Page 6591 – 105.7 WDNY

Julian Lennon to release NFT of his “Imagine” performance to benefit Ukrainian refugees

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Last month, Julian Lennon performed a cover of his late father John Lennon‘s classic peace anthem “Imagine” as part of Global Citizen’s Stand Up for Ukraine campaign. Now he’s set to release a special audio-visual NFT focusing on the performance, which will raise money for Ukrainian relief.

The NFT will include Julian’s recording of “Imagine,” which features him accompanied by Extreme‘s Nuno Bettencourt on guitar and backing vocals, as well as a visual interpretation of the song and audio narration by Julian explaining why he decided to perform his father’s famous tune.

The visual element that accompanies the recording includes black-and-white pencil strokes by Julian that transform into pockets of light.

Starting this Friday, May 20, the NFT will be available for purchase at the Yellowheart digital marketplace for 11 days priced at $11. A portion of the proceeds raised by sale of the digital tokens will benefit Julian’s White Feather Foundation and the charity’s efforts to aid Ukrainian refugees.

“The war on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and as a human and an artist I have always felt that music finds a way to heal, comfort, rally and support during times of crisis,” Julian says. “Performing my father’s classic ‘Imagine’ was a very personal decision, but an obvious one given his lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide.”

He adds, “Partnering with YellowHeart to offer NFT artwork that includes my interpretation of the song will provide an opportunity for fans to connect and unite through the song’s message of unity in a new and innovative way.”

A video of Julian performing “Imagine” with Bettencourt debuted on Julian’s YouTube channel on April 8 in conjunction with the Stand Up for Ukraine campaign. It marked his first public performance of his late father’s song.

Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren join ’1932′ cast

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Yellowstone prequel series is welcoming two Hollywood legends to its cast.

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren are set to star in 1932, the prequel to the critically acclaimed Western series Yellowstone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new show will follow the Dutton family in the 21st century as they battle pandemics and the Great Depression.

1932 will debut on Paramount+ in December. It follows 1883, the most recent prequel that chronicled the Duttons’ treacherous journey through the West to find the land in Montana that ultimately became Yellowstone Ranch.

Ford and Mirren join fellow Hollywood royalty Sam Elliot and Kevin Costner, who starred in 1883 and Yellowstone, respectively. Yellowstone was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson.

Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller team up in trailer for ’Spiderhead’

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth enter a mind-altering world in the first trailer for sci-fi thriller Spiderhead.

Teller portrays the character of Jeff, one of the inmates at Spiderhead, a futuristic penitentiary where Hemsworth’s character, Steve Abnesti, is running scientific experiments on prisoners who volunteer to be guinea pigs for emotion-altering drugs.

The trailer for the film depicts some of the wild reactions the inmates have to the drugs, including hallucinations, convulsions and violence. “This place can really mess with your head,” Teller’s character says.

“Our work will save lives,” Hemsworth’s character can be heard saying over a series of action shots. “We’re making the world a better place.”

The film also stars Jurnee Smollett and is based on the short story Escape From Spiderhead by George Saunders.

Spiderhead premieres on Netflix on June 17.

Yungblud announces new, self-titled album

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Yungblud has announced a new album.

The third full-length effort from the U.K. rocker will be self-titled and is set to arrive September 2.

“Everything up to this moment has been a complete explosion of uncensored expression, where I just told the truth and sang about what I felt in that exact moment,” Yungblud explains. “The difference here is that I have thought and felt this record so deeply.”

“I went to a part of myself that I didn’t know was there,” he adds. “I studied it, I bathed in the emotion, tried to solve the equation and come up with an answer (at least for now) from love to pain, adoration to abandonment, laughter to betrayal.”

The album will feature the previously released single “The Funeral” and the WILLOW collaboration “Memories.” The rest of the track list has yet to be revealed.

Yungblud’s most recent album is his 2020 sophomore effort, Weird!

Brandy hilariously responds to Jack Harlow not knowing she and Ray J are siblings

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jack Harlow better watch out!

His recent comments regarding his lack of knowledge about who Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Brandy is may have gotten him into some drama. But it’s all fun and games, especially for Brandy, who jokingly responded to the “First Class” rapper who said he didn’t know she and Ray J were siblings.

After watching the viral interview clip where Jack Harlow asks, “Who’s Ray J’s sister?” Brandy tweeted, “I will murk this dude in rap at 43 [years old] on his own beats and then sing [h]is a** to sleep.”

While the iconic singer could very well give Jack Harlow a run for his money, she posted a follow-up tweet saying, “See, I can have a little fun too hehe…all love.”

Jack Harlow’s revelation sparked lots of conversation over the internet last week. While many recognized his young age as the reason for the lack of knowledge, his comments were also met with backlash.

When Grammy-winning singer India Arie got wind on the video, she took to social media to express her feelings about it.

“Just because you make Black music doesn’t mean you know Black culture,” she wrote in a post shared by The Shade Room. “If U don’t know Brandy’s voice when you hear it … WHO EVEN ARE YOU?” she said.

She continued, “WHEN AN ACTUAL MUSICIAN! WHO MAKES BLACK MUSIC! Deduces one of the industries MOST IMPORTANT VOICES @Brandy to Ray J’s SISTER? who is famous (mostly) for his Proximity to Kim Kardashian.”

