Latest news with #IWillSurvive
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Chuck Mangione, dead at 84, was no hack with a horn
A healthy segment of Americans knew Chuck Mangione as an object of kitsch. The shoulder-length hair and beard, the colorfully banded fedora, the warm, glossy sound of his flügelhorn (all of which he happily sent up in his self-portrayals on the animated sitcom 'King of the Hill'): Mangione represented not just a weird limbo between hipness and squareness, but an outdated one. Yet if Mangione, who died Tuesday at 84, was game to make fun of himself in that way, it was because he'd already achieved what any artist strives for: He'd made his work an indispensable part of our world. Specifically, his hit 'Feels So Good,' an instrumental pop-jazz crossover that reached #4 on the Billboard charts during the summer of 1978, has unexpectedly had as much staying power as 'Stayin' Alive,' 'I Will Survive' or any other anthemic tune from that era. So much so, in fact, that we didn't always notice it. The melodic, ever-so-gently funky record is played in restaurants and grocery stores, in hotel lobbies and elevators. It has powered more TV and radio commercials than anyone could count. Those of us who aren't pop-music nerds, or just not old enough to remember when it reigned supreme on top 40 radio, know 'Feels So Good's' barrage of hooks by heart without even realizing the song has a name. Those are the qualities that make it easy to mock, of course. It's catchy but toothless, inoffensively pleasant, so of course it's ubiquitous. That was part of the 'King of the Hill' bit. Mangione was a celebrity pitchman (for Mega Lo Mart, the big-box store of the show's universe) who, no matter what he played on his horn, always segued into 'Feels So Good.' Through no fault of its own, the record became a cornerstone of smooth jazz, that intersection of jazz, rock, soul and easy listening that conquered the realm of background music in the 1980s and 1990s. The genre is much despised. 'Feels So Good,' by association more than any actual element of the song, has thus taken its lumps. It wasn't because he couldn't play anything edgier. The Rochester, New York, native was a graduate, and later a faculty member, of that city's Eastman School of Music. He also did time in the mid 1960s as the trumpeter in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, the most prestigious finishing school in postwar jazz. Before earning those two distinctions, he and his brother Gap, a pianist, had some early-1960s success leading the hard-swinging Mangione Brothers sextet, recording an album before he was 20 years old (with two more to follow). Dizzy Gillespie was both a fan of and mentor to the trumpeter. They remained close until Gillespie's death in 1993. Chuck Mangione was no hack with a horn. But he came to jazz when it had split into two poles: a populist one, which was trending ever lighter to suit mainstream tastes, and an arty one, which was increasingly inaccessible. Mangione wanted to reach the people. He saw nothing wrong with that. But he wasn't interested in success for its own sake: 'I didn't want to record something I didn't like, because if it became a hit I wouldn't be happy playing it,' he told JazzTimes magazine. It's a sentiment that was also expressed by the likes of Paul McCartney — who, as a solo artist, had been on the receiving end of the same kind of kitsch accusations as Mangione. But it's also resulted in the horn player getting the same kind of world-class work: In 1980, for example, Mangione was invited to compose a theme song for that year's Winter Olympics. He played the resulting tune, 'Give It All You Got,' live at the Closing Ceremonies in Lake Placid, New York, for a worldwide television audience. (It was another Billboard Top 20 hit, too.) Talk about reaching the people. The comparison with McCartney is apt in another sense. Say what you will about 'Feels So Good' and its particular kind of ubiquity; it means that Mangione achieved, without exaggeration, Beatle-level cultural saturation. More people know his music than know him. He reached this point without, in his own words, having to resort to music he didn't want to play. In the wake of Mangione's passing, there will be plenty of people who are ready to pile on and crack jokes about the kitschy side of his legacy. The joke will be on them. Mangione was perfectly content with that aspect of himself. Meanwhile, he infiltrated our environment and our lives in a way that many of his critics can only dream of.
