Tag: Pink

Sinéad O’Connor death: Grief and anger shared over Irish singer’s passing – National | Globalnews.ca
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Some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities are paying tribute to the late Irish singer and songwriter Sinéad O’Connor, who died Wednesday.

Pink and Brandi Carlile

Following news of O’Connor’s death on Wednesday, singers Pink and Brandi Carlile performed a heartwarming rendition of O’Connor’s hit song Nothing Compares 2 U on stage in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“When I was a little girl, my mom grew up in Atlantic City and I used to go down to the Ocean City Boardwalk with my $10 and I would make a demo tape,” Pink told the crowd. “It would always be either Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston or Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O’Connor.”

Pink asked Carlile to come onto the stage to perform Nothing Compares 2 U as a duet.

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Pink just paid tribute to Sinead O’Connor and it was so beautiful, it made me cry pic.twitter.com/CXQO1TGBid

— karen (@KarenBoston) July 27, 2023

Billboard reported numerous fans in the venue cried while Pink and Carlile crooned the iconic ballad.

Pink is currently performing as part of her North American Summer Carnival 2023 tour, with Carlile as her supporting act.

Russell Crowe

Actor Russell Crowe also shared a tribute to O’Connor.

In a long, reverent statement, Crowe recounted the first time he met the Irish singer.

“Last year, working in Ireland, having a pint in the cold outside a Dalkey pub with some new friends, a woman with purpose strode past us,” Crowe wrote.

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He said one of his friends chased after the woman, having recognized her as O’Connor.

and pursued the woman. Thirty metres down the road the friend and the woman embraced and he waived me over. There under streetlights with mist on my breath, I met Sinéad. She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness “ oh, it’s you Russell”.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

“She looked in my eyes, and uttered with disarming softness [sic] ‘ oh, it’s you Russell,’” he continued.

“In a conversation without fences we roamed through the recent Dublin heatwave, local politics, American politics, the ongoing fight for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine.”

for indigenous recognition in many places, but particularly in Australia, her warm memory of New Zealand, faith, music, movies and her brother the writer. I had the opportunity to tell her she was a hero of mine.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

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Crowe wrote that after their conversation, O’Connor “embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights.”

“Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad,” he concluded.

When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights.
We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman.

Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad.

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

Morrissey

The former Smiths frontman Morrissey took a different approach with his tribute.

While praising the fact that O’Connor “couldn’t be boxed-up,” Morrissey heavily criticized the press, the music industry and the public for their treatment of O’Connor, both in life and death.

In a statement posted to his website, Morrissey, whose real name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, wrote that O’Connor “became crazed, yes, but uninteresting, never.”

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“She had done nothing wrong,” he continued. “She had proud vulnerability … and there is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don’t ‘fit in’ (this I know only too well), and they are never praised until death — when, finally, they can’t answer back.”

He scolded the press for using “moronic” labels like “icon” and “legend” to describe O’Connor after her death.

“You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you,” Morrissey wrote.

He compared her death to other celebrities like Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Marilyn Monroe and Billie Holiday.

“Was this music madness worth Sinead’s life? No, it wasn’t,” he insisted. “She was harassed simply for being herself. Her eyes finally closed in search of a soul she could call her own.”

Annie Lennox

Scottish singer and songwriter Annie Lennox shared a photo of O’Connor to Twitter, now rebranded as X, where she praised O’Connor’s “exquisite artistry.”

In a poem dedicated to O’Connor, Lennox called her “raw,” “wounded” and “fearless.”

…Impulsive
Bold and beautiful
Truth teller
Singer of songs
Crazy wisdom
Power house
Shaman
Priest and Priestess
Unafraid..
May the angels hold you
In their tender arms
And give you rest
In peace…❤️ pic.twitter.com/C72hAkE58g

— Annie Lennox (@AnnieLennox) July 27, 2023

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“May the angels hold you / In their tender arms / And give you rest / In peace,” she concluded.
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Alanis Morissette

In a post to her Instagram story, the Canadian singer Alanis Morissette called O’Connor “a profound inspiration to many.”

