adele
#SPOTTED: RICH PAUL IN TORONTO FOR MEMOIR “LUCKY ME”
Renowned as one of the world’s most powerful Sports Agents, Rich Paul is in Toronto to promote his upcoming Memoir, “LUCKY ME“. Paul has repped greats including the likes of LeBron James, Fred VanVleet, Anthony Davis, Zachary LaVine, Odell Beckham Jr. and more. He actually knows Toronto quite well having owned a property near the Harbourfront. The Memoir is being published under Jay-Z’s literary imprint ROC LIT 101. Above this, he is the partner of one of our favourites of all time, Adele.
Paul launched his Book tonight, an invite-only affair at Holt Renfrew on Bloor, presented by Uninterruped Canada. The event was moderated by Actor/Filmmaker Vinay Virmani who also is the CEO and Head of Content at Uninterrupted Canada. Paul reflected on his humble beginnings in Cleveland where he sharpened his business skills working at his family’s convenience shop, to building relationships and trust with some of the greatest athletes of our time, to eventually building his own empire with his Klutch Sports Group which represents a roster of top atheletes in the NFL and NBA.
He revealed that this secret to his success was not to celebrate his victories, stay humble and to keep moving, a recipe which has kept him going all these years, already being a multi-hyphenate mogul at age 41. He appears this weekend on 60 Minutes.
LUCKY ME arrives October 10, 2023.
See a Reel of highlights from the event:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#NEWMUSIC: ADELE – “30”
By Mr. Will Wong
After a lengthy six-year gap, Adele is back with her elaborately-publicized and promoted fourth Studio Disc, 30. The Album candidly explores life after divorce, motherhood, the tolls of fame and finding love once again.
Adele teams-up with Co-Writer Greg Kurstin on a majority of the tracks on this 12-track collection which feels cohesive and cinematic. Many are calling this her most personal Album yet and it is hard to disagree. “My Little Love” for one, features Voice Notes with her conversing with son Angelo, explaining divorce to him. She opens-up to us in the manner of a Fourth Wall, telling us about feeling sad and directionless, building-up to a tearful confessional. First single “Easy on Me” needs no introduction and is a letter to her son, pleading for him to be understanding of her decision to split from his father. Adele comes through filter-free and we’re all ears.
“Oh My God” takes us a little more into the uptempo and explores the terrifying emotions of feeling love once again despite “knowing that it’s wrong” even though “it feels right”. She gives herself permission to let go after some of the heavier emotions in the first few tracks. “Can I Get It” has Adele teaming with Pop Maestros Shellback and Max Martin on this guitar-driven banger where she shows her readiness to love again, asking for a bit of substance.
The Final Act of 30 veers more to introspection as it takes a soulful turn, taking us to Motown and this is the 120 million+-selling Chanteuse really brings on the heartache that we’ve come to yearn for. “Hold On” is blue but hopeful as she walks us through her struggle to feel once again but a reminder to be patient, and “To Be Loved“, co-written and co-produced by Vancouver’s Tobias Tesso Jr. soars in its heartfelt honesty where she poignantly sings how hard she tried in the name of love. The greatest performance perhaps is saved for the Finale in “Love is a Game“, which certainly is an homage to trailblazer Amy Winehouse. Adele sings with a raw vulnerability about the reality of love coming with heartache and pain, and how cruel it is that we “self-inflict that pain” upon ourselves.
30 is an Album that could only have been made and released after some time away and clarity, and we’re glad for it all. While there isn’t the immediate visceral connection here as on classics like “Someone Like You“, “All I Ask” or “Rolling in the Deep“, Adele gives us new things to listen-out for with each pass through. The Album is yet another accomplished effort in a Adele‘s deeply-affecting catalog and satiating at just under an hour runtime.
Sony Music Canada release Adele‘s 30, in stores now.
#NEWMUSIC: ADELE – “EASY ON ME”
She’s finally back! Adele‘s comeback single from her upcoming fourth album, 30 is before us. EASY ON ME is a gorgeous, understated ballad. Signature Adele. And how crazy is it that Xavier Dolan directed this video in Quebec?
Adele‘s 30 is in stores November 19, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Music)
#GRAMMYS: ADELE WINS TOP HONOURS AT 2017 GRAMMYS
The biggest night in Music took place this evening with the 59th annual GRAMMY Awards being held at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Adele took home top honours garnering Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance (Hello), Record of the Year (Hello), Song of the Year (Hello) and Album of the Year with her 2015 third disc, 25.
