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Maroon 5 to appear on CNN’s ‘Shine a Light 9/11’ special

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Maroon 5 will be one of the artists performing on Shine a Light, a special that will air on CNN on Saturday, September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“We feel deeply moved by this opportunity to use our music to help shine a light and support a broadcast that is coming from and for the 9/11 community,” the band says in a statement.

Other acts that’ll be performing on the special include country star Brad Paisley, and Oscar and Grammy-winning musicians H.E.R. and Common.

Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, who appeared on stage together at the all-star Concert for New York City the month after the attacks, will team up to deliver a message of support on the special, while ex-New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning will be a presenter.

In addition to the musical performances, the Shine a Light special will feature films and interviews with those directly affected by the attacks, who’ll share their stories. Viewers will be encouraged to visit 911day.org during the broadcast to post and share simple acts of kindness, charity and service in tribute to those killed and injured, and to the first responders to rushed to help.

In other Maroon 5 news, the band had been set to perform at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday, but that show has been canceled with no explanation.

Anita Baker celebrates finally owning her own music

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Anita Baker has won her long legal battle with her record label, and the eight-time Grammy winner has proudly announced she now owns her own music masters and has full control of her songs.

“They no longer ‘Own, My Name & Likeness,’” Baker wrote on her private Twitter account, as captured by Essence. “And, by Law…30 yr old, Mstrs are 2B Returned, 2 Me Unfortunately, They’re gonna make me Fight 4 it. I’m Prepared, 2 do that.”

The “Giving You the Best That I Got” singer previously asked fans not to stream or buy any of her music because of her legal fight.

“All My Children Are Coming Home,” Anita wrote with a photo of her first five studio albums: 1983’s The Songstress, The Rapture from 1986, 1988’s Giving You the Best That I Got, Compositions from 1990, and her 1994 release, Rhythm of Love.

When a follower asked if now she wants fans to stream her music, Anita replied, “Yes. Chil’ren…Stream.”

Baker also announced that a new compilation of her music will be available soon on Rhino Records.

Red pill or blue pill? Warner Bros. teases ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ with creepy twin teasers

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Ahead of Thursday’s trailer release, Warner Bros.’ new interactive teaser for the fourth Matrix movie plays on the choice Keanu Reeves‘ Thomas Anderson/Neo made in the original film.

At TheChoiceIsYoursWhatIsTheMatrix.com, you’re presented with two choices: a red pill or a blue pill. As in the movie, each offers a different path. The blue pill allows one to stay asleep in what they think is the real world, while the red tells you the horrible truth: that “real life” is a simulation created by machines to pacify a human race enslaved in the actual world.

Choose either pill, and complete with the drizzling of digital green code the original films made famous, you’re presented with snippets of the upcoming film, and scenes of Reeves’ return to the blockbuster franchise. Each pill unlocks different shots from the movie.

Creepily, both choices are personalized with whatever time you happen to choose them: for example, click on the blue pill at 2:47 p.m., and the voice-overs you hear will reflect that exact time.

The blue pill greets you with a voice-over from co-star Neil Patrick Harris that states, “Do you remember how you got here? You’ve lost your capacity to discern reality from fiction. What’s real is here and now. 2:47 p.m. Anything else is just your mind playing tricks on you.” He adds, “We don’t want anyone to get hurt, do we?”

Conversely, the red pill lets you hear from co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who tells you, “Right now, you believe it’s 2:47 p.m. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. It could be this is the first day of the rest of your life. But if you want it, you have to fight for it.”

The Matrix Resurrections debuts December 22.

Cardi B remembers her reaction to appearing with Vin Diesel in ‘F9’: “I was scared”

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

F9: The Fast Saga will be available on home video on September 21, and as Cardi B reflects on her small role in the blockbuster — which has grossed over $600 million worldwide — she remembers she was intimidated by the franchise star, Vin Diesel.

“I was scared,” the “Rumors” rapper admits in a behind the scenes video, according to People. “But he’s so nice, so dope, he makes you feel so comfortable.” After filming wrapped, Vin praised Cardi, saying, “I really am proud of you.”

