has already revealed that he's going to be hitting the road with the new material at the top of 2017. Kicking off in Stockholm on February 17, the tour will take him throughout Europe's major cities as well as up and down the UK. Following his show in Leeds on March 14, The Weeknd will be off to Vancouver on April 25 and the Seattle on April 26. He'll be going throughout the US through early June.

See his tour announcements and the dates below.

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT PHASE 1 TOMORROW pic.twitter.com/uv69LAvv3g
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) October 29, 2016

NEW TOUR PHASE 1 pic.twitter.com/x8eqEUboW5
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) October 31, 2016

February 17 -- Stockholm, Sweden @ The Globe 
February19 -- Oslo, Norway @ Spektrum 
February20 -- Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena 
February 24 -- Amsterdam, Holland @ Ziggo Dome 
February 26 -- Zurich, Switzerland @ Hallenstadion
February 28 -- Paris, France @ AccorHotels Arena 
March 2 -- Cologne, Germany @ Lanxess Arena 
March 3 -- Antwerp, Belgium @ Sportpaleis 
March 5 -- Manchester, England @ Manchester Arena 
March 7-8-- London, England @ O2 Arena 
March 10 -- Glasgow, Scotland @ SSE Hydro 
March 11 -- Newcastle, England @ Newcastle Arena 
March 13 -- Birmingham, England @ Barclaycard Arena 
March 14 -- Leeds, England @ First Direct Arena 
April 25 -- Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena 
April 26 -- Seattle, WA @ Key Arena 
April 28 -- San Jose, CA @ SAP Center 
April 29 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum 
May 2 -- Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena 
May 4 -- Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center 
May 6 -- Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
May 9 -- New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center 
May 11 -- Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ BB&T Center 
May 12 -- Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena 
May 13 -- Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena 
May 17 -- Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
May 18 -- Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
May 19 -- Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall 
May 23 -- Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
May 24 -- Detroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills 
May 26 -- Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre 
May 28 -- Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre 
May 30 -- Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre 
May 31 -- Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre 
June 2 -- Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
June 3 -- Nassau, NY @ Nassau Memorial Coliseum
June 4 -- Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
June 6 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center 
June 9 -- Cincinnati, OH @ US Bank Arena

Leonardo DiCaprio Reveals We Have Affected the Environment in 'Before the Flood'

2016-10-31T15:37:03.057Z

While we know Leonardo DiCaprio as the Academy Award-winning actor, he's also been a longtime environmentalist as well as UN Messenger of Peace. And now he's teamed up with director Fisher Stevens to talk to politicians, scientists and people who have been directly affected by global warming and see how the way we live has been hurting the environment. Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Mogwai provide the soundtrack.

“Before the Flood, directed by Fisher Stevens, captures a three-year personal journey alongside Academy Award-winning actor and UN Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio as he interviews individuals from every facet of society in both developing and developed nations who provide unique, impassioned and pragmatic views on what must be done today and in the future to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet," according to the official synopsis.

Leo is set to play the lead role in the reboot of the '90s animated eco-TV show, Captain Planet. But before we see him become a superhero, you can watch the full documentary below.

5 Funniest Moments of Festival Supreme

2016-10-31T09:12:31.399Z

America could use a laugh. During these stressful and potentially apocalyptic times, a gathering of humans under clear skies in the name of comedy and music seems like the perfect prescription for modern living. Thankfully, the geniuses at Tenacious D continued their annual tradition of putting together Festival Supreme, an event that brings together the funniest people on earth for nearly 12 hours of nonstop fun. And while there were laughs to be had all around the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, here are the five funniest moments of the day.

Gelmania

Eran Ryan

Brett Gelman is nothing if not evocative. His Adult Swim specials push the boundaries of comfort and taste, but are always thought-provoking and hilarious. His two-man set on the Crab Nebula stage on Saturday afternoon (with guitarist and podcast co-host King Cyrus King) was pitch black the entire time. King Cyrus played disturbing noises the entire time, as Gelman’s pitched-down modulated voice told the audience how doomed we were, how the entire world was ending soon and laughter was a waste of our time. But Gelman’s mother called halfway through the set, apparently forced by captors to read a ransom letter demanding Gelman to return to telling jokes. He did, begrudgingly, and kept demanding that the house lights be turned on, which never happened. Altogether, it was disruptive, uncomfortable, and completely in line with the rest of his work.

Flight of the Conchords’ Banter

Jesse Seilhan

Almost better than any Flight of the Conchords song is their dialogue with one another. Be it between songs or during them, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are both extremely charismatic, witty, and play off of one another unlike any other musical comedy duo. Before they played a single note, the crowd was already cracking up. “We’re kind of like New Zealand’s Tenacious D,” said Brett, which Jermaine followed up with “We’re actually the biggest band in New Zealand in terms of band members. But we’re also the most popular band, in terms of the population of the band.” It only got funnier as the night went on, as the two played some of their most popular tunes like “Inner City Pressure,” “Business Time,” and “The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room).”

Patton Oswalt’s “Death Slog”

Jesse Seilhan

It’s been a rough 2016 for Patton Oswalt. After losing his wife earlier this year, the beloved comedian has slowly started picking up the pieces and moving onto the next chapter of his life, which includes discussing his pain in front of an audience. He explicitly said he would throw urine-filled water balloons at anyone calling it anything like a recovery journey or something other than a “death slog,” which he detailed with stories about kind but uncomfortable airline employees, brutally honest children, and the terrifying concept of dating as a widower. The crowd was completely on his side, as the final stand-up act of the night bared all and dealt very well with the adoring fans and the drunks.

Will Forte’s Set

Jesse Seilhan

There are always a few performers at Festival Supreme that aren’t necessarily stand-up comedians. Will Forte was at the top of the list this year, as the undeniably hilarious star of “Last Man on Earth” can always entertain people but how would he use 20 minutes of stage time? By getting a little help from his friends, like Maya Rudolph and Tenacious D. The set opened as a spelling bee, with Rudolph nailing her word, followed up by Forte’s attempt to spell “business.” After asking every allowable question about the word’s origin, meaning, and even how to spell it, he gave his best shot and listed about 60 letters before repeating the word “business” and failing. Then The D came out to sing a song about their own spelling bee performances. Forte closed the set with his SNL character Tim Calhoun pitching why he should be president followed by a medley of R&B singer James Ingram. It was as absurd as the man himself.

Eric Andre Live

Jesse Seilhan

Adult Swim has always housed some of the most insane comedy programming imaginable, but Eric Andre is in his own stratosphere. His weekly 12-minute show is as much of a human destruction derby and house of horrors as it as a talk show. And none of that is lost when performed live, meaning Andre started his Festival Supreme set the same way he starts his show: by destroying his set and running in every direction, included a brief crowdsurfing stint while covered in milk. The stage was a mess, the crowd and photo pit had stray cabbage and hot dogs, and the tarps placed down over the equipment to prevent damage were covered in all of the above. It was the perfect replication of the organized chaos that is The Eric Andre Show and it was the most must-see moment of the festival.

Smash Mouth Twitter Feuds & Celebrities Still Can't Figure Out Halloween

2016-10-31T09:08:08.870Z

Still hungover from your Halloween party? Don't worry, we've got you covered on everything from Madonnis (or is it Idronna?) to who had the most racist celebrity costumes this weekend. Here's everything you missed.

Idris Elba: Actor, Musician...Kickboxer

For anyone who hasn’t been creeping around Idris Elba’s Instagram page to track the physical transformation he’s undergone in pursuit of kickboxing greatness, the English actor has been been training professionally for a while now and won his debut fight on Friday night. News of his athletic prowess broke when the actor posted a photo of himself mid-workout over the summer, leading many to believe he was bulking up for the next installment of the Thor franchise. Turns out, Elba originally took up kickboxing when he was in his 20s and has since decided to re-discover and share his passion for the sport. As part of his three-part documentary series that will air on the Discovery Channel in 2017, Elba travels to destinations like Cuba and Thailand to receive training from some of the world’s most elite fighters and coaches, all before going toe-to-toe with seasoned veteran of the cage in the series finale.

While everyone other than die-hard James Bond fans were cheering him on during his first official bought, no one seemed to be fan-girling harder than Madonna of all people. The Queen of Pop music was sitting ringside for the match, taking to her various social media accounts in support of Elba. It wasn’t until the celebratory party following his victory in the ring that the pair caught the attention of onlookers by kissing and flirting most of the evening. The Snapchats that Madonna took also did little to stop the floods already voting between official titles for the couple, such as “Idronna” or “Madonnis.”

Gold Medal For Secret Wedding Planning

For someone who lives such a public life, Michael Phelps pulled a fast one on us all when he secretly married his long-time love, Nicole Johnson, back in mid-June before he left for the Rio Olympics. But before we could shake off the initial shock to wish them a heartfelt congratulations, they held another secret ceremony over the weekend!

Truly the happiest day of my life @m_phelps00 thank you @boonestudios for capturing this day 😘

A photo posted by Nicole Michele Johnson (@mrs.nicolephelps) on Oct 30, 2016 at 1:11am PDT

The world’s most decorated Olympian and his former Miss California USA bride said their “I do's” before their closest friends and family out in Los Cabos over the weekend. The twosome met back in 2007, got engaged early 2015, and welcomed their adorable son Boomer in May of this year. After winning his 28th gold medal and officially retiring, we’re happy Phelps is finally able to settle down and enjoy his new life. Congratulations to the happy couple!

Behind the scenes from Got No Strings video shoot. #BeatsX #Solo3Wireless #GotNoStrings @BeatsByDre beats.is/ gotnostrings

A photo posted by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on Oct 26, 2016 at 9:59am PDT

Smash Mouth and Their Big Mouths

Remember the band Smash Mouth? Of course you do, but you probably won’t admit to for fear of “All Star” or “I’m a Believer” lyrics getting stuck in your head for rest of the week. The California-based band found themselves in the midst of a Twitter battle this weekend with Oakland Athletics after whoever was controlling the official account decided to take aim at the Major League Baseball team for their apparent lack of good players. Who knew that the ‘90s rockers were so into their sports? It all began when sports writer John Shea made a particular comment regarding the Oakland A’s that Smash Mouth thought it was a good idea to intervene with their two cents on success.

@JohnSheaHey The A's are a joke, good for CC!
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) October 29, 2016

At that point, the A’s social media manager unleashed all of the sass and went after the band hard. “Up late desperately tweeting for relevancy? Hey now, that's not very All-Star of you.” The band tried to save face by simply citing player statistics and stating that Oakland fans were entitled to good players to cheer for. A’s pitcher Sean Doolittle personally instigated with jokes, but that only made things worse. The A’s ultimately called a truce after humiliating the band and taking one final dig.

3 am Twitter beef between the Oakland Athletics and Smashmouth is what I live for pic.twitter.com/zXX7l2Eb4Q
— Cody (@TeamATL10) October 29, 2016

How Frightening, Indeed!

Halloween used to be really fun; however, instead of simply dressing up and enjoying a night out with friends like we used to, the holiday has become more of an elaborate competition on social commentary or for who can be the most controversial (and maybe apologize for it later). Kylie Jenner and Instagram model Abigail Ratchford decided to stir up some trouble with their barely-there outfits. Jenner channeled her inner Christina Aguilera from the “Dirrty” music video, leather chaps and all. She even posted a video of herself doing a sad version of the dance moves. For the record, she was all of five-years-old when that song debuted. Ratchford decided to just be straight ratchet and leave her top at home, instead sporting shimmery pasties, Dia de los Muertos face paint, and a skeleton sleeves. Does that even count as a costume?

Can I be XTINA forever 😩😩

A video posted by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Oct 30, 2016 at 3:06am PDT

Abigail Ratchford Topless Halloween 😈😈 @AbiRatchford #AbigailRatchford #HalloweenSpecial #Halloween2016 😵 pic.twitter.com/u1NIsPktST
— Hotties Paradise (@fullbluez) October 30, 2016

Hilary Duff went home with the highest superlative, but unfortunately it was for having the most offensive ensemble. The former Disney starlet and her new beau, Jason Walsh, were eagerly awaited at the Casamigos Tequila Halloween Party in Beverly Hills. When they walked in, no one was prepared to see them dressed up as a sexy pilgrim and a Native American chief, complete with the giant, feathered headdress. The photos from the evening inevitably made their way to the internet, and with them came a whirlwind of backlash for the outfit choices. People demanded the singer apologize for being so inconsiderate — which she did — but only after the damage had been done. Better luck (and decision making) next year, Hil.

6 Spooky Halloween Myths and Superstitions

2016-10-31T07:00:00.000Z

All of those weeks and days planning and working on your Halloween costume finally pays off today, as we welcome the scariest day of the year (well, besides Black Friday) known as All Hallows’ Eve, aka Halloween. Whether you’re getting ready to go trick or treating with family or meeting up with friends later tonight at that costume party, this is the day when the dead and those spooky things lurking in the dark, come out and join the festivities.

Halloween’s long history dating back to its Celtic origins is littered with superstitions, myths and urban legends, warning us of the dangers and evil that could be waiting for us on this dark holiday. We’ve seen the scary movies, read the reddit first-person posts and have even spotted those crazy clowns terrorizing the world, but what should we keep an eye out for and what’s fiction?

Is a masked deranged killer waiting to ruin our night? Is there something sinister in that bag of candy? Are there names we should avoid calling out on this hellish evening? Using our otherworldly black cauldron, we turn on the lights on Halloween, exploring and exposing the truths on some of the most popular and feared superstitions and myths!

Jack-o’-Lanterns

From September through November our lives are taken over by pumpkin everything! From what we eat, drink and smell, America’s obsession with the large orange squash has gone beyond the normal love of pumpkin pie. But long before this pumpkin spice craze, pumpkins were — and still are — the face of Halloween, specifically in its jack-o’-lantern form. During the Halloween season, you’ll see them in stores and in front of homes, carved and decorated into various jack-o’-lanterns.

The story behind the jack-o’-lantern revolves around a trickster named Jack who lived in Ireland and was banned from both Heaven and Hell. Forced to walk alone in limbo, Jack carved a lantern out of a turnip, placing an ember inside to help him through the darkness. Over time, America has swapped out the turnip for the pumpkin and thus a Halloween icon was created. Whether used to ward off evil spirits or carried by a headless rider, jack-o’-lanterns can be unsettling because we’re not sure if those large grins are hiding good or dark intentions!

Tainted Candy

Starting at an early age, we’ve all been taught to not take candy from strangers…except on Halloween! The one day a year children go door-to-door asking for candy and treats is also the day parents believe some sick individual has possibly given their child dangerous tainted candy. This Halloween urban legend has spread so fast and feared as truth by many adults that schools and news reports issue yearly warnings on what candy to avoid. So is there a madman sticking razor blades in apples? Have kids become sick by chocolate bars that were dipped in poison? Nope, it’s all just an urban legend as police have never reported children getting poisoned by Halloween candy.

The case that gave this legend fuel is from Halloween 1974, when eight-year-old Timothy Marc O’Bryan died after eating Pixy Stixs that were laced with cyanide. Tragically the monster that gave Timothy the deadly candy was his own father Ronald O’Bryan. In hopes of collecting on life insurance policies on his children, Ronald gave Timothy, his sister and two other children the bad candy. Luckily the three other children didn’t eat it, but this sad case helped spread the notion that tampered candy was a very real thing. While parents will always be disturbed that their child might come into contact with the darker side of Halloween, the only thing they should fear is candy corn!

Black Cats

A while back I had a feud with a black cat that had a habit of sleeping on the hood of my car. Does that mean that I’ve been marked for bad luck by my feline foe? Quite possibly, considering how things have played out since. But enough about my personal woes, as life for black cats must be tough. A universal symbol of bad luck, the black cat has been saddled with a reputation of being a servant of evil. Starting from the medieval ages to the Salem witch trials, black cats as companions to witches has been a widely held notion, because everyone knows that next to her trusty broom, a practitioner of black magic needs her kitty.

In addition to black cats being seen as “familiars” to members of the occult, these cats are said to break the thin threshold to the afterlife on Halloween, allowing them to communicate with the dead. Because of this myth, there’s been stories of black cats being adopted near Halloween only to be sacrificed by devil worshippers. Many animal shelters will still hold off on adoptions until after Halloween because of this concern.

