Look walking the streets of New York City, it's new Daddy Anderson Cooper stepping out no doubt to get some sustenance for his newly arrived son Wyatt Morgan Cooper. That's correct Minions for all of you who always thought "Oh Daddy" when you saw Anderson, well now it's not just a euphemism, it's a literal fact! His first child's name is a tribute to his late parents, Wyatt for his father, Wyatt Emory Cooper who passed when he was ten. Morgan a family name from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, who passed June of last year. Even during a pandemic life keeps happening, and we keep living to the fullest day by day. Wishing Daddy Anderson and baby Wyatt and all of you the best, seize the day Minions! Anderson on IG - https://www.instagram.com/andersoncooper/?hl=en
Burnaby, BC CANADA - A punk legend / city councillor and local mayor have combined forces to create the seemingly impossible: a COVID-19 rock anthem.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and Councillor Joe Keithley celebrate the spirit of our communities and our frontline workers with the release of "We're All in This Together," a passionate, upbeat song for our times.
"Joe wrote this great song, and I hope it energizes and fortifies people to stay strong," said Hurley. "It captures the community's grit and determination that we see all around us today, and calls on us to double down on our commitment to each other and beat COVID-19."
Keithley and Hurley performed the song - with appropriate physical distancing - for a video shot at Burnaby's Deer Lake Park. The song is both a salute to the resilience and perseverance of residents during the COVID-19 crisis and a rallying call:
"We're all in, this together We've got to brave, this stormy weather You can count on us, we're your neighbours We're all in, this together"
Councillor Keithley sings lead vocals and plays guitar for the arrangement, while Mayor Hurley, a lifelong guitar player, accompanies Keithley on bass and backup vocals.
"Writing this song was just a natural as I saw the growing effort by our fellow Canadians to keep as many folks as possible safe throughout the pandemic," said Keithley, who is also the front man for legendary punk band D.O.A. "It's my way of thanking and expressing my admiration for the nurses, doctors and all the front line workers. They are the best!"
Considered a 'godfather of Canadian punk,' Keithley founded D.O.A. in 1978. The band is known for its consistent thread of political activism and its diverse sound rooted in punk rock.
In 2018, Keithley took the band's slogan TALK-ACTION=0 to the next level when he was elected to Burnaby City Council. Hurley, a former fire fighter, was elected mayor in the same election and since then, the two musicians have performed together for a number of charitable events around town.
New Facebook Live Variety Series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” Airs Saturdays @ 4 p.m. EST
Call it fate, call it coincidence, call it happenstance, but every so often there occurs a magic moment − unplanned and unforeseen − when a song arrives just at the point it is needed most. Such is the case with “All That Matters,” by LIGHTS OUT, which is poised to become an anthem for these troubling and frightening times.
The first single/video and title track from the vocal quartet’s new album, All That Matters– just released April 17 − is a moving, uplifting and inspirational piece that imbues the listener with what is most needed as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic: Optimism that a better day is on the horizon and the unshakeable belief that the human spirit is always stronger than the most fearsome foe.
In line with the group’s pandemic efforts, LIGHTS OUT has launched a weekly Facebook Live variety series, “Escape the Virus with a Lights Out-ing,” webcasting every Saturday at 4 p.m. EST. Weekly themes range from archival concert videos, to live Zoom performances, fan recipe cooking segments, story-swapping, topical discussions, and most importantly throughout, regular fan interaction. It’s all about maintaining the individual and group intimacy with their fans that the group holds in such high regard despite the tenuous climate the pandemic has created. Indeed, social distancing has inspired LIGHTS OUT to further find ways of staying close to its fans through social media.
Composed by membersChris JamesandDanny Goscicki,“All That Matters”is a work of classic blue-eyed soul marked by an indelible, instantly familiar melody and the breathtaking vocal harmonies that are the sonic signature ofLIGHTS OUT. Despite its of-the-moment urgency, it was written and recorded before the world had ever heard the phrase “COVID-19.”
According to Rob Fleishman, fellow group member Chad Moroz suggested the track be released as a single. “That,” Fleishman explains, “kind of sparked an idea in my head to create the video. So I created the video and it kind of took on a life of its own.
“At first, it was going to go down the road of friendship and how the group is together,” he continues. “But the ‘A-ha!’ moment came while I was watching the news. It kinda hit me that the lyrics are just so inspirational for this moment. It spoke to me as, ‘Why not thank the people who are on the front lines?’ Which is why at the end of the video, we thank everyone − doctors, nurses, cashiers, farmers, truck drivers, teachers, the military− for working as hard as they are to save our lives right now.”
The phrase "working hard" also applies to the Philadelphia-based unit that was formed by its members when they were students at the University of Delaware. Starting as an a capella group inspired primarily by Rockapellaand Boyz II Men, LIGHTS OUT has simultaneously traveled several musical paths, including being a popular attraction at many of the nation's top venues,2 performing their own blend of originals and covers, and as a highly successful FrankieValli and the Four Seasons tributeact as well as their original show, The Jersey Beach Boys.
Through the years, the troupe’s thrilling vocal harmonies, polished stageshowsand songwriting prowess have providedLIGHTS OUTwith the opportunities to work withMartina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Philadelphia’s chart-topping vocal groupBoyz II Men, andBarry Carl ofRockapella.BoyzII Men co-founderMike McCarywas so impressed by the foursome that he actually served as its manager. Although today, the group’s career is overseen by another Philly music legend,Jerry Grossof the revered 1960s vocal act,The Dovells, the relationship withMcCarycontinues to pay dividends.
“We were all, at one point, going to school for music at the University of Delaware,” offers Chris James. “Being a music major is amazing, because you learn so much, but you also can kind of get pigeonholed a little bit, even in your own mind. You can get kind of closed-in and not realize that even though the rules say you shouldn't do something, there are ways to do it that might sound good. Mike started opening our eyes to different harmonies and different voicings and different movements within the four of our voices that we would not have had otherwise. It's not just that we wouldn't have thought of them. But we probably would have said, ‘That note's not in the chord, that won’t work.’ But he opened our ears and our minds into a completely new way of harmony. And to this day we take that with us everywhere we go.”
The evidence the band members have taken such lessons to heart can be heard on the All That Matters album, which boasts, in addition to the title cut, 12 tracks steeped in the quartet’s shimmering, usually breathtaking harmonies. Aside from nine originals, the album boasts four covers: The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” The 4 Seasons’ “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” and most notably, a sharp and energetic “hip-pop” reinvention of “Stand By Me” featuring a guest appearance by show business titan Ben Vereen.
Just Because there's a pandemic going down, Just Because well, we are on lock down & Just Because she looks so chic stocking up on sustenance...here is Charlize Theron in an all black athletic leisure outfit grocery shopping in Beverly Hills! Who says you can't look chic during a world wide state of emergency? I ask you? That's correct I asked you! Well obviously Charlize doesn't think you can't so there!!! Of course while many of us, OK all of us can't come close to being the looker Ms. Theron is we can make the best of a situation and still take good care of ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. So what are you waiting for? Get to it, put on your best Sunday Dress and cut loose, footloose! Mic Drop! Stay Chic with Charlize on IG - https://www.instagram.com/charlizeafrica/?hl=en