Alanis Morissette’s Instagram story on July 26, 2023.

Instagram @alanis

“Her passion, poetry, and unapologetic expression raised the bar on artistry and female empowerment,” she wrote. “I’m feeling empathy for Ireland, for the world, and for all of us who are saddened by this news.”

Jamie Lee Curtis

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis shared a statement on Instagram discussing her admiration and respect for O’Connor.

“I once heard Sìnead sing acappella in an empty chapel in Ireland,” she wrote. “It was under construction at the private home of our host. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard in my life.”

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Curtis said she and O’Connor together attended a festival to watch Eminem perform. She described O’Connor as a “warrior” and a “rebel.”

“I loved her. Her music. Her life. She was a victim of child abuse and a huge change agent for unfair and unjust draconian laws that she helped change in Ireland,” she wrote. “She ripped up a photograph that was on her mother’s wall because of the hypocrisy of the abusive life she was raised in under the banner of the church.”

“Rest well. Rest in power. Rest in peace,” she finished.

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Singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at 56

The cause of the 56-year-old singer’s death is not yet known. On Thursday, police declared her death is not being treated as suspicious, according to the BBC.

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On Wednesday, O’Connor was reportedly found “unresponsive” in her London home and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Recognizable by her shaved head and elfin features, O’Connor began her career singing on the streets of Dublin and soon rose to international fame. She became a star after her 1987 debut album The Lion and the Cobra was released. O’Connor reached true superstardom when she released her cover of Prince’s ballad Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990, a seething, shattering performance that topped charts from Europe to Australia.

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Singer Sinéad O’Connor dies at 56

She was a lifelong non-conformist — she would say that she shaved her head in response to record executives pressuring her to be conventionally glamourous — but her political and cultural stances and troubled private life often overshadowed her music. O’Connor was also widely known for tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II while appearing live on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.

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O’Connor announced in 2018 that she had converted to Islam and would be adopting the name Shuhada’ Sadaqat — although she continued to use Sinéad O’Connor professionally.

— With files from The Associated Press
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Sarah Do Couto

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July 27, 2023
From human ashes to cellphones, what’s going on with concert fans lately?

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NEW YORK (AP) — From flinging bras to tossing flowers, concertgoers have long been a bit extra in showing adoration for their beloved artists — but a recent spate of artists being hit by weightier projectiles raises concerns about extreme fan culture and security.

Country singer Kelsea Ballerini was the latest artist to be struck by a flying object, Wednesday evening at a Boise concert. In the moment caught on video, Ballerini is playing her guitar onstage when a bracelet hits her face and she takes a step back.

Ballerini, clearly caught off guard, takes a moment before a brief intermission is called.

“Hi, i’m fine,” she later said on Instagram. “Someone threw a bracelet, it hit me in the eye and it more so just scared me than hurt me.”

Ashley Highfill, 30, was at the Idaho Botanical Garden show and said Ballerini seemed visibly upset. Highfill, who often attends concerts with her friends, said it’s become a normal occurrence to see fans throwing items onstage at concerts.

“Stuff like that can be very dangerous,” she said. “It’s disheartening to see even though there is no bad intention, people are not thinking of the consequences that these people are putting on a show.”

That same day, rapper Sexyy Red cut short her own show when fans refused to stop throwing water bottles at the stage.

Morgan Milardo, managing director of the Berklee Popular Music Institute in Boston, said some venues will have signs that say “no mosh pits” or “no crowd surfing” — but perhaps signs that explicitly say “no throwing items at the stage” now need to be added to protect artists.

“Everyone in attendance at a concert is responsible for keeping one another safe,” she said. “Concerts are supposed to offer a community where folks can come together to share in the magic of live music, not have to worry about a chicken nugget hitting them in the eyeball.”

