Month: April 2023

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Entertainment Daypop

Dwayne Johnson to star in live-action ‘Moana’ film

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Dwayne Johnson announced on social media he will reprise his role of the demi-god Maui in a live-action reimagining of the 2016 animated Disney musical, Moana. The actor confirmed that in addition to Moana and Maui, other beloved characters from cartoon blockbuster to return in the live-action version will be village chief Tui, Te Fiti the goddess, Pua the pig and Heihei the rooster.

Johnson, 50, announced in a video while on the beaches of Hawaii: “I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me … I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”

Johnson starred in the 2016 film alongside Auli’i Cravalho, who voiced Moana. It has not been confirmed if Cravalho, 22, will reprise her role in the live-action film, but she has signed on to be one of the executive producers for the remake. Cravalho said in a statement via Disney: “[Moana] has had such a profound impact on how we think of Disney princesses. Moana’s strength and perseverance are inspiring — to audiences around the world, to me and to everyone who helped bring her to life. I’m looking forward to sharing her story in a whole new way.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Lynyrd Skynyrd announce future plans after death of Gary Rossington

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Lynyrd Skynyrd has announced the band’s future plans following the recent passing of the group’s last original founding member Gary Rossington. In a statement, the band says the current members – led by Johnny Van Zant, the group’s lead singer for the past 36 years – were unsure if they would continue following Gary’s untimely passing. After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the band feels that continuing to perform live is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved.

Said Rossington’s widow, Dale Rossington: “I recently lost my husband and partner of over 41 years. He was an amazing father, grandfather, brother and friend, but most importantly was a world class musician and songwriter. It’s been my honor and privilege to share the stage with him for all these years. His music touched so many millions of people around The World, and Gary was always the first to say how, ‘Skynyrd’s music is bigger than me or any one person.’ Gary made it known at every chance to express how timeless the music was, and it was always his goal to keep the music alive for his brothers because that was always their dream. He spent his entire life trying to carry on that dream for Ronnie, Allen, Steve and all the others over the years. While he was not able to physically be on stage with the current lineup over the last couple years, he supported them in every way. His dream will continue thanks to Johnny, Rickey and the rest of our band mates to continue to carry his legacy and music on for future generations.”

Said Johnny Van Zant: “Gary was not only my brother, bandmate and friend, I think he loved me as much as I loved him. We would do anything for each other. We laughed, we fell, we cried and made up, and shared the stage for the last 36 years. Gary, along with my brother Ronnie and Allen started this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the test of time, and crossed three generations of fans. The music they created, and the music we created, together since 1987, was always meant to be experienced LIVE. We have come together with the founding band member estates, and everyone involved, and feel the music should continue for everyone to love and enjoy. So we will continue to perform for the Skynyrd Nation.”

Editoria credit: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Metallica donates $150,000 to aid in severe weather damage relief efforts

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Metallica’s All Within My Hands philanthropic foundation announced that it will be donating $150,000 (split between three separate organizations) to provide assistance and relief to areas affected by severe weather in the United States.

The first two organizations that will receive grants — Team Rubicon and Direct Relieve — are working together to help communities that are still recovering from multiple tornadoes that hit Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia on March 24.  Each organization will be granted $50,000 to aid in their relief. The third organization receiving a $50,000 grant is the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund, which will help those affected by severe winter storms in Monterey County, California.

Metallica said in an article published on their official website that in addition to announcing the grants, All Within My Hands is also using this as an opportunity to raise awareness of these three organizations, inviting others to learn more about their work and to help support their efforts if possible: “We greatly admire the many volunteers and first responders who selflessly dedicate their time and skills to assisting others when the need is greatest.”

Editorial credit: Maj.l / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

BTS’ Jimin becomes first Korean soloist to hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

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BTS’ Jimin has become the first Korean soloist to hit No.1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 with his track “Like Crazy,” taken from Jimin’s debut solo album FACE. ‘Like Crazy’ has racked up 254,000 downloads and CD single sales, and has been streamed over 10 million times. It received 64,000 radio airplay audience impressions in its first week of release. In addition to the original Korean and English versions of “Like Crazy,” two remixes reimagining the track were also released, alongside an instrumental version. The only other Korean act to score a No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is BTS themselves, with their hit song “Dynamite.”

The achievement makes Jimin the first member of BTS to score a No.1 single in the U.S.; he had also scored the highest-charting solo single with his pre-release track “Set Me Free Pt.2,” which charted at No.30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Other BTS members, Jungkook and Suga, have both also entered the Top 30 — but with collaborations (Jungkook teamed up with Charlie Puth for “Left And Right” which charted at No.22, and Suga appeared on Juice WRLD’s “Girl Of My Dreams,” which peaked at No.29).

