#singer coco lee death

[trendnfun]

Hong Kong Singer Coco Lee: A Rising Star in the Music Industry

Hong Kong singer Coco Lee has become a prominent figure in the music industry, captivating audiences worldwide with her powerful vocals, versatile performances, and charismatic stage presence. Born on January 17, 1975, in Hong Kong, Coco Lee, whose full name is Ferren Lee-Kelly, has enjoyed a successful career spanning over two decades. This article delves into the life and achievements of Coco Lee, highlighting her rise to fame, musical style, and lasting impact on the global music scene.

1. Early Life and Background

Coco Lee was born and raised in Hong Kong, where she developed a deep passion for music from a young age. Growing up in a musically inclined family, she was influenced by her father, who played the violin, and her mother, who was a piano teacher. These early experiences nurtured Coco Lee's love for music and set the stage for her remarkable journey as a singer.

2. Breakthrough in the Music Industry

Coco Lee's breakthrough in the music industry came in the early 1990s when she participated in the New Talent Singing Awards, a prestigious singing competition in Hong Kong. Her exceptional talent and commanding stage presence caught the attention of record producers, leading to the release of her debut album, "Love from Now On," in 1994. The album's success propelled Coco Lee into the limelight, establishing her as a rising star in the Hong Kong music scene.

3. Musical Style and Versatility

One of the defining aspects of Coco Lee's career is her remarkable versatility as a singer. She effortlessly traverses various genres, including pop, R&B, dance, and jazz, showcasing her exceptional vocal range and adaptability. Coco Lee's ability to seamlessly switch between musical styles has earned her international acclaim and a diverse fan base.

4. International Recognition

Coco Lee's talent transcends borders, and she has gained significant recognition on the international stage. Her collaboration with renowned artists such as Julio Iglesias, Quincy Jones, and Black Eyed Peas brought her music to a global audience. In 2003, she gained further acclaim with her English-language album, "Just No Other Way," which featured the hit single "Do You Want My Love." This album solidified her position as an internationally recog...read more

[bhollywoodnews]

Singer Coco Lee dies by suicide at the age of 48

CoCo Lee, a Hong Kong-born pop singer known for her successful international music career and performing at the Oscars, died Wednesday, according to...Read More.

[lyselkatzfandomluvs]

RIP 李玟 Coco Lee 😢

[randomlyrandoms]

Celebrity Deaths 2023 (Continue)

JULY

Vincenzo D'Amico - July 1 (Soccer Player)

Meg Johnson - July 1 (Soap Opera Actress)

Jo Lindner - July 1 (Bodybuilder / Instagram Star)

Robert Lieberman - July 1 (Director)

Frank Field - July 1 (Meteorologist)

Jeno Jando - July 4 (Pianist)

George Tickner - July 5 (Rock Singer)

CoCo Lee - July 5 (Pop Singer)

Stephen M. Silverman - July 6 (Editor)

Jeffrey Carlson - July 6 (Stage Actor)

Peter Nero - July 6 (Pianist)

Joseph Chebet - July 7 (Runner)

Nikki McCray - July 7 (Basketball Player)

Ozkan Ugur - July 8 (Pop Singer)

Manny Coto - July 9 (Screenwriter)

Andrea Evans - July 9 (Movie Actress)

Mikala Jones - July 9 (Surfer)

Luis Suarez Miramontes - July 9 (Soccer Player)

Tommy Moller Nielsen - July 10 (Soccer Player)

C.R. Roberts - July 11 (Football Player)

Milan Kundera - July 11 (Novelist)

Nick Koster - July 12 (Rugby Player)

Ryucheru - July 12 (Model)

Andre Watts - July 12 (Pianist)

Heide Simonis - July 12 (Politician)

Danielle Ballard - July 13 (Basketball Player)

Josephine Chaplin - July 13 (Movie Actress)

Carlin Glynn - July 13 (TV Actress)

Edward Hume - July 13 (Screenwriter)

Gustavo Badell - July 13 (Bodybuilder)

Nick Benedict - July 14 (Movie Actor)

Haley Odlozil - July 14 (Activist)

Annabelle Ham - July 15 (YouTube Star)

Cody Ince - July 15 (Football Player)

Justyn Vicky - July 15 (Fitness Influencer)

Elise Finch - July 16 (Reporter)

Jane Birkin - July 16 (Movie Actress)

Harry Frankfurt - July 16 (Philosopher)

Luigi Bettazzi - July 16 (Religious Leader)

Linda Haynes - July 17 (Movie Actress)

Miller Farr - July 18 (Football Player)

Oommen Chandy - July 18 (Politician)

Shintaro Yokota - July 18 (Baseball Player)

Dedric Willoughby - July 19 (Basketball Player)

Olivia Knighton - July 19 (Family Member) *Brad Knighton's Daughter*

Bill Geddie - July 20 (TV Producer)

Tony Bennett - July 21 (Pop Singer)

Ron Sexton - July 21 (Comedian)

Zhanna Samsonova - July 21 (Vegan Influencer)

Vince Hill - July 22 (Pop Singer)

Pamela Blair - July 23 (Movie Actress)

Hugh Carter Jr. - July 23 (Businessman)

Inga Swenson - July 23 (TV Actress)

Trevor Francis - July 24 (Soccer Player)

Tony John Priscott - July 24 (Soccer Player)

George Alagiah - July 24 (TV Show Host)

Leny Andrade - July 24 (Jazz Singer)

Bo Goldman - July 25 (Screenwriter)

Jani Allan - July 25 (Journalist)

Sinead O'Connor - July 26 (Rock Singer)

Randy Meisner - July 26 (Rock Singer)

Alan Hugh Schoen - July 26 (Physicist)

Martin Walser - July 28 (Novelist)

Marc Gilpin - July 29 (Movie Actor)

**Paul Reubens - July 30 (TV Actor)

Betty Ann Bruno - July 30 (Journalist)

Angus Cloud - July 31 (TV Actor)

Jess Search - July 31 (Filmmaking)

Joseph Gardiner - July 31 (Rugby Player)

Carol Duvall - July 31 (TV Show Host)

Surat Huseynov - July 31 (Politician)

AUGUST

David Le Batard - Aug. 1 (Multimedia Artist)

Sheila Oliver - Aug. 1 (Politician)

Clifton Oliver - Aug. 2 (Stage Actor)

JM Canlas - Aug. 3 (TV Actor)

Carl Davis - Aug. 3 (Composer)

Mark Margolis - Aug. 3 (TV Actor)

John Gosling - Aug. 4 (Keyboard Player)

Joan Kors - Aug. 5 (Family Member) *Michael Kor's Mother*

Gillies Gilbert - Aug. 5 (Hockey Player)

Bryan Randall - Aug. 5 (Photographer)

Jim Price - Aug. 7 (Baseball Catcher)

Casper - Aug. 7 (DJ)

William Friedkin - Aug. 7 (Director)

Aracy Balabanina - Aug. 7 (Soap Opera Actress)

Sixto Rodriguez - Aug. 8 (Folk Singer)

Johnny Hardwick - Aug. 8 (Voice Actor)

Shelley Smith - Aug. 8 (TV Actress)

Sean Dawkins - Aug. 9 (Football Player)

Robbie Robertson - Aug. 9 (Rock Singer)

Hugh Segal - Aug. 9 (Author)

George Kolasa - Aug. 9 (Luxury Fashion Executive)

Brice Marden - Aug. 9 (Painter)

Doreen Mantle - Aug. 9 (TV Actress)

Caleb White - Aug. 10 (Basketball Player)

Carl DeSantis - Aug. 10 (Entrepreneur)

Paige Gaal - Aug. 10 (TikTok Star)

Adonis Beck - Aug. 10 (TikTok Star)

Adrian Estrada - Aug. 10 (YouTube Star)

Shoji Tabuchi - Aug. 11 (Violinist)

Tom Jones - Aug. 11 (Pop Signer)

Darren Kent - Aug. 11 (TV Actor)

Kathryn Hoedt - Aug. 12 (Producer)

Robert Rorke - Aug. 12 (Editor)

Helen Smart - Aug. 12 (Swimmer)

Alex Collins - Aug. 13 (Football Player)

Magoo - Aug. 13 (Rapper)

Randy Minniear - Aug. 13 (Football Player)

Clarence Avant - Aug. 13 (Business Executive)

Zyquan Mitchell - Aug. 13 (TikTok Star)

Rodion Amirov - Aug. 14 (Hockey Player)

Bobby Baun - Aug. 14 (Hockey Player)

Lea Garcia - Aug. 15 (Movie Actress)

Jerry Moss - Aug. 16 (Trumpet Player)

Renata Scotto - Aug. 16 (Opera Singer)

Michael Parkinson - Aug. 16 (Radio Host)

Clancy Brown - Aug. 16 (Movie Actor)

Haruki Noguchi - Aug. 16 (Road Racer)

Kris Nova - Aug. 16 (Writer)

Rick Jeanneret - Aug. 17 (Radio Host)

Brady Larson - Aug. 17 (Race Car Driver)

Rose Gregorio - Aug. 17 (TV Actress)

Nathaniel Horn - Aug. 18 (Family Member) *Robin Kelly's Husband*

Ray Hilderbrand - Aug. 18 (Pop Singer)

Ashlea Albertson - Aug. 18 (Race Car Driver)

Nancy Frangione - Aug. 18 (Soap Opera Actress)

James L. Buckley - Aug. 18 (Politician)

Sarah Lawson - Aug. 18 (Movie Actress)

Ron Cephas Jones - Aug. 19 (TV Actor)

John Warnock - Aug. 19 (Entrepreneur)

Maxie Baughan - Aug. 19 (Football Player)

Jori Jones - Aug. 20 (Hockey Player)

David Jacobs - Aug. 20 (Screenwriter)

Reggie Chaney - Aug. 21 (Basketball Player)

Elizabeth Hoffman -Aug. 21 (TV Actress)

Joe Muchlinski aka VonViddy - Aug. 21 (TikTok Star)

Alejandra Villafane - Aug. 21 (Pageant Contestant)

Rene Weller - Aug. 22 (Boxer)

Nathen Louis Jackson - Aug. 22 (Producer)

Toto Cutugno - Aug. 22 (Pop Singer)

Terry Funk - Aug. 23 (Wrestler)

Steve Sidwell - Aug. 23 (Football Coach)

Hersha Parady - Aug. 23 (TV Actress)

Bob Feldman - Aug. 23 (Songwriter)

Katera Couch - Aug. 23 (Instagram Star)

Yevgeny Prigozhin - Aug. 23 (Criminal)

Bray Wyatt - Aug. 24 (Wrestler)

Arleen Sorkin - Aug. 24 (TV Actress)

Bernie Marsden - Aug. 24 (Guitarist)

*Bob Barker - Aug. 26 (Game Show Host)

John Kezdy - Aug. 26 (Punk Singer)

Faye Fantarrow - Aug. 26 (Songwriter)

MC Marcinho - Aug. 26 (Funk Singer)

Joe The Plumber - Aug. 27 (Activist)

Pat Corrales - Aug. 27 (Coach)

Jonathan Sheppard - Aug. 27 (Trainer)

Ray Jacobs aka August 08 - Aug. 28 (Songwriter)

Len Chandler - Aug. 28 (Folk Singer)

Tina Howe - Aug. 28 (Playwright)

Mike Enriquez - Aug. 29 (TV Show Host)

Jamie Crick - Aug. 29 (Radio Broadcaster)

Don Browne - Aug. 29 (Media Executive)

Jamie Christopher - Aug. 29 (Assistant Director)

Robert Klane - Aug. 29 (Screenwriter)

Jack Sonni - Aug. 30 (Guitarist)

Mohamed Al-Fayed - Aug. 30 (Entrepreneur)

