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Watch new videos for classic holiday tunes from The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye & The Jackson 5

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Music videos weren’t a big thing when some beloved holiday songs were first recorded, but now a bunch of new animated clips have been created for those Christmas classics.

The Beach Boys‘ “The Man with All The Toys,” The Jackson 5‘s “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and Marvin Gaye‘s “I Want to Come Home for Christmas” are among the holiday songs that have new videos this year.

Each video has a different feel and style: The Beach Boys’ clip is a lyric video that features a collage of images of the group along with Christmas imagery. The Jackson 5 video mixes puppets and traditional animation, with the Marvin Gaye video featuring more sepia-toned and artistic sketches, to match the somber lyrics about a prisoner of war longing to return home to his family.

Other songs getting animated videos this holiday season: Bing Crosby’s “The Little Drummer Boy,” Burl Ives‘ “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Nat King Cole‘s “O Come All Ye Faithful,” Dean Martin‘s “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and Ella Fitzgerald‘s “Sleigh Ride.”

John Legend to bring ‘Phantom of the Opera’ to New Orleans in modern-day retelling

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

John Legend is about to give Phantom of the Opera a modern twist. The “All of Me” singer has teamed with partner Mike Jackson and producer Harvey Mason Jr. to take the famous tale out of France and set it in New Orleans, Louisiana.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie’s working title is Phantom and the trio will produce the film for Universal Studios.

John and Mike have tapped their fellow partner at their Get Lifted Film Company, Ty Stiklorius, to executive produce.

The script was written by John Fusco, whose previous works include Crossroads, Hidalgo and The Highwaymen. The screenwriter says he wanted to set the classic 1910 Gaston Leroux novel — not the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical — in modern day New Orleans.

“I have long wanted to explore The Phantom of the Opera in a contemporary and new way and in a French Quarter setting,” he told THR. “New Orleans is not only known as America’s most haunted city, but the music, Creole culture, voodoo mystique and the pageantry of Mardi Gras, inspire a natural adaptation of the original Paris setting.”

A release date has not yet been announced. The movie will join Universal’s revival of its collection of black and white monster movies, such as The Mummy and The Wolf Man. Universal previously adapted the novel in 1925 as a black and white silent horror film, which went on to become a box office success at the time.

Ex-Flyleaf singer Lacey Sturm releases new song, “Awaken Love”

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Former Flyleaf frontwoman Lacey Sturm has released a new solo single called “Awaken Love.”

The track was co-written by Skillet‘s Korey Cooper. You can download it now via digital outlets.

“Awaken Love” is Sturm’s second song of 2021, following February’s “State of Me.” She released her first and, so far, only solo album, Life Screams, in 2016.

Sturm sang on Flyleaf’s first three albums before leaving the group in 2012. She was replaced by vocalist Kristen May, who then left Flyleaf in 2016. The band’s been on hiatus since.

AJR’s Adam Met earns PhD

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

AJR‘s Adam Met is certainly ending 2021 with a “Bang!”

The oldest member of the brother trio has earned his PhD from the U.K.’s University of Birmingham. The band announced the news in a tweet Thursday, alongside a photo of Adam holding a copy of his thesis, which is titled Stakeholder Approaches to Human Rights and Development in the Commercial Context.

“Introducing…Dr. Adam Met,” the caption reads. “After years of study, he officially has his PhD.”

Adam’s academic pursuits were previously highlighted in a 2019 New York Times article, which mentioned he was “PhD candidate in international human rights law.”

In addition to officially becoming a Doctor of Philosophy this year, Adam’s 2021 included releasing the new AJR album OK ORCHESTRA, which dropped in March. The record includes the singles “Bang!” and “Way Less Sad.”

Introducing… Dr. Adam Met. After years of study, he officially has his PhD. @AdamAJRbrothers pic.twitter.com/4njG7yStXG

— AJR (@AJRBrothers) December 9, 2021

Carrie Underwood continues to bring televised holiday cheer as ‘My Gift’ hits 300 million total streams

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Carrie Underwood’s 2020 Christmas album, My Gift, is on a roll as it heads into its second holiday season. The record, along with its deluxe Special Edition iteration, has notched RIAA Gold certification, with over 300 million global streams to date.

Meanwhile, Carrie’s 2020 holiday special is airing once again this year, streaming on HBO Max, and she’s spreading plenty of seasonal cheer across a number of new televised performances, too.

Carrie’s joining John Legend for the season finale of NBC’s The Voice, where they’ll perform their original holiday song, “Hallelujah,” which appears on My Gift’s track list. Next up, the singer is on the bill for the “Opry Live: USO Holiday Special,” followed by a December 23 headlining appearance at Australia’s “Woolworths Carols in the Domain” and a Christmas Eve performance on NBC’s TODAY.

That’s in addition to the several Christmas-themed performances Carrie’s already given so far in 2021. She performed another song off My Gift during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and she was also part of the CMA Country Christmas lineup this year.

Plus, Carrie contributed a brand-new track to fans’ stockings this year with the release of her song, “Stretchy Pants,” a light-hearted ode to holiday over-eating.

Childhood home of Kurt Cobain up for sale

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

A Washington home where Kurt Cobain spent part of his childhood is up for sale.

Located at 413 S Fleet Street in the city of Montesano, the house costs $279,000, and includes over 1,600 square feet of living space.

According to Rolling Stone, the realty team behind the sale didn’t initially realize the history of the address, where Cobain had lived from 1978 to 1982 with his father, Don.

