Five years ago today — April 7, 2017 –– Harry Styles went solo, releasing “Sign of the Times.” Now, the song is getting a revival on TikTok, thanks to Bridgerton.
A string arrangement of “Sign of the Times” is used in the hit Netflix series to soundtrack the wedding of Anthony Bridgerton and Edwina Sharma, and fans are here for it. Many have created TikToks using a snippet of the song — performed and arranged by Steve Horner and produced by Angry Mob Music — in which they dream of using the song on their own wedding day.
One fan wrote in her TikTok caption, “Hey Bridgerton how am I supposed to convince my future husband to walk down the aisle to this?” Another wrote, “When you wanted to walk down the aisle to a Harry Styles’ song but Bridgerton did it first in 1813.”
Yet another fan wrote, “I may not be engaged yet but, I am certain that I will walk down the aisle to this rendition of Sign of The Times from Bridgerton.”
The fan-favorite string cover came about when Angry Mob Music decided to create an entire album of songs for Bridgerton’s music supervisor, Justin Kamp, to listen to, in hopes he’d select one for use in season two. One of them was “Sign of the Times.” After tapping Horner to arrange and compose the string version, they presented it to Kamp who loved it, and the rest is history.
When “Sign of the Times” was released, it introduced Harry’s ’70s rock-influenced musical direction. It hit number four in the U.S. and number one in Harry’s native U.K. Harry’s self-titled debut album arrived in May, debuting at #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K.
Vance Joy has announced a new album called In Our Own Sweet Time.
The third studio effort from the “Riptide” artist will arrive on June 10. Explaining the album’s title, Vance says, “I’m always drawn to the idea of timelessness or that shared moment that takes you out of the chaos outside.”
“If the world is crazy, you can retreat somewhere,” he shares. “It’s always hard to think of the right title but I think that sums up the album perfectly.”
In Our Own Sweet Time includes the previously released songs “Missing Piece” and “Don’t Fade.” A third cut, titled “Clarity,” is now out via digital outlets, as well.
Vance will play a series of U.S. concerts in May and June, including sold-out shows in New York City and Nashville.
Ed Sheeran has pulled ahead of Adele in the race for having the best-selling album of the year in the U.K., with = (Equals) outpacing Adele’s 30.
Album sales tracker Official Charts reports that = sold over 133,000 copies in the country in 2022, compared to 30‘s 94,000 in sales. Ed was last year’s runner-up in the contest for the U.K.’s best-selling album and was no match for 30‘s powerhouse sales.
Overall, = has sold over 566,000 copies in the country since its October release while 30, which dropped a month later, has amassed total sales of 694,000.
While it’s still too early in the year to tell who will ultimately get to boast having the best-selling album of 2022, the outlet reports The Weeknd‘s newly released Dawn FM is making a strong showing in the charts. Since the album’s January release, it has sold 76,000 copies.
Currently in fourth place in the U.K. is Olivia Rodrigo‘s SOUR.
Portishead will end their seven-year live hiatus next month at a concert in support of the U.K.’s War Child charity.
The show takes place May 2 at England’s O2 Academy Bristol venue. Proceeds will benefit War Child efforts to help children and refugees affected by war, specifically in Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion, and in Yemen, which has been plunged in civil war since 2014.
Tickets to attend in-person will be available via raffle, which you can enter by donating to War Child. The more you donate, the more entries you’ll receive. All donations will be matched by the U.K. government.
Even if you don’t win a ticket, all who enter the raffle will receive a link to watch the concert stream live online.
Portishead played their most recent show in 2015. The group’s latest album is 2008’s Third.
Pink Floyd has teamed up with singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Ukrainian band Boomboxto record a new song titled “Hey Hey Rise Up” in support of the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
The track will be released via digital formats globally at midnight on Friday, April 8, and a companion music video also will premiere at that time.
This marks the first new original music Pink Floyd has recorded as a band since the 1994 album The Division Bell. The group’s lineup for the track was guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, as well as Nitin Sawhney on keyboards, and the aforementioned Khlyvnyuk on lead vocals.
The track, which was recorded on Wednesday, March 30, uses vocals taken from a recent Instagram post showing Andriy singing the Ukrainian protest song “The Red Viburnum in the Meadow” while standing in Sofiyskaya Square in the city of Kyiv. The song, which was written during World War I, has become an anthem in Ukraine protesting Russia’s invasion.