TYBZI - Aug. 30 (YouTube Star)

Steve Crump - Aug. 31 (Journalist)

Gayle Hunnicutt - Aug. 31 (TV Actress)

Sarah Young - Aug. 31 (Author)

Silvina Luna - Aug. 31 (Model)

SEPTEMBER

Jimmy Buffett - Sept. 1 (Country Singer)

Bill Richardson - Sept. 1 (Politician)

Dr. Maz Gomez - Sept. 2 (Journalist)

Marcia De Rousse - Sept. 2 (Movie Actress)

Shannon Wilcox - Sept. 2 (Movie Actress)

Lefty SM - Sept. 2 (Rapper)

Ruschell Boone - Sept. 3 (Reporter)

Gary Wright - Sept. 4 (Rock Singer)

**Steve Harwell - Sept. 4 (Rock Singer)

Eddie Meador - Sept. 4 (Football Player)

Edith Grossman - Sept. 4 (Translator)

Violeta Mitul - Sept. 4 (Soccer Player)

Charles Mallet - Sept. 4 (TikTok Star)

Bruce Guthro - Sept. 5 (Songwriter)

Joe Fagin - Sept. 5 (Singer / Songwriter)

Maria Teresa Campos - Sept. 5 (Journalist)

Adnan Al-Kaissie - Sept. 6 (Wrestler)

Jim Tom Hedrick - Sept. 6 (Reality Star)

Richard Davis - Sept. 6 (Bassist)

Whitey Von Nieda - Sept. 6 (Basketball Player)

Larry Chance - Sept. 6 (Musician)

Ellie The Pug - Sept. 6 (Dog)

Raymond Ackerman - Sept. 6 (Business Executive)

Giles Broadbent - Sept. 7 (Violinist)

Geechy Guy - Sept. 7 (Comedian)

Jake Bloom - Sept. 7 (Lawyer)

Akira Nishimura - Sept. 7 (Composer)

Lisa Lyon - Sept. 8 (Bodybuilder)

Mike Yarwood - Sept. 8 (Impressionist)

Brett Sawyer - Sept. 8 (Wrestler)

Felicia Taylor - Sept. 8 (Journalist)

Mangosuthu Buthelezi - Sept. 9 (Politician)

Charlie Robison - Sept. 10 (Country Singer)

Nico Ladenis - Sept. 10 (Chef)

Robert S. Bennett - Sept. 10 (Attorney)

Nichole Coats - Sept. 10 (Model)

Ian Wilmut - Sept. 10 (Physicist)

Brendan Croker - Sept. 10 (Guitarist)

Howard Safir - Sept. 11 (NYC Police Commissioner)

Neil Currey - Sept. 11 (Bodybuilder)

Mike Williams - Sept. 12 (Football Player)

Jean Boht - Sept. 12 (TV Actress)

Brandon Hunter - Sept. 12 (Basketball Player)

MohBad - Sept. 12 (Rapper)

Zeus The Great Dane - Sept. 12 (Dog)

Maleesa Mooney - Sept. 12 (Model)

Maddy Anholt - Sept. 13 (Comedian)

Roger Whittaker - Sept. 13 (Pop Singer)

Lauch Faircloth - Sept. 14 (Politician)

Michael McGrath - Sept. 14 (Stage Actor)

Pat Nebo - Sept. 14 (Production Designer)

Tiago Eugenio - Sept. 14 (YouTube Star)

Dr. Harry Mallios - Sept. 14 (Football Player)

Michael Leva - Sept. 14 (Fashion Designer)

Tracy Cole - Sept. 15 (Family Member) *Nat King Cole's Great-Nephew*

Billy Miller - Sept. 15 (Soap Opera Actor)

Paul Woseen - Sept. 15 (Bassist)

Fernando Botero - Sept. 15 (Painter)

Horace Ove - Sept. 16 (Filmmaker)

Francois Dionot - Sept. 16 (Chef)

Irish Grinstead - Sept. 16 (R&B Singer)

Gita Mahta - Sept. 16 (Author)

Echo Brown - Sept. 16 (Author)

Victor Fuchs - Sept. 16 (Health Economist)

Sherry Pollex - Sept. 17 (NASCAR Figure)

Taylor Erin Maw - Sept. 17 (Missionary)

Adriana Thyssen - Sept. 17 (Blogger)

Nicky Newman - Sept. 17 (Instagram Star)

Brereton Jones - Sept. 18 (Politician)

Trisha Stratford - Sept. 18 (Doctor)

Filippo Mometto - Sept. 18 (Motorcycle Racer)

Henry Boucha - Sept. 18 (Hockey Player)

Buddy Teevens - Sept. 19 (Coach)

Kent Stax - Sept. 20 (Drummer)

Phil Sellers - Sept. 20 (Basketball Player)

Maddy Cusack - Sept. 20 (Soccer Player)

Katherine Anderson - Sept. 20 (Soul Singer)

Maw Maw Smith - Sept. 20 (Family Member) *Brittney Smith's Grandmother*

Walewska Oliveira - Sept. 21 (Volleyball Player)

Robert W. Smith - Sept. 21 (Composer)

Giorgio Napolitano - Sept. 22 (World Leader)

Robb Gaffney - Sept. 22 (Freeskiing Pioneer)

Nic Kerdiles - Sept. 23 (Hockey Player)

Terry Kirkman - Sept. 23 (Songwriter)

Nashawn Breedlove - Sept. 24 (Movie Actor)

Barry Olivier - Sept. 24 (Guitarist)

Reiky De Valk - Sept. 24 (TV Actor)

David McCallum - Sept. 25 (TV Actor)

Matteo Messina Denaro - Sept. 25 (Criminal)

Zoleka Mandela - Sept. 25 (Activist)

Burkey Belser - Sept. 25 (Graphic Designer)

Brooks Robinson - Sept. 26 (Baseball Player)

Maurice Leitch - Sept. 26 (Novelist)

**Michael Gambon - Sept. 27 (Movie Actor) *Wands Up For Albus Dumbledore*

Aziz Pahad - Sept. 27 (Politician)

Adouli - Sept. 27 (Rapper)

Viliami Moala - Sept. 28 (Football Player)

Dianne Feinstein - Sept. 29 (Politician)

Nick Wilkinson - Sept. 29 (Casting Director)

John Gordon - Sept. 30 (Artist)

Russell Batiste Jr. - Sept. 30 (Drummer)

OCTOBER

Jim Caple - Oct. 1 (Writer)

Russ Francis - Oct. 1 (Football Player)

Tim Wakefield - Oct. 1 (Baseball Player)

Ron Haffkine - Oct. 1 (Producer)

Eve Bunting - Oct. 1 (Young Adult Author)

Francis Lee - Oct. 2 (Soccer Player)

Jeff Alessi - Oct. 2 (Supercross Racer)

Lorenzo Delle - Oct. 2 (TikTok Star)

Joe Christopher - Oct. 3 (Baseball Player)

Jacqueline Dark - Oct. 3 (Opera Singer)

Thomas Gambino - Oct. 3 (Mobster)

Bob Wagner - Oct. 4 (Football Coach)

Shawn Trpcic - Oct. 4 (Costume Designer)

Wayne Comer - Oct. 4 (Baseball Player)

Lady Cathy Ferguson - Oct. 5 (Family Member) *Sir Alex Ferguson's Wife*

Dick Butkus - Oct. 5 (Football Player)

Asad Chowdhury - Oct. 5 (Poet)

Keith Jefferson - Oct. 6 (Movie Actor)

Jim Poole - Oct. 6 (Baseball Player)

Michael Chiarello - Oct. 6 (Chef)

President Davo - Oct. 6 (Rapper)

Terence Davies - Oct. 7 (Director)

Alan Eisenberg - Oct. 7 (Executive Director)

Ted Schwinden - Oct. 7 (Politician)

Burt Young - Oct. 8 (Movie Actor)

Buck Trent - Oct. 9 (Country Singer)

David Benedictus - Oct. 9 (Writer / Theatre Director)

Kevin Phillips - Oct. 9 (Writer)

Chuck Feeney - Oct. 9 (Businessman / Philanthropist)

Gail O'Neill - Oct. 10 (Model)

Mark Goddard - Oct. 10 (TV Actor)

Ken Lally - Oct. 10 (Movie Actor)

Shirley Jo Finney - Oct. 10 (Theater Director)

Terry Dischinger - Oct. 10 (Basketball Player)

Brendan Malone - Oct. 10 (Basketball Coach)

Cal Wilson - Oct. 11 (Comedian)

Phyllis Coates - Oct. 11 (Movie Actress)

Rudolph Isley - Oct. 11 (Singer / Songwriter)

Tof Henry - Oct. 11 (Skier)

Walt Garrison - Oct. 11 (Football Player)

Ronnie Caldwell - Oct. 12 (Football Player)

Lara Parker - Oct. 12 (TV Actress)

Louise Gluck - Oct. 13 (Poet)

Garry Mapanzure - Oct. 13 (World Music Singer)

Arturas Rudy - Oct. 14 (Rugby Player)

Piper Laurie - Oct. 14 (TV Actress)

Stephen Emery - Oct. 14 (Producer)

Dariush Mahrjui - Oct. 14 (Director)

**Suzanne Somers - Oct. 15 (TV Actress)

Joanna Merlin - Oct. 15 (Stage Actress)

Toon Greebe - Oct. 16 (Professional Darts Player)

Steven Weisberg - Oct. 16 (Film Editor)

Martti Ahtisaari - Oct. 16 (Politician)

Carla Bley - Oct. 17 (Composer)

Edward Bleier - Oct. 17 (TV Executive)

Tabby Brown - Oct. 17 (Model)

Dwight Twilley - Oct. 18 (Rock Singer)

Mark Howard James aka The 45 King - Oct. 19 (DJ)

Anfisa Reztsova - Oct. 19 (Olympic)

Atsushi Sakurai - Oct. 19 (Rock Singer)

Haydu Gwynne - Oct. 20 (Stage Actress)

Pete Ladd - Oct. 20 (Baseball Player)

Elaine Devry - Oct. 20 (Movie Actress)

Leslie Dayman - Oct. 20 (Movie Actor)

Bobby Charlton - Oct. 21 (Soccer Player)

Dusty Street - Oct. 21 (Pioneering DJ)

Paul Costict - Oct. 21 (Rapper)

Rob Gardner (Oct. 21 (Baseball Player)

Joan Evans - Oct. 21 (Movie Actress)

Billy Hayden - Oct. 21 (Politician)

Dave Courtney - Oct. 22 (Non-Fiction Auther)

Tasha Butts - Oct. 22 (Basketball Player)

Vincent Asaro - Oct. 22 (Criminal)

Bishan Singh Bedi - Oct. 23 (Cricketer)

Domenico Spano - Oct. 23 (Custom Tailor / Style Setter)

Bill Kenwright - Oct. 23 (Film Producer)

Arnold Diaz - Oct. 24 (Journalist)

Steve Riley - Oct. 24 (Drummer)

Richard Roundtree - Oct. 24 (Movie Actor)

Ricardo Iorio - Oct. 24 (Metal Singer)

Bertie Bowman - Oct. 25 (Author)

Lyn McLain - Oct. 25 (Orchestra Leader)

Robert Irwin - Oct. 25 (Conceptual Artist)

*Richard Moll - Oct. 26 (TV Actor)

David Mitchell - Oct. 26 (Comedian)

Mark Shelmerdine - Oct. 26 (Producer)

Anne Heywood - Oct. 27 (Movie Actress)

**Matthew Perry - Oct. 28 (TV Actor)

Adam Johnson - Oct. 28 (Hockey Player)

Joey Paras - Oct. 29 (Filmmaker)

Charlie Aitken - Oct. 29 (Soccer Player)

Tony Rohr - Oct. 29 (Movie Actor)

