Latest news with #Commodores
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Forward Khamil Pierre no longer member of Vanderbilt women's basketball team
Khamil Pierre is no longer a member of the Vanderbilt women's team, it was announced. The rising junior averaged 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds this past season. The forward was the team's second-leading scorer. Advertisement Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph put out a statement on June 30. "Khamil is a great player and I have no doubt she will have success in the future," Ralph stated. "Ultimately, it was determined it would be best for Khamil and our program to go in different directions. We wish her the best of luck." Pierre started and played in 32 games this past season and helped lead the Commodores to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. She recorded a career-high 42 points against Evansville on Dec. 14, 2024. In the 2023-24 season, she was a five-time SEC Freshman of the Week and named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team. Advertisement Alaina Morris is the summer sports intern for The Tennessean. Contact her at amorris@ or on X @alainammorris. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Forward Khamil Pierre no longer on Vanderbilt women's basketball team
West Australian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Justin Langer: Are those cigarette-stained images really ‘the good old days'?
Hanging on the wall in my daughter Ali's kitchen is a sign declaring 'THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS.' It's perched above her eclectic collection of cool coffee cups, one of which states, 'Life's Too Short for Shitty Mugs.' I smile every time I walk into Ali's kitchen of philosophy. And I smile when I think of the good old days. Like the night before my cricket Test debut for Australia, when I walked into an Adelaide hotel. I was already on cloud nine, as earlier that day I'd received the shock call-up, and within a couple of hours I was on a flight to Adelaide. There at the bar were Allan Border, David Boon, the Waugh brothers, Ian Healy, Merv Hughes, Mark Taylor and others. Greeted with handshakes and a nod of the head, I was handed a glass of beer poured from a jug of the hotel's coldest and best. 'Boony' was sitting with a cigarette hanging from his mouth and the whole team was talking and preparing for the mighty West Indies the following morning. 'Ah, the good old days.' When I share this scene in my keynote presentations, I then joke about modern-day players by saying something along the lines of: 'These days the players aren't drinking jugs of beer the night before a game. They are shaving their legs, meditating, spiritual healing, shining their diamond earrings and counting their cash.' This is always met with raucous laughter, which is amplified when I finish off by saying: 'Ah, the good old days.' The phrase, 'These Are the Good Old Days,' carries a delicious irony that would make even the most seasoned philosopher chuckle into their café latte. The good old days is a curious psychological phenomenon that seems to be hard-wired into our brains; a concept where we romanticise the past, while simultaneously failing to recognise the present moment for what it might become in the future. From an Australian perspective, this sentiment takes on particularly vivid dimensions. Ask any baby boomer about the good old days and you'll hear tales of unlocked front-doors, milk delivered in glass bottles, Commodores and Falcons, 20 cent bags of mixed lollies, and Saturday afternoon footy matches where you could actually afford a meat pie and a beer without taking out a second mortgage. There's a wistful longing for the Australia of Menzies-era suburbia, where a single income could buy a quarter-acre block and the biggest worry was whether the cricket would be rained out. Life was so simple back then, we often hear. Yet scratch beneath this golden veneer and you'll find a more complex reality. Those same good old days featured asbestos in every ceiling, lead in the paint, 17 per cent interest rates, smoking sections behind a curtain on domestic flights and in every public space. Women needed their husband's permission to open a bank account, and the White Australia Policy was still casting its long shadow. Indigenous Australians weren't even counted in the census until 1967, and multiculturalism was barely a glimmer in Gough Whitlam's eye. The universal truth about good old days nostalgia is that it's highly selective memory at work. Back in 1993, when I made my Test debut, Bob Simpson was our coach and 'AB' was our captain. We travelled with one physio (Errol Alcott), a scorer and a team manager, who was a member of the Australian Cricket Board. In all we had four support staff. This made life simple to a degree, but we had to fend for ourselves. Resilience wasn't a buzz word as it is today. Instead, it was like an invisible muscle that grew in us, if we were able to survive the battle of the fittest and best. Most of us had to have a 'real' job, especially if you weren't a consistent member of the team. My first Australian, non-negotiable contract was $7500. Even back then, it was hard to live off that. We were paid another $1100 a Test match, but getting into that first XI, and therefore being paid, was as tough as pulling out your own teeth with a pair of pliers. We shared rooms, sometimes with a chain smoker. There were no mobile phones, so we would have to reverse charge call to our families, or spend a fortune ringing home from the hotel, or pay phone, from wherever we were in the world. Showing any sign of weakness was taboo, concussion protocols were unheard of and every changing room we walked into there were cartons of Benson and Hedges cigarettes on the table in the middle of the room. Six stubbies and a toasted sandwich before bed were the staple diet for our more seasoned players during a Test match. 