Shared Anecdote from her childhood leads to shocking physiological demonstration for the ages
Billie Eilish has jumped on the TikTok bandwagon and made her debut on the popular (potentially soon-to-be shut-down?) social media platform on Friday. Her appearance is almost shockingly stark and impromptu; as is somewhat the norm for TikTok videos. Nevertheless seeing her calm, collected and insanely disheveled then proceeding to ram an entire Ukulele Head into her outstretched mouth does take things a bit, um. Out-there.
One wonders, will she regret this in 5 years? Or is this just a bravely frank illustration of her strength of character? A deeper look into her private-yet-public ethos for fashion with her mix of Chanel Accessories and intently baggy body-hiding outfits?… Maybe just a selfie-video-goof on a boring off-day.
Only a couple days of the account being live and two posts in, she’s already quickly racked up tons of followers, with 4.3 million and 25 million likes. Her amusing username, which initially appeared to be an attempt to hide the fact that this is coming from the biggest music star on the freaking planet, in other words, a secret account, has now been widely disseminated via the media @coochiedestroyer5.
New Account, of course, goes viral immediately
In her first video she tests out the viral Time Warp scan filter. In her latest video, Eilish attempts a quite unusual challenge, apparently, something she did once when she was 15 years old – trying to fit the head of a ukulele into her mouth. Ultimately she ends up gifting her followers with the insanely hilarious results.
Billie TikTok debut comes shortly after she’s just released her latest song and music video for “Therefore I am”.
“we r hot” show dance rehearsal with commentary (hilarious sexy fun)
After her wild Ukulele post popped up on her crazy subterranean TikTok account and a couple of random posts since, today Billi Eilish posted what appears to be a impromptu reversal video with some hilarious commentary. Set to the song “Lost Cause” (very hot now).
The account which only has 8 videos since it first popped up has 29.6 million followers (of course!) and 122.2 millions likes, and the video (below) already has 3.2 million in the first hour. Today’s video dropped around 4:30 PM Pacific time on June 3, 2021. The first full video on the account – other than the Ukulele post mentioned above. That one went live on November 13, 2020.
It’s pretty clear from the humor, voice over and the attitude that Billie loves the vibe and spontaneity of TikTok and this video and her rogue account style fits right in!
Even at the relatively elderly summit of 19 her sultry, dark style along with top of the world presence continues to command loyalty and love for her music and style. Her recent biographical photo book was also a hit and the new songs will likely continue at the top of our summer list. The documentary is great also.
Oh, and the WORLD TOUR starts in September! Starting off, where else? Las Vegas.
“we r hot” show dance rehearsal with commentary (hilarious sexy fun)
After her wild Ukulele post popped up on her crazy subterranean TikTok account and a couple of random posts since, today Billi Eilish posted what appears to be a impromptu reversal video with some hilarious commentary. Set to the song “Lost Cause” (very hot now).
The account which only has 14 videos since it first popped up and has 35.4 million followers (of course!) and 190.3 millions likes, and the video (below) got a whopping 3.2 million in the first hour and currently has accumulated 80 million views to date. The first full video on the account – other than the Ukulele post mentioned above. That one went live back on November 13, 2020.
It’s pretty clear from the humor, voice over and the attitude that Billie loves the vibe and spontaneity of TikTok and this video and her rogue account style fits right in!
Even at the relatively elderly summit of 19 her sultry, dark style along with top of the world presence continues to command loyalty and love for her music and style. Her recent biographical photo book was also a hit and the new songs will likely continue at the top of our summer list. The documentary is great also.
Oh, and the WORLD TOUR 2022 starts in February! Kicking off in Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA, however, unfortunately tickets for that show has since been SOLD OUT!
#BrutalMasks created by iPad are a setup for singer’s AI reality in newest music video
The young and top chart-leading pop star of 2021, Olivia Rodrigo, has debuted her album SOUR. Her first song “brutal” on the album, first released back in May was met with 26.7 million streams its first week.
This week, the artist released her new music video for the song and, incredibly, it was produced exclusively on an Apple iPad. Incredible because of the way it turned out, showing how Apple is aggressively positioning itself, particularly with the iPad Pro, iPadOS 15 and the upcoming iPhone 13 as a full professional production option that will only get better with each software / hardware iteration.