Aaron Spears - Oct. 30 (Drummer)

Frank Howard - Oct. 30 (Baseball Player)

Ken Mattingly - Oct. 31 (Astronaut)

Tyler Christopher - Oct. 31 (Soap Opera Actor)

NOVEMBER

Bobby Knight - Nov. 1 (Basketball Coach)

Ady Barkan - Nov. 1 (Lawyer)

Peter White - Nov. 1 (Movie Actor)

Peter Tarnoff - Nov. 1 (Politician)

Debbe Pemberton - Nov. 1 (Family Member) *Zoe LaVerne's Mother*

Walter Davis - Nov. 2 (Basketball Player)

Dick Drago - Nov. 2 (Baseball Player)

Henri Lopes - Nov. 2 (Politician)

David Berglas - Nov. 3 (Magician)

Oleg Protopopov - Nov. 3 (Figure Skating)

Elizangela Do Amaral Vergueiro - Nov. 3 (TV Actress)

Marina Cicogna - Nov. 4 (Film Producer)

Rob Thomson - Nov. 4 (Wrestler)

Gary Winnick - Nov. 4 (Businessman)

Karen Davis - Nov. 4 (Advocate)

Pat E. Johnson - Nov. 5 (Martial Artist)

Evan Ellingson - Nov. 5 (TV Actor)

Cody Dorman - Nov. 5 (Namesake Of Breeders)

Ross McDonnell - Nov. 5 (Cinematographer)

Chris Tapp - Nov. 5 (TV Personality)

Logan Steinwede - Nov. 5 (Instagram Star)

Frank Dorman - Nov. 7 (Astronaut)

Luana Andrade - Nov. 7 (Reality TV / Model / Influencer)

Jenny Appleford - Nov. 7 (YouTube Star)

Dale Reid - Nov. 8 (Golfer)

Matt Ulrich - Nov. 8 (Football Player)

Nahee - Nov. 8 (Pop Singer)

Doug Ibold - Nov. 8 (Film Editor)

Patrycja Widera - Nov. 8 (Instagram Star)

Brandi Mallory - Nov. 9 (Reality Star)

John Bailey - Nov. 10 (Cinematographer)

Mike Fanelli - Nov. 10 (Runner)

Johnny Ruffo - Nov. 10 (Pop Singer)

Spiros Focas - Nov. 10 (Movie Actor)

Lorraine Day - Nov. 10 (Non-Fiction Author)

Kyle LeDuc - Nov. 11 (Motorsports Racing Driver)

Conny Van Dyke - Nov. 11 (Motown Singer)

DJ Hayden - Nov. 11 (Football Player)

Anna Scher - Nov. 12 (Drama Teacher)

Kevin Turen - Nov. 12 (Producer)

M. Russell Ballard - Nov. 12 (Religious Leader)

Maryanne Trump - Nov. 13 (Family Member) *Donald Trump's Sister*

Devon Wylie - Nov. 13 (Football Player)

Michael Bishop - Nov. 13 (Novelist)

Peter Seidler - Nov. 14 (Businessman)

Lord Cotter - Nov. 14 (Politician)

Thelda Williams - Nov. 14 (Mayor Of Phoenix)

Bosley Faze Rug - Nov. 14 (Dog)

Oladips - Nov. 14 (Rapper)

Terry Taylor - Nov. 14 (AP Sports Editor)

Shari Smiley - Nov. 14 (CAA Agent & Manager)

Betty Rollin - Nov. 14 (Journalist)

Subrata Roy - Nov. 14 (Entrepreneur)

Alexio - Nov. 14 (Rapper)

Chigova - Nov. 15 (Soccer Player)

Dex Carvey - Nov. 15 (Family Member) *Dana Carvey's Son*

Ken Squier - Nov. 15 (Sportscaster)

Daisaku Ikeda - Nov. 15 (Religious Leader)

George Brown - Nov. 16 (Drummer)

A.S. Byatt - Nov. 16 (Author)

Rita Hollingsworth - Nov. 16 (Entertainment Publicist)

Johnny Green - Nov. 16 (Basketball Player)

Abe Stoklasa - Nov. 17 (Songwriter)

Suzanne Shepherd - Nov. 17 (TV Actress)

Mark Eisen - Nov. 17 (Fashion Designer)

David Del Tredici - Nov. 18 (Composer)

James Davern - Nov. 18 (Director)

Joss Ackland - Nov. 19 (Movie Actor)

Peter Spellos - Nov. 19 (Voice Actor)

Carlton Pearson - Nov. 19 (Minister)

Sara Tavares - Nov. 19 (Composer)

Roslynn Cobarrubias - Nov. 19 (Entrepreneur)

Herbert Gold - Nov. 19 (Novelist)

Vincentius Sensi Potokota - Nov. 19 (Religious Leader)

Rosalynn Carter - Nov. 19 (First Lady)

Mars Williams - Nov. 20 (Saxophonist)

Willie Hernandez - Nov. 20 (Baseball Player)

Annabel Giles - Nov. 20 (Model)

Reed Ryan - Nov. 21 (Football Player)

Chad Allan - Nov. 21 (Musician)

James Philip - Nov. 21 (Politician)

Raul Cande - Nov. 21 (Rapper)

Phil Quartararo - Nov. 22 (Music Industry Executive)

Tom Larson - Nov. 22 (Sportscaster)

Jean Knight - Nov. 22 (R&B Singer)

Eddie Merrins - Nov. 22 (Golfer)

Steve Pool - Nov. 22 (TV Show Host)

Harald Hasselbach - Nov. 23 (Football Player)

Andreas Ullmann - Nov. 23 (Wrestler)

Ron Hodges - Nov. 24 (Baseball Player)

Elliot Silverstein - Nov. 24 (Director)

Marc Thorpe - Nov. 24 (Visual Effects Artist)

Marty Krofft - Nov. 25 (TV Producer)

Sumitomo Mitsui - Nov. 25 (CEO)

Larry Fink - Nov. 25 (Photographer)

Terry Venables - Nov. 25 (Soccer Player)

Pablo Guzman - Nov. 26 (Reporter)

Kevin 'Geordie' Walker - Nov. 26 (Guitarist)

Tim Dorsey - Nov. 26 (Novelist)

Norris McDonald - Nov. 26 (Journalist)

Luigi Caiola - Nov. 26 (Broadway Producer)

William Anastasi - Nov. 27 (Painter)

Frances Sternhagen - Nov. 27 (Stage Actress)

John Nichols - Nov. 27 (Novelist)

Charlie Munger - Nov. 28 (Entrepreneur)

Jack Axelrod - Nov. 28 (TV Actor)

Queenzy Cheng - Nov. 28 (Pop Singer)

Dean Sullivan - Nov. 29 (Soap Opera Actor)

Henry Kissinger - Nov. 29 (Politician)

Scott Kempner - Nov. 29 (Guitarist)

Charles Gilchrist Adams - Nov. 29 (Pastor)

Bronka Sundstrom - Nov. 29 (Mountaineer)

Elliott Erwitt - Nov. 29 (Photographer)

Victoria Maria Aragues Gadea - Nov. 29 (Dancer)

Shane MacGowan - Nov. 30 (Pop Singer)

Alistair Darling - Nov. 30 (Politician)

John Byrne - Nov. 30 (Playwright)

Edwin Yoder - Nov. 30 (Journalist)

Buddy Duress - Nov. ?? (Movie Actor)

DECEMBER

Sandra Day O'Connor - Dec. 1 (Supreme Court Justice)

Charles Officer - Dec. 1 (Director)

Daniel Langlois - Dec. 1 (Entrepreneur)

Jada Brown - Dec. 1 (Football Coach)

Brigit Forstyth - Dec. 1 (TV Actress)

Kiki Fatmala - Dec. 1 (TV Actress)

Wolfgang Hollegha - Dec. 2 (Painter)

Travis Snyder - Dec. 3 (Founder Of The Color Run)

Myles Goodwyn - Dec. 3 (Guitarist)

Glenys Kinnock - Dec. 3 (Politician)

Andrea Fay Friedman - Dec. 3 (TV Actress)

Jim Easton - Dec. 4 (Archery)

Enriqueta Margarita Lavat Bayona - Dec. 4 (TV Actress)

Denny Laine - Dec. 5 (Rock Singer)

Prince Constantin Ferdinand Maria - Dec. 5 (Prince)

Robert Pardo - Dec. 5 (Us Air Force)

Mark Pearson Butterbrodt - Dec. 5 (Doctor)

Norman Lear - Dec. 5 (TV Producer)

Lional Dahmer - Dec. 5 (Family Member) *Jeffrey Dahmer's Father*

Vic Davalillo - Dec. 6 (Baseball Player)

Vincent Le Goascoz - Dec. 6 (Teacher)

Marisa Pavan - Dec. 6 (Movie Actress)

Ellen Holly - Dec. 6 (Movie Actress)

Jack Hogan - Dec. 6 (Movie Actor)

Benjamin Zephaniah - Dec. 7 (Poet)

Doris Yaffe - Dec. 7 (Social Activist)

Keisha Whitaker - Dec. 7 (Film Producer)

Thomas F. Kilroy - Dec. 7 (Novelist)

Stan Rogow - Dec. 7 (TV Producer)

Joe Solomon - Dec. 8 (Cricketer)

Itziar Castro - Dec. 8 (TV Actress)

Ryan O'Neal - Dec. 8 (TV Actor)

Dave Robb - Dec. 8 (Hollywood Reporter)

Paul Webb - Dec. 8 (Basketball Coach)

Tony Tarantino - Dec. 8 (Movie Actor)

Frank Wycheck - Dec. 9 (Football Player)

Greg Scholl - Dec. 9 (Videographer / Producer)

Anna Cardwell - Dec. 9 (Reality Star)

Mike Perricone - Dec. 9 (Hockey Reporter / Science Writer)

Gao Yaojie - Dec. 10 (Activist)

Shirley Anne Field - Dec. 10 (Movie Actress)

Julian Carroll - Dec. 10 (Governor)

Jack Hanson - Dec. 10 (Weatherman / Cartoonist)

Michael Blakemore - Dec. 10 (Director)

Jeffrey Foskett - Dec. 11 (Songwriter)

Ian Gibson - Dec. 11 (Non-Fiction Author)

Andre Braugher - Dec. 11 (TV Actor)

Camden Toy - Dec. 11 (TV Actor)

Ken Kelsch - Dec. 11 (Cinematographer)

Shuji Abe - Dec. 11 (Producer)

Essra Mohawk - Dec. 11 (Singer-Songwriter)

Fusa Tatsumi - Dec. 12 (Supercentenarian) *She Was 116 Year Old*

Zahara - Dec. 12 (Pop Singer)

Craig Watkins - Dec. 12 (Lawyer)

Shirley Barber - Dec. 12 (Author)

Ricardo Drue - Dec. 12 (R&B Singer)

Clarence Sexton - Dec. 12 (Pastor)

Bill Burgess - Dec. 13 (Football Player)

Dick Nunis - Dec. 13 (Disneyland Executive)

Kenny DeForest - Dec. 13 (Comedian)

Maxine Rizik Tanous - Dec. 13 (Retailer)

J.G.A. Pocock - Dec. 13 (Historian)

Wolfgang Gluck - Dec. 13 (Film Producer)

George McGinnis - Dec. 14 (Basketball Player)

Ken MacKenzie - Dec. 14 (Baseball Player)

Cari Beauchamp - Dec. 14 (Author / Historian)

Nadine McKown - Dec. 14 (Historian)

Rudolf Hruby - Dec. 14 (Hockey Player)

Selma Archerd - Dec. 14 (Movie Actress)

Ara Martirosyan - Dec. 14 (World Music Singer)

Steve Halliwell - Dec. 15 (Soap Opera Actor)

