A brilliant new trailer for Taken 3 gives us the 12 Skills of Christmas Liam Neeson style – it’s the best piece of marketing for this film so far, poking fun at Neeson’s penchant for killing people in his movies. There’s nothing like taking a classic Christmas carol and making it as violent as possible – makes a change though from the overly cute, cheesy Christmas promos. “Nothing brings people together during the holidays like good cheer, family traditions, and breaking necks. Countdown to the holidays with Bryan Mills and his 12 Skills of Christmas.” Maybe it’s too much to hope that the film also has this great sense of humour running through it?
Of course the skills don’t make complete sense – like ’11 throats a chopping’ – because the throats aren’t the ones doing the chopping, but hey, artistic license and all that. 20th Century Fox must have been unable to resist once the idea took hold – don’t you just love marketing?
The official synopsis: Liam Neeson returns as ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, whose reconciliation with his ex-wife is cut short when she is brutally murdered. Framed for the crime, he goes on the run to evade the relentless pursuit of the CIA, FBI and the police. For the last time, Mills must use his “particular set of skills,” to track down the real killers, exact his unique brand of justice, and protect the only thing that matters to him now – his daughter.
New additions to the franchise are Forest Whitaker, Dougray Scott and Sam Spruell with Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen both returning to the supporting cast. Taken 3 will hit cinemas on January 8, 2015 in the UK and January 9 in the US.
The Liam Neeson kill map: Every character he has ever taken out (click on the image to enlarge)
Coming up is our list of worst Christmas Music Videos from some of the biggest names in the business that will leave you cringing in your Christmas Stockings. If I were a family member or friend of any of the following I would organize a huge screening each year as punishment for these truly terrible works of shame.
This one is just embarrassing, and it doesn’t even have the longevity behind it like some other bad videos (Wham! For example are excused for having a long lasting success story Christmas tune and can blame the 80’s for their video!). Justin Timberlake will be hiding behind the tree this Christmas if this one gets played.
The fake sets and ridiculous words, plus some pretty ludicrous looking elf in a shell suit who decides whether Run DMC are naughty or nice, give this video an award for being really, really not cool.
This is basically a lucid depiction of festive shallowness by the Destiny’s Child girls…a list of material (expensive) things that they got for Christmas this year, them piling mountains of random toys into trolleys in the shop and no, the sexy santa outfits do not make up for any of the awfulness this video has to deliver. Ice, bling and a Mercedes are not things to teach kids to want for Christmas girls!
This has got to be a winner of worst video by Billy Idol ever, it’s so awful. It’s not a real rock song Billy no matter how many buttons you undo. We have one word for you…why?
This one is pretty much vomit-worthy. Although Harry’s voice is undeniably good, this video just sucks the life out of any respect we may have had for it.
Somebody should have put a stop to this as it has to be one of the worst filmed music videos of all time. There’s a Christmas tree backdrop and Jessica Simpson holding a red umbrella…and that’s pretty much it. That wouldn’t be SO bad if the camera didn’t keep randomly zooming in on bits of her face and making us totally dizzy by the end of this seriously bad rendition of Let It Snow!
This is an act of sheer defiance. Defiance against tradition, against fashion, against good music, against humanity and all the while they thought they were defying conformity. I don’t know why No Doubt did this but it should never have happened. I feel sorry for the people who got roped into being in this video, who are now no doubt (sorry) cringing for having been involved.
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Feeling festive yet? Ariana Grande’s overly cute music video for Santa Tell Me should help. She’s even traded in her signature cat ears for a set of reindeer antlers! The visual is full of adorable onesies, festive jumpers, furry animal hats and stuffed full of sleepover vibes. The wistful but upbeat song was co-written by Ariana, Savan Kotecha and Ilya Salmanzade and the video was co-directed by Alfredo Flores and Jones Crow.
In Santa Tell Me, Grande is basically asking Santa Claus to let her know if the boy she likes will stick around so she doesn’t get her heart broken. “Santa tell me if you’re really there, don’t make me fall in love again, if he won’t be here next year…” Anyone who’s single can relate to this message!