Promotions leading up to her video had fans create their own #BrutalMasks to share on TikTok.
The 30 second video breaks down how some of the custom masks that are featured throughout the video were made with the FacePaint feature on the Procreate app using the Apple pencil.
https://youtu.be/Z6_J8KxIlmI
This isn’t the first time Apple has partnered with musical celebrities, other stars that have worked alongside the company include Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Billie Eilish. With the new direction in marketing and even designing updates to lean more and more towards a pro orientation, expect more major artists, as well as new upcoming ones that can benefit most from the lower cost of top flight production values to get a bump this fall. And the proliferation of creative visual and musical expression will hopefully follow…
“America The Beautiful” broadcast from Washington DC on 4th of July. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps this year in particular – with many reasons to remind ourselves of our rights under the constitution and while we consider the future of the nation, perhaps some historical classic and meaningful titles are in order. Some great songs from our hallowed past, many with a more thought provoking auditory emanation of the American Dream, and perhaps that reflect the real lives and loves of Americans.
This Land Is Your Land
The ultimate people’s anthem. Endlessly influential, from Bob Dylan to Springsteen all the way to the present day. Not to be forgotten. Ever.
The Star-Spangled Banner (Jimi Hendrix)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAwPA14Ni4
Misunderstood, yet insightful to the nth degree. Performed at Woodstock (50 year anniversary happening now) at the height of unrest during the Vietnam War. For many, perhaps the peak and final moments of the 60s. Has taken on mythic status and while the controversy has faded, the insight and bittersweet love for the country shines through, to this day. Hendrix was a veteran and knew exactly what “rockets red glare” really sounded and felt like.
Born In The USA
In the parade of the misunderstood “Born In The USA” may stand as the most misinterpreted song ever. Pride at being born in the USA? Absolutely. Look at the rest of the lyrics to get the more nuanced take on what it means.
America, West Side Story
What can you say? Classic all the way.
Living In America
Anything by James Brown is an American Treasure.
America The Beautiful (Ray Charles)
Ditto
A bit more from The Boss and some lesser known gems to round out the tour:
Above: photo from “Lost Cause” – photo credit: BillieEilish.com
Music Video Vignettes Combined into Prime Day Promotion
Amazon prime is a way for the company to combine and bundle features for a yearly subscription fee. Every year, in addition to the usual subsidized shipping, prime video and the rest, there is Prime Day, which is now upon us. This year that also includes “Prime Day Show” which is a “free” offering for Prime members, basically 30 minute music video vignettes by Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Kid Cudi.
The long form multi song productions are enjoyable enough, however, it is also true that music videos are a form of free advertising for the artists and songs that they feature. So, in this case that makes this a kind of subsidized collaboration between the artists (presumably paid to have the Amazon moniker associated with their music) and the company.
None of this makes it less enjoyable, of course, but it is interesting how it is not live (nothing like the huge live concerts put on by AliBaba and Tao Bao for “Singles Day” in China, but rather a pre-recorded, fairly standard, traditional, music video style production).
As the shopping kicks off in Ernest later, at one minute after midnight on June 21st, this show could be a way to relax ahead of the shopping frenzy.
The first episode contains several songs by H.E.R., interspersed with short drama interludes and featuring celebrity cameos. All set at Los Angeles’ Dunbar Hotel, known in the 1930s and 1940s as the hub of the city’s Black culture, and the lavish production and assist from acting talent makes for a showcase of songs from her new album, “Back of My Mind”.
Next, in the second episode Kid Cudi goes with an outer Space theme and, similarly, has scenes linking the production extravaganzas built for each song. This is all appropriate since he is presenting songs from his album “Man on the Moon III”.
A second space connection comes from the participation in collaboration from the International Space Orchestra, who happen to be the world’s first orchestra entirely consisting of space scientists from the NASA Ames Research Center, the SETI Institute and the International Space University.
The closing act, of course, is Billie Eilish, and the city of Paris (or at least a studio set of it) is the conceptual backdrop used to elevate what are otherwise live performances for the purpose of creating a video, sans audiences. The first song is set in a romantic hotel room set and features the song “My Future” as well as “Lost Cause”, “Therefore I Am” and “My Power”. As a whole the set is very “jazzy” and has an intimate feel that appears to be a project rendition original version take.
