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Julien Baker Shares Cover of ‘A Dreamer’s Holiday’

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Julien Baker has shared a cover of ‘A Dreamer’s Holiday’ as part of this year’s Spotify’s Singles: Holiday Collection. Listen to her take on the festive classic below.

“I chose ‘Dreamers Holiday’ because I found it incredibly unique as far as holiday songs are concerned”, Baker said in a statement. “It’s a very understated song- both lyrically and musically; while it’s technically about a ‘holiday’, it doesn’t directly reference any specific holiday theme, it leaves the lyrics a bit more open-ended. It’s the same way with the music— the chord structure is complicated but surprisingly timeless to me even though the song itself is over 70 years old. It’s the kind of song whose arrangement can be re-imagined so many times, and I love the feeling of sonic potential a single like that gives me.”

Baker recently announced her third studio album, Little Oblivions. The follow-up to 2017’s Turn Out the Lights arrives on February 26, 2021 via Matador and includes the single ‘Faith Healer’.

Legendary Audio Engineer Bruce Swedien Dies At 86

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Bruce Swedien, the acclaimed audio engineer best known for his work with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, has died at the age of 86. His daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed the news on Facebook, writing, “He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life. He was loved by everyone.”

Swedien was born in Minneapolis in 1934 and showed an interest in recording from an early age. He first found success in 1962, when he received his first Grammy nomination for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, and over the next decade went on to record with jazz legends including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, and Dinah Washington. It was also during this time that Swedien met Jones, at the time an up-and-coming producer, who brought him to New York in 1977 to meet Michael Jackson and work on the music for The Wiz. After working on Jackson’s debut album Off the Wall, Swedien recorded and mixed ThrillerBad, and Dangerous and became a close collaborator to both Jones and Jackson.

On Wednesday, Jones posted a tribute to Swedien on social media. “I am absolutely devastated to learn the news that we lost my dear brother-in-arms, the legendary Bruce Swedien,” he wrote. “There are not enough words to express how much Bruce meant to me… He was without question the absolute best engineer in the business, and for more than 70 years I wouldn’t even think about going into a recording session unless I knew Bruce was behind the board. Along with the late great Rod Temperton, we reached heights that we could have never imagined and made history together. I have always said it’s no accident that more than four decades later no matter where I go in the world, in every club, like clockwork at the witching hour you hear ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ ‘Wanna Be Starting Something,’ and ‘Thriller.’ That was the sonic genius of Bruce Swedien, and to this day I can hear artists trying to replicate him.”

 

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Spike Lee to Direct New Musical Film About Viagra

Spike Lee has been set to direct a new musical film based on the story behind the creation of Viagra. According to Deadline, the screenplay for the movie will be co-written by Lee himself alongside British actor, director, and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah. It’s said to be based upon David Kushner’s 2018 Esquire article ‘All Rise: The Untold Story of The Guys Who Launched Viagra’, whose summary reads:

“It’s been 20 years since VIAGRA HIT THE MARKET, forever changing men’s sex lives (and their partners’). But before the little blue pill that could became a staple of bedside tables and club-kids’ packets, the drug had to overcome resistance from Wall Street, M.D.’s Capitol Hill, and the Catholic church. Whose job was it to convince some of America’s most powerful institutions that all men deserved boners? Two guys. This is the story of how an unlikely duo popped the top on a $3-billion-a-year industry.”

The music for the as-of-yet untitled project will be penned by songwriting duo Mark “Stew” Stewart and Heidi Rodewald, who created the Tony-winning musical Passing Strange. Lee previously filmed a production of Passing Strange which was released in 2009.

Lee’s latest feature film, Da 5 Bloods, came out on Netflix earlier this year. He also filmed a production of David Byrne’s American Utopia, which premiered on HBO last month.

Megan Thee Stallion Details Tracklist for New Album ‘Good News’

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Megan Thee Stallion has revealed the tracklist for her upcoming debut album Good News. The 17-track LP includes the previously released ‘Savage Remix’ (feat. Beyoncé), ‘Girls in the Hood’, and ‘Don’t Stop’ (feat. Young Thug) and features guest spots from SZA, Lil Durk, City Girls, Popcaan, DaBaby, Big Sean, and 2 Chainz. Check out the tracklist below.