Doing Canada proud is Toronto’s own Drake who took home multiple awards including Best Rap/ Sung Performance and Best Rap Song with Hotline Bling.
An expectant Beyoncé wins Best Music Video for Formation and Best Urban Contemporary Album with Lemonade which even the evening’s big winner Adele felt deserved to win Album of the Year, breaking her Grammy in half for 25 to share with Beyoncé.
Newcomer Chance the Rapper also took home Best New Artist, Rap Album of the Year for Coloring Book, along with a win for Best Rap Performance for his collaboration No Problem.
Post-humously, David Bowie was awarded with multiple wins for his final disc, Blackstar including Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song (Blackstar).
While they are currently dominating Pop Music, Electronic duo The Chainsmokers failed to win Best New Artist although they took home Best Dance Recording for their Daya collaboration Don’t Let Me Down.
Some more highlights from the night:
Adele accepting Album of the Year
Lady Gaga x Metallica
Katy Perry x Skip Marley
Twenty One Pilots win Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance for Stressed Out pantless
Beyoncé accepting Best Urban Contemporary Album
Complete list of winners here.
(Photo/video credit: Recording Academy/Getty Images)
#SPOTTED: ADELE IN TORONTO FOR “ADELE LIVE 2016 TOUR”
Since surfacing in 2007, Adele‘s rise has been meteoric in every sense becoming of the best selling artists in the world with over 100 million albums sold.
The English Singer/Songwriter played four sold-out shows at Air Canada Centre as part of her Adele Live 2016 Tour. Without the necessity of dancers, an opening act, an elaborate stage setup, costume changes or pyrotechnics, Adele possesses that rare special quality where for almost two hours straight, your eyes are focused strictly on her and the music only.
The personable entertainer at once had the audience mesmerized by her heartbreaking balladry, but also cackling at her personal anecdotes ranging from breastfeeding to the odd irony of singing about her ex-boyfriends on-stage still while at once being in a very happy relationship.
With her final Toronto show being her 91st, Adele explained that due to delays with her pregnancy, heartbreak and vocal cord surgery, the Tour had been five years in the making. It however was well worth it for the self-admitted “homebody”, whom she says would “rather be at home ordering Chinese food with friends, watching Sex and the City“.
Despite not loving touring, Adele admitted to having a wonderful time this time around, balancing her time with son Angelo and her work. The two were spotted Wednesday in Etobicoke at a costume and party supply store getting ready for Halloween. His birthday also is coming up on the 21st, so perhaps a little planning for that too?
Running through a catalog of hits from three albums 19, 21 and 25, Adele had the audience hanging to her every note and word, effortlessly churning-out classics like Hello, Rumour Has It, Rolling in the Deep, Hometown Glory, Skyfall, Chasing Pavements, Fire to the Rain, When We Were Young and Someone Like You.
At one point she invited an entire family onstage for a Family Selfie (or an “Adelfie” she calls it) as it was one teen fan’s birthday. Not to be outdone by a man who after flashing a sign, was brought onstage to propose to his girlfriend!
See some Snaps:
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Adele rushes into crowd, thrilling fans. #Adele25 #AdeleLive2016
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Adele takes a final bow. #Adele25 #AdeleLive2016
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
See some Highlights:
(Photo/video/audio credit: Mr. Will Wong/XL Recordings)
#GRAMMYS: TAYLOR SWIFT + KENDRICK LAMAR LEAD LIST OF 2016 GRAMMY WINNERS
Not that it was a surprise, but Taylor Swift takes home the Album of the Year award a second time at the GRAMMYs tonight for her 5.7 million copy-selling Disc, 1989. The Album also won for Pop Vocal Album, while single Bad Blood won Video of the Year. Swift, sporting a new bob-cut, stole the spotlight, addressing some shade thrown her way recently on Kanye West track Famous on which he takes credit for her rise to fame. She said, “There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame, but if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you are going, you’ll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there and that will be the greatest feeling in the world”.
West once again proves that he isn’t a favourite with GRAMMY voters, failing to win tonight despite being up for Rap Song, Rap-Sung Collaboration and Rap Performance this year. Rap categories were dominated by leading nominee Kendrick Lamar, who was victorious for Rap Performance, Rap/Sung Collaboration, Rap Song, Rap Album and also Music Video for his collaboration with Taylor Swift on Bad Blood.
Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson got some much due respect winning Song of the Year for their outstanding collaboration, Uptown Funk. The track also won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and its remixed version by David Audé also won Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical).
Meanwhile Ed Sheeran, won Song of the Year with Thinking Out Loud. The track also got Pop Solo Performance for the English Singer/Songwriter.
Often seen as a bit of a career curse, promising talent Meghan Trainor was named Best New Artist, reaching the summit of the Billboard Hot 200 with platinum-selling debut disc, Title.
Canada’s Justin Bieber notches his first GRAMMY win ever for Dance Recording with Skrillex/Diplo collaboration Where Are You Now. Our The Weeknd also brought-home that Canadian glory with Best R&B Performance on Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey Soundtrack) and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty Behind the Madness.
See some of the evening’s most memorable performances!
Adele performing All I Ask (penned and introduced by Bruno Mars):
Lady Gaga paying tribute to David Bowie:
Tribute to Lionel Ritchie by John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor + Tyrese:
Complete list of winners here.
(Photo/video credit: TNT/Grammys)
#NEWMUSIC: ADELE – “WHEN WE WERE YOUNG”
TWO MORE DAYS.
Check-out When We Were Young, a live version of the track which will appear on Adele‘s eagerly-awaited 25.
#NEWMUSIC: ADELE LIVE AT THE BBC PERFORMING “HELLO”
There is nothing like seeing Adele live. Just yesterday she performed for the first time ever live at the BBC, her international smash Hello. And it was glorious! Here’s good-sized snipppet of the performance, the full version which will be rolled-out soon.
Check it out below:
XL Recordings release 25 by Adele on Friday, November 20, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: BBC)
#NEWMUSIC: ADELE – “HELLO”
Just like she did the first time around, Adele appears out of nowhere. Her comeback single HELLO was just released earlier today and although it’s impossible not to think Lionel Ritchie when she sings the first two notes of the song, she whets out appetites with this dramatic tale of lost love. And even more, she looks just stunning here. We’ve missed Adele and are so happy to have her back. Canadian Actor/Filmmaker Xavier Dolan directs.
See the new Video:
As always, Adele releases her albums by age at the time of recording. 25 will be released on Friday, November 20, 2015.
Here’s the Tracklisting:
1. Hello
2. Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
3. I Miss You
4. When We Were Young
5. Remedy
6. Water Under The Bridge
7. River Lea
8. Love In The Dark
9. Million Years Ago
10. All I Ask
11. Sweetest Devotion
(Photo/video credit: Columbia Records/XL Recordings)
#EDITORSNOTE: MR. WILL RESPONDS TO READERS
It’s been a while since I’ve had a good Chat with my Readers and Followers, so I reached-out to everyone on Facebook and Twitter for their most burning questions and replied with as much insight as possible. Enjoy and thank you for your continued loyalty and support, Wongsters!
xMr. Will
@Cindyandtheboys asks, “What was your motivation to get you started on what you do?”.
Hey Cindy! I’ve been a Stargazer for many years and my love for Film and Pop Music is unparalleled. I used to be the Kid who rushed to MuchMusic after class waiting by the window for Gwen Stefani to come out and sign an Autograph and I have been attending TIFF as long as my Bank Account permitted.
By 2009, I had amassed so many Photos of my Celebrity Adventures that I created my Blog as an Outlet to combine my passions for Photography, Film, Music and Writing together in one and kicked it off around TIFF. It would’ve been a severe waste having them sit dormant on my Computer or just on Facebook. From there, I developed a passion getting Photos with my personal Heroes and Heroines because it gives me something to immortalize the experience by and well, it’s fun!
Word-of-mouth spread locally fairly quickly about my Blog. Some loved the idea, calling it one of the few true Celebrity Blogs to come out of Canada and some thought it nothing special. Before I knew it, I was booking time off work to interview Bradley Cooper and Channing Tatum, and was on TV talking about Stars and even profiled on the National Post. Last year, CBC listed me as one of the three most key People in the City to follow during TIFF. So that’s that. I love what I do as tiring as it is juggling three or four things on-the-go constantly and have no plans to stop because most of the time it doesn’t feel like work.
@MRDISCO3 asks, “What do you top your burgers with?”.