Eddie Driscoll - Dec. 15 (TV Actor)

Colin Burgess - Dec. 15 (Drummer)

Richard Hunt - Dec. 16 (Sculptor)

Lorenzo Riva - Dec. 16 (Fashion Designer)

Jim Ladd - Dec. 16 (DJ / Radio Producer)

Kenpachiro Satsuma - Dec. 16 (Movie Actor)

Otar Losseliani - Dec. 17 (Director)

Eric Montross - Dec. 17 (Basketball Player)

James McCaffrey - Dec. 17 (Movie Actor)

Joseph Anthony "Amp" Fiddler - Dec. 17 (Keyboardist)

Norma Barzman - Dec. 17 (Movie Actress / Screenwriter)

Giovanni Anselmo - Dec. 18 (Artist)

Ed Budde - Dec. 19 (Football Player)

Don Schumacher - Dec. 20 (Motorsports)

Torben Ulrich - Dec. 20 (Tennis Player)

Terry Jill Saperstein - Dec. 20 (Talent Manager)

Carl Barzilauskas - Dec. 20 (Football Player)

Fola Francis - Dec. 20 (Designer)

Ian Pepperell - Dec. 22 (TV Actor)

Laura Lynch - Dec. 22 (Musician)

Bobbie Jean Carter - Dec. 23 (Family Member) *Nick & Aaron Carter's Sister*

Mike Nussbaum - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor / Director)

Dejumo Lewis - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor)

Lisandro Meza - Dec. 23 (Colombian Singer)

Richard Romanus - Dec. 23 (Movie Actor)

Lynn Loring - Dec. 23 (Movie Actress / Producer)

Neel Nanda - Dec. 24 (Comedian)

Cheri Barry - Dec. 24 (Mayor)

Kamar De Los Reyes - Dec. 24 (TV Actor)

Troy Dargan - Dec. 24 (Rugby Player)

Casey Kramer - Dec. 24 (Family Member) *Stanley Kramer's Daughter*

Willie Ruff - Dec. 24 (Jazz Musician)

Carl Welser - Dec. 24 (Columuist / Firefighter)

David Leland - Dec. 24 (Director)

Vasilis Karras - Dec. 24 (Folk Singer)

Alice Parker - Dec. 24 (Composer)

Richard Franklin - Dec. 25 (TV Actor)

Bill Granger - Dec. 25 (Chef)

Fred Mackerodt - Dec. 25 (Writer)

Tom Priestley - Dec. 25 (Sound Designer)

Alain Laurier - Dec. 25 (Soccer Coach)

Louis James - Dec. 26 (Football Player)

Tom Smothers - Dec. 26 (Pop Singer)

Jim Bixby - Dec. 26 (Counselor)

Bobby Rivers - Dec. 26 (TV Actor)

Russell Hamler - Dec. 26 (War Hero)

Herb Kohl - Dec. 27 (Politician)

Lee Sun-Kyun - Dec. 27 (Movie Actor)

PC Siqueira - Dec. 27 (YouTube Star)

Ken Bowman - Dec. 27 (Football Player)

Pedro Suarez-Vertiz - Dec. 28 (Rock Singer)

Herman Raucher - Dec. 28 (Screenwriter)

Donald Wildmon - Dec. 28 (Author)

Quinn Donoghue - Dec. 28 (Hollywood Publicist)

Bill McColl - Dec. 28 (Football Player)

Vijayakanth - Dec. 28 (Movie Actor)

Maurice Hines - Dec. 29 (Stage Actor)

Roger Ernest Maughmer - Dec. 29 (Mayor)

Les McCann - Dec. 29 (Pianist)

Eddie Cockrell - Dec. 29 (Film Programmer)

Hermann Baumann - Dec. 29 (Composer)

John Pilger - Dec. 30 (Journalist)

Douglas JJ. Peters - Dec. 30 (Senator)

Tom Wilkinson - Dec. 30 (Movie Actor)

Martha Diamond - Dec. 30 (Painter)

Cindy Morgan - Dec. 30 (Movie Actress)

Daniel Miller - Dec. 30 (Executive)

Shecky Greene - Dec. 31 (TV Actor / Comedian)

Cale Yarborough - Dec. 31 (Race Car Driver)

Klee Benally - Dec. 31 (Navajo Activist / Musician)

Benjamin Kiplagat - Dec. 31 (Runner)

Ana Ofelia Murguia - Dec. 31 (Movie Actress)

[lavoixhumaine]

i’m really sick right now. it’s disgusting. our trip was postponed and i can’t write because i have a very slight migraine and i don’t want to make it worst. (even writing this is not helping, really) so i’ll wait until that goes away before writing again.

my bright idea while resting was to watch Rotten Mango’s newly uploaded video on YouTube about Coco Lee.

she died last july and it was reported that she took her own life. it was very sad and it was shocking to me because she along with Michelle Yeoh and to some degree, Ming Na Wen, were like my childhood. like single digits age era. they were the women i looked up to before i started exploring western performers and figures.

i hadn’t really thought about Coco in a while but to hear that she was gone…it was shocking. it was like hearing that someone you grew up with died. i couldn’t believe it. and to hear that it was depression…it was so jarring.

now i’m near the end of this video and learning that she was bullied to death by a goddamn reality tv show that she didn’t really even have to do but she did it anyway because she wanted to help other young people achieve their dreams like she did and she did all that while she was ill and there were so many tragedies she was quietly dealing with…like, jesus. those heart wrenching voice recordings are haunting. she was in so much pain and she freaking apologized for crying and asking for help as if she wasn’t supposed to do that…she was so worried about being a burden to other people. christ, that was so goddamn heartbreaking to listen to. and i don’t even personally know her, okay? she was just another human being who obviously needed help and it was as if there was just…nobody there.

if you don’t know Coco…man, growing up watching her. she was never not smiling. and there was always something about her smile…it was her entire face. you could see it in her eyes the way they would change it was just infectious. she was a great singer and she never put up a bad performance. and she stayed so humble and warm through it all. she was, as Michelle Yeoh called her, a bright star.

my heart is broken for Coco. she deserved so much more than she got. i hope wherever she is, she is truly happy and no longer in any kind of pain.

[slimegirlwarlock]

it's sad i'm only hearing about coco lee from her passing. she was an amazing singer tbh i'm torn between enjoying music i haven't heard before and the fact i only heard about it from her death being reported...

[curiousmastermindz]

Update: Coco Lee Death - Hong Kong Singer-Songwriter Coco Lee Dies - Coc...

[donutwares]

Coco Lee’s suicide and the good fight…

Learnt of the famous singer’s suicide this morning as I read the news. Add one to the number of suspicious deaths, MJ, Robin Williams, George Michael, Carrie Fisher. What matters is you finish the job before you go.

Coco was one year older than me.

This morning Christian forces and clairvoyant help successfully repelled most of the pain-giving and niggles from the Asian witchy 6. Haven’t had much time to work on my book. And tomorrow’s my psych clinic visit.

Still have $90 to spend this July. Shopee 7-7 sales. Thinking of getting a honey brown canvas strap for my Baltany DD quartz. Like the one on the Hamilton Khaki.

Bean, my winter white hamster popped out for brunch as I typed this. She’s 1 and a half years old and lives under my bookshelf. Doesn’t like commercial hamster food or being caged. May not get another pet, as soon I may need to be on the road for the gospel.

[rkcoco]

Lee Coco’s MGA5 Callback (Interview) Mentioned -  @rkkyungsoo​, @rkxuxi​, @rkguanheng​, @rkchoutzuyu​, @rkxkikwang​, @rktaeil​, @rkxsnh​, @moonbokrk​, @rkyeosang​, @rkaisha​, @danielxrk​, @rksuwoong​Quote - “Give love, and then you might receive love” Thanks to everybody for doing such great job

An interview. Once again an interview. Answering questions has never been a talent of Coco’s, she always worries too much about whether she answers correctly or not. She sits quietly in the room alone with a big smile placed on her face, she plays with her long hair. She had short blonde hair once and she liked it very much, however everybody she knows prefers her with long hair and for her hair to be any shade of brown, by now she has colored her hair any shade of brown there exists in the world. Perhaps she’ll do better in the interview than with her performance? Not that she did bad in her performance, at least she doesn’t think she did too bad. But for her its easier to get attention and win peoples’ hearts and love while talking instead of singing. While talking she gets the chance to really show her cute side.

How did you choose your song?

That’s the first question. She pouts her lips and looks at the ceiling as she thinks of an answer, it wasn’t too hard to answer, she already knew the answer, but she knows that she looks cute while thinking and making the expression she makes, so she takes the opportunity to act cute.

She knows the song from the movie Coco, a movie which she had only watched because her friends suggested it and it had the same name as her. She watched the movie in Korean, and to be honest she had never even heard the Spanish soundtrack before she was informed that she had passed the audition and had gotten this far. She could’ve just chosen to sing the song in Korean, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to show her Spanish speaking talent, show something the viewers hopefully hadn’t seen before, she wanted to surprise those who watched and heard her perform. That was her goal throughout the MGAs, to continuously show something new and surprise whoever watched her, she hoped for lots of screen time, she knew that would make the ones around her proud, and that was what she wanted, to make people proud of her. She looks straight again and shows a smile on her lips, she scratches her neck before finally deciding to answer the question. “I like the movie Coco, it’s title is the same as my name, I think that’s funny” she chuckles shortly before continuing “I sang in Spanish so I’m not sure if anybody understood what I sang so I’ll quickly explain the lyrics. It’s a song about love, whether it’s with your family, pet or significant other, it’s about true love always connect us, it even says it in the chorus. Amor verdadero nos une por siempre, that means; true love connects us forever. I like that, the thought of love being the strongest thing in the world and the thing that connects us, I think that’s why I chose the song I chose, because the lyrics are nice” she smiles brightly at the answer. The answer was far longer than intended, perhaps she should’ve said something short and cute, but talking about love also makes one seem innocent and therefore that was her choice.

Were there any performances you liked?

Oh. That was an unexpected question that should’ve been expected. Of course they were going to ask her to talk about others, it was surprising they asked who she liked and not who she disliked, don’t they want drama? Coco knows how this business works, the MGAs most likely are out for getting more viewers, and drama is something that usually will get a show more viewers. Coco is not going to be a part of drama, and if she is then it’ll only be to make others seem bad, not at all does she want to seem like a bad person. She wants to seem nice, cheerful, innocent and cute, therefore being nice to others is a must. To be honest she didn’t watch most of the performances, were they too boring then she would just think about other things, or else she would be busy thinking about how she would do or how she had done, however she did watch some performances and she would mention those who she liked most out of the few she had seen.

“Well I think I would like to mention Kyungsoo first” she paused for a bit, wondered if the two were going to pretend they had never met before while on the show or not, she knew Kyungsoo and surprisingly she knew a lot of the other contestants too. The world really is small. “I’ve never heard the song he sang, so I don’t know if he even sang the right lyrics, but I think he did a really great job. His voice fit perfectly for the song, at least I think so. He really does have a pretty voice” and once again she pauses before pouting her lips and showing a sad expression “I’m jealous” she says. To be honest she only mentioned him because they knew each other and he had comforted her in a difficult situation, she did enjoy his performance but she hadn’t watched much of it, while he was on the stage she hadn’t managed to watch him very much because the thought of whether he knew of her grandmother’s death or not bothered her.

