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)
This was so epic and made it so much better that we have to wait another year for Lady Gaga’s Chromatica Ball. We were originally to see her in August!
See Gaga‘s superb performance at the 2020 MTV VMAs last night, joined by Ariana Grande in a show of Pop excellence in a performance of their track RAIN ON ME. IN MASKS! This was legit as you can hear the reverb coming out of her mask as she sang.
We’re floored. So good.
Gaga swept for Cinematography, Song, Collaboration, Artist of the Year and the TRICON Award! Well-deserved.
Other great performances last night:
DOJA CAT – Say So
BTS perform their debut English single DYNAMITE
THE WEEKND – Blinding Lights
MILEY CYRUS – Midnight Sky
Complete list of winners here.
(Photo/video credit: MTV)
Lady Gaga is back with her sixth Studio Disc CHROMATICA a cinematic ’80s and ’90s-inspired Album returning the superstar once again to the world of Electronic-Pop. The cohesive collection, split into three sections, marked by interludes Chromatica I, II and III, takes us away on a escape to the planet on which Gaga resides, packed with jaw-dropping collaborations. The likes of Ariana Grande, whom we’ve heard on superb second single Rain on Me, Elton John and K-Pop queens Blackpink appear on the Chromatica and while the Album has been pushed-back amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the wait proved worthwhile.
Joanne Collaborator BloodPop returns once again in a Producer capacity and this marriage proves a beautiful union as Gaga stands her ground, but also gives him a proper chance to shine.
We’re thrilled to hear Gaga back doing what she does best and we are excited for this uplifting era and pandemic permitting, hopefully it won’t be too long a wait to see the Album’s eponymous stadium tour.
Preview some of Chromatica‘s highlights:
RAIN ON ME (ft. Ariana Grande)
SOUR CANDY (ft. Blackpink)
STUPID LOVE
SINE FROM ABOVE (ft. Elton John)
ENIGMA
REPLAY
FREE WOMAN
BABYLON
Buy or stream Chromatica here.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)
Our prayers have been answered! Lady Gaga x Ariana Grande join forces on their uplifting latest single, RAIN ON ME! Grande just topped the Billboard Hot 100 with Justin Bieber collabo Stick With U and looks the repeat the feat on this masterpiece!
Check-out RAIN ON ME:
Lady Gaga‘s sixth Studio Disc, CHROMATICA, is out Friday, May 20, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)
She’s back! While this final version of Lady Gaga‘s Stupid Love, the lead single off her sixth Studio Disc, sounds pretty much like the leaked version, it is the Video which makes it all so special!
Shot entirely on the iPhone 11 Pro and directed by Daniel Askill, we are in awe at this gorgeous production which has our Gaga delivering what she does best, Pop!
See the Video:
(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)
Nominations for the 91st annual Academy Awards were announced this morning and the race still very much is wide-open without a clean-cut choice for Best Picture… and no host set for ceremony itself.
Tying at ten nods apiece are Alfonso Cuarón‘s ROMA and Yorgos Lanthimos’ THE FAVOURITE. Best Picture nominees include:
Best Picture
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice
Continuing on its Golden Globes success, we see Bohemian Rhapsody continue to be a major force into the Oscars with Rami Malek up for the highly-competitive Best Actor alongside Bradley Cooper, Viggo Mortensen, Willem Dafoe and Christian Bale.
The Best Actress category also is hotly-contested with screen veteran Glenn Close up against Lady Gaga, Melissa McCarthy, Olivia Colman and aboriginal Mexican Actress Yalitza Aparicio, who stars in ROMA.
Marina de Tavira who also stars in ROMA, pops-up as a bit of a surprise candidate for Best Supporting Actress. The category also includes favourite Regina King, Amy Adams, plus The Favourite Co-Stars and previous Oscar winners, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz.
Best Supporting Actor sees Mahershala Ali in contention with Adam Driver, Richard E. Grant, Sam Rockwell after a snub at the Golden Globes, Sam Elliott for A STAR IS BORN.
Many are shocked that after a presence in the Directing category most of Awards Season, that Bradley Cooper was omitted in the Oscars race for his directorial debut in A STAR IS BORN. Up for Best Directing are Spike Lee, Adam McKay, Pawel Pawlikowski, Yorgos Lanthimos and favourite Alfonso Cuarón.
Another noticeable omission is Morgan Neville’s Mr. Rogers Documentary WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? which has been present through much of the season. Nominated for Best Documentary are Free Solo, Hale County, This Morning, This Evening, Minding the Gap, Of Fathers and Sons and RBG.
The Animated Feature category sees Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse pitted against Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Mirai and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Toronto’s Domee Shi is up for Animated Short with Disney•Pixar’s BAO.
Complete list of Nominees are here.
The 91st annual Academy Awards air February 24, 2019, 8:00 PM EST on ABC.
(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight)
Diversity and inclusion were front and center at this year’s 76th annual Golden Globe Awards, taking place at the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom. Hosted by Andy Samberg and now two-time Golden Globe winner, Ottawa-born Actress Sandra Oh, the Awards more than ever before saw representation. Oh who won Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for Killing Eve, took a moment early in the broadcast, fighting back tears to say, “I wanted to be here to look out into this audience and witness this moment of change. And I’m not fooling myself. I’m not fooling myself. Next year can be different, it probably will be, but right now, this moment is real.”.
Peter Farrelly’s GREEN BOOK which won the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ‘ 18, landed on-top tripling-up with wins for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie) and Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Mahershala Ali).