'Ah the good old days.' Just a few weeks ago I returned from another stint in the Indian Premier League. Gone are the days of four support staff, a stubbie and a toasted ham and cheese 'toastie' before bed. On many occasions we would board a chartered flight with up to 90 people as a part of our entourage: players, coaches, physios, doctors, sport scientists, managers, social media crews and massage therapists. Most of whom have their assistants to assist the assistants. There were literally people everywhere. With wealth comes players with their own personal chefs, minders and trainers. More bums on seats as they say. No wonder the chartered flights are preferred. But then, the more people the less work as well. For past generations this makes less sense because players, coaches and support staff are being paid more than one could only dream of a few decades ago. Who gets paid more to do less? 'The world has gone mad' we say, 'It's nuts it seems,' but 'these are the good old days,' or at least they will be down the track. Players also play the game differently today. Last week Indian superstar Rishab Pant, smashed two Test hundreds against India. He danced down the pitch, sat on his backside playing reverse sweeps and lapping the fast bowlers, before doing his signature front flip for the crowd when he brought up his centuries. Remember Sam Konstas's debut innings at the MCG last summer? What a memory. Even if Geoffrey Boycott, Border and Sunny Gavaskar didn't play Test cricket like that in the good old days when they batted all day with fire in their eyes, Konstas's emergence won't be forgotten. It's no different in other sports. For example, the modern AFL player, who now kicks a goal every weekend from a set shot with a banana, right in front of goals. What happened to the safe and tested purity of a drop punt? God forbid, what would Jason Dunstall, Austin Robertson and Tony 'Plugger' Lockett think of that? Perhaps the real wisdom lies in recognising that every era has its shadows and its light. Jigsaw puzzles, family connection and the simplicity of COVID enforcement may tell happy past tales down the track. But, for many others, that certainly won't be the case. Professional athletes being paid handsomely for pursuing their passion was once a fantasy. Today it is a reality and privilege that brings with it responsibility. In this social media world, there is nowhere to hide on or off their field of dreams. Kids currently learning to code in primary school, growing up with renewable energy and marriage equality are givens rather than dreams in today's society. In time, they will be tomorrow's nostalgia. The truth is, I love the sign in Ali's kitchen because we shouldn't forget that these probably are 'the good old days'. Our normal lives, disguised as ordinary weeknights, weekend drinks with friends, and those perfect winter mornings when the coffee and warm muffin tastes just right, are all our living memories, our future selves will treasure. While there's something lovely about pausing to reflect on time and our memories of the past - it's one of those conversations that reminds us why being human is so wonderfully complicated. When we scroll through our phones wondering where the world has become lost and why young Australians are facing housing unaffordability, let's not forget we are also the most globally connected, environmentally conscious, and socially progressive generation in our history. Maybe the secret isn't waiting for recognition from hindsight, but rather, developing the ability to spot the extraordinary hiding in plain sight. After all, in 20 years' time, someone will undoubtedly be lamenting the loss of our 'simpler' 2020s, when you could still find a decent avocado on toast for under $20 and people still remembered how to have conversations without consulting an AI friend. THESE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS — thanks for the reminder Ali.
Tokyo Weekender
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Iconic City Pop Songs Covered or Sampled by Overseas Artists
With it being Retro Week at Tokyo Weekender, we are focusing on city pop for our latest List of 7 . Considered more of a vibe associated with the 1970s and 1980s in Japan than a strict musical genre, it experienced a revival in the late 2010s. Its popularity also spread overseas, influencing foreign musicians. Here's a look at some of the most iconic city pop hits that have been covered or sampled by overseas artists. List of Contents: Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Anri: Last Summer Whisper Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Mai Yamane: Tasogare More From This Series Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Covered by the Commodores and Pentatonix The best place to start is with the man known as the 'King of City Pop.' Tatsuro Yamashita, who will make his Fuji Rock debut this July, has released 13 original studio albums, five cover CDs and two live records. His most successful track, 'Christmas Eve' (1983), was Japan's best-selling single of the 1980s. It also holds the record for the most consecutive years — 39 and counting — to appear on the Oricon Chart Top 100. Given its popularity, it's no surprise that several artists have covered the song, including overseas acts. American funk and soul group, the Commodores, included it on the Japanese edition of the band's 1992 album, Commodores Christmas . Cappella group Pentatonix did likewise on their 2014 LP That's Christmas To Me . Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Covered by Rainych, Sampled by 1nonly A domestic hit in 1979, Miki Matsubara's debut single, 'Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me),' became an international one four decades later due to platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. Written by famed composers Tetsuji Hayashi and Tokuko Miura, it's a sad song about lost love, yet has an upbeat sound and catchy chorus. Matsubara, who was also known for singles such as 'Neat na gogo san-ji' and 'The Winner,' sadly passed away in 2004 at the age of just 44. Sixteen years after Matsubara's death, Indonesian YouTuber Rainych uploaded a cover of her most famous track to her YouTube channel, which garnered millions of views. 'Stay With Me,' the breakout single from Korean-American rapper 1nonly (Nathan Scott Fuller), also sampled the song. Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Sampled by the Weeknd Embodying the spirit of the 80s, Tomoko Aran — birth name Tomoko Yamaguchi — is known for her distinctive vocals and catchy melodies. Between 1981 and 1990, she released nine albums, including More Relax (1984) and Last Good-bye (1986). Her most celebrated album, though, is the 1983 LP, Fuyu Kukan , meaning 'floating space.' A synth-heavy record, it features two standout tracks: 'I'm in Love' and 'Midnight Pretenders.' The latter, in particular, has garnered a lot of attention in recent years due to the rising popularity of city pop. A laid-back track with a seductive, dream-like quality, 'Midnight Pretenders' was heavily sampled by four-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian artist the Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) for his song 'Out of Time' from the album Dawn FM. Anri: Last Summer Whisper Sampled by Jenevieve Mariya Takeuchi is widely referred to as the 'Queen of City Pop,' though for many, Anri — birth name Eiko Kawashima — is just as deserving of that title. During her career, which has spanned more than four decades, she has released over 40 albums. Her most successful LP, Timely , released in 1983, featured 'Cat's Eye.' Used as the opening track for the anime series of the same name, it topped the charts for four weeks. The previous year, Anri worked with Toshiki Kadomatsu for the first time on her fourth studio album, Heaven Beach . Kadomatsu wrote and composed 'Last Summer Whisper,' a bittersweet song about a fleeting summer fling. The catchy hit was sampled by American R&B artist Jenevieve Johnson — known professionally as Jenevieve — for her song, 'Baby Powder.' Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Sampled by Engelwood A violinist as a child, Kingo Hamada switched to the guitar as he got older and then joined the folk band Craft in 1974. When the group disbanded, he launched his solo career, releasing his debut album Manhattan in the Rain in 1980. Over the next five years, he recorded another six original LPs. The one that garnered the most attention was Midnight Cruisin' , which is known for its smooth and funky sound. Highlights include the title track, 'Yokogao no Taxi Driver' (A Taxi Driver's Profile) and 'Machi no Dorufin' (City Dolphin), which is his most famous song. Matt Engels, known by his stage name Engelwood, sampled Hamada's track for his popular future-funk song 'Crystal Dolphin.' The electronic music producer also sampled Yamashita's hit 'Sparkle' on another track. Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Sampled by J. Cole and Chris Brown In 1974, the folk group Akai Tori disbanded due to musical differences. Three of its members — Junko Yamamoto, Toshihiko Yamamoto and Shigeru Okawa — subsequently formed a new group called Hi-Fi Set. The name was suggested by the influential musician Haruomi Hosono. Performing as a trio for two decades, many of the group's biggest hits came in their first 10 years, including 'Sotsugyo Shashin' (Graduation Photo), 'Tsumetai Ame' (Cold Rain) and 'Sunao ni Naritai' (I Want to Be Honest). The group's catchiest tune is arguably 'Sky Restaurant' (1975), written by legendary artist Yuming (birth name Yumi Arai). Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known professionally as J. Cole, sampled the intro for his track 'January 28th' in 2014, as did Chris Brown for his song 'Moonlight' on his 2023 album 11:11 . Mai Yamane: Tasogare Sampled by Playboi Carti and Young Nudy A talented performer with a husky voice, Mai Yamane is most well-known for her collaborations with Yoko Kanno on various soundtracks for the Cowboy Bebop anime series, including the first ending theme, 'The Real Folk Blues,' released in 1998. Yamane launched her music career almost two decades earlier with her debut album, Tasogare (1980), meaning 'twilight.' Produced by Makoto Matsushita, it's considered a city pop masterpiece, especially the title track, which incorporates elements of funk. 'Tasogare' garnered global attention in the late 2010s after Playboi Carti and Young Nudy utilized the intro of the song for the recording of their track 'Pissy Pamper.' Leaked in 2019, it proved very popular online, but as the sample wasn't cleared, it was never officially released. More From This Series Japanese Films That Influenced Quentin Tarantino Legendary Figures From Osaka Recommended Japanese Documentaries
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Moist, 98 Degrees to play at CNE alongside Commodores and all-Canadian ‘90s supergroup this summer
Canadian alt-rock favourites Moist hit the stage on Aug. 18, while Commodores (of 'Brick House' and 'Easy' fame) perform on Aug. 24, the CNE announced Wednesday.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tim Corbin hiring former Vanderbilt baseball player Jason Esposito as third hitting coach in 3 years
Vanderbilt baseball is hiring Jason Esposito to be its new hitting coach, according to a report from Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball. Esposito has been a hitting coach with various titles in the Cleveland Guardians organization since 2017. He most recently was the assistant hitting coach for the major league team after previously serving as a run production coordinator and before that worked in the minor league system. Advertisement He played for the Commodores from 2009-11 and was a second-round draft pick of the Orioles in 2011, spending five seasons playing in the minors before retiring. Esposito will be Vanderbilt's third hitting coach in three years as the Commodores fired Mike Baxter after the 2024 season, then brought in former Dayton coach Jayson King. King left after one season. TRANSFER TRACKER Vanderbilt baseball transfer tracker 2025: Who is joining, leaving Commodores via portal Vanderbilt has finished in the bottom five of the SEC in runs scored per game in each of the last four seasons and has lost in the regional round in each of those seasons. The Commodores have not even made it to a regional final since 2022 despite hosting two of the three regionals since, and lack of offense has been the primary culprit. Advertisement Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt baseball: Jason Esposito hired as hitting coach | Reports