“None of us knew it was until the photographer [Alicia Tisdale] took a picture of it,” realtor Colt Fairley tells Rolling Stone. “She knows Aberdeen pretty well. She was like, ‘Oh my god, this is Kurt Cobain’s house.’ His dad, Donald, tried to make the entire house into a ship.”

You can check out the listing via the site Redfin.com. But if you’re thinking of making a move, the realtor notes that they’ve already received three offers.

Elton John & Ed Sheeran top British chart with Christmas single, but will have to fend off…themselves?

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

It was surprising enough that Elton John scored a number-one single this year, but now he’s racked up two.

“Merry Christmas,” Elton’s duet with Ed Sheeran, has topped the U.K. singles chart. It’s Elton’s second song to lead that chart in 2021, following his Dua Lipa duet “Cold Heart.”

However, Elton and Ed may soon find themselves competing with themselves to hold onto the top spot on the chart. The reason why is pretty complicated, but here goes.

It’s a huge deal in the U.K. to have the song that’s number-one on Christmas Day. Each year, the competition for the “Christmas Number One” slot is intense.

For the past three years, a husband-and-wife duo billed as LadBaby have scored the Christmas number one with novelty songs about food — specifically, sausage rolls. They donate the proceeds from the songs to the Trussell Trust, a charity that’s trying to end hunger in the U.K.

Now, Ed and Elton have teamed up with LadBaby to record a new song and video called “Sausage Rolls for Everyone” — a reworking of “Merry Christmas” with food-based lyrics. As before, 100% of the song’s profits will go to charity.

The song comes out next Friday, and the U.K. Christmas Number One will be announced December 24, so it just may come down to a battle between Ed and Elton’s original, and “Sausage Rolls for Everyone”

LadBaby said in a statement to the U.K.’s Official Charts Company, “Ed and Elton are pop royalty and they’ve both had huge success at Christmas, so we’re honored and excited to be coming together to help families this Christmas.”

“It’s time to bring back some Christmas magic with the power of sausage rolls!” Elton notes.

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Peloton releases statement after shocking death on ’Sex and the City’ sequel ‘And Just Like That…’

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(SPOILERS AHEAD) Sex and the City fans were served a major surprise at the end of the first episode of the new sequel series, And Just Like That…

Mr. Big, husband to Sarah Jessica Parker‘s Carrie Bradshaw, shockingly dies of a heart attack after an intense workout on a Peloton bike. Having suffered from heart-related issues throughout the series, Carrie returns home to find that Big had collapsed in the shower, and he dies in her arms.

That scene has prompted Peloton to respond publicly, apparently to disabuse anyone of the notion it was their bike that caused his demise.

“I’m sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack,” Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, member of Peloton’s Health & Wellness Advisory Council, tells Entertainment Weekly in a statement. “Mr. Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyle — including cocktails, cigars, and big steaks — and was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in season 6.”

Steinbaum goes on: “These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event.”

And Just Like That… premiered on HBO Max on Thursday. The 10-episode series airs through February 3.

Donnie Wahlberg roasts Jenny McCarthy’s vocal chops after singing clip goes viral

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Donnie Wahlberg roasted wife Jenny McCarthy after she seemingly belted out a song during the most recent episode of The Masked Singer.

For those wondering if those soaring vocals really belonged to the 49-year-old actress, Donnie claims his wife doesn’t possess that particular talent.

“Dear @MaskedSingerFOX, I will confirm that @JennyMcCarthy can’t really sing like this,” he tweeted out on Thursday. He then took a swipe at Ken Jeong, who also serves as judge on the singing competition series, when announcing that Jenny could “probably sing better” than him, but “barely.”

The New Kids on the Block singer concluded, “I won’t confirm if it’s @carrieunderwood wearing a @JennyMcCarthy mask or if @JennyMcCarthy’s miming @carrieunderwood’s voice.”

Jenny later admitted that she wasn’t actually singing in the now-viral clip and that she had stolen Carrie Underwood‘s vocals.

“Did you guess whose voice this was? Hint: She has THE MOST beautiful voice in the world. It’s the amazing, insanely talented @carrieunderwood She so FREAKING talented! Love you girl!,” she tweeted.

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Dear @MaskedSingerFOX,

I will confirm that @JennyMcCarthy can’t really sing like this, but she can probably sing better than @kenjeong (barely). 🎭🎤

I won’t confirm if it’s @carrieunderwood wearing a @JennyMcCarthy mask or if @JennyMcCarthy’s miming @carrieunderwood’s voice. https://t.co/9N0LGQpbSH

— Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) December 10, 2021

Tupac Shakur Estate announces the Immortal Collection NFT series

December 10, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The legacy of the late Tupac Shakur is being celebrated with a new Immortal Collection NFT series inspired by his personal jewelry.

The collection consists of four pieces: the “Artist,” which is represented by his 2PAC ring; the “Activist,” symbolized by his Makaveli bracelet; the “Sinner” solitaire diamond ring; and the “Saint,” which is represented by the Euphanasia medallion necklace Shakur wore in the last photo ever taken of him in 1996.

“Tupac’s belief that everyone has the right to express themselves honestly through whichever art form they saw fit includes everything from music, to acting, from writing to dance, from photography and culinary art to self-expression through fashion,” the estate says in a statement, according to Complex.com. “For Tupac, this included his choice of jewelry. In the last year of his life, he had the luxury of not just affording higher-end items, but he started to design them himself, down to the smallest details.”

The NFTs, the first authorized by the Shakur Estate, will be available December 15 on the Makers Place digital art market. The collection provides a sneak peek at some of the items that will be displayed at the “Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free” exhibit, which will open January 21, 2022 at The Canvas @ L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

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