Long gone are the days of in-person fan clubs, but social media users can join in with the Swifties or the Beyhive at any moment online or get daily updates from accounts run by or dedicated to celebrities. Social media has created a deeper sense of connection and emotional closeness for fans, said Laurel Williams, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.

That sense of closeness played out at a recent concert where one fan tossed their mother’s ashes onto the stage as Pink was performing.

“Is this your mom?” Pink asked the fan. “I don’t know how to feel about this.”

David Schmid, a pop culture expert at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, said the idea of tossing items on stage historically goes back to the etymology of the word “fan.” Short for fanatic, it was a term originally associated with religious devotion. And many tend to see celebrities “as if they are gods or at least semi-divine beings,” he said.

“From that perspective you can read the stage as a kind of altar and the objects that are thrown onto the stage as devotional objects,” Schmid said.

The role of social media has also changed the nature of the items being thrown onstage. Rather than toss a note, some are hurling heavy cellphones onstage, hoping the performer will grab it and record a moment for them. In some cases, it ends up being a dangerous grab for attention.

A man was arrested after throwing a cellphone that struck pop star Bebe Rexha in the face on June 18. According to a court criminal complaint, the man later told a third party that he hit the artist because he thought “it would be funny.” After the New York concert, Rexha shared a photo of her black eye and bandaged face to Instagram, with a thumbs up.

“Im good,” she said in the post.

“Although the show ended in an unfortunate way it was still an amazing show in my hometown,” she wrote in a subsequent post.

While female artists have been the targets this month — including singer Ava Max, who was slapped at her Los Angeles show — even male performers like Harry Styles have faced projectiles heftier than underwear. At a November 2022 concert, Styles could be seen tossing his head back in pain after he was hit in the eye by a projectile.

Mid-concert provocations from fans aren’t necessarily new: Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne notoriously bit the head off a live bat after a fan tossed it to him onstage. Some punk fans might remember the days when concertgoers would spit at artists to show appreciation.

But with such behavior seemingly becoming more mainstream, venues, promoters and artists might look to reinforce security.

Paul Wertheimer, founder of Crowd Management Strategies/Crowdsafe, said artists often have security contracts with the promoter that lists out what kind of security the artist will pay for or wants at the show. Venues can also decide to limit what can be brought inside or sold at the event space.

“You need to have proper security to protect the artist,” Wertheimer said.

After the deadly 2021 Astroworld crowd surge, protocols around safety at concerts have been called into question. With recent advancements in surveillance technology, like facial recognition and crowd monitoring with artificial intelligence, fans may no longer be able to fade into the crowd after hurling a personal item at their adored artist — even if done in jest.

“The stage is an immensely powerful place on one level but it also a place where you are extremely vulnerable,” Schmid said.

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July 3, 2023
Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke settle longstanding legal battle over rape, defamation claims

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NEW YORK (AP) — Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke have settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and defamed him, they announced Thursday, with the singer saying that “only God knows what happened that night.”

Dr. Luke, meanwhile, said he was “absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her.”

Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, as both she and he revealed on Instagram that they had agreed to “a resolution” of the case and to a statement from each of them. Messages seeking comment were sent to their attorneys.

A man who was part of a group of teenagers wrongly accused and imprisoned for the rape of a woman in Central Park has taken a commanding lead in a Democratic primary for a New York City Council seat.

A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.

Air travelers have been putting up with widespread delays all month, and it’s continuing again, as bad weather rakes the Northeast.

Spirits giant Diageo says it’s cutting ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs after the rapper and entrepreneur sued the company over allegations of racism in the handling of his liquor brands, according to a Tuesday court filing.

“I cannot recount everything that happened,” Kesha wrote, adding that she wishes “nothing but peace to all parties involved.”

Dr. Luke, in turn, said he wished her well and wanted “to put this difficult matter behind me” after years of fighting to clear his name.

