Latest news with #ADayintheLife
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Ozzy Osbourne's funeral wishes resurface following his death
Old comments that Ozzy Osbourne made about his future funeral have re-emerged, after the rockstar's death. Ozzy, often considered the godfather of heavy metal music and lovingly referred to as the Prince of Darkness, passed away on Tuesday (July 22) following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's, and just two weeks after his farewell gig in his native Villa Park with the original Black Sabbath lineup. While nothing has been confirmed for Ozzy's final farewell, old comments surrounding how he wants his funeral to go have resurfaced; with him previously saying that he wants people to say thanks to him rather than be a sad occasion. Old comments that Ozzy Osbourne made about his future funeral have re-emerged, after the rockstar's death. Pic:'There'll be no harping on the bad times,' Ozzy told the Times back in 2011. It's worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives, so by any measure, most of us in this country — especially rock stars like me — are very lucky. 'That's why I don't want my funeral to be sad, I want it to be a time to say thanks.' And despite his heavy metal roots, Ozzy said that he doesn't care who or what music gets played at his funeral, saying at the time 'I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are the Diddymen if it makes 'em happy,' he joked — but later settling on one song he wants played, namely A Day in the Life by The Beatles. Ozzy passed away on Tuesday morning, just two weeks after his farewell gig in Birmingham. Pic: Chelsea Lauren/REX/Shutterstock 'I definitely don't want my f**king greatest hits album – I never ever play that thing, I'm f**king embarrassed about it,' he told NME in 2016. 'And I definitely don't want a f**king happy song. I'm dead.' Ozzy's family confirmed his death on Tuesday evening, just two weeks after he and the original Sabbath lineup reunited for one last gig at Villa Park in their native Aston, Birmingham earlier this month. He was previously diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2019, with his family saying that he passed away 'surrounded by love.' Ozzy's family confirmed that he passed away 'surrounded by love' on Tuesday morning, six years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Pic:for The Recording Academy 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' Ozzy's family confirmed. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.' As frontman of Black Sabbath, he was at the forefront of the heavy metal scene – a deeper, darker offshoot of hard rock. His theatrical stage presence, including once biting off the head of a bat, and styling himself as the Prince of Darkness marked him out as a controversial figure. Ozzy is survived by his six children — Kelly, Aimee, Jack, Jessica, Louis and Elliot and wife Sharon Osbourne.
AsiaOne
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'I was so excited I wanted to cry': Fans spend up to $50k in auction to experience a day with Jackson Wang, Entertainment News
For some fans, it might not be enough to see their idol in-person at concerts and events. In what ways could they get even closer? Hong Kong-born pop star Jackson Wang, who debuted in the South Korean boy group Got7 and is the founder of creative brand Team Wang Design, recently collaborated with American singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams' brand Billionaire Boys Club and the latter's auction platform Joopiter, to create The Jackson Wang Experience. Fans could bid for three slots — with an expected bidding price of between US$10,000 and US$15,000 (S$13,000 and $19,000) each — in the segment A Day in the Life of Jackson Wang to spend a day with him and see him at work. Despite the hefty price, which doesn't include accommodation and travelling expenses, all three slots were taken up during the bidding period from June 22 to July 2. On Joopiter's website, two winning bids are at US$40,625 (S$50,000) each, while the last bid was won at US$37,500. One of the slots for A Day in the Life of Jackson Wang is believed to be won by a Chinese fan who lives in Hong Kong. She shared the good news in a Xiaohongshu post on July 3: "This is the highlight of my life! I can meet Jackson Wang! Tonight is an exciting day for many Jackys (Jackson's fandom)! The countdown is even harder to endure than the college entrance exams! "As I wished, I bid successfully for A Day with Jackson Wang! When I received the email, I was so excited I wanted to cry! ... "I am not Jackson's fan for the longest time and not someone who follows him most devotedly, but there is no need to compare these, because we are Jackys who will accompany and support each other to protect Jackson. I will set off with everyone's love for him!" According to Joopiter's website, successful bidders could join Jackson as he designs and conceptualises ideas for Team Wang Design and get a glimpse of upcoming prototypes and collaborations. They could also join him on the set of his music video and get behind-the-scenes experience of him bringing his creative concepts to life, and also join him in the final rehearsal of his upcoming tour where they get to watch his performance first-hand. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JOOPITER (@joopiterofficial) Besides spending a day with him in his life, interested parties could also bid for a biker jacket and a long-sleeved T-shirt from Team Wang Design and Billionaire Boys Club's 2025 capsule collection Life is a Race, with both signed by Jackson and Pharrell. The biker jacket was auctioned off at US$3,250. The signed long-sleeved T-shirt was sold to a Chinese fan for US$1,600, who shared the win in a Xiaohongshu post on July 2. Proceeds from the clothing sales go to Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative founded by Pharrell to support high-growth startups led by Black and Hispanic founders with capital and resources. Jackson's new album Magic Man 2 is set to release on July 18. [[nid:719789]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beatles song banned for lyrics - but John Lennon thought reason was 'crazy'
The Beatles had a number of songs banned by radio stations, but one of John Lennon's most famous tracks for the band was banned for a very different reason The Beatles, known for stirring the pot, certainly did so when John Lennon's bold statement in 1966 that they were "more popular than Jesus" sparked outrage among American Christians, contributing to the band's cessation of touring later that year. Their knack for pushing boundaries also saw several of their songs slapped with bans by radio stations. The BBC censored 'A Day in the Life' over alleged drug references, while 'The Ballad of John and Yoko' faced bans from some US stations for its mention of Christ. The trend of controversy carried on even after John, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr went on to solo endeavours post-1970. For instance, the ECHO delved into how Paul McCartney and Wings' 'Hi, Hi, Hi' was shunned by the BBC for perceived nods to sex and drugs. John's Beatles legacy includes one particularly infamous tune, 'Happiness Is a Warm Gun', penned by him in 1968 and presented under the Lennon-McCartney songwriting banner like all compositions from the duo for the Fab Four. The title, which kick-started the song, was lifted straight from the May 1968 issue of American Rifleman magazine, where an article by Warren W. Herlihy depicted his experience teaching his son shooting skills, reports the Liverpool Echo. Regarding his first impression upon seeing it, John remarked, "I just thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say. A warm gun means you just shot something." The song was part of the Beatles' iconic 'White Album', released in November 1968, a tumultuous time for the band as creative differences began to emerge. Despite their differences, they collaborated to craft this intricate track. John revealed that he merged "three sections of different songs" to create the final piece, which tackled various themes. Upon its release, certain sections of the song were interpreted as references to sex and drugs. The 'warm gun' in the title was seen as a metaphor for John's desire for Yoko Ono, leading to a ban by the BBC and commercial radio stations. The line 'I need a fix' was also perceived by some as a reference to heroin. However, John disputed this, explaining: "'Happiness Is A Warm Gun' was another one which was banned on the radio – they said it was about shooting up drugs. But they were advertising guns and I thought it was so crazy that I made a song out of it. It wasn't about 'H' (heroin) at all". The lyrics 'Mother Superior jumped the gun' stemmed from John's longing for Yoko. He wasn't overly concerned that the song's sexual undertones were picked up by censors. John elaborated: "Oh, well, by then I'm into double meanings. The initial inspiration was from the magazine cover. But that was the beginning of my relationship with Yoko and I was very sexually oriented then. When we weren't in the studio, we were in bed." Although 'The White Album' garnered mixed reviews and radio stations boycotted 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun', critics commended the song, which all Beatles members proclaimed their favourite on the album. A Record Mirror magazine review described it as "a serene ballad, but is soon taken over in the true vein of this foremost stylist". US singer-songwriter Tori Amos observed: "The Beatles had the ability to make you think about the world, not just your own little world. They could put the microcosm and macrocosm in the same song. They sang of drugs and guns without telling me what to feel about it. That's genius."