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY scored a surprise upset winning Best Motion Picture – Drama and also Rami Malek winning Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his portrayal of Queen Frontman Freddie Mercury.
Glenn Close won her third Golden Globe Award for her work in THE WIFE, garnering her Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.
The evening saw ROMA shine, winning two Awards including Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón) and Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language. The groundbreaking Netflix release which premiered at TIFF ’18, further solidifies the streaming giant’s presence Awards Season and will represent Mexico at the Academy Awards next month.
In the Television categories, AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE and THE KOMINSKY METHOD came out on-top with two wins apiece. The former won Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Darren Criss) and Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. The latter won Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (Michael Douglas) and Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. This marks Douglas’ sixth Golden Globe Award and in 2004 he was given the Cecil B DeMille Award
Jeff Bridges was honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for this contributions to the world of Entertainment and earlier in the evening Funnywoman Carol Burnett was honoured with an eponymous award also for her trailblazing achievements and accomplishments.
Some of the evening’s most memorable looks included Lady Gaga in a Valentino nod to Judy Garland and Tiffany & Co. jewelry, Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians) in Valentino, Julia Roberts in a Stella McCartney pantsuit and newcomer Kiki Layne in Dior.
Complete list of Winners here.
The Academy Awards take place Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
2018 will go down as one of the best years in recent Cinema. While I’m not loving the current sound of what’s dominating the airwaves, there were a few Pop Gems that filled my heart and ears with joy. Those of you who are following me on Social Media know that my year was all about A STAR IS BORN. I had few expectations of it at the beginning of the year, but then came the Trailer in June and then came news of it premiering at TIFF ’18. Seeing it at the Festival, my year and life would be changed forever, single-handedly owning my two favourite realms, Music and Film. I am still not healed of the heartbreak I experience and can imagine what it’s like to be Lady Gaga or Bradley Cooper and carrying their characters with them after filming. If you still haven’t seen it, please do.
We loved the resurgence of the Musical with the likes of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Bohemian Rhapsody and Mary Poppins Returns performing v. well in numbers. The World needs a lift in spirits and these all came to save the day at the right time.
Music wise, we are ever-excited about Dua Lipa‘s blooming career and she has gifted us with several earworms which still stand the test of time at the end of year. While there wasn’t really a big single off it, Mariah Carey‘s critically-acclaimed Caution is definitely a smooth, cohesive listen. Cardi B‘s Invasion of Privacy gave us life in a big way this spring and likewise, there wasn’t one particular 2018 single which impacted us, the Album was on repeat for quite a while for us.
Here are my Best of 2018 Lists:
MUSIC
One Kiss – Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa
The Middle – zedd ft. Maren Morris
Electricity – Silk City ft. Dua Lipa
I’ll Never Love Again – Lady Gaga
Shallow – Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
God is a Woman – Ariana Grande
Breathin – Ariana Grande
Lights Down Low – M△X
Nothing Breaks Like a Heart – Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus
Youngblood – 5 Seconds of Summer
FILM
A Star is Born
Green Book
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Crazy Rich Asians
Ben is Back
Love, Simon
A Quiet Place
Vice
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Check-out Team Mr. Will’s Best Picpicks of 2018 here.
2018 also was my best year for Selfies ever. Will I ever stop? Why stop at something you love this much? Sorry, haters!
Adam Brody
We’ve been at this game for what is approaching our tenth year and we’re showing no signs of stopping. We are indebted to you, our Readers for all the support and love you’ve shown all these years and we’ll never forget being named NOW Magazine Readers’ Choice Best Blogger this year. Thank you. To a stellar 2019!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Nominations were unveiled this morning for the 76th edition of the Golden Globe Awards from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Coming out of nowhere to lead the tally was Adam McKay’s VICE, which still has yet to open in theatres. The Dick Cheney Biopic starring Christian Bale, comes out ahead with six nods, including Motion Picture – Comedy, Actor in a Comedy and Director.
Not far behind with five nominations, is Bradley Cooper’s Box Office and commercial success A STAR IS BORN which sees the Film nominated for Motion Picture – Drama and himself cross-nominated for Director and Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Already a Golden Globe winner, Lady Gaga gets recognition again for her performance, up for Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Very shockingly, Sam Elliott didn’t get a nod for Supporting Actor after a win in the National Board of Review Awards last week.
THE FAVOURITE and GREEN BOOK, the latter which won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and also Best Picture at the National Board of Review Awards, likewise get five nominations. All three stars of the former are up for Actress in Motion Picture – Comedy (Olivia Colman) and Supporting Actress (Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz). Both stars of the latter are up for awards also in the category of Lead Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy (Viggo Mortensen) and Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali).
In Television categories, we saw AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE validated with four nominations including Best Limited Television Series, Actor in a Limited Series (Darren Criss), Actor in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series (Edgar Ramirez) and Actress in a Supporting Role in a Limited Series (Pénélope Cruz).
There is a six-way tie between BARRY, THE KOMISNKI METHOD, HOMECOMING, SHARP OBJECTS, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL and A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL.
Click here for complete list of Nominees.
Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh host the Golden Globe Awards, which air January 7, 2018, 8:00 PM EST on NBC.
(Photo credit: eOne Films)
At risk of becoming an A STAR IS BORN fansite, here is an amazing duet with stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga featured prominently in the Film’s Trailer. This is just one of several gorgeous songs from the Film to surface on its Soundtrack, out next Friday!
Check it out:
Warner Bros. Canada release A STAR IS BORN Friday, October 5, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada/Universal Music Canada)
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