All in all, while there is respectable and well produced performances and visual enhancements, at the same time there is a lack of any event style excitement or sense of a musical live performance (which is not the point, admittedly).
Perhaps the three episodes can best be seen as a kind of chestnut to show fans of the artists that “Prime” is giving back and that the bundling extends beyond free shipping, prime video, prime music, other perks and deals and into another area, event bases collaborations for the sake of commerce.
Not only are thousands of physical products on sale for Prime Day, starting tonight at midnight, but virtual deals, such as films and shows are getting big promotional discounts also. The streaming deals are already live, so if you are inclined to watch while it’s still weekend prime time, a large assortment is available.
Some examples of films currently deeply discounted to view:
Titles that are normally priced higher for rental viewing or purchase are set for a limited time to $.99, $1.99 or $2.99 depending on the title. Naturally the newer and “hotter” the choice the less likely that it is at $.99 cents, but on the other hand, we all have different taste and perhaps you can find a film or show that you have been wanting to see but did not want to pay a higher price to watch.
For some reason, documentary films such as “Chasing Madoff” or “Good Trouble“, the excellent documentary on John Lewis, which is part of a Juneteenth special promotion, tend to show up at the rock bottom price. So perhaps, taking advantage of the promotion as a way to educate and enlighten oneself might be more economical than jumping in to the top hits and most current feature films.
If you do shop around, hovering or clicking on the deals designated with a “$” in the upper left hand corner, you will find at least a few titles here and there at the low $.99 cent watch price. Much more common are $1.99, $2.99 and even $3.99, which is a discount but does not feel like a huge one.
Also, since newer popular titles are normally priced much higher, up to $5.99 and sometimes more, even the $2.99 special price represents a bargain opportunity.
An example of a recently released, high quality film is “The Courier” which is currently available to watch for $2.99 (normally $5.99)
What you didn’t even know you needed: a zombie heist movie!
Director Zack Snyder has been hard at work. As most are patiently awaiting the upcoming “Justice League” movie to drop on HBO Max on March 18, 2021, another entertainment gem has landed on our laps.
Now “Army of the Dead” is here and will follow to an online audience on May 21st after first going for the live in theater crowds, newly legal across the USA.
The initial theatrical only stint will be the widest release in company history after limited engagements for Oscars hopefuls in recent years. Naturally, this has caught the attention of the entire entertainment industry
A new teaser trailer for the next action packed film by Snyder, this time for the Netflix streaming platform has dropped called “Army of the Dead”.
According to Netflix, the film will follow a group of fearless mercenaries who decide to take the ultimate gamble during a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas. The group breaks away from the quarantine zone to pull off one of the wildest heists ever attempted.
“It is a full-blown, balls-to-the-wall zombie heist movie, so it’s genre-on-genre in a great way,” Snyder told EW.com. “So you expect pure zombie mayhem, and you get that, 100 percent. But also you get these really amazing characters on a fantastic journey. It’s going to surprise people that there’s a lot of warmth and real emotion with these great characters.”
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The movie will be released to stream on Netflix on May 21, 2021, with plans to make the film into a franchise in the form of a prequel anime series.
Starring Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Matthias Schweighöfer, Tig Notaro, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Raúl Castillo, Michael Cassidy, and Garret Dillahunt.
Apple TV+ and YouTube event: Acoustic performance, interview and “surprises” in store
The release for the upcoming Apple TV+ documentary which follows Billie Eilish’s journey into fame, spotlighting a “sliver” of her life during the three year period the doc was filmed, is nearly here. Aside from the upcoming film, fans will also get another musical treat before the debut. Apple teamed up with the artist to commemorate the release with a livestream and exclusive performance, which will be available for all to watch for free. (Free!)
During the live event, Eilish will perform some (new) music, and maybe even talk about her new album that her and brother/co-writer created during her time at home due to covid-19 restrictions.
The artist also recently launched a live version of the song, “ilomilo” which has the song lyric “the world’s a little blurry” from which the title of the doc is inspired. Check out video above.