Responding to Brandy’s clapback on Tuesday, Jack Harlow posted an image of Brandy and Ray J accompanied by Kanye West‘s 2005 track, “Bring Me Down,” on which Brandy sings the chorus.

Bet Jack Harlow won’t ever forget Brandy’s name now.

“My world”: Kane Brown shares a sweet outdoor snapshot of his two daughters

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Kane Brown may be busy readying a new album, but he’s never too busy to spend time with family.

The superstar hopped on social media this week to share a snap of his daughters, 2-year-old Kingsley and 4-month-old Kodi. Kane and his wife, Katelyn, have previously told fans that Kingsley loves being a big sister, and this photo is proof: the toddler’s got her arm around her baby sibling as the pair sit outside in a chair.

Kane and Katelyn welcomed baby Kodi in late December. They never announced the pregnancy publicly, making for quite the surprise when fans learned that they’d added a new bundle of joy to their household.

In musical news, Kane’s keeping busy: He put out his new song, “Like I Love Country Music,” earlier this month.

Amber Heard says her role in the ‘Aquaman’ sequel has been cut down due to defamation trial

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Amber Heard says that the ongoing defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp is now impacting her professional life.

In Heard’s latest testimony in court, she claims that her role in the upcoming Aquaman sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, has been significantly cut down as a result of the trial. Heard was in the early stages of scheduling filming for the sequel when Depp sued her in 2019. His defamation suit was filed in response to an op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post in December 2018 speaking out about the alleged domestic abuse she experienced.

Heard stars as Mera in the Aquaman series, the love interest to Jason Momoa‘s titular character. The actress says that “communications” with Warner Brothers, the studio producing the film, virtually “stopped” once news of the divorce broke.

“I was given a script and then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character, without giving any spoiler aways, two characters fighting with one another, and they basically took a bunch out of my role,” she explains in court, according to Variety. “They just removed a bunch out.”

Heard and Depp’s trial began on April 11 in Fairfax County, Virginia. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is slated to hit theaters in March 2023.

Release of ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ DVD and Blu-ray sets rescheduled for July

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Back in January it was announced the acclaimed three-part Disney+ documentary The Beatles: Get Back would be released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 8, but the release was indefinitely delayed.

Now, Variety reports that the physical versions of the doc will finally get their release on July 12.

According to Variety, the delay was due to a defect that was discovered in the discs.

The DVD and Blu-ray sets will feature the entire 468-minute documentary across three discs, although the outlet reports that there are no bonus features. The foldout packaging includes four commemorative cards boasting pics of each Beatles member. Both editions will offer multiple audio options.

As previously reported, The Beatles: Get Back was directed by Lord of the Rings filmmaker Peter Jackson and premiered on Disney+ in late November 2021.

The series was created from dozens of hours of previously unseen footage shot in January 1969 for what became the 1970 film Let It Be.

Besides showing the Fab Four working on the songs that eventually appeared on the Let It Be album, Get Back also captures the group jamming on covers and older Beatles tunes, playing songs that would be featured on Abbey Road and the bandmates’ future solo albums — joking, arguing, chatting and more.

The docuseries ends with footage of the entire surprise performance that The Beatles gave on the roof of their Apple company’s headquarters in London’s Savile Row, which turned to be the last time the band played together in public.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

New York City to honor Notorious B.I.G with lighting ceremony at Empire State Building

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

New York City and the landmark Empire State Building will beam red and white on May 21 in honor of legendary rapper Biggie Smalls on what would’ve been his 50th birthday this Saturday.

As part of the official celebration, a lighting ceremony will take place on Friday, May 20, that will include Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace; his children, CJ and T’yanna Wallace; longtime friend and fellow rapper Lil Kim; and other close friends and hip-hop luminaries.

In commemoration of the late rapper, the Barclays Center will feature a video montage of classic Biggie records which will be displayed on the oculus above the arena’s entrance. For those planning to travel to the venue by way of NYC public transportation, a special edition MetroCard featuring the Notorious B.I.G will be available exclusively at three subway stations near his old Brooklyn neighborhood: Lafayette Avenue, Clinton – Washington Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.

The celebration will continue into June’s Black Music Month with an orchestral tribute to Biggie at the Lincoln Center, which will feature a special musical guest. The black-tie event will be free to the public and will also be livestreamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel on June 10.

Also available on June 10 will be a 25th anniversary vinyl version of Life After Death, Biggie’s diamond-certified, Grammy-nominated second and final studio album.

Cody Johnson sends “Human” to country radio, puts more tour dates on the books

May 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

After the success of his two-week number-one hit, “Til You Can’t,” Cody Johnson is following up that single with the title track off his Human The Double Album.

Part of the appeal of “Til You Can’t” was its powerful message, and with his new single “Human,” Cody once again relies on strong truth-telling and epic, anthemic relatability. The song is an anthem for today’s often divisive cultural climate, reminding listeners that ultimately, they’ve got more similarities than differences with their fellow humans.

“We’ve gone through a lot in this country the last two years. We are all doing this together. We all have struggles even though they are different,” Cody reflected during a recent live performance of the song, explaining why he chose “Human” to be his next single.

As he rides the momentum of some major career success over the past year, Cody is also extending his 2022 headlining tour with new shows. For a complete list of tour dates, visit the singer’s website.

+ More