The deal averts a trial that had been scheduled for this summer over allegations that became a #MeToo cause for Kesha’s supporters and came to involve a lineup of music industry luminaries. Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Adam Levine and Taio Cruz are among those who gave testimony or sworn statements related to the case.

At the same time, the case raised important legal questions about fame and defamation. The stakes were seen as high enough that media outlets weighed in about pretrial rulings that they worried could help powerful people suppress unflattering reporting.

The court clash between the multiplatinum-selling singer and the Grammy-nominated producer has been playing out since 2014 and looming over both of their careers.

The Associated Press does not generally name people who report being sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Kesha has done.

The singer made her name — originally styled Ke$ha — with a series of swaggering, just-try-to-stop-me party anthems, beginning with 2009’s “TiK ToK.” Those early hits were produced by Dr. Luke, who founded the record label that signed a Nashville unknown named Kesha Rose Sebert at age 18.

Born Lukasz Gottwald, he has produced chart-toppers for Perry, Lavigne, Flo Rida and more. Besides notching multiple Grammy nominations, Dr. Luke has repeatedly won pop songwriter of the year awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Kesha sued him in 2014, alleging he drugged and raped her nine years earlier and psychologically tormented her throughout their working relationship. She said he harangued her about her weight, denigrated her voice and lorded his power over her career.

“The abuse I suffered from Luke was a decade long, every day, every moment of every day,” she said during sworn questioning in 2017. According to Kesha, the ordeal sparked a flare-up of an eating disorder that led to her spending two months in a rehabilitation clinic in 2014.

Dr. Luke, who has not been charged with any crimes, responded by suing Kesha. He has asserted that she made “completely untrue and deeply hurtful” claims to tarnish him and get out of her record contract.

“Any reasonable person will not believe her,” he said when questioned under oath in 2017.

His attorneys have noted that Kesha herself said he “never made sexual advances at me” during sworn questioning in a separate lawsuit in 2011. She has since said she was “not entirely transparent” in those 2011 statements because she was terrified of Dr. Luke and felt compelled to protect him.

Kesha went five years without releasing an album during the standoff, saying she could not work with a “monster” but couldn’t get away from him because she was under contract with his label. His lawyers and the label’s attorneys maintained that she did not have to work with him personally.

She eventually returned with 2017’s “Rainbow” and two subsequent albums, all with other producers. Her most recent album, “Gag Order,” came out in May.

Dr. Luke’s career also took a hit after she went public with her allegations. He has said various artists, particularly female ones, eschewed “working with someone who’s called a rapist.”

But under the name Tyson Trax, he made it back to the top of the charts in 2020 with Doja Cat’s “Say So,” garnering his first Grammy nomination since 2014. By this year, he was ASCAP’s pop songwriter of the year once again.

Along the way, Kesha’s sexual abuse-related claims were dismissed because of time limits and other legal issues, without any findings about the merits of the allegations themselves. But she countersued Dr. Luke under a New York law against bringing frivolous suits to try to intimidate critics into silence; New York’s highest court recently ruled that she could pursue those claims.

The top court, which New York calls the Court of Appeals, also declared that Dr. Luke is a “public figure” in the eyes of the law. That’s significant because the legal requirements for proving defamation are tougher for public figures than for everyday people.

Lower courts had said the producer wasn’t a public figure. Over a dozen media outlets and organizations got involved in the case to argue that those earlier rulings could end up helping famous people squash free speech and reporting on sexual abuse allegations.

Earlier in the case, Kesha was ordered to pay Dr. Luke more than $373,000 in interest on royalties she paid him years late.

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June 23, 2023
Taylor Swift, Pink to be honored at 2023 iHeartRadio Awards

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NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards later this month, which will feature performances by Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, Muni Long, Cody Johnson, Coldplay and Pink, who is this year’s Icon Award recipient.

The Innovator Award is presented to an artist who has “impacted global pop culture throughout their career.” Past recipients include Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, U2 and Alicia Keys.

