#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:
Singer Grimes made a cameo and was present alongside partner Elon Musk on the recent Saturday Night Live episode. The artist posted photos taken backstage, including with musical guest Miley Cyrus, a few days later, adding that she was recently hospitalized due to a panic attack.
This isn’t the first time Grimes has been open and shared information about her mental health issues, explaining in a 2012 interview she struggled with bad social anxiety and sometimes experienced panic attacks.
Grimes played Princess Peach in a Super Mario type themed sketch. It was also revealed the two went to a crypto-themed after party. Its not exactly clear if social anxiety or other factors played into those situations.
The artist also posted the following on her Instagram page:
Forgot to post these cuz I somehow caused myself to have a panic attack and went to the hospital yesterday which tbh was quite scary and I suppose it’s a good time to start therapy 😑😑😑. But nonetheless – wowwwww @mileycyrus is good live and so chill! So grateful to the SNL team for being so kind and letting me sneak in as princess peach snd so proud of my beautiful E (which I know will upset the grimes fans so I apologize in advance) but he killed it
National Alliance on Mental Health
Grimes sharing her struggles only helps to highlight the reality that millions of Americans face daily with mental health issues. The month of May also happens to be mental health awareness month. Now you are not alone. If you are struggling and need support. The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., ET. 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
Sometimes it seems like the truth is hidden. Not just hidden but deliberately withheld while obfuscation and misdirection are everywhere. If you want to learn about how to survive, how to live and prosper, more and more it feels like the superficial sources (including “free” online articles) are pushing an agenda.
And don’t even think about social media – we all know where the interests of Facebook lie. In fitness they call it “no pain – no gain” and the mental equivalent of that is reading. Not that it has to be painful! Quite the contrary. But it is the act of digging deeper, of passing over the fist 50 google search results, or, hell, switching to a different engine, it’s the extra effort that often reveals the gold.
Based on all of the above it only makes sense to put together a list of new, hot and meaningful books you may not have seen. With so much going on in all our lives, even the proven authors and the clearly fascinating can escape our notice. Accordingly, with the help of descriptions by Bookshop.org and the various publishers, below a selection of the cream of the current crop, along with options showing where they can be procured…
So if you are a beginner an intermediate or even advanced learner that wants to know more, these are the best books to really dig into the phenomena and explosion of information and viewpoints. To make it easier they are featured front and center, below, along with descriptions, provided courtesy of the Bookshop (and the various publishers), and with some links for a variety of options of where to purchase.
Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis’s taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The characters you will meet in these pages are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A thirteen-year-old girl’s science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worm’s-eye view to see what the CDC misses, and reveals great truths about American society.
A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, world-class labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flu…everything, that is, except official permission to implement their work.
Michael Lewis is not shy about calling these people heroes for their refusal to follow directives that they know to be based on misinformation and bad science. Even the internet, as crucial as it is to their exchange of ideas, poses a risk to them. They never know for sure who else might be listening in.
The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War
In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history. Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists, the “Bomber Mafia,” asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?
In contrast, the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay, whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives, but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion. In The Bomber Mafia, Gladwell asks, “Was it worth it?” Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge.
Hansell believed in precision bombing, but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam, LeMay emerged victorious, leading to the darkest night of World War II. The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war.
Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. With distinctive visual flare and darkly poignant lyrics that are unparalleled among music icons of the 21st century, Billie is a musician who stands out from the crowd. Between her record-shattering award-winning music and her uncompromising and unapologetic attitude, it’s no surprise that her fanbase continues to grow by millions month after month. She is that rare combination of wildly popular and highly respected for her prodigious talent, a once in a generation superstar. Now in this stunning visual narrative journey through her life, she is ready to share more with her devoted audience for the first time, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos.
This gorgeous book will capture the essence of Billie inside and out, offering readers personal glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more. A must-have for any fan.
The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale–from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.
Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together. John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.
From preeminent math personality and author of The Joy of x, a brilliant and endlessly appealing explanation of calculus–how it works and why it makes our lives immeasurably better.
