2020 was a year indeed, but despite being filled with one tough blow after another, Music was there for us to guide us through these challenging times. While some of the year’s biggest smash hits turn back to the drumbeats and synths of the ’80s for inspiration, this is a good thing as that nostalgia translates to happiness and dancing.

While nothing beats a great Music Video, we’re seeing that the success of a single doesn’t necessarily depend on a flashy video. In fact, Megan Thee Stallion‘s hit “Savage” only has a Lyric Video and an Animated Video, but its exposure on TikTok helped propel it into the stratosphere of success.

And on the other side of things, Taylor Swift continues to top album sales charts without any definitive hit single. Times are changing on the musical landscape and more than ever on the Billboard Hot 100 we’re seeing songs from previous years land in the 2020 Hot 100 which either is a sign of people latching onto familiar things for comfort, or maybe chart criteria perhaps needs a deeper look.

Below are our Top Ten favourite singles of 2020! What are yours? Tweet us at @mrwillw!

1. Midnight Sky – Miley Cyrus

2. Rain on Me – Lady Gaga ft. Ariana Grande

3. Break My Heart – Dua Lipa

4. Say So – Doja Cat

5. Adore You – Harry Styles

6. ily – Surf Mesa ft. Emilee

7. How You Like That – Blackpink

8. August – Taylor Swift

9. Savage – Megan Thee Stallion

10. Naked – Ava Max

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music/Universal Music Group/Sony Music Entertainment)

We don’t know where she finds the time. Taylor Swift drops a new Single (willow), Album and Video all at once on us. This ninth Studio Disc, evermore, features contributions from her partner Joe Alywn credited as William Bowery. Swift continues with this earthy mood and this Video is set deep in the magical forest, directed by herself!

Check-out willow below:

evermore is available now digitally everywhere and can be purchased physically on Swift‘s website.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)

Taylor Swift fans are going to love this! folklore is considered by many as her finest Album to date. Here’s a glimpse into the making of this new classic and it’s coming to Disney+!

Synopsis:

Taylor Swift, Aaron Dessner (The National), Jack Antonoff (Bleachers) and Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) created an album that crossed genres — a musical journey that allows us to cry and laugh, and during these trying times, makes us feel like we’re not quite so alone. They recorded “folklore” thousands of miles apart from each other and had never been in the same room together…

…until now

“folklore: the long pond studio sessions” was filmed in upstate New York in September 2020 and will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Wednesday, November 25, at 12:01AM PT / 3:01 AM ET. Taylor, accompanied by co-producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff along with a guest appearance by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), performs each song in order of her critically adored, five star album, “folklore” and for the very first time, reveals the stories and secrets behind all 17 songs.

“folklore: the long pond studio sessions” was directed by Taylor Swift and filmed on 6 x Lumix S1H mirrorless cameras with Leica lenses embedded in the studio, along with a one Alexa LF with an Angenieux 24-290 on a Furio robotic camera with 30+ feet of curved track.

See the Trailer:

See a new performance for the Track EXILE ft. Justin Vernon from Bon Iver:

#FolkloreOnDisneyPlus arrives November 25, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

Let’s face it, it’s been a shitty year. But it can only go up and Taylor Swift does exactly that with a surprise drop of her eighth studio Disc, folklore. The 16-track collection written at home during lockdown, is available for purchase now on her website with various different editions on CD and vinyl is a departure from her gorgeous foray to Pop over her last few Albums beginning with 1989. We get an understated Swift this time around choosing Folk and Indie-Pop leanings and an earthy, lo-fi aesthetic. Hence, a surprise release was the best way to go as a traditional release with a lead-up might have been a bit more divisive with a new sound.

folklore‘s purpose isn’t to churn-out “Summer Bangers”. Instead, Swift is further giving us the talent that made her a multi-Grammy-winning Singer/Songwriter, with a focus on clearing some of the thoughts in her busy mind and delivering us the mood that many of us are feeling right now being at home.