Satanic Worshippers

Halloween is seen by many God-fearing people as the Devil’s holiday. They refuse to partake in any of the festivities, believing the holiday promotes all aspects of evil. People like Pat Robertson have dubbed Halloween the “festival for demonic spirits.” Odds are there probably are troubled individuals walking around in costumes with wicked intentions. But does Halloween have an increase in Satanic crimes or murders?

If you asked people during the 1980s they would certainly say yes, as the “Satanic Panic” paranoia arose in smaller communities across the country. Horror movies like House of the Devil have taken this premise and created scary films out of the fear. When not sacrificing black cats, people believed Devil worshippers would also be placing subliminal messages in Heavy Metal albums instructing youths to commit heinous acts. Parents also feared robed Satanists would target children out trick-or-treating, kidnapping them for perverse sexual acts or rituals. While there certainly were some dark child abuse cases in the '80s, there’s been nothing of substance tying Halloween to a rise of satanic crimes on October 31.

Evil In The Mirror

There’s no better day to scare your friends than on Halloween. Kids in particular know this and love scaring each other with campfire stories, horror films or by daring one another to stand in front of a mirror and summon a dark entity.

An immensely popular urban legend that we’ve all tried at some point in our youths, is trying to summon Bloody Mary, Candyman or some variation of a dark specter. In a nutshell, you stand in front of a mirror (usually the bathroom), sometimes holding a candle, depending on the version you’ve heard, and call out the vengeful spirit’s name three or five times in a row. So what happens after you do it? Does Bloody Mary or Candyman appear? The story goes that only bad things will occur upon calling them, from having your eyes ripped out to being slashed to death by a hook, or simply ending up in the mirror with the entity, never to be seen again. Sounds fun, right?

There’s nothing to worry about, as outside of a horror film there’s been no real victims. Of course, if you want to try your luck, you can find out tonight if you dare.

Scary Killer Clowns

While everyone’s been focused on this year’s presidential election, the real threat to our nation’s security has been slowly sneaking up one animal balloon at a time. Communities all across the country are under siege by clowns and these white gloved waving jesters aren’t here for laughs.

Clowns scaring people or traumatizing kids isn’t something new as it’s been occurring since the turn of the 20^th century. But over the past couple of years, the “creepy clown” phenomenon has seen an influx of reports flooding the nightly news and our Facebook news feeds. The rise of clowns can be directly tied to social media and YouTube, giving exposure to pranksters and troublemakers looking to make a name for themselves. Just a couple of weeks ago, a couple was arrested for leaving their toddler at home while they went out dressed as clowns to terrorize neighbors.

Should Halloween be blamed for this craze? With more and more incidents occurring ahead of the holiday, some authorities are banning clown costumes, while Target had pulled clown masks from their stores. Halloween offers up the perfect cover for this mischievous behavior to occur, just like we’ve seen in the past with Devils Night/Hell Night. While the chances of Stephen King’s Pennywise snatching up kids on Halloween is relatively low, criminals and troublemakers donning costumes to commit bad acts is a real threat.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Kendall Jenner Doesn’t Get Why Ballerinas Are Mad At Her

2016-10-29T19:36:57.091Z

The Kardashian-Jenner clan manages to find criticism at every turn, so it’s no surprise that the faux ballet skills Kendall Jenner displayed for a recent magazine spread landed her in the hot seat. The model’s September shoot for Vogue Spain was immediately ripped apart by ballerinas across the world who felt offended by her lack of dance expertise, and now Jenner is saying she doesn’t quite understand where her critics are coming from.

“It’s so funny that people are getting pregnant and married—or having crazy drama—but my drama is ballerinas being upset at me!” she wrote on her app, according to Entertainment Tonight. “With my Vogue Spain shoot, I didn’t even know I was going to be a ballerina until I went into hair and makeup.”

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She also took the opportunity to point out how trivial the shoot was compared to some of the larger issues we are facing as a culture. “It confuses me how people can get that upset when there are so many important things going on in the world. But, it’s obviously not going to stop me from working hard and being me.”

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There are definitely bigger bones to pick—perhaps starting with Jenner’s sisters’ appropriation of black culture, as some pointed out—but many of the ballerinas have taken to Twitter to explain just where they’re coming from:

Ballet dancers don't train 40+ hours a week to be represented by Kendall Jenner and her fish feet... Also she is going to hurt herself pic.twitter.com/wLCmTDinTJ
— syd the kid (@Sydnith_Dolphin) September 23, 2016

I just wanna know why Vogue got Kendall Jenner to take part in a ballet photoshoot instead of an actual ballerina??? Lmao
— Raqué (@itsraquelyo) October 24, 2016

point how life is unfair. Kendall was shooted for Vogue as ballerina, while u've been training at studios for 10 years. pic.twitter.com/wV0QtOrICX
— dragulka xx (@dragulka) September 26, 2016

I am formally requesting an apology from @KendallJenner & @voguemagazine for that weird ballet video. Please stop. 🙃
— Tori Archer (@victorienka) September 17, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

NASA Wins Halloween With Superior Pumpkin Carving Skills

2016-10-29T19:25:17.310Z

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory held their annual pumpkin carving contest on Thursday and it turns out that carving pumpkins is rocket science.

The contest, which is held at the California lab made famous in The Martian, showed what can happen when you combine science and engineering with pumpkins. There were a few fabulous, but fairly standard entries, like a PAC-MAN pumpkin, a Darth Vader Jack O’Lantern, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton pumpkins, and an impressive Stranger Things inspired entry, but no Neil deGrasse Tyson pumpkin.

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However the scientists and engineers who work at NASA’s lab set themselves apart from run-of-the-mill pumpkin carvers with the entries that combined gourds with cold hard science and a touch of Halloween magic.

NASA JPL mechanical engineer Aaron Yazzie shared many of the entries on Twitter and they offer a bounty of ideas for your own Halloween pumpkins. For starters, check out the pumpkin carved as a stand-in for the Mars Rover complete with a glowing green light and a Forrest Gump quote, that may be an inside NASA joke.

Mars Sample Return Pumpkin #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/QEjyDsOSQg
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

Then there’s this glowing Martian return mission pumpkin with lights and a cow spinning away in a vortex:

Martian Sample Return Mission #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/4p2lvsy7MH
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

Next time you’re invited to an October picnic, consider bringing your own pumpkin barbecue:

BBQ #NASAPumpkin on a hand made mini Flotron! pic.twitter.com/sR6hRebe8V
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

Guessing that someone on NASA’s SMAP (that’s Soil Moisture Active and Passive for us laymen) team made this SMAP-inspired pumpkin:

A @NASASMAP pumpkin #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/39sbaEO5D1
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter was recreated in gourd form, too:

The @NASAJuno #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/D344wtcCer
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

Someone even made a black hole, which, thankfully was not a fully functional model.

Black hole #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/CEmOSB2csB
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

There was a space telescope:

Space Telescope #NASAPumpkin pic.twitter.com/fQzSwnlfKq
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

Yazzie shared is own entry, too, a Mars helicopter with rotating blades:

And best for last, my group's entry: Leonardo, the Mars Copter #NASAPumpkin! pic.twitter.com/3E0Mz0aC94
— Aaron Yazzie (@YazzieSays) October 27, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

The Future of Gaming is Now

2016-10-28T17:03:44.007Z

This week, we're exploring the future of gaming with virtual reality, Nintendo's new Switch hybrid console, and other odds and ends from around the net.

Virtual Reality Fails

Recommended Pairing: Crystal Pepsi with a Zima back.

Now that we have a week away from political madness, we're going to try and have some fun by taking a look at the exciting (and possibly stupid) virtual world we're about to enter. Google is sending me one of their VR headsets and I'm strangely pumped up about the whole thing*.

Look, I know VR technology isn't exactly new. I was one of the few kids who saved up to buy the goddamn Nintendo Power glove and was immediately crushed when Little Mac couldn't get past Glass Joe with the piece of shit slipped over my fists.

Anyone who ever tried using the Power Glove knows the brutal sting of a gadget letting you down completely. You wanted to fuse with the character on screen. You wanted your movements to sync. You expected a virtual reality in which the barrier between yourself and the hero onscreen became blurred. Instead, every fool with that shitty plastic glove ended up just holding it in their hands and using it like a regular controller. The Wizard promised us the ability to become one with those pixels blaring out from our old cathode ray television sets. Fuck. Fred. Savage. What a waste of money...

As far as I'm concerned the only piece virtual technology from the past worth a damn was the ViewMaster from the early '80s.

No not that one. Wait. They rebooted the ViewMaster? Cool. Nothing will beat the classic, though. Weird depth of field stereoscopic images you churned through by pulling a lever. It wasn't a very lifelike reality you glimpsed into, it was more of a lucid nightmare world. As a kid, I loved them even though they kind of freaked me out.

In the '90s we were constantly promised virtual reality was just around the corner. We had (or at least were promised)... The SEGA VR

The Nintendo Virtual Boy:

Random arcade equipment like Virtuality:

And of course, the best thing to come out of the '90s virtual Reality craze, The Lawnmower Man:

Currently, we have the technology to finally get things going in the virtual reality industry. All of the major gaming and media players are on board, and we're getting a substantial push for content and an eventual front runner.

We still have some fails, but they're operator error, which is hilarious. I could watch these all day.

The Nintendo Switch

Recommended Pairing: Magic mushrooms and a metro pass.

As I mentioned before, I was raised on Nintendo. (Yes, I went for the SEGA Genesis instead of the Super Nintendo, but that had more to do with all of my other friends already having the SNES and having plenty of access. Also, no censored blood in Mortal Kombat!)

I'm not much of a gamer. I still prefer classic games or indie throwback games when I get a chance to play — with the occasional eight-hour binge of Franchise Mode in each new Madden.

This video has me considering my disposable income, though:

Here they go again. This seems like a fresh take on the concept of a gaming console. I'm actually really intrigued with the idea of the simplified gameplay when you snap off the little side controllers and hold them sideways. It brings me back to the days of fighting with my sister over who had to be Luigi when we would play two-player Mario Bros. (For the record, the cool kids played as Luigi).

Nintendo has a knack for just making games that are fun to play. Hell, I played more Mario Kart and Wii Golf than anything else in the last decade. I honestly never could get into first person shooters, (it ruined Metroid for me) and I have zero interest in killing people in realistic simulated battles. For me, a game doesn't have to look real, it has to be fun. I mean, isn't that the difference between the Polar Express and any Pixar movie?

Also, I don't like to just sit on the couch and play cause I have a tendency to just lose a whole day. But now you're telling me I can dick around with new hugely expansive Mario and Zelda games while I'm taking the light rail or a dump at work?

Awesome!

I mean look at this shit:

It almost seems like you could get lost in that world without having to drape huge goggles over your stupid face. That being said, if I could play through the original Metroid in virtual reality, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Even if it meant I might look like any of these idiots.

'Til next week.

Wanna see more of my favorite innerwebs finds? You can read the full "Mike's Favorite Things on the Innerwebs" series right here.

*Yes I am required to check out and review VR Porn literally the second my Google Daydream headset arrives.

Elle Belle Gets Schizophrenic with Double Album Debut 'Wako Gumbo'

2016-10-28T16:56:56.892Z

Elle Belle — born Christopher Pappas — is a Los Angelino who straddles the line between fantastic and uncomfortable with his latest single, “Knock on the Light.” It’s as smooth as a Marvin Gaye standard, yet with BØRNS keyboardist Misty Boyce on guest vocals, has just enough grit to put you on edge. Coupled with the video starring So You Think You Can Dance season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer self-flagellating in a mask, dancing his heart out, and you have an unforgettable track from Elle Belle’s debut Wako Gumbo, due out on November 11.

It’s a highlight of alienation from an album that Pappas says deals with a disconnectedness from everything, navigating Los Angeles and life at large.The multi-instrumentalist wrote and recorded almost everything in his 23-song debut, a genre-bending set that’s part psych-pop, garage rock, and prog. Pappas talks about the band Genesis’ influence on this album, how Los Angeles was an intrinsic part of his debut, and where the terms Elle Belle and Wako Gumbo came from.

Hometown: I was born and raised in Auburn, NH, a small town in southern part of the state.

Homebase: I live in Los Angeles.

Why call yourself Elle Belle?

When I first started this project I needed to adopt a character to get what I wanted out of the music. For whatever reason I felt creatively drained while being “myself.” Elle was someone else. He had swagger. Using that voice, I was able to to tap into something I felt really connected to. I started to enjoy writing music again. Then something just clicked and Elle and I became one in the same.

Is there a particular meaning behind your album name, Wako Gumbo?

"Wako Gumbo" was a phrase I saw spray painted on the side of the 110 in downtown Los Angeles. Something about the whole scene caught my eye, and I felt like it aptly described this double record. It is a crazy mix of a lot of different styles and elements. While recording I was very occupied with following inspiration and ideas all the way through, and that gave rise a lot of strange elements. There’s possibly a fair criticism to be made that it’s a bit too schizophrenic, I won’t discount that. However, it was really my intent to not worry or try to predict how it will be received and instead focus on pushing an idea as far as it could go.

How did you get So You Think You Can Dance season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer to perform in the video for “Knock on the Light”?

He was a friend of the director Casey Curry, who had directed my last two music videos. Casey sent him the tune and Benji ended up really connecting with it, so he agreed to do it.

Describe your music to people who haven't heard it before.

Drugs.

Did you always want to be a musician?

My father is a musician, and I remember sitting in his guitar case as his band practiced. I’ve always been writing songs as long as I can remember, even before I knew how to play an instrument. I always knew I wanted to be a musician, but one time in particular, when I was in 7th grade, my father let me play a few songs between his set at the local tavern. The crowd loved it, and I remember feeling really great about playing live (as it was my first time). The next day, I was out with my mom running errands when a man came up to us and said he recognized me from the night before. He told me he thought I was great and that I had made a new fan (my first). That left an impression on me and I remember feeling like “Ok. I found what I’m going to do with my life.”

Who are your musical heroes?

I find I’m most inspired by artists that seem to be able to give a sense of the moment through their songs. I can hear a slight crack in the voice, or a guitar is slightly out of tune in a part, whatever it may be — I want to feel as is they chose to capture a moment of inspiration, and held that sound to be the gold standard over trying to be as “accurate” as possible. Favorites that have been with me a while are groups like Guided by Voices, Daniel Johnston and Sonic Youth. Don’t get me wrong — I love the idea of “composing.” I’m not suggesting that the groups i mentioned didn’t struggle over the “craft” of a song. I’m speaking more to how the capture it on record, and in consideration of the writing of it, that they understand that being in the moment takes precedent over making the moment perfect.

What's your songwriting process?

I tend to get a phrase or a melody in my head. Less frequently I’ll be messing around on an instrument. It happens sometimes (for instance I wrote that opening guitar progression first on "Last Day"), but more often it starts with a melody. After that I try and find the feel/groove of the tune. Then I’m able to figure out the rest, and that’s usually always a bit different each time.

How did you end up in Los Angeles?

While living in Boston I became friends with Pierre de Reeder, a musician/engineer. He ended up signing me to his label and I decided that I should make the move. There were some other factors, as I had been playing with the idea of moving there for sometime, but that one seems to be the one I can point to as the push over the edge.

What’s on your bucket list for the rest of 2016?

The release has been a long time coming. It’s been hung up by some early major label drama, but that’s all done and Pierre swooped in to the rescue and is putting it out on his label Little Record Co.

Do you have an interesting story about being on Myspace as a musician?

One time an acquaintance of mine completely freaked out because I had taken her off of my band's “Top 10.” I actually had forgotten about that until now. Wow — how mad can someone be over something so trivial? I just searched my computer and I still have the chat transcript of her freaking out.

Listen to Heartracer’s ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ EP Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-10-28T16:50:50.892Z

If you were to place a perfectly cooked steak next to a fast food hamburger it would be abundantly clear how much time, effort and attention to detail make for a superior meal. The same goes for music, and in the case of Heartracer’s new EP, Eat Your Heart Out, which has been over a year and a half in the making, it’s a perfectly cooked steak of indie synth pop.