Without calculus, we wouldn’t have cell phones, TV, GPS, or ultrasound. We wouldn’t have unraveled DNA or discovered Neptune or figured out how to put 5,000 songs in your pocket.
Though many of us were scared away from this essential, engrossing subject in high school and college, Steven Strogatz’s brilliantly creative, down-to-earth history shows that calculus is not about complexity; it’s about simplicity. It harnesses an unreal number–infinity–to tackle real-world problems, breaking them down into easier ones and then reassembling the answers into solutions that feel miraculous.
Infinite Powers recounts how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, starting with its first glimmers in ancient Greece and bringing us right up to the discovery of gravitational waves (a phenomenon predicted by calculus). Strogatz reveals how this form of math rose to the challenges of each age: how to determine the area of a circle with only sand and a stick; how to explain why Mars goes “backwards” sometimes; how to make electricity with magnets; how to ensure your rocket doesn’t miss the moon; how to turn the tide in the fight against AIDS.
As Strogatz proves, calculus is truly the language of the universe. By unveiling the principles of that language, Infinite Powers makes us marvel at the world anew.
Eric Ripert is the chef and co-owner of the acclaimed restaurant Le Bernardin, and the winner of countless Michelin stars, well known for his exquisite, clean, seafood-centered cuisine. But lately, Ripert has found himself reaching for vegetables as his main food source–and doing so, as is his habit, with great intent and care. In Vegetable Simple, Ripert turns his singular culinary imagination to vegetables: their beauty, their earthiness, their nourishing qualities, and the many ways they can be prepared.
From vibrant Sweet Pea Soup to Fava Bean and Mint Salad, from warming Mushroom Bolognese to Roasted Carrots with Harissa, Eric Ripert articulates a vision for vegetables that are prepared simply, without complex steps or ingredients, allowing their essential qualities to shine and their color and flavor to remain uncompromised. Complete with gorgeous photos by renowned photographer Nigel Parry, this is a necessary guide for the way we eat today.
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.
The plan for TikTok’s American operations to Oracle and Walmart has been delayed, most likely indefinitely. According to WSJ, in a recent court filing, the Biden admin has begun to review whether there are threats to national security as claimed by the Trump administration that would warrant the ban.
Representative of ByteDance (TikTok’s owner) and US National security are in discussions regarding data security and preventions on American data being accessed by Chinese government.
“We plan to develop a comprehensive approach to securing U.S. data that addresses the full range of threats we face,” National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said. “This includes the risk posed by Chinese apps and other software that operate in the U.S. In the coming months, we expect to review specific cases in light of a comprehensive understanding of the risks we face.”
The revenge campaigned, couched in some kind of theory that China would use the platform to spy on, or gather and maliciously use the data of, U.S. citizens, was also, in a monumental coincidence, a reaction to K-pop fans sabotaging his campaign rally in Tulsa, OK, by using the platform.
Hilariously, after Trump and the then campaign chair, Brad Parscale, bragged at the projected 19,000 sold-out attendance, the venue was shown in numerous photos and videos as nearly empty. The TikTok mob had ordered thousands of tickets, which were free online, for reserved seats, causing the organizers to assume that the rally would have full attendance.
Naturally the TikTok gang only wanted to embarrass the campaign and did a fantastic job. In retrospect this was the beginning of the end of Brad Parscale as Trumps main guy and, one could almost say, of Trump’s re-election campaign itself, as things generally went downhill from there.
Carone claims she wants to bring back “conservative values”
Even if you don’t know the name Mellissa Carone, most that have social media or watched any television will be able to recall the image or the likeness to this woman.
Back in December of 2020, Carone, almost instantly became a parody when she appeared alongside Rudy Giuliani during an Oversight hearing. Videos from SNL, TikTok and even Amy Schumer popped up, with the main selling point that she appeared drunk, some coining her the “wine lady” or “drunk lady”.
Mellissa Carone is making news again, as the 33 year old Republican is reportedly going to run for the 46th District seat, according to a recent filing with Michigan Secretary of State’s office.
She also criticized Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the state’s three top Democrats. Michigan needs “conservative values” back, Carone said.
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.
