American singer and trumpeter Louis Armstrong is mostly remembered for his song ‘Wonderful World’
His career lasted over 50 years which was and still is celebrated by people around the world. The music Armstrong performed is used constantly in films, played on radios and listened to by many. Furthermore, his recordings have been included into Grammy Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which showcases the wide influence he had with his music.
To celebrate his wonderful career here is Louis Armstrong performing his most widely known song ‘What A Wonderful World’.
Zosen Bandido an Argentinian born artist creates fun and colourful murals.
Bandido’s use of bright colours and bold shapes make his cheeky characters particularly striking, thus giving his work a sense of energetic vibrancy. On the other hand, if you’re looking for work like this to be done on your property you can search for a graffiti artist for hire.
Icelandic artist Björk known to many for her unique and raw talent has announced to her fans that she will be releasing a new album.
With nine studio albums released, it seems that Björk is not looking to stop anytime soon. Bjork uploaded a picture via her social media which says “I am excited to share with you that my new album is coming out very soon”.
She also included a link to her album which at the moment does not have a name and is priced for £23.99 (vinyl), £9.99 (CD Digipack) and for £8.99 (CD Jewelcase). No tracklisting or such has been announced as of yet.
Twitter users that use it the platform via Desktop devices have seen a slight change, as Twitter introduced a different font on their platform.
Users that use Twitter are becoming used to a constant makeover, as just recently the profile pictures were changed from square to rounded which left some users confused. Now, it looks like primary font has changed on desktop platforms from Helvetica Neue to Segoe UI as of today.
The difference between the fonts might not be much to the normal user but the battle between the two fonts have been going on for years. Over the years, Apple has been known for using Helvetica (original version) and competitors Microsoft for using Segoe UI and Segoe. Of course, Helvetica is rather different from Helvetica Neue. The original version was made in 1957 by Max Miedinger and the re-worked version was made by D. Stempel AG in 1983. Both have slight differences as the newer version the font was made to fit the punctuation better and some of the characters were given slight changes for a better fluency and design. However, the difference between Helvetica and Segoe is quite dramatic and thus comes into question what made, the social media giant, Twitter change.
As Twitter had a makeover many users took to the platform to express their feelings about the change.
Twitter has a new font! It’s driving me crazy. Not because of how hard to read it is, but because they didn’t adjust line heights. pic.twitter.com/ybX9hyMr8c
High fashion house Jimmy Choo specialising in shoes, handbags, accessories, and fragrances has a new owner.
According to Forbes, Jimmy Choo has been acquired by luxury fashion company Michael Kors for a sum of $1.2 billion.
Michale Kors have been having trouble in the recent quarter as sales went down by 11% and are at this moment of time are looking to close down around 100 stores.
The new acquisition will give Michael Kors a chance to either further expand both brands by working together or merge them to make them into one. At this moment of time, it is unknown how the two companies will work together to raise both of their sales.
Jimmy Choo will continue to be run by CEO Pierre Denis, who has been in the position since 2012. The brand was founded by British Vogue editor Tamara Mellon and fashion designer Jimmy Choo back in 1996.
August brings us another Listen Different selection.
This month we have some great music, a unique range of music that will be perfect for your playlists.
Sure Sure ‘Koreatown’
If you like some groovy indie-pop this latest single by the splendid Sure Sure will be just for you. It features smooth vocals and striking production that will move this song into your daily playlist. Sure Sure have developed an image that is a pleasure to follow, unquestionably a project to watch.
SHMN ‘Things You Know’ feat. John M
Now, if you are looking for something bit more serious but dynamic and full of energy, SHMN’s latest single featuring John M will be the one for you. This club anthem has smooth sailing synths that will teleport you into the world of night life. SHMN might be among many in the world of dance music, but certainly a name that stands out from the crowd.
KOWL ‘Memories’
So, if you are craving for more electronic dance music, ‘Memories’ by the wonderful and super promising KOWL will fulfill your needs. It features vibrant synths throughout, a pumping beat and most importantly a vibe that will keep you dancing for days. Is KOWL the next Daft Punk or Justice?
TenYearsGone ‘Take Me Home’
As summer is coming to an end, we still want something with some power and energy to maintain the great vibe of summer for the rest of the year. Luckily, we have ‘Take Me Home’ by TenYearsGone which is a truly coruscating song that features some smooth vocals that go hand in hand with a powerfully-dynamic production. British music producer TenYearsGone will be on our radar for years to come for sure.
Proxy & AC Slater ‘Magic Word’
On the other hand, if you are still missing that night life or wanting to have more of it. Latest single ‘Magic Word’ from the Russian music producer Proxy and AC Slater will provide you with just that. It is truly a club banger that will teleport you into the world of the European nightlife. Proxy does not shy away from the dance scene which is why he will only succeed to get bigger in an area of music that is consistently growing.