The song sounds quite similar to Mariah Carey’s famous Christmas song with the same upbeat festive feel as the 1994 classic track All I Want For Christmas Is You. It was actually released for download last November and has stayed in the Top 100 on the US iTunes ever since!
The other people in the video are Ariana’s dance crew that have been working with her for years – they clearly know how to have fun together, as you can see in the seriously silly outtakes that appear at the end of the video.
Multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning rock band Imagine Dragons have released a fantastic, cinematic music video for their new single I Bet My Life. Directed by Canadian filmmaker Jodeb, the video features American actor Dane DeHaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) and was filmed at Arizona’s Roosevelt Dam in October. The awesome and intense visuals mirror the emotional scope of the song.
“As the first video on our new album, it was especially important that we capture the emotion of the song,” frontman Dan Reynolds said of the video. “Although it was written about my sometimes strained relationship with my parents, our director Jodeb had a powerful vision for how the feeling of the story could be portrayed. We were also lucky to have such amazing talent to work with in our lead actorDane DeHaan.”
In a recent interview with Billboard Magazine Reynolds expands on the meaning and inspiration for the song.
This song is about your relationship with your parents?
Like many teenagers, I really hit heads with my parents at times growing up. My mom and dad are from a really conservative background, so when I told them I wanted to be a musician, that obviously wasn’t a thing that they particularly wanted to hear. But my entire life I’ve been the black sheep in my family and been in and out of trouble. So the song’s about my relationship with my parents, but still celebrating through it all everything that we’ve been through. We try to see past our differences and celebrate the relationship that we have and that we still share today.
Have they heard the song? Have you guys talked about it?
Right before we were gonna release the single, I sat down with my mom and my dad and I played it for them. It’s kind of why I started music as a teenager, to say things that I couldn’t necessarily say. I played [“I Bet My Life”] for my parents and I think they kind of knew, and when I hinted at it, it was a little bit of emotional moment.
I Bet My Life was written and produced by Imagine Dragons and is the first single to be released from their upcoming second album, expected to be released in early 2015 via KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records.
Bond, James Bond; our favourite swarthy, smooth, lady-loving secret agent has always been accompanied by more than just beautiful Bond girls. The scores and theme tunes to so many of the 007 movies have become popular in their own right, some even having been awarded Golden Globes and Academy Awards…the following is a list of the best, most successful and celebrated James Bond songs ever written.
The relationship between Bond and composer John Barry began with his work on Dr. No in 1962. Following the success of this he was asked to compose the score for the sequel plus arrange the title song, thus inspiring one of the most symbiotic musical partnerships in screen history. From Russia with Love was written by Lionel Bart and powerfully sung by Matt Monro. It differs from the rest on this winners list by being played over the closing credits in the movie as opposed to the typical opening song.
The film that perfected the 007 formula and sound and maintains the classic voice of Bond theme tunes, Goldfinger marked Barry’s first top-to-bottom Bond score, but the title song alongside Shirley Bassey’s delivery provide the greatest Bond theme tune to date. Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley supplied roaringly melodramatic lyrics for Barry’s brassy, classy music which gave Bassey her only US Top 10 hit.
Nancy Sinatra provided the appropriately haunting vocals on this most bewitching of Bond theme songs. With lyrics, written by Leslie Bricusse and now veteran at Bond music, John Barry in control of the rest (his best score yet), this could not fail to become one of the most recognized and successful of the Bond title songs.
One of Barry’s main assets as a composer has always been his dramatic nous, and never more so than on this introduction to Sean Connery’s sixth and last Eon-produced Bond movie, which won him an Ivor Novello award. From the sinister, sparkling opening to the punchy climax, all his hallmarks are there: lyrical melodies, gently propulsive dotted bass figure, rich orchestration and bold theatricality. It saw Bassey return for her second 007 venture, belting out Don Black’s brazenly materialistic words with typical gusto.
Paul McCartney turned his musical skills to Bond and what a masterpiece he constructed; and it only took him a few hours one afternoon apparently. This continues to be one of McCartney’s favourites in his live performances. A British agent dies by snakebite, and composer (and former “fifth Beatle”) George Martin’s strings slither mercilessly down and melt into the opening of this melodious punchy number. This combined with Maurice Binder’s superb flaming-skull visuals make Live and Let Die’s opening credits the most exciting of the lot.