If you like winning, this is your chance to do it, over and over and over…
Never before has a presidential candidate won his election so many times. Never before has a loser found so many ridiculous ways to avoid conceding to the winner. Of course, it is the very fact that a loser has brazenly lied and fabricated nonsense reasons and accusations to contest at every opportunity that has created the possibility for Biden to win, again and again.
First, Joe Biden won what appeared to be a relatively narrow victory on election day with enough confirmed electoral votes, along with a lead in enough other states to create an impossibility for Trump to get to 270, the margin of votes needed to prevail.
Next Biden was declared winner in states which had held back in declaring a projected winner. Then the re-counts, court challenges and and final tallies commenced.
Pennsylvania gave him a win. That was a big win and he became President-elect. Then the Georgia re-count was another time to celebrate his victory. And Arizona, a state he flipped for the first time since 1996, and before that a Republican won there since 1948.
So, get ready everyone, on December 14th there will be another win for Joe Biden. Tired of winning yet?
In the end Biden will have, barring any absolutely and totally unlikely changes, 306 electoral votes. “A landslide” according to Trump when it was his exact winning number. Of course he did not get more than 80 million popular votes, or vanquish his opponent by more than 6 million. That’s only another unique and first in all history – big big win for Biden.
Trump lost the popular vote by 2.9 million votes in 2016.
A comet, a meteor shower and a total eclipse of the sun (visible in some parts of the Earth) will all occur on December 14th. It also will be the final deadline for the Electoral College to officially confirm Joe Biden as President-elect. Are the stars, planets and even meteors in our solar system feeling like celebrating?
Florida is the only one of the four most populous states that has, as of yet, already been certified. Early in December was the deadline for the other large ones: California, Texas and New York. None of them were ever in doubt, of course.
Talk of “faithless electors” being put into action by Trump is becoming les and less likely by the day. Not 100% off the table but around 99.9999% not gonna happen.
I wonder if Trump is tired of losing yet? Gas-up the private jet. Moscow’s waiting.
Electoral College meets on Dec. 14, and all states must be certified before that, while any challenges to the results must have been resolved by Dec. 8.
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.
Rudy Giuliani’s “star” witness brings about all the LOLs
Late night hosts: Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel all weighed in on the very absurd testimony given in Michigan. No one knew the name Melissa Carone before Dec. 1, but the now viral videos will undoubtedly be turned into memes and SNL sketches very soon.
Still not convinced this isn’t a SNL character. (A judge previously declared this Trump supporter /freelance contract IT worker’s testimony “simply not credible.”) pic.twitter.com/ptsN665A0T
Carone’s Testimony on the alleged Voter Fraud is like as kit from out of ‘SNL’
Even if Rudy Giuliani will retire from all the recent comedy he has provided, the baton has been passed Ms. Carone. With her “talent” and flair for the dramatics, we can all look forward to many more years of comedic rants from this oversight committee hearing.
It’s hard not to immediately compare the insanity that was called a testimony and not compare it to performances on “Saturday Night Live”. Specifically like the above video that hilariously showcases Cecily Strong’s drunk girl character.
Rudy Giuliani’s “star” witness brings about all the LOLs
Late night hosts: Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel all weighed in on the very absurd testimony given in Michigan. No one knew the name Melissa Carone before Dec. 1, but the now viral videos will undoubtedly be turned into memes and SNL sketches very soon.
Still not convinced this isn’t a SNL character. (A judge previously declared this Trump supporter /freelance contract IT worker’s testimony “simply not credible.”) pic.twitter.com/ptsN665A0T
Carone’s Testimony on the alleged Voter Fraud is like as kit from out of ‘SNL’
Even if Rudy Giuliani will retire from all the recent comedy he has provided, the baton has been passed Ms. Carone. With her “talent” and flair for the dramatics, we can all look forward to many more years of comedic rants from this oversight committee hearing.
It’s hard not to immediately compare the insanity that was called a testimony and not compare it to performances on “Saturday Night Live”. Specifically like the above video that hilariously showcases Cecily Strong’s drunk girl character.
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).