In addition to the musical performance, there will also be an interview with director R.J. Cutler, hosted by Apple Music’s DJ Zane Lowe. The Apple press release also notes that the event will include “other special surprises” but you have to watch in order to find out what those may be.
Eilish will perform live and can be streamed for free Thursday, Feb. 25 starting at 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET via the Apple TV app, Apple Music app or Billie’s YouTube Channel. Immediately following the event, her documentary will debut on the Apple TV+ streaming platform.
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The trailer gives fans a peak of what’s to come, centered around Eilish’s rise to fame, offering behind the scenes of the inner workings of her highly successful album: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”.
There is also footage of Eilish off stage, doing normal teenage activities like getting her driver’s license, as well as scenes of her at home hanging out with her brother and collaborator, Finneas.
“Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” tells the true coming-of-age story of the singer-songwriter and her rise to global superstardom. From award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, the documentary offers a deeply intimate look at this extraordinary teenager’s journey, at just 17 years old, navigating life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album “WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?”
For those that do not currently have Apple TV, subscription starts at $4.99 per month with a 7 day free trial. Any buyer of Apple hardware is given a free subscription for up to a year as well.
There’s a strange and oddly fitting feeling as Les Misérables spoof soars on a sad yet freeing occasion
On the eve before the final hours of Trump’s bizarre and sick term in office, James Corden and company took the time to put together this video musical spoof that captures the odd combination of joy, disgust and freedom that comes with the knowledge that, going forward, all things Trump will recede in importance, inexorably.
For most of us, that would be along the lines of “the sooner-the-better” that he has finally disappeared from the public discourse and most of all from the political life of the USA.
At the same time, many of us, particularly in the media, have had an odd way of life due to this wannabe tyrant dominating the airwaves and news-cycles. It’s become such a daily ritual to follow the outrage and try, in any way possible, to stand up and challenge the criminal ideas and even actions that have swirled around us in a way that has been so consistent that it almost became “normal”. Almost.
It never was normal, and that’s where the odd “joy”, as can be heard in various tenor tones from this song, is also an honest reaction to history, finally, moving forward. And perhaps, there is the ever so faint recognition that we, all of us, played a small part in making sure that this man’s sick and twisted dreams did not continue to impact our reality for more than his four year term.
Not surprising, but always a pleasure, her dress was over-the-top and voice rung out to the heavens
Near the opening of the well planned and nearly perfectly executed inauguration ceremony, Lady Gaga sang her powerful rendition of the National Anthem and did not disappoint.
Afterward she could be seen chatting animatedly through her mask with former President Obama and others, drawing plenty of attention for her golden dove of peace.
My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly. I will sing to the hearts of all people who live on this land. Respectfully and kindly, Lady Gaga. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸
Olivia Rodrigo, the 17 year old high school senior made major headlines shattering streaming records with the official release of her debut single “Driver’s License”. Best known for her role in Disney+’s “High School Musical: The Series”, however, the newcomer will now be known for her chart-topping song.
The kind of immediate response and millions of streaming requests is not that common for newer artists, its not typical for a singer that isn’t established to so quickly gain traction and quickly reach the top of the charts. Usually this is reserved for well known artists including the likes of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, BTS, Ariana Grande, ect.
“I truly do think this is just a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that sort of brought together a number of factors in a way that they haven’t really been brought together recently,”
– Becky Bass / Spotify Global Hits lead
In an Apple Music interview, Rodrigo described “”I wrote the bulk of the song literally crying in my living room, and I think that it definitely has that feel to it,” she continued by describing her inspiration for the song, referencing Gracie Abrahm’s song “Minor” was a major inspiration. “I was driving around my neighborhood, actually listening to really sad songs and crying in the car, and I got home and I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll write a song about this, crying in the car.'”
Some of her fans speculated that the song was about Rodrigo’s breakup with co-star Joshua Bassett.
On Jan. 11, "drivers license" by @Olivia_Rodrigo set the Spotify record for most streams in a day for a non-holiday song.
