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Photo Gallery: Thirty Seconds To Mars with AFI and Kenny Hoopla at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
Jimmy Page Reflects on the Timeless Magic of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”
Stairway to Heaven was one of the biggest rock songs of the 1970s – loved, imitated and sometimes parodied. Now Led Zeppelin’s classic track is back on the turntable, on a re-mastered version of the band’s fourth album. 53 years after its release, the song continues to hold a place in many music fans’ hearts. Guitarist Jimmy Page gives a personal account of how a rock anthem came together.
Paul McCartney Shares a Magical Backstage Jam Session with Rockabilly Legend Carl Perkins After 1993 Memphis Concert
After his 1993 concert at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, Paul McCartney was delighted to find his idol, the legendary Carl Perkins, waiting at his backstage door with a guitar in hand. The two musicians spent an unforgettable hour together, exchanging stories and playing their favorite rockabilly riffs, creating a magical moment that McCartney surely cherished.
Ryan Reynolds Narrates Hilarious National Geographic Video on the Surprisingly Dull Life of a Real Wolverine
In anticipation of the upcoming Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine, actor Ryan Reynolds lent his signature humor to a National Geographic video that sheds light on the surprisingly uneventful life of the real North American wolverine. Reynolds narrates with tongue-in-cheek commentary, describing the wolverine as “kind of a boring animal” despite its thick, oily fur and pungent aroma. Known as the largest land-dwelling member of the weasel family, the wolverine may be grumpy and uniquely scented, but Reynolds ensures viewers are entertained by its unexpected light-footedness and surprising dance moves.
“Weird Al” Yankovic Celebrates 10 Years of “Mandatory Fun” with Animated “Polkamania!” Medley of Decade’s Biggest Hits
To mark the 10-year anniversary of his last album, Mandatory Fun, “Weird Al” Yankovic has released “Polkamania!,” a fantastic animated compilation featuring polka covers of some of the biggest hits from the past decade. Yankovic created this lively medley as a tribute to the enduring success of his album and to bring his signature humor and musical flair to a new set of popular songs. Happy New Weird Al Single Release Day!
Peter Dinklage Does A Hilarious Reading of Michigan Resident’s Response to “Unauthorized Dams” Warning
In December 1997, as a result of an official complaint from a neighbour, a Michigan resident named Stephen Tvedten received, indirectly, a stern warning from the region’s Department of Environmental Quality in the form of a letter – a letter in which he was given six weeks to remove two “unauthorized” and “hazardous” dams from the stream on his property or else face prosecution. Tvedten’s amusing response soon made the local news. The case was quickly dropped.
Peter Dinklage joined Letters Live at The Town Hall, NYC to read this hilarious letter.
DEVO Delivers a Nostalgic and Subversive Tiny Desk Concert, Swapping Props and Hats Along the Way
The legendary band DEVO brought their unique brand of performance art to the NPR offices for an unforgettable Tiny Desk Concert. Though they left their iconic “Energy Domes” behind, DEVO didn’t miss a beat, kicking off their set with a powerful rendition of “It Takes a Worried Man,” a song they hadn’t played live in over 40 years. The band continued with energetic performances of “Blockhead,” “Praying Hands,” and closed out with “Come Back Jonee,” all while maintaining the edge that has defined their music for decades.
Puddles Pity Party Teams Up with Primus for Epic “Holy Diver” Cover at New York Waterfront Gala
During a waterfront gala event in Big Flats, New York, the velvet-voiced clown Puddles Pity Party teamed up with the talented band Primus for an electrifying cover of Dio’s iconic song “Holy Diver.”
Spotify Unveils RADAR Canada Artists for Summer 2024: Maddie Jay, Chani Nattan, and SPIRITSAVER
Spotify has announced its three new artists who have been selected as their RADAR Canada artists for July, August and September. These up-and-coming artists are set to take the Canadian music industry by storm, and they’ve handpicked these creators to fuel our summer anthems.
Each month, one of the artists will be on the cover of the RADAR Canada playlist with some of their own songs included on the list. The three artists Spotify has chosen this Summer are:
- Maddie Jay (July)
- Maddie Jay is a BC-born solo artist, guitarist and freelance bassist now based in Los Angeles, California. Maddie has recently toured with NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner Naia Izumi, and pop artists such as Skylar Grey, Emily Warren, and Drake Bell. When left to her own devices, Maddie refuses to recognize the boundaries of genre. With her original projects (Maddie Jay and Maddie Jay & The pH Collective), Maddie is constantly creating and experimenting. She explores rich harmonies and old school rhythms, which come to fruition in live and studio recordings as well as DIY budget-less music videos.
- Chani Nattan (August)
- Chani Nattan is a lyrical virtuoso, whose poetic storytelling and cultural narratives have captivated his fans and listeners. His profound understanding of the human experience is masterfully expressed in his music, particularly in the evocative hit “Daku,” which has propelled him to global recognition. Chani’s collaborations, while notable for their star-studded lineups, are underscored by his unique lyrical flair, which stands as the heartbeat of each track. His songs have become anthems within the Punjabi diaspora. With each verse, Chani Nattan weaves a narrative that is both authentic and revolutionary, his music not only crossing cultural boundaries but also uniting listeners through shared emotions.
- SPIRITSAVER (September)
- SPIRITSAVER, the avant-garde art collective duo Zale and Tajudeen hails from Toronto, Ontario and first emerged in late 2022 as a force to be reckoned with. This ensemble of creative mavericks has quickly carved out a niche for themselves with their innovative approach to art and music.
Spotify’s RADAR program is grounded in supporting emerging artists from across the globe and by joining this acclaimed emerging artists program, fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the breakout artists with their “Clips” series and through short videos and editorial support on the official Spotify playlists.
Céline Dion’s Triumphant Olympics Performance Sparks Global Streaming Surge
Music transcends borders and when Canadian Sensation Céline Dion made a global comeback with her amazing performance of L’Hymne à l’amour from atop the Eiffel Tower at the Olympic opening ceremonies in Paris – it was a true celebration of that.
And now Quebec’s Queen of Power Ballads is the world’s Queen of Comebacks: following the performance, Spotify has reported a surge in global streams for Céline Dion.
Here’s that growth in numbers:
- The day after Céline’s performance, L’Hymne à l’amaour (originally by Parisian songstress Edith Piaf) saw more than a tripling (317%) in daily streams globally, including an increase of 285% in France
- Global streams of Céline’s full music catalogue have jumped by more than a third (36%), and by 64% in France
- And although she sang in her native French, Céline has captivated audiences globally, with fans from these countries making up her top 5 in the last month:
- United States
- France
- UK
- Philippines
- Canada
From her hometown of Charlemagne, Québec, to topping global charts and overcoming personal illness in recent years, Céline continues to reach fans around the world.