Hailing from Richmond, VA, and consisting of Chris and Chip Cosby, Heartracer knows not everyone can handle such a wait for new music, which is why the duo appreciates their fans’ patience.

“Although we are a relatively new and unknown indie band, we have some incredibly loyal fans,” Chris explains. “This EP is a thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far, whether it's an album purchase, or concert ticket, or just a personal message on Instagram.”

With Eat Your Heart Out set to be released on October 29, Myspace has the exclusive first listen.

Wanting to know more about the EP, we caught up with Chris to ask him about Eat Your Heart Out.

What was going on in your lives that inspired the content of Eat Your Heart Out?

Eat Your Heart Out is our second EP, and first release since our Summer Gold EP back in April 2015. Many of these songs were written a year ago, so it's tough to remember exactly what headspace I was in during each song's inception. That being said, I do know that each song on Eat Your Heart Out was written during a different stage of a relationship — from the initial love-struck state in "I Just Want You," to the ultimate consensus, and potential pitfall that is "Hollow."

Sonically, in what ways do you feel Eat Your Heart Out differs from your previous work?

Sonically Eat Your Heart Out differs the most from our previous work mainly because of our confidence in these songs, and in our sound. Because of this, the songs have much more space to breathe than our previous work.

As a band we always try to place more emphasis on using the right sounds and setting the right mood rather than placing an emphasis on how many notes we are playing. The Jupiter-6 synthesizer specifically played a large role on this record. This keyboard was used by some of our favorite acts, from Depeche Mode, to The Cars, to Duran Duran.

Which song on Eat Your Heart Out is closest to your heart?

It's pretty hard to pick one because they all came from the heart, or at least I like to think so! If I had to pick, I would have to say "Hollow." As someone who puts a lot of their personal life into their lyrics, this song definitely paints me in a very vulnerable state, and I think that can take courage as a songwriter.

President Obama Says Kendrick Lamar & Chance The Rapper Are His Favorite Rappers

2016-10-28T16:44:00.490Z

It's no secret that President Barack Obama has a deep appreciation of music. The past two years, he's released a hot summer playlist. He was even involved in a music, film and tech conference in collaboration with South by Southwest called South by South Lawn this fall.

Now, he's sharing his opinions on the best rappers in the game. "I think the young guys, Kendrick [Lamar] and Chance [the Rapper] are doing amazing work," he told Sirius XM's Sway Calloway (via Pitchfork).

He also loves Drake (and "the girls love Drake"), Jay Z ("[he's] still the king") and Kanye West.

"There’s a lot of talent out there, but when I look at who’s breaking new ground, Kendrick and Chance, those guys are doing just amazing work," said Obama.

Listen to the whole interview, which also includes his thoughts on the upcoming election, below.

A Tribe Called Quest To Release "Final" Album in November

2016-10-28T16:35:43.154Z

The legendary Queens hip hop trio A Tribe Called Quest have just one more album in the works.

The group best known for "Can I Kick It?" reunited after their performance on The Tonight Show last year.

pic.twitter.com/o4vb5tASE8
— ATCQ (@ATCQ) October 28, 2016

"As we left 30 Rock I felt the need, we all did, to get back to the studio and start that cookup!!” said Q-Tip. "So we got to it!!"

The group began working on the new record before the untimely death of member Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor, but they were able to continue working afterwards.

The untitled album, which will be A Tribe Called Quest's first since 1998's The Love Movement, will be released on November 11.

Get nostalgic with "Can I Kick It?" below.

Watch Niall Horan And James Corden Get in the Halloween Spirit on "Candy"

2016-10-28T16:29:34.132Z

For Halloween night, Niall Horan has gotten himself a new co-star: James Corden. In the silly clip with the Late Late Show host, the duo dress up in costumes — from Batman and a vampire to an ear of corn and pea pod — and make some seriously ridiculous candy metaphors to the melody of Ginuwine's "Pony."

The highlight? Horan singing "Girl when you break me off a kit kat / I'm gonna make you tootsie pop" to an unsuspecting mother expecting trick or treaters.

Corden does his part, too, singing sweet lines like "I'm captain sugar daddy / because I'm about to starburst."

Looks like Horan got final treat, though, as the mother ends up inviting him inside.

Watch the ridiculous video below.

Cardiknox Talk Festivals & Their Debut Album Over Healthy Food

2016-10-28T07:00:00.000Z

For a long time, Cardiknox was in a fairly unique situation. vocalist Lonnie Angle and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Dutton were performing at major festivals for thousands of screaming fans, but hadn't even released virtually any music yet.

That's not to say the Seattle natives hadn't created or recorded much music, it just wasn't coming out as quickly as their fan base was growing.

"When we played Sasquatch Festival, we figured we'd play early in the day and nobody would really be there for us," Dutton says. "We got to play right when the sun was starting to go down and we were right by the entrance on the second-biggest stage. We didn't have any songs out, but people were coming to see us play."

"It was this massive crowd and people were going nuts just because they were ready to go nuts on the first night of the festival," Angle adds. "My mom was there in the front row and people were taking selfies with her because she was like 'That's my daughter!'"

But now, all those fans at festivals like Sasquatch, Reading, and Entertainment Weekly's PopFest in Los Angeles this weekend (October 29) actually have music to sing along to. Cardiknox released Portrait in March, marking their first foray into the recorded world outside of a few non-album singles from the past few years.

As the duo sits down for lunch at the trendy Messhall Kitchen in LA's Los Feliz neighborhood, Angle and Dutton are just relieved to finally see crowds able to singalong during their sets over the summer rather than just bobbing their heads and dancing.

"It was like giving birth to a child," Angle says of Portrait's release as she peruses Messhall's menu of sandwiches and salads. "We spent about six months in the studio working on the album, but then it wasn't released for another year after that. It was magical being on tour and watching the transition from fans who didn't know our music to people singing along to some of the deep cuts."

"You get so used to playing songs for people who hadn't heard the songs because they weren't out yet," Dutton adds just before ordering a kale-based drink. "It's rewarding to see people go from not knowing you to having their hands up and becoming a fan before your eyes, but to go to a place and see people not even singing just the singles but also the deeper album tracks, that's really cool."

Aside from touring college campuses across the country this fall, Cardiknox are already looking forward to everything they have coming up. But even as the band heads toward the future, their catchy music has an undeniably vintage sound. It's as dance- and radio-friendly as even the newest EDM tracks on the market, but rather than focusing on high-tech sounds and space age technology, the duo is inspired by the music that dominated their childhoods.

"I think we wanted to make music that we enjoyed listening to in terms of being similar to other modern acts, but also dig into some of the elements that got us into music as kids," Dutton says as he begins to break off a piece of red trout with his fork. "Both of our dads are huge music fans, and I think we both credit that with us becoming musicians and wanting to incorporate a lot of those nostalgic '80s elements into our music as well."

For Cardiknox, one of the side effects of having such a long delay on their debut album is the amount of time it's put between their major writing sessions. Considering that the bulk of Portrait was created in 2014, Angle and Dutton needed to get back into writing mode after spending the bulk of the last two years touring. Thankfully, they believe new music is right around the corner, and it may be their best work to date.

"We haven't written anything in like two years now," Dutton says after sipping some of his kale juice. "I know some people can write while they're on the road, but it's such a different headspace for us. It's two completely different parts of it for us."

"We're hoping to put music out as early as the spring," Angle says while handling her "Smooth Operator" coffee drink. "It might be an EP or it might just be a single, but it's exciting to get back into the studio. Hopefully we're getting better and better every time we go back into the studio. I feel like some of the songs we've written in the last month are the best songs we've ever written."

Regardless of new music, the pop group will surely be pleasing audiences with their electrifying live performances for the foreseeable future. They may never have a crowd quite as raucous as the moshing/crowdsurfing/Power Ranger costume-wearing dance hall they filled at the Reading Festival in England, but it's the energy of crowds big and small that ultimately power the Seattle natives.

"With any live show, it's only half us," Angle says between bites of her Santa Fe quinoa salad. "The other half is whoever is out there in the crowd, so sometimes you get this really magical combination. We've had some really cool shows."

"It's this weird thing, because you're trying to put on the best show you possibly can regardless of how big or small the crowd is," Dutton adds. "I don't think the crowd realizes how much their presence adds to the overall shows as well. They're as important as we are."

Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

2016-10-28T07:00:00.000Z

Whether it's electronic or indie rock, this week's new albums will get you two-stepping into the weekend. Empire of the Sun are back with their latest glam disco tracks with Two Vines and Allen Tate of San Fermin is trying things out on his own with Sleepwalker. Nina Diaz tackles her struggles with alcoholism and her road to recovery on The Beat is Dead; meanwhile, Tove Lo takes us on an emotional roller coaster with Lady Wood. And finally, Miniature Tigers are back with their fifth record, I Dreamt I Was a Cowboy.

Find out more about this week's new album releases after the break.

'Two Vines' - Empire of the Sun

Empire of the Sun haven't released a new album since 2013's Ice on the Dune, but that all changes today. Their latest effort, Two Vines, has been a bit of a process for the Sydney electronic rock band.

Following the completion of their musical work on 2014's Dumb and Dumber To, Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore started penning tunes for this new record. While there are some jungle elements to some of the songs, Two Vines, at its core, is a Empire of the Sun record. Not only will they make you dance as "Friends," "ZZZ" and "High and Low" do, the songs have that melodic quality that make them contenders for heavy rotations on your playlist. For instance, the title track has that cinematic anthem quality while "First Crush" has a tenderness and lighthearted vibe that any good pop song should have. Overall, the Aussie duo have done it again with the help of longtime collaborator Peter Mayes. Wendy Melvoin from Prince's band, The Revolution, as well as David Bowie collaborators, Henry Hey and Tim Lefebvre, also lend a hand.

'Sleepwalker' - Allen Tate

Allen Tate has been known as one of the lead vocalists of baroque pop band, San Fermin. However, following the success of the New York City band, it was time for him to do something on his own. And that came in the form of Sleepwalker.

With his signature baritone voice, the debut album shows his sheer musical experience as a member of San Fermin but also how creative he can get on his own. He worked with fellow band Ellis Ludwig-Leone, who produced the album. And unlike the upbeat and lighthearted tunes we're used to hearing from their other project, there is something much deeper on this one. Between the beautifully crafted orchestrations and Allen's dedication to getting the lyrics just right, Sleepwalker will lift up your spirits while making you look a little deeper into yourself. "Being Alone" and "Keeping You Awake" are the LP's gems while "YDNF" will put some pep in your step. Sleepwalker isn't only a solid effort from Allen Tate but also makes you look forward to what other musical magic he'll now be doing on his own.

'Lady Wood' - Tove Lo

If there's anyone who doesn't only sing about sex, drugs and rock and roll but also lives it out, it's Tove Lo. With her stoner-friendly "Habits (Stay High)" and the sensual "Talking Body," it seems that there isn't anything the 28-year-old Swedish popstress won't sing about. And on her new album, Lady Wood, she follows that same mantra while taking it one step further.

Laden with dark and moody pop beats, Tove's delicate yet powerful vocals shine on each song. "True Disaster," which sounds like it should be on a Tron spin-off, delves into a relationship that she knows is a bad idea but jumps in anyway. Meanwhile the lead single, "Cool Girl," is the ultimate "zero fucks given" track, where Tove takes control. She knows what she wants, takes it and keeps it all collected as she does it. Then there's "Influence," her collaboration with Wiz Khalifa, where she tells everyone not to always take her so seriously when she's in that state of mind. Lady Wood is part of a double album, and we're getting "Fairy Dust (Chapter I)," which not only opens the LP but conveys a life of extremes. She's aiming to release the next chapter in 2017, and we're looking forward to see what that one is all about and what side of Tove we'll be getting.

'The Beat Is Dead' - Nina Diaz

For many of us, we first got to know Nina Diaz and her talent during her days in Girl in a Coma when she was 13. And now 28, Nina is showing us that she's more than the angsty punk singer with her new album, The Beat Is Dead.

Drawing from her experiences dealing with addiction and recovery, she shows us a more vulnerable side of herself. But don't let this softer side make you think that she doesn't know how to rock. You can easily hear the grit on "January 9th," and there's a bit of Joan Jett-ness on "It." "Screaming Without a Sound," "Down" and "Young Man" have electronic elements that add a nu wave feel as well as another facet to Nina's talent. And let's not forget her ballad, "For You," which closes the record and tops off a solid musical effort from the young yet wise rockstar.

'I Dreamt I Was a Cowboy' - Miniature Tigers

Need a perk up but don't want to go all out? Miniature Tigers' new record, I Dreamt I Was a Cowboy, is the perfection addition to your playlist. The Phoenix indie pop band bring their laid back sound and add a beachy twist on this fifth effort.

"Dreaming" sounds a lot like the early days of the Beach Boys while "My Girl Forever" has an Everly Brothers vibe. There's a sweet groove to "Crying in the Sunshine," and the title track has a whimsical atmosphere. Definitely one of the week's more relaxing albums, I Dreamt I Was a Cowboy will whisk you away from the daily grind and give you a one-way ticket to nirvana.

15 Artists We Love Reveal Their Favorite Halloween Costumes

2016-10-28T07:00:00.000Z

When you’re a kid, there are few holidays that are as exciting as Halloween. You get to dress up, walk the neighborhood as a superhero, princess, zombie, or anything else you can imagine, and collect candy from your neighbors.

With Halloween just a few days away, Myspace caught up with 15 artists we love to ask them about their favorite Halloween costumes.

Colbie Caillat

What I loved was my mom would always makeshift stuff for us, so we would never go buy costumes. I think what I loved was her creativity. She didn’t see the point in buying these costumes when she had antique stuff, or stuff she used to wear when she was a teenager.

My mom had really cool old cowboy boots, she would cut out pillow cases, I can’t even remember all the things she would do, but we made them at home, and I thought it was really creative, and a fun project to do with your kids.

Logan Lynn

I honestly always wanted to be punk rock for Halloween growing up, which I did on a number of occasions. I was really into day drag as a kid, too, so it's a little hard to tell what was Halloween, and what was just me being a flamboyant gay kid on a non-holiday in old photos.

My parents let me dress like Pee-wee Herman for Halloween one year, though, and I went trick-or-treating with my little brother, Landon, who was dressed like the cat-eating space alien ALF. We lived in a super small rural town in Nebraska at the time, and I remember feeling like we were edgy, which was cute.

J-Zone

I only did Halloween one year and I was one of the Pac-Man ghosts — Clyde/Pokey because my mom had an orange bed sheet she cut up for the costume. That was 1984.

Kendall Schmidt of Heffron Drive

Because I’ve always done my own makeup, I always liked doing zombies and stuff like that. One time I got a kit to make an ice zombie, like a zombie that’s been frozen in ice. That was a great costume. One time I did a murderer doctor. That was when I was like 13. Maybe I was a little twisted at that age. I just always liked the concept of putting makeup on at Halloween.

My best costume — and I say best because I was on the TV show (Big Time Rush) at the time, and I had the makeup lady, and the wardrobe lady, all helping me — was Ron Burgundy. I swear to God I had a better Ron Burgandy outfit than anybody, because I had a professional hair and makeup team, and a professional wardrobe team. They got, verbatim, his outfit ... and nobody recognized me. I’ve never had a costume that was less recognized than that costume. That blew my mind. I couldn’t believe it. All that work.

Che'Nelle

I didn't grow up experiencing Halloween until I was 23 in America. My brother and I tried it as kids — we went to people's houses in Perth, Australia, but, yeah, that was not happening. People didn't like that, and would say, "This isn't America," with a door slammed in our face.

My favorite Halloween costume as an adult was definitely last year’s costume. I was the Cheshire Cat ... a pretty sexy one. [laughs]

Anna Rose

I was Kurt Cobain one year as a kid. That was the greatest because I got to wear my usual flannel and ripped jeans and not talk to anyone. Got a lot of candy, didn't have to say a word.

Che-Val (Kenny & Laura Cash)

Kenny Cash: Zolton!