Swift enlists winning writing and producing collaborator Jack Antonoff once again and also entrusts heavily, The National guitarist Aaron Dessner as well. She goes full Folk–Indie-Pop featuring Bon Iver on track exile. The trend-bucking collection is cohesive, breaking new ground for sonically, while maintaining melodic and lyrical familiarity. Always a great storyteller, Swift explores a Love Triagle on the Disc with three songs told from each perspective on tracks cardigan, august and betty.

Check-out some of the Disc’s highlights below:

august

betty

cardigan

this is me trying

invisible string

folklore is available here now.

order below:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)

You need to see this!! Completely unrecognizable, Taylor Swift stars in and directs the Video for new single, THE MAN. The Track is the latest off her stellar Disc, LOVER. Channeling her best Wolf of Wall Street, Taylor questions double standards as a man herself in some amazing costume and makeup. Note that she OWNS the Track too.

See the Trailer:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Director Lana Wilson has created a thought-provoking Documentary  about how fame immensely impacts someone’s self-image, identity and more.

This isn’t a Film that simply scratches the surface of Swift’s life, it digs deep and figures out the root cause of her highly-publicized some moves and emotions. Wilson is able to achieve this level of investigation because Swift is completely unbarred and delivers her truth speaking about politics, feminism, misogyny, body image (including revealing a bout with an eating disorder) and more. The scenes where she addresses these topics are often emotionally hard-hitting, however, we get a good glimpse also in candid studio clips, showing her magnetic talent and quick wit.

Miss Americana isn’t about portraying Swift’s life as daisies and rainbows, instead she talks about the good, the bad, her flaws and what she can do to be the person she aspires to be. Fans soon will be able to stream this Friday, January 31, 2020.

Miss Americana screens at Sundance on Thurs. Jan. 23rd at 9:00 PM at Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 9:00 AM at Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 9:15 PM at Grand Theatre, Thurs. Jan. 30th at 9:30 AM at The Ray Theatre, Fri. Jan. 31st at 3:45 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 3, Sat. Feb. 1 at 6 PM at Sundance Resort, and Sun. Feb. 2nd at 6:15 PM at Grand Theatre.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see CATS. Screenings take place as follows:

Screenings: Wed. Dec 18

TORONTO // Cineplex Yonge and Dundas @ 7:00PM
VANCOUVER // Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver @ 7:00PM
MONTREAL // Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal @ 7:00PM
CALGARY // Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas @ 7:00PM
EDMONTON // Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton @ 7:00PM

Synopsis:
Oscar®-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, The Danish Girl) transforms Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-shattering stage musical into a breakthrough cinematic event.

Cats stars James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and introduces Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward in her feature film debut.

Featuring Lloyd Webber’s iconic music and a world-class cast of dancers under the guidance of Tony-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In the Heights), the film reimagines the musical for a new generation with spectacular production design, state-of-the-art technology, and dance styles ranging from classical ballet to contemporary, hip-hop to jazz, street dance to tap.

The film also stars Robbie Fairchild (Broadway’s An American in Paris), Laurie Davidson (TNT’s Will), hip-hop dance sensation Les Twins (Larry and Laurent Bourgeois), acclaimed dancer Mette Towley (featured in videos for Rihanna and Pharrell Williams’ N.E.R.D.), Royal Ballet principal dancer Steven McRae, and rising-star singer Bluey Robinson.

Universal Pictures presents a Working Title Films and Amblin Entertainment production, in association with Monumental Pictures and The Really Useful Group. Cats is produced by Debra Hayward, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Tom Hooper. The screenplay is by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, Rocketman) and Hooper, based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and the stage musical by Lloyd Webber. Cats is executive produced by Lloyd Webber, Steven Spielberg, Angela Morrison and Jo Burn.