Pink will receive the Icon Award honoring her “impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance as a touring and radio force with a loyal fan base worldwide.”

The iHeartRadio Music Awards will be aired March 27 on Fox from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and aired on iHeartRadio stations and the app.

Lizzo, Swift and Harry Styles lead the awards nominations with seven nods each, and Jack Harlow and Drake are close behind with six each.

For top song of the year, Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” faces off against Swift’s “Anti-Hero,” Styles’ “As It Was,” Justin Bieber’s “Ghost,” Doja Cat’s “Woman,” Glass Animals’ “Heat Wave,” Latto’s “Big Energy,” Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby,” Harlow’s “First Class,” and Imagine Dragons’ “Enemy.”

Fans can vote in several categories including best fan army, best lyrics, best cover song, best sample and best music video. Voting on Twitter begins Wednesday using the appropriate category and nominee hashtags and will close March 20.

With five nominations each are Doja Cat, Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Tems, Bad Bunny and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Silk Sonic, Future, Latto, Imagine Dragons, The Weeknd, BLACKPINK, Karol G and Nicki Minaj have four each.

Artist of the year pits Beyoncé against Doja Cat, Drake, Dua Lipa, Styles, Harlow, Bieber, Lizzo, Swift and The Weeknd for the crown. Best duo or group nominees are AJR, Black Eyed Peas, BLACKPINK, Silk Sonic, Glass Animals, Imagine Dragons, Måneskin, OneRepublic, Parmalee and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Country artist of the year nominees are Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen. Hip-hop artist of the year nominees are Drake, Future, Kodak Black, Lil Baby and Moneybagg Yo.

Nominees for alternative artist of the year are Imagine Dragons, Måneskin, Twenty One Pilots, Weezer and Red Hot Chili Peppers, the last of whom also are on the list of rock artists of the year, along with Ghost, Papa Roach, Shinedown and Three Days Grace.

The Latin pop/reggaeton artist of the year nominees are Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Farruko, Karol G and Rauw Alejandro. And nominees for best R&B artist are Blxst, Bleu, Silk Sonic, Muni Long and SZA.

___

Online: https://www.iheart.com/music-awards

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March 9, 2023
Pink Responds To Backlash Over ‘Shading’ Christina Aguilera, ‘Lady Marmalade’ Remarks

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By Leah Sarnoff, Corey Atad.
Published: 46 mins ago

Pink is setting the record straight after she criticized the 2001 music video for her collaboration with Christina Aguilera on “Lady Marmalade.”

During an interview with Buzzfeed UK, Pink ranked the music video in last place on a list of 12 of her “most iconic music videos.” “It wasn’t very fun to make. I’m all about fun and it was like, a lot of fuss, and there were some personalities,” she told the outlet.

Pink added, “Lil Kim and Mýa were nice,” of the other “Lady Marmalade” collaborators.

Her remarks quickly went viral, with many online commentators saying Pink was “shading” Aguilera.

Over the weekend, Pink took to Twitter to shut down rumors once and for all. “Y’all are nuts,” said, addressing those spreading “shading” comments. “Xtina had sh** to do with who was on that song. If you don’t know by now- I’m not “shading” someone by telling it over and over and over what actually happened.”

Y’all are nuts
Xtina had shit to do with who was on that song.If you don’t know by now- I’m not “shading” someone by telling it over and over and over what actually happened.
I’m zero percent interested in your fucking drama.
If you haven’t noticed- I’m a little busy selling https://t.co/f9RLuotptf

— P!nk (@Pink) February 19, 2023

Pink continued, “I’m zero percent interested in your f***ing drama. If you haven’t noticed- I’m a little busy selling.”

In a follow-up tweet, Pink hilariously clarified what she meant by “selling.” “And by selling- I mean tickets and albums and bake sales and s***,” she wrote.