Laura Cash: My sister and I always used our Halloween costumes as inspiration to venture into the arts. My favorite Halloween costumes were

1. Being an Arabian princess in fourth grade, because I had these awesome finger cymbals that I got to play with all night — and all the next month after, sorry ma — and because my friends and I used the costume to make our own movie called Genie for a Wish.

2. Being Scarlett O'Hara in second grade, because I was obsessed with the movie (Gone with the Wind), and because my sister and I wrote our own musical/play for us and our friends based on my costume.

I still use costumes as inspiration for my musical art, like in our "Gone Mad" music video.

Cosmos & Creature (Molly Moore & Brandyn Burnette)

My favorite costume was Minnie Mouse, because I always loved wearing the dress and ears, and I was able to wear that same costume for years without outgrowing it.

Brandyn's favorite costume was Scream, because he loves classic scary movies. He also managed to wear it three years in a row. [laughs]

Ann Courtney of Mother Feather

When I was a kid I used to wish very earnestly that I’d grow up to be a fairy princess, so there were at least three years in a row where that’s what I dressed up as for Halloween. My mom made me this very simple bright green dress and a DIY wand, but the centerpiece of the costume was a sparkly, store-bought, multicolored tinsel wig that I thought was the most fabulous thing ever. I remember an older kid at school asking me, “What are you supposed to be, a punk?!” and feeling extremely offended.

In hindsight, I guess I did kind of look like a glammy punk, but at the time it felt like sparkly tinsel hair, a green sack dress, wand, and a lot of blue eyeshadow were the obvious trappings of a magical fairy princess.

(Ann also sports some pretty wild looks on stage, and in the band's videos)

Duke Sims of Shinobi Ninja

My favorite Halloween costume was when I was in public school in Brooklyn. It was a cyclops costume with a cool cyclops mask on a string, and a pull over kid’s bib type thing which had a picture of a big cyclops. Not Cyclops from X-Men, this was just a generic cyclops guy. I liked that one the most because I knew I wasn't really cyclops because there was a picture of cyclops on my cyclops outfit, but I might have been his #1 fan. I would love to rock that costume again.

Melissa Marie of Millionaires

I remember in middle school I went as a cheerleader, and my mom let me use her high school song leader outfit as my costume. That actually meant a lot to me.

(We also happen to think she makes a pretty great Wonder Woman)

Jessica Forsythe of Sick of Sarah

My mom always shows a picture of me from when I was maybe nine or ten years old dressed up as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She found me a long yellow dress, and I felt like a princess. This was probably my favorite costume for sure.

Karina

Growing up in Norway, Halloween is not quite as big as it is in the States. For reasons I did not understand when I was younger, I always dressed as a witch. Now I know that it was the only costume/look my mom could do.

The Internet Lost It Over This Burger King’s Spooky McDonald’s Disguise

2016-10-28T01:16:23.105Z

Burger King has taken its Halloween game to a new level this year by disguising a location in Queens, N.Y., as a McDonald’s ghost.

There’s Actually Gilmore Girls-Inspired Coffee for Caffeine Binging Now

The restaurant — which is covered in giant white tarps with eye holes cut to resemble Mickey D’s famous golden arches — features a sign that reads, “BOOOOO! Just kidding. We still flame grill our burgers. Happy Halloween.”

It’s a move that several people on Twitter have taken note of, expressing their appreciation for the fast food giant’s creative trolling with tweets such as, “This Burger King dressing up as a McDonald’s ghost is a a level of pettiness once unheard of.”

This Burger King dressing up as a McDonald's ghost is a a level of pettiness once unheard of pic.twitter.com/fldCfZ0gWD
— Eric Fawcett (@Efawcett7) October 25, 2016

Now Chipotle Has a Burger Joint

See several of the best reactions to this epic prank below.

This Burger King dressed up as a McDonald's ghost is one of the most pettiest things I've ever seen 💀 pic.twitter.com/x02hZhJnua
— Common White Girl (@CommonWhiteGrls) October 27, 2016

That's whole other level of petty, how do I get there
— boo brooke (@ayyabizzle) October 23, 2016

Well played, Burger King. Well played. pic.twitter.com/hQSLRj11jX
— You Had One Job (@CutPics) October 25, 2016

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Miley Cyrus May Have Just Confirmed Her Engagement to Liam Hemsworth

2016-10-27T17:21:02.185Z

Miley Cyrus recently stopped by Ellen to talk Hillary Clinton, The Voice, and that infamous engagement ring we saw her flaunt earlier this year.

“So there’s a photo that got a lot of attention, of your engagement ring,” Ellen said, getting straight to business. “Are you wearing it right now?”

“I am,” Miley replied, not denying the key word: engagement. “I actually…it’s very weird ’cause this is real jewelry, and most of my jewelry is made out of like, gummy bears and cotton candy. And they don’t look that good together ’cause they kind of mix up. So sometimes I replace it with an actual unicorn or a Looney Tune. And he’s kinda like, ‘What’s going on?’ And I’m like, ‘This really isn’t my aesthetic, but I’ll wear it because you love me.'”

“God, he could’ve saved a lot of money by giving you, like, a gummy bear ring or something,” Ellen joked.

So even though she didn't come out and say, "YUP WE'RE ENGAGED!" she also didn't come out and say, "NO NO NO, WE'RE NOT ENGAGED!" (despite the fact Liam Hemsworth denied their engagement in the spring), and we'll take that as good news.

Aside from this juicy bit of info, Miley also talked about her woes of leaving The Voice for Season 12 and her jealousy of Gwen Stefani (even though she was there first), guest-hosting for Ellen and campaigning for HRC. Watch clips from the episode below, and tune in to Ellen today to watch the full episode.

Bon Iver is Selling a Flannel Shirt Inspired by '22, A Million'

2016-10-27T16:30:09.806Z

Bon Iver are well-aware of their fan's needs. Not only their need for the indie folk group's new record 22, A Million, but also for... a new flannel shirt.

The Wisconsin-bred group have released a red flannel shirt featuring imagery from the album. The shirt costs $75 and was produced by "Ambient Inks with the highest quality canvas flannel fabric" according to the Bon Iver website.

Sounds like you can face the upcoming winter weather and show off your superb musical taste at the same time this year.

Revisit Bon Iver's "33 "GOD"" below.

Tülpa's Songs are Dreamy Teenage Soundtracks

2016-10-27T16:30:00.000Z

Here’s the deal on Tülpa: He spent a good chunk of his 18 years on this planet behind a piano in Pittsburgh learning Beethoven, Bach, Erik Satie ("Gymnopedie," look it up). Now he’s in LA producing minimalist chill-out electronica.

Tülpa, born Ivan Zhyzhkevych, reinforces a theory that I have: Musicians with legit instrumental chops make the greatest minimalism. Miles Davis, Brian Eno, John Cale with the Velvet Underground; the best ones achieve addition through subtraction.

He met BLANKTS on Twitter; she’s the voice on "Gnats," a brilliant single about lonesome big cities. Together they sound like puddles on Sunset Boulevard. If you hear romantic chemistry, that’s because they have become an item IRL. Adorbs!

We chatted with the producer about his new city and new romantic interest. Read about it all below.

Hometown: Although I was born in Ukraine I consider Pittsburgh, PA my hometown. I spent most of my childhood growing up there and it's a very special place to me.

Homebase: I now live in South Central California, and it's a part of Los Angeles.

Describe your music to people who'v never heard it before.

It's melodically centered and incorporates alternative-indie tones with contemporary piano progressions. It's a lot of feel good stuff. I try my best to put a lot of a little bit of everything in my music so each finished piece is like that feeling at the end of the day when you go to sleep and your face is finally on a cold pillow, really fulfilling.

And your album is called Storytales because ... ?

The album is Storytales because it is a collection of love stories...some good, some bad. The world inspired it, all the people, all the movies, all the relationships.

You're pretty young; what was your first EDM experience like? Was it life-changing?

I went to Bassnectar at Stage AE in Pittsburgh. I was 15 at the time. At a certain point I was in the front of the crowd and took a moment to look behind me, the bass in a drop made my entire body tingle and everybody was going wild. I couldn't stop smiling all night.

How did you fall in love with music in general, not necessarily EDM?

The discovery of my love for music actually came a few years after I had been taking piano lessons. At the time, reciting classical pieces wasn't amusing to me, but after a certain point I (surprisingly even to myself) wanted to start writing my own things. The first time I got Cubase on my families out-dated computer and recorded my first eight bar of notes, I never felt so creative and happy with myself. I replayed that loop about a hundred times, and knew the feeling I got from it was one I'd be chasing for a long while.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

The first song I ever wrote was "Ambec," and the title was a made-up word I had conjured. Initially I never wrote lyrics to my songs, but the feeling behind it was inspired by the serenity of being in forests.

What's your songwriting process?

My songwriting process starts with me finding a purpose for a song. I need to know what to say in the end, even if nobody ever finds out — because that's my start to the beginning. As soon as I have a purpose, I start making the music behind the lyrics, and when that's done I start to draft the "stories." I like to progress the music alongside the writing process within each song; it makes it feel whole in the end.

How did you meet BLANKTS?

BLANKTS and I first met on Twitter, and I reached out to collaborate because I instantly fell in love with it.

Who else would you love to collaborate with?

I'd love to work with Mac Miller, Weezer, Peter Bjorn and John, but anyone who can come up with a good genuine story is always fun to write stories with.

Whose songs do you love to remix?

I prefer to stick to making original material, but if a nice song comes along and someone wants me to re-work it I'm always down.

Who are your musical heroes?

Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, Queen. They were all I listened to as a kid, their music made me feel like life was a cartoon.

How did you end up in LA after living in Pittsburgh?

I ended up living in LA because it's been my dream ever since I was young, and at a certain point after being kicked out from home it seemed like the only plausible option for me.

Does living in LA influence your songwriting style?

Living here's a dream so I'm making dreamy things. All my current stories branch out to topics I would've never come up with had it not been for California's environment.

What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Name their two cats after BLANKTS and I. That was a pretty adorable moment.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#orangetulipboywithapinkcozysweater

What’s on your 2016 bucket list before the year ends?

I'd like to change living places in California and get to some really special sessions with some of my favorite artists.

Watch Pussy Riot Condemn Donald Trump in "Make America Great Again"

2016-10-27T16:09:10.849Z

Pussy Riot aren't shy to voice their opinion. In their latest video, the Russian punk rock protest group depict a terrible world underneath Donald Trump.

In this (only somewhat) hyperbolic realm, Trump's military team cherry-pick people they don't like and brand them with a fiery stamp. Pussy Riot member Nadya Tolokonnikova, who was imprisoned over a year for a religious protest, stars in the video.

The accompanying song, an upbeat ditty, contrasts with the savage, Hitler-esque video.

"Make America Great Again" is the third single off of the group's new EP called xxx (out tomorrow). Watch the Ricky Reed-produced clip below.

Watch Justin Timberlake Sing "Ironic" with Jimmy Fallon at Summer Camp

2016-10-27T15:39:53.129Z

Justin Timberlake took a trip back to summer camp last night on Fallon. Snug in bed across the room from Jimmy Fallon, Timberlake decides to sing Alanis Morissette's "Ironic." But they have to be quiet because it's lights out time.

With a slight lisp because of braces, Timberlake and Fallon whisper the earworm... until the chorus, which they belt out. And immediately hear from camp counselor Mr. Fletcher.

"You two potato heads need to go to sleep," yelled the counselor. They continue singing — and continue to piss off the counselor.

The duo previously hung out on late night TV at camp in 2013, singing Hootie & the Blowfish songs on Late Night Starring Jimmy Fallon (according to Billboard).

Getting to Know... Blossoms

2016-10-27T09:38:00.000Z

Far from home but hardly intimidated, indie pop quintet Blossoms made it their personal mission to break into the international music scene. Following the August release of their self-titled debut album and their subsequent rise to the top spot on the UK album charts, the unpretentious hometown friends are determined to make fans and friends around the world one country at a time.

Myspace met up with Blossoms in Los Angeles on the last night of their North American tour to talk about friendship, coming to America, and their self-titled album.

Tom Ogden

Age: 23
Instrument: Lead vocals
Reflections on This International Tour: We feel like we’ve been on tour for the last two-and-a half-years really. We had a few festival dates in Japan and a few big ones in the UK, and then we went on a UK tour that was all sold out. Now we're in the States and it’s like starting over again, playing small, more intimate places like this. We’re just loving every moment of it really.
Best Performance You've Ever Had: The last UK show we did at the Ritz in Manchester. It was amazing and the crowd was massive. They were going mental to our walk out song before we were even on stage.
On Being Close with Your Bandmates: It’s like Oasis said in “Live Forever,” “We see things that they will never see.” You only get that with your mates that you spend a lot of time with. It’s real, and fans can see when it’s real and they just get it.
What You'll Take Back Home: If I go home thinking “I’m going write a song about being in America,” then it fucking won’t happen. It needs to come from something we’ve heard or something that happened, or just seeing the nice scenery. I’m not going to try and incorporate it because it’s contrived then, and that’s everything that we’re not. But I’m taking home t-shirts for my dad!

Charlie Salt

Age: I’m the father figure of the band at 25.
Instrument: Bass
Reflections on This International Tour: We’ve been to four countries: Australia, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and now we’ve come to the States. It’s nice to see people tapping their foot and knowing the songs everywhere we’ve been. You can’t really ask for more than that.
Thoughts on the Album: We kind of did the album in two parts: the first half of the album are tracks that were already on the EPs. Tom would bring the tracks into the rehearsal room and we’d knock it around in a traditional way, coming up with parts as we rehearsed. The second part Tom would bring a song into the studio, and we’d build it from there. It’s been really refreshing and fun to do it like that.
On Being Close with Your Bandmates: We’re just under no pressure within ourselves to create anything, so it just comes naturally. Even when we booked our first tour, the booking agent asked us where we wanted to go: to the main cities or everywhere in between. Obviously we said everywhere in between.
Best Performance You've Ever Had: San Francisco had more of a rough and ready vibe. I felt like we had our own system and bigger crowds back home, but in San Francisco it was like going back to the start, so that was kind of nice.

Josh Dewhurst

Age: 19
Instrument: Guitar
Favorite Performance: San Francisco as well, it wasn’t our first performance in the States so we had the previous two shows to get used to it a little bit, because it is very different than what we’re used to. It was just enjoyable and had a real charm to it. I just love being in America.
What You'll Take Back Home: I bought a t-shirt in every city. Metaphorically speaking, I’ll probably take back another side of life that’s way different in America and I really like it. I aspire to be over here a lot more now.
Song or Band That Influenced You: I played GTA San Andreas on the PS2, and it had different genres on each radio station. There’s a country western one where I discovered people like Conway Twitty and Hank Williams. Then there was the rock station where I heard Rod Stewart and Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that was my first introduction to real music. The whole soundtrack to Bully was done by one guy called Shawn Lee. I remember playing specific missions just to hear a particular song that he had written. In terms of my playing style — not that I really have one — it all comes from him. We e-mail each other.
Thoughts on the Album: When we go into the studio to build the rest of the album tracks, I found it personally easier to lock myself away and listen to the skeleton of the song. There’s no pressure, just the creative freedom to sit there and naturally hear what you think is right for the song.

Myles Kellock

Age: 22
Instrument: Keyboard and backing vocals
Reflections on This International Tour: The experience has been great. We had been sitting on the album for ages, but we're confident in how it would be received. There’s something endearing and exciting to know that people have yet to discover what we create. We just hope that we can crack America.
Thoughts on the Album: I really enjoyed being in the studio. Everyone has their own task in the creative process. It’s proper mad to walk out of the studio after being in there for two days and the song wasn’t there, but then you go in and get it all done. When you finish it’s pretty nice.
Song or Band That Influenced You: I remember hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time and listening to how awesome the drums were going into the song. I learned it on drums a few days after, but then I picked up a bit of bass and a bit of guitar. I was never a master at anything. It’s the same with the keys — I’m not very good at that either. I came across Muse and that was the band to get me into music properly, even though they make me cringe like fuck now.