Gilmour, who has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law, says, “We, like so many, have been feeling the fury and the frustration of this vile act of an independent, peaceful democratic country being invaded and having its people murdered by one of the world’s major powers.”
David got to know Boombox when he played with the band — minus Khlyvnyuk — at a 2015 concert in London. After seeing Andriy’s Instagram video, he was inspired to write music to accompany the vocals, and “Hey Hey Rise Up” was born.
Regarding the track, Gilmour says, “I hope it will receive wide support and publicity. We want to raise funds for humanitarian charities, and raise morale.”
Hunger Games star Jena Malone got into character in Los Angeles Wednesday, springing to action when she saw a man allegedly abusing a little white dog.
On Twitter, the actress replied to a KNBC news story about the incident, explaining in a series of tweets, “I saw a man kicking repeatedly a small dog on [Sunset Boulevard], yanking him up in the air and absolutely choking the dog….I got out of my car to try and get the dog but he started running.”
Several other good Samaritans saw the abuse, too, and also gave chase. They threw the belligerent suspect a beating for good measure before detaining him in a citizen’s arrest. Malone was able to snatch the dog back, she recounted.
“I’m sorry that it ended in a brawl but the dog was going to die. No question,” she posted. “I can’t imagine the level of torture it had suffered until this point.”
According to the news crew that arrived before the subdued suspect was arrested, the unidentified man said the dog was his mother’s. He denied it was hurt. “There nothin’ wrong with him!” he insisted on camera.
Malone later updated that at a hospital the dog was found to have suffered, “a fractured rib, bone breaks in it’s [sic] hind legs and another fracture in its right paw.” She added, “It was absolutely horrific seeing an animal treated this way.”
However, the story has a happy ending. Vets were able to find a microchip and reunite Champ with his owner, who said her son took her dog a week ago.
Malone also posted a GoFundMe link to help cover his hospital bills, and as of late Thursday morning it had already exceeded its $10,000 goal.
(WASHINGTON) — Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history, is poised for Senate confirmation on Thursday afternoon.
She is expected to secure at least three Republican votes, marking a bipartisan victory for President Joe Biden’s high court nominee.
Here is how the news is developing Thursday. Check back for updates:
Apr 07, 12:35 pm
Jackson clears key test vote
The Senate has voted 53-47 to limit debate on Judge Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court, paving the way for a final confirmation vote later in the afternoon.
A beaming Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who praised Jackson as “worthy” in an emotional soliloquy during her confirmation hearings, presided over the Senate chamber for the cloture vote.
Because the Senate filibuster rule for Supreme Court nominations was modified by Senate Republicans in 2017, Judge Jackson’s nomination requires only a simple majority, or 51 senators, in both votes Thursday.
Since her formal nomination 42 days ago, Jackson held one-on-one meetings with 97 senators on Capitol Hill, according to the White House.
-ABC News’ Devin Dwyer
Apr 07, 12:34 pm
Harris to preside over confirmation vote
Vice President Kamala Harris will head to the Capitol later Thursday to preside over the Senate for Judge Jackson’s historic confirmation vote.
“This afternoon, with the United States Senate poised to make history by voting for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the United States Supreme Court, the Vice President will travel to the U.S. Capitol. The Vice President believes Judge Jackson will be an exceptional Supreme Court Justice, and she looks forward to presiding over the Senate to mark this important moment,” the White House said in a statement.
Harris, the nation’s first Black and first female vice president, will announce the final vote for Jackson, the first Black woman to be considered to the Supreme Court and, if confirmed, to sit on the high bench in its 233-year history.
Jackson is expected to watch final speeches and the roll call vote with her family in Washington.
-ABC News’ Devin Dwyer
Apr 07, 11:39 am
McConnell casts ‘judicial activism’ as threat to court
Just hours ahead of Judge Jackson’s expected Senate confirmation, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted what he called “judicial activism” as a threat to the court as an institution in remarks on the Senate floor.
“We’ve seen over and over that when judicial activism triumphs over fidelity to the rule of law, our courts mutate into clumsy proxy battlefields for arguments that belong in this chamber,” McConnell said, as Republicans have attempted to characterize Jackson as sympathetic to progressive causes.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell meets with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, April 5, 2022. Earlier, three Republican senators broke from their party to support Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court.
The GOP leader, again, slammed Jackson for failing to commit to opposing the Supreme Court’s expansion when she was asked about her views of court-packing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The solution is for all the justices to stay in their lane. There is one right number of justices who seek to follow the law. The number is nine. Ginsburg said it. Breyer said it. There is one right number of judges who seek to make policy,” McConnell said.
