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:
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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.
#NYFF: Hi! 👋 From #ScarlettJohansson and me. #MarriageStory pic.twitter.com/Tdh4VZx1bQ
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 5, 2019
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!
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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!
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About as close as I could get to #TaylorSwift x #JoeAlwyn, #Lovers! #NYC #SNL #SaturdayNightLive
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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!
Guess where I am?? @TheNYRA pic.twitter.com/zNRpjxjVIE
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 5, 2019
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!
Never a letdown. pic.twitter.com/vNGgGzDD5v
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 4, 2019
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)
We had too much fun at Taylor Swift‘s reputation Tour this summer and we’re thrilled to experience it again! See the new Trailer for the reputation Stadium Tour Concert Film, coming soon to Netflix!
See the Trailer:
Netflix Canada stream the reputation Stadium Tour Monday, December 31, 2018.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Few Artists understand and know how to execute that connection to their fans like Taylor Swift. Now onto her fifth tour, the acclaimed and influencial 28-year-old Singer/Songwriter touched-down at Toronto’s Rogers Centre for two energy-filled nights, August 3-4, 2018. The Stadium tour in support of her 2017 studio disc Reputation, sees her delivering her catalog of hits once again, with an emphasis on that album which dealt with some of her very public personal battles and her perception.
Fans attending Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour are gifted with an extravagant spectacle with a recurring snake motif which keeps popping-up throughout. Some can interpret this as her owning the label she so publicly has been given since Kim Kardashian had accused her of dishonesty in a much-talked-about scandal between Swift and husband Kanye West. More here.
Fans got a much more sensual, self-assured Swift over two nights at the Toronto venue, by far her most refined and heavily-choreographed stage production yet. She pronounces proudly her full transformation to Pop Icon status from her humble Country beginnings. Everything from three stages extending deep into the audience, to her being propelled into the air while performing the down-tempo Delicate were artfully-calculated moves to make for an intimate experience. She took a moment before that song to deliver some candid candor about accepting the fact that people will never stop talking about us behind our backs and that we should embrace it. Guests even were gifted with lit-up wristbands synced in colour to the night’s setlist. Lucky fans who lined Swift’s “Snake Pit” got a chance to touch her hand as she zig-zagged her way through fans.
Joining Swift on-tour were Charli XCX and Camila Cabello, giving fans three shows for the price of one and they re-surfaced late in the show to join her in a rendition of hit Shake it Off. An even bigger bomb-drop came towards the end when Swift presented also touring Canadian Rockstar Bryan Adams on-stage for a duet of his hit Summer of 69, driving the audience ballistic!
See some Snaps from the night. We were way, way up but felt so close to it all, kudos to Swift!
Rep Tour Tor from Will Wong on Vimeo.
Let’s face it. I haven’t always loved Taylor Swift. None can deny though that her 1984 Album was phenomenal, raising that Crossover-Pop bar so impossibly high that there only should realistically be room only for disappointment come any follow-up. We weren’t wowed particularly by get-even-with-Kanye lead Single Look What You Made Me Do and even more so the dark Electro-Synth of follow-up … Ready for It?. We like Swift when she’s lovelorn and melodic, maybe a bit melancholic too like on Style and You Belong to Me and we kinda wanted her to stay that way forever.
Now comes the moment that we must admit Swift thoroughly has won us over on her latest effort and sixth studio disc, reputation. It took a few listens but we really wanted to enjoy it and found a way to be hypnotized by her introspective Lyrics and still-catchy Hooks despite the black canvass on which she paints. reputation doesn’t feel like a standalone album, it feels more like a continuation of an ongoing Diary she is writing. It feels personal, honest and while we can’t help at times judgmentally roll our eyes at her revolving door of famous lovers, there is a deeper sense of maturity, that she is growing and learning from betrayals and mistakes.
Producers Max Martin, Shellback and Jack Antonoff lend a hand again, crafting a new evolution to Swift‘s sound. While the first half of the Album certainly has a bit more of an edge to it with the former two overseeing Production, the latter half with Antonoff feels more familiar, softening a bit of that angry edge with that mid-to-late ’80s Synth-Pop we adored so much on 1984.
Gems on the first-half include ..Ready for It? which we’ve decided we actually like finally and Alternative R&B-esque Ed Sheeran/Future pairing End Game. Delicate recounts the headspace she was in when meeting current partner, English Actor Joe Alwyn who accepted her even at her worst. “My reputation’s never been worse/So you must like me for me”, she sings.
I am head over heels in love with Antonoff contribution Getaway Car on the second-half, sounding single-worthy and taking us away with Swift a la Bonnie & Clyde from the chaos of the every day. Not that we can even fathom the daily tumult which Swift knows. Something can be said about much of the Album being maybe too focused on getting-even, but whimsical This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things tells us that Swift is ready to close the past dramatic chapter in her life and move forward and this is redeeming. New Year’s Day is a thing of beauty and a reminder that ‘old Taylor’ might not actually be dead after all.
Once a year that Blockbuster album comes out around American Thanksgiving and this is that standout in a year of several lackluster releases.
Sample some of the Tracks off reputation.
…Ready for It?
Gorgeous
New Year’s Day
Look What You Made Me Do
Universal Music Canada release reputation, in-stores now and available soon on streaming services.
(Photo credit: Universal Music)
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