TSUKI ‘For The Days We Lost’
We are proud to once again feature the well-rounded and multi-talented TSUKI. Once again, TSUKI proves to use why he is the name to watch in the music world. With beautiful subtle synths and clear showcase of maturity as a music producer, he proves his talents once more in his latest ambient track ‘For The Days We Lost’.
5ALVO ‘Glad To’ feat. NAT
If you are looking for more groovy music, ‘Glad To’ by the spectacular 5ALVO and NAT will be the one for you. It features breathtaking production that will let you escape into the world of thoughts. 5ALVO is consistently developing his image as a music producer, with great production he offers today we are sure he will go far.
Men I Trust ‘You Deserve This’
Groovy, minimal and simply smooth-sailing would be a few great words to describe this song by Men I Trust. Other than great music, it features a stunning music video that is executed perfectly. Nowadays we see so many simple or basic videos, luckily with Men I Trust we get originality, maturity and simplicity in the form of perfection. Everything comes together in this song, from the lovely bass and dripping-like vocals. Simply, splendid music.
Chris Porter ‘Crashing Down’
Now, if you are looking for something more melancholic or deep. ‘Crashing Down’ might be just the song for you. Sleek production that progress it into a heavy-hitting song, one for the playlists for sure. This one is perfect to end our summers in a mood that slowly fades us into the more monotone lifestyle of autumn.
Nelson Can ‘Move Forward’
Finally, we finish our August selection with a bang. This latest alternative song by the earth-moving Nelson Can is frankly thunderous and evolving. Other than make a mark for themselves, Nelson Can proves to use that they are the name to watch in the music world.
Actor Sylvester Stallone hinted via social media about ‘The Expendables 4’ film.
The actor posted a picture with a caption saying “The Expendables about to get ” … Very Dark” …. Again…” most likely hinting that the film will have another evil villain like in the films before it.
At this moment of time there is no release date for the film. Predecessor ‘The Expendables 3’ was released back in 2014 and featured actors such as Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Welsey Snipes and Dolph Lundgren as well as many other well-known and respected actors. It made a over $200 million at the box office with a budget $90 million.
With ‘Creed 2’ coming in 2018, it is likely that ‘The Expendables 4’ will come some time further in the timeline.
Sam Mendes’ timeless and thought-provoking debut film American Beauty provides a mesmerising exploration into the longing of the American Dream.
American Beauty was released back in 1999, and not even Sam Mendes could have thought that his directorial debut on the big screen would be so successful. Taking home five academy awards and raking in over $356,000,000 worldwide, just how did American Beauty become so successful and revered?
Set in suburban California, American Beauty follows the story of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), an advertising writer and father who has grown weary and hateful to his “stupid little life”. He narrates the opening, and states that “In less than a year, I’ll be dead. And in a way, I’m dead already”. He hates his job, his daughter Jane (Thora Birch) and wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) detest him, he’s sexually frustrated, and he feels as if he has no purpose in such a world. This is until he becomes besotted with his daughter’s friend Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari). He embarks on a mission to impress and sleep with her, as a catalyst for change. Lester forms a bond with his new neighbour, Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), who inspires Lester to view the beauty in the world. In a hilarious manner, Lester encounters a mid-life crisis, choosing to set aside all responsibilities and live his life how desires. He quits his job to work at a fast food restaurant, works out, and smokes drugs amongst many new aspects of his lifestyle.
Conrad Hall’s clever cinematography and Naomi Shohan’s superb production design takes us to a world of temptations and fantasies. The symbolism of the colour red throughout the film is used to portray lust and desires that lie within all of the characters. We see that the Burnham’s are living in the only house with a red door, the rose petals when Lester fantasises about Angela amongst other times throughout. As for the others, Jane and Ricky lie on a red set of sheets, Angela applying red lipstick, Carolyn wearing a red dress whilst holding a gun, and Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper) covered in blood as Lester is shot. The tracking shots, and then close ups held together the intimate moments with Angela in Lester’s fantasies, allows the audience to be transfixed by the flirting and movement taking place within the each of the scenes. Alongside 360 degree shots and dolly shots, the camera movement in Lester’s fantasies are particularly memorable and crucial to an insight into Lester’s mind.
Alan Ball’s tremendous screenplay and characterisation allows the audience to relate to any of the characters to whom they are most applicable to, and to recognise the familiarity of the rest as this could potentially be any old suburban family. This is matched with stellar performances from the cast, particularly that of Bening and Spacey. Bening’s portrayal of the neurotic Carolyn shows true raw emotion of a failing and desperate wannabe that we empathise with yet are infuriated by. Spacey is outstanding as the lead, and provides warmth, authenticity, laughter and pity as Lester. The pair both proceeded to earn two Oscars for their respective roles.
The greatest achievement within this classic, is that American Beauty is both a comedy and a tragedy. We relate to and pity Lester’s failures, as a lot of us live it. We laugh at Lester’s new found happy-go-lucky attitude. We hold both admiration and envy towards Lester, for having the guts to be free of responsibilities, appreciative to be living his life, and ultimately happy to be free from any social pressures. A Lester Burnham exists inside all of us, wanting to break free from the shackles of society and to embrace every moment. It inspires even the most cynical, to “look closer”. Lester’s downfall, although known from the outset, supports this by leaving a bittersweet taste in the mouth of the audience. His tragedy, being that he didn’t sleep with Angela and ultimately died, yet he obtained some of life’s purest moments in his final moments. He had admiration and love for his time with his family, and satisfaction and gratitude, for “every moment of his stupid little life”
Combined with a captivating score, laughter, superb direction and a thought-provoking ending, Mendes’ feature-film debut has to go down as one of the most original films of its time, and as one of the most successful directorial debuts of all time.
Dunkirk is a tense and spectacular survival epic with edge-of-your-seat action, breathtaking visuals and phenomenal sound.
The film tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation in three parts: From land, from sea and from air, intertwining to create a non-linear narrative (A normality in Nolan films) On land, Fionn Whitehead plays Tommy, a young British private who, just like everyone else, wants to go home. He arrives on the beach where British troops are lined up for the evacuation, except that there is no one there to take them home. Hundreds of thousands of men stand, hopelessly, on the beach where German bombers start to attack. In the sea we find Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance) who begins to take his small boat to Dunkirk, occupied by his son Peter and their teenage hand George they pick up a shell-shocked soiled on their way that begs them to turn back, not wanting to go back to Dunkirk, they begin to see the horrors ahead. In the air we find three pilots, one of whom is played by Tom Hardy, on their way to Dunkirk they come across constant fire from the Germans, as they also attempt to help save the troops on the sea and land.
The film opens up on the streets of Dunkirk where a group of soldiers walk through floating leaflets, warning them that Germans surround them on all sides. We know that there is only one way for them to go, this starts up the tension for the film together with the ticking noise that is constantly building and building, we are rarely ever drawn away from tension. Hans Zimmer’s haunting music makes you hold you breath in anticipation however it is the sound design and editing in the film that makes it for me. You are thrown into the unknown along with these characters; you feel every explosion, every gunshot, every breath; the sound of the planes, the waves and even the silence make it a truly astounding and riveting experience. Although I was impressed with the score I felt at times that the film could have just had the sound design and not had the music mix in with it.
What Nolan does best in this film I feel is show the scale and depth of the event. When we see the beach and troops for the first time it is never ending, it stretches far beyond the frame, it seems the amount of troops are endless and as they stare at the horizon in search for help there is nothing there, just home itself. When the beach is attacked and bodies lie dead, the troops carry on as normal, they know there is nothing they can do, no where else to go, all they can do is wait, it does make for a harrowing sight. The cinematography is striking as well, especially the scenes in the air; Hoyte Van Hoytema captures the dogfight tremendously well between the spitfires and the Luftwaffe. The struggle of having to film with heavy IMAX cameras for nearly every sequence in the film really paid off.
The main criticism I hear about this film is that it offers no character backstory and limited character development and this takes away any emotional core. This is slightly true, this film isn’t very long and telling the story from 3 perspectives means you don’t have time to dive deep into every character we see. This is why I failed to connect with some of the characters; I just wasn’t able to care for them, although it left me shocked while watching I wasn’t emotionally hit. Nolan wanted the film to be as tense and suspenseful as possible meaning he didn’t want to drag the film out to be too long and for you to care about the characters because of the situation they are in. For the most part this works, the suspense is good and you understand the situation they are in but unfortunately it doesn’t work for every character.
Overall, Dunkirk is a good survival film, Nolan opts to tell his story visually with limited dialogue, offering up exceptional sound to immerse you in the fight and striking visuals to show the horror. While the film does lacks some emotional sense towards its characters it only offers as a small adverser.
Actor and writer BJ Novak most widely known for his role in the ‘The Office’ turns 38 today.
The actor was born on the 31st of July 1979 in Newton, Massachusetts, United States. His latest role was in the film ‘The Founder’ which was directed by John Lee Hancock in which Novak played the role of Harry J. Sonneborn.
To celebrate the birthday of BJ Novak here are some great scenes of him playing the character of Ryan in Golden Globe winning mockumentary ‘The Office’.