Latest news with #Fun
Straits Times
a day ago
- General
- Straits Times
Ubin School brings lessons on Singapore's land-use needs, village life and environment to life
(From third from left) Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan, Education Minister Desmond Lee, NParks chief executive Hwang Yu-Ning and Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP Valerie Lee with students from Commonwealth Secondary School. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Ubin School brings lessons on Singapore's land-use needs, village life and environment to life SINGAPORE – When biology teacher Jacob Tan goes with his students to Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa Wetlands, they take in the sights and sounds – sand bubbler crabs, staw-headed bulbuls and oriental pied hornbills. But they also cast their gaze afar, at Pulau Tekong, where land reclamation is ongoing. Pulau Ubin could have met a similar fate. Plans to reclaim its eastern shore were deferred in the early 2000s after environmental groups and nature experts flagged the area's rich biodiversity. Mr Tan's students from Commonwealth Secondary School visited the island under the Ubin School initiative, launched in 2024 to provide experiential learning and environmental education there. It was one of the initiatives highlighted by Education Minister Desmond Lee at the annual Ubin Day celebrations on June 28, along with infrastructure improvements, a new workgroup to restore five vacant kampung houses, and updates on a species recovery effort. A workgroup under the Friends of Ubin Network (Fun) – a group of villagers, academics and nature and heritage enthusiasts established in 2014 – will be set up to guide the planned restoration of five vacant kampung houses, said Mr Lee. The workgroup will comprise Fun and kampung community members, as well as academics from fields such as built heritage and culture. It was announced a year ago that the five houses would be repurposed for community and commercial use. Mr Lee, who has been chairman of Fun since 2014, also said on June 28 that Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan will take over the role. Jacob Tan, a biology teacher at Commonwealth Secondary School, utilises field trips to Pulau Ubin to teach students about Singapore's competing land use needs. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Mr Lee previously helmed the National Development ministry before he took over the Education portfolio in May. He said that several infrastructural projects on Pulau Ubin have been completed in the past year, such as upgrades to the earth tracks leading to Puaka Hill and to Chek Jawa Wetlands from Jalan Durian, and improvements to roads and bridges. To address flood concerns, a new drain has been built in the main village, while an existing stage beside the village's wayang stage has been widened. These changes have significantly reduced water entering villagers' homes at high tide, said Mr Lee. The widened drain near the main village's Wayang Stage on Pulau Ubin. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Seasonal high tides and monsoon surges have caused flooding on the island, sending seawater flowing out of drains and spilling over banks in five low-lying areas of the island a few times a year. Mr Lim Chye Hee, 69, who runs a bicycle rental shop in the main village, said he hopes further drainage improvements will be made, as the area still becomes easily flooded especially during heavy storms. 'There are only two outlets and the water drain quickly enough,' he told The Straits Times, referring to the widened drain near the stage. Giving an update on a species recovery effort, Mr Lee said the first batch of cinnamon bush frog tadpole s introduced at two sites in Pulau Ubin in June 2024 has matured into adults and adapted well – a positive step for the vulnerable native species. 'These early observations are encouraging and represent hope for the species' conservation beyond mainland Singapore,' he said. (From left) Pasir Ris-Changi GRC MP Valerie Lee, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan speaking with Madam Yeo Hui Bake and Mr Lim Chye Hee, who run a bicycle rental shop in Pulau Ubin. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG The National Parks Board added in a statement that a second batch of tadpoles was introduced at a separate site in March 2025, and are being monitored. NParks said that in 2025, more than 3,600 trees of over 145 native species will be planted across 15 sites, including Chek Jawa Wetlands and Jalan Durian, as part of reforestation efforts on Pulau Ubin. As for Ubin School, more students are set to benefit from it, as biology teachers in training from the National Institute of Education (NIE) have been brought to the island to learn how to use it as an outdoor classroom. NIE associate professor Tan Aik Ling said that lessons conducted by teachers like Mr Tan from Commonwealth Secondary School that bring students to Chek Jawa reflects the growing focus on place-based learning . The teaching approach brings students out of classrooms and into the places they study to better appreciate their contexts. 'We are trying to get kids to look beyond the here and now,' she said. ' A place has a value in every point in time, and we want students to appreciate that. The decisions we make on places today will have an impact on how they are valued, or devalued, as we move along.' Mr Tan noted that reclamation is still a possibility, based on the authorities' plans. Having seen Chek Jawa for themselves, he added, any decisions made about the place become more real to students 'because they went there, saw wildlife, and then can imagine for themselves what happens if all these are covered by sand'. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining
But maybe that whole "No Fun League" thing is a misnomer, as many of the league's most successful outfits have a knack for standing apart from the competition in more than just the standings. What qualifies as entertaining in the NFL isn't always clear. But there's a clear disparity between each organization in top talent, propensity for big plays and unique schematic elements that add a level of distinction. With that in mind, here's our early - and entirely unscientific - ranking of all 32 teams from most to least entertaining based on where they stand ahead of training camps: 1. Baltimore Ravens On its face, stability might not seem like the most enthralling trait for a team to boast. For the Ravens, however, continuity could mean the start of something special. An offense that by many measures was the NFL's most prolific and explosive attack returns all but one of its starters. The formidable defense also returns the overwhelming bulk of its core, while also adding Jaire Alexander to a secondary that will gladly welcome another starting-caliber cornerback. Lamar Jackson - one of the elite few players who keeps fans on their toes on any given snap - continues to reach new heights after nearly earning his third career NFL MVP in seven seasons, and Derrick Henry hasn't shown any signs of slowing down from his torrid pace. With some good fortune in staying healthy, Baltimore could see things click in a way that will set it apart from much of the rest of the league. Falling just short of the mountaintop has become an uncomfortable throughline for Buffalo in many ways. At least that's not the case in MVP voting, where Josh Allen seized the award for the organization for the first time since 1991. Allen's place as one of the most exciting catalysts in the NFL isn't in question even as he enters the final season of his 20s. But for a true Super Bowl breakthrough, Buffalo might need someone from a receiving corps that has been merely good enough to emerge as great, and there's not one figure who appears to be a natural candidate to do so. 3. Philadelphia Eagles Perhaps the Tush Push vote was a harbinger of things to come, as the Eagles don't look prone to relinquishing their perch atop the league anytime soon. The franchise that set the bar for aggressiveness, both on the field and in roster construction, should remain one of the most fascinating collections of talent, even as new pieces are worked in after a handful of noteworthy departures. Perhaps the weightiest subplot: How will new offensive coordinator maintain what Kellen Moore set in place while building on it as a first-time play caller? 4. Detroit Lions The No. 1 scoring offense is a finely tuned machine, and the injury-ravaged defense should have more bite with the return of Aidan Hutchinson. Still, losing coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to top posts elsewhere is bound to send ripples through the respective units. Dan Campbell - quite possibly the league's most intriguing and entertaining head coach - has built his contender on a solid foundation, so don't expect the entire operation to topple. But some wobbling could be ahead, especially with the tone-setting offensive line suffering two major blows in Kevin Zeitler's exit and Frank Ragnow's retirement. 5. Kansas City Chiefs With the explosive plays running dry and "Chiefs fatigue" setting in for some, there's only so high that the defining franchise of the last decade can rank on this list. But Kansas City is still appointment viewing for many, and that's not merely a matter of branding. Regardless of how often he is able to pull off the otherworldly plays he became synonymous with, Patrick Mahomes remains on a singular plane in the NFL when it comes to tilting games in his favor. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, shouldn't be expected to merely fade away in the twilight of his career despite last year's relatively modest statistical output. More importantly, the return of Rashee Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown unquestionably will alter the complexion of the offense for the better, even if protection questions remain after a reshuffling of the left side of the offensive line. More: Worst to first? Ranking 8 NFL teams' chances to jump to top of division in 2025 6. Los Angeles Rams A rejuvenated Davante Adams should be a scary proposition for the rest of the NFC, as Matthew Stafford could help the three-time All-Pro recapture the top form that other quarterbacks couldn't unleash since the receiver left Green Bay. But Alaric Jackson's availability could be a potential stumbling block for an otherwise high-powered outfit. The left tackle didn't travel with the team to Maui for minicamp due to blood clots in his lower leg, and he missed the final nine games of the 2022 season due to the condition. 