This became Carly Simon’s biggest and best known hit. Her vocals perfectly matched the Bond sound alongside the talents of Marvin Hamlisch whose arrangements made Nobody Does it Better a huge success. This was the first 007 opening theme song not to be named after its film (the Spy Who Loved Me), and also the first to be nominated for an Oscar.
Moonraker saw James Barry, back on the Bond team as he delivered a superlative score and a title track that’s not his most celebrated, but definitely among his most beautiful. Returning to Bond for a third and final time, Bassey injects considerable passion into this yearning love song (lyrics again by Hal David), while Barry’s strings ripple into infinity.
There’s no way there could be a best Bond theme list without this being on it. It’s classic, it’s upbeat and it’s very, very eighties (see mullets, trench coats and very outdated graphics for reference). What more could you want? Hey presto, A View To a Kill makes it to the top of the 007 theme tune success stories. This was the first time a band had ever collaborated to make a Bond song but the successes and sounds of Duran Duran at the time made them a natural choice. And, Simon Le Bon looks very comfortable acting the Bond part (perhaps he saw it as a semi-audition?).
In true Adele style she has captured the essence of all that is Bond, James Bond, with the Skyfall theme tune. She gave her first performance of the song at the Academy Awards where it became the first Bond theme tune to win an award for best and at the Golden Globes and Brit Awards. Skyfall achieved impressive statistics by getting to number two on the UK charts, eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and skyrocketing to the top of the iTunes chart. Aside from that, in our opinion, it is the first modern 007 track that represents the original stylings of the traditional Bond while managing to incorporate a contemporary edge. Nice work Adele.
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Nicole Scherzinger turns the heat up in her new Bang music video. Sultry one-on-one choreography – simple but very sexy. It’s not a cover of the Cher/Nancy Sinatra classic but a sexy R&B-esque song, smooth and intense, that belongs to Scherzinger. Co-produced by Tricky Stewart and The Dream, Bang serves as the follow-up to previous singles, Your Love, On The Rocks and Run, from her second solo album Big Fat Lie.
As Nicole herself would say this video is “SHAMAZING!”. It might be a very low budget video but we do love the simplicity and the gorgeous lighting effects – not to mention the intimate dance routine and simulating having orgasms… The former Pussycat Doll shows off her dance skills and a few other assets in this burning hot clip. Directed by Anders Rostad the video premiered today (December 15) on Vevo and the single will be released on iTunes (UK) in late-January 2015.
In other Nicole Scherzinger news, she has received glowing reviews for her current role as Grizabella in the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats. Critics have especially lauded her performance of the legendary song Memory. Digital Spy commented, “Scherzinger lets the tear-jerking melody speak for itself, as she slinks around the stage with the perfect amount of faded grace.”
Music is one of the most powerful genres in the media industry as it is truly a place where people can voice their opinions and be heard without (much) censorship. Some of the most poignant political moments have been affected by or captured within songs containing and delivering powerful messages.
There have been thousands of songs that managed to epitomize a cultural situation and shape historical moments but the following is an example from a selection of decades (in chronological order) of some of the top success stories in fusing music culture and political activism which have/will transcend time.
Originally a poem by Abel Meerpol, Strange Fruit outlines the severity of the American racist issues of the time; lynching being one of the main topics covered within the powerful lyrics of this tune released by Billie Holiday in 1939. Her version of the song, despite having been covered and performed by many other artists, was entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1978. The lyrics of the song/poem became the inspiration for many novels, poems, and other creative works. In 1999, Time magazine called it the song of the century and in 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the ‘Top 20 Political Songs’.
Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
Pastoral scene of the gallant south, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, Here is a strange and bitter crop.
Bob Dylan is one of the most prominent writers of anti-war and protest songs in the 20th century. His commentary style prose has led to many a story revolving around war, racism, social injustice being told as he rages against “The Man” as only Dylan can. There are many songs to choose from by Bob Dylan which fall into this category, in fact a top ten could have been written by him alone. However, the most prominent, popular and effective of his protest songs has to be The Times They Are A Changin’. Dylan went all out with this one combining the folk protest movement of the 1960’s with the civil rights movement. The shorter, punchier verses pile upon one another in such a powerful way with lyrics such as, “There’s a battle outside and it is ragin’ / It’ll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls / For the times they are a-changin’,” – iconic Dylan statements that manage to transcend the times and capture the spirit of social and political upheaval that characterized the 1960s.
Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’.
A Change is Gonna Come is a single by the R&B singer-songwriter Sam Cooke; the song was written in 1963 and was released as a single shortly after his death in late 1964. This song soon came to represent the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Over the years, the song has gained popularity and even made it to #12 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is often thought to have been a reaction to an incident in Shreveport, Louisiana where Cooke and his band tried to register at a ‘whites-only’ motel and were arrested for disturbing the peace. Cooke is commonly known as the ‘King of Soul;’ his contributions to the genre paved the way for many other prominent figures such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder.
I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since It’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die ‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky It’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will I go to the movie and I go downtown Somebody keep telling me, “Don’t hang around” It’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
War is a counterculture anti-Vietnam War protest song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song with The Temptations, but later re-recorded it with Edwin Starr after the label decided to withhold the Temptations version so as not to alienate conservative fans. Starr’s version of the song quickly became a Nº1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970, and became one of the most popular protest songs ever recorded. Big names like Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and Joan Osborne have since covered the song, which has proven applicable in any era.
Peace love and understanding tell me Is there no place for them today They say we must fight to keep our freedom But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way War, huh, good God y’all What is it good for? You tell ’em, say it, say it, say it, say it War, good Lord, huh What is it good for? Stand up and shout it, nothing War, it ain’t nothin’ but a heartbreaker
This incredibly famous song was written and performed by John Lennon on his solo album Working Class Hero. His poetic lyrics depict the idea that the world could be a most wonderful place if we lost the greed and attachment to material things, a world without a class system and political boundaries; a world without religion. It is ultimately a call for world peace. One month after the release of his LP, Lennon released Imagine as a single in the United States; the song hit Nº3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the LP reached the top spot on the UK charts only a few months afterward. Lennon himself once said of the song that it is “virtually the Communist manifesto, even though I’m not particularly a Communist.” It was written in 1971 during the Vietnam War, though its message encouraging tolerance and equality is no less relevant today.
Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world…
You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one
This iconic reggae song written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh originally appeared on The Wailers’ 1973 album Burnin’ and was played live in many versions by Bob Marley & The Wailers. While touring Haiti, Marley was extremely moved both by the lives of the Haitians and the extreme poverty they faced; according to his then-girlfriend Esther Anderson, this is what inspired him to write this song. As with many of these songs, Get Up Stand Up still holds relevance in the modern world where inequality and human rights violations still abound. It has been covered by a myriad of other artists and remains legendary within the Bob Marley classics.
Preacher man don’t tell me heaven is under the earth I know you don’t know what life is really worth Is not all that glitters in gold and Half the story has never been told So now you see the light, aay Stand up for your right.
Get up, stand up, stand up for your right Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight
Most people think great God will come from the sky Take away ev’rything, and make ev’rybody feel high But if you know what life is worth You would look for yours on earth And now you see the light You stand up for your right, yeah!
Sunday Bloody Sunday is the opening track from U2’s album War, and is one of the rock group’s most overtly political songs. Its lyrics relate to the troubles in Northern Ireland, focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in the county of Derry where British troops shot and killed many unarmed civil rights protesters who were there to rally against internment. The song has remained one of the band’s staples in concert and is considered one of U2’s signature songs.
And the battle’s just begun There’s many lost, but tell me who has won The trench is dug within our hearts And mothers, children, brothers, sisters Torn apart
Fight the Power was brilliantly used as Radio Raheem’s musical motif to the classic Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. It was Public Enemy’s breakthrough song incorporating references to many parts of African-American culture; civil rights samples, black church services sounds plus the music of James Brown. A few attacks on Elvis Presley & John Wayne for their on-the-record white supremacist views later provide the cherry on top of this political protest tirade of a track which encourages us all not to “believe the hype”.
Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother fuck him and John Wayne Cause I’m Black and I’m proud I’m ready and hyped plus I’m amped Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check Don’t worry be happy Was a number one jam Damn if I say it you can slap me right here (Get it) lets get this party started right Right on, c’mon What we got to say Power to the people no delay To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be
Rage Against the Machine was one of the most politically active groups at a time when political protest songs weren’t very common. Killing in the Name is the quintessential Rage Against the Machine song, with its confronting vocals that link police to racism with the line “Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses,” and with the ending refrain “Fuck You, I won’t do what you tell me.” Zach de la Rocha & Tom Morello almost inspired a riot at the Democratic National Convention in 2000. Then de la Rocha abruptly left the group, but Tom Morello has continued his political activity, most recently getting involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they’re the chosen whites You justify those that died by wearing the badge, they’re the chosen whites Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn cross And now you do what they told ya, now you’re under control And now you do what they told ya! Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me
An unlikely candidate but a nod to the modern day political activity within music…this punk rock anthem is the title track from Green Day’s album American Idiot was released in August of 2004 to mostly positive reviews by critics and four Grammy nominations. The song criticizes America circa 2004 in the midst of the Bush Administration and the growth of the “new media,” which comes under fire in this song. In a 2004 interview with Q magazine, members of Green Day even discussed flag desecration in relation to their song, saying that they would support it. American Idiot was ranked the Nº13 Single of the Decade by Rolling Stone in 2009; Stone also placed it at 432 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2010. The album American Idiot has since been adapted as a hit Broadway musical.
Don’t wanna be an American idiot Don’t want a nation under the new media And can you hear the sound of hysteria? The subliminal mind fuck America Welcome to a new kind of tension All across the alien nation Where everything isn’t meant to be okay Television dreams of tomorrow We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow For that’s enough to argue
Although Same Love is a recent addition, the song’s popularity and political message award it a position within the ranks of politically significant songs. The track is the fourth single released by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis from their 2012 album, The Heist. The track also features Mary Lambert and discusses the issue of gay and lesbian rights. It was recorded during the campaign for Washington Referendum 74, which legalized same sex marriage in Washington State. It was most recently nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year at the 2014 Grammy Awards, its not hard to see why when you hear the sincerity and clarity of these lyrics. Spot on!
If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me Have you read the YouTube comments lately? “Man, that’s gay” gets dropped on the daily We become so numb to what we’re saying A culture founded from oppression Yet we don’t have acceptance for ’em Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it Gay is synonymous with the lesser It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference! Live on and be yourself When I was at church they taught me something else If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen I might not be the same, but that’s not important No freedom ’til we’re equal, damn right I support it
(I don’t know)
And I can’t change Even if I tried Even if I wanted to My love My love My love She keeps me warm We press play, don’t press pause Progress, march on With the veil over our eyes We turn our back on the cause ‘Til the day that my uncles can be united by law When kids are walking ’round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all But it’s a damn good place to start No law is gonna change us We have to change us Whatever God you believe in We come from the same one Strip away the fear Underneath it’s all the same love About time that we raised up… sex
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The very first BBC Music Awards were held last week (December 11) at Earls Court, hosted by DJs Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans. It was more like a celebration of music than your typical award show. There was no mind numbing clapping after the umpteenth award had been dished out – like the 93-category Grammy awards – quite the opposite in fact. There were just four awards – International Artist of the Year – won by Pharrell Williams, Song of the Year – Happy by Pharrrell Williams, British Artist of the Year won by Ed Sheeran and BBC Introducing Award won by Catfish and the Bottlemen. The Song of the Year Award was the only category that was decided upon by public vote, with the others decided upon by a panel of industry experts.
The magnificent BBC Concert Orchestra were there to accompany the performing artists which gave the show a real grandeur and sense of occasion. The bottom line of the show and main message was the fact that the BBC supports and promotes new music. Many a star has been ‘found’ by BBC Introducing. “The BBC started playing me before anyone else did,” said Ed Sheeran. “Mistajam played me in 2008 and 1Xtra named me one of their top picks for 2011. It was the first place to champion me. The best thing about the BBC being funded by the government is that they have to play all types of music. They have to play songs you wouldn’t necessarily play on commercial stations.”