To wrap up the online chatter, Pink referenced a kiss she and Aguilera once shared during a game of spin-the-bottle, “Also- I kissed xtinas mouth. I don’t need to kiss her ass.”

Fans of Pink and Aguilera know the singers have publicly feuded and made up in the past. In a 2009 VH1 Behind the Music episode, Pink said that a record executive overstepped during the making of “Lady Marmalade.”

“What’s the high part? What’s the most singing part? Christina’s going to take that part,” the record exec declared, according to Pink. “I stood up, and I said ‘Hi. How are you? So nice of you to introduce yourself. I’m Pink. She will not be taking that part. I think that’s what the f***ing meeting’s about,’” Pink said.

However, nearly a decade later, Pink and Aguilera worked together on “The Voice” in 2016, with Pink serving as a mentor for Aguilera’s team.

“We made up on ‘The Voice’, because I hadn’t seen her in years and years and years and we became moms,” Pink told Andy Cohen during an appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live’. “We grew up and we hugged it out.”

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Corey Atad

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February 20, 2023
Broadway writer of ‘& Juliet’ builds show with huge pop hits

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NEW YORK — We first see Juliet in the Capulet tomb, devastated. She’s wakes up to see her Romeo dead. But before she plunges a dagger into her heart, she starts … singing. What comes out is, improbably, a Britney Spears hit.

“Oh, baby, baby. How was I supposed to know? That something wasn’t right here? Oh, baby, baby. I shouldn’t have let you go,” she sings, the opening lines of “…Baby One More Time.”

That such a pop song works perfectly in this august scene is a credit to playwright David West Read and the team behind the Broadway jukebox musical “& Juliet.”

They’ve taken an original story using “Romeo and Juliet” as a launch pad and mixed in some of the biggest pop hits of the past few decades by Spears, Celine Dion, NSYNC, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Pink and Backstreet Boys.

“I really tried to let story and character drive it,” says Read, an Emmy-winning writer from “Schitt’s Creek.” “It’s a long process to make it seem effortless, but it’s a lot of effort.”

The link between the songs is Swedish super-producer Max Martin, who has had a hand in writing such hits as “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Larger Than Life,” “That’s The Way It Is” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling,”

The musical starts when William Shakespeare’s wife challenges him to rewrite “Romeo and Juliet” with a happier ending for Juliet, sparking a journey of self-discovery for the young woman and nearly everyone on stage. Inspired in part by “Mama Mia!” it has multiple couples of different generations.

“I think the genius of David has just knocked all of us sideways,” says director Luke Sheppard. “I don’t think Max ever imagined that somebody would be able to find such a cohesive world for this.”

Read had been handed a playlist of over 200 Martin songs in 2016 and whittled it down to about 30. He challenged himself to not change any of the lyrics, although he altered some pronouns. Some hits — like Perry’s “California Gurls” and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” — were clearly never going to fit.

“Instead of going for what are the most popular songs, I tried to prioritize what are songs that are going to tell this story in the best possible way,” says Read.

Masterstrokes include turning Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me” into an duet between arguing lovers, giving Perry’s “Teenage Dream” to an older couple looking back on their young romance and handing Juliet “Oops!… I Did it Again” after she’s found herself in a second romantic conundrum.

In one special move, Read gave Spear’s “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” to a new character, Juliet’s nonbinary friend, May, played by genderqueer Justin David Sullivan. It’s a landmark moment for Broadway, allowing a nonbinary main character to talk about being misgendered and what it’s like to date while trans.

Read also turned Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” into a duet between May and a male love interest. “I wanted it to be a queer love song sung by two unexpected characters that feel more representative of our current world,” he says. (Some audience members have walked out after that. “Clearly we still have a ways to go,” says Read.)