NZ Herald
16-06-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Rangatahi explore careers with Gisborne council programme
Year 11 to 13 students went to Gisborne District Council to look at the many possible career options as part of the council's A Day in the Life programme. Gisborne District Council has welcomed rangatahi for a behind-the-scenes look at local government through its Day in the Life programme. Year 11–13 students shadowed council staff across a range of departments – from health and safety and monitoring and compliance to theatres and Kiwa Pools. Council senior recruitment adviser
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Born to Rant: Springsteen's Truth to Power Screed Is the Rallying Cry We Need
Shakespeare knew it centuries ago: 'The lady doth protest too much, methinks.' Trump's response to Bruce Springsteen's warnings given from a stage in Manchester came quick—loud, erratic, and dripping with grievance. Was this the voice of presidential confidence, or was it the howl of a man watching the walls close in? When power is secure, it whispers. When it's scared, it shouts. And Trump's over-the-top denials say the quiet part out loud: he's terrified. — On January 19, 1967, inside the cavernous walls of Studio One at EMI's Abbey Road Studios, John Lennon and Paul McCartney sat side by side, piecing together what would become the final track of 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.' Lennon, hunched over his acoustic guitar, sang the haunting opening lines of 'A Day in the Life,' while McCartney accompanied him on piano. When he reached the line 'I'd love to turn you on,' the two young songwriters shared a knowing glance. They were fully aware that this phrase would raise eyebrows and likely provoke the BBC, who indeed banned the song for its perceived drug references. Yet, for the Beatles, this line was less about promoting drug use and more about signaling a cultural awakening — a call to consciousness that mirrored the societal shifts of the 1960s. This shift helped fuel a movement that forced the United States to abandon the war in Vietnam — unable to sustain a battle both abroad and at home, America gave in, leaving Vietnam to the Vietnamese. This moment in the studio encapsulated the Beatles' evolving role as not just musicians but as commentators on and catalysts for change. Their music was beginning to reflect a deeper engagement with the world around them, challenging norms and encouraging listeners to question not only their parents, but the status quo. This spirit of defiance is also evident in George Harrison's 'Taxman,' a biting critique of the British government's taxation policies. Frustrated by the exorbitant taxes levied on the band's earnings, Harrison channeled his discontent into a song that pulled no punches in excoriating Great Britain under Harold Wilson, laying bare the inequities of the system. 'Taxman' stands as an early example of the Beatles using their platform to address political issues, setting the stage for the more overtly socially conscious music that would follow. Fast forward through the decades, and the echoes of that Abbey Road rebellion grew louder. From the psychedelic haze of the '60s to the hard-edged protest anthems of the '70s, '80s, and beyond, artists have kept their fingers on the pulse of unrest — using music not as a soothing balm but as a blaring siren. Jimi Hendrix's 'Machine Gun' wasn't just a song; it was a searing lament for Vietnam, a raw, electrified howl of anguish that warned of the blood-soaked cost of war. The Clash's 'Guns of Brixton' captured the clenched fists and breaking glass of racial tension and economic despair in Thatcher's Britain, a warning shot fired not from a rifle, but from a Fender Precision Bass landing in a collective of record players and ricochetting in the heart of the streets, lighting torches of awareness held high by both kids and adults. Bruce Springsteen, ever the chronicler of the American condition, has long carried that torch. His 'Death to My Hometown' is a bitter reckoning with the economic devastation wrought by greed and indifference, while 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' resurrects Steinbeck's specter of the dispossessed, a haunting reminder that the struggle for dignity and justice is far from over. These songs don't just warn—they witness. They record the heartbeat of rebellion, the collective refusal to let power go unchallenged. And they remind us that music, when wielded with purpose, can shake the foundations of the 'system'. And that foundation wasn't just shaken — Bruce rocked it. On May 14, 2025, at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, Springsteen opened his 'Land of Hope and Dreams' tour with a fiery denunciation of Donald Trump's administration, labeling it 'corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.' He implored the audience to 'raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring,' warning that America's foundational values were under siege. He accused the administration of rolling back civil rights, stifling free speech, and aligning with dictators over democratic allies. These remarks were not offhanded—they were recorded and released days later as part of his live EP, 'Land of Hope and Dreams,' which also featured a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom,' reinforcing his message of resistance. Trump's response was swift and vitriolic. On Truth Social, he lashed out, calling Springsteen 'a pushy, obnoxious JERK' and a 'dried-out 'prune' of a rocker,' even mocking his appearance. He demanded that Springsteen 'KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country,' and later suggested investigating him and other artists like Beyoncé and Oprah for their support of Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign—alleging, without evidence, that they were illegally paid for endorsements. But Springsteen wasn't alone. Artists like Neil Young and Eddie Vedder rallied to his defense, denouncing Trump's attacks and affirming the importance of free expression. The American Federation of Musicians also stood in solidarity, emphasizing that musicians have the right to speak out against injustice. — In the aftermath of 9/11, musicians came together at the Concert for the Heroes — their voices unified, rallying beneath the flag of freedom. They sang not just for America, but for the shared humanity that terrorism tried to shatter. I often wonder: if Jimi Hendrix were alive, what would he have made of it all? His blistering, feedback-laden 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Woodstock wasn't just a national anthem—it was a battle cry, a raw, unflinching 'f-you' to anyone who threatened our American ideology. Today, we're fighting a different kind terrorism — one that doesn't come from distant shores, but rises from within. It erodes truth, fans the flames of hate, and chips away at the foundation of democracy itself. Who better to sound the alarm than Bruce Springsteen? His voice is the call to arms we need — a reminder that freedom isn't just a flag we wave, but a fight we must wage. The post Born to Rant: Springsteen's Truth to Power Screed Is the Rallying Cry We Need | Guest Column appeared first on TheWrap.