“Drivers License” broke several Spotify records for the most streams in a single day on Jan 11 for a non-holiday song with 15.17 million global streams. Then in continued its momentum the next day, Jan 12. continuing to beat the previous day, with 17.01 million streams. In addition to Spotify records, Amazon Music reported that Rodrigo now help the record for the most requested song in one day globally via Alexa.
Midnight Autofahren through Berlin mixed with a Psychedelic Visualization of Tomorrow
Night views of Berlin with mental memory materials echoing forward. Thoughts manifest toward a space ship example song. How to relax? How to sleep? How to dream? A smooth experience of where. Minimal and fluid yet encouragement reliability source code. Hello. Thanks for listening.
Spirit in the Woods Official Music-Video: Exotic Animals in an Ambient Mix of Audio-Visual Adventure
Spirit in the Woods Official Music-Video: Exotic Animals in an Ambient Mix of Audio-Visual
Alien Genius Sensitivity: Galactic Theory Ambient Trance
Space visualizations of epochs unwound above. Inside metal galaxies of tone and perspective lanes into joy. Relaxation alternative nodes for belief of tunnels of impact arrows. Space Force Mix 22XLT
Northern lights: Aurora Borealis – Ambient Music-Video – set to ‘on a blue day’ by Alejandro
Ambient Music-Video – music video for northern lights on a blue day by Alejandro ( can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3j0qH4f ) – time-lapse night photography – night sky dancing with Northern Lights against an aural backdrop of soothing yet upbeat groove. The combination can be heard seen and felt.
A beautiful winter sunset in the Mojave is a perfect backdrop for music, Meditation and Yoga stretching. Contemplative, inwardly focused yet surrounded by natural beauty and peace. The perfect relaxing counterpart to a hectic, overburdened existence, a way to take solace in the elements and dream of a better tomorrow…
Adventure Island Voyager: Winter Escape into Tropical Bliss
The music winds and floats and takes a dream to a foreign unknown shore. Endless summer and a sunset island fantasy come true. Enjoy the track and transport your mind into relaxing sea and surf. Ambient Relaxation Therapy Forever. Featuring: Surf “Pondering” by Arulo
This girl in the Late Afternoon Sunset is Like a Dream on Skates
A dream like scenarios with a girl on skates enjoying and exploring golden hour as the sun sets. Music is mysterious and ambient with a quality of unreality and illusion, though the title is “Lust or Love” by Arulo, it imbues less a feeling of lust but rather metaphysical floating in a world of dreams and random thoughts.
Surf Sounds of Air and Sunset, aDrift among the Palm Sweet Soliloquy
Lonely wafted and adrift in clam and clean motionless ocean glass. Colors of the sky with incredible soft pastel rays of light, rising from the furthest point of infinity. Gulls fly and dreams envelope now.
Surf Sounds of Air and Sunset, aDrift among the Palm Sweet Soliloquy
The music winds and floats and takes a dream to a foreign unknown shore. Endless summer and a sunset island fantasy come true. Enjoy the track and transport your mind into relaxing sea and surf. Ambient Relaxation Therapy Forever.
Lonely wafted and adrift in clam and clean motionless ocean glass. Colors of the sky with incredible soft pastel rays of light, rising from the furthest point of infinity. Gulls fly and dreams envelope now. Featuring: “Opalescent” by Eugenio Mininni
Floating over A Crystal Stream in an Impossibly Green Forest
Imagine floating above a crystal clear mountain stream deep at the heart of a beautiful green forest. Sounds of water flowing, birds and mysterious living spirits surround and envelope your senses. Relaxed, clear minded, calm yet alert and aware. Exploration and introspection. Feeling, breathing, living. Forest Walk. “Forest Walk” by Eugenio Mininni: Song can be downloaded here.
Paramount Mists of Exploration: Mountain Peak Delight Enhancement Mix
Icy piano spine chilling thoughts that rise. Above with air crisp clarity and brightness built in snow covered misted waves. Frozen forms enchanted and found above. Above the day where sleep is lost and life denies music spring song. Enhancement mix 2.
Ceremonial Sustenance Waveforms: Standing Above from Within Ourselves
Rising frames of soft and billowing rewards. Running, rising erupting smooth and soothing mysterious regeneration mind. Mixed believers and trance warrior hope. A flame, and drops of wonder.