She has a second name in mind, but she stays quiet for a second, the name in her mind sounds too unfamiliar and weird “s-sushi. I think his name was…” she bits her lips, her confusion will hopefully make her look ever cuter even if it’s unintentional. “Yeah sushi… I think I need to mention him. I was really surprised when I saw him perform, I don’t think anyone could forget his performance. He really rocked that outfit, I think I might need to ask him where he bought that shirt” a short chuckle escapes her mouth before she continues “but not only was his outfit amazing, everything was really woah. I really like dancing myself and I think I could learn from him, I think singing and dancing might be my two best performance skills, but I’m not sure if I could do both at once, I’ve never tried. But he sang and danced at the same time! I really admire that” she ends her comment with a big smile on her lips, she did enjoy his performance and thought it was very well, but she’s not sure if she would ever have the courage to ask a stranger for help.

“Oh I also need to mention Guanheng!” she burst out, she has already talked a lot about two, but she needs to mention this guy too. “You did well” she says in Chinese as she shows a thumbs up, Coco doesn’t speak Chinese, but she speaks around six words ‘you did well’ and ‘I love you’, and she feels the need to show off her Chinese skills “I’m not sure if he’s Chinese, but his name did sound Chinese”. “He sang and played an electric guitar if I remember right, he performed history maker, right!? I really like that song and I think he sang it well—” and then she goes silent for a second “wait—” again a break. “The guy I talked about before? His name isn’t sushi, it’s Xuxi, isn’t it? Oh my god I’m so sorry!” she bows slightly and covers her face with embarrassment, sushi did sound weird. “Oh my god…” she gulps before then again speaking “oh but I was talking about Guanheng, wasn’t I? Oh yeah I really enjoyed his performance”

“Tzuyu just like Xuxi sang while dancing, I really admire those two that they can do that” Tzuyu is a friend of Coco’s and honestly she was surprised to see Tzuyu. Never in a million years had she suspected that Tzuyu would be a good dancer and singer, was she honest then maybe she was a bit jealous of Tzuyu, how Tzuyu managed to sing while dancing, not that the dance was the hardest in the world, but she still danced while singing. Coco has never tried dancing while singing, but she just assumes that she’s bad at it “Tzuyu did very well, she has a very beautiful voice, I’m surprised she sings so well”

“L-lee Kikwang I think his name was? He also sang while dancing. I was honestly very surprised when I saw his performance, I don’t think he has the best singing voice, but I think his dancing definitely makes up for it. Out of all of the dancers I’ve seen today, he’s totally in top five, or maybe top three! I was seriously entertained by his dancing, I wish I could see his dancing on repeat, I want him to teach me how to become such good dancer! I really like dancing, and I hope that I can compare to his skill” she smiles brightly upon ending her comment, jealousy is something that comes easily to her, and is she honest she hopes they won’t cross paths because she fears she would get too jealous of him.

“I think I need to mention Taeil too? He’s a friend of mine, but that’s not the only reason why I’m mentioning him. I was the one who convinced him to try out for the MGAs, and see how far he has gone? I knew it was a good idea” a short chuckle leaves her as she tucks a tot of hair behind her ear before continuing; “it seems as if he has practiced very hard, and I think that’s what makes a performance great, when you can see they really want it” to be honest she had no idea whether or whether not he had practiced hard, but because she had dragged him into this she felt the need to compliment him. “I’m sure that he’ll improve a lot throughout this season”.

“I know I’ve already mentioned a lot of people, but I have a few more people I need to mention! Someone who really needs to be mentioned is Hyejoo! I hope everybody mentions her because she showed some really wild skills. When she walked up on the stage I had never expected her to rap, but then she opened her mouth and showed the wildest rap ever! I’ve never tried rapping before, but I’m 100% sure about the fact that I’m bad at it. She’s really wild! If I ever want to rap then I’ll be sure to ask her for advice” her face lights up when speaking about the girl, she sure was very amused by Hyejoo’s performance.

“Jang Moonbok… I think that was his name, right? He was in the last season too, if I remember right. His hair is so pretty! I’m really jealous!” again, a short chuckle leaves her before she continues “I know his hair doesn’t have anything to do with his performance, but it was what caught my attention! Because of his hair I paid extra attention to him! And I’m really glad I did! He both sang AND rapped, right?! That was truly amazing, that dude really has talent. I don’t remember much about him from last year, but that must mean he has improved, mustn’t it? Because he grabs my attention now, that he didn’t do last year”

“Another rapper I would like to mention is Yeosang, or was he rapping? I think he did a mix of rapping and singing, and it was really cool! He really stands out from the crowd, I really enjoy his way of rapping, if he ever made an album, then for sure I would buy it” the never-ending smile continues on her lips as she speaks about the male, honestly? Maybe she was a bit jealous of how unique his method of rapping was.

“I know I’ve mentioned a lot of people already, but there’s are more people I want to mention… Yoorim, I think that was her name, I’m not very good at remembering names, but she left a strong impact on me, she really did a great job! I don’t know why, but when people can sing and dance and do it greatly then I just get so entertained! Yoorim did a really good job with both, I still have yet to sing while dance, but seeing her perform? It really just makes me want to try it!”

She feels tears pressing on as she is about to speak about the next and last person; Daniel. She watched the MGAs season four and she cheered him on, all while he was on the show, he was truly her favorite. “Daniel…” she holds a short break before continuing “he has really gotten good, it’s great to see. I’m a big fan of his, I think he’s really cool and he has a lot of talent. I’m both happy and sad that he has joined the MGAs again, I think it’s good he has come back so he can show how much he has grown, however it feels weird to kind of be competing against him? Regardless of whatever I think he did really well, I hope everybody will support me as much as I supported him last season” and then she ends of her comment with a smile.

Truly she did not think she would mention this many people, but oh, a lot of people did do great. “Sorry for talking so much. I think everybody did great, but these were just some of my favorites”

Were there any performances you didn’t like?

Oh. Of course they were going to ask that, she should’ve expected it, shouldn’t she? Well she had mentioned quite many she had enjoyed watching, and probably there were more people she disliked than she liked, but she wouldn’t mention that many, that would just make her seem rude.

The first name who came to her mind was Lee Suwoong, she widens her eyes upon thinking about him. His performance had surprised her, it was memorable. It wasn’t that it was bad, it was just… Weird? But oh well, weird things are sometimes good, aren’t they? Or maybe he joined the MGAs to make a fool out of himself? That could be it too, if she remembers right Kyungsoo had told her that Suwoong was his cousin, and she was quite surprised at this fact because they did not seem the least alike. Though even if his performance hadn’t been her favorite, she wasn’t going to mention his name, she had her nice reputation to keep. “Nope, I think everybody did their best, and that’s what matters” and with that she sends a big smile in the way of the camera.

Who do you think will be eliminated today?

Her smile which she had been so good at keeping slowly faded upon hearing the question. Why would they ask her something like that? If she answered the question then wouldn’t she just seem rude? Or perhaps that was what they wanted? It would make sense, she had been nice so far, she had kept a smile through the interview, and she said every word with her cute voice, she did her best to maintain her cute, kind, innocent and soft self. But that probably wasn’t what they wanted, they probably wanted to crack her and make drama by showing her true self but was she honest then this was her true self, well in a way. Normally she didn’t speak with her cute voice all the time, but she did do it often, normally she would also be a bit more mature, but everybody seemed to think cuter her was better, so that was the reason for why she acted so cute on the show. But even if they wanted to make her look bad, she wouldn’t let them. “I have no idea, you can never predict things like these. The MGAs are really unpredictable” and then again the smile returns to her lips.

And it seems that, that was the final question. Perhaps some of her answers were too long, but long answers could be good too sometimes, who knew? Perhaps they would time-lapse it or something, or show a video of people falling asleep, if they made a joke out of her long answers then that would gain her attention too.

And once again she needed to show her signature move, it was what she was supposed to be known for. “Please” the word leaves her mouth as she sticks out her left hand and shows a thumbs up “support me” stretching the word like a kid while stretching her right arm and showing a thumbs up with that hand too.

And now it’s over, she managed to do her second interview.

[bronva]

Fame star Lee Curreri leads tributes to Irene Cara following death of acclaimed actress and singer aged 63

Fame star Lee Curreri leads tributes to Irene Cara following death of acclaimed actress and singer aged 63

Lee Curreri and Irene Cara starred in Fame together as Bruno Martelli and Coco Hernandez (Picture: United Artists/Archive Photos/Getty Images) Fame star Lee Curreri is among those paying tribute to his former co-star Irene Cara following her death aged 63. In a statement shared on the official Twitter account for Cara, her publicist Judith Moose confirmed the Flashdance…What A Feeling singer had…

[thefilmsnob]

Glen Coco’s Top 10 Films of 2020

This has been the weirdest damn year for film--and basically everything else--we’ve ever witnessed. Theatres closed, re-opened, then closed again; dozens of films were postponed, and no one knew where to watch the ones that weren’t. I didn’t see nearly as many films as I usually do and, even so, the selection was relatively underwhelming. Nevertheless, there were still some good pictures released, so, as always, I’m sharing my top ten films of 2020 plus a bonus track...there’s always a bonus track.

#10b. (Bonus Track) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Director: Jason Woliner

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova

On the surface, Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters may seem utterly absurd and childish--and maybe they are--but, the genius behind them is their ability to reveal the ignorance of the people he encounters and make you question where the true absurdity lies. Cohen accomplishes this yet again, even if this sequel isn’t quite as fresh as its 2006 predecessor. Yet, in the United States of 2020, ravaged as much by asinine politicians, disgraceful racism and dangerous conspiracy theories as by the actual Covid pandemic, Borat is an entirely welcome presence. He makes all the right people look as wrong as they should, especially former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani who’s caught red-handed in a compromising position opposite a very young girl, thus exacerbating his epic fall from grace while reaffirming Cohen’s brilliance.

#10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Director: George C. Wolfe

Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman

Despite my initial ambivalence, this movie has lingered in my mind for months and that’s always a good sign. Set almost entirely in one location, a 1920s Chicago recording studio, and focusing heavily on a group of musicians shooting the breeze in its basement while their demanding singer talks business with the big wigs upstairs, seemingly nothing much happens and, yet, everything happens; dreams are envisioned, pain is recalled, ideas are shared and, of course, music is made. Those elements are enhanced by the film’s stellar technical features from the production design, to the costumes to the hair & makeup. Yet, it’s the performers who steal the show, which is expected from Viola Davis but a pleasant surprise from Chadwick Boseman who, sadly, gives his final performance. The late actor saved his best for last playing a young trumpeter whose ambitions are constantly hindered by his inability to let go of his tragic past.

#9. The Way Back

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Starring: Ben Affleck

For those of you with the misconception that Ben Affleck is a bad actor, you might want to watch The Way Back in which he plays a former high school basketball star and current alcoholic who’s dealing with the death of his child and separation from his wife when he’s asked to coach his former team. Sure, this covers familiar ground, but it does so better than similar films, finessing the more predictable aspects, adding some welcome touches and treating the subject matter with the respect and seriousness it deserves. The basketball takes a backseat to the character drama here, so the film’s quality relies heavily on the performance of Affleck which might be his best to date; he makes his character’s inebriation so convincing you can practically smell the beer on his breath. And you hope to God he gets the help he so desperately needs.

Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/613090953214001152/the-way-back-12-out-of-5

#8. News of the World

Director: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel

This is a film we need right now for several reasons, not least of which being we get to spend two hours with ‘America’s Dad’ Tom Hanks, a decent, honourable man playing another decent, honourable man in 1870 who encounters a strange young girl on the road near an overturned wagon and promises to return her to her remaining family. With Hanks’s character Jefferson Kidd traveling from town to town reading the newspaper for its citizens, this is also a timely film, stressing the importance of a free and fair press as opposed to the propaganda that saturated the Trump administration and his favourite news outlet. An unusually--yet refreshingly--straightforward and old-fashioned Western for 2020, its highlights include a climactic exchange between adult and child, made so effectively tender with such minimal effort by Hanks, as well as a meticulously crafted chase and shootout sequence at the halfway point, directed with optimal tension and clarity by the great Paul Greengrass.