7. Washington Commanders Arriving much faster to the contender class than anyone could have expected, Washington is no longer playing with house money - and its offseason moves reflected as much. The Commanders looked to capitalize on Jayden Daniels' dazzling debut by surrounding the Offensive Rookie of the Year with much more support, namely five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, first-round right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and versatile veteran receiver Deebo Samuel. So long as offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury keeps up the work that put him back on the head-coaching radar, all of the new additions should combine to be major assets in one of the most noteworthy sophomore follow-ups in some time. 8. Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow knows the deal, and so does everyone else. Cincinnati loads massive responsibilities on the plate of its signal-caller, who somehow steadily delivers on the outsized expectations. With Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase hauling in big bucks this offseason, the No. 6 scoring offense shouldn't falter. But after setting an NFL record by losing four games in which it scored 33 or more points, Cincinnati could be even more prone to shootouts in 2025 as bitter contractual disputes with NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson and first-round edge rusher Shemar Stewart linger well into the summer with no immediate sign of resolution. Maybe it's the lackluster division. Maybe it's operating in the shadow of the Tom Brady era. But the four-time defending NFC South champs still haven't received their rightful recognition on a national level. Last year's group established an offensive balance seldom seen in today's NFL, becoming the first unit in league history to complete at least 70% of its passes while averaging 5.0 or more yards per rush. But even if new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard keeps everything humming, a little something extra is needed to push this group into the NFC's top tier. 10. Green Bay Packers Matt LaFleur has been a master of concocting chunk gains, but a lot is riding on Matthew Golden finding his footing right away. In a receiving corps that too often failed to stretch the field and routinely let down Jordan Love with the NFL's highest drop rate, according to ESPN, the franchise's ultra-rare first round pass catcher will be called on to invigorate an aerial attack that faltered late last season. With designated deep threat Christian Watson still possibly facing an extended timeline for a return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the regular-season finale, it might take some time before Green Bay's offense settles in. 11. San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan's singular play-calling acumen was on full display last season, with the 49ers generating more pass plays of 20-plus yards (66) than any other team despite major injury hits to Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams, among others. If all three return to top form, this team could easily rank in the top three of this list. But the reset isn't a foregone conclusion given the many exchanged parts, so San Francisco slots in behind some more established entities. 12. Pittsburgh Steelers Fool me once? Given how the Jets debacle went down, any football fan might be wary of investing too much energy in following how Aaron Rodgers will mesh with yet another team looking for a quick fix behind center. Yet there's something unquestionably delectable in seeing how master chemist Mike Tomlin will handle his most volatile concoction yet, with the four-time NFL MVP making for a strange fit at quarterback alongside fellow marquee offseason addition DK Metcalf in Arthur Smith's typically rigid offense. Something eventually has to give, and swarms of people will be waiting to see what it will be. 13. Minnesota Vikings Handing over a 14-win team to a quarterback who hasn't taken a regular-season snap is quite the move, even if Kevin O'Connell and Co. have plenty of reason to believe in J.J. McCarthy as the 2024 first-rounder returns from last August's torn meniscus. But will Minnesota keep the training wheels on for a little while as he acclimates? With a high-flying receiving corps powered by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison along with a capable offensive line buoyed by the return of Christian Darrisaw and a remade interior, McCarthy might not be boxed in for too long. Brian Flores' defense, meanwhile, should remain as vexing and captivating as ever. It's not often that a division winner detonates a sizable part of its operation, but Houston did just that in firing offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and reconfiguring the offensive line. The former move might pay immediate dividends, with Nick Caley installing a system that will empower C.J. Stroud with what the quarterback has said is "full ownership" of the offense. The latter might be dicier, as none of the replacement parts are particularly inspiring, and the whole front probably will require time to jell. 15. Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh's teams tend to be as subtle and surprising as a battering ram, which also seems to be Greg Roman's vision for the offense. But there's room for this group to grow beyond its punishing identity if rookies Tre Harris and Oronde Gadsden II - as well as a familiar figure in Mike Williams - can open up a passing attack that has to ease its reliance on Ladd McConkey. 16. Miami Dolphins No other team can match Miami in its range of potential outcomes on this list. If everything breaks right, the Dolphins have demonstrated they can reel off big gains as easily as anyone, with Mike McDaniel routinely positioning elite speedsters Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane to outrace the competition. But between Tua Tagovailoa's health, the offensive line holding up and the secondary needing to produce a capable starter once a long-awaited Jalen Ramsey trade becomes complete, there are too many X-factors at play to feel confident in the rosiest scenario coming to fruition. 17. Denver Broncos Sean Payton's crew might be the embodiment of a team with a dichotomy between its widespread appeal and its competitive credentials. Bo Nix very well could continue the steady ascent he began in his rookie season, but a shortage of skill-position difference-makers could put somewhat of a ceiling on his short-term growth. 18. Chicago Bears This is the Ben Johnson boost at work. The offensive mastermind has stirred as much excitement as there's been for the Bears in nearly two decades, and his pairing with Caleb Williams will assuredly be one of the NFL's most fascinating partnerships to watch this season. Still, with so many new elements that need to coalesce and a downright diabolical division, there could be a lot of headwinds in the Windy City. 19. Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones might not enjoy it, but a Brian Schottenheimer offense likely to be rooted in the run game and play-action passes might give Dallas a somewhat dull vibe. But the George Pickens trade guaranteed some sparks - for better or worse. 20. Seattle Seahawks Putting Sam Darnold behind a shaky offensive front seems like a dangerous setup. But between coach Mike Macdonald demanding the offense be centered on the ground game and the receiving corps swapping in Cooper Kupp for DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Seattle seems to be actively embracing a more vanilla identity, though Macdonald's complex defense will remain. 21. Atlanta Falcons If Michael Penix Jr. can properly harness his aggressive downfield mentality and fire the deep strikes that helped him become the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Atlanta will be a significant draw. But his accuracy can come and go, and some growing pains seem inevitable for a passer who still has a ways to go in making full-field reads and handling pressure. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars First-year head coach Liam Coen's savvy play designs could unlock something special for Trevor Lawrence, burgeoning superstar Brian Thomas Jr. and two-way standout Travis Hunter. Meanwhile, new general manager James Gladstone has vowed to assemble a defense that's "urgent and explosive." Rapid change seems within reach for a team that had 10 losses in one-score games - setting a record in the Super Bowl era - but there might not be enough along either line for the vision to truly take hold in Year 1 of the new regime. 23. Arizona Cardinals Shouldn't a team with Kyler Murray, a rugged run game and some stellar options in the receiving corps be ranked higher? After a serious talent infusion on defense, maybe Arizona's breakout season will be just a year later than most expected. Still, until offensive coordinator Drew Petzing finds a way to utilize Marvin Harrison Jr. more creatively, this feels like a team that might be stuck in the middle of the pack in several respects. 24. Las Vegas Raiders The Silver and Black began last season as one of the league's most unwatchable outfits. After dumping Davante Adams and trying out three uninspiring starting quarterbacks, the Raiders ended the campaign as essentially irrelevant - Brock Bowers' historic debut notwithstanding. Geno Smith, Pete Carroll and Ashton Jeanty give the franchise one of its first glimmers of hope since the team arrived in Las Vegas five years ago, but the early portion of the climb back to functionality might not be particularly captivating. Maybe this seems high for a group that seemingly couldn't muster a reason for fans outside of the Northeast to tune in last season. But it's probably time to buy low on Drake Maye, at least from this perspective. The No. 3 overall pick in 2024 navigated his trying rookie season with aplomb, and his scintillating playmaking skills should shine through more often now that he's equipped with better support. 