Cardi portrayed Leysa, who appeared as a fake officer to save Diesel’s character, Dominic Toretto, when he was arrested in the U.K. As he sat in the back of an Interpol truck, she revealed herself as someone from his past, and told Dom she’d “still be stealing gas” in the Dominican Republic if it weren’t for him, referencing the beginning of 2009’s fourth film in the franchise, Fast & Furious.

“When I was doing this character, I felt so gangster, says the Grammy winner. “I love it.”

Also in the video, director Justin Lin reveals how he chose Cardi for the film. “I remember getting a call saying, ‘Hey, Cardi B is a fan,’ and saying, ‘OK great, we’re going to do the expected cameo but turn it on its head.'”

In December 2019, Diesel announced Cardi was cast in F9 in an Instagram video. As they sat together outside of a trailer, Cardi said, “I ain’t gonna front. This gonna be the best one.”

Cardi, who gave birth to her second child, a son, on September 4, has five nominations for Sunday’s MTV VMAs.”WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion, is up for Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Hip-Hop and Best Collaboration. “Rumors” with Lizzo, is nominated for Song of the Summer.

Supreme Court going back to in-person arguments

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court is returning to its iconic courtroom in October to hear in-person oral arguments for the first time since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the justices to conduct business over the phone.

Oral arguments scheduled for the October, November and December sessions will be in the courtroom with access limited to essential court personnel, counsel and journalists, the court announced Wednesday.

The justices began meeting in person in April for private meetings to discuss cases, and all nine justices are fully vaccinated. But with the continuing coronavirus pandemic and a surge in cases due to the delta variant, the court will remain closed to the public.

While oral arguments have been held over the phone for the last year and a half, real-time oral arguments have been available to the media for broadcasting to the public. The court anticipates that won’t change with a return to in-person operations, according to the announcement.

That marks a major shift in the court’s transparency because prior to the pandemic, only those sitting in the courtroom had real-time access to the proceedings. Audio recordings of oral arguments were made available to the public at the end of each week, and transcripts of arguments were made available the same day.

The court that is returning to the bench in October is not the same as the one that left in March 2020. Before Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September of last year, the court’s conservatives held a narrow 5-4 majority.

Now conservatives have a powerful 6-3 majority after the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by former President Donald Trump, about a week before the 2020 presidential election — causing an uproar among Democrats over the last-minute appointment. Coney Barret has yet to hear in-person arguments since joining the court.

The court will return from its summer recess to hear arguments Oct. 4 in the cases of Mississippi v. Tennessee, which will determine if Mississippi has sole control of the state’s groundwater, and Wooden v. United States, which will determine whether crimes committed in a sequential spree are considered separate occasions, according to SCOTUSblog.

Elton John hits #1 on the UK’s chart countdown, calls achievement “ridiculous”

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Elton John has just scored his second #1 hit of 2021 on the U.K.’s biggest chart countdown show, and he couldn’t be happier.

Elton’s collaboration with U.K. pop star Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart,” topped The Official Big Top 40 countdown radio show, which measures downloads, streaming and radio airplay, and is most similar to America’s Billboard Hot 100.

Reflecting on his achievement, 74-year-old Elton told the show, “Well, at my age, having one number-one song in the singles chart is an incredible surprise and for me, an achievement. So, two is ridiculous. I mean, this is a dream come true.”

Earlier this year, Elton’s collaboration with British act Years & Years on a cover of the Pet Shop Boys‘ “It’s a Sin” topped the same chart.

“‘Cold Heart,” created by Australian dance duo PNAU, is a mashup of three Elton songs: “Sacrifice,” “Rocket Man” and “Where’s the Shoorah?” On Instagram, Elton wrote, “Thank you for streaming and listening to ‘Cold Heart.’ Even after all this time making music and putting it out there, a number 1 still means so much and I couldn’t be prouder of the song, Dua and PNAU for what we’ve produced.”

Elton also teased, “Big things coming and I’m so excited to share them all with you.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)

Michael Ray was forever changed after writing “Didn’t Know I Was Country”

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Michael Ray co-wrote two of the seven songs on his latest release, the Higher Education EP, but one of those songs changed him forever. The Florida native penned both “Picture” and “Didn’t Know I Was Country,” and he says the latter had a profound impact on his life and career.

