Reddit user samuraitiger19 posted this story that went viral on the web. It tells the story of the final minutes of Calvin’s life in which he has one last talk with Hobbes. This place suddenly got really, really dusty.
Those 2017 Brit Awards Nominations In Full
The U.K. recording industry’s top prize, the BRIT Awards will be held Feb. 22nd at London’s O2 Arena. The event is largely focused on UK acts, but Canadians will again be front and centre. In fact, Michael Bublé will host the event.
The Awards’ include a posthumous nomination for Leonard Cohen in the International Male Solo Artist category, along with Drake and The Weeknd, Bon Iver and Bruno Mars. Drake eans a second nom, in the International Group category, with & Future. Here is a full list of 2017 Brit Awards nominees:
British Male Solo Artist
Craig David
David Bowie
Kano
Michael Kiwanuka
Skepta
British Female Solo Artist
Anohni
Ellie Goulding
Emeli Sandé
Lianne La Havas
Nao
British Group
The 1975
Bastille
Biffy Clyro
Little Mix
Radiohead
British Breakthrough Act
Anne-Marie
Blossoms
Rag’n’Bone Man
Skepta
Stormzy
British Single
Alan Walker – Faded
Calum Scott – Dancing On My Own
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For
Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye
Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car
Little Mix – Shout Out To My Ex
Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like
Zayn – Pillowtalk
Mastercard British Album Of The Year
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep For You Are Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It
David Bowie – Blackstar
Kano – Made In the Manor
Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
Skepta – Konnichiwa
British Artist Video Of The Year
Adele – Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For
Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye
Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
Jonas Blue feat. Dakota – Fast Car
Little Mix feat. Sean Paul – Hair
One Direction – History
Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like
Zayn – Pillowtalk
International Male Solo Artist
Bon Iver
Bruno Mars
Drake
Leonard Cohen
The Weeknd
International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Christine and the Queens
Rihanna
Sia
Solange
International Group
A Tribe Called Quest
Drake & Future
Kings of Leon
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Twenty One Pilots
Ed Sheeran Makes Canadian Chart History With Release Of “Shape Of You” And “Castle On The Hill”
Ed Sheeran has made history with his groundbreaking return, launching two immensely successful singles simultaneously.
“Shape Of You” and “Castle On The Hill” have debuted at Numbers 1 and 2 respectively on the Digital Songs, Streaming Songs and Billboard Canadian Hot 100 this week. It is the first time an artist has debuted with the top two titles on all three Canadian charts, according to Nielsen Music. In addition to the resounding chart success, both songs have already been certified Gold by Music Canada.
At Canadian radio, “Shape Of You” and “Castle On The Hill” – Ed’s first new music since 2015 – were the top two debuts on the CHR, Hot AC and Mainstream AC airplay charts last week. “Shape Of You” was Sheeran’s top new entry at all three formats to date.
“Shape Of You” recorded the highest first week on-demand audio stream total to date in Canada, with close to 3.4 streams, topping the previous record-holder, Adele’s “Hello.” Sheeran made international streaming history last week, breaking Spotify’s “Day 1” streaming record with BOTH of his monumental comeback singles “Shape Of You” and “Castle On The Hill”. Reaching over a combined 13 million global streams in the first 24 hours – with “Shape Of You” amounting 6,868,642 and “Castle On The Hill” accumulating 6,168,395 – Ed overtook the previous ‘Day One’ record holders, One Direction, who notched up 4,759,698 streams with “Drag Me Down” in August 2015.
Sheeran revealed last week that his third studio album Titled “÷” (pronounced divide) will be released on March 3.
“Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You” mark a hugely exciting return and another forward-thinking move for 25-year-old Sheeran. Showcasing two very different sides to his unparalleled musical palate, “Castle On The Hill”, written by Ed and Benny Blanco (also on production), pays homage to growing up in Framlingham, Suffolk. Driving beats and Springsteen-esque riffs collide to create another stadium-ready anthem. “Shape Of You”, written by Ed, Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac (also on production), dismantles and rebuilds modern-pop music using little more than a loop pedal. The record is an extension of the sound for which Ed’s become so well-known and has set him apart from his peers – something he first showcased in 2010 with his pivotal SBTV live performance of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”, and executed on his debut EP ‘No.5 Collaborations Project’ (staring an array of grime artists including Wretch 32, Wiley + more), following in 2011.
Watch Jim Henson’s “The Idea Man” From 1966
The Idea Man is a three minute short film by Jim Henson which was used for a live performance with Limbo on The Mike Douglas Show on July 20, 1966. The film has featured in various screenings of vintage Henson material without the Limbo performance superimposed over the images.
During a segment in which Limbo runs through a list of ideas that have already been thought of, brief cameos are made by Yorick, Kermit, E=mc², Kukla, John F. Kennedy, and Alfred E. Neuman of Mad magazine.
Want To Buy Tupac’s Ticket To Mike Tyson Boxing Match The Night He Was Shot? Here You Go
On the night of September 7, 1996, the entire sporting world was zeroed in on Las Vegas for the Bruce Seldon – Mike Tyson fight. The fight was to be the culmination of Tyson’s long road back to the top after his 3-year incarceration for rape. Among the wide range of notables who were lucky enough to score tickets at the MGM Grand that night was the Reverend Jesse Jackson, MC Hammer, Rosanne Barr and hip-hop’s brightest star, Tupac Shakur.
Tupac was in the company of Suge Knight, the owner of Death Row Records plus a body guard and one of Knight’s friends. The group occupied four of the best seats in the house, costing a thousand dollars apiece. The fight itself was savage but short – in one of the shortest Heavyweight Championship bouts in history, Tyson KO’d Seldon in just one minute and 49 seconds. The humiliating loss ended the career of Bruce Seldon and indirectly led to the end of another man’s career as well.
In the lobby of the Grand after the fight, Tupac and Knight ran into “Baby Lane” Anderson, a Crips gang member from Compton. In a beef stemming back to Anderson’s robbery of a Death Row intimate, Tupac and a number of his entourage attacked the gang member. Tupac and Knight then left the Grand with the intention of going to Club 662, a Death Row-owned nightclub. Tupac rode with Knight in his BMW trailed by a convoy of their respective entourages. The BMW was pulled over on Las Vegas Boulevard by motorcycle cops for loud music and no license plates. The pair were released with no charges when the plates were located in the car’s trunk and the convoy continued on towards the club. Minutes later Knight stopped at a red light in front of the Maxim Hotel. Shakur, who was hanging out of the car’s sunroof, invited a pair of women in the car beside them to follow them to Club 662. Moments later a second car pulled up on the opposite side and sprayed the BMW with automatic weapon fire. Tupac was hit twice in his chest and once in the thigh and arm. Knight was hit by a bullet fragment but otherwise emerged unscathed. The two men were defenseless as the men’s body guards were in the following cars. Embracing the image of the “gangsta” to the last, Tupac’s final words were “Fuck You” to a responding police officer. Shakur was raced to the University Medical Center where he clung to life for six days before expiring from internal bleeding on September 13.
Golden Auctions has up for grabs the very ticket Tupac used to gain entrance to the fight. The 3 1/4 x 4 ½ inch ticket has the MGM Grand logo and the fight information printed in dot-matrix computer type. Section FLR4 Row E Seat 2, Tupac’s seat, is printed at the bottom and “Tupac” has been written in an unknown hand just above the seat number, most likely by someone in the box office. The stub shows light wear with very light wrinkling and edge wear from where the stub was detached upon entering the venue. This incredible piece of music history has been graded Authentic and encapsulated by PSA/DNA (04778918). A third edition copy of Cathy Scott’s “The Killing of Tupac Shakur” with bookmarked passages regarding the Tyson-Seldon fight is also included in this lot. It was also announced that Tupac has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and is a part of the Class of 2017 inductees.