26. Carolina Panthers No team has embodied NFL anonymity more in recent years than the Panthers, who were the only team held out of prime time in last season's initial schedule release. But not only has the franchise shaken some of the pervasive dysfunction, it also is giving outsiders a reason to follow along thanks to the resurgence of Bryce Young and a receiving corps on the upswing. Still, the gains here might be incremental. 27. Tennessee Titans No one will accuse Cam Ward of being boring, and the No. 1 overall pick could be the right steadying force for an offense that reached its breaking point with Will Levis' myriad blunders. Yet it's entirely too early to put Ward on the Jayden Daniels or C.J. Stroud trajectory, and Tennessee might not have sufficient help around him to make this team compelling in the short term. 28. Indianapolis Colts The Anthony Richardson rollercoaster was certainly wild, as the Colts chucked the ball deep so frequently that they averaged an astonishing 10.58 average depth of target, according to SumerSports, yet completed a league-worst 56.3% of their passes. That experience seems to have given the stakeholders some indigestion, however, and it seems likely that a blander brand of football could be in store with Daniel Jones threatening to seize the starting reins. Owner Woody Johnson attempted to microwave a contender by adding Aaron Rodgers and instead set his franchise on fire. Now Aaron Glenn has been tasked with cleaning up the mess. But even with a more viable blueprint, this year's iteration of Gang Green will likely serve a reminder that the right way of building isn't always the fun way - at least at first. 30. New York Giants Yes, Russell Wilson's installation as starer means more deep shots are surely ahead for Big Blue, which tied for the fewest pass plays of 20-plus yards with 34. But the 13-year veteran also posted an NFL-high checkdown rate of 19.2% percent last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and a highly suspect offensive line could make dumpoffs the defining play of the Giants' season. 31. New Orleans Saints The Saints and Titans are the only two teams not given an exclusive broadcast window this season. It's easy to see why the NFL had trouble buying into New Orleans, one of the few teams in the league lacking much momentum for improvement. Second-round quarterback Tyler Shough can uncork some surprising throws, but the notion of watching him - or second-year passer Spencer Rattler - try to figure things out alongside an overall subpar collection of talent isn't exactly enticing. 32. Cleveland Browns A cringeworthy quarterback competition might be the only facet of the Browns worth wider attention. Once that gets settled over the summer, Cleveland will seemingly try to minimize its shortcomings behind center by emphasizing a ground-and-pound approach that might grow dull before the leaves turn. Having dealt away a shot at Travis Hunter to acquire an additional first-round pick in 2026, even the team itself seems to be letting everyone know to check back next year. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Forever No. 1: The Beach Boys' ‘I Get Around'
Forever No. 1 is a Billboard series that pays special tribute to the recently deceased artists who achieved the highest honor our charts have to offer — a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single — by taking an extended look back at the chart-topping songs that made them part of this exclusive club. Here, we honor Brian Wilson, who died on Wednesday (June 11) at age 82, by looking at the first of The Beach Boys' three Hot 100-toppers: the irresistible pop smash 'I Get Around.' The Beach Boys had racked up four consecutive top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 (discounting B sides) prior to 'I Get Around,' but this ebullient song was their first single to reach No. 1. They recorded it in April 1964, making it the first song they recorded after The Beatles arrived in the U.S. that February. More from Billboard The 20 Best Beach Boys Songs (Staff Picks) Don Was Remembers Brian Wilson's 'Mystical' Genius: 'He Explored Creative Territory Where No Musicians Had Gone Before' How LadyLand, the Scrappy Festival That Could, Is Shaping Queer Culture & Live Music In NYC If The Beach Boys felt threatened by the Fab Four's explosive arrival, they were not going down without a fight. 'I Get Around' is chock-full of hooks – great harmonies, handclaps, twangy guitar work and the inspired 'round-round-getaround' hook. In his liner notes for the 1990 reissue of Little Deuce Coupe and All Summer Long, Beach Boys expert David Leaf said the track represented 'a major, revolutionary step in Brian's use of dynamics.' He added: 'From the opening note to the falsetto wail on the fade, this is one of the greatest tracks the Beach Boys ever cut. … Powered by the driving lead guitar break, the explosive harmonies and the handclaps, everything about this track was very spirited.' The song runs a highly efficient 2:14, making it the second-shortest No. 1 hit of 1964. The Beatles' 'Can't Buy Me Love' was a couple of seconds shorter. With this song, The Beach Boys continued to move away from the surf music fad that they rode in on, with such hits as 1962's 'Surfin' and 'Surfin' Safari' and 1963' 'Surfin' U.S.A.' and 'Surfer Girl.' Like its immediate predecessors 'Be True to Your