There are also nods to musical theater conventions: “Stronger” works as a callback of “… Baby One More Time” (“My loneliness is killing me” in the first song reappears in the second as “My loneliness ain’t killing me no more”). And musical theater rules mean you need to have a song where a lead character makes clear they want something; the creators of “& Juliet” had one in plain sight — Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”

Read even made a connection between Martin and The Bard himself: “Shakespeare was the pop writer of his time. We think of him as very highbrow now, but he was creating an entertainment for the masses. That kind of overlap between Max and Shakespeare seems like it could be a fun way to give a brand to someone who doesn’t have his own brand.”

The team got an early indication that the concept would work at the first workshop in which an audience was invited. Backstage, they waited for the reaction to “…Baby One More Time.”

“The audience didn’t laugh. And that was amazing. I was like, ‘OK, passed that test,’” says Sheppard. ”I felt the audience just lean in that moment and connect with that song and with that artist.”

Critics have been kind to the finished show, with Variety saying “& Juliet” “is exactly the musical Broadway needs right now: fun, exuberant, supremely joyful, hilarious and excellently performed by a talented and diverse cast.” Entertainment Weekly said Read’s work is “cleverly, sometimes ingeniously calibrated to sync with the songs.”

“The ones that really mean a lot to me are the critics who clearly come in with a hatred for jukebox musicals and reluctantly admit that there is a lot of craft in this one,” says Read.

He credits Martin for being open to outside-the-box ideas and allowing the show’s collaborators the flexibility to make what’s not another run-of-the-mill jukebox musical.

“Sometimes it feels like someone slapped their name on something, and they show up on opening night and people are maybe making the show for the wrong reasons,” says Read. “To have the artist working with us and collaborating with us, I think also separates this from other jukebox musicals where the artist is either dead or not involved.”

Read has since moved on — he is the creator and showrunner of the upcoming Apple TV+ series “The Big Door Prize” — but his experience with “& Juliet” has been so positive that he and Sheppard are working on another jukebox musical, this time with the catalog of Roy Orbison.

“We’re trying to tell a new story with his existing music and challenging ourselves to do something completely different from what we would did with ‘& Juliet,’” he says.

———

Online: https://andjulietbroadway.com

———

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

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December 13, 2022
Pink Reminds Everyone Why She’s A Star Singer In ‘Jimmy Kimmel’ Challenge

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Pink apologized before she sang jokey lyrics that she was seeing for the first time on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Wednesday. (Watch the video below.)

But there was no need to say sorry. The “So What” singer turned the “Wing It & Sing It” segment into a showcase for her talent. As the cue cards written by the show popped up with her new lines, she nailed them one by one.

Anyone who can make verses like “On Halloween night I won’t open the door/I once wet the bed in a mattress store” sound good on the fly deserves a special place in pop history.

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November 17, 2022
You’ll Obsess Over These Pink-Hair Halloween Costumes

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If we’re being honest, there’s something undeniably whimsical about pink hair. Whether you’ve dyed your own hair to achieve the perfect pastel shade or prefer to throw on a wig at a moment’s notice, sporting a colorful ’do can completely change your look. And with the holiday dedicated to head-to-toe transformations quickly approaching, why not consider a few Halloween costumes with pink hair this year?

When it comes to creating a spot-on costume, finishing it off with the right shade of hair can truly make everything come together. And when it’s as simple as donning a wig for the night or styling your already-dyed locks, there’s no reason you shouldn’t channel something a little fantastical this Halloween.

Just in case you need to spark your inspiration, we’ve pulled together some chic Halloween costume ideas that each feature playful pink strands. Scroll down to see them below. Without a doubt, you’re going to love these.

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Dale Arden Chong

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October 17, 2022
Diacore Purchase an Exceptional 32.32 Carats Pink Rough Diamond

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Press Release
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Dec 16, 2021

JOHANNESBURG, December 16, 2021 (Newswire.com)
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Diacore is pleased to announce the purchase of an exceptional 32.32 carats pink rough diamond for $13.8 million. The diamond has originated from the Williamson mine in Tanzania.

