Month: April 2023

Categories
Sports Daypop

Biden press secy clarifies that national champs LSU are only team invited to White House

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After facing backlash after First lady Jill Biden said that she wants the defeated Iowa women’s basketball team to be invited to the White House in addition to national title winner LSU, her press secretary has walked back on the first lady’s dual invitation.

Speaking Monday at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver, Mrs. Biden praised congratulated both teams on their performances, saying: “I know we’ll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come. But, you know, I’m going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game.”. In response, LSU star Angel Reese tweeted a link to a story on Jill Biden’s remarks, writing: “A JOKE” along with three rolling-on-the-floor-laughing emojis. Reese — the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player — has gotten a lot of attention ever since she waved her hand in front of her face while staring down Iowa star Caitlin Clark in the final moments of LSU’s win, then pointed toward her finger as if to say a ring was coming. Clark set the record for points scored in an NCAA tournament with 191 in six games, and made similar face-waving gestures during Iowa’s Elite Eight victory over Louisville.

To clarify the situation, the first lady’s press secretary, Vanessa Valdivia tweeted on Tuesday that Jill Biden “admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX … Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.” President Biden also tweeted that he’s looking forward to welcoming the women’s NCAA champions to the White House with no mention of Iowa: “Congrats to @LSUwbkb who demonstrated excellence on and off the court. They showed us what it looks like to win with an unrelenting belief in themselves. And they did it in one of the most-watched women’s sports games in US history. You have an incredible school, @LSUpresident.”  

Iowa coach Lisa Bluder, as well as star player Caitlin Clark, both said on Tuesday that Iowa didn’t earn a trip to the White House; instead, Bluder issued an open invitation for Jill Biden to visit the Hawkeyes’ program.

Editorial credit: University of College / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Chapel Hart announce new album ‘Glory Days’ dropping May 19

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Chapel Hart has announced their new album Glory Days, set to drop May 19. The trio–comprised of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, and first cousin Trea Swindle—were made famous on America’s Got Talent, performing their track “You Can Have Him Jolene” — a spin on the Dolly Parton favorite, “Jolene.”

While on America’s Got Talent, the late Loretta Lynn saw their audition and requested they write a song inspired by her 1968 hit “Fist City.”  Said Danica of their inspired song: “‘Welcome to Fist City’ feels like 1968 revamped to right now. I really believe Ms. Loretta would’ve been so proud! I’d like to believe the generation who laid the foundation just wants to know that they are leaving country music in capable hands, and my prayer is that we are doing just that. I hope we are making them proud!”  

‘Welcome to Fist City’ will be featured alongside the previously-released title track on the new album, which is the trio’s first full-length project since finishing in the Top 5 on AGT.

Take a listen to ‘Welcome to Fist City’ – here.
To pre-order Glory Days, head here.

Editorial credit: Ioan Panaite / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Dan + Shay team up with Charlie Puth for new song “That’s Not How This Works”

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Dan + Shay have teamed up with pop star Charlie Puth for the new song “That’s Not How This Works,” out now.

Produced and written by Puth and co-written with Dan Smyers, “That’s Not How This Works” opens with solo vocals featuring Puth accompanied by only his piano, narrating the back-and-forth of a relationship at its end. The track continues, integrating the vocals and harmonies of Dan + Shay.

The official video for “That’s Not How This Works,” directed by Phillip R. Lopez, also stars singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Carpenter as Puth’s love interest. Through a series of flashbacks, we see the pair navigate the highs and lows of their relationship.

Check out the video for “That’s Not How This Works” – here.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley & Richard Madden to star in Amazon Studios’ ‘Killer Heat’

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley and Richard Madden will star in the thriller “Killer Heat,” from Amazon Studios.

The movie, which is based on Jo Nesbø’s 2021 short story “The Jealousy Man,” centers on twin brothers (Madden) caught in a violent love triangle on a remote Greek island, and a damaged detective known as “The Jealousy Man” (Gordon-Levitt), who is called in to investigate. “Night of the Kings” filmmaker Philippe Lacôte has signed on to direct, from a script penned by Roberto Bentivegna (“House of Gucci”).

In addition to starring in the film, Gordon-Levitt will also executive produce the project alongside Nesbø, Niclas Salomonsson, Tom Karnowski and Makeready’s Collin Creighton.

Editorial credit: Michael Mattes / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Caterina Scorsone loses home, pets in fire

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Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19 actress Caterina Scorsone announced on social media that she and her family escaped a fire that destroyed their home and killed their four pets. Scorsone posted on Instagram, along with a photo of her ruined house, then other images of the home, family and their fur babies: “A couple of months ago my house burned down. While getting my kids ready for bed and finishing bath time, smoke began to seep up through the grout around the tub. When I looked down the hallway a river of thick black smoke had already formed and was filling the house. One thing about fires: they happen fast. I had about two minutes to get my three kids out of the house, and we escaped with less than shoes on our feet. But we got out. And for that I am eternally grateful.”

Scorsone added that she and her family are still grieving the animals they lost: “But we are lucky we got to love them at all. This is not a post about a fire. This is a post about community. This is a love letter to the incredible people that showed up and the incredible ways that they did.  Thank you to the firefighters and the investigators (thank you Trey!) Thank you to my neighbor who answered our frantic knocks at her door. Thank you to the parents at my kids’ school who sent toys and books, my friends at @greysabc and @shondaland who sent clothing and supplies, my sisters who flew in to handle logistics so that I could be with my kids.”