One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, the stage musical “Cats” received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 years and earned the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for an extraordinary 18 years. Since opening in London in 1981, “Cats” has continuously appeared on stage around the globe, to date having played to 81 million people in more than fifty countries and in nineteen languages. It is one of the most successful musicals of all time.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

CATS is in theatres Friday, December 20, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

We weren’t planning to visit New York City for a bit but temptation got to us. We really should be resting after a draining TIFF and what seemed like an endless series of weddings. Rest can always wait as NYC was the place to be this weekend with New York Comic Con, Paley Fest, New York Film Fest, Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live and more going on in tandem. We don’t know how New Yorkers even function with all that excitement going on!

We came with no real agenda but came out exceedingly-pleased about our weekend!  It was beyond amazing. We keep doting on it, but 2019 will go down as our best year yet.

Wait till you see our sightings!

We, like the rest of Toronto, cannot wait for the arrival of EATALY, an upscale Italian grocer/eatery and all-around Foodie Heaven. New Yorkers are blessed with two locations and it was a joy having our morning coffee and pastries there.

This was our first visit ever to New York Comic Con, held at Jacob Javits Center, which was endless energy…  it was  amazing seeing how precise some of the Cosplay was! We are overjoyed finally to meet Marvel Cinematic Universe stars and acting veterans, Paul Rudd and Benedict Wong! They were beyond nice and we love seeing Rudd back with his signature hair again.

This year marks the 57th edition of the New York Film Festival and while many of the films screening there had done the rounds at TIFF ’19, it was so cool see New Yorkers get excited about them too. Films like Marriage Story and Parasite came out with raves just like in Toronto and they were lucky to see some Cast we didn’t get to see last month. Our highlight was getting to see ScarJo and having her throw you guys a wave! 👋 So cool Greta Gerwig came too to support Baumbach! We have a feeling this power couple will have competing Oscar contenders this Award season, she with Little Women. Just a reminder, these embedded albums can be scrolled-through by hovering right them and tapping on the arrow.

We adore Mary-Louise Parker and she is getting lots of acclaim for her work on Broadway in The Sound Inside. Loved getting to meet her finally!

Paley Fest celebrates Television, giving fans a chance to attend some intimate panels. We were lucky enough to catch the stars of AMC‘s The Walking Dead attending their panel.

It isn’t a New York visit without Saturday Night Live and this weekend’s taping was extra special with a star-studded list of guests seeing Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge host with musical guest, Taylor Swift! You won’t believe who came out to watch!

We couldn’t resist a visit to scenic Belmont Park! We are so happy to have found a gap in our day to see their star-studded card of racing including the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Champagne Stakes too!

We love always trying new things and BIBBLE AND SIP stamped itself a new favourite and we cannot wait to go back for their Hong Kong-inspired pastries and superb coffee.

…and Shake Shack, you need to come to Canada, already!

A visual feast! Check-out this new Trailer for Tom Hooper’s CATS, featuring a star-studded Cast including Jennifer Hudson, Judi Dench, Rebel Wilson, James Corden and Taylor Swift!

Synopsis:
A big screen adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved smash musical Cats and the poems from “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” by T.S. Elliot in which a tribe of felines known as The Jellicles have to decide each year which one of them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release CATS this Christmas!

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

We are in love with this new jam by Taylor Swift and in typical epic fashion, she unleashes another sensory splash in her new Music Video for YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN, the second single off her upcoming Disc, LOVER out this August!

And you’ll never believe this but Katy Perry even makes a cameo, the two stars burying the hatchet in their feud. Swift comments in her lyrics:

And we see you over there on the internet/Comparing all the girls who are killing it/But we figured you out/We all know now we all got crowns

Okay apparently we’re to blame okay, Internet?

Several others appear including Hayley Kiyoko, members of the Cast or QUEER EYE, Billy Porter, Ellen DeGeneres, Ryan Reynolds, Laverne Cox and more! This was an LGBTQ Pride month celebration in the closet, up till now!

Universal Music Canada release LOVER Friday, August 23, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)