#7. Nomadland

Director: Chloe Zhao

Starring: Frances McDormand

It’s about time we start including Frances McDormand in lists of greatest actors. In Nomadland, in which she plays a wanderer of sorts who’s lost her husband to cancer and her company town to a poor economy, her performance transcends labels like ‘realistic’ or ‘natural’ and arrives at a place that doesn’t feel like performance at all. She blends in seamlessly with a cast of real nomads playing themselves, living out of vans in the western US, as unconstrained by societal norms as the film itself is by conventional story arcs. We want to see this minimalist lifestyle, which includes seasonal Amazon warehouse gigs and long nights in a freezing cold van, as depressing or unfulfilling, but writer/director/producer/editor (Jesus!) Chloe Zhao dares us to admire both the freedom and sense of community formed among this nomadic subculture. Cinematographer Joshua James Richards also plays with our expectations, bathing the screen in soothing blues and purples, transforming the unremarkable landscape into a thing of beauty.

#6. Da 5 Bloods

Director: Spike Lee

Starring: Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Norm Lewis

In Da 5 Bloods, writer/director Spike Lee deviates from his usual urban American setting to explore the tropical forests of Vietnam, but his focus remains fixed on the African American experience, their plight and search for justice. His subjects are a group of Vietnam War vets who reunite in present day Ho Chin Minh City to retrieve a cache of gold bars left behind some 50 years prior, originally part of a political transaction, as we see in appropriately grainy 4:3 full screen flashbacks. The reason for this mission is more righteous than a simple payday, but Lee refuses to paint these complex characters with the same brush--there’s even a MAGA in the bunch!--nor does he oversimplify the film’s profound issues. A genre-defying work, Da 5 Bloods is a character study, social commentary, war picture and action/adventure flick all rolled into one with some truly shocking developments and one of the finest casts of the year. How Delroy Lindo was denied an Oscar nomination for his volatile performance is beyond me.

#5. Promising Young Woman

Director: Emerald Fennell

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie

In one of the most unique films of the year, Carey Mulligan delivers a brave, bold and beautiful performance as Cassie, a woman with a tragic past who spends her weekends at the club pretending to be blackout drunk, only to shame and humiliate the sleazy men who try to take advantage. Writer/director Emerald Fennell does a masterful job at peeling back the layers of this dark revenge tale ever so gradually to reveal Cassie’s true motives while rebuking, not just society’s abhorrent offenders, but those enablers and silent bystanders who try to hide behind a flimsy shroud of innocence. Benefiting from one of the sharpest screenplays of the year and a fitting score, Promising Young Woman never ceases to ramp up the tension, a strategy that culminates in a shocking final sequence which is at once disturbing and satisfying. It’ll all leave you guessing until the final, brilliant shot.

#4. The Invisible Man

Director: Leigh Whannell

Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid

Originally conceived as part of the ill-fated ‘Dark Universe’--Universal Pictures’ planned movie franchise featuring its classic monsters--and starring Johnny Depp, The Invisible Man was drastically retooled and produced as a stand-alone film with a modernized story. And like so many horror projects of the last decade, it’s refreshingly inspired and well-crafted with a deeper purpose than merely spooking its audience, though it succeeds at that as well. Writer/director Leigh Whannell uses this movie and the fearless performance of the great Elisabeth Moss to examine abusive partners and their persistent hold on their lovers-turned-victims long after the relationship has collapsed. Moss is stunning as usual, portraying an already traumatized woman trying desperately to convince everyone she’s not going crazy as well, even though that’s exactly how it looks. Equally impressive is the restraint by the filmmakers who use the ‘invisible’ effects sparingly yet strategically, creatively and, ultimately, very effectively, making every scare plausible and entirely earned.

#3. Sound of Metal

Director: Darius Marder

Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci

In a world in which people are complaining about losing their freedom because they have to wear a simple mask to save lives, it’s good to see a film that shows what real loss looks like. If you can’t imagine being a heavy metal drummer who suddenly goes deaf, writer/director Darius Marder spells it out for you in big, bold, sorrow-inducing letters. He’s aided by Riz Ahmed giving possibly the best performance of the year as a man who, on the surface, tries desperately to hold on to his life and passion while, deep down, he knows that’s impossible. Sound of Metal is a tender and heartbreaking yet hopeful story, but what’s even more effective than the film’s dramatic presentation is its remarkable sound design. At times, characters sign to each other amidst ambient noise. Other times, the sound is muffled as if we’re putting our ears up to a wall and hearing a fraction of the dialogue from the other side. And, less frequently, when Ruben’s condition is at its worst, we hear nothing at all. Just complete and terrifying silence…which speaks volumes.

Full Review: https://thefilmsnob.tumblr.com/post/647329085467574272/sound-of-metal-out-of-5

#2. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Starring: Mark Rylance, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Frank Langella, Michael Keaton, etc, etc, etc...

Aaron Sorkin could write about two accountants conducting a routine audit and make it absolutely absorbing. So, imagine what he does with a courtroom drama about the volatile situation surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the group of anti-Vietnam War protestors accused of inciting riots at the event. Now an accomplished director too, Sorkin organizes all the moving pieces involved with style and grace while deploying his famously kinetic dialogue. With those lines coming from the mouths of his stellar cast, it’s hard not to hang on their every word and be invested completely in their struggle. I could listen to Mark Rylance’s showstopping line-reading of the simple phrase, “No, he doesn’t!”, all day and never get tired of it. Among its many achievements, The Trial of the Chicago 7 deftly navigates heavy topics like police brutality, unpopular wars and a corrupt justice system, showing just how little things have changed in the last 50 years.

#1. Palm Springs

Director: Max Barbakow

Starring: Cristin Milioti, Andy Samberg, J.K. Simmons

Anyone who knows me may be surprised by this pick, but here we are. Nothing makes sense these days. We���re all as confused and anxious about life as Sarah and Nyles are at a wedding in Palm Springs. Despite what the title suggests, the film doesn’t follow a group of horny teens getting up to shenanigans in the famous resort town, but if I describe the actual plot in depth, I may spoil the fun. I will say these characters seem to be reliving the same events over and over again. What’s so impressive about this film is that, although it repeats itself, it never feels repetitive. The twists and turns, the absurd hilarity blended with bracing poignancy, ensure our unwavering focus on this briskly paced little gem. Yet, it’s the irresistible chemistry between the two leads, played by the equally irresistible Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg, that forms the glue that holds it all together, whether they’re pulling off childish pranks, discussing their unusual sex lives or debating the very meaning of life. I’m telling you, this movie has everything: comedy, drama, romance, science-fiction (?!), J.K. Simmons, several weddings, an inflatable pizza slice, dinosaurs, a crossbow and colourful beer cans and summer wear that seem destined to become iconic.

[dweemeister]

My alternative 90th Academy Awards

So here’s another annual tradition... my alternative Oscars ceremony. This is what this Sunday’s Oscars would look like if I – and I alone – stuffed the ballots and decided on all of the nominations and winners. Non-English language films are accompanied by their nation of origin (in FIFA three-letter code).

90th Academy Awards – March 4, 2018 Dolby Theatre – Hollywood, Los Angeles, California Host: Jimmy Kimmel Broadcaster: ABC

Best Picture: LADY BIRD

The Breadwinner, Anthony Leo, Tomm Moore, Andrew Rosen, and Paul Young (Cartoon Saloon/GKIDS)

Call Me by Your Name, Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, and Howard Rosenman (Sony Pictures Classics)

Coco, Darla K. Anderson (Pixar/Walt Disney)

Dunkirk, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan (Warner Bros.)

Faces Places (FRA), Rosalie Varda (Le Pacte/Cohen Media Group)

The Florida Project, Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch, Kevin Chinoy, Andrew Duncan, Alex Saks, Francesca Silvestri, and Shih-Ching Tsou (A24)

Lady Bird, Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, and Evelyn O’Neil (A24)

Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison, JoAnne Sellar, and Daniel Lupi, (Focus/Universal)

The Post, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Amy Pascal (20th Century Fox)

The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Out of the running in real life are Darkest Hour, Three Billboards, and Get Out. And taking the maximum of ten spots, in their place enter The Breadwinner, Coco, Faces Places, The Florida Project. That’s two animated movies, a documentary, and a neglected critical darling... come at me? I was lukewarm over Darkest Hour, pissed off over Three Billboards, and I honestly don’t think Get Out is as effective a horror movie or a commentary on racial relations that it wants to be.

Lady Bird would be my winner, with Phantom Thread your runner-up and either Faces Places or The Shape of Water as your third spot. For Lady Bird, it would be harder to find a movie with as much empathy as it this calendar year. Maybe not the most technically gifted filmmaking of the nominees, but it accomplishes its conceit with an open ear and an open heart. Bravo.

I noticed that I don’t have time to write on all the Best Picture nominees anymore, like in years past. I only got to Dunkirk and The Post  – both of which are on the outside looking in.

Best Director

Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird

Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk

Dee Rees, Mudbound

Agnès Varda and JR, Faces Places

CONTROVERSY. Dee Rees nominated in Director, but Mudbound isn’t nominated for Picture! In all honesty, I couldn’t find the excuse to nudge Mudbound out for any of the nominees I placed above. But to focus on the positive, del Toro is going to make it three Mexican Best Director winners in the last four years... that is exhilarating. Nolan is my close second choice here, and falters a bit because I didn’t personally enjoy the structure of Dunkirk all that much.

Best Actor

Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Andy Serkis, War for the Planet of the Apes                               

No CMBYN fans, there will not be any justice for you on my blog either. Because the best performance of the year by an actor of a leading role was done in motion capture... it was Andy Serkis as Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes. It’s been high time to honor Serkis in what is his best work – aside from his performances as Gollum – to date.

Best Actress

Ahn Seo-hyun, Okja

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Meryl Streep, The Post

The quieter performances aren’t going to win at this year’s Oscars. McDormand’s flashier performance in Three Billboards will overshadow Hawkins’ nuanced, silent performance in SoW. That’s wrong to me, as I think Hawkins does so much physically that is so taxing for any actor that would dare take a role like that. South Korean child actress Ahn Seo-hyun just sneaks in for Okja.

Best Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

Bob Odenkirk, The Post

Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

My least favorite acting category this year. So I’ll toss it to Dafoe for The Florida Project... who, on Sunday, is probably going to lose to a flashier performance in Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards (who shouldn’t have been nominated). Plummer and Odenkirk are in a close battle for second.

Best Supporting Actress

Mary J. Blige, Mudbound

Tiffany Haddish, Girls Trip

Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird

This is Manville v. Metcalf for me. And for playing the deeply layered, deeply conflicted, tough-love mother in Lady Bird, this has to be Metcalf for me. It is ta transcendent supporting actress performance. And yes, I snuck Tiffany Haddish in here... because why not?

Best Adapted Screenplay

James Ivory, Call Me by Your Name

Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, The Disaster Artist

Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green, Logan

Dee Rees and Virgil Williams, Mudbound

Aaron Sorkin, Molly’s Game

If I ran the Oscars, the 89-year-old James Ivory wouldn’t have won an Oscar by now either. I hate to type that, but timing is a funny thing! Fate and time are funny things, aren’t they? This category isn’t close. Dee Rees makes history as the first nominated black woman in this category!

Best Original Screenplay

Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread

Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch, The Florida Project

Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird

Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, The Post

Jordan Peele, Get Out

I’ve already commented how much I think Get Out is more flawed a movie than most believe. This comes down to Anderson and Gerwig for me... and my Best Picture winner, I think, is blessed with the screenplay of the year for capturing a time, a place, and its characters at a certain point in their lives so wonderfully.