“It was in that moment when I really felt a change in my songwriting,” Michael tells American Songwriter, recalling when he wrote “Didn’t Know I Was Country” with Ashley Gorley and Taylor Phillips. “I was just being very honest and wasn’t hesitating. In the past, I worried about ‘If I do this, will these people like me?’ Finally, I was like I’ve been through enough and I’ve survived it. Let’s just try being yourself.”

Higher Education is Michael’s first release since his 2018 album, Amos. Ironically, it was after he released that record, which included the hit single “The One That Got Away,” that he realized he needed to switch directions.

“I am super proud of Amos as an album, but the pandemic made me really think about how I would feel if that were my last record ever,” Michael reflects. “And I realized, I can’t say I would be okay if that was my last collection ever.”

Lana Del Rey’s ‘Blue Banisters’ album due out in October; listen to new song “Arcadia” now

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lana Del Rey has announced the details of her long-teased new album, Blue Banisters.

The follow-up to this past March’s Chemtrails Over the Country Club, which was originally scheduled to drop on July 4, is now set to arrive on October 22.

Blue Banisters includes the previously released title track, as well as the songs “Text Book” and “Wildflower Wildfire.” A fourth cut, titled “Arcadia,” is also out today, along with a video directed by Del Rey herself. You can watch that streaming on YouTube.

Here’s the Blue Banisters track list:

“Textbook”
“Blue Banisters”
“Arcadia”
“Interlude — The Trio”
“Black Bathing Suit”
“If You Lie Down with Me”
“Beautiful”
“Violets for Roses”
“Dealer”
“Thunder”
“Wildflower Wildfire”
“Nectar of the Gods”
“Living Legend”
“Cherry Blossom”
“Sweet Carolina”

David Ellefson launches new, post-Megadeth project, The Lucid

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has formed a new band.

The group is called The Lucid, and it also features Sponge vocalist Vinnie Dombroski, guitarist Drew Fortier and Fear Factory drummer Mike Heller. They’ll release their self-titled debut album on October 15; you can listen to lead single “Maggot Wind,” now via digital outlets.

“It’s been a real blast making a record with these guys and I must say that it’s refreshing to explore some new musical avenues…to step out a bit from what each of us have done stylistically in our own careers,” Ellefson says.

“There was an effortless synergy that came with creating these songs together which is always amazing when working with new people,” he adds. “I’m looking forward to everyone checking it out!”

The Lucid is Ellefson’s first project since he was dismissed from Megadeth last May after sexually explicit video of him interacting with a woman leaked online. 2000s era Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo replaced Ellefson on tour, and Dsvid’s bass parts for the band’s upcoming new album were re-recorded.

Here’s the track list for The Lucid:

“Maggot Wind”
“Deaths of Despair”
“Spoiler Head”
“Hair”
“Maskronaut”
“Damned”
“Breech Boy”
“Pigs and Sons”
“Parade of Spit”

Lil Nas X and Elton John are co-starring in an UberEats commercial

September 8, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET; Elton: George Pimentel/WireImage

A brief video clip of what appears to be an ad for UberEats starring Lil Nas X and Elton John — which apparently is going to arrive in full tomorrow — has been posted on Elton’s Twitter account.

In the clip, Elton is sitting behind a white piano, while dressed in a pink cowboy outfit similar to something Lil Nas X would’ve worn in 2019 when he was promoting his record-setting number-one hit “Old Town Road.”

Then Lil Nas X walks into the frame wearing one of Elton’s most over-the-top outfits: He’s dressed head to toe in multicolored feathers, with sparkly silver sunglasses and a mirrored leather headpiece. Elton famously wore that outfit while appearing on The Muppet Show in 1978.

As the clip proceeds, Elton looks up from the piano, clocks Lil Nas X and says, “B**** stole my look!” Nas starts laughing, and says, “That wasn’t it!,” meaning that Elton delivered the wrong line. But as both he, Elton and the crew off camera crack up, Nas adds, “You know what? Let’s keep it!”

Elton and Lil Nas X have teamed up on a song called “One of Me” that will appear on both Nas’ debut album, Montero, due out September 17, and Elton’s forthcoming collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions, which will be released on October 22.

Now this will surprise you 👀🚀 @lilnasx

More to come tomorrow @ubereats #ad pic.twitter.com/MJ2oL87UK3

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) September 8, 2021

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