Campaign ME
3 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Emirates NBD's anti-fraud campaigns enhance consumer protection
As banking undergoes a digital revolution, the sophistication of financial fraud is keeping pace. As banks adopt advanced technologies to improve customer experience and streamline operations, cybercriminals are similarly exploiting these innovations to craft more sophisticated schemes targeting mobile and online users. Recognising the pressing challenge of fraud, Emirates NBD, a prominent banking group in the MENAT region, has unveiled a multifaceted anti-fraud initiative under the banner of #UnitedAgainstFraud. This comprehensive campaign, launched in collaboration with Dubai Police and the Central Bank of the UAE and featuring a series of consumer awareness videos on social media, exemplifies the bank's unwavering commitment to customer protection. Financial fraud has become increasingly sophisticated, with scammers exploiting digital platforms to target unsuspecting victims. Emirates NBD's proactive stance aims to raise public awareness and educate consumers about real-time scams, encouraging individuals to remain vigilant against fraudulent activities and actively report such incidents. Emirates NBD has remained at the forefront of customer protection in digital banking, committing AED 1bn to digital transformation. This significant allocation supported a four-year IT transformation, which entered its final year in 2020, and was dedicated to building world-class capabilities through significant architecture, infrastructure, operating model and platform upgrades. The bank's approach acknowledges that technology alone cannot combat this threat – it requires a collaborative effort between financial institutions, law enforcement, and an educated public. The #UnitedAgainstFraud campaign emerges from this understanding, representing a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional security measures to create a culture of awareness and vigilance. The #UnitedAgainstFraud campaign, featuring innovative Ripple Effect storytelling, immersive Vox cinema experiences, a 'Spot the Fraudster' campaign, and trending social content, builds on a legacy of public awareness efforts. These include the 2023 #IWillSurvive campaign, an upbeat video adapted from Gloria Gaynor's hit to encourage fraud reporting, and the 2019 Dubai Police collaboration 'It Wasn't Me' video, which provided identity and account security guidelines. The #UnitedAgainstFraud campaign has delivered exceptional results across multiple channels and touchpoints, showcasing the power of integrated marketing strategies in public awareness initiatives. The diverse campaign portfolio demonstrates remarkable versatility in audience engagement approaches. 'The campaign goes beyond traditional security measures to create a culture of awareness and vigilance.' Collectively, the campaign generated an impressive 13.7 million total impressions and successfully reached 7.5 million people, with the 'Spot the Fraudster' series alone contributing 814,000 views to the overall engagement figures. These outstanding metrics not only highlight the campaigns' extraordinary success in capturing widespread public attention but also validate the effectiveness of combining creative narrative techniques with urgent educational messaging. One of the most impactful components of the #UnitedAgainstFraud initiative is the Ripple Effect campaign, which illustrates the far-reaching consequences of unreported fraud. This campaign utilises powerful storytelling to demonstrate how silence in the face of scams creates a dangerous cycle that affects not just individual victims, but entire communities. The campaign features two compelling video narratives that drive home a critical message about fraud reporting. The first video emphasises that scammers thrive when their activities go unreported, creating a dangerous ripple effect of consequences that spread beyond the initial victim. The second video in the series represents a ground-breaking achievement in regional advertising. Emirates NBD pioneered the region's first AI-powered storytelling film for fraud awareness, featuring Hanan's story set in a virus lab. This creative approach uses the metaphor of viral spread to illustrate how unreported scams multiply and contaminate the digital ecosystem, much like a virus spreading through a laboratory. The AI-generated narrative serves as a bold reminder that every report of a scam counts, encouraging viewers to speak up, stay safe, and remain vigilant. The campaign demonstrates how cutting-edge technology can be leveraged for social good, creating impactful messaging that resonates with modern audiences. Another notable and successful activation is the Freej video campaign, where the bank teamed up with the much-loved characters from Freej to raise awareness among Emiratis about various types of fraud activities, and how to avoid them. The 'Spot the Fraudster' campaign transforms fraud education into an engaging, interactive experience that challenges participants to differentiate between legitimate contacts and potential scammers. By offering AED 2,000 as an incentive, the campaign creates a compelling reason for public participation while building critical fraud detection skills. This gamification approach makes the serious topic of fraud prevention accessible and engaging for younger demographics who might otherwise ignore traditional awareness campaigns. The interactive nature of 'Spot the Fraudster' serves multiple educational purposes. Participants must actively analyse communication patterns, identify red flags, and make decisions about legitimacy – exactly the skills they need in real-world situations. By encouraging participants to think critically about potential threats, the campaign builds lasting behavioural change that extends far beyond the game itself. One of the most eye-opening initiatives within the #UnitedAgainstFraud campaign is the Vox social experiment, which provided crucial insights into real-world consumer behaviour when faced with potential scams. Conducted with 220 moviegoers at a local UAE cinema, this experiment created a controlled environment to test how people respond to fraudulent schemes in realistic settings. The experiment placed unsuspecting cinema attendees in a simulated real-time scam situation where a bot offered free popcorn via an SMS link, leading to a mock hacking experience for participants. The results were both sobering and educational: nearly 90 per cent of participants fell for the scam, highlighting the vulnerability of even cautious consumers to well-crafted fraudulent schemes. This activation