Madonna reacts to ties with Pope Leo XIV; Jolie, Bieber also among his relatives
(Photo Credit: Instagram/madonna)
The 'Crazy for You' singer's connection to the Pope came three years after she asked his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, to meet and discuss her three alleged excommunications from the church.advertisement
"Hello @Pontifex Francis —I'm a good Catholic. I Swear!" she wrote on X in May 2022. "I mean I don't Swear! Its been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters ? (sic), she wrote.
(Photo Credit: X/madonna)
In 2023, she made headlines by appearing as the Virgin Mary on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, with imagery alluding to the 12 apostles. Looking back at the Church's long-standing criticism of her work, Madonna once expressed surprise, saying she was 'shocked to see myself being attacked by the Church,' as they failed to see that her work aimed to create something meaningful.Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American-born pontiff, originally from Chicago. After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, Pope Leo XIV was elected as the new pope. He assumed the papacy on May 8 this year.
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Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tom Lehrer's iconic songs: ‘The Elements', ‘The Masochism Tango' and more gems from satirical genius
Tom Lehrer, the musician and satirist known for his razor-sharp wit and dark humour, has passed away at the age of 97. A Harvard-trained mathematician, Lehrer rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his clever songs that blended comedy with biting political and social commentary. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His unique style influenced generations of comedians. Lehrer's passing was confirmed by his friend David Herder to the New York Times. With his brilliant mix of intellect and irreverence, he left a lasting mark on the world of music and satire. Tom Lehrer's iconic songs 'The Elements': This clever tune lists all the chemical elements, set to the melody of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General'. It became a hit among science buffs and comedy fans alike. ' The Masochism Tango ': In this fiery number, Lehrer mixes romance and pain, dancing through twisted desires with lyrics like, 'I ache for the touch of your lips, dear / But much more for the touch of your whips, dear…' 'I Hold Your Hand in Mine': Possibly his darkest love song, this ballad tells the creepy tale of a man holding onto his lover's severed hand, both literally and lovingly. 'I Got It From Agnes': With brilliant wordplay, Lehrer traces the spread of a venereal disease through a social circle, keeping the tone cheeky rather than crude. 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park': Spring in the city turns deadly in this comical song about lacing bird food with cyanide. It's disturbingly delightful. 'It Makes a Fellow Proud to Be a Soldier': This marching tune pokes fun at army life and military clichés, gently teasing everything from training routines to uniform pride. 'The Vatican Rag': A bouncy ragtime tune that mocks Catholic traditions with lines urging worshippers to 'genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!' 'Fight Fiercely, Harvard': Lehrer lovingly ridicules Ivy League manners, imagining a football game where players encourage each other with refined politeness. 'The Old Dope Peddler': Told with a wink, this tune follows a local drug dealer who's 'giving the kids free samples' in the hopes of creating lifelong customers. 'Bright College Days': Looking back at university life, Lehrer gives the usual nostalgic college song a twist filled with sarcasm and schoolboy humour. 'Lobachevsky': In this faux-Russian piece, Lehrer praises plagiarism in academia. The key lesson? 'Plagiarise! Plagiarise! Let no one else's work evade your eyes!' 'My Home Town': What starts like a sentimental tribute to small-town life quickly turns into a list of shady characters and back-alley dealings. 'We Will All Go Together When We Go': A cheerful take on nuclear apocalypse, this crowd-pleaser reminds us that at least we'll all be fried together. 'Be Prepared': A twisted version of the Boy Scout motto, the song offers dodgy advice under the guise of helpful readiness. 'The Wild West Is Where I Want to Be': This one celebrates the American West with humour, radioactivity, and military-industrial references. 'I Wanna Go Back to Dixie': Lehrer mocks Southern nostalgia by highlighting the region's history of racism and inequality through upbeat melody and biting irony. 'The Irish Ballad': Don't be fooled by the folky sound. This grim tale tells of a girl committing murder after murder in the sweetest voice imaginable. 'The Hunting Song': A gentle tune disguises the chaos of a hunting trip that goes hilariously and violently wrong. 'When You Are Old and Gray': Romance fades fast in this brutally honest love song, where the singer says his affection will end as soon as his partner's beauty does. 'The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz': Here, food and romance mix in a whimsical tale of love, lust, and Austrian cuisine. 'A Christmas Carol': Christmas commercialism is the real target in this song, with the melody hiding a critique of holiday consumerism. 'Oedipus Rex': Lehrer gives the classic Greek tragedy a cheeky twist, adding mother jokes and academic flair to a bizarrely chipper tune. 'In Old Mexico': An unlucky traveller visits Mexico and finds misfortune at every turn, all told with exaggerated characters and satirical flair. 'Clementine': This parody of the classic folk song takes listeners through increasingly ridiculous musical styles, from operatic to cowboy country. 'She's My Girl': Love and hate collide in this tune, where the singer complains bitterly about his partner, but still insists he's in love. Free music for the world In a rare and generous move, Tom Lehrer announced in 2020 that he had given away all rights to his songs. He placed them into the public domain, meaning anyone could use, perform, record, or rewrite them freely. He even gave up the rights to his own recordings. 'In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don't send me any money,' he wrote on his website. He also warned that the website would be 'shut down at some date in the not too distant future' although it was still live at the time of his passing
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tom Lehrer passes away at 97: Remembering the satirical songwriter and math professor with a witty charm– Read inside
Tom Lehrer was a famous American musician, songwriter, and math professor known for his funny and clever songs. He used humour to talk about serious topics like politics, religion, and education. He passed away at the age of 97 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The news of Tom Lehrer's demise was confirmed by his longtime friend David Herder to the New York Times. The sharp-witted musician and mathematician was known for his dark and funny songs like 'The Masochism Tango,' 'The Vatican Rag,' and 'The Elements'. Tom Lehrer's life journey Lehrer wasn't just a musical talent; he was also a brilliant mathematician. While he gained a cult following for his clever and often controversial songs, he continued to work as a math professor at Harvard and later at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He once joked that he didn't need to rely on music for a living and could easily make a teacher's salary instead. Born in New York into a Jewish family, Lehrer showed talent early, learning piano at the age of 7 and entering Harvard at just 15. He graduated with top honours and earned a master's degree shortly after. In 1953, he recorded his first album Songs of Tom Lehrer for just $40. The album, featuring humorous and satirical songs, quickly became popular among college students and sold over 10,000 copies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius. Enence 2.0 Undo After serving in the Army, he released 'More of Tom Lehrer' in 1959, which included some of his best-known songs like 'The Elements' and 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park'. His style was edgy, and he was grouped with other bold comedians of the time like Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. His live shows were famously titled 'An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer.' In 1965, Lehrer gained national fame through the show 'That Was the Week That Was'. His album 'That Was the Year That Was' became a hit in a short period. The songs poked fun at politics, religion, war, and education with sharp humour. He also wrote songs for the children's show 'The Electric Company' and supported political campaigns like George McGovern's in 1972. Later in life, Lehrer stepped away from the spotlight and focused on teaching math and musical theatre. He never married and had no children, but his witty and intelligent songs continue to inspire and entertain generations.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"Armed Guards, Phone Jammers": Inside Zohran Mamdani's Lavish Uganda Wedding Bash
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