School' and 'Fun, Fun, Fun,' 'I Get Around' has nothing to do with catching a wave, but instead is more generally capturing teen life in early-'60s California. (And, when you think about it, driving songs played nearly as big a part of the early Beach Boys success as surfing songs, between 'I Get Around,' 'Fun, Fun, Fun,' 'Little Deuce Coupe,' '409' and others.) Mike Love sang lead vocals on 'I Get Around,' with Brian Wilson contributing falsetto lead vocals on the chorus. All five members of the group – also including Al Jardine, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson – contributed harmony and backing vocals. The fabled Wrecking Crew of top Los Angeles session players, including Hal Blaine and Glen Campbell, played on the track. The song has a line that seems autobiographical, given the group's rising level of success over the previous two years: 'My buddies and me are gettin' real well-known.' The song also includes one of the most charming lines ever in a pop song: 'None of the guys go steady 'cause it wouldn't be right/ To leave your best girl home on a Saturday night.' The group projects a strutting confidence throughout. Biographer Mark Dillon compared the lyrics to 'the braggadocio of a modern-day rapper' — fitting that nearly 30 years later, one of the all-time most legendary MCs would recycle the title for his own cockiest hit. The song entered the Hot 100 at No. 76 for the week ending May 23, 1964. It was the week's fourth-highest new entry, behind hits by Elvis, Bobby Vinton and Lesley Gore, though it wound up eclipsing all of those. The song reached No. 1 in its seventh week, July 4, displacing Peter & Gordon's 'A World Without Love,' which was written by Paul McCartney (though officially credited to Lennon/McCartney.) McCartney and Wilson, two of the greatest songwriters of all time, spurred each other on to ever-greater heights for many years. The Beatles' 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' was clearly an homage to The Beach Boys' 'Surfin' U.S.A.' 'I Get Around' topped the Hot 100 for two weeks, before being displaced by The 4 Seasons' 'Rag Doll.' (These groups, representing the pinnacle of West Coast and the East Coast pop, respectively, were among the few American groups from the pre-Beatles era that continued to thrive after the British invasion.) 'I Get Around' also put The Beach Boys on the map in the U.K., becoming their first top 10 hit in that country. The B side of 'I Get Around' was the equally great 'Don't Worry Baby,' making this one of the strongest double-sided singles in pop music history. It ranks with Elvis' 'Don't Be Cruel'/ 'Hound Dog,' The Beatles' 'Penny Lane'/'Strawberry Fields Forever,' The Beach Boys' own 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'/'God Only Knows' and a handful of others. The song was the opening track on (and only single released from) the group's sixth album, All Summer Long, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in August 1964. In his liner notes to the 1990 reissue, Leaf noted, 'All Summer Long was the last regular studio album The Beach Boys recorded before Brian quit the touring band – the last complete Beach Boys album Brian cut before he suffered a nervous breakdown in late December of 1964.' Incredibly, 'I Get Around' didn't receive a single Grammy nomination. The Beach Boys' only songs to receive Grammy nods were 'Good Vibrations' and the 1988 Brian-less hit 'Kokomo.' The Recording Academy has since sought to make amends, awarding The Beach Boys a lifetime achievement award in 2001 and inducting five of their most classic works (including 'I Get Around') into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Wilson was initially the only songwriter credited on the song. In 1992, Mike Love sued to get a credit on this and many other songs. Love prevailed in December 1994, when he was awarded co-writing credits on 35 songs – as well as $13 million. In his series 'The Number Ones,' Stereogum writer Tom Breihan wryly summarized the dispute: 'Mike Love later sued Brian for a co-writer credit, and if he really did come up with the round round getaround part, he deserved it.' While there is no improving on The Beach Boys' recording of 'I Get Around,' several artists have taken a stab at it over the years. Red Hot Chili Peppers performed it at the 2005 MusiCares Person of the Year gala where Brian Wilson was honored. My Morning Jacket performed it on the 2023 special A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys (which CBS re-aired on Sunday night). Billie Joe Armstrong posted his version of the song on Instagram on Wednesday (June 11), hours after the news of Wilson's death broke. 'Thank you Brian Wilson,' Armstrong wrote. 'I recorded a cover of 'I Get Around' a few years ago. ..never got to share it. One of my all time favorite songs ever.' Check back tomorrow and Wednesday for our Forever No. 1 reports on The Beach Boys' second and third No. 1 hits, 'Help Me Rhonda' and 'Good Vibrations.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Joan Jett pays tribute to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson at Las Vegas residency opener: Review