Above: Photo from “Happiest Season / Courtesy of Hulu
Praise for Stewart in first “Out and Proud” Christmas movie
Around this time of year, there are usually a handful of beloved holiday movies like “Home Alone, “Family Stone” and many more. Today, a new Christmas romantic comedy has dropped, “Happiness Season” just in time for the long 4 day Thanksgiving holiday. This film is a little unique in that the focus centers around two lesbian women.
The now streaming movie was originally meant for a theatrical release, yet due to the current climate, found its way to the Hulu streaming platform.
Kristen Stewart (in real life openly gay) plays Abby and Mackenzie Davis plays Harper, a happy couple, whose relationship is put to the test. Harper invites Abby back to her parents for the holidays. Only during the drive is it revealed that her family doesn’t know she is gay and hasn’t yet come out to anyone in the family. Abby has to pose as a straight friend. Bonus, the hilarious Dan Levy, plays John, Abby’s best friend.
“it’s really nice to watch a movie that you get to completely rid yourself of that [feeling] knowing that you can laugh at that experience and that catharsis knowing that what you’re getting is an earned happiness. You get to laugh at these weird fears of saying the wrong thing around someone’s family or not being able to lie very well so maybe they’ll know I’m gay.”
-Kristen Stewart
Director Clea DuVall, who is openly out herself, commented on the film, “I love Christmas movies but I had never really seen myself represented in one before”. Her take away goal was “wanting to feel like I was seeing me in a movie like this, which I had never seen before. And my experience is not unique. I’m not the only one going through it. So there has to be a lot of other people who are also feeling underrepresented.”
'Twas the night before #HappiestSeason, when all through the house, We're gathering our chosen family, or even a spouse, We wrapped the opening credits up nicely just for you, To tell you our movie is now streaming, only on @hulu! pic.twitter.com/4ck1oHKYo6
The nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards were unveiled on Tuesday, November 24, by the N.A.R.A.S. a.k.a. The Recording Academy .
In keeping with the 2020 tradition of “distanced” productions Dua Lipa, Sharon Osbourne, Imogen Heap, Mickey Guyton and Lauren Daigle announced the nominations for the 2021 Grammys from various remote feed locations with an asset by the academy’s chair and interim president/CEO, Harvey Mason Jr.
BTS, the boy band, has received its first Grammy nomination, making history of becoming the first K-Pop group to break into a major category. The group’s official Twitter account posted a video of some of the members reacting to their historic nomination.
Scroll down to see the full list of nominations as they come in, and tune in to the 2021 Grammy Awards on CBS Sunday, January 31, at 8 p.m. ET.
Here Are The Nominations For The 2021 Grammy Awards
Beyoncé leads with nine nominations, while Megan Thee Stallion nabbed her first Grammy nods ever. The two also shared three nominations for their “Savage” remix.
Record of the Year
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Rockstar,” DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Say So,” Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Circles,” Post Malone
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
Album of the Year
From left: Este Haim, Danielle Haim, and Alana Haim
Chilombo, Jhené Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition), Black Pumas
Everyday Life, Coldplay
Djesse Vol. 3, Jacob Collier
Women in Music Pt. III, Haim
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding, Post Malone
Folklore, Taylor Swift
Song of the Year
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“The Box,” Roddy Ricch
“Cardigan,” Taylor Swift
“Circles,” Post Malone
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“I Can’t Breathe,” H.E.R.
“If the World Was Ending,” JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Yummy,” Justin Bieber
“Say So,” Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles
“Cardigan,” Taylor Swift
Best Pop Vocal Album
Changes, Justin Bieber
Chromatica, Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Fine Line, Harry Styles
Folklore, Taylor Swift
Best Rap Album
Black Habits, D Smoke
Alfredo, Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist
A Written Testimony, Jay Electronica
King’s Disease, Nas
The Allegory, Royce da 5’9″
Best Country Album
Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Never Will, Ashley McBryde
Best Country Song
From left: Geoff Sprung, Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi, and Whit Sellers of Old Dominion.
“Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert
“The Bones,” Maren Morris
“Crowded Table,” the Highwomen
“More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress
“Some People Do,” Old Dominion
Best R&B Performance
“Lightning & Thunder,” Jhené Aiko feat. John Legend
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“All I Need,” Jacob Collier feat. Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head,” Brittany Howard
“See Me,” Emily King
Best Rap Song
“The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby
“The Box,” Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later,” Drake feat. Lil Durk
“Rockstar,” DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
Best Rock Performance
“Shameika,” Fiona Apple
“Not,” Big Thief
“Kyoto,” Phoebe Bridgers
“The Steps,” Haim
“Stay High,” Brittany Howard
“Daylight,” Grace Potter
Best Progressive R&B Album
Chilombo, Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour, Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals, Free Nationals
Fuck Yo Feelings, Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is, Thundercat
Best Alternative Album
Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple
Hyperspace, Beck
Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers
Jaime, Brittany Howard
The Slow Rush, Tame Impala
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Un Dia (One Day),” J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Tainy
Above: Video of CBS This Morning – Photo Collage / Lynxotic
Daily Show funny man will bring his many talents to the big show for Music excellence
Trevor Noah, host of “The Daily Show” has been announced as emcee of the 2021 Grammys.
The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, on the CBS at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on GRAMMY.com at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT.
“Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the GRAMMYs ® have refused to have me sing or be nominated for best pop album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event, I think as a one-time Grammy nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award! (This is a metaphorical shoulder, I’m not trying to catch Corona). See you at the 63rd Grammys!
Sleuthing Swifties discover surprise Easter egg on social media
Taylor Swift delighted fans everywhere with a seemingly out of the blue announcement of her latest project. The concert film will be available exclusively on Disney+ streaming platform.
Taylor took to her social media to send a cryptic message, her notorious easter egg “Not a lot going on at the moment”. Fans quickly figured out that the artist used the same caption when she was working on the album ‘Folklore’ and knew that big news was brewing.
The news comes after even more good news for the 10-time Grammy Award winner; at the 2020 American Music Awards, Taylor took home three awards: Artist of the Year, Favorite Music Video of the Year (for her No. 1 song “Cardigan) and Favorite Female Artist in Pop/Rock category.
The film was shot in September 2020 at the upstate New York studio, ‘The Long Pond’ alongside Swift’s co-producers Aaron Dessner (The National) and Jack Antonoff (Bleachers). Justin Vernon of Bon Iver made a guest appearance purportedly to perform in a duet for the song “Exile” (her upcoming single).
“There’s something about the complete and total uncertainty of life. If we’re going to have to recalibrate everything, we should start with what we love the most first,” Swift says. “It’s an album that allows you to feel your feelings and it’s a product of isolation.”
The three musicians secretly filmed the performances using a robotic camera in order to adhere to covid-19 guidelines.
The intimate “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions” will premiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at midnight.
Announcement dropped on 10th Anniversary of ‘ Pink Friday’
Nicki Minaj (Onika Tanya Maraj ) has struck a deal with HBO Max, which will consist of 6 half-hour episodes of the docu-series for the streaming platform.
The news came on the 10th Anniversary of her album “Pink Friday”.
The series is set to follow Minaj’s life, letting fans explore both her personal and professional life, highlighting her accomplishments in the rap genre. The series name remains untitled.
The rapper, posted on her social media account, alongside the short clip above, she wrote: ““I am beyond grateful & excited to share this news with you guys today. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have #HBOMAX on board to help me tell my story in this delicate & memorable way. A way that my fans will love forever. This doc is next level.
I can promise you that. ? Follow @hbomax @hbomaxpop & @bronstudios to get the updates you’ll need. Love you. #NickiMinajHBOMAX ITS GOIN DOWN!!!! BASEMENT!!!!!”
“Nicki Minaj is a multi-faceted artist, businesswoman, and innovator as well as force to be reckoned with. It’s a privilege to bring this project to HBO Max and provide our viewers with unprecedented access to her life,”
-Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max
The project will be directed by Michael John Warren, who has worked with Minaj in the past as well as other rappers, including Jay-Z’s “Fade to Black” movie back in 2004.
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Trump’s attempt to enlist entertainers for taxpayer funded propaganda program fails spectacularly
Lately, the Trump Administration has been looking for a celebrity to be the face of its new COVID-19 PSA campaign. Well, kind of. While the $265 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign is supposed to raise coronavirus awareness, the White House has unsubtly been twisting it into an explicit Trump promotion.