Judging by the reactions from the artists themselves this inaugural ceremony was a resounding success. Labrinth said “There aren’t as many awards – but I think people want to see their favourite artists do their thing, instead of going ‘thank you for loving me.'”
This sentiment was echoed by many other performers, “The awards are almost a sideshow,” said Grace Chatto, cellist with chart-topping dance act Clean Bandit. “There’s a focus on the actual music as opposed to the pomp.” An award show without pomp? At last! Calvin Harris thought the same: “It’s not a whole drawn-out thing, it’s more like a celebration.”
Radio 1 DJ Greg James said the BBC ceremony was not really just about the awards. “The whole point of it is to celebrate a brilliant year of music and go ‘Do you know what? We play a lot of music across the whole of the BBC.’ You don’t get this eclectic a line-up at any other awards ceremony.”
Ed Sheeran argued that the fact that there was only 4 awards made the show more trustworthy: “Most awards shows, you don’t really know… whether it’s rigged or not,” he told the press before the ceremony. “I won an award in the summer for a very big show, and I won it because Pharrell didn’t turn up. They just said, ‘he didn’t turn up so you can have it.'” Fittingly, when he won the trophy for British Artist of the Year, Sheeran seemed genuinely surprised. “I’m absolutely chuffed,” he said. “But I think everyone knew but me – because my name’s on it!”
Chris Martin opened the ceremony, performing the opening lines of A Sky Full of Stars whilst still backstage amongst all the assembled artists of the show – who apparently were told to ignore him during this part.
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Happy Birthday to the gorgeous Taylor Swift who turns 25 today! You know you’re pretty lucky when the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, sings Happy Birthday to you! Ariana Grande was asked to sing as well but even though she tried to work herself in a couple of times, it was impossible, the Queen of Soul was on a roll!
It was only recently that Franklin was asked for her opinion on Swift in a Wall Street Journal interview and she replied, “OK, great gowns, beautiful gowns.” Certainly a comment that gets at the utter soullessness of pop stars today and one supposed, at Swift herself. However, after this birthday performance, all is forgiven!
All this took place at Billboard Magazine’s Women In Music panel on Friday (December 12) which honoured the most influential women in music in 2014.
The host Matt Lauer moderated the panel and got the chance to share a pretty spectacular selfie with the women in the panel after the Q & A ended. The women included Ariana Grande, Aretha Franklin, Jessie J, Hayley Williams, Idina Menzel, Charli XCX and Taylor Swift (Iggy Azalea was also on the panel, but had to leave before the photo happened).
Billboard Magazine’s women in music for 2014 and one very lucky old bald guy! pic.twitter.com/QeIMMlKAzl
Swift actually sang in her birthday whilst on stage at the iHeartRadio Jingle Bell Ball in Madison Square Garden with 18,000 fans to join her. “I think I’ve officially celebrated my birthday with you tonight. I’m 25-years-old New York City,” she told the crowd after performing her No. 1 hit Blank Space.
Sam Smith has just released a gorgeous new music video for his latest single Like I Can. Dressed like a true English gentlemen Sam and a group of friends enjoy some time out in the Big Apple – they stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, dance in alleyways, makes wild romantic gestures and end up downing shots in a bar. We’re thinking stag do…and the one marrying is the one Sam wants to marry?
The release of this video comes just after Smith scored six Grammy nominations including Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year for Stay with Me. The UK is already in love with him and he is slowly becoming America’s latest music crush.
Smith’s track record is truly impressive – it’s only been six short months and the 22-year old from London has sold over 3 million copies worldwide of his debut album In the Lonely Hour. He is on track for becoming the biggest selling new artist of the year. The album recently became the second album to sell one million copies in the US, following Taylor Swift’s 1989.
Talking about the album in a recent interview Smith said: “I’ve never been in a relationship before and I really wanted to make an album that was about love. But in different forms of love – so unrequited love and loneliness. I’ve been brutally honest in the album.”
On January 9 Smith starts a North American tour including concerts in all the best venues, New York’s Madison Square Garden, Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, and L.A.’s Forum.
Smith recently released a cover of the Christmas classic Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which premiered during A Very Grammy Christmas earlier this month.