Diacore, specialists in the design and craftsmanship of rare coloured diamonds, has added this incredible gem to its portfolio of exceptional diamonds.

The rare pink diamond will be analysed, designed and cut by the company’s highly experienced team to unlock its magnificent hidden beauty.

Nir Livnat, Chairman of Diacore, commented, “This rare masterpiece of nature is a natural fit to our unique offering as cutters and marketeers of special diamonds. Looking forward to work with the team on a stellar one-of-a-kind gem.”

About Diacore

Diacore, a multinational diamond company, has diversified interests in the diamond industry providing rough and polished diamonds to customers around the world. The company has manufacturing facilities in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and New York and has established its leadership in crafting rare, exceptional diamonds as well as unique high-end jewelry.

Diacor Group has created some of the world’s most famous diamonds the 203.04 carats, De Beers Millennium Star and the magnificent Pink Star – 59.60 carats, flawless fancy vivid pink diamond.

The company formed a joint venture with Sotheby’s in 2005, offering exceptional natural diamonds online and diamond jewellery at its boutique store, Sotheby’s Diamonds, in London.

Diacore is the proud sponsor of the Gaborone Diacore Marathon and supports local communities in Southern Africa.

www.diacore.com

info@diacore.com

Source: Diacore

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December 16, 2021
Neoflam is Hosting a 21 Days of Christmas Event
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Press Release
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updated: Dec 13, 2016
Irvine, CA, December 13, 2016 (Newswire.com)
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Neoflam is wrapping up Q4 with a sales event called “21 Days of Christmas”. The premium cookware company is using this as an opportunity to grow and connect with their budding audience across their social media profiles and family of sites.

During the event, Neoflam is giving away over $3,000 in kitchen products and offering special pricing on a wide range of items. The event runs until December 24th.

For fans of Neoflam products, the event comes just in time to stock up on their favorite kitchenware before the holidays. In addition to steep discounts, there are plenty of chances to win great prizes including:
1. Pareto Stone Stovetop Ceramic Cookware in Purple (12/12): $109.99
2. Cut2Tray Green (12/13): $34.99
3. Aveco Knife Set (12/14): $64.99
4. CLOC Glass 18-Piece Food Storage Set (12/15): $49.99
5. Carat 5-Piece Cookware Set (12/16): $199.99
6. MyPan 6-Piece Cookware Set (12/17): $149.99
7. Retro 5-Piece Cookware Set in Pink (12/18): $150.99
8. Retro 9-Piece Cookware Set in Gray (12/19): $387.95
9. Mystic Valley Stovetop Ceramic Cookware (12/20): $103.98
10. Midas Plus Cookware Set in Red (12/21): $139.99
11. Flutto Cutting Board Set (12/22): $50.69
12. Mystique Stovetop Ceramic Cookware (12/23): $74.99
13. $300 Gift Card to NeoflamShop (12/24)
About Neoflam:

Neoflam has been at the forefront of cookware design and manufacturing since 2008. The combination of durable, lightweight cast aluminum and colorful ceramic coating brought early success as customers looked for new ways to liven up their kitchen. In 2014, Neoflam built a new factory in Korea, in addition to existing factories in China, that borrowed the latest industrial technologies from the automobile industry. This was to ensure Neoflam remains on the cutting edge of kitchen innovation while continuing to provide quality, eco-friendly products to our loyal customers all over the world. Neoflam – lighting a “new flame” in the kitchenware industry.

Neoflam’s leadership in product design has been recognized by the following prestigious design awards: iF (2012, 2016), Red Dot (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), and Design Plus (2014).

For more information about Neoflam and their products, please visit:

www.neoflam.com
www.neoflamshop.com
www.neoflamblog.com
www.facebook.com/neoflamamericas
@neoflamamericas

Email: community@neoflam.us
Phone: 1 (866) 344-4435
Address: 9591 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine, CA, 92618

Source: Neoflam
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December 13, 2016