Good News is set for release this Friday, November 20. It marks Meg’s proper full-length debut following a series of mixtapes and EPs, the most recent of which, Suga, dropped in March of this year.

 

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Ariana Grande Shares New Video for ’34+35′

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Ariana Grande has shared a new video for her Positions track ’34+25′. The visual was directed by Director X and shows Grande leading a team of scientists bringing a robot to life. Check it out below.

Positions came out in late October. Prior to it release, Grande released the title track along with a music video featuring Grande as President of the United States. Read our review of the album here.

Last week, Grande joined Thundercat for a performance of his hit 2015 track ‘Them Changes’ at the Adult Swim festival.

Top 5 Movies Every Millennial Has Seen

The movie industry has evolved vastly throughout the years, from the old classic romantic movies featuring Audrey Hepburn to modern day dramas like Manchester by the Sea.

In this article, we look at some of the movies majority millennials have seen at least once.

watched at least once. This is our list of the top 5 movies every millennial has seen to get started:

21 (2008)

21 is the first film on our list of movies every millennial has seen. It’s a 2008 American heist drama and a work of the movie director, Robert Luketic. Inspired by the MIT Blackjack Team, the movie starred popular Hollywood actors like Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Lieu Chinh.

Although this movie is subjected to mixed controversy and reviews regarding the choices of the film’s cast, it became part of the box office.  21 also rose to the top as the Number 1 movie in the U.S. and Canada just within the first two weekends after its release.

As you may already know, casinos offer a great place to shoot movies. Most of the scenes in 21 were filmed at casinos in Las Vegas like Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, the Venetian, Red Rock Casino, and Hard Rock Hotel. If you are interested in learning about these popular casinos, you can check out this list of casino sites put together by the Sports betting community site, OLBG.com.

  1. Coming to America (1988)

Second on our list is the comedy classic and well-watched film Coming to America.

In the movie, Eddie Murphy played the role of a wealthy and pampered prince from Africa who travelled to America with his best friend (Arsenio Hall) searching for a bride for himself. Murphy, who had never worked all his life, quickly finds a job as a cleaner in a restaurant where he eventually started making friends, acquaintances, enemies, and getting into trouble. But ultimately, he found the woman of his dreams.

Whether it is a comedy, romance, or action, this movie sure has a blend of everything in it and is undoubtedly an all-time classic that will keep you entertained at all times.

  1. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather will indeed find its way to the very top among various lists of great movies and even in school curriculums for film classes because it is entertaining and educative.

Marlon Brando’s performance is nothing short of top class, yet he hardly played the most vital role in the film. You can indulge in watching the movie from the first scene, comparing the beginning of Al Pacino and the end.

  1. Pillow Talk (1959)

These days, the world has several romantic comedies from various great actors and comedians. Therefore, it is quite challenging to pick the best out of these great movies. However, Pillow Talk is an excellent choice, as it is fun to understand how telephone communication happened in the past.  The combo between Day/Hudson was quite remarkable, as you watch their “fiery banter” as both keep pretending to have so much hatred for each other all through half of the entire movie. If you would prefer a fun experience from Doris Day, you can check out the Western Musical Calamity Jane. This piece holds an incredible and cheesy experience with the actress. There’s no match for powerful voice and screen presence.

  1. The Graduate (1967)

With this exciting and final entry in our list of movies every millennial has seen, you would have a changed perception of your spouse’s parents. Mrs. Robinson has been a favorite name, even from Simon and Garfunkel’s song. The popularity of this name is viewed from the eyes of Benjamin Braddock. Get ready and kit up for the “most uncomfortable” love series ever shown in films. Braddock (playing to the song originally sang by Dustin Hoffman; Bumbling Perfection) landed himself in a big predicament one night after driving his friend’s mom home. This happened just after he graduated from college. Which trouble did Braddock cause himself? Find out the answer in The Graduate.

Conclusion

It is pertinent to note that this list doesn’t follow any particular order or classes of millennial movies. What we’ve done is simply list out some all-time classical movies. Each one rocked the TV screens of every home across the world.

 

The Impact of Education on a Society’s Lifestyle Growth and Change

Education has been instrumental in changing a lot of things in society. A similar effect, but in education, had the popularization of online paper writing services like DoMyEssay, where students can buy custom essay to get help with their assignments and easily improve their grades. students can get help with their assignments and easily improve their grades. Most people can relate to others better in society because they have been educated and socialized to accommodate others. There several advantages of being educated that can make you a better citizen in society. Some of the benefits are mentioned below.

Education Makes People Develop Critical Thinking Skills

All people think about situations in life, which affects how they respond to issues around them. However, how well and deep someone feels about a specific issue depends on how educated they are. Most schools and colleges, like Miller-Motte, teach their students’ critical thinking skills, where they are equipped with the necessary knowledge on how to ask relevant questions and analyze situations in depth rather than being reactive. Academic writing is a great tool for the development of critical thinking. When students receive the writing assignment and start analyzing “how to write my research paper” they have already made the first step towards critical thinking.

As a result, such individuals develop into curious and reflective individuals, who may not react to issues until they have fully understood them. This makes them better citizens in society since they question things and only go with what works for them rather than settling.

Helps People Think Outside the Box

Smart people are not necessarily those born with a brilliant mind but those who nurture themselves to stand out. Apart from being a creative person, education helps you channel this creativity into the right things, thus making you a useful member of your society. You are likely to become a better person when you know that things are not done in one way only. There are several ways of doing the same thing to achieve excellent results. Going to school exposes you to this kind of experience, allowing you to appreciate the value of always thinking outside the box. Through avenues like engaging keynote speakers, you get exposed to diverse insights and viewpoints that further expand your horizons. People who go to school are likely to be creative compared to those who do not. This makes it easy for you to relate with others easily.

Helps People Build Their Social Skills

Attending school is one of the easiest ways to build networks that will last a lifetime. You get to learn how to seek help like when you hire an essay writer whenever you need assistance. Some of the people you meet in school will become your career partners and acquaintances that you can look up to for any help. Having a person you can reach out for a particular thing makes life easier. What’s more, interactions that happen in school teach people to be friendly and open-minded.

Adopt Healthier Lifestyles

Attending school opens you up to the possibilities of having a better life than what you are accustomed to. By seeing how others lead their lives, or by reading and discovering the benefits of adopting certain healthy lifestyles, you get to choose better for yourself. You get to learn some of the things to avoid to attain the best quality of life, making it easy for you to enjoy life with those around you more.

Enhanced Employment Opportunities

People with an education and college degree are likely to get better employment opportunities than those who did not attend any school. Most industries and companies are searching for skilled laborers with the expertise to handle a lot of complicated machinery and the ability to master plans and procedures.

Being learned makes it possible for workers to adapt to such situations, and it is even more comfortable if they have specialized skills and knowledge on the same. Many companies will consider hiring experts with such experience instead of picking unskilled labor, unless for the lower-level tasks. This makes life in the workplace easier and better.

Increases Family Income

The more people are educated in a family, the higher their chances of having stable jobs with a constant income flow. When people are empowered economically, they can sustain their families and improve their living standards. Being educated increases the chances of people being employed and earning a sustainable income. However, when there is no formal employment to count on, educated individuals can venture into business and trade, making it possible for them to survive and improve their livelihoods.

Makes People Excellent Problem Solvers

After spending years in a class solving mathematical problems, one tends to develop special problem-solving skills. Besides math problems, most subjects require students to think critically and find viable solutions. While this may seem like an assessment strategy, the critical and in-depth thinking skills acquired also apply in real life. Most educated individuals are smart critical thinkers that can get themselves out of tricky situations.

Education Attracts Modernity

An educated community or society tends to adopt a few things that help urbanize even the most rural areas. The thing people learn in school help shape the choices and desires they have. By observing and reading about different societies in history and culture, educated individuals can develop an ideal society for themselves.

In the end, education remains one of the most important aspects of modern life. Most people with a basic education can maneuver through life with its numerous challenges. There is a form of empowerment that comes with being educated, making it possible for people to improve their lives in totality.

Why Education Is Important in Life

Whether you have been asked to write an essay on the importance of education in life or are simply debating about this topic, understanding the benefits of education in life is crucial. Most people today live better lives because they got an education. So, how important is an education in one’s life?

Equips One with Basic Reading and Writing Skills

Your essay writer will easily point out that education makes it possible for people to read and write. These are basic communication skills in today’s world. Most of the content shared today is either written or spoken in official languages. If you do not know how to read written content, the chances are that you will miss out on some of the most crucial communication and socializing skills.

Reading skills come in handy in different situations, both official and unofficial. You need to understand how to read a letter to know what the sender is communicating. The same reading skills will be useful whenever you have to read official documents at work. The bottom line is that education makes it possible for a person to master basic reading skills. And for those who want to go further, pursuing a part time mba can do a lot of good.

Additionally, getting an education helps one to manage simple to complex writing assignments. Even if you may not write professionally as published authors do, getting a primary education makes it possible to understand simple writing techniques useful for effective communication. Knowing how to write your name and append signatures in documents is made possible when you know how to write. The bottom line is that education makes people literate, which is a crucial survival requirement in a developed world.

Education is Necessary for Employment

Most people in formal employment secure their jobs because they have attained a certain level of education. Most jobs in industries require that employees have specific academic qualifications. The training in schools and colleges is crucial for the successful execution of tasks at the industry or company level. In most cases, uneducated people lose some lucrative opportunities because their academic stand works to their disadvantage.

Enhanced Communication

Education is also crucial for effective communication. Unless you attend some form of training, you are less likely to appreciate the diversity in people; hence it will fail to accommodate the communication differences brought about by culture and socialization.

Apart from this, people learn how to become good speakers and orators at schools. It is one thing to talk about and another to communicate effectively. It is also at school that people learn different communication techniques to apply based on their situation.

Enhances the Use of Technology

When someone is taught how to use a gadget or machine, they tend to use it better. Some of the sophisticated machinery in an industry requires attending a class and g through a course to master. While learning through apprenticeship always works, the experts have to be educated to teach the rest of the staff. You are likely to handle machines better when you attend a specific class on the same.

Flattens the Curve

When people are educated, they have an equal chance to compete for the same opportunities. Most of these opportunities are awarded based on merit. When education and academic qualifications are used as the determinant, people from different backgrounds get the same platform to fight it out. This affords even the poorest people in society a chance to become the best they can be because everyone is equal.

Education Empowers

This happens in the sense that when someone is educated, they get to dream of better things for themselves. The opportunities that come with this platform brings realities closer home. Most people who get educated learn how to turn their weaknesses into power and transform their lives in the long run. It does not matter which community one comes from, their economic background, or their exposure level. Once someone gets an education, the field gets leveled, and they can reach for their goals easily.

Education Leads to Improved Economies

Most people in society would probably lead to ordinary low-income level lives. However, when one gets educated, the chances of securing well-paying jobs also increase. When they are paid well, their family income increases, and they are also likely to have extra to engage in economic activities such as businesses. In the long run, they help boost their family’s financial status and contribute to their society and the nation’s economic growth.

The bottom line – education is a game-changer and should be embraced. The benefits are immense for all.

 

Bandcamp Launches Ticketed Livestreaming Service

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Bandcamp has announced a new livestreaming service, Bandcamp Live, which will allow musicians to set up ticketed livestream performances. The online concerts will be fully integrated into the platform and will feature a virtual “merch table” and real-time chat. 80-85% of ticket sales will go directly to the artist, and the company has also announced it will waive its ticket fees entirely until March 31, 2021.

Earlier this year, the online music marketplace launched Bandcamp Fridays, a day each month where the company waives its revenue share, to help artists struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bandcamp Live is the next step in our effort to help our community thrive during this crazy time,” a post on their website reads. “Streaming will never replace the experience of in-person performances, but we believe it’s the next best thing, and will provide artists with a powerful tool to build and connect with their fans both now, and when Covid is behind us and we’re all out enjoying the magic of live music once again.”

You can head out to the Bandcamp website to check out some of the artists who have already confirmed shows on Bandcamp Live, including Cloud Nothings, Liv.e, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Hatchie, and more.

An Overview of How Gaming Influences Modern Culture and Society

Gaming is not new. The gaming industry has changed over time, and so have culture and society with it. Currently, there are a variety of platforms that a person can game for fun or real money. Online gaming has even fostered cultural connections through the meeting of players around the world.

Nowadays, gamers are eagerly waiting for the next game to play, no matter if they’re trying to see how to win Fortnite or achieving the Stand by me achievement in Overwatch 2. Without knowing, games are influencing our lives and the community that we live in. Studies suggest that games can be used as a force of good in society. It is a way of connecting and bringing people together.

Games vs. Behavior

When reading adventure books or watching action films, you will only get a view of the plot. Games offer a different dimension to such stories as it gives you control over characters and items in the narrative. It creates a deeper interaction with the plot through the gameplay. You get the choice to undertake actions that will affect the outcome of the game. It can measure your performance and give scores.

Games are mimicking the modern world, and gamers can relate to the virtual environment. However, most of these games will have no consequences for the choice of gamers. There are games where users go on a killing spree on the streets for fun. This is different the society’s morals and values. It is the reason that stereotypes oppose games that promote violent and pornographic behavior. The social groups argue that such games will influence the behavior of those playing, especially teenagers.

Studies differ from the suggestions that gaming negatively influences society. The findings show that most gamers use the activity as a way of spending leisure time. It does not dictate how they live their lives. Although other studies show a linkage between games and moods, it is only for the short term. There is still research on the long-term effects of gaming. While it’s good to enjoy hearts for the purpose of training your brain, it’s important to balance your time. It is advisable to offer parental guidance to kids about gaming and what game to play.

Modern Gaming Influences Communication and Interaction

The gaming industry has seen great progress due to the advancement of technology and the internet’s introduction. Global gamers can play video games virtually over the internet. The gaming world brings you together with people who you would never meet. People from all walks of life and beliefs can connect using a gaming platform. Although both parties may be speaking different languages, they can collaborate and challenge each other effectively.

Video games show that people have more in common even though they have been brought up in different cultures. It brings individuals together as they get an emotional connection with the game. Gaming enthusiasts form groups where they come together for the same objective; to have fun and adventure. The individuals will share in the triumphs and make the players compassionate to each other.

Ways that Games Impact the Society

Games can impact our lives in broader ways than we envision. It is a skill like any other, and it breaks barriers in society. Below are ways gaming influences modern culture and society;

Education

Learning institutions are not only stocking books in libraries but games. The applications are available according to ages, and there are board games such as chess that are fun for adults. When human beings are entertained, they can easily retain what is being put across. Digital tools for educating children are using 3D simulation similar to the ones in games. Games effectively teach morals and culture in children as they can connect with the animated characters from games.

Treatment

Modern technology can help improve the recovery of patients. The technique involves some ideas from the gaming world as it makes use of a similar interface to render 3D media. Games are also helpful in giving an understanding of the way that doctors need to acquire images using cameras. They can simulate data using technology similar to Mario games.

Improves Imagination

Some games in the market were just a pipe dream twenty years ago. The gameplay in games can animate an imaginary world as created in movies. Developers of the game try to make it as real as possible by using high definition graphics with impressive detailing of characters and objects.

There is a wide interaction of gaming technology in the security and air travel industry. Security forces use the technology to simulate a real-life threat situation and find ways of solving them before facing them in actual life. Pilots are also using it for theoretical lessons as they can fly virtual planes on screens. It helps them understand the different conditions that they could potentially face when flying an actual aircraft.

Apart from stimulating imagination, games improve decision-making skills. They give challenges that a player needs to solve to move to another level. As one progresses, there are rewards along the way, and it boosts a player’s morale. There are a few negative effects of excessive gaming and gambling. It can lead to loss of time and money in the long term, even getting to the point of a gaming addiction.

Conclusion

The gaming industry is projected to evolve more into the future. More youths and adults will be joining in on the fun. Apart from judging and stereotyping people who play games, we can listen to them. It will help in addressing gaming and its impact on social wellbeing.