Best Animated Feature

The Breadwinner (Cartoon Saloon/GKIDS)

Coco (Pixar/Walt Disney)

The Girl Without Hands, France (Shellac/GKIDS)

Loving Vincent (Next Film/Good Deed Entertainment)

Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Japan (Studio Ponoc/GKIDS)

SHOCKER. For me, I was considering a tie in this category (which has happened six times in Academy Awards history... so I guess I have to save it for once every fifteen ceremonies or something) between Breadwinner (write-up) and Coco (write-up). This would be Cartoon Saloon’s first win in my alternate universe... in that same alternative universe for 2009, The Secret of Kells would’ve lost to Up; for 2014, Song of the Sea would’ve lost to eventual Best Picture winner The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.

Coco fans, don’t despair though. Keep reading... because your movie isn’t going home empty-handed.

I totally disrespected Ferdinand and Boss Baby didn’t I?

Best Documentary Feature

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Kartemquin Films/Public Broadcasting Service)

Faces Places, France (Le Pacte/Cohen Media Group)

Jane (National Geographic)

LA92 (National Geographic)

Last Men in Aleppo (Aleppo Media Center/Larm Film/Grasshopper Film)

I don’t think this would be Agnès Varda’s first Oscar in my alternative universe? I’ll get to doing the 1960s someday. :P

Best Foreign Language Film

Faces Places, France

The Insult, Lebanon

Loveless, Russia

Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Japan

The Square, Sweden

Best Cinematography

Roger Deakins, Blade Runner 2049

Janusz Kaminski, The Post

Rachel Morrison, Mudbound

Jonathan Ricquebourg, The Death of Louis XIV (FRA)

Hoyte Van Hoytema, Dunkirk

Morrison makes history by being the first female nominee in this category and as its first winner. Sorry Roger Deakins! You probably would’ve won earlier in my alternative universe anyways.

Best Film Editing

Michael Kahn, The Post

Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos, Baby Driver

Gregory Plotkin, Get Out

Lee Smith, Dunkirk

Sidney Wolinsky, The Shape of Water

Best Original Musical*

M.M. Keeravani, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Coco

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, The Greatest Showman

*NOTE: Best Original Musical – known previously as several other names – exists in the Academy’s rulebooks, but requires activation from the music branch given that there are enough eligible films. To qualify, a film must have no fewer than five original songs. This category was last activated when Prince won for Purple Rain (1984).

You know, this might change some day if I sit down and watch Baahubali 2. I’ve listened to the soundtrack, but I haven’t seen the songs in context. Sorry Indian cinema fans! Coco fans must be getting mighty mad at me for now... but Coco’s musical score – outside of two original songs (“Remember Me” and “Proud Corazón”) and one non-original song (“La Llorana”) – isn’t the best out of context. The Greatest Showman – I think Pasek and Paul are far better lyricists than they are composers (and yes, that’s a problem) – has songs that do very well in and out of context, and takes the win in this category.

Best Original Score

Alexandre Desplat, The Shape of Water

Alexandre Desplat, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Michael Giacchino, War for the Planet of the Apes

John Williams, The Post

John Williams, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It really comes down to Valerian, Apes, and Jedi. And in this titanic battle over science fiction and space opera, it is Desplat for the much-maligned Valerian taking the Oscar home. The score combines seamlessly enormous orchestral and electronic elements to a degree that I haven’t heard from Desplat yet. It barely edges Williams for The Last Jedi... which benefits from some of Williams’ best action scoring in years and a repackaging of older themes in ways showing off the dexterity of the maestro. Giacchino is third, with Desplat for SoW in fourth, and The Post in fifth. Jonny Greenwood for Phantom Thread is the first man out.

Best Original Song

“Mighty River”, music by Raphael Saadiq; lyrics by Mary J. Blige, Saadiq, and Taura Stinson, Mudbound

“A Million Dreams”, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, The Greatest Showman

“Mystery of Love”, music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens, Call Me by Your Name

“Remember Me (Recuérdame)”, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Coco

“This Is Me”, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, The Greatest Showman

Also proudly the winner of the 2017 Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song (some of you know what that means), “Remember Me (Recuérdame)” has everything you want – interesting musicality (even though I still think that descending line, which begins with “For ever if I’m far away / I hold you in my heart” sounds far more like something Randy Newman would compose than something distinctly Mexican) meaningful lyrics, layers of meaning within the movie it comes from, and a life of its own when separated from that movie.

Showstopper “This Is Me” comes a distant second, with the others in a scrum for crumbs. I really like “A Million Dreams”, though. My sister will take me to task over how much I enjoyed The Greatest Showman’s soundtrack (which I enjoyed despite finding it musically uninteresting).

Best Costume Design

Jacqueline Durran, Beauty and the Beast

Jen Wasson, The Beguiled

Nina Avramovic, The Death of Louis XIV

Mark Bridges, Phantom Thread

Luis Sequeira, The Shape of Water

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, and Lucy Sibbick, Darkest Hour

John Blake and Camille Friend, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Neal Scanlan and Peter King, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Thi Thanh Tu Nguyen and Félix Puget, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Arjen Tuiten, Wonder

Best Production Design

Dennis Gassner and Alessandra Querzola, Blade Runner 2049

Jim Clay and Rebecca Alleway, Murder on the Orient Express

Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau, and Jeff Melvin, The Shape of Water

Hugues Tissandier, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Aline Bonetto and Dominic Hyman, Wonder Woman

Best Sound Editing

Mark Mangini and Theo Green, Blade Runner 2049

Richard King and Alex Gibson, Dunkirk

Al Nelson and Steve Slanec, Kong: Skull Island

Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

James Mather, Wonder Woman

Best Sound Mixing

Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin, and Mary H. Ellis, Baby Driver

Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, and Mac Ruth, Blade Runner 2049

Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker, and Gary A. Rizzo, Dunkirk

Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, and Glen Gauthier, The Shape of Water

David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, and Stuart Wilson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Visual Effects

John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert, and Richard R. Hoover, Blade Runner 2049

Scott Fisher and Andrew Jackson, Dunkirk

Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Scott Stokdyk and Jérome Lionard, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon, and Joel Whist, War for the Planet of the Apes

Best Documentary Short

Edith+Eddie (Kartemquin Films)

Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405 (Frank Stiefel)

Heroine(e) (Requisite Media/Netflix)

Knife Skills (Thomas Lennon Films)

Traffic Stop (Q-Ball Productions/HBO Films)

My omnibus review of this year’s nominees can be read here.

Best Live Action Short

DeKalb Elementary (Reed Van Dyk)

The Eleven O’Clock (FINCH)

My Nephew Emmett (Kevin Wilson, Jr.)

The Silent Child (Slick Films)

Watu Wote: All of Us, Germany/Kenya (Ginger Ink Films/Hamburg Media School)

My omnibus review of this year’s nominees can be read here.

Best Animated Short

Dear Basketball (Glen Keane Productions)

In a Heartbeat (Ringling College of Art and Design)

Lou (Pixar/Walt Disney)

Revolting Rhymes (Magic Light Pictures/Triggerfish Animation Studios/BBC)

World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People’s Thoughts (Bitter Films)

My omnibus review of this year’s nominees can be read here. I took out Negative Space and Garden Party for my winner In a Heartbeat and World of Tomorrow Episode Two. If you haven’t seen In a Heartbeat yet... first, where the hell have you been? Under a rock? Here’s the link.

Academy Honorary Awards: Agnès Varda, Charles Burnett, Donald Sutherland, and Owen Roizman

Special Achievement Academy Award: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Flesh and Sand

MULTIPLE NOMINEES (22) Nine: The Shape of Water Seven: Dunkirk; The Post Six: Phantom Thread Five: Blade Runner 2049; Lady Bird; Mudbound; Star Wars: The Last Jedi Four: Call Me by Your Name; Coco; Faces Places; Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Three: The Florida Project; Get Out; The Greatest Showman; War for the Planet of the Apes Two: Baby Driver; The Breadwinner; Darkest Hour; The Death of Louis XIV; Mary and the Witch’s Flower; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Wonder Woman

WINNERS 4 wins: The Shape of Water 3 wins: Lady Bird 2 wins: Dunkirk; Faces Places; Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets; War for the Planet of the Apes 1 win: The Breadwinner; Call Me by Your Name; Coco; DeKalb Elementary; The Florida Project; The Greatest Showman; In a Heartbeat; Knife Skills; Mudbound; Phantom Thread

16 winners from 25 categories. 45 feature-length films and 15 short films were represented.

Questions? Comments? Personal attacks? Fire away!

[adamwatchesmovies]

Coco (2017)

Coco is preceded by (essentially) an elongated trailer for Frozen 2 titled Olaf’s First Christmas which has its charms but doesn’t have the same appeal as the 2013 hit. It's alright, but the songs featured don't have the lasting power of Let it Go or Do You Want To Build a Snowman. That is also true of Coco, whose tunes I don't think will keep your feet tapping long after the end credits are done. In every other way, this new animated film by Disney/Pixar is splendid. The visuals are incredible and inspired, the story is tight, thoughtful and original, and the conclusion contains both surprises and genuine emotion.

Aspiring musician Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) is forbidden to follow his passion by his grandmother (Renée Victor). After he steals the guitar of Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), the most beloved singer/guitarist in the history of Mexico, Miguel is transported to the realm of the dead and given the opportunity to receive his ancestor's blessing and pursue his passion.

If you don’t know anything about Día de Muertos, alebrija, or other Mexican traditions, don’t worry, Coco enchants you easily. As in  2014's The Book of Life, this world of the dead is beautiful, vibrant and the art direction fantastic. This is a world populated by the friendliest, most charming skeletons you’ll ever see, and the architecture incorporates skull motifs in a way that makes you want to pause the movie and admire every shot. The 3D is also pretty good.

On top of those eye-popping visuals, you’ve got a story that features a surprising amount of sophistication, particularly during the final act. It's clear that writers Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina, Jason Katz and Matthew Aldrich weren’t going to settle for just eye candy. The script, the characters, and their actions were meticulously revised until everything fell perfectly into place. It's a big deal to have a film that deals repeatedly with death and remembering those who are deceased but does so in a way that's this digestible, even for young audiences.

Coco might begin in a way familiar way: Ariel, Belle, and Moana (among others) are all musically inclined protagonists that want more than what they've been offered. Coco mixes things up by making a film about family. Miguel could easily return to the world of the living, but the unexpected adventure turns into an opportunity to get to know the aunts, uncles, and great-grandparents he never knew. It contains big laughs and a lot of heart, particularly at the end.

Funny, flashy, emotionally resonant and inspired, Coco is destined to become a favorite of many, and not just because it's steeped in Mexican culture. (3D Theatrical version on the big screen, November 26, 2017)

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.98 / American television, film and stage actress, Bernadette Quigley with Mark Watkins.

MW : What’s new?

BQ : Currently, work is sparse as most of my businesses have been shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. No films or television shows are being shot in NYC at this moment in time and most of my side businesses are on pause as well. This season’s gardening work didn’t happen at all (because NYC had not yet deemed gardening an essential service).

Thankfully, I have a few coaching (acting) clients I work with often and I had one job before this pandemic hit that I’m still working on - a press and radio campaign for Irish singer-songwriter Ultan Conlon’s beautiful new record, ‘There’s a Waltz’. It’s been gratifying to see reviewers agreeing with me that it’s Ultan’s finest record thus far!

MW : Tell me about your role in Law & Order...

BQ : Well, I had four Law & Order roles, actually. Two are on Law & Order: SVU and two are on the mothership Law & Order.

My first big role on SVU was of a victim, Jean Weston, on the season finale of their 2nd season, many moons ago. This character was a mother and wife from Oregon whose husband and son got stabbed to death by a serial killer – played by Richard Thompson.