Notably, Jackson, in her confirmation hearings, repeated variations of the message that she intends to “stay in my lane,” if confirmed to the high court.
McConnell conceded Thursday that Jackson is barreling towards confirmation and pledged that Republicans will recognize her legitimacy as a justice — seemingly needling Democrats for their handling of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination.
“Nevertheless, our Democratic colleagues are on track to confirm our next supreme Court justice,” McConnell said. “And you know what won’t happen: Top Republicans will not imply she is illegitimate we will not call for court-packing I won’t be joining any mobs outside her new workplace and threatening her by name.”
-ABC News’ Allison Pecorin
Apr 07, 11:04 am
Schumer praises Jackson’s place in history ahead of key vote
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote to end debate on Judge Jackson’s nomination is on track for the 11 a.m. hour ahead of the historic confirmation vote around 1:45 p.m.
“The Senate gavels in this morning for a joyous, momentous, groundbreaking day,” Schumer said from the Senate chamber. “This morning, we will vote to end debate on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be a justice on the United States Supreme Court. And later this afternoon, the Senate will fulfill its constitutional duty to finally confirm this remarkable and groundbreaking jurist.”
Schumer praised Jackson as encapsulating the “three Bs” — brilliant, beloved and belonging on the Supreme Court — and said the nation is long overdue to have a Black woman sit on the high bench.
“In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court never, never has a Black woman held the title of justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first, and I believe the first of more to come,” Schumer said.
“This milestone should have happened generations ago,” he added, “but we are always trotting on a path towards a more perfect union.”
“Nevertheless, America today is taking a giant step towards making our union more perfect. People sometimes talk about standing on the shoulder of giants. Well, Judge Jackson will go down in history as an American giant upon whose shoulders others will stand tall — and our democracy will be better off for it.”
Normani is relieved she’s able to re-introduce herself to fans and let them know who she truly is now that she’s a solo artist.
Speaking toEntertainment Tonight, the former Fifth Harmony singer explained that she’s entered a new phase in life that’s focused on “self-government.”
“For someone that’s always felt very overlooked and being the only Black girl in a group, mentally was a lot for me,” Normani admitted. “There were times that I didn’t feel seen, and felt unimportant, and my vocal ability wasn’t just as amazing.”
Part of her re-introduction is through the new song “Fair,” which she described as “the perfect record to be vulnerable, to share my most inner thoughts and feelings and what heartbreak looks like for me.”
While creating the song was one thing, Normani says making the music video was “absolutely freaking terrifying.” She explained, “Obviously, there were slight nerves going into because I’m having to really, emotionally go there and go back to the place that the song was written from, which was incredibly triggering and hard.”
But, Normani glad she went through with it and tapped into her “acting abilities” because, “By the end, after all the tears and screaming…it was really dope. I feel like it’s one of my best. I’m proud of it.”
The song’s success, she says, helped her learn “to trust myself more” and that “God has given me all the tools that I need” to become a successful solo artist. She added of leaving Fifth Harmony, “To come out of that, speaks to, I feel, my resilience, but also the people that have been riding with me since day one. I’m just so grateful for it.”
(WASHINGTON) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill tweeted Thursday.
Pelosi, 82, is vaccinated and boosted and does not have any symptoms, he said. This positive test comes after testing negative earlier in the week, Hammill said.
Pelosi on Wednesday tweeted a photo of her next to President Joe Biden.
Biden, who tested negative on Wednesday night, isn’t considered a close contact “as defined by the CDC,” according to a White House statement.
“The president saw Speaker Pelosi at White House events and had brief interactions over the course of the last two days,” the White House statement said.
“He will continue to be tested regularly. The president wishes Speaker Pelosi a speedy recovery,” the statement said.
Pelosi is second in line to the presidency after the vice president.
Other Washington officials to test positive this week include Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.
Hammill added on Twitter that a planned congressional delegation to Asia, led by Pelosi, will be postponed.
(WASHINGTON) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tested positive for COVID-19, her deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill tweeted Thursday.
This positive test comes after testing negative earlier in the week, Hammill said.
Pelosi on Wednesday tweeted a photo of her next to President Joe Biden.
Pelosi, 82, is vaccinated and boosted and does not have any symptoms, he said.
Pelosi is second in line to the presidency after the vice president.
Other Washington officials to test positive this week include Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.
Hammill added on Twitter that a planned congressional delegation to Asia, led by Pelosi, will be postponed.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