Third Man Records Is Opening A Vinyl Pressing Plant
A minute-long teaser video from Jack White’s Third Man Records shows a giant record pressing machine at work, with the promise that “something is happening in the Cass Corridor.” The video reads that information on the pressing plant’s grand opening will be available soon while also branding Third Man as “the label that made vinyl important again.”
Unique Lives & Experiences Nabs Linda Ronstadt Talking About Living With Parkinson’s Disease
Unique Lives & Experiences was developed in response to women’s requests for intellectual entertainment and provides them with a forum for meaningful dialogue and stimulating interaction. The evening, held at Toronto’s Roy Thomas Hall at is a very special lecture series designed to motivate, challenge and enlighten anyone with an open mind and a strong desire to learn from the personal experiences of our distinguished speakers.
On March 6, they’ve scored a coup with Linda Ronstadt speaking about living with Parkinson’s Disease. Linda Ronstadt’s voice was one of music’s great treasures, anchoring hits like “When Will I Be Loved” and “You’re No Good” and crossing genres. With more than 50 million albums sold worldwide and more than 30 Gold and Platinum records, 10 Grammy Awards and membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ronstadt is a consummate American artist. Sadly, Parkinson’s Disease has silenced her singing voice, which inspired her to write the memoir Simple Dreams and embark on a mission to raise awareness of the debilitating disease. Like her memoir, the evening will be full of captivating stories from this remarkable and courageous woman who helped define the music that dominated the American 1970s.
Tickets here.
The Rise of Music Streaming Continues
Americans consume more music than ever. That’s according to Nielsen’s 2016 U.S. Music report, published last week. Fueled by a further increase in music streaming, overall album consumption (measured in album sales and equivalent digital song downloads and streams) increased by 3.1 percent compared to the previous year.
While CD and digital album sales decreased by 16 and 20 percent, respectively, the number of on-demand music streams increased to 432 billion, up nearly 40 percent since 2015. While nearly 80 percent of music consumption now happens digitally, the most analog of formats continues its surprising comeback. LP sales were up 10 percent in 2016 as vinyl lovers bought 13.1 million albums.
This chart shows how music consumption in the United States has changed in 2016 compared to the previous year.
You will find more statistics at Statista
Louie Perez of Los Lobos At True North Gallery, January 30
On Monday, January 30th, from 5-7pm, True North Gallery – The Music Gallery of Fine Art in Waterdown Ontario will host a VIP reception for acclaimed musician and visual artist Louie Pérez, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the popular multiple Grammy Award winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominated band Los Lobos. Louie will be engaging with gallery patrons, media and invited guests at the gallery’s exclusive exhibition of his unique watercolours, as well as performing a few songs.
In addition to Los Lobos, Louie Pérez’ songs have been covered by Waylon Jennings, Jerry Garcia and Robert Plant, and his prose work has been published in the Los Angeles Times Magazine, LA Weekly and the New York arts journal BOMB. As a visual artist, Perez has shown his painting and sculpture since 1975 in many prominent galleries and museums including The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions), Plaza De La Raza-Los Angeles, El Museo Del Barrio-New York, San Antonio Museum of Art, Museo De Arte Moderno-Mexico City, The William Grant Still Art Center-Los Angeles, The Vincent Price Art Museum- East Los Angeles.
Los Lobos Canadian Tour Dates 2017
01.31.17 Burlington PAC Burlington, Ontario
02.01.17 Oakville PAC Oakville, Ontario
02.02.17 FirstOntario PAC St. Catharines, Ontario
02.03.17 Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre Richmond Hill, Ontario
02.04.17 Grand Theatre Kingston, Ontario
That Time Kirsten Dunst Did A Video Of The Vapors’ “Turning Japanese”
At the “Pop Life: Art in a Material World” exhibition that ran at London’s Tate Modern in 2009, and the promo video showcased Kirsten Dunst and produced by legendary Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami.