#All Africa Music Awards 2022

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Burna Boy featuring 21 Savage - Sittin' on Top of the World 2023

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known professionally as Burna Boy, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. He rose to stardom in 2012 after releasing "Like to Party", the lead single from his debut studio album L.I.F.E (2013). In 2019, he won Best International Act at the BET Awards, and was named an Apple Music Up Next artist. He also released his fourth studio album, African Giant, which went on to win Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards and was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. He was awarded African Artist of the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards. Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, Twice as Tall, in August 2020. It won Best World Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He again won Best International Act at the 2021 BET Awards.

Burna Boy's sixth studio album Love, Damini was released in 2022 and became the highest debut of a Nigerian album on the Billboard 200 chart. It also became the highest-charting African album in France, the Netherlands and the UK. Burna Boy was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his achievements in music. He won his fourth Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2023. He won The Headies Afrobeats Single of the Year category and also the Song of the Year for "Last Last". In support of his album Love, Damini, Burna Boy embarked on a global tour starting in May 2022, with dates in North America, Europe and Africa. On 3 June 2023, he performed in front of a sold-out 60,000 crowd at the London Stadium, becoming the first African artist to headline a stadium tour in the UK. Reacting to this achievement, he first alluded to the album title, saying, "I told them that I'm a genius".

"Sittin' on Top of the World" was released on 1 June 2023 as the lead single from Burna Boy's seventh studio album I Told Them… (2023). Produced by Skread, it contains a sample of "Top of the World" by Brandy featuring Mase. The official remix of the song, featuring Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Burna Boy performed the song at the ceremony alongside Brandy and 21 Savage.

"Sittin' on Top of the World" received a total of 47,3% yes votes.

[frenadonoticias]

MTV VMAs 2023: vea la lista completa de ganadores

MTV VMAs 2023:

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards celebrated the past and embraced the future in a memorable ceremony. The event honored pop icons Shakira and Diddy for their significant contributions to the music world and paid tribute to the rich 50-year history of hip-hop. It also showcased emerging artists from around the globe.

Shakira was the recipient of the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, and her performance covered her illustrious career, highlighting the evolution of Latin pop music. This was a fitting choice for an awards show that introduced Colombian reggaeton sensation Karol G and Peso Pluma, a talented 24-year-old artist from Guadalajara, Mexico, whose music blends regional Mexican, reggaeton, and hip-hop influences from his upbringing.

The VMAs also showcased diverse international genres, including the thriving Afrobeats from West Africa and the global sensation of K-pop. Nigerian singer Rema and Selena Gomez were honored with the first-ever Afrobeats award for their hit “Calm Down,” which recently achieved a remarkable billion streams on Spotify. South Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together and Brazilian pop star Anitta presented their new collaboration, “Back for More.”

Additionally, the event featured special appearances by ‘N Sync, Ashanti, Timbaland, and Nelly Furtado.

For those interested in sharp, witty, and thoughtful updates, you can subscribe to the Style Memo newsletter.

In summary, the 2023 VMAs, hosted by Nicki Minaj for the second year in a row, celebrated the past, embraced the future, and showcased the global diversity of music.

VÍDEO DEL AÑO

GANADORA : Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

Doja Cat – “Attention”

Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”

Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”

Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”

Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”

SZA – “Kill Bill”

ARTISTA DEL AÑO

Beyoncé

Doja Cat

Karol G

Nicki Minaj

Shakira

Taylor Swif

LA CANCIÓN DEL AÑO

GANADORA : Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” 

Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”

Olivia Rodrigo – “vampire”

Rema & Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Sam Smith, Kim Petras – “Unholy”

Steve Lacy – “Bad Habit”

SZA – “Kill Bill”

MEJOR ARTISTA NUEVO

GANADORA : Ice Spice

GloRilla

Kaliii

Peso Pluma

PinkPantheress

Reneé Rapp

EMPUJE EL RENDIMIENTO DEL AÑO

GANADORA :April 2023: Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride”

August 2022: Saucy Santana – “Booty”

September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – “Until I Found You”

October 2022: JVKE – “golden hour”

November 2022: Flo Milli – “Conceited”

December 2022: Reneé Rapp – “Colorado”

January 2023: Sam Ryder – “All The Way Over”

February 2023: Armani White – “GOATED”

March 2023: Fletcher – “Becky’s So Hot”

May 2023: Ice Spice – “Princess Diana”

June 2023: FLO – “Losing You”

July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – “That Part”

Para saber más ganadoras de MTV VMAs 2023 — haga clic aquí

[siansfashion]

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter and dancer who was the most popular entertainer in the world in the early-mid 1980s. Michael Jackson was the youngest and most talented of the 5 brothers, his father, Joseph shaped them into a group called the Jackson 5.

The Jackson 5 scored 4 consecutive number one pop hits with “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There” in 1970. The group finally broke with Motown, moving to Epic Records as the Jackson’s.

“Thriller” captured a slew of awards, including a record-setting eight Grammys; remained on the charts for more than 2 years; and sold more than 40 million copies, long holding the distinction of being the best-selling album in history.

The follow-up single, “Billie Jean,” an electrifying dance track and the vehicle for Jackson’s trademark “moonwalk” dance topped the charts, as did “Beat It”. Moreover, “Beat It” helped break down the barriers between black and white artists on the radio and in the emerging format of music videos on television.

By 1984 Michael Jackson was renowned as the ‘King of Pop’. In 1985, Jackson and Lionel Richie co-wrote “We Are The World”, the signature single for USA for Africa, an all-star project aimed at famine relief.

In 1987 his album “Bad” produced 5 chart topping hits, among them the title and song and “Man in the Mirror,” and “Dangerous” in 1991.

Harvard Referencing

VINCENT, J. (2022) Michael Jackson. [Online] Available from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson. [Accessed: 13th December 2022].

Fig 1. SAXON, R. (1984) Michael Jackson after winning eight Grammy Awards, 1984. [Photograph] Available from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson. [Accessed: 13th December 2022].

[southafricansongs]

Umlandi

South African music keeps being part of the global music conversation and the artists are doing their best at exporting it across all frontiers. South African popular music might be having the best years it has had in recent history. Carrying on from the momentum gained during the pandemic and its lockdown/travel restrictions, 2022 has been one of the years artists get to eat the fruits of their hard labour.

Contemporary artists are touring, performing at the biggest global stages amongst the best the world has to offer. From the Grammys and Coachella to Ibiza and Afronation, everyone is outside and is putting out their best music while at it. South African music is part of the global African music conversation and the artists are doing their best to export the music.

South Africa is known for its music that has played a huge role towards the country's society. The music of South Africa is very diverse with a wide variety of genres such as Marabi, Kwaito, House music, Isicathamiya, Gqom and Amapiano etc.

With countless hits, such as Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, Pata Pata, Umqombothi (song), Vulindlela and legendary singers such as Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Hugh Masekela, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Lucky Dube, South African music has played a huge impact in Africa(especially in Southern Africa, to a point where countries such as Namibia and Botswana have their own versions of South African music genres such as Kwaito etc.

Afrikaans music was primarily influenced by Dutch folk styles, along with French and German influences, in the early twentieth century. Zydeco-type string bands led by a concertina were popular, as were elements of American country music, especially Jim Reeves. The most prolific composers of "tiekie draai" Afrikaans music were lyricist Anton De Waal who wrote many hit songs with songwriters, pianist Charles Segal ("Hey Babariebab Se Ding Is Vim", "Kalkoenjie", "Sy Kom Van Kommetjie" and many others) and accordionist, Nico Carstens. Bushveld music based on the Zulu were reinterpreted by such singers as Marais and Miranda. Melodramatic and sentimental songs called trane trekkers (tearjerkers) were especially common. In 1973, a country music song won the coveted SARI Award (South African Music Industry) for the Song of the Year – "My Children, My Wife" was written by renowned South African composer Charles Segal and lyricist Arthur Roos. In 1979 the South African Music scene changed from the Tranetrekkers to more lively sounds and the introduction of new names in the market with the likes of Anton Goosen, David Kramer (singer), Koos du Plessis, Fanie de Jager, Flaming Victory and Laurika Rauch. Afrikaans music is currently one of the most popular and best selling industries on the South African music scene.

After World War I, Afrikaner nationalism spread and such musicians as Jewish pianist and composer Charles Segal and accordionist Nico Carstens were popular.

CONTRACT US

Phone: +2349120010105

Website: https://umlandi.com/

Social Link: https://twitter.com/naijasong

[denimbex1986]

'There are some familiar faces in the cast of the 2024 Netflix limited series Ripley. Created by Oscar-winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian, Ripley is a psychological thriller miniseries based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr. Ripley and subsequent book series. Though set in the 1960s, Ripley will still follow the same story of the career criminal, Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), who is hired by a wealthy man to retrieve his spoiled and freewheeling son, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), from Italy, a task that quickly turns dark as Tom becomes more and more obsessed with Dickie.

Originally set to air on Showtime, Ripley will instead premiere on Netflix on April 4, 2024. Zaillian, who wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Schindler's List, also wrote and directed all eight episodes of Ripley, which appear to have been shot entirely in black-and-white. Ripley marks the first full-length TV series based on Highsmith's books, but there are a number of The Talented Mr. Ripley film adaptations, including the 1999 film starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It will be tough to beat that lineup, but the cast of 2024's Ripley definitely looks promising...

Andrew Scott As Tom Ripley

Andrew Scott Is 47 Years Old

Actor: Andrew Scott was born on October 21, 1976, in Dublin, Ireland. A prolific theater actor to this day, Scott first broke big onscreen as Moriarty in the BBC's Sherlock series (2010-2017).Scott's performance in Sherlock as the titular detective's nemesis earned him a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor. He gained further prominence as The Priest (often called "The Hot Priest") in season 2 of Fleabag in 2019. Most recently, Scott played the lead role of Adam in the 2023 romantic drama All Of Us Strangers, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor...

Character: In Ripley, Scott plays the titular murderous con artist, Tom Ripley. Scott is the latest in a string of talented actors to take on the role of the mysterious grifter. Most notably, Matt Damon played Tom in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

Johnny Flynn As Dickie Greenleaf

Johnny Flynn Is 41 Years Old

Actor: Johnny Flynn was born on March 14, 1983, in Johannesburg, South Africa. During his tenure as Dylan Witter in the Netflix sitcom Lovesick (2014-2018), Flynn gained prominence for playing a young Albert Einstein in season 1 of the biographical anthology series Genius in 2017. He went on to play Mr. Knightley in the 2020 film adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma and David Bowie in the 2020 biopic Stardust about the music legend. Flynn also starred in The Outfit (2022) and One Life (2023). He is also the frontman of his eponymous band, Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit...

Character: In Ripley, Flynn plays Dickie Greenleaf, the handsome and affluent object of Tom Ripley's twisted affection. Flynn will be following in the footsteps of Jude Law, who portrayed Dickie in 1999's The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Dakota Fanning As Marge Sherwood

Dakota Fanning Is 30 Years Old

Actor: Dakota Fanning was born on February 23, 1994, in Conyers, Georgia. Fanning's breakout role was playing Sean Penn's daughter Lucy in the 2001 film I Am Sam, just one year after her acting debut. Fanning went on to become a prominent child star in 2000s, starring in films like Uptown Girls, The Cat in the Hat, and War of the Worlds. From 2009-2012, Fanning played Voluri member Jane in The Twilight Saga. She also voiced the titular role in Coraline and played Cherie Currie in the music biopic The Runaways. In 2023, Fanning reunited with Man on Fire co-star Denzel Washington in Equalizer 3...

Character: In Ripley, Fanning plays Dickie's friend and on-and-off love interest, Marge Sherwood. As shown in Netflix's Ripley trailer, Marge becomes Tom's rival as she grows more and more suspicious of his intentions. In the 1999 film adaptation of Highsmith's novel, the role of Marge was played by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Ripley Supporting Cast & Characters

Eliot Sumner as Freddie Miles: Best known as a musician, Eliot Sumner plays Dickie's school friend Freddie Miles in Ripley. Sumner has also appeared in films like The Gentleman (2020), No Time to Die (2020), and Infinite Storm (2022). Sumner is following in the footsteps of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Freddie in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

Maurizio Lombardi as Inspector Pietro Ravini: Italian actor Maurizio Lombardi plays Inspector Pietro Ravini in Ripley. Lombardi has starred in a number of Italian films, including Tutta Un'altra Vita (2019) and Amusia (2022). Lombardi is also known for his work in 2019's Pinocchio and the HBO miniseries The New Pope (2019-2020), which also stars The Talented Mr. Ripley star Jude Law and Lombardi's Ripley co-star John Malkovich.

Margherita Buy: Though her role has not yet been identified, Italian actress Margherita Buy is set to appear in Ripley. Buy has primarily starred in Italian films, including La stazione (1990), Le fate ignoranti (2001), Giorni e nuvole (2007), Mia madre (2015), Il sol dell'avvenire (2023), and Volare (2023). She also starred in Romeo è Giuletta, a 2024 Italian film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, with Ripley co-star Maurizio Lombardi.

John Malkovich: John Malkovich briefly appears in the Ripley trailer in an unidisclosed role, in which he can be heard telling Tom, "I like the name." Malkovich's presence in Ripley is notable as he played Tom Ripley in the 2002 film adaptation of Ripley's Game, the third book in Highsmith's Ripley series. Malkovich is also known for starring in Places in the Heart (1984), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), In the Line of Fire (1993), and Burn After Reading (2008), and for playing a satirical version of himself in 1999's Being John Malkovich.'

[greensparty]

Preview: 2024 Boston Underground Film Festival

The Boston Underground Film Festival returns to the Brattle Theatre (Cambridge, MA) from Wed. March 20 to Sun. March 24, 2024! The fest is now in it's 24th edition celebrating bizarre, weird and alt cinema!

Here at Green’s Party, I’ve been lucky enough to cover the festival since 2016 (the fest took off in 2020 and 2021, and I was unable to attend 2022, but I returned in 2023). Here are some of the highlights of this year’s BUFF:

Wed. March 20:

Opening Night film is the East Coast Premiere of Immaculate, which stars current It Girl Sydney Sweeney as a nun in a new covenant as nightmarish things start happening. The film opens nationwide on Friday from Neon, but BUFF fans get to see the East Coast Premiere! Then it's time for the North American Premiere of the new restoration of the 1990 Hong Kong action film Fatal Termination.

Thurs. March 21:

Day 2 kicks off with a Strange Kindness, which was filmed in Cape Cod and focuses on a small town shaken by a violent crime resulting in a house to house manhunt. This thriller is joined by the VT filmed short The Thaw. Then it's Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (CANADA), a vampire coming-of-age film. Then it's Femme (U.K.), set in London's drag scene where a victim of a homophobic attack encounters the assailant months later in a gay sauna and slowly plots revenge.

Fri. March 22:

The day kicks off at 5PM with The Dunwich Horrors, a short program made up of all New England-based horror stories. Then it's the road movie Off Ramp about some Juggalos making their way through the South and a series of misadventures ensue. Sleep (KOREAN) is about an expectant couple in which the husband is developing a dangerous sleepwalking habit.

Sat. March 23:

One of my favorite portions of BUFF is the Sound + Vision music video program. This year there's 27 music videos including some from The Hives, The Chemical Brothers and more. One of the highlights of 2016 BUFF was Little Sister, directed by Zach Clark (who I interviewed at the fest). Now he's back with the alien road movie The Becomers. A deadly infestation of spiders in a French apartment building is the center of Infested (FRANCE) from Shudder.

Sun. March 24:

In the afternoon there's With Love and a Major Organ (CANADA) set in an alternate world where hearts are made of objects and suppressing emotions, a woman literally gives a suitor her heart and it sets this drama in motion. Omen (BELGIUM) was actually Belgium's submission for Best International Feature to the Academy Awards this past year. It's about a Congolese expat who prepares to return home to present his pregnant girlfriend to his family. Then the Closing Night film is Boy Kills World (GERMANY / SOUTH AFRICA / USA), which boasts the most star power with Bill Skarsgard, Famke Jannsen (who I worked with on Monument Ave), Sharlto Copley and was produced by Sam Raimi. It's about a man who was orphaned as a child and deaf, but he becomes a killing machine and adapts the voice of his favorite video game. The trailer has some very Matrix-like action to it!

For tickets and info on 2024 BUFF

Stay tuned to Green’s Party for my coverage of this year’s fest!

[ear-worthy]

Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast: Visibility For The Invisible Community

Finding podcasts that are ear worthy comes from a multitude of sources - friends, family, co-workers, articles, social media, and even the Ear Worthy Substack site where podcasts are reviewed and recommended daily.

 In the case of Our Black Gay Diaspora podcast, I discovered it on the excellent Substack newsletter, BlkPodNews™, which was launched two years ago.

The newsletter's stated mission is "to help readers / listeners learn about and listen to new Black podcasts, new podcast seasons, and best episodes from Black Podcasting Awards’ winners in this weekly spotlight. It is 'The Podcast Industry Trade Paper For Black Podcast Creatives & Professionals.'"

You can sign up to be on their email newsletter list here. 

On the newsletter, I came across an article about Our Black Gay Diaspora podcast. 

 It is a fascinating independent podcast. Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast is a podcast (video and audio) where Black LGBTQ professionals share stories about their lives, countries and professions. Creator / Host Erick Taylor Woodby interviews individuals who inspire and educate others about who they are, highlighting a population often overlooked by mainstream LGBTQ+ and Black media outlets. 

Woody is attempting to offer greater visibility in a world that often tries to make underrepresented communities invisible is such a large task. 

Here is an Apple review that sums up the view on this podcast.

"Erick has presented an amazing and diverse group of world citizens with wide-ranging experiences, it is fascinating to hear these stories of how these People Of Color (POC) move in the circles of their lives, embracing their Blackness as well as their place within the LGBTQ+ community. It is so important to share this visibility, so everyone can come to understand the full length and breadth of POC/LGBTQ+, the work they are doing, and how they are shaping the world. This podcast is not just for POC, it's accessible to everyone and benefits people of all ethnicities with the stories being shared. I applaud Erick for realizing this gap existed, and I think he is doing an amazing job of filling in the blank spaces. Kudos to you! :)"

Erik Taylor Woodby is the creator, host, and producer of the global biweekly Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast. As a contributing writer for the Swedish Krull Magazine, he shares stories and diverse histories chronicling the lives of individuals making a difference in their countries and professions.

Woodby is a writer, podcast producer, and graphic designer with over 20 years of experience working in media from logo and print design to multimedia, collaborating with clients that include a BAFTA-winning documentary protagonist, an award-winning yoga instructor, and an international investment banking firm.

In his bio, Woodby says: "My love of creative communication extends to learning languages and travelling the world as a digital nomad. I’m proficient in conversational Spanish and basic Swedish. And have visited Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Mexico, Latvia, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Stockholm, Sweden, and Brighton, UK are two of my favorite cities."

Since starting the podcast in late March 2021, Woodby has produced 76 episodes, which is a remarkable feat for an indie podcast. Clearly, because of Woodby's design and media experience, the podcast has slick graphics, excellent sound quality, and the music and is created, produced, and distributed at a high level of quality. Kudos to Woodby for using his multiplicity of skills in podcasting. It's clearly paid off.

On the show, Woodby interviews guests including Executive Director at PEOPLE Magazine Jeremy Helligar, Palmira Koukkari Mbenga, Swedish journalist, actor, and script editor for Netflix’s Young Royals, and Gamal ‘G’ Turawa, the protagonist in the 2022 BAFTA-winning British docudrama The Black Cop. 

One of my favorite episodes was #6 when Woodby interviewed L.A.-based lawyer Thomas DeBoe. Imagine making an episode speaking to a lawyer about business contracts, family law, and joint ventures? zzzzzzzzz. But Woodby's calm, curious style transformed the episode into a fascinating look in DeBoe's life and career.

If you check out the episode roster of Woodby's show, you'll notice that the show length averages about 40 minutes. I personally love that sense of editing and respect for the listeners. Too many interview podcasts believe they can duplicate Joe Rogan and conduct interviews that run for an hour or two. They can't. Woodby has an innate sense of conversational flow.  

Woodby is clearly an advocate of the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who once said, "Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them." 

As a host, Erik Taylor Woodby is understated like low-impact aerobics. You still get the benefits but without the histrionics. His interviewing style is gentle but probing, and his cosmopolitan lifestyle has enabled him to glide without friction through numerous countries, ethnic backgrounds, and belief systems.

Two of my favorite episodes are the January 31, 2024 show with Pax Ahimsa Gethen, who is an American transgender vegan atheist, pacifist, blogger, photographer, and Wikipedia volunteer editor. In August 2023, Pax was awarded Wikipedia’s 2023 Media Contributor of the Year. Through their blog site, funcrunch.org, Pax is a dedicated advocate for marginalized communities, highlighting transgender and Black social justice causes and cultural milestones.

 In episode 65 in September 2023, Woodby interviewed Rob Berkeley, who is the founder and managing editor at BlkOutUK.com, “a not-for-profit social enterprise run and owned by a volunteer collective of black gay men.” He's also a writer who contributed to the 2014 anthology Black and Gay in the UK. His story is titled The Brotherhood Dilemma. Described as an educationalist with interests in media, creativity, and the arts, Rob has a desire to disrupt power dynamics for the betterment of those on the margins of society.

At the beginning of the show, Woody says of Berkeley, "He is willing to upset the power dynamics for the benefit of those in marginalized communities." That's courage and passion.

Check out Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast. You don't have to be gay, black or different in any respect to enjoy the show and learn something from the show.

************************************

 

This review is part of an ongoing series of reviews, recommendations, and essays about Indie podcasters -- their craft, their challenges, and the critical role they play in podcasting. These entrepreneurs display skills as disparate as hosting, sound production, graphic design, scriptwriting, interviewing, marketing genius, and financial watchdog. They are the heart and soul of podcasting.

[sistamagza]

10 Interesting Facts About Seemah

New Post has been published on https://sistamagazine.co.za/10-interesting-facts-about-seemah/

10 Interesting Facts About Seemah

There are a lot of interesting facts about rising South African star Seemah. She is well known for making funny videos on YouTube and TikTok, and her followers are growing steadily. Famous digital content creator and singer Seemah is undeniably reaching for success. Seemah continues to thrive in the entertainment industry. There’s no denying that her hard work is paying off, as she continues to thrive in the entertainment industry.

Here are some interesting facts about the cool and talented Seemah.

1. Seemah is 22 years old and her real name is Sima Mangolwane

2. Seemah is from Cape Town’s Khayelitsha and has been living in Midrand, Johannesburg, for most of her life,

3. Seemah has always wanted to be a star growing up. “But my target was never TikTok. I wanted to be big on Instagram when I was in high school. I wanted to be an influencer, but it never worked out,” she said. [Source: Daily Sun]

4. Seemah is a popular digital content creator with a massive audience on different social media platforms. She has almost 2 million followers on TikTok and almost a million Instagram followers.

5. In 2022, Seemah announced her new merchandise. She wanted to cater for both male and female fans. The t-shirts which come in black and white color show off a collage of her face.

6. In March 2023, Seemah landed a deal with Sony Music Africa as an amapiano artist. She signed a contract with a record label and then debuted the single ‘Industry’. [Source: Briefly]

Seemah ‘Industry’ YouTube Video.

7. This year, Seemah collaborated with music producer Master KG and Lowsheen on the song “Thando,” which is currently making waves.

8. Seemah started doing content creation during Covid-19 lockdown. She came across TikTok in 2020, and it changed her life.

“Late in 2020, I joined TikTok and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, about a year later, in April, my account was banned. But because I enjoyed it so much, I didn’t give up, and I opened another account. Starting all over was clearly what I needed because I got so many followers and they are still growing,” said Seemah. [Source: Daily Sun]

9. Three years later, Seemah has earned a nomination for the South African Social Media Awards’ emerging social media personality of the year category. [Source: SNL24]

10. She is currently dating another popular YouTuber named Ghost Hlubi. Seemah and Ghost Hlubi have been trending on social media for their love lives since getting back together.

[carmenvicinanza]

Giorgia

Giorgia è la straordinaria cantante italiana apprezzata, per il suo enorme talento vocale e interpretativo, in tutto il mondo.

In oltre 30 anni di carriera ha pubblicato venti dischi e venduto oltre 10 milioni di copie, con 12 album nella top-ten italiana, 5 dei quali arrivati al numero uno, e 25 singoli top-ten di cui 5 numero uno.

Definita “la quarta voce più grande e più bella al mondo” dalla rivista statunitense Billboard, ha collaborato con mostri sacri della musica nazionale e internazionale come Ray Charles, Elton John, James Taylor, Simple Minds, Pino Daniele, Aretha Franklin, Mina, Sting e molte e molti altri ancora.

Il suo nome completo è Giorgia Todrani ed è nata a Roma il 26 aprile 1971. È figlia di Elsa Giordano e del cantante e musicista Giulio Todrani, membro del duo canoro Juli & Julie che, in seguito, ha fondato la band Io vorrei la pelle nera con cui lei, giovanissima, ha iniziato a esibirsi dal vivo formando il suo bagaglio artistico che spazia dal jazz al soul, dal blues al rock.

Ha una laurea in lingue straniere ma ha sempre inseguito il sogno musicale e studiato canto con importanti maestri.

Ha registrato il suo primo disco a otto anni, nel 1979, insieme a Cristina Montefiori, un 45 giri dal titolo Chiamatemi Andrea.

Nel 1993 ha vinto Sanremo Giovani ottenendo l’accesso al Festival di Sanremo dell’anno successivo nella sezione Nuove Proposte dove ha cantato E Poi che non ha vinto ma ha scalato le classifiche italiane.

Ha partecipato cinque volte al Festival di Sanremo, ottenendo il primo, il terzo e il secondo posto. Nell’edizione del 1995, che ha vinto con Come saprei, è stata la prima cantante nella storia del festival a conquistare quattro premi: Primo posto Big, Premio della critica, Premio autori e Premio radio e TV.

Ha vinto dischi d’oro, di platino e di diamante e numerosi premi tra cui spiccano molti Music Awards e Italian Music Awards, un MTV History Award, un Premio Campidoglio e un Premio Lunezia per il valore musical-letterario dell’album Dietro le apparenze.

Nel 2003 ha scritto e interpretato Gocce di memoria, brano colonna sonora del film La finestra di fronte che ha vinto il Nastro d’argento alla migliore canzone originale.

Sempre presente nei grandi eventi di solidarietà, è ambasciatrice Unicef.

Attenta all’ambiente, ha lanciato una linea di abbigliamento ecosostenibile, Earthache e prodotto dischi senza l’involucro di plastica protettivo.

Nel 2003 è stata testimonial della campagna No excuse contro lo sfruttamento del lavoro minorile. Ha organizzato presso l’Auditorium Parco della Musica di Roma il concerto evento Insolite note il cui ricavato è stato utilizzato per finanziare la costruzione di un asilo in Africa, grazie alla fondazione Tartallegra di cui è testimonial così come della campagna il Respiro del Corriere della Sera.

Ha partecipato alla canzone Domani 21/04.2009, il cui ricavato è andato alle popolazioni colpite dal terremoto in Abruzzo. È stata madrina al concerto Amiche per l’Abruzzo, che ha visto sul palco 46 tra le più celebri cantanti italiane.

Nel 2012 ha partecipato a Italia Loves Emilia,  concerto di beneficenza tenutosi a Campovolo.

L’anno successivo ha fatto parte della compilation Pink Is Good il cui ricavato è stato devoluto alla Fondazione Umberto Veronesi per finanziare la lotta contro il tumore al seno.

L’11 giugno 2022 si è esibita nel corso del concerto contro la violenza sulle donne Una. Nessuna. Centomila.

Nel 2023 ha debuttato come attrice nel film Scordato diretto da Rocco Papaleo, ottenendo una candidatura ai Nastri d’argento alla migliore attrice in un film commedia e ai Ciak d’oro alla rivelazione dell’anno, oltre che per la migliore canzone originale con il brano colonna sonora Tu sei una parte di me.

Piccola e minuta fisicamente, possiede una fantastica voce con un range vocale di più di tre ottave che spazia tra diversi generi come soul, rhythm and blues, neo soul, pop, dance, ballad, fino all’elettronica.

È, senza ombra di dubbio, un’artista di cui la musica italiana può andare fiera nel mondo.

[analyzer-r]

Hot 102.7FM

"Playing Joburg's Best Old Skool and R&B"

The trend of defying the notion of radio stations pandering to modern music continues, this time in Johannesburg of South Africa with Hot 102.7FM. A relatively new radio station for the area, according to the little "About Us" blurb on their website at the bottom of every page, Hot 102.7FM (or just Hot FM here for convenience's sake) is a commercial radio station broadcasting to the greater Johannesburg area that specializes in broadcasting, according to its slogan, "old skool" tunes- mainly, as you will see, 70's, 80's and 90's music- as well as R&B. The website makes no mention of ownership as part of a network, and the Wikepedia article for the radio station pens its ownership as being under "Hot FM 102.7 (Pty) Ltd", meaning Hot FM is likely an independent organization.

Hot FM has its own litany of social media accounts, and boasts the most impressive social media following on Facebook so far, with around 112k followers. This same Facebook page puts front and center a banner proudly stating the station's achievements as Best Local Radio Station award winner twice in 2022 and 2023, showing Hot FM to be quite popular and successful.

The station's target audience, due to its preference in track selection, is likely to be for older/adult audiences, something that is reinforced on listening to the radio station itself- I listened from between 15:00-16:00PM SAST (South African Standard Time) on Thursday 28th December 2023, and I heard one of their stingers specifically asks, "Do you remember saving Princess Peach in Super Mario?" This is clearly meant to appeal to people who played the first ever Mario game, which came out in 1985!

Link construction is an interesting mix of very short, very quippy links between songs and announcing them, about twenty seconds long, and some longer two-minute links sprinkled throughout. They add a conversational and local feel to the show, talking about things like the atmosphere in Joburg, local festivities, news and competitions, and some of the quainter things like a neighbour snoring so loud, nobody else can sleep. Overall an enjoyable and non-intrusive presence between songs, and in-keeping with what's said on their About page:

Going back to track selection for a moment, I heard tunes such as "Flashdance...What a feeling", a classic that came out in 1983, paired up alongside early tracks from the Black-Eyed Peas, who despite being more prominent in the early 2000's did in fact see their beginnings in the mid 1990's. This is indeed in keeping with the station's own professed specialization, and in general the station kept up a very high standard of production with slick audio editing for the stingers between songs, up to the point of including select clips of what tracks to expect later in the show. Always informing viewers of what to expect and reminding them regularly what your show is all about is an effective means of ensuring they know if they want to stay or not sooner than they normally would.

Overall, I found Hot FM to be a very high-effort, high-production experience, effective in its purpose of being a classic hits-oriented station while adding a little extra content on top of things without feeling like it was detracting from its own format. I enjoyed listening, and clearly many others do as well, judging by follower numbers on Facebook- which makes sense, given Hot FM does a fantastic job of catering to its presumed audience.

You can catch Hot FM for yourself via the following link:

References:

Facebook.com (Date N/A) HOT 102.7 FM [Online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/HOT102.7FM?_rdc=2&_rdr [Accessed 28/12/2023]

hot1027.co.za (Date N/A) Hot 102.7FM [Online] Available at: https://hot1027.co.za [Accessed 28/12/2023]

Wikipedia.org (Last edited 22/11/2023) Hot 1027 [Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_1027

[wutbju]

Elaine Alsup, age 85, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2022, while undergoing hospice care. She was the daughter of William and Eileen Andrews, beloved wife to James Alsup, and mother to Andrew Alsup (wife Brendy) and Rebecca Lindblade (husband Chris). She was grandmother to Samuel Alsup, Rain Alsup, Grace Alsup, Katie Alsup, River Alsup, Trinity Alsup, Matthew Alsup, Noah Lindblade, Bria Lindblade, and Hannah Lindblade. In August 2022, Elaine was diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis in both legs, which led to chronic pain that could not be resolved after extensive hospitalization in the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.

Ruth Elaine Alsup was born March 26, 1937, in Danville, Illinois, and was raised on a farm in West Lebanon, Indiana. She was the first born of three children and is survived by her brothers Donald Andrews and William G. Andrews. Elaine graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1955, and was awarded a BA degree in education from Bob Jones University in 1959.

Elaine taught school in Flint, Michigan in 1959-1960, in Hacienda Heights, California in 1960-1969, in Dakar, Senegal in 1965-1966, and in San Diego, California in 1987-2000. She taught mostly in the elementary grades, and especially liked teaching fifth grade.

Elaine married in 1968, moved from Glendora to San Diego in 1970, and became a full-time Mom in 1971 with the birth of Andrew. She was an active member of College Avenue Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, led Pioneer Girls, took part in Bible studies, and made many lifetime friends. She later continued her church activities at Legacy Church and Shadow Mountain Community Church in the San Diego area.

While single, Elaine spent a year teaching elementary grades at a missionary school in Senegal, the Dakar Academy. After retirement, Elaine led for many years a weekly after-school on-campus Bible club for elementary kids called Sonshine Club. She was passionate about leading kids to Christ, and kept a "Lambs Book of Life" notebook where the kids would write their names after they accepted Christ.

She delighted in her family, and was present at all her children's activities, including driving them to their many sports and musical interests. She continued this emphasis on family as her grandchildren were growing up. She also loved to travel, and joined with friends on several cruises, and with family on trips all over the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Elaine was always lively in any group or setting -- witty, fun and pleasant. She enjoyed walking around the lake, and she loved reading Christian fiction. She always asked others about their lives and interests. She was a devoted consumer of Starbucks chai tea latte. She loved to laugh and tease and make life interesting. Elaine is loved and cherished by her friends and family and will be forever missed by all who knew her. Her last two words were "I sing", which she sang as an intro to the chorus "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free; for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me."

[clickvibes]

Apple Music announces Qing Madi as the next Up Next Artist in Nigeria

Apple Music today announces Afrobeats singer-songwriter Qing Madi (real name Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma) is the latest featured artist in its Up Next artist development program in Nigeria. “Being chosen for this month’s Apple Music Up Next programme is a dream come true at 17,” she tells Apple Music. “I hope to give a voice to all teenagers across Nigeria and Africa, to confirm that their dreams are valid.” As a native of Benin City, Qing Madi began her professional journey by participating in school talent shows and singing in the church choir. Her exceptional vocal capabilities earned her a spot in the adult choir, despite her young age. Recognizing the unique nature of Qing Madi’s talent, her mother enrolled her in a local ballet academy as a means to foster her creativity outside of school. It proved to be an incredibly savvy move as Qing Madi won several dance awards, and the classes helped foster her musical gifts as she learnt how to memorise lyrics and identify her sound. Influenced heavily by her heritage and the lyrical genius of Kendrick Lamar, Qing Madi’s debut single "See Finish" (2022) saw her blend Afrobeats, pop, soul and R&B, laying the foundation for the fusion type of music she was keen to create as the single went viral on TikTok and peaked at #51 on Apple Music’s Nigeria Top 100 songs chart. Her latest single “Journey” (2023), available to stream on Apple Music, in an Afrobeats call to the dancefloor, layered atop R&B-soaked vocal lines, and reinforces her presence as a name to remember. As the newest Up Next act to be spotlighted in Nigeria, Qing Madi will be featured across Apple Music’s Up Next playlist. The curated Up Next playlist features a dynamic class of new and emerging artists, thoughtfully hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world. The playlist is genre agnostic and represents a line-up of artists our global editors are passionate about and eager to expose to a larger audience. Read the full article

[blatantlybluntblog]

Black Sherif - YAYA (Performance Video)

Black Sherif reign continues with Take Care of Yourself Blacko, an introspective pair of singles, “YAYA” and “Simmer Down,” out today via Blacko Management / EMPIRE. The project chronicles the 21-year-old’s growth through adversities as he navigates the cold streets of fame while staying true to himself. While “YAYA” follows the lens of his alter ego, a rebel who gave fate a chance and is in search of healing, “SIMMER DOWN” is a highlife, soul and drilled infused anthem about keeping a winning mentality and practising patience to downplay opposition. The tracks, produced by his two in-house collaborators, Samsney and Joker Nharnah, were teased to fans during his acceptance speech for “Artiste of the Year” at the 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in Accra.

Since last year’s release of his debut album, The Villain I Never Was, Black Sherif has solidified his place as one of Africa’s most powerful creative voices and amassed massive global streaming numbers, which made him the most streamed Ghanaian artist of 2022 on Spotify and the most streamed Ghanaian artist of all time on popular African streaming platform Boomplay. With no gimmicks, Black Sherif has reached these pinnacles in record time—leading the charge as one of the foremost pioneers of the new sound emanating from Africa.

[siansfashion]

Lionel Richie

The former Commodores frontman went solo in the 80s and rapidly became one of the decade’s foremost soul balladeers. With his exquisitely crafted R&B soul ballads, Lionel Richie scored dozens of US Top 10 hits and was a mainstay of MTV for several years. Thanks to singles such as: the Diana Ross duet “Endless Love,” the 80s club classic “Dancing On The Ceiling,” “All Night Long (All Night)” and “Hello.” Lionel Richie sold 90 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling soul artists of all-time.

Richie collaborated with Michael Jackson again in 1985 as they co-wrote the charity single “We Are The World” in an effort to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The single included a collection of artists such as: Richie, Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper and Diana Ross. In addition to raising over $60 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the United States, the song was a worldwide commercial success, topping the charts and eventually becoming the first single to be certified multi-platinum. The song also won numerous awards, including 3 Grammy Awards, one American Music Award and a People’s Choice Award.

Harvard Referencing

EDWARDS, L. (2021) Best 80s Musicians: 20 Great Artists Who Defined The Decade. [Online] Available from: https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/best-80s-musicians/. [Accessed: 17th December 2022].

GIBSON, K. (2022) Lionel Richie’s Life in Photos. [Online] Available from: https://people.com/music/lionel-richie-life-in-photos/. [Accessed: 17th December 2022].

Fig 1. NATKIN, P. (N/A) Lionel Richie’s Solo Career. [Photograph] Available from: https://people.com/music/lionel-richie-life-in-photos/. [Accessed: 17th December 2022].

[nbmsports]

Nelly Cheboi, who creates computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren, is CNN's Hero of the Year

CNN  —  Nelly Cheboi, who in 2019 quit a lucrative software engineering job in Chicago to create computer labs for Kenyan schoolchildren, is the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year. Online voters selected her from among this year’s Top 10 CNN Heroes. Cheboi’s nonprofit, TechLit Africa, has provided thousands of students across rural Kenya with access to donated, upcycled computers — and the chance at a brighter future. Cheboi accepted the award with her mother, who she said “worked really hard to educate us.” At the beginning of her acceptance speech, Cheboi and her mother sang a song onstage that she explained had a special meaning when she was growing up. As CNN Hero of the Year, Cheboi will receive $100,000 to expand her work. She and the other top 10 CNN Heroes honored at Sunday’s gala all receive a $10,000 cash award and, for the first time, additional grants, organizational training and support from The Elevate Prize Foundation through a new collaboration with CNN Heroes. Nelly will also be named an Elevate Prize winner, which comes with a $300,000 grant and additional support worth $200,000 for her nonprofit. Cheboi grew up in poverty in Mogotio, a rural township in Kenya. “I know the pain of poverty,” said Cheboi, 29. “I never forgot what it was like with my stomach churning because of hunger at night.” A hard-working student, Cheboi received a full scholarship to Augustana College in Illinois in 2012. She began her studies there with almost no experience with computers, handwriting papers and struggling to transcribe them onto a laptop. Everything changed in her junior year, though, when Cheboi took a programming course required for her mathematics major. “When I discovered computer science, I just fell in love with it. I knew that this is something that I wanted to do as my career, and also bring it to my community,” she told CNN. Many basic computer skills were still a steep learning curve, however. Cheboi remembers having to practice touch-typing for six months before she could pass a coding interview. Touch-typing is a skill that is now a core part of the TechLit curriculum. “I feel so accomplished seeing kids that are 7 years old touch-typing, knowing that I just learned how to touch-type less than five years ago,” she said. Once she had begun working in the software industry, Cheboi soon realized the extent of which computers were being thrown away as companies upgraded their technology infrastructure. “We have kids here (in Kenya) — myself included, back in the day — who don’t even know what a computer is,” she said. So, in 2018, she began transporting donated computers back to Kenya — in her personal luggage, handling customs fees and taxes herself. “At one point, I was bringing 44 computers, and I paid more for the luggage than I did for the air ticket,” she said. A year later, she co-founded TechLit Africa with a fellow software engineer after both quit their jobs. The nonprofit accepts computer donations from companies, universities and individuals. The hardware is wiped and refurbished before it’s shipped to Kenya. There, it’s distributed to partner schools in rural communities, where students ages 4 to 12 receive daily classes and frequent opportunities to learn from professionals, gaining skills that will help improve their education and better prepare them for future jobs. “We have people who own a specific skill coming in and are just inspiring the kids (with) music production, video production, coding, personal branding,” Cheboi said. “They can go from doing a remote class with NASA on education to music production.” The organization currently serves 10 schools; within the next year, Cheboi hopes to be partnered with 100 more. “My hope is that when the first TechLit kids graduate high school, they’re able to get a job online because they will know how to code, they will know how to do graphic design, they will know how to do marketing,” Cheboi said. “The world is your oyster when you are educated. By bringing the resources, by bringing these skills, we are opening up the world to them.” Read the full article

[coghive]

[Download] One Name - Naomi Raine

On Friday, June 2nd, 5x GRAMMY Award-winning artist Naomi Raine will release her stunning debut live record ‘Cover The Earth’ (TRIBL Records), which features a series of choir-filled performances recorded live from New York City and collaborations with 9x GRAMMY-nominee Natalie Grant, Chandler Moore (Justin Bieber, Maverick City Music), Todd Dulaney and Lizzie Morgan (Maverick City Music). She shares the first song from the new album, “One Name (Jesus),” accompanied by a video from the performance taping. One Name - Naomi Raine Stream & Enjoy https://youtu.be/0O4SBwk3ip0 https://coghive.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Naomie-Raine-One-Name-Jesus.mp3 “‘One Name’ is about Jesus and my total reliance on him,” says Naomi. “Over the past few years, people have listened to my music, experienced my ministry, and have begun to know my voice and my name. I just wanted to release a song about The Name that’s higher than every other name in a world where there’s so much emphasis on the names of celebrities and brands. I want to bring a message of hope, but not hope in me or my gifts, but in the God who gives them both freely and I pray that people find hope when they listen to the song.” More than a collection of songs, ‘Cover The Earth’ is a full-blown worship experience full of upbeat and praise-worthy songs that blend pop, R&B and more, while delivering encouraging and uplifting messages across ten songs and four “flow” song transitions. The album was recorded in the heart of New York City and produced by Naomi with Adale Jackson. Naomi will celebrate the release of “One Name (Jesus)” with two events, one in Jamaica on March 18th and one in South Africa on April 1st with more to be announced. On ‘Cover The Earth,’ Naomi addresses how faith can free us from mental prisons (“Paul & Silas (At Midnight) ”), fear (“Uncovering”), greed (“Costly”) and more, while also revealing the character behind her source of inspiration for the music. Naomi also sings of the courage it takes to be a light in dark places on songs like “We Agree (Flow),” in which she boldly roots herself in her faith despite modern culture, proclaiming “we don’t care what the left or the right is saying ‘cause we agree with Heaven.” “‘Cover the Earth’ is a project about the goodness of God, his kindness and faithfulness,” adds Naomi. “It is a call to action for those that love God to seek Him and spread the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go.” Naomi’s debut live record follows her vulnerable album ‘Journey’ and its follow up ‘Journey: Acoustic Sessions,’ which were released in 2022. In the past year, Naomi has performed on the BET Awards, GRAMMY Awards and more. The GRAMMY, NAACP, Stellar, BET, Billboard and Dove Award-winning artist is one of the top songwriters in the gospel genre, and starting this April, she’ll co-headlining the first-ever all-female worship tour, It’s Time Tour, alongside Tasha Cobbs Leonard, TAYA, Natalie Grant, Tamela Mann and others. Read the full article