Joan Jett pays tribute to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson at Las Vegas residency opener: Review Show Caption Hide Caption 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees announced The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 inductees, which include hip-hop pioneers Outkast and '80s icon Cyndi Lauper. unbranded - Entertainment LAS VEGAS – If Joan Jett needs to peek at a lyric, she doesn't rely on a teleprompter. Instead, she glances down at the binder opened to a printed page. At 66, she's still rockin' the shag hair and tough chick sleeveless vest, both in her preferred black, and delivering the signature "ch-ch-ch-ch" of "Cherry Bomb" with a snarl and a smile. It is notable that Jett remains unchanged after 50 years in a business that was notoriously bitter toward strong women fronting rock bands. That she's doing it sounding as vocally robust and looking as effortlessly cool as she has for decades is ovation worthy. On Friday, June 13, Jett and her reliable Blackhearts - Dougie Needles on guitar, Hal B. Selzer on bass and Michael McDermott on drums – played the first of a five-show stint through June 21 at the House of Blues Las Vegas. Jett is also an opener on Billy Idol's current tour and will resume her slot Aug. 14. For her Vegas christening, Jett and her band – which also included longtime producer, business partner and confidante Kenny Laguna on keyboards – unpacked a 75-minute chest of hits and deep cuts. The tracks included the industry side-eye singalong "Fake Friends" and "Coney Island Whitefish," both from 1983's "Album." That record also contained Jett's faithful rendition of Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People," a song that espouses her lifelong belief in equality. "This one's for you, Sly!" Jett said before diving into the airy guitar chords. Prior to taking the stage, the Beach Boys' carefree "Fun, Fun, Fun" filled the venue, an obvious nod to cofounder Brian Wilson, who died two days after Stone on June 11. Jett knows that casual fans are thrilled to relish in her swaying hit cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson & Clover" and the foot stomper "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)." But the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is also a savvy veteran who understands that her dedicated, multi-generational audience will appreciate a throwback to the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Light of Day," which featured drummer McDermott rolling through a cascade of tom tom beats. Fans will also happily finger snap along with her to The Replacements' "Androgynous." A wallop of a trifecta – "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and "Bad Reputation" – showcased Jett's brawny pop-rock salted with a dash of punk, at least in attitude. In a recent interview with USA TODAY, Jett shared that she wanted to include some acoustic songs in her Vegas shows and she did. At the end of the concert, she detoured with tunes including "Oh Woe is Me," a bonus track from her 1981 breakthrough album "I Love Rock 'N' Roll." Jett is a steadfast rocker — a musician and songwriter whose continued success is rooted in being untrendy but unshakably cool. For that alone, she should take many bows.
Express Tribune
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Brian Wilson of Beach Boys dies aged 82
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys co-founder who masterminded the group's wild popularity and soundtracked the California dream, has died, his family announced on Wednesday, as reported by AFP. He was 82. The statement on Instagram did not give a cause. Wilson was placed under a legal conservatorship last year due to a "major neurocognitive disorder." "We are at a loss for words right now," said his family. "We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world." The pop visionary crafted hits whose success rivaled The Beatles throughout the 1960s, a seemingly inexhaustible string of feel-good tracks including Surfin' USA, I Get Around, Fun, Fun, Fun and Surfer Girl that made the Beach Boys into America's biggest selling band. Wilson didn't surf, but his prodigious pen and genius ear allowed him to fashion a boundary-pushing soundscape of beachside paradise. His lush productions were revered among his peers, with even Bob Dylan once saying, "That ear – I mean, Jesus, he's got to will that to the Smithsonian!" Dylan also paid tribute to Wilson on Wednesday, posting on X "about all the years I've been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian." After five years of extraordinary songwriting, in which he produced 200 odes to sun, surfing and suntanned girls, Wilson sank into a deep, drug-fuelled depression for decades. He would emerge 35 years later to complete the Beach Boys' unfinished album, Smile – widely regarded as his masterpiece. John Lennon said he considered Pet Sounds (1966) to be one of the best albums of all time, while Paul McCartney said Wilson was a "genius". The musician's many accolades included a Kennedy Center Honor in 2007, when the committee dubbed him "rock and roll's gentlest revolutionary." "There is real humanity in his body of work," they said, "vulnerable and sincere, authentic and unmistakably American."