Hey Paresh! Good question. I’ve been off meat for three months now. Pitching-in my part to reduce my own Carbon Footprint as a Citizen of the Earth. Meatless Mondays, People. Google it and do it!
But to answer your question, if I could create my own Veggie Burger it would have: Jalapeños, Lettuce, Tomato, Sriracha Hot Sauce, Honey Mustard, Avocado/Guacamole, Sautéed Mushrooms and some crumbled Blue Cheese. It would be like a foot tall, really. Maybe I’d throw a fried Egg on for added Protein too. Is that too decadent? Is it?!? I also recently accidentally discovered Salsa on Fries and it is incredible!
@CTRice asks, “What was the first screening you ever saw?”.
Hi Tristan (Scene Creek, everybody!!!), I could never forget my first Screening. It was back in April 1996, Jane Eyre at Alliance-Atlantis Cumberland 4. My Cousin Nancy had won passes and we were going to trek Downtown from Scarborough for a Movie and some amazing Ice Cream at Mövenpick (Richtree Markets) after.
I remember getting into a huge misunderstanding with my Dad that day right in front of my Cousin who came over for Dinner about something terribly mundane. My Dad offered to wash dishes so I could hurry to the Movie and I asked, “Really!?” maybe perhaps a little too excited, which he interpreted as sarcasm but really it wasn’t! I basically got a lashing verbally for no reason and remember sobbing all the way to the theatre because I was embarrassed and two, I was looking forward to my first Screening for days and felt my night was ruined. By the time I got home, things were fine again.
It wasn’t a v. exciting Adaptation of Jane Eyre to be honest and obviously I’ve been to many more enjoyable Screenings ever since. It’s a miracle I wasn’t scarred from wanting to go to the Movies ever again!
@Typo_eh and Kathi on Facebook ask, “Who was your worst Celebrity experience?”.
Hi Siobhán!! Hi Kathi!! Are you guys psychically-linked or something?! Well, other than being shouted at by Ashley Judd after asking her nice and civil for a Photo, which then spilled over into a debacle on Twitter, I’d say the worst experience ever was Lady Gaga. A couple years ago I was being harassed daily by someone over E-mail and on my Blog. I had Tracking Reports pulled and he would view the same page over and over 20-30 times some nights in the wee hours of the morning. This Reader thought he’d do himself a favour and entertain himself by emailing Lady Gaga‘s Management a slanderous E-mail with my Photo, claiming that I was violent and dangerous, essentially getting me blacklisted when she visited Toronto.
Not realizing this, being the huge Fan I was, I asked her for a Photo upon exiting her Hotel amidst the hoards of Fans and Autograph Seekers. I cannot say that I enjoyed being shoved against a Topiary by her Security Guard Ed and once I recovered, he forcefully shoved me a second time as several eye witnesses watched. Of course, nobody genuinely cared as they were there to see Lady Gaga, admiring their Photos with her and their Autographs. It was particularly heart-breaking because I love her Music so much and at that point I had gone to every single Toronto Show she ever had, owning all her Singles and CDs. I had T-Shirts and Posters. I was gaga for Gaga.
This Jerk who has been chasing Celebrities for years, tried the same tactic multiple times, including a Jessica & Ashlee Simpson appearance at The Bay, which I actually was invited to in order to snap Photos in the Pit for my Blog. I was escorted out by Security once they matched a sent Photo with my face. Of course, another Blogger who absolutely despises me, caught wind of this and went to town, spreading word quickly that I was ejected from the Venue. Hmm.
I knew this was really getting serious when the Head of Security at a major American Network in New York City called me to clue me onto an E-mail he received from him regarding two Actors from the Network who were filming a TV Movie in Toronto. Of course, he knew right away that this Person’s intentions were malicious from the E-mail and just wanted to give me a heads-up out of the goodness of his heart. Multiple Publicists also reached out to me around that time regarding similar type E-mails, which thankfully they knew better than to believe.
Eventually, I got one step ahead of the game when a certain British Boy Band came to town. Their Security Guard noticed me, pulling me aside to show me one of these slanderous E-mails on his Phone. Low and behold, the Jerk showed-up also, hoping to get a Photo and like an episode of Cheaters, I outed him in front of everybody including the Band, who chimed-in, giving me hi-fives and encouragement. He was a mess and left in tears.