Joe Donovan

Age: 24
Instrument: Drums
Reflections on This International Tour: It’s a bit weird when we go somewhere new and people come up to us to say “I’ve traveled 30 miles to come see you today.” It blows our heads a little bit. That’s the nicest compliment you can give, when someone travels that far or someone being really into your music when you’re so far away.
Thoughts on the Album: As a band, you dream about what you can call your album even when you’ve only had your first jam session. I think we’ve always had this thing about making it self-titled — it’s quite cool.
Song or Band That Influenced You: I love Oasis...I think that brought Tom and I together. I love hip hop. My drumming is quite simple. I love the not-very-intricate, straight to the point kind of beat.
On Being Close with Your Bandmates: We put way more into our craft than most people do in every single aspect, down to the equipment we use, our artwork, videos — even the way we dress. Collectively we knew we needed to do that. These days you need something to set you apart.

Less Than Jake Talk Getting Old, Warped Tour & Full Album Shows

2016-10-27T07:10:43.705Z

Less Than Jake has been one of the top ska and alternative bands in the world for decades. Since winning fans over with Losing Streak 20 years ago, the guys from Gainesville have blended ska, punk, and various other types of music into a sound all their own.

Myspace caught up with longtime trombone player Buddy Schaub at Warped Tour this summer to chat about

Much of the Warped Tour crowd has probably listened to bands like Less Than Jake since birth. What's that like to play to multiple generations of fans?

It’s weird because we’ve actually done Warped Tour like a million times, and a few years ago we realized we were getting older and thought “None of these people know who we are.” We did the after hours bar where you work for tips, and we’d bartend to get people loose a little bit. Then all of a sudden these bands would come over who don’t sound anything like us and say “Man, when I was in seventh grade, Losing Streak got me through everything!” It’s crazy to meet the generations of bands as they’re coming up. For me it sucks because it just makes me feel old.

Years ago, the band would play multiple sets throughout the same day at Warped Tour. How did that work for you guys?

We had done that before, yeah. We played under the pseudonym The Shits at some point on the Ernie Ball Stage. That’s what Warped Tour is all about, too. Usually you know another band, so you just go play on some of the other people’s sets. Like Billy Kottage from Reel Big Fish plays with The Interrupters everyday. It’s pretty cool to have that blend going around and playing with other people. But just playing a weird pop-up set every once in a while is fun too. Some people would find out about it and there were some people who didn’t. We’d play to 20 people sometimes.

What’s it like to have sort of a ska reunion with Reel Big Fish at Warped Tour this year?

We’ve been playing with Reel Big Fish a lot and touring with them since 2007. We’ve kind of done stuff with them, not necessarily around the US, but we’ll keep spacing it out like “We haven’t done the UK yet — let’s go there together!” We still haven’t done Japan yet. We’ve done Australia a couple of times. We haven’t done South America together yet either, so that might be in the cards. We’re a good team though — it’s like one plus one equals three with us. We’re both in that same time period so a lot of our fans are older and have kids and stuff now. If just Less Than Jake’s coming through town they’re like “Oh, maybe we’ll go.” and then they change their mind, like “Oh, there’s a new episode of Weeds on” or whatever. But when both bands come to town and it’s like “I’m going to get a hotel and a babysitter and a bottle of vodka!” and you see them passed out like halfway through our set.

You've recently done some full album shows for Losing Streak and Hello Rockview. What's it been like to revisit those albums again?

It requires a little bit of homework. We did it in 2007 with all of the records, and it six different shows in Florida in three different places, and we recorded it all and did that. Doing that was the most homework — like, there’s some songs you just don't play on a record so we had to go back and re-learn all of that, and some we just don’t play that often. We’ve had some rehearsing, if you will, onstage. You have to go back and study a little. But it’s kind of fun to play a record straight through because when you’re coming up with the order for the album and making the track list, it’s like a whole thing, but then you never really usually go do that. It was the most important thing while you were in the recording process. You get into arguments about which songs should go where but then you go to play it live and you’re like “This isn’t working at all — why did we do this?” But some songs are obviously the B-sides, because people are like “I love that they’re playing the whole record!” but then they don’t know some of the songs.

Every Less Than Jake show involves beach balls, streamers, guys in masks, and a whole lot of other excitement. How did you all decide to have such a big production as your shows?

That’s the best part about us, because it’s not really a big production. We do have these geyser things that shoot CO2 gas that lights up, but they’re just two little things. The toilet paper guns, the balloons, the beach balls — it’s easy to bring around and easier because I don’t have to blow them up. We have a guy for that. It works in this setting because when we come out to do Warped Tour again, there are a bunch of kids that have heard of us before, but they never saw us play, so those are the kids who we’re trying to get to see us play. You’ve got some crazy shit going on like a guy riding in a raft on the crowd and they walk over. That’s part of the reason for us to keep playing Warped Tour. It does have that young, rejuvenated scene for us.

Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson On Their Most Peculiar Habits

2016-10-27T07:00:00.000Z

We're all a little bit peculiar, aren't we? In honor of the recent cinematic success of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Glamour sat down to discuss the peculiar habits of some of the film's biggest stars.

Thankfully, they recorded the chat with Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson and turned it into an incredible video on their XUMO channel. They might be peculiar, but they sure know how to entertain us as well as anyone.

Check out the video below and let us know what you think.

Glamour on XUMO: Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson On Their Most Peculiar Habits from XUMO on Myspace.

Keep up with all things entertainment whenever you want. Get XUMO for unlimited, free access to Glamour.

13 Times Students Completely Disappeared on 'Saved By The Bell'

2016-10-27T07:00:00.000Z

Is there anyone who wouldn’t have loved graduating from Bayside High (especially those of us who went to an all-male high school, and would have killed to see a Kelly Kapowski in the hallway)? It seemed like an idyllic high school.

Not everything, however, is how it seems.

There was a big, unspoken, issue with Bayside High: the place was a Bermuda Triangle for students.

Unless you were a member of the core group, you enrolled at Bayside, were seen once or twice, and then disappeared forever ... even if you were related to someone in the core group. Heck, even members of Zack’s crew disappeared!

After the break are 13 students who went MIA at Bayside High.

Jessie's Step Brother Eric

Eric accomplished a lot in just two episodes. He moved in with Jessie, stole her room, blackmailed Zack and Slater, took apart Belding’s car (and put it back together), aggressively hit on Lisa, and eventually went on a date with her...and then, despite being Jessie’s step brother, living in her house, going to Bayside and being romantically involved with Lisa, we never saw him again.

Slater's Sister JB

Another sibling who was gone in an instant. Slater’s little sister, JB, arrived at Bayside, Zack took an interest, Slater initially disapproved, but then everything ended well at the school’s sock hop, where Slater gave Zack and JB his blessing. Despite the possible romance, JB’s status as a student at Bayside and her being Slater’s sister, we never saw her again.

Girl Wrestler Kristy Barnes

Christy Barnes proved she could hang with the boys and sparked a protest when she wasn’t allowed on the wrestling team. After becoming a member of the team, and having a brief misunderstanding with Jessie, she dated Zack, saved Zack and won a big wrestling match. You’d think dating Zack and being on a team with Slater would make her a pretty visible student, but, alas, we never saw her again.

Slater's Former Girlfriend Jennifer

Slater found himself in some hot water when his ex-girlfriend from Germany, that he technically never broke up with, showed up at Bayside. What are the odds! Issues with both Jessie and Jennifer arose, and were exacerbated by Zack and Jennifer taking a liking to each other. After some elderly cross-dressing by Zack and Jessie, we learned Slater and Jennifer are just friends. Jennifer's greatest claim to fame was that she revealed what the AC in AC Slater stood for: Albert Clifford. Despite being friends with Slater, dating Zack and being enrolled at Bayside, we never saw her again.

Environmental Guy Graham

Making his voice heard at a student council meeting, Graham was upset that the school was going to receive a shipment of Styrofoam cups. Inspired, Jessie agreed they needed to stop the delivery of the cups — the only problem was the delivery was scheduled for the students’ annual “cut day.” Graham and Jessie stuck around, and even though they appeared to have never met before, it turned out they were in the same history class.

Although their protest failed, the two had such a good time trying to save the earth, and Slater and Kelly had such a good time hanging out on “cut day,” this was the day Jessie and Slater decided to see other people. Basically, Graham ruined love, and despite being in a class with Jessie and Zack, and Jessie taking a liking to him, we never saw him again.

Lisa's Intellectual Jerk Brian

Brian Watkins, student council vice president, and all around intellectual snob, was the apple of Lisa’s eye during a date auction to raise money for new cheerleading uniforms. While Lisa won herself a date with Brian, he turned out to be a complete jerk, so she dumped him. Despite being the VP to Jessie’s position of student council president, we never saw him again.

Zack’s Auction Date Wendy Parks

At the same date auction, Zack earned the highest bid, but it was by Wendy Parks, a big girl he had no interest in, so he attempted to get out of going out with her. In the end Zack learned a valuable lesson about getting to know people for who they are on the inside, but we still never saw Wendy again.

Gold Digger Robin

Robin (played by Soleil Moon Frye) was Bayside’s resident gold digger. Zack attempted to go out with her, but she was unimpressed by his classic car, wanting her man to have something brand new. Robin latched on to Screech when he became a pasta sauce magnate, but when he came to grips with the reality of the situation and realized how much he’d spent on her, the gang found a unique way to get his money back, and we never saw Robin again.

SAT Girl Heather Brooks

Heather Brooks (played by Christine Taylor) was awestruck by Zack’s score of 1502 on the SAT and wanted to study with him. Unfortunately for Zack, she brought her boyfriend along for the study date. Heather then moved to Arizona to work on a dude ranch...or something like that. As far as Bayside goes, we never saw her again.

Cynthia From Malibu Sands

Cynthia (played by Denise Richards) had a secret crush on Slater during the gang’s summer at the Malibu Sands beach club. She didn’t make her presence known, however, until the final day of the summer, faking a drowning in order to be rescued by her crush. At the end of summer luau it was revealed she’d be going to Bayside in the fall. If she did, she sure didn’t make her presence felt, because after the luau we never saw her again.

New Student Joanna

Joanna was the new girl in school at the start of the gang’s senior year, and both Zack and Slater wanted to go out with her. They each sabotaged each other’s dates, eventually leading to a fight. The BFFs made up after spilling punch all over each other at a party, and when it came to Joanna, we never saw her again.

Jessie and Kelly

Two of Bayside’s favorites, Jessie and Kelly, completely disappeared for part of their senior year with not a single word said about them. They were seemingly erased from the gang’s memory until their re-arrival just in time for graduation. How Zack was in danger of not graduating, while those two didn’t attend classes for half the year and were still in good academic standing, is one of Bayside’s great mysteries.

Adele Says She’s ‘100% for Hillary Clinton’

2016-10-26T20:17:14.131Z

Adele told fans at a Miami concert Tuesday night that she’s “100% for Hillary Clinton”—as Clinton listened from the audience.

Hillary Clinton on Having Dance Parties With Beyoncé and Michelle Obama

“Don’t vote for [Donald Trump],” the singer said, according to CNN. “I can’t vote but I am 100% for Hillary Clinton, I love her, she’s amazing.”

While this isn’t the first time Adele has praised Clinton or denounced Trump during her North American tour, it was the first time that the Democratic presidential nominee was there to hear it.

Adele with Hillary Clinton in attendance at Miami concert: "Don't vote for him!" @AAarena #Adele (via Aaron Resnick) pic.twitter.com/cAJCokgSvW
— Adam Kuperstein (@AdamNBC6) October 26, 2016

Adele, who is British, acknowledged that the next President of the U.S. has an impact on the entire world, not just the country. “I am English, but what happens in America affects me, too,” Adele told the audience at American Airlines Arena.

Watch Lady Gaga Drive James Corden Around in Carpool Karaoke

In a March interview, Clinton praised Adele, calling the singer her “go-to voice.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Katy Perry Just Gave Herself the Best Birthday Present Ever

2016-10-26T20:11:32.925Z

Birthdays are of course the best time to #TreatYoSelf, and while most people opt for expensive clothing and decadent desserts, Katy Perry went a different route when she turned the big 3-2. The ‘Teenage Dream’ singer gifted herself with the opportunity to vote for the first possible female president in U.S. history.

10 Inspiring Hillary Clinton Quotes in Honor of Her Birthday

“Gave myself the best birthday present ever by voting today,” Perry wrote on Instagram on Tuesday night. She gave a shoutout to her almost-twin Hillary Clinton, who turns 69 today: “Wish @hillaryclinton a Happy Birthday tomorrow with your EARLY vote” and told voters to go to www.rockthevote.com to get informed about their polling stations.

GAVE MYSELF THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER BY VOTING TODAY❗️Wish @hillaryclinton a Happy Birthday tomorrow with your EARLY vote. Check www.rockthevote.com to see where your poll is. 🎂🎁🇺🇸 #HBDTOME #HAPPYBIRTHDAYHILLARY #SCORPIOSISTERS

A video posted by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Oct 25, 2016 at 7:07pm PDT

This definitely isn’t the first time Perry has voiced that she’s “#WithHer.” Perry performed at the Democratic National Convention, campaigned across the country and proudly wore a ‘Nasty Woman’ t-shirt reclaiming a Trump insult against Clinton.

Khloe Kardashian’s New Denim Line Claps Back at Fat Shamers Everywhere

Perry’s post also highlighted the trend of early voting. While many of us are waiting until November 8th to cast our ballots, twelve states will roll out early in-person voting by the end of this week. So, by all means, #TreatYoSelf by hitting the polls like Perry.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Listen To Chief Ghoul's Fourth LP 'Damned' Exclusively On Myspace!

2016-10-26T16:39:07.596Z

Chief Ghoul is in touch with the blues. It takes just a few seconds of listening to the first track off of Damned, a rousing number called “Train,” which pairs singer Lee Miles’ spirited vocals with rollicking guitars and drums, for that to become clear.

The entire ten track album captures Chief Ghoul’s dynamism: “When I Get Loud” highlights the darkness, both in songwriting and vibes; “Bitter Taste” shows off a reverb-y, rockin’ side; “Let Me In” uncovers Chief Ghoul's yearning, Americana tinges.

Listen to Damned before its official release exclusively on Myspace and read our interview with Miles on how bourbon and a top-notch recording engineer made the record what it is below.

Why did you call the record Damned?

"I'll be damned and so will you, should you be so lucky to be the one that I choose." Who doesn't want to get lucky?

What was the songwriting process like?

I smoked. I drank... Bourbon to be exact. Then I just channel it all out of my lungs and guitar.

How did you make this record different from the past three?

It's the second time I've recorded with Nick Layman here in Louisville, and the first time I've done a full-length with him. I can't say enough good stuff about his overall skill at engineering and his ear for music in general. He's as passionate about it as I am so I think that just naturally comes out in the final product.

Do you have a favorite song on the album?

It's hard to say, but it's probably "When I Get Loud." I'd been toying with the main progression for a long time, so I had an idea of what I wanted it to sound like in the end. I think we got as close to what I wanted as possible, which is an amazing feeling.

Ultimate Painting: Fading Landscapes of Psychedelic Sunsets

2016-10-26T16:27:07.718Z

A few years ago, James Hoare (Mazes) and Jack Cooper (Veronica Falls) teamed up to form a songwriting duo called Ultimate Painting. Their last two records put a northern England spin on ‘60s American stoner pop. Green Lanes had a cloudy day in Laurel Canyon vibe to it — sunny and brisk, like rolling over old terrain with a new vehicle — a natural center for a band founded during an obsession with ‘60s American counter-culture.

For their latest effort, Dusk, the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays influences become more pronounced amid the guitar wash. Deliberately down-tempo and lyrically numb, Dusk is pastoral in an industrial city after work sense. It’s totally Madchester, but it treads on NYC Sonic Youth territory at times.

There’s a comfort in self-aware moodiness, and here, the duo gives us a fuzzy pair of sweatpants to sprawl out in. The single “Song for Brian Jones” emotes apathy at its prettiest, an ode well-crafted in its intent and aesthetic.

Jack Cooper took a break from his collection of old vinyl to tell us how Dusk came about.