“Like Crazy” has also claimed the top spot on the Digital Song Sales chart and landed at No.35 on the Streaming Songs chart. The album FACE entered the Billboard 200 at No.2.

Editorial credit: Silvia Elizabeth Pangaro / Shutterstock.com

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Pop Daypop

Take a listen to Ellie Goulding’s latest single ‘By the End of the Night’

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Ellie Goulding has shared her new single “By the End of the Night” off her fifth studio album Higher Than Heaven, due for release April 7. ‘By the End of the Night’ follows Ellie’s recent release of “Miracle” with Calvin Harris.

Ellie says of the new song: “I feel like we’ve all been through such a lot over the last few years, we’re still processing everything. I don’t know if it’s just me but I feel like we need music that uplifts us and makes us feel good and that’s exactly how I feel about “By The End Of The Night.” It gives me a sense of euphoric, sensual escape, like being on a dancefloor on another planet…something that was definitely appealing back in the late 80’s… where this track could have easily come from!”

Speaking about her forthcoming album Higher Than Heaven, Ellie says: “There was definitely a darkness about [the past two years] that was palpable in the studio, with everyone having gone through it differently. I think for that reason, nobody wanted to sit and agonize over some relationship or some drama. So that’s how this album came together. [Higher Than Heaven is] about being passionately in love. But it’s a hyper form of love, almost like a drug induced feeling. It feels almost artificial and there’s the potential for a crash.”

Take a listen to “By the End of the Night”– here.
Pre-order the album Higher Than Heaven – here.

Ellie Goulding releases ‘By the End of the Night’

Editorial credit: Jdrw25 / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Cash App founder Bob Lee killed in stabbing in San Francisco

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Bob Lee, a technology executive who founded the mobile payment company Cash App, died Tuesday after he was stabbed near downtown San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department said officers responded to a report of a stabbing around 2:35 a.m. Tuesday on the 300 block of Main Street in the Rincon Hill neighborhood, where they found a 43-year-old man (Lee) with apparent stab wounds. Lee was taken to a San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

The killing is being investigated by the department’s homicide unit. San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins tweeted: “I want to extend my sincerest condolences to Mr. Lee’s family members & loved ones for his loss. We do not tolerate these horrific acts of violence in San Francisco. At this time no arrests have been made. Anyone w/ information is asked to call @SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444.”  Police declined to release more information about the crime because the homicide is an active investigation, referring questions about the victim’s identity to the city medical examiner, who said it had “no information to disclose or further comment at this time.”

Bob Lee was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. He previously served as chief technology officer of financial tech start-up Square (now known as Block), a digital payment company co-founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. He also worked at Google early in his career, where he was critical to developing Google’s Android operating system. Lee went on to create the money transfer service Cash App.

Joshua Goldbard, the CEO of MobileCoin, said a statement: “Bob was a dynamo, a force of nature. Bob was the genuine article. He was made for the world that is being born right now. Bob was a child of dreams, and whatever he imagined, no matter how crazy, he made real. Bob was made for the new world … Bob’s real resume is the hearts and minds he touched in his time on earth. Bob’s legacy is the feeling that you can make a difference if you try, and of course his amazing children.”

Lee is survived by his wife, Krista, and their two children.

Editorial credit: 24K-Production / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs bill repealing 1931 abortion ban

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On Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill repealing the state’s nearly century-old abortion ban, that made it a four-year felony to assist in an abortion. Last month, the state’s House and Senate passed HB 4006, a single-sentence bill, which revokes the 1931 law that criminalized abortion. Roe v. Wade had made the 1931 law null and void, until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision in June.

In signing the legislation, Gov. Whitmer called it “long overdue.” Specifically, the bill repealed Section 750.14, which makes it a felony — punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 — to administer drugs that induce a miscarriage unless the mother’s life is in danger. It also repealed Section 750.15, which makes it a misdemeanor to advertise, publish or sell “any pills, powder, drugs or combination of drugs” that can cause an abortion.

Whitmer said: “When Roe was overturned, a right afforded to Americans for nearly 50 years was stripped away. It horrified me to think that my daughters would have fewer rights than I did growing up. So, while other states were restricting access, we took steps to protect reproductive freedom.” 