According to U.S. Heath and Human Services Secretary Michael Caputo, the theoretically non-partisan campaign’s message is “Helping The President Will Help The Country.” Interestingly, this whole fiasco arrives just days before the 2020 Presidential Election, where Trump is behind in the polls.
Regardless of the hidden meaning behind the campaign—or perhaps directly because of it—the Administration has had trouble finding a suitable face for the ads. According to documents that Democratic lawmakers revealed to the Washington Post, the Administration went down a list of 247 celebs considered for the PSAs, but hardly any of them fit the bill.
Notes from the documents suggest a strict pro-Republican criteria for the job. Behavior that disqualified celebrities included if they had ever been critical of Trump, if they ever expressed support for Barak Obama, and if they ever supported gay marriage or LBGTQ+ rights. Unsurprisingly, these stipulations left options rather thin.
Names on the list included comedians Judd Apatow and George Lopez (both disqualified for expressing anti-Trump sentiments); singers Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Justin Timberlake (all ruled out for endorsing Obama and championing gay rights); actress Jennifer Lopez (eliminated for her so-called radical Super Bowl halftime show); and actors Johnny Depp and Jack Black (both excluded for simply aligning with the American left).
The name on the list that met the most scathing response was probably singer/songwriter Billie Eilish. Notes on the eighteen-year old celebrity recount that she “Made a political statement on gun control in 2019; will be a first time voter in 2020; not a Trump supporter, stated he ‘is destroying our country and everything we care about.'”
Of the 247 names initially listed, only ten survived the President’s elimination process— Dennis Quaid, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks, Dwyane Wade, Dr. Mehmet Oz, CeCe Winans, and Shulem Lemmer.
There are also a number of celebrities listed as “pending” or “declined.” Among the latter are Dwayne Johnson, Selena Gomez, and Sandra Oh.
Trump Train about to Derail or will Celebs like Lil Wayne & Kanye come to the Rescue
These slim pickings show that Trump does not garner the strongest support (or any) from American entertainers. In addition to all of the listed names considered and rejected for this campaign, there are many more celebrities who have publically denounced the POTUS, several of whom were formerly apolitical or even republicans (Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger) before the current term.
Not all celebrities are steadfastly anti-Trump, though. The President has actually found support in some unlikely places. Because of Trump’s recent Platinum Plan to assist black Americans, he has created seemingly positive relations with rappers such as Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, 50 Cent, and Lil Pump. It’s unclear if any of these recognizable names actually endorse Trump, but they’ve all shown degrees of support via social media.
Trump doesn’t have all rappers on board, though. Kanye West retracted his longstanding support for the President when he decided to run for the office himself this year. Meanwhile, when rapper Lil John was solicited to support Trump on Twitter, he responded bluntly:
Evidently, while there are some exceptions, few recognizable entertainers fully support the President. Ironically, Donald Trump himself has a strong background in entertainment— perhaps boasting the most show business-savvy resume of any President since Reagan.
However, while Reagan was an accomplished actor and later President of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Trump was more of a crude businessman slapped before the camera for a reality TV paycheck.
Entertainers carry a lot of influence. Unfortunately, Trump has struggled to win the hearts of such influencers. In fact, many of them are now using that very influence against him.
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Apple will revive and improve the past with non-stop music
In the 1980s and 90s, MTV and VH1 dominated television sets, bringing the novel concept of music videos to new heights. Today, those channels have gone in different directions, shifting their attentions towards reality television to near-humorous degrees. Meanwhile, like many forms of entertainment in the twenty-first century, music videos have been siphoned off to the Internet, finding homes on YouTube, Vevo, and Facebook.
Now Apple is trying to get in on and rekindle the music video action with a new project that feels both retro and advanced all at the same time.
Apple Music TV launched in the United States on October 19th, offering a twenty-four hour live stream of music videos and other music related content such as interviews, concert footage, and more. This is far from Apple’s first leap into the music industry, as it launched Apple Music and Apple Music 1 (formerly Beats 1) in 2015— not to mention that the tech company was once synonymous with iTunes and the iPod. However, Apple Music TV is the company’s first deep dive into music videos.
Introducing Apple Music TV: a free 24-hour curated livestream of videos including exclusive music video premieres, live shows and events plus more.
In many ways, Apple Music TV emulates old school outlets like MTV and VH1, as it streams content constantly like a visual radio station. Unlike its ancestral predecessors, though, it does not have advertisements (for now) and its accessibility is not tethered to a cable subscription. Instead, users access Apple Music TV through the AppleTV app, which already comes with most smart TVs.
Given the declining popularity of music videos over the past few decades, one must question whether or not Apple Music TV is a worthwhile investment for the company. Apple has recently put a lot of its eggs into the streaming basket, launching Apple TV+ in 2019 and emphasizing its new status as an entertainment conglomerate with the AppleOne bundle. The company has also gotten experimental on the streaming front with innovations like the Apple Fitness+ exercise app.
Exclusive video premieres, music documentaries and much more in store for Apple Music
In today’s age, a music video-focused channel is yet another daring outing for Apple. As aforementioned, though, Apple has some deep roots in music, and therefore goes into this world with a bit of preexisting infrastructure.
For example, Apple Music produces its own music, which Apple Music TV can help promote. The same concept applies to Apple’s radio stations like Apple Music 1, Apple Music Country, and Apple Music Hits. They can all work in tandem to raise Apple’s bar across all musical platforms.
Furthermore, although music television has been around for decades, the industry is ongoing. Apple Music TV aims to find new ways to celebrate and cover it. On Fridays, for example, the channel will focus on new releases, airing never-before-seen videos. This week, it will debut the music videos for Joji’s “777” and Saint Jhn’s “Gorgeous.”
Likewise, on Thursday, the channel will narrow in on Bruce Springsteen, playing videos both old and new, plus interviews and fan events, to promote The Boss’ new album “Letters To You.” These are the kind of special events that the channel will celebrate and distinguish itself through.
Such is the win-win nature of Apple Music TV— for every piece of new content, there is a backlog of old material; and for everything that is outmoded, there is always something cutting edge on the horizon. Evidently, even in today’s age, there is more than enough material to keep a music-streaming channel fresh and relevant.
Luckily, Apple also has enough name brand recognition to televise events and promote content for some highly influential artists. This reputation for quality and appeal might be Apple Music TV’s greatest tool in trying to resurrect a bygone kind of television.
At the end of 2019, emo band and punk rock phenomena of the early 2000s, My Chemical Romance (MCR), finally returned for their first show since they broke up seven years ago. Even though the band’s breakup seemed final in 2013, the quartet of rockers announced last Halloween that they were reuniting for a single show at Los Angeles’s Shrine Expo Hall on December 20th.
The announcement was met with immense delight from MCR fans—“Killjoys” as they are called—everywhere, and people came from all around the globe to fill the Shrine on 2019’s final day of autumn. However, because the Expo Hall only seats 6,800 people and MCR has millions of followers worldwide, tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, and resale offers cost over $1000, leaving many Killjoys empty handed and praying for the band to announce more shows.
For a while it seemed as if MCR was only going to play the one gig in LA, but they eventually announced their attendance at festivals in Australia and Japan. Then, in early 2020, they announced a couple of UK shows. Fans sat on the edge of their seats in anticipation of a tour, as the band released a number of mysterious, yet hinting videos.
Finally, the band broke the tension and officially announced a tour on January 29th, offering shows all around the United States throughout 2020 for the first time in nine years. Like the single show at the Expo Hall, the tickets went quickly—every show on the tour sold out within the first day—but given that there are more opportunities to see MCR this time around, resale prices are far more reasonably priced.
When MCR broke up, it devastated members of the emo community. Their return has thus lifted the spirits of many, and it comes at a time when the world could admittedly use a bit of unapologetic, head banging, black-hearted jams.
Emo emerged as a music genre at the turn of the millennium. It grew out of the 1990s’ post-grunge and alternative crazes, mixing in a touch of old school punk, hardcore metal, and screamo as well. Confessional lyrics, emotional emphasis, and an adolescent sense of anxiety defined emo’s sound—it was the perfect fit for a generation of kids raised in the post-9/11 era of fear and insecurity.
Bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy, and of course, My Chemical Romance brought emo to the foreground in the early 2000s. My Chemical Romance even formed after lead singer Gerard Way witnessed the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City firsthand.
Moreover, emo aesthetic, donned by the performers and endorsed by the fans, reflected the genre’s sentiments, often incorporating black clothes, skinny jeans, eyeliner, piercings, and an overall goth(ic) look. Unlike punk rock’s flat out subversion of semantics through unconventional or misused attire and sound, emo embraced its paradoxes, creating a proudly strange subculture of misfits and outcasts.
So why are we seeing an emo resurgence now? And more importantly, why is emo a healthy thing to bring back in today’s day and age? After all, it is not just MCR that is coming back. Rage Against The Machine also came back after an eight year hiatus in late 2019 and are now beginning a 2020 tour. Blink-182 released a new album last year, as did Jimmy Eat World. Green Day, Weezer, and Fall Out Boy also came out with new songs, and that trifecta will be headlining the Hella Mega Tour together throughout 2020.
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Certainly a lot has changed in music, politics, and culture since emo was last in the mainstream almost two decades ago. Pop/rap music has taken over, and infectious beats top the charts more often than shredding guitar solos. However, with all of these bands coming back and new groups gaining popularity from the underground (The Wonder Years, Seaway, The Interrupters, etc.), we are starting to hear emo make a comeback on the radio.
Part of this is definitely due to nostalgia. Now that we are twenty years into the 2000s, bands that dominated the Billboard at the turn of the millennium are garnering a retro-appeal and are even getting played on classic rock stations. Likewise, fans of emo have grown up, giving the genre wider legitimacy and some even starting their own bands with emo inspiration.
However, there is more to emo’s resurgence than just whimsical delight. As aforementioned, emo came about during a politically tumultuous time in America, when war, fear, and unsavory media coverage troubled the national consciousness. The parallels between that time and now are unfortunately palpable. Buzz terms like “Fake News,” “Post-Truth,” and even “World War Three” have somehow become inescapable in 2020. Maybe this complicated rhetoric begs us to turn up our stereos, block out the toxicity, and rejoice/rebel in a noise that bleeds defiance.
On a happier note, though, emo’s resurrection could also come from a place of cultural evolution on the right side of history. Beneath emo’s forward sentiments of anger and frustration, the genre has always had an underlying element of acceptance and respect for those who do not fit in. Since the 90s and early 2000, America (and the world) has made quiet strides in civil liberties. Although administrations and policies do not always reflect these collective progresses, societal movements and campaigns have effectively given greater voices to conventionally silenced, overlooked, or scrutinized parts of the population.
This is not to say that everything is perfect, and the relationship may seem abstract, but maybe emo’s return is simultaneously a latent celebration, for the outsiders that found rare solace in this music nearly twenty years ago can now listen to it unashamedly, fearlessly, and thankfully… without anger or anxiety, but with love and increasing comfort in their hearts.
“welcome to the black parade” – my chemical romance (mcr)
In the band’s first twelve years of existence before the recent reunion, My Chemical Romance released four albums. The first, 2002’s “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love” focused on feelings of fear. The second, the platinum “Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge,” switched over to an emphasis on anger. The third, the 2006 sensation (and often referred to as the band’s magnum opus) “The Black Parade” told audiences that it’s okay to be afraid. Then, their final album, the 2010 “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys” offered a moving collection of quasi-dystopian narrative songs about growing up, departing, and finally, saying goodbye.
As of right now, MCR has not commented on weather or not they will return to the studio alongside their reunion on stage. However, given their trend of thematically relevant albums so far, perhaps their next album will be one that centers on contentedness, happiness, and gratefulness, something that MCR, loyal Killjoys, and emo fans everywhere are feeling in abundance nowadays, for reasons that encompass and extend far beyond the music.
![My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade [Official Music Video] [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RRKJiM9Njr8/hqdefault.jpg)