I’ll never forget this role for many reasons but primarily it was a job where I discovered I could cry on cue. The director and producers decided they wanted to end the episode with a huge close up of my character, breaking down in the gallery in the courtroom. One of the producers shouted out, “Bernadette…can you cry on cue!?” I meekly replied, “Sure.” Next thing I hear was…”rolling….” and “ACTION”… I looked up, terrified I wouldn’t be able to summon up tears but imagined the hell my character went through and looked deeply into Chris Meloni’s eyes and …phew!...started to cry!

The Law & Order franchise has been a godsend for many actors. Not just financially, which it has and still is but for me, the experience I gained working on those shows led to a lot more television and film work over the years, so I’m forever grateful to creator/producer, Dick Wolf.

MW : What are your own views on law & order? Anything you’d like to see relaxed or tightened up on?

BQ : Feels very naïve and idealistic to say this, but I’d love to see major, police reform. Police brutality is despicable and out of control, especially in Black communities. 

I believe we’re beginning to see the power of the Black Lives Matter movement resulting in some of these police officers losing their jobs and sometimes being arrested themselves for their unspeakable acts of violence, but I imagine we, as a nation, need to keep the pressure on. The police brutality simply has to stop. There has to be more consequences for those senseless deaths. There has to be better training, etc...

I’d also love to see major gun control in this country. I would love to see guns banned. Period. But that’s highly unrealistic as this country tragically has a major addiction to their gun culture. Perhaps someday we’ll have some common-sense gun control again such as background checks, and high-capacity magazine and semi-automatic assault weapon bans.

MW : What was it like working with Kenneth Branagh?

BQ : I suggested Kenneth’s play “Public Enemy” to the Irish Arts Center’s Artistic Director at the time, Nye Heron, and was emailing and talking with Kenneth’s assistant quite a lot before setting up a meeting with Kenneth and Nye.

I was flying high that I helped to secure the rights to his play. Kenneth then came to our first read-through, and he came back to see a preview or two. He was an absolute prince, kind, intelligent, caring, witty.

However, this success was so bittersweet because my dad died right before we opened the play, a performance I had dedicated to him before he died (because my dad loved Jimmy Cagney, and the main character of the play was obsessed with Cagney). The play got great reviews and we ran for five months. It was so difficult for me to fully appreciate the success of this show as I was mourning the most devastating loss of my life.

MW : Which "shelved" film appearance of yours should have seen the light of day?

BQ : There’s a provocative film I am in about a racial experiment that is under the radar called, “The Suspect” (2014), which stars Mekhi Phifer, Sterling K. Brown and William Sadler.

By the way, I am currently in three indie films that I’m psyched for the world to see: I play a lead role in “Darcy” which is available (worldwide) to stream on Herflix.com; “The Garden Left Behind” has just landed international distribution, so stay tuned for the release date! And finally, I have an interesting supporting role in a film called “Tahara” which had its world premiere at Slamdance in January and is slated for more film festivals.

MW : What makes a good film/TV critic? Can you name any?

BQ : One that doesn’t give the plot, or too much dialogue away. I often don’t read reviews of films, or television shows, I want to watch because I love going in – not being influenced by another’s opinion. But sometimes, I’ll read reviews afterwards to learn more about the evolution of a film or TV show. I often find myself agreeing with A.O.Scott’s (NY Times) film reviews.

MW : How do you usually prepare for an acting role, and has a character ever taken you over?

BQ : The first thing I do is read the script several times and see what the words are telling me about the character, and how other characters view that person. If it’s a period piece, I research the era or history surrounding the event in the play, or screenplay. Eventually, I forget my research, learn my words and hopefully let the character inhabit me emotionally, physically and psychologically, spiritually etc…and try my best to be fully present with the other actors I’m working with moment-to-moment. Every project is different.

Yes, there were times, I found it difficult to shut off the pain of a character after some performances. Two that come to mind are two intensely emotional theatre roles I performed at the Repertory of St. Louis, Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible”, and Agnes in “Bug”.

MW : Is performing on film different to TV as an acting discipline?

BQ : I think it all depends on the style of the film, or television show. With a TV show like Law & Order, it’s formulaic and heightened realism (acting style) and so one makes sure one knows every single word, and hits one’s marks, and if it calls for emoting then one must emote! Some films I’ve done are grittier-kitchen-sink realism. A very minimalistic style of acting.

MW : Has your song-writer husband ever penned a song for you?

BQ : Yes, many….Don (Rosler) primarily writes for and with other artists – on the John Margolis: Christine’s Refrigerator CD, there’s many tunes that speak to many moments within the course of our lives: the title track (altho’ the name was changed), “Scrap of Hope” (a pep talk to me when I was stuck at a temp job I hated), “Here’s Something You Don’t See Every Day” (a wedding reverie that literally started in Don’s mind when I fell asleep on his shoulder), and he wrote an exquisite lyric for Bobby McFerrin’s Grammy-nominated record VOCAbuLarieS, a song called “Brief Eternity”… where his words infuse my love for gardening: “Working in the garden has you... ...Breathing in the bloom and then you View the sunset view to move you Close to truly understanding Life and death but nothing ending Voices living on”…..

MW : Tell me about some of your favourite music...

BQ : My music tastes are pretty eclectic – besides all the indie artists I’ve done publicity for, I love so many styles of music from classical to folk to country but here’s some of my fave artists: Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Pink, Beyonce, Billie Holiday, Ani DiFranco, Ibeyi, Sinead O’Connor, Prince, Bjork, Leonard Cohen, Kacey Musgraves, K.D. Lang, Laura Mvula, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Billy Bragg, and Randy Newman, among many others.

MW : ...and your favourite films....

BQ : Ohhhhh-so-many faves but a few, in no particular order :

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019) 

Parasite (2019)

Secrets & Lies (1996) 

Vera Drake (2004)

Pain And Glory (2019)

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

BlacKkKlansman (2018) 

A Fantastic Woman (2017) 

Babette’s Feast (1987)

Coco (2017) 

To Kill A Mockingbird  (1962)

Nights of Cabiria (1957)

The 400 Blows (1959)

12 Years A Slave (2013) 

Jean de Florette (1986)

Trees Lounge (1996)

My Left Foot (1989)

In America (2002)  (I know I’m biased but still…such a beautiful film)! 

Annie Hall  (1977)

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) 

My Brilliant Career (1979)

 And I also love documentaries and a ton of old movies from the 1930’s and 1940’s, such as The Lady Eve (1941).

MW : ...plus your favourite books....

BQ : I’m currently reading this years New York Times Bestseller American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (it’s excellent!).

Some of my all-time faves are :

Of Human Bondage ~ W. Somerset Maugham (1915)

A Confederacy Of Dunces ~ John Kennedy Toole (1980)

Angela’s Ashes ~ Frank McCourt (1996)

The Grapes Of Wrath ~ John Steinbeck (1939) 

Lady Chatterley's Lover ~  D.H Lawrence (1960)

Olive Kitteridge ~ Elizabeth Strout (2008) 

Americanah ~ Chimanda Ngozi Adichie (2013) 

The Feast of Love ~ Charles Baxter (2000) 

Everything Here Is Beautiful ~ Mira T. Lee (2008)

An American Tragedy ~ Theodore Dreiser (1925)

Sister Carrie ~  Theodore Dreiser (1900)

Act One ~ Moss Hart (1959) 

Born A Crime ~ Trevor Noah (2016) 

Wild : From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail ~ Cheryl Strayed (2012)

MW : You enjoy gardening. How is yours designed and tended to?

BQ : I don’t have my very own garden. I live in NYC and dream of having a country house with a garden of my own one day!

This is the reason I started a side business of urban gardening. My dad was an extraordinary gardener and after he died, I started tending to my mother’s flower gardens. Then I found myself volunteering at a neighborhood garden and that led to me working in other people’s gardens. Primarily small back gardens and some rooftop or balcony gardens.

I specialize in flowers, shrubs and trees and love planting lots of perennials (flowers and plants) with annuals so there’s lots of varying blossoms of different heights and textures, throughout spring, summer and fall. 

When possible, if space allows, I also love incorporating foot paths, rock walls, or other elements in gardens – art/birdbaths/benches/statues that might be a sweet focal point but primarily I love the combinations of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers to be the focal points.

MW : Recommend five flowers...that every good garden should have!

BQ : Daffodils - one of the first signs of spring! Muscari (aka grape hyacinths) – the color (blue) is gorgeous, as is the scent. Climbing roses – the beauty and romantic history of roses. Anemone Robustissima (late blooming perennial flower). Lady Ferns (okay not a flower, but I’m a fern freak and I love ferns of all kinds!, but Lady ferns in particular are stunning when they sit beside most flowers or surround trees).

MW : How opinionated are you on current events? Would you like to be more, or less opinionated?

BQ : I’m extremely opinionated on current events but find it difficult to find ways to communicate my thoughts without screaming angrily from the rooftops and then of course not being heard. There are those that say we have an obligation to try to talk sense into people whose viewpoints are much more extreme than one’s own (either extreme conservative or extreme liberal). 

I’m very liberal but am more pragmatic when it comes to progress, not perfection, so I’m very happy to enthusiastically vote for someone like Joe Biden or in 2016, Hillary Clinton, but I honestly don’t know how to reach people whose minds are already made up – people who either continue to justify their support for the current racist/narcissist/sexist/pathological liar-in-chief, or that justify their “protest” vote by falsely equivocating both candidates as “the same” or “the lesser of two evils”.

So yeah, I offend people at times because yes, I’m judgmental when it comes to politics and I most definitely believe in the power of protests, but believe just as strongly in the collective power of one’s vote and it drives me insane when others don’t show up and vote for local elections, and national ones.

I find I do hold back on Facebook, not because I’m afraid to voice my opinions but because it becomes too much of a time suck for me.

MW : What character traits frustrate you?

BQ : Impatience (in myself). Aggression (in myself and others).

MW : What’s the kindest thing another person has done for you?

BQ : I find this question so complex to answer. There are so many inexplicable moments in my life, where I’ve been blown away by many seemingly small gestures or kind words from strangers. And professionally, I’ve been truly blessed to work with some top-notch directors that gave me the gift of encouraging me to fully trust my artistic instincts.

When I was a child, my parents were not the type of people who conveyed their love in typically demonstrative ways, in ways that I honestly craved, so on the rare occasions when either one of them did utter something like “We’re proud of you”, or “I love you”, I was very moved by them going past their own comfort zones to express that kind of sentiment!

I’ve had many personal and professional challenges in my life and many of my siblings have been there for me over the years in ways I can’t really articulate without choking up. I also think having the courage to face one’s disagreements and past hurt, which comes with the territory of most friendships and relationships, is an act of kindness that I most value. Those I feel closest to have stuck it through with me by navigating through some painful, complex and messy misunderstandings. I’ll never forget those acts of kindness and generosity.

MW : What have you lost, growing older... and gained?

BQ : My mom died in January, and as I mentioned, my dad died many years ago. Sometimes I feel the depths of that loss – the fact that I don’t have my parents to share the ups and downs of the events of the rest of my life. Of course, I do have them close to my heart and their spirits live on….but damn I miss them! I’ve definitely gained a profound appreciation for them and their influence on me in countless ways.

On a professional level, as an older actress, unfortunately it’s easy to become invisible but I’m not ready to disappear and am joining the fight against ageism! I’m drawn to stories and filmmakers that include women and men of all ages, genders and ethnicities.

Perhaps if enough roles are not forthcoming in the next number of years, I’ll venture into writing and directing at some point.

MW : Where can we find out more / keep in touch?

BQ : Thanks so much, here’s a few links…!

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703489/

https://twitter.com/quigdette

https://www.instagram.com/quigdette/

https://www.facebook.com/bernadette.quigley.3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Quigley

https://bernadettequigleymedia.wordpress.com/

https://bernadettetheconstantgardener.wordpress.com/bio/

© Mark Watkins / July 2020