Hometown: Blackpool, on the northwest coast of England, about an hour north of Manchester.

Homebase: London

Why are you called Ultimate Painting?

We're named after a piece of art by a collective of people that set up the first commune in America, called Drop City.

Describe your music to someone who's never heard of you.

I'd really try not to, and look awkward.

Did you grow up in a musical household? What were your first aural experiences like?

No, not really. We listened to a lot of music [at home], but I wouldn't describe either of my parents as being record collectors or whatever. [Not] saying that I don't remember not knowing who The Beatles [were] and a lot of music from the ‘50s onward. We constantly had oldies stations on; cassettes in the car and records on at home when my parents had people over... The Kinks, The Zombies, Beach Boys, The Faces, disco, et cetera.

What one thing most influenced the making of Dusk?

I think just a desire to make something cohesive with as much spaces as possible. An economy in the instruments. Stripping back clutter. The name, I think, sums up how the record sounds.

Was making music for a living always the end goal for you?

I don't really remember not knowing this is what I wanted to do.

Name some artists with whom you’d like to collaborate.

I'd really love to have a female voice on our records a lot of time. Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star or Laetitia from Stereolab.

How might you describe the bands you were in before this one?

My first band was called The Chi — we played a lot of Stone Roses covers and Elastica. My last band, Mazes, started as a solo thing really, but evolved through it's lifetime.

Do you have a day job?

When I'm not on tour, I work part time for a flower/plant store. I make their deliveries and water plants for rich people.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#:(

What’s on your 2016 bucket list before the year ends?

To be honest, I'm really just looking forward to eating a Tofu Po-Boy at Wheatsville in Austin, TX.

What memories stand out about being on Myspace as a musician?

Oh man. So many. I miss when everyone was on Myspace. I guess it's different now, but it really opened up a whole world for smaller bands.

Bruno Mars on Collaborating with Adele: "She's a Diva"

2016-10-26T16:20:19.752Z

Bruno Mars may be gearing up to release his upcoming album, 24K Magic. However, when he stopped by 103.5 KTU's Cubby and Carolina in the Morning, they couldn't help but ask Bruno about his collaboration with the one and only Adele. He co-wrote the achingly beautiful "All I Ask."

While he revealed that Adele was "incredible," Bruno did say that the collab took some time to get right.

He explained, "She walks into the studio she's got all this attitude, she's a diva, she's like, 'I don't want to do this. I don't like that.....' And then as soon as we uh hit a couple chords that she liked, we started rolling, and that's where we got that song from."

Either way, they did put a great song together, which Bruno is more than happy to perform with her one day. "I don't know what she's waiting on man, I'm like come on Adele," he said, "like send an email, let me know!"

Find more from Bruno's interview here.

Ciara and Russell Wilson Are Having a Baby

2016-10-26T16:11:09.309Z

Remember in July when Ciara and Russell Wilson were a little too graphic about consummating their marriage? None of us can unsee the Seattle Seahawks quarterback saying, "From what we did last night, I'm going to do it multiple times" on Snapchat. And he wasn't lying, because the newly wed couple announced that they are expecting on Instagram Tuesday night (October 25), which also just so happens to be Ciara's 31st birthday.

The couple were all smiles in the black and white photo they both posted on their IG accounts.

"On this special Birthday I received an abundance of love from friends and family.. and I'm excited to Finally share one of the Greatest Gifts of All that God could give... 👶🏽🍼💃🏽☺️❤️," Ciara captioned her photo.

Meanwhile, Russell wrote, "The Greatest Blessing of All. Forever Grateful. #BabyWilsonOnTheWay."

The news comes only months after the two tied the knot in July. This will be Russell's first child, and Ciara's second. She and ex Future had Future Zahir Wilburn in May 2014.

See photos of the announcement and Ciara's birthday wishes below.

On this special Birthday I received an abundance of love from friends and family.. and I'm excited to Finally share one of the Greatest Gifts of All that God could give... 👶🏽🍼💃🏽☺️❤️

A photo posted by Ciara (@ciara) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:50pm PDT

Come on lil' Pretty Young Thing... you're coming with me for Forever. Happy Birthday My Love! I Love You to Heaven & Back.

A photo posted by Russell Wilson (@dangerusswilson) on Oct 25, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT

Entered My Birthday With A Tasty Dinner Overlooking The Falls With My Love...❤️ #Grateful

A photo posted by Ciara (@ciara) on Oct 25, 2016 at 10:39am PDT

The Greatest Blessing of All. Forever Grateful. #BabyWilsonOnTheWay

A photo posted by Russell Wilson (@dangerusswilson) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:50pm PDT

James Corden and Lady Gaga Sing Her Hits on 'Carpool Karaoke'

2016-10-26T16:00:38.133Z

With the release of Joanne and the popularity of James Corden's Carpool Karaoke, it only made sense that Lady Gaga and James combine their musical forces for an episode of the popular ride along segment.

And on Tuesday night (October 25), the two came together to sing her current single, "Perfect Illusion," as well as her hits like "Bad Romance," "Poker Face" and "Born This Way." The ride ends with "A Million Reasons" with both James and Gaga rocking the same hat on the Joanne cover.

See the musical magic below.

Gaga had so much fun on Carpool Karaoke that stuck around for the show and crashed James' monologue at the top of the show. While he does his best to kick her offstage, Gaga does him one better by doing an impromptu performance of "A-Yo" with Reggie Watts and the show band. Watch it below.

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

2016-10-26T07:00:00.000Z

This week, classic rock and pop artists announce their return to the road, plus a brand new album and tour from The Flaming Lips. Oh yeah, and more Kanye West.

Metallica 2016/2017 Tour

Metallica have finally revealed the first leg of tour dates in support of their new album, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. It kicks off with a two-night run in Mountain View, CA, on October 22 and 23, followed by shows in South America, South Korea and Denmark. The iconic rockers will also headline Lollapalooza Chili and Argentina. Click here for more info.

Cher 'Classic Cher' Tour

The iconic Cher is back in the spotlight, with the recent announcement of 2017 "Classic Cher" tour dates in Las Vegas and Washington D.C. The first batch of shows will take place in February at Vegas' Park Theatre in Monte Carlo, followed by a March stint at National Harbor in D.C. The singer will return to Monte Carlo for a run of shows in May. Click here for more info.

Kanye West 'Saint Pablo' Tour

Kanye West has not only rescheduled the shows he canceled after wife Kim was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, but he's also added an additional leg of stops. After a two-week break, the "Saint Pablo" tour will resume in mid-November with stops in California, Texas and Colorado, plus a loop through the Northeast, Midwest and Canada. West has also announced a New Year's Eve show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Click here for more info.

ZZ Top 'The Tonnage Tour'

Despite nearly 50 years in the game, Southern rockers ZZ Top don't appear to be slowing down. The trio has just announced a short Eastern tour, kicking off on February 19 in Greenville, SC, and wrapping up on March 14 in Macon, GA. Among the stops is Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey. Click here for more info.

The Flaming Lips 2016-2017 Tour Dates

In support of their upcoming album, Oczy Mlody, The Flaming Lips have announced a substantial tour through the UK, Europe and North America. The fun starts on January 21 with a show at London's O2 Brixton, with the American leg not beginning until March 3 at Boston's House of Blues. The band will also has some one-off shows in Miami and Oklahoma in November and December, respectively. Click here for more info.

8 Horror Shows You Have to Watch This Halloween Season

2016-10-26T07:00:00.000Z

It’s amazing how far the horror genre has come in recent years. It went from being completely neglected by TV bosses to becoming the hottest trend every network wants as piece of. And there’s no better time for some quality frights than Halloween season.

Turn off the lights, turn on the TV and make sure no serial killer will interrupt your couch-based reign of horror. Here’s our ultimate list of horror series you should be watching this fall.

Scream Queens

Network: Fox

The first season of the Ryan Murphy-curated slapstick comedy/gory slasher series was so uneven, clumsy and overall poorly written, that we even demanded its cancellation last year. We’re not entirely sure what happened (maybe the TV Powers That Be actually read our article), but the current season of the show is a vast improvement.

Instead of following American Horror Story’s footsteps and turning the series into an anthology, writers kept most of Season One’s survivors, including feisty Emma Roberts as vain queen bee Chanel and genre veteran Jamie Lee Curtis as an ex-dean-turned-head of the doomed hospital. While last season’s plot was as convulsive as onscreen victims’ final moments, it’s nice to see cohesive storytelling this time around that follows a one-kill-per-episode formula and mixes it with humor that doesn’t make you roll your eyes Chanel-style. It’s hard to deem this show a suspenseful one, but on a good day it brings a hell lot of bloody good times.

American Horror Story

Network: FX

Looks like Ryan Murphy was all about damage control this television season. For the sixth season of his horror anthology, he stripped away all the layers and tried to redefine the show’s very DNA. No more unnecessary scenes of naked people, attention-grabbing graphic content and tedious fashion talk. The new approach (a fake documentary that shows “real survivors” and actors impersonating them) brought a much needed breath of fresh air while the spooks actually hit the bull’s eye. AHS was always about the journey and not the destination, but this time we’re properly excited to see where this story is heading.

The Exorcist

Network: Fox

Over the last decade there was hardly a shortage of filmmakers stepping on the unholy grounds of The Exorcist legacy. So the re-launch of the original franchise was only a matter of time. Surprisingly, the sequel series that consists of seven episodes was trusted into the hands of Jeremy Slater, the screenwriter of the critically ridiculed Fantastic Four reboot. Turns out Slater is much more comfortable re-imagining horror than superhero flicks, as the show about two competing priests was met with high praise.

Salem

Network: WGN

The show set during the notorious 17^th century witch trials is a good reason to ask your cable provider to bring you WGN America. The third season premieres this week and brings a tortured town of Salem more troubles straight from hell. The finale of last season saw the arrival of the devil himself, which brought the resident witch bitch Mary Sibley into a rather tricky position: she did after all give birth to the devil but now has to decide which side she is on. All this family drama will be surrounded by death, torture, sex, snakes, rats, maggots and other witchy accessories. And some killer fashion, too.

Channel Zero

Network: SyFy

It was only a matter of time before savvy filmmakers would start utilizing the endless supply of free ideas that is the internet. SyFy’s horror anthology is inspired by creepypasta — horrifying tales and memes that people eagerly share on the web. The first season, which kicked off on October 11 and will span six episodes, is called Candle Cove. It originates from the story by webcartoonist Kris Straub, which was presented as the transcript of a mock-forum with stories about cryptic children’s television show from the '70s.

Van Helsing

Network: SyFy

Yet another addition to SyFy’s blood-thirsty family of horror TV series. Vanessa Helsing, a descendant of legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, comes out of a coma in the post-apocalyptic world to, you guessed it, fight an army of vampires.

It may be filled with countless fight scenes and questionable CGI, but apparently the launch of the show was successful enough for the network to already confirm a second season. It may be a far cry from our all-time favorite girl-versus-vampires show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it’s still nice to see a tough female character leading a battle. Also the writers spent some time developing several different tribes of vampires. For example, they came up with an idea that if a vampire feeds on animal’s blood, he acts more primal.

Ash vs Evil Dead

Network: Starz

Ash vs Evil Dead is a rare (and perhaps the only) example of a sequel series that brought back all of the key players from the original franchise. The series is overseen by Evil Dead creator Sam Raimi and stars Bruce Campbell in his classic role of jokes-cracking lady-loving chainsaw-wielding demon fighter Ash.

The second season sees Ash returning to his hometown (and the location of the original movies) where he is hardly seen as a hero. The townfolks consider him a psychopath who made up all the stories about the undead to hide the fact that he’s the one who mercilessly killed all of his friends. Obviously when the actual undead show up, the town has to run to Ash for help. The show was already renewed for a third season.

The Walking Dead

Network: AMC

Despite its title, this long-running series refuses to die: the network already confirmed the eighth season that will start next year. But right now let’s talk about the recent premiere of Season Seven, which was emotional to say the least. The season opened with the murders of not one, but two beloved characters, which proved that the showrunners still know what strings to pull to keep viewers sobbing and shaking. Just like with any great zombie story, you always have to care about the people, and this pack of characters has a huge fanbase by now. But the question is: who's next?

Getting to Know... Weathers

2016-10-26T07:00:00.000Z

Weathers may be at the beginning of their adult years, but don't think they're just another young band that just wants to sing about all the good things in life. Instead, the Los Angeles band draws on their experiences growing up in the post-Millennial Generation Z, and how they're working through it. This gave birth to their single, "Happy Pills."

"Happy Pills is kind of ambiguous," lead singer and guitarist Cameron Boyer tells Myspace. "It's a fun, campy song about some dark serious shit. We wrote it based on stuff we've experience growing up. It's a song about not being dependent on other things and people. But it's kind of up to you and how you want to interpret it."

Weathers have been busy and spent a good amount of the year gigging wherever and whenever they can. Currently on tour with Saint Motel, they're really enjoying the road life.

"The tour was awesome. So much fun," Cameron says. "Saint Motel was super super nice. They treated us so well and we had such a good time with them. The crowd was always a good size and also very fun. So the tour was great. We learned a lot too. The whole thing was such a good learning experience in terms of how to be a better band and work as a unit."

We had a chance to chat with the band and get to know each member a little bit better. Find out more about the guys behind Weathers below.

Cameron Boyer

Age: 19
Instrument: Lead singer, keyboards, guitar
Band/Song/Album That Inspired You To Become A Musician: The Killers, Hot Fuss, "Mr. Brightside"
Favorite Song To Perform At The Moment: "Sucker!" Such high energy, and I get to run around and the song is just super fun.
Best Show You’ve Ever Seen: Twenty One Pilots at the Greek in LA and Cage The Elephant at ACL
Best Show You’ve Ever Played: Not sure, there's been a lot of fun ones. But on this last tour, San Francisco and Philly were my favorites. The crowd was just really awesome.
Guilty Pleasure: My four-year-old obsession with Spider-Man

Brennen Bates

Age: 18
Instrument: Bass and keyboards
Band/Song/Album That Inspired You to Become a Musician: AC/DC
Favorite Song to Perform at the Moment: "Sucker" because it allows me to throw out all my energy while playing such an awesome riff.
Best Show You've Ever Seen: Cage the Elephant
Best Show You've Ever Played: Union Transfer in Philadelphia
Guilty Pleasure: Indie video games

Cole Carson

Age: 22
Instrument: Drums Band/Song/Album That Inspired You to Become a Musician: Foo Fighters, Rush, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Favorite Song to Perform at the Moment: "Sucker" because it has the most energy.
Best Show You've Ever Seen: Foo Fighters
Best Show You've Ever Played: Lollapalooza
Guilty Pleasure: Pumpkin spice

Cameron Olsen

Age: 19
Instrument: Guitar
Band/Song/Album That Inspired You to Become a Musician: Guns n Roses
Favorite Song to Perform at the Moment: "Sucker"! Very high energy and gives us an opportunity to rock out.
Best Show You've Ever Seen: The Black Keys
Best Show You've Ever Played: Lollapalooza
Guilty Pleasure: Chick flicks

10 Wrestling Gimmicks That Could Be Mistaken For Halloween Costumes

2016-10-26T07:00:00.000Z

If you walk the streets Halloween night, don’t be surprised if you see or run into your favorite pro wrestlers. There will be little versions of John Cena, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sasha Banks trick or treating, while Kevin Owens and Wyatt Family look-a-likes get hammered at Halloween parties. Outside of WrestleMania, Halloween is the perfect time of the year for wrestling fans (young and old) to represent their passion for the business by donning their favorite superstar’s ring attire. Why go dressed as Dracula or Batman, when you can be something more intimidating like a Brock Lesnar?!

As popular as wrestling costumes may be on Halloween, there are many wrestling gimmicks that look like unintentional year-round costumes. Wrestling gimmicks can be bizarre and outrageous. Where a pro wrestler ends and a Halloween costume begins is a tricky thing, considering both can come out of a costume shop.

Taking a stroll through wrestling’s wild history, we pick out some colorful gimmicks that could easily walk straight from the ring to a Halloween parade.