Whitmer has openly expressed her support for abortion access in and out of Michigan and signed an executive order in July refusing to extradite women who come to Michigan from other states seeking abortion and refusing to extradite providers for offering the procedure.  In a statement, the Governor said: “In November, Michiganders sent a clear message: we deserve to make our own decisions about own bodies. Today, we are coming together to repeal our extreme 1931 law banning abortion without exceptions for rape or incest and criminalizing nurses and doctors for doing their jobs .. Standing up for people’s fundamental freedoms is the right thing to do and it’s also just good economics. By getting this done, we will help attract talent and business investment too.”

Editorial credit: rawf8 / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Arizona Cardinals manager benches OF Tyler O’Neill after criticizing effort

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One day after Arizona Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol criticized his effort during a loss to the Atlanta Braves, outfielder Tyler O’Neill was benched on Wednesday. O’Neill was absent from the Cardinals lineup ahead of their matchup against the Braves on Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis, with Dylan Carlson instead listed as the Cardinals’ starting center fielder in Wednesday’s lineup. O’Neill started in center field in four of the Cardinals’ first five games of the season, and appeared in the other game as a pinch hitter and outfielder.

Marmol had taken issue with O’Neill’s effort when he was running the bases in the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 4-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday in St. Louis. O’Neill singled to left in the second at-bat of the half inning, and Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker singled in the next at-bat to move O’Neill to second base. After Cardinals designated hitter Juan Yepez was out, pinch hitter Brendan Donovan was brought to the plate, who hit a single off relief pitcher Dylan Lee. O’Neill jumped off second base and rounded third, when Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. fielded the ball and threw to catcher Sean Murphy, who tagged O’Neill out as he slid near home.

When asked about O’Neill on Tuesday, Marmol told reporters: “We’ve got a lot of guys playing really hard. That’s not our style of play as far as the effort rounding the bag there. It’s unacceptable. … Your effort is 100% until you are told not to.” Marmol said he already addressed the situation Tuesday night with the Cardinals outfielder, and reiterated his sentiment Wednesday.

O’Neill told reporters on Wednesday: “I’m just going to continue to get my work in, get my reads in and make sure I’m getting the right jump off the bat and cutting the corners as good as I can, giving it my best effort every time. I got up through the minor leagues and into the big leagues playing hard and playing scrappy. That’s who I am and that’s my character. I don’t ever want anyone to take that away from me … These conversations definitely could have been had in house. … Should have been handled differently in my opinion, but who’s to say?”

O’Neill is hitting .294 with a home run and two RBIs this season. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner hit .228 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in 96 games last season, and hit a career-high 34 home runs in 2021.

Editorial credit: Keeton Gale / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Warriors’ Stephen Curry to star in NBC comedy series ‘Mr. Throwback’

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Deadline’s Peter White reports that Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is set to star in an NBC mockumentary comedy series entitled ‘Mr. Throwback,’ alongside actor Adam Pally. Universal Television and Unanimous Media, a multimedia organization for which Curry serves as co-founder and co-CEO, will produce the mockumentary.

White wrote: “The series about a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer looking for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry. The project is in development at NBC, which is known for mockumentaries such as The Office and Parks and Recreation.” Curry, of course, will play himself, while Pally will likely play the memorabilia dealer, and the show will be in a mockumentary style.

Curry said via Deadline: “Making the natural transition from behind the camera to center stage opposite Adam Pally, we can’t wait for the world to see what we have in store.” Curry guest-starred as himself on an episode of HBO’s Ballers in 2015. Otherwise, his experiences on television have either been as a voice actor on cartoons or in reality shows. More notably, Curry served as an executive producer for The Queen of Basketball, a documentary on the life of Lusia Harris that won the Oscar in 2022 for Best Documentary Short Subject.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Warriors’ Stephen Curry to star in NBC comedy series ‘Mr. Throwback’

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Deadline’s Peter White reports that Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is set to star in an NBC mockumentary comedy series entitled ‘Mr. Throwback,’ alongside actor Adam Pally. Universal Television and Unanimous Media, a multimedia organization for which Curry serves as co-founder and co-CEO, will produce the mockumentary.

White wrote: “The series about a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer looking for redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry. The project is in development at NBC, which is known for mockumentaries such as The Office and Parks and Recreation.” Curry, of course, will play himself, while Pally will likely play the memorabilia dealer, and the show will be in a mockumentary style.

Curry said via Deadline: “Making the natural transition from behind the camera to center stage opposite Adam Pally, we can’t wait for the world to see what we have in store.” Curry guest-starred as himself on an episode of HBO’s Ballers in 2015. Otherwise, his experiences on television have either been as a voice actor on cartoons or in reality shows. More notably, Curry served as an executive producer for The Queen of Basketball, a documentary on the life of Lusia Harris that won the Oscar in 2022 for Best Documentary Short Subject.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com