Shondaland brings Julia Quinn’s romance novels to the screen
Shonda Rhimes is known for her widely successful TV shows, including the popular titles: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Scandal” and “How to get away with Murder” to name just a few. Creator and Producer Rhimes is at it again, this time not for the ABC network where most of her series live, but for the Netflix streaming platform.
Her incoming series “Bridgerton”, will be played out in 8 episodes and will be released Christmas day. Her inspiration was based on the steamy romance novels by Julia Quinn that follows the eight close-knit siblings of the Bridgerton family in London.
The show’s setting reveals the lives of the Bridgerton family, living among the high society elites in the Regency-era England (around 1800’s). The siblings look for love and happiness, while encountering power struggles, love tangles and all kinds of other drama. Based on the trailer, “Bridgerton” appears to be a mix of the historical meets modern.
Very typical of romance in the 19th century where sexual relations were usually kept off screen or rather behind closed doors, this show will be very different. For the Netflix show, buckle up, as the series will be laced with all things associated with carnal pleasures: scandal, sex, romance, gossip, and more sex (enough to make Jane Austen blush).
Rhimes also inserted more of her own styles, incorporating 21st century twists, particularly by casting diverse characters throughout the series. The show’s Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel, is black, which showcases how the series will be a nice twist to the typical period pieces that have been adapted to TV and film. Also the the series will score orchestral version of current pop hits by Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.
Apparently, it’s been officially confirmed, Trump truly is the biggest loser, after the Electoral College and even the right-wing packed Supreme Court have confirmed it. The turn of events has inspired a January 2021 version of the classic song by the Von Trapp family of “The Sound of Music” in a special a Trump remix.
Thanks to a New Zealand Principal and musician, Shirley Șerban, who cleverly and brilliantly adapted the lyrics to fit Trump. Her YouTube channel also has other parody videos including “Covid Christmas” and A Message to Trump in Disney Frozen style “Let it Go” .
Get an inside look into the life of 5x Grammy Award Winner
Apple TV+ released the first trailer for “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry”, the music documentary directed by R.J. Cutler.
The trailers gives fans a peak of what’s to come, centered around Eilish’s rise fame, offering behind the scenes of the inner workings of her highly successful album: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”.
There is also footage of Eilish off stage, doing normal teenage activities like getting her driver’s license, as well as scenes of her at home hanging out with her brother and collaborator, Finneas.
The documentary looks to give her ‘Avacados’ (her fanbase) a deeper and more intimiate look into Eilish’s world.
Within the trailer Billie even explains why she occasionally sleeps in her parents’ bed…monsters.
Along with revealing confessionals, there is bound to be some twisted humor Eilish can sometimes be known for.
The Apple Original Films production was made in association with Interscope Films and will premiere in select theaters as well as on Apple TV+ on Feb. 26, 2021.
Taylor Swift is serving fans holiday gifts left and right. First, Swift announces a surprise album, “Evermore”, the second one this year and drops it within mere hours and just two days shy of her 31st birthday. This upcoming album will be Taylor’s 9th album and regarded by singer as “folklore’s sister”. Followed up with the music video for her first song off the track, “Willow” simultaneously with release.
It’s already obvious Taylor Swift is mega pop star that has garnered multiple Grammy, Billboard, MTV awards and more. Yet, Taylor being such an animal lover and proclaimed cat lady should also be equally recognized.
December 2020 will be newsworthy for the artist and her holiday card this year puts a proverbial cherry on top. A journalist revealed Taylor’s card and yes it includes the artist’s trio of adorable cats, inspired and named from TV and movie characters: Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey and Benjamin Button.
As if we need a reason to explain why our pets are held in such high regard, sometimes, more so than our fellow humans. Especially during the nearly year long pandemic filled with social isolation, our pet(s) appreciate everything we do for them, provide emotional support (even if they don’t know it) and ultimately provide unconditional love. It’s clear why Taylor so proudly put them on display.
From her music, her sense of fashion and all the inspiration that came after her death like makeup lines, Barbie dolls, musicals, tribute albums, movies (with Jennifer Lopez) and television series. The latest, coming from Netflix’s Selena: The Series” about the iconic Tejana singer proves her presence still very much lives on even after all this time. Even after 25 years when she was tragically killed at the young age of 23, her memory and music live on and will be continue to be entrenched in our popular culture.