The messed-up thing is that after that occurrence, I’d receive messages from this Jerk threatening to inflict harm on himself because of my actions and he’d gone about posting my Home Address on Twitter. Essentially, I was being stalked and didn’t even know it. I and others know well that this Person is not mentally stable, so I feel bad even writing about this and bringing it up, but at this point I really don’t care anymore. And such a Drama needs to be heard because I get so many Tweets and messages from others who wish they were me because apparently my life is so perfect!
He’s left me alone ever since, but the damage has been done and I’m sure someone who didn’t know me better might have a skewed perception of me from what they’ve heard. Looking back though, I don’t know why I didn’t do more about it. I’ve moved on and hopefully he has found some sense of balance.
@CTRice asks, “Has a Celebrity ever denied to take a photo with you?”.
Impossible! LOL Just kidding, of course! I’ve been turned down before and it’s inevitable it will happen and I respect that, but I’d say one of the harsher Declines came from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Once I was one-on-one with him and he chuckled at me and walked off after I asked nicely for a Photo. Hence, when I hear stories from those who have had positive experiences with him and what a great Guy he is, my eyes just roll.
Or how about running into Claire Danes at the Grocery Store only for her to react as if I had SARS or something when asking her for a Snap? She quite literally jumped three feet back. I saw her in the neighbourhood a few times after that and didn’t bother her again. That was fun. Some are nice when the Cameras are on, some value their Privacy more than others.
Of course, it’s the few who got away that I remember most when in reality a vast majority of Celebrities I’ve met have been more than nice and accommodating. Once, Nicole Kidman came over to take a Snap with me during TIFF and then some super-annoying Girl got in the way, getting her Photo and then Nicole was pulled away by her Handler. That hurt. And do you believe the Girl eventually found my Blog and had the audacity to ask me to remove the Photo I snapped of her and Nicole? Go away.
Last year Penélope Cruz said “yes” to the Photo but then suddenly changed her mind when her Publicist said she had to go. That hurt equally bad on a Nicolean level. I also met Julia Roberts once candidly and although she said “no” to the Photo she was still nice to chat and be kind, offering to sign an Autograph instead which still was gracious. She wrote “TO WILL, PEACE, JULIA“. That was “pretty” epic.
@apluswagvantage asks, “You despised the Celebrity’s Album/Movie/TV Show/Persona. How are you gracious when interviewing him/her?”.
Hi Charles! I generally don’t approach a Celebrity for a Photo unless I have some admiration for their Work, so that takes care of the forced graciousness thing, I guess! 🙂 Autographs are something I used to love collecting, but now I do it more for my Readers and help them experience a part of the magic when they can’t physically be there with me. The Photo-with means much more to me.
I have however been a part of Press Tours where the Talent promoting the Film literally are in the Movie for like one scene and it’s like pulling teeth to concoct something profound and throught-provoking to ask. That horrific feeling that you’re going to say something foolish… your palms get sweaty and your throat gets dry. At that point, you just have to take the reins and broaden the scope and somehow find something to connect and relate to about the Film. That’s happened more than a couple times!
Sari on Facebook asks, “Who was the nicest Celeb that you have met?”.
So many, Sari! Adele, Katy Perry, Linda Hamilton, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Chastain, Nia Vardalos, Colin Farrell, Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender, Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Michael Bublé, Abbie Cornish all go beyond and above the Call of Duty and consistently do it time and again! I even brought a tear to Adele’s eye letting her know how much her Music meant to me once. So personable!
I understand that the scale of Celebrity “niceness” often depends on how their day’s going, but these named individuals consistently wow me every time and I’m sure there are several more I’m neglecting.
Terri on Facebook asks, “Seems to me that in recent months you have achieved some of your childhood dreams….What dreams of Celebs or Events have still eluded you and what bigger dreams Mr. Will are you hoping to reach for?”.
Hey Terri! There is so much to accomplish still. The end goal is to continue building a groundbreaking Fan-centric Website and go-to source for Celebrities and Entertainment in Toronto. I am continually trying to expand my scope further and build new Partnerships for my Readers, getting them a taste of all that good stuff first! I aspire to do this full-time and slowly am getting there. One day we’ll perhaps have a more national presence even!
I’d love to attend the Oscars and Grammys one day as basically I live for those two, and I am kinda obsessed with the Golden Globes too! I’ve still never visited L.A. One day. My dream Interviews would be Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway or Kate Winslet. I’ve met Mariah Carey before, but would really want to reflect on her Career with her over some Champagne. That would be perfect.
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