“Macho Man” Randy Savage

The late great wrestling legend had a plethora of eye catching and gaudy costumes. In the early to mid '80s, it was all about Randy’s sequin cape, bandana and sunglasses. As classic as that look was, our favorite attire is the early '90s neon cowboy that made Macho Man a Slim Jim pitch man. This outfit was about three things: a bedazzled cowboy hat, tassels and bold color prints that would make Peter Max jealous. On paper that combination doesn’t seem like it goes together, but Randy’s larger-than-life personality pulled it off, cementing an iconic character. Anyone else brave enough to wear this outrageous outfit looks silly, making it a perfect Halloween option.

Max Moon

If you don’t remember Max Moon, we won’t hold it against you as his time in WWE is more of a trivia question than anything else. Part Power Ranger, part anime character, Max Moon was created during the early '90s when WWE was really pushing for kid-friendly, cartoon-like talent. The masked superstar with Predator-like dreadlocks wore a blue bodysuit with puffy silver rings throughout and neon circuit designs. To top things off, Moon had pyro cannons attached to his forearms that he’d fire on the way to the ring. You could say WWE was ahead of its time, as the character could now work for any of the Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas.

Doink the Clown

Here’s one costume you’ll be sure to see this Halloween, as everyone’s talking about creepy clowns now that they’ve gone viral. Could these sightings be connected to villains like Pennywise the Clown or Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Highly unlikely, but don’t be surprised if these painted face creeps grew up watching that deranged clown of the squared circle, Doink. A poster boy for Coulrophobia, Doink the Clown is another early '90s WWE creation that was a cruel trickster, playing jokes on fans and opponents. Even though he was portrayed by various wrestlers, Doink’s unmistakable appearance with the green hair, circus canopy bodysuit and unique face-paint, is what helped make him an iconic evil clown.

The Legion of Doom

Story goes that the idea of Doink the Clown came from the twisted mind of Hawk, one half of The Legion of Doom (aka The Road Warriors). Known as the greatest tag team of all-time, Hawk and Animal established a no-nonsense, street fighting style. What really made them legends, though, was their intimidating appearance, which was straight out of a Mad Max movie.

These two monsters could have been henchmen for Lord Humungus, as they sported Mohawks, spiked football shoulder pads and terrifying face-paint. Hawk and Animal were dangerous men and definitely looked the part. With the team’s dystopian style, fans have incorporated that look to wear at Burning Man and Halloween street parades all over the country.

“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair

“Learn to love it, learn to live with it. Diamonds are forever and so is Ric Flair.” Honestly, what else do we need to say about Naitch? The ultimate bad guy in pro wrestling took his role seriously, dressing the part, which meant wearing expensive tailored suits, crocodile loafers and gold Rolex watches. Looking like a slick James Bond villain outside of the ring, it’s what Ric wore to the ring that made him a style icon. No single person has done more for the sequin robe industry than The Nature Boy. The expensive, feathery custom robes became a staple that many wrestlers would emulate. If Jerry West is the NBA’s logo, then Ric is pro wrestling’s.

Goldust

A real-life Oscar statuette is the look WWE must have had in mind when creating the character of Goldust. Known more as a comedic character today, things were different when Goldust debuted in the mid '90s. The androgynous, movie-quoting superstar was bizarre, controversial and showed no traces of the true identity of Dustin Rhodes. Decked out in gold head to toe, Goldust would make his way to the ring in a gold and white-feathered robe, donning a platinum blonde wig, wearing a gold bodysuit and black and gold face-paint. Dripping sexual innuendos and demanding attention, this Hollywood spectacle would do well at Mardi Gras or the famous West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval.

The Ultimate Warrior

The closest thing pro wrestling will ever have to a superhero is The Ultimate Warrior. With muscles on top of muscles, on top of more muscles, this charismatic superstar looks like he jumped straight out of the pages of a comic book. If you didn’t recognize him as a legendary wrestler, you might think he’s a cosplayer getting ready for comic-con, or a coked-out maniac, or a really ambitious performance based male stripper. To fill out the look you can wear colorful trunks, streamer arm bands and tassled boots. You’ll also need big '80s teased hair and the Warrior’s trademark war paint, then you’ll be ready to run around the streets, screaming about the cosmos!

The Undertaker

The Deadman has been around since 1990, so there’s various horror-themed looks to choose from. The scariest attire and our favorite is the vintage black and grey, when he really played the undead gimmick. Tailored made for any haunted house attraction, this Undertaker look is your basic supernatural dead mortician. If you’re a fan of the color black, you’re in luck as Taker’s attire from his trench coat, to the spandex pants and dress shirt, is black. Of course we can’t forget about the black cowboy hat that you’ll slowly remove, followed by the eerie rolling of the eyes into the back of your head. If that doesn’t say Halloween, we don’t know what does!

Kane

The Undertaker’s little brother really mastered the Halloween appropriate gimmick. Looking like a drinking buddy of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, Kane got his own horror film in See No Evil due to his slasher appearance. “The Devil’s Favorite Demon” has terrorized the WWE since he debuted during the dawn of the Attitude Era. With his massive size and red outfit, Kane didn’t have to say much as he stalked opponents and scared fans with his red and black mask. While his character has evolved over the years, his invincible aura suffered once he removed his mask.

The Shockmaster

Sometimes DIY Halloween costumes turn into disasters either because of the lack of crafty skills the person has or because the idea is a mess to begin with. Pro wrestling is no different, as DIY gimmicks usually go off the rails, with the most notorious being that of The Shockmaster. At some point a wrestling booker thought it was a good idea to cover a Star Wars Stormtrooper’s helmet in silver glitter, grab a furry black vest and slap it on the wrestler formerly known as Tugboat/Typhoon.

The end result was the birth of The Shockmaster, a character known for his botched and hilarious debut as he burst through a wall and promptly fell on his ass, much to the delight of confused wrestlers and fans.

Watch President Obama Read Mean Tweets About Himself on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Again

2016-10-25T19:07:52.067Z

Barack Obama’s eight-year tenure in the Oval Office is swiftly drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean his online critics have stopped complaining about him.

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The President took part in Jimmy Kimmel’s infamous “Mean Tweets” segment for a second time during his Monday appearance on Live!, willingly reading aloud a series of not-so-nice comments that have been written about him on Twitter. This time, the grievances ran the spectrum from calling Obama the “Sharknado of presidents. Loud, stupid and over-hyped” to asking if the President “even lifts?”

However, the Commander in Chief still managed to take the jabs in stride, remarking, “Well, I lifted the ban on Cuban cigars. That’s worth something.”

He even had a retort for Donald Trump after reading a mean tweet from the Republican nominee that said, “President Obama will go down as the worst president in the history of the United States!”

Relive James Corden’s Most Iconic Carpool Karaoke Sketches

“Really?” Obama asked. “Well, @realDonaldTrump, at least I will go down as a President.”

Watch the full video above.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Amy Schumer Addresses the Backlash to Her Beyoncé ‘Formation’ Video

2016-10-25T18:59:05.413Z

When Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn’s recreation of Beyoncé’s iconic “Formation” debuted on Tidal Friday, backlash over the DIY video was almost instantaneous.

Netflix’s CEO Says Entertainment Pills Could Make Movies and TV Obsolete

James Corden, Stephen Colbert and other comedians have also recreated “Lemonade” videos before her. This video — which also features Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack — is a montage of its stars lip-syncing and dancing to the pop star’s empowerment anthem dedicated to black women, an interpretation which has been called “racist” by online critics.

“Why this racist, ignorant, white feminist is never held accountable for anything problematic she says is beyond me,” wrote one Twitter user.

The clip has even sparked the hashtag #AmySchumerGottaGoParty, a label Tweeters have adopted to express their distaste for the comedian’s actions.

Watch Tom Hanks Ask the Fortune-Telling Zoltar for a Big Favor Once More

Why this racist, ignorant, white feminist is never held accountable for anything problematic she says is beyond me #AmySchumerGottaGoParty
— ✵Rama✵ (@commieecat) October 24, 2016

Joining the #AmySchumerGottaGoParty @amyschumer feminism aspires to a role in the top tier of white patriarchy. No #solidarity there.
— AngryMiddleAgedAsian (@maureennboyd) October 24, 2016

#AmySchumerGottaGoParty

I'm bringing snacks. How are you arriving?
— I Will Block Ya Mama (@FeministaJones) October 23, 2016

Actual footage of me watching a dirty Amy Schumer gyrate to Beyoncé and call it comedy... then Wanda showed up. #AmySchumerGottaGoParty pic.twitter.com/gUVXmSpvfE
— Alaina GE (@LainaDAZE) October 24, 2016

Not everything is for you, Amy Schumer #AmySchumerGottaGoParty
— Jess Kelley (@engage_therapy) October 24, 2016

Friend: you coming to the party?
Me: What party?
Friend: The #AmySchumerGottaGoParty
Me: pic.twitter.com/dJq18pztFi
— Kalu The God (@Kalu_Mobo) October 24, 2016

Schumer responded to the criticism with the Hillary Clinton slogan “Stronger Together” on Instagram Monday, posting a photo of herself laying topless in bed with the caption:

“You know you that b-tch when you cause all this conversation. Thanks for the exclusive release Tidal! We had so much fun making this tribute. All love and women inspiring each other.”

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

10 Things We Learned From the First Gilmore Girls Trailer

2016-10-25T18:42:00.854Z

Put down your coffee cups: The first trailer for the Gilmore Girls revival, A Year in the Life, premiering on Netflix November 25, has finally arrived. Here’s everything we learned from the 2 minutes and 26 seconds of footage.

We’ll get to see four separate stories from four separate seasons

Winter, spring, summer or fall—we’re getting them all! Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life will consist of four 90-minute episodes. (That’s six hours of Gilmore Girls to digest along with leftover pie when it hits the streaming service the day after Thanksgiving.) Each episode will take place during a different season and give us a glimpse into Lorelai and Rory’s lives.

Emily…is wearing a t-shirt and jeans?

This feels unnatural but perhaps its Emily’s way of mourning her husband Richard, who was played by the late Edward Herrmann. “I was married for 50 years. Half of me is gone,” she says. And she’s not alone.

The Gilmore women are feeling lost

All three generations of Gilmore women feel that they have come unmoored. Richard has passed away, leaving Emily feeling like she doesn’t have a purpose anymore. (Though she does seem to be celebrating his death in her usual over-the-top way with a massive portrait.) We see her sorting through her old things using Marie Kondo’s method: Does this object bring you joy? Apparently her dining room chairs do not.

Lorelai is perhaps the Gilmore most likely to exhibit restlessness. That certainly has not changed. “I thought I knew exactly what I wanted and where I was going. But lately, I don’t know, things seem hazier,” she says in a voiceover. She adds doubtfully: “We’re happy. Luke and I, we’re happy.” Maybe there is trouble in paradise.

Rory is “On the Road-ing it,” as Lorelai puts it. We see shots of a rootless Rory in New York and London. Either Rory’s work is sending her all over the globe, or she’s taking time to reassess what she wants in life. “I’m feeling very lost these days. I have no job. I have no credit. I have no underwear,” she says to—Jess! Which brings me to my next point…

The Gilmore Girls Netflix Revival Trailer Is Finally Here

All of Rory’s loves are back

Love ’em or hate ’em, Dean, Jess and Logan all make short cameos in the trailer. Presumably, Rory as an adult and journalist who covered Obama’s campaign trail has moved on from her high school and college boyfriends.

Other people who are back include…

Sookie squirting pornographic cake frosting, Luke chastising Rory for her poor eating habits, Michel dripping with sarcasm, Paris rolling her eyes, Lane playing drums and Kirk…being Kirk.

Oh, and Kirk is attending a Gilmore family dinner

And Emily seems to have no idea who he is. A few more stray observations…

Two Contestants on Australia’s The Bachelor Have Fallen in Love With Each Other

Lorelai and Rory are carrying coffee cups from Al’s instead of Luke’s in a winter scene

Let the conspiracy theories abound: Are Luke and Lorelai in another fight, forcing them to seek out sub-standard coffee? Did Luke get so fed up with some town Christmas tradition that he closed Luke’s for the day?

Someone is using an exercise ball in the Dragonfly Inn

Given the Gilmore’s aversion to exercise, this is a confusing turn of events.

The “Gilmore Guys” podcasts hosts made it into the show

The two guys on their phones behind the man doing sit-ups on an exercise ball are Kevin T. Porter and Demi Adejuyigbe, hosts of the popular fan podcast.

The Gilmore banter has not abated

But the pop culture references have been updated. Ben Affleck’s Batman has made it to Stars Hollow.

This article originally appeared on TIME.com

Aleesia Premieres "Dum" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

2016-10-25T16:30:00.000Z

In her new video, Canadian pop songstress Aleesia brings her girls' night anthem "Dum" to life with a gaggle of girlfriends hanging tight and getting ready to conquer the city. With a sprinkle of steel drums and a catchy chorus, the song is a celebration of the silly fun and misadventures friends share when Friday comes around.

According to Aleesia, the track is inspired by a string of nights out on the town. The lines sound so specific, which Aleesia attributes to coming straight from her own life. "I was recounting the events from my Saturday night in the studio, and that's what we started with. I play flip cup with champagne 'cause I hate beer, my sister puts her weave in for a night out, McDonald's is always a thing and my girl Nicole pretty much drops, breaks or loses her phone every time we go out."

As for the video, Aleesia and her crew took it to the suburbs of Toronto to shoot with director Emma Higgins. "It was probably the most fun I've ever had on set," she admits. "We basically got a group of girls together, and just had fun on camera doing weird, dum stuff that girls do when they get ready for a night out!"

So where does Aleesia hit when she's out in the 6? "I have a few favorite spots in Toronto, but lately we've been going to a bar called Queen Street Warehouse. They play the best old school hip-hop, R&B and '90s throwbacks with music videos. I usually end off the night lip syncing to Spice Girls and eating donuts."

Watch Aleesia's fun loving "Dum" video below.

A-WA, the Other Haim Sister Act

2016-10-25T16:30:00.000Z

I’m obsessed with A-WA (pronounced Ay-Wah), a sister act from Israel whose fierce style and music have taken fans from Europe to the Middle East to America by storm.

Tair, Liron and Tagel Haim grew up in a family of six siblings in Shaharut, a village in southern Israel, close to the Egyptian border. Their music is an amalgam of ethnic and progressive, folk and rock, jazz and R&B, hip-hop and reggae, and everything in between. Recorded in English, Hebrew, and Yemenite the sisters got their start just by uploading videos to Youtube. Via Facebook, they introduced themselves to Tomer Yosef, lead vocalist for the Israeli-American electronica-world fusion band Balkan Beat Box. It led to a collaboration that encouraged the sisters to form a band of their own and their debut album, Habib Galbi (also produced by Yosef). The 12-song set is inspired by the ancient oral history of Yemenite women's chanting, laden with funky grooves and a slick electronic production. We chatted with the sisters about their beginnings, upbringing and more.

Hometown: A small desert village in southern Israel called Shaharut. It's a beautiful place in the mountains with a fresh wind and shiny stars at night. In fact, it's the "Habib Galbi" video set.

Homebase: Tel-Aviv, a great young city with amazing art and music scenes. Very different from our village, but we love its urban vibe.

As sisters, what made you want to form a band together?

Five years ago we found ourselves creating new music at our parents' house, just like we used to do in our childhood. Enjoying every minute of it, we realized how much girl power and harmony we have as a group, so we decided to form this band and moved to the big city to find a producer and cultivate our mutual dream.

Did you grow up in a musical household? How did you discover music?

Both of our parents love music and they have exposed us to a lot of great music from progressive rock to gypsy, Greek, classical Hebrew and Yemenite music. So naturally we grew up singing, dancing and entertaining on a daily basis and we loved to put on small concerts for our family and friends. Over the years we studied music and had vocal lessons, piano lessons, dance classes and arts. Our grandparents, who immigrated to Israel from Yemen, inspired us the most with their amazing Yemenite culture. We strongly fell in love with the beautiful melodies and soulful chants, the exotic dialect, the addictive rhythms, tribal dance steps and the poetic lyrics.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?