If you want to read in detail about Selena, the Quintanilla family and more, we have compiled the few select titles that chronicle her life, the best, in my opinion, being from her husband, Chris Perez.
One of the most compelling and adored superstars in Latin music history, Selena was nothing short of a phenomenon who shared all of herself with her millions of devoted fans. Her tragic murder, at the age of twenty-three, stripped the world of her talent and boundless potential, her tightly-knit family of their beloved angel, and her husband, Chris Perez, of the greatest love he had ever known.
For over a decade, Chris held onto the only personal thing he had left from his late wife–the touching and sometimes painful memories of their very private bond.
Now, for the first time, Chris opens up about their unbreakable friendship, their forbidden relationship, and their blossoming marriage that was cut short.Click here to see “To Selena, with Love” and help Independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Selena – Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits is a collection of most of the English songs by American Tejano-pop singer Selena. It contains all of her English songs from her Dreaming of You album, as well as both regularly and posthumously released English songs she had made throughout her career. “Don’t Throw Away My Love” is a remix of “My Love”.
Selena’s Secret: The Revealing Story Behind Her Tragic Death
There is no doubt that Yolanda Saldívar pulled the trigger and killed Tejano superstar Selena on March 31, 1995. But does anyone know what really happened in Room 158 of the Days Inn, moments before the crime took place?
María Celeste Arrarás has many answers, and her unrivaled coverage of the murder, trial, and aftermath made her the undisputed expert on the case. Arrarás shares firsthand information about the crime and the people involved–including details of her headline-making jailhouse interview with Saldívar, who repeatedly spoke of “Selena’s secret”–a powerful hidden piece of information that she refused to reveal in court but that she shared at length with Arrarás.
Many questions were raised and not all were answered…until now. Click here to see “Selena’s Secret” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Selena – starring Jennifer Lopez
In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla (Jennifer Lopez) is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham (Edward James Olmos), realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues.
She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez (Jon Seda), who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.
Dreaming: A Tribute To Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Click to see “ Dreaming” and help bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Dreaming brings together lyrical renditions, little boys dancing “the washing machine,” prayers over velas, and odes to purple, sparkly hips swaying to cumbia beats.
There’s thirty-three works of poetry, prose, and fiction on these pages that provide such narratives: “For Selena” by Timothy Daily-Valdés, “One of Us: Selena Quintanilla-Pérez” by Nancy de la Zerda, “La Milagrosa Selena” by Rubén Degollado and plenty more pieces showing the world the impact she continues to make on the dance floor and across generations.
Click to see “ Dreaming” and help Independent Bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
Just as Taylor Swift’s last album, “Folklore” felt like it was released out of thin air, only hours after it was announced, the artist is at it again. Her next album, which she announced today, titled “Evermore” will be arriving to eager fans with lightning speed, on Friday, December 11. Swift describes her upcoming album release as “Folklore’s sister record”.
I’m elated to tell you that my 9th studio album, and folklore’s sister record, will be out tonight at midnight eastern. It’s called evermore. 📷: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/xdej7AzJRW
The surprise release will come just shy of Taylor’s 31st birthday on December 13th, a little pre-birthday gift for her fans, she said:
“Ever since I was 13, I’ve been excited about turning 31 because it’s my lucky number backwards, which is why I wanted to surprise you with this now. You’ve all been so caring, supportive and thoughtful on my birthdays and so this time I thought I would give you something!”
-Taylor swift / twitter
The album features Folklore collaborators Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and The National, as well as a song with Haim. Also at midnight, Taylor will be releasing a music video for her first song on the album titled “Willow”.
There are 15 tracks to the standard edition of the “Evermore” album, if you get the deluxe physical edition, it will include 2 additional bonus tracks.
Company testing the waters with video stories for some playlists
Spotify will join in with the growing number of apps that give users access to short video content, at least in a limited capacity initially. What is interesting is, Spotify doesn’t immediately jump out as the type of app that one would have any use for the stories style feature, which are obviously more common among social networking sites, yet it will be interesting to see how its stories feature evolve over time.
Videos, which I will dub “Stories” for the purposes of online videos, have become such a popular feature nowadays and it’s easy to see why. Not only do video stories visually grab people’s attention, the medium can also be interactive, engaging and even create meaningful emotional responses from the images.
Reviewing the number of apps that have a type of stories feature has been growing over the years, it seems like almost all the apps have jumped on the bandwagon. Initially brought about by Snapchat, bigger social media platform likes Instagram and Facebook quickly followed to put its own spin with “Stories” which has become well established features of the app.
Twitter, this month launched its own version called “Fleets”. Fleets are akin to Instagram Stories, in that they are available, given the name, for only 24 hours to share whatever momentary (fleeting) thoughts, feelings, ect.
Other, perhaps lesser known apps that have stories include LinkedIn (just learned that one!) and Pinterest with “Story Pins” that have a PowerPoint like quality that allow a combination of video, images and texts.
TikTok, exclusively known for videos and its classic 60-second limit posts understands the power of video posts and is reportedly experimenting with extending TikToks that can be as long as three minutes.
Currently within Spotify, the stories feature will only be available for a limited number of playlists and albums (as the feature is only just begun its roll out). Once you find a playlist that have the feature, for example we choose the Christmas Hit playlist, you’ll see “tap to see the story” and be able to view video snippets from various major artists.
2020 Wrapped – Chronicles your music chooses from throughout the year
As the end of the year nears, the 2020 version of Spotify Wrapped is now live and available for users to find their curated playlists. Accessible on your app, mobile browser or a desktop. With nearly 286 million users and 130 million subscribers, the Wrapped feature is a neat way to reflect on your music and “wrap” up the end of year.
If you don’t yet know what Spotify Wrapped is or the importance of it, it is the annual feature that compiles your yearlong listening history and then creates a truly customized and personalized playlists of what you have listened to the most over the year.
In addition to creating the top 100 tracks you’ve most listened to for the year of 2020, you can also view stats of just how much you played the same songs. The stats can be either enlightening or further solidify what you already know about your taste in music.
For me, I already knew, but visually seeing my love of Billie Eilish, 80’s pop and 90’s alternative is kinda entertaining. You’ll will also be able to see “Missed Hits” and “On Record” which will combine a mixture of songs, artists and podcasts you might like but have not yet listened to.
Even if you aren’t a subscriber to Spotify and want to get data on what the most popular artists and podcasts were for the year, you can by clicking here. We learned the most streamed song of 2020 was by The Weekend for his song “Blinding Lights”.
As part of the Wrapped look back on 2020, Spotify also ranked the top podcasts, with “Joe Rogan Experience” at the top, followed by “TED Talks Daily” and “New York Times The Daily”. The company’s $100 million acquisition with the podcast creation software Anchor definitely paid off, as this year, an isolated one for many because of the pandemic, contributed to more than 1 million podcast shows in the Spotify catalog for 2020.
If you do not use Spotify, fear not, Apple also has its own version of Wrapped, called Replay that was launch November 2019. You will need your Apple ID that you use for your Apple Music subscription, and you will see, just as with Spotify, a comprehensive look at your top played tracks for 2020. Once logged in click on “Get Your Replay Mix” button to see “Replay 2020”.
There is also the option to look at previous years, if you are in a nostalgic mood and want to see how (if any) your musical tastes and choose in music has evolved.
Something a little different is you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to access Apple Replay, you can listen to your mix at any point in the year given you’ve listened to enough music (as the mix is updated on a weekly basis).
During her annual interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Billie Eilish explained her and brother / collaborator, Finneas have been recording a new batch of songs: “Right now I have 16. We’ve been working. And I love them all.”
The Eilish siblings, who like the most of us have been forced to stay at home, have taken that time to get their creative juices flowing.
In addition to playing around and creating hilarious TikTok content, the duo have pumped them out; song after song.
During the interview, she describes their joint creative stamina and how it is at a peak; “I think Finneas and I have just seriously really gotten in the groove. We do it so fast.”
Last month, the singer shared her newest single “Therefore I am” and performed it live for the first time during the American Music Awards (AMAs).
Eilish has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards for “Everything I Wanted”, including Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year.