Scorsone concluded her post: “Thank you to my team who made everything easier. What we learned is that the only thing that matters are the people (and beings) that you love. The only thing that matters is community. We would not be here without it and we are so grateful. Thank you. Here are some photos to honor the space we once called home, to say goodbye to the animals that loved us so well, and to celebrate that we have the only thing we ever really needed: each other. -Love, Caterina ❤

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

G-Eazy shares video for his new single ‘Tulips & Roses’

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Rapper G-Eazy announced the debut of his latest single, “Tulips & Roses,” the first new music he’s released since the death of his mother in 2021.  ‘Tulips & Roses” samples the song “Blame” by Gabriels.

An accompanying black and white video for the song, which was filmed in Paris, shows G-Eazy first in bed with his reported girlfriend Janaye Noah (daughter of tennis legend Yannick Noah). The camera pans to the couple’s view of the Eiffel Tower and then shows G-Eazy rapping in different locations around the city.

Born Gerald Earl Gillum in Oakland, G-Eazy has released four studio albums since his major label debut Must Be Nice in 2012. Since releasing his 2021 album These Things Happen Too, he experienced the lost of his mother, art professor Suzanne Olmstead, in November 2021. Since then he’s only releasing one song, “Angel,” in tribute to her. G-Eazy said in a statement last year: “Grief can be a difficult thing to navigate. It’s definitely not a linear process and it comes at you in waves. There will never be enough words to describe the feeling of losing your best friend, or the desire to see them again. In a literal sense, I tried to capture that feeling of longing in the lyrics of the song.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Elvis Costello & The Imposters share 2023 spring/summer tour dates

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Elvis Costello & The Imposters will launch a new 2023 North American tour dubbed “We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday,” taking place this June/July.

The tour kicks-off June 7th in Vancouver and travels North America before wrapping up July 14th in Philadelphia,PA. Costello’s show features regular Imposters Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas, Davey Faragher, as well as blues guitarist Charlie Sexton.  In addition, Costello’s longtime collaborator Nick Lowe will open each of the 23 tour dates with his band, Los Straitjackets. .

Tickets to “We’re All Going on a Summer Holiday” are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Listen to the new single ‘Winner Takes All’ from Nita Strauss and Alice Cooper

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Nita Strauss is back with new solo single, featuring vocals from longtime collaborator Alice Cooper. The track, titled Winner Takes All, is the guitarist’s latest release from her forthcoming new album, which is due out this year.

Speaking of working with Cooper, Strauss said: “When we were working on the music for this album, there was no question that I wanted to create a song to collaborate with my longtime boss and friend, the legendary Alice Cooper. I think the track accomplishes what we set out to do — showcase Alice’s voice and signature style on the backdrop of a heavy, modern rock track. After many years of lending my style of playing to Alice’s music on stage, it was truly an honor to work together and hear his voice on one of my songs!”

In 2022, Strauss departed from Cooper’s live band to play for Demi Lovato. However she announced last month that she was reuniting with Cooper for his 2023 Too Close For Comfort tour.

Listen to Winner Takes All – here.

Nita Strauss drops ‘Winner Takes All’ featuring Alice Cooper

Editorial credit: Crystal Huffman / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Khalid drops his new track “Softest Touch”

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Khalid has dropped his latest single, titled “Softest Touch,” alongside an accompanying lyric video. The single arrives ahead of Khalid’s forthcoming LP, EVERYTHING IS CHANGING.

Khalid sat down with Apple Music to discuss the inspiration behind “Softest Touch” —  “I felt like I needed this. It’s been an interesting couple of years. I feel like everybody’s been a little bit confused and sad and under the weather, and so I just wanted to put something out for my fans that I felt was undeniably happy. There’s good vibes, good energy, just contributing to the world and giving people some love to hold onto. It’s one of those instant moments where you’re in the studio and it’s you don’t have to try too hard, and it just comes to you … I want to provide the summer nights, summer days into the summer nights, and when you’re just with your people that you care about, that you love the most, and you just want to vibe, and you just want to chill. That’s what I’m here for as an artist.”

Khalid also opened up about his next album, revealing that it has “some of the best music of [his] career … I’ve been working on music for the past three years because I really want to be extremely particular with what sound I put out into the world when it comes to my album.”

Listen to Khalid’s latest track, “Softest Touch,” here.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

UConn defeats San Diego State 76-59 to win fifth national title

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UConn is 5-0 in title games, winning their fifth championship in the past 25 seasons. The Huskies defeated San Diego State University with a score of 76-59 on Monday night at NRG Stadium in Houston, becoming the first team in tournament history to win each of their six games by 13 or more points.

Senior guard Tristen Newton led UConn with 19 points and 10 rebounds while junior forward Adama Sanogo — a Final Four Most Outstanding Player –scored 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sanogo said after the game: “I just want to thank my teammates, my coaches who believed in me. If it were not for them I would not be here right now.” 

UConn head coach Dan Hurley said after the game: “We weren’t ranked going into the year so we had the chip on our shoulder. We knew the level that we could play at, even through those dark times,” referencing the team’s six losses in eight games during the regular season. Hurley added:“And when you have the type of leaders like Andre Jackson (game-high six assists Monday) and Adama Sanogo, they kept this team together, got us back on track and we knew we were the best team in the tournament going in and we just had to play to our level.”

UConn won each of its six tournament games by at least 10 points, with its closest game being a 13-point win over the University of Miami in the national semifinals. UConn is only the sixth team to win five NCAA men’s basketball championships, joining UCLA (11), Kentucky (eight), North Carolina (six), Duke (five) and Indiana (five). All of UConn’s titles have come since 1999.

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