Yeah, we remember it pretty well and we might even have the recording of it, from back then when we were kids in the good old '90s. It was a sweet love song between a rabbit and a cape hare.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Yemenite singers such as Aharon Amram and Bracha Cohen, Beach Boys and Ella Fitzgerald.

How do you describe your music to someone who's never heard you before?

Yemenite folk blend with hip-hop and electro.

Why are you called A-WA?

It's coming from the Arabic slang for 'Yes.' It's usually used as a cheer-up call in celebrations or as away of saying 'let's do it!' It has the taste of our sound and it reflects our true spirit.

How does living in Israel influence your music and fashion?

Living in Israel, in the Middle East, is culturally beautiful. Since it's a country of immigrants there's this natural blend that you can find in the streets, in the fashion, in the music, architecture and food. There are many things we incorporate into our music — remnants of ancient Yemenite folk songs are mixed with updated production and electronic beats, and we also wear traditional 'jalabiyya' dresses fused with our own twist on modern street fashion.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

We would love to work with great producers such as Pharrell Williams, Mark Ronson, and unique performers such as Stromae. We would also love to collaborate with Tony Gatlif and with cool designers, photographers and dancing groups.

What do you do for fun?

We love spending time in nature, camping, drawing, sewing, reading books, designing and decorating our apartments, jamming together and spending time in the studio, playing sport games, being around family, friends and pets.

What's the craziest thing that’s happened in concert to you so far?

In our last US tour, at one of the festivals, a drunk dude dove into the stage and passed out after the first song of our concert. Someone had to carry him before we could keep playing the next song. It was shocking but also very funny. The show was fun and people were dancing freely. It was a crazy and liberating experience.

Why is your album called Habib Galbi? What does it mean?

"Habib Galbi" was the first demo we recorded for the album and the one to set the tone for the other songs to follow, so naturally it became the right name for the whole album. It means "love of my heart".

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

#Sisterhood #WeAreFromTheDesert #JustAnA_WAGirl

Watch the New 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life' Trailer

2016-10-25T16:17:34.748Z

Since the top of 2016, Gilmore Girls has been one of the reboots we've been waiting for. And throughout the past few months, we've been getting hints, small details and other pieces of info about the four-part Netflix series. Now we finally get to see what the citizens of Stars Hollow have been up to after all these years.

In the latest trailer, we find Rory and Lorelai Gilmore back with their witty banter, film references and hunt for a good cup of coffee. And we learn more about the little twist — Emily Gilmore becomes a major part of the storyline. Following the passing of her husband Richard, she has to start again and essentially find herself. Rory and Lorelai also have their personal journeys and reunite with many of the folks from their past.

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premieres on November 25. Watch the trailer below.

Prince's Paisley Park Gets the Green Light to Become a Museum

2016-10-25T15:58:53.509Z

After months of meetings and deliberation, the Chanhassen City Council unanimously voted to rezone Paisley Park, Prince's home and recording studio, so it can become a museum open to the public.

"I think the city was very thoughtful in what they did," Joel Weinshanker, the managing partner of Graceland Holdings, which is overseeing Paisley Park told the Star Tribune. "Prince's museum is going to outlive us all."

Paisley Park has been holding temporary tours over the past month, which welcomed an estimated 12,000 people. And now with the new motion, it will be open for tours starting this Thursday (October 27) through Sunday (October 30).

Visit OfficialPaisleyPark.com for info on tours and prices.

Rihanna and Missy Elliott Ask Fans to Help Find Missing Dancer

2016-10-25T15:14:39.485Z

Rihanna and Missy Elliott need your help! The two artists hopped on Instagram in order to spread the word about dancer Shirlene Quigley, who has been missing since Sunday (October 23).

The Anti singer urged anyone who knew about Shirlene's whereabouts to contact the police.

"This beautiful soul, and former dancer of mine is MISSING!!!," Rihanna captioned her post. "My heart aches thinking of how heavy this is on all who love her! If anyone has seen or has any information on @shirlenequigley's whereabouts .....PLEASE CONTACT the North Bergen Police Department 201 392 2100 !!!!"

See their posts below. And if you have any information, please contact the police. Their information is above.

This beautiful soul, and former dancer of mine is MISSING!!! My heart aches thinking of how heavy this is on all who love her! If anyone has seen or has any information on @shirlenequigley's whereabouts ..... PLEASE CONTACT the North Bergen Police Department 201 392 2100 !!!!

A video posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Oct 24, 2016 at 5:37pm PDT

This is @shirlenequigley she's been missing since Friday she is so loved & we pray for her safe return.. if u have any information or seen her please contact North Bergen police 201-392-2100 she was last seen at 12:55 am at Port Authority. Need help from the whole Dance Community to spread the word! Those who have met her know her spirit is always bubbly and kind & uplifting energy! Sending countless prayers🙏🏾

A video posted by Missy Elliott (@missymisdemeanorelliott) on Oct 25, 2016 at 5:20am PDT

Reel Big Fish are Proud to Stay True to Their Ska Core

2016-10-25T07:00:00.000Z

Reel Big Fish has only released one short EP (the holiday-themed Happy Skalidays) in the last handful of years, but that hasn't stopped them from touring the world whenever they get the chance. After all, they've got well over two decades' worth of material to work with on a daily basis, and that doesn't even count their love of playing covers and different versions of their same original songs on stage. Although guitar-wielding and dad joke-cracking frontman Aaron Barrett is the only original member, Southern California's favorite ska band is currently kicking off their third nationwide tour of the year after a small break following their summer as one half of the veteran ska presence (along with Less Than Jake) on the Vans Warped Tour.

In the middle of their year full of touring, Myspace caught up with two of the Reel Big Fish elder statesmen— Barrett and trumpeteer John "Johnny Christmas" Christianson — at Warped Tour this summer to discuss their lifelong commitment to ska, the band's veteran status at the touring punk rock summer camp, and signing things for their audience's parents.

When you play a concert or festival, a lot of your fans have been listening to you for decades now. What's it like to have lifelong fans at just about every show?

Aaron Barrett: It’s very strange because I feel like we just started doing it yesterday. It feels like I was just in the garage learning how to play, and here we are 25 years later. I can’t get over that, so having someone come up to me and say ‘I’ve been listening to you since I was three. You inspired me to play guitar!’ is pretty special.

John “Johnny Christmas” Christianson: It’s very special. You kind of have to take that into perspective and go ‘Wow, we’re doing good in the world with this style of music!’ We really appreciate it.

Aaron Barrett

Given that ska is making a bit of a comeback with you and Less Than Jake both on Warped Tour and bands like the Interrupters incorporating ska into their music, how does it feel to see your influence trickling down to this next generation of bands?

Barrett: It’s great. I love ska music, and I’ve always told everyone about it. I love writing ska songs and being in a ska band. We never were one of those bands who were ashamed of it once it wasn’t cool anymore. We’ve been carrying the torch for a long time, and it’s nice to see people catching on. It’s really nice to see other people catching on and see it getting bigger and going strong.

Your sets are known for being more like hilarious parties than concerts, often incorporating as many jokes as songs. What inspires you to keep your sense of humor rather than becoming one of the many more serious bands out there?

Barrett: They're parties and really annoying comedy shows. You know that comedy show that Eddie Murphy goes to in The Nutty Professor? It’s like that. That’s just me. It’s how I am. I always joke around, I’m always a really weird, quirky person. That’s just what I sound like in the form of music.

John "Johnny Christmas" Christianson

You did Warped Tour again this year, and you must feel like experts on everything related to Warped Tour by now. How does it feel to be one of the veteran bands that consistently plays Warped Tour after all of these years?

Christianson: Yeah, we’ve got it down. We know how to do it. We’re just glad that Warped Tour has asked us back every few years, because it helps us get in front of new people who wouldn’t ordinarily see us or maybe have never even heard of us.

Barrett: We definitely know how to tour. This life isn’t for everybody. We’ve had a lot of people who have come in and out of the band over the years. People have had babies and entered a different chapter in their life, and we all love this. We all recognize that this is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. The more that you can keep that in perspective and realize that, the happier you are.

When you go on Warped Tour these days, is it fair to say that the fans are probably younger than anyone in the band for most of the dates?

Barrett: Well, we’ve been doing a lot of signings and kids will come up to have us sign something and say ‘This is for my mom!’ or ‘Sign it to my dad! My dad loves you guys! I don’t like you, but I’m a nice kid so I’m getting something signed for my dad.’

20 Totally Creepy Clowns That Will Haunt Your Dreams

2016-10-25T07:00:00.000Z

It’s not a joke anymore: the clown craze has reached its peak after a Cambodian clown was killed stepping on a landmine. The clown sighting was initially reported in the US but quickly spread to the rest of the world with people from UK, Russia and other countries reporting frightening “clown pop-ups.”

The fear of clowns is truly a universal feeling, and the recent boom of red nosed horrors only adds to the mass hysteria. We're here to keep that fear alive. Below are 20 creepy clowns that will haunt your dream.

This Russian Clown Nightmare

YouTube

Leave it up to Russians to get the creepy clown down to a T. The city of Saint Petersburg may be hailed as the country’s cultural capital, but now it looks like it’s also going to get a scary clown capital title. There is a video that just surfaced online of a clown attacking a car. And you thought meeting a patrol in the middle of the night was scary!

"Wrinkles"

WXII 12

Want to know what happens to a clown when he gets old? No, he doesn’t get all jolly and nice. He gets creepy. That’s the story behind this cheer-less clown from Naples, FL, who goes by the moniker Wrinkles. Apparently his income comes from scaring the misbehaving kids.

Twisty the Clown

FX

A couple of years before clowns became an actual American horror story, Twisty the clown was cheerfully cutting the characters of American Horror Story: Freakshow to pieces. And no, you really don’t want to know what’s lurking behind this mask.

Pennywise

YouTube

If the image of Tim Curry wearing fishnet stockings in The Rocky Horror Picture Show wasn’t frightening enough for you, look no further than his stint as Pennywise The Dancing Clown in the 1990’s TV adaptation of Stephen King’s It. This is the most iconic scary clown in the movie history.

This Demonic Clown Suit

Blumhouse

2014’s horror movie Clown told a haunting story of a family man who just wants to entertain his kid and puts on an ancient clown costume… which he simply can’t take off after the festivities are over. You see, the costume is actually a demon’s skin that literally grows into your body once you put it on. Cue in potential divorce, a cut off nose and several devoured children.

This Clown That Will Ruin Your Kid's Next Birthday

www.evilbirthdayclown.com

Think it’s safe to go to the mountains? Well, think again. This creepy clown is happy to provide his services and scare the hell out of your kids. If you live somewhere around Lucerne, Switzerland, that is. All you have to do is go to his website and send him a message. Just make sure to turn the volume up once you’re entering the website.

This Pub Clown Who Will Slice You Neck

https://twitter.com/shanieceprice

Thinking about going to a bar for a few glasses of beer to unwind after a long day? Chances are the local creepy clown will do exactly the same. At least that’s what happened to Shaniece Price from Walsall, UK, who tweeted that the clown “stood in the pub entrance and said he was going to slice my neck.” She did add a bunch of smiley faces though.

This British Clown on a Mobility Scooter

The Sun

Think you can run away from a killer clown? But what if he’s on a mobility scooter? That’s the question the residents of Sheffiled, UK, have been asking themselves ever since this video of the clown surfaced online.

This Terrifying Clown Duo

Facebook

One creepy clown is frightening enough, but what do you do when there are two of them approaching you? That’s what happened to Manchester native Kurtis Mulvaney, who posted a terrifying photo on his Facebook adding: “These guys just come to my car one had a machete never spoke a word.”

This Black Balloon Toting Clown

Facebook

This bearer of black balloons was spotted numerous times in Green Bay, WI, over the last few months. He even got his own Facebook page and was eventually revealed as a promotional tool of the short film called Gags.

This Creeper Clown

Facebook

This creeper was spotted by two men in Ocala, FL, back in September. They filmed him for Facebook, adding “We stopped to record and then he started to move so we took off. Not trying to die today.” A smart idea if there ever is one.

This Escaped Convict Clown

Twitter

Clowns are the new black, apparently. Last year a clown wearing an orange jumpsuit was seen and filmed in Waukesha, WI, near the campus of Carroll College.

This Pair of Clowns in the Woods

Twitter

In our social media-driven world, even the police know the power of a carefully picked visual. That’s why Tennessee Highway Patrol used this image of a performance troupe from New Hampshire for their clown-awareness post. It did create confusion, so the patrol had to clarify that this particular duo had not been seen in Tennessee.

This Pumpkin Smashing Clown

News4JAX

This clown has a serious problem with carved pumpkins. Back in 2014 a surveillance camera caught a very aggressive clown smashing the pumpkin of a Jacksonville, FL resident and then disappearing into the night. Was it just a harmless prank? Not if you ask the pumpkin.

Captain Spaulding

Lions Gate Films

Captain Spaulding was one of the creepiest characters in Rob Zombie’s directorial debut House of 1000 Corpses in 2003. Sid Haig, who played the deranged gas station owner/clown wannabe stated that the role required him exploring his own delusions. Let’s just say he accomplished the task with flying colors.

This Homicidal Parking Garage Clown

YouTube

How far is too far when it comes to pranking? We’re drawing the line with this video by DM Pranks Productions. Their video of a vicious and bloody clown-gone-homicidal is a bit too much. Just imagine walking through that parking garage to get to your car and witnessing this bloody mess? From now on, we’re using valet parking.

This Lone Clown in the Woods

Facebook

There’s not much of a backstory to this horrifying image, which makes it even scarier. Our advice: never follow a clown into the woods. Even if he offers free balloons.

This Black and White Horror of a Clown

Facebook

This picture of a clown has been making the rounds on the internet for a while, and we completely understand why: this creepy clown means business and we’d run as far as we can if he would try to give us his business card to be honest.

This Clown You'd Never Share a Sparkler With

Instagram

Thinking about inviting a clown for your festivities? Just make sure he doesn’t look like this one!

Michael Myers the Kid Clown

Falcon International

It is scary seeing a grown man dressed a menacing-looking clown, but what about a kid in a clown costume who just snaps? Every Halloween season is a perfect time to re-visit one of the most chilling and famous horror movies in history, Halloween, which opens with a little boy named Michael Myers stabbing his older sister to death while wearing a clown costume. Note to parents: Do not buy your kid a clown costume if he has homicidal tendencies.

Myspace - Editorial

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Lena Dunham Apologizes for Abortion Comment

The WWE Yay's and Nay's of 2016

Yay: Alexa Bliss

Nay: The Cruiserweight Division

Yay: The Success of #DIY

Nay: The WWE Announce Teams

Yay: The Friendship of Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho

Nay: Poor WWE Pay-Per-View Events

Yay: New Championship Titles

Nay: Lack of Top Talent on Smackdown

Top 5 Tour Announcements of the Week

Anthrax + Killswitch Engage 'Killthrax' Tour

Maggie Rogers Spring Tour

Chris D'Elia Australian Tour

Sleigh Bells European/US Tour

Mike Birbiglia 'Working it Out' Tour

Top 8 Video Games of 2016

Final Fantasy XV

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Superhot

Doom

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Wyclef Jean Shares His Wisdom and Reminisces About 2016

Watch Mark Cuban Get Absolutely Destroyed By a Sensational Kid Rival at a Basketball Game

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Listen to Tsutro's "Run" Exclusively on Myspace!

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Someone Finally Decided to Tell a Different Story

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Total badasses - until the planet they’re on blows up

Sacrifice

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Buncha cool ass dead people

8 Pop Punk Bands to Look Out For in 2017

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We Were Sharks

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Watch People the Kangaroo's "The Death of You" Video Exclusively on Myspace!

Tilda Swinton Continues to Piss People Off & Rob K and Blac Chyna Call It Quits

Insincerity as an Artform

CeeLo's Shockingly Poor Judgement

Angela the Scammer

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5 Best Celebrity Feuds Of 2016

Taylor Swift Vs. Kanye West & Kim Kardashian

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Calvin Harris Vs. Taylor Swift