effectively illustrated how easily personal details, OTPs, and banking information can be compromised through seemingly innocent interactions. More importantly, it created a lasting psychological impact on participants who experienced first-hand the sophisticated nature of modern scams. The social experiment also highlighted the importance of staying vigilant across all digital platforms, as fraudsters increasingly use diverse channels including social media, messaging apps, and even entertainment venues to reach potential victims. The campaign emphasised that scammers continuously adapt their tactics, using various platforms and sources to attack victims and steal information, personal details, IDs, OTPs, and banking information. Likewise, Emirates NBD's video awareness series represents a dynamic approach to fraud prevention that tackles the most current and prevalent fraud schemes targeting UAE consumers. This responsive strategy ensures that fraud prevention education remains relevant and timely, addressing emerging threats as they appear in the market. The comprehensive series covers a wide range of contemporary scams that affect different segments of the UAE population. For instance, the fake Hajj scam video, contextually produced for the Hajj season, addresses the exploitation of religious obligations, warning consumers about unofficial packages that lack proper permits and official procedures. The message is clear: 'Don't let scammers ruin your Hajj. Every year, many people get tricked by fake Hajj deals that lead to nothing. If someone offers you a package without proper permits, official steps, or a real office, it's not a deal, it's a scam.' This campaign specifically targets one of the UAE's most vulnerable demographics during holy seasons, when emotional investment can override rational decision-making. Concert ticket fraud receives attention through messaging that encourages consumers to secure their entertainment experiences by purchasing only from verified websites or trusted sellers. The campaign uses relatable language – 'Don't let fake tickets steal your spotlight!' – that resonates with younger demographics who frequently purchase entertainment tickets online, connecting with their interests while delivering crucial safety information. The UAE Pass scam video addresses a particularly sophisticated form of identity theft targeting official government services. The campaign emphasises that 'Scammers are after your UAE Pass. Don't let them steal your identity. Never share your banking details or OTPs.' Given the UAE Pass's critical role in accessing government services, this campaign addresses a threat that could compromise both personal finances and official documentation access. WhatsApp scams, which often begin with deceptively friendly greetings, receive specific attention in a video that highlights how innocent interactions can lead to financial loss. The campaign message – 'WhatsApp scams may start with a friendly 'Hi!' But it can end in financial loss' – encourages consumers to question everything and protect their digital lives, acknowledging that modern scams often begin with social engineering rather than obvious requests for money. Seasonal awareness is addressed through targeted Black Friday campaigns that warn against fake deals and phishing scams during high-volume shopping periods. These campaigns provide practical guidance, encouraging consumers to 'tick the checklist' before purchasing and report suspicious activity immediately. The messaging combines prevention strategies with action-oriented responses: 'Don't let Black Friday become Black Fraud Day! Shop smart online and avoid shady deals. Safety over sales!' Through its 'United Against Fraud' campaign, Emirates NBD also actively educates labourers in camps on safe banking and financial literacy to prevent them from falling victim to scams. Beyond these social and community-focused initiatives, Emirates NBD's commitment to fraud prevention extends to the academic sphere as well. The strategic partnership between Emirates NBD and the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) represents a forward-thinking approach to fraud prevention education that targets students and the wider academic community. This collaboration recognises that young adults, particularly university students, represent both a vulnerable demographic and powerful advocates for fraud awareness within their social networks. The university partnership integrates fraud awareness into educational programmes and activities, ensuring that fraud prevention becomes part of the broader educational experience rather than a standalone initiative. Students, as digital natives, are simultaneously particularly vulnerable to sophisticated online scams and highly effective at spreading awareness through their extensive social networks. They often have limited financial experience but high digital engagement, making them prime targets for scammers while also serving as influential voices within their peer groups. Furthermore, the partnership extends the campaign's reach into the wider community, as students often serve as informal educators for family members and friends who may be less digitally savvy. This multiplier effect ensures that fraud prevention knowledge spreads beyond the immediate target demographic to reach vulnerable populations who might not otherwise receive this education. Contribution by Emirates NBD.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sweden 2-2 England (2-3 on pens): Lionesses keep Euros dream alive with dramatic penalty shootout win after stunning comeback from two goals down
The song at the final whistle was wholly appropriate: I Will Survive blasted out the speakers and England, somehow, had done exactly that as they clambered through their biggest test. Quite how they did it needs some explaining because for long periods, it felt like a night for inquests and recriminations but, instead, it ended with dancing and delirium and that rarest thing: a penalty shootout triumph. The final denouement was a bonkers as the previous 120 minutes but who cares if it was mad cap? England missed four times from 12 yards but they had Hannah Hampton, who made three saves and came of age in goal. Both sides took seven penalties and the final scoreline of 3-2 tells you how much nerves were at play but Sarina Wiegman 's team got the job done. They are in the semi-finals once again. More to follow...
Wales Online
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The much-loved Cardiff pub which has survived so much but could now close for good
The much-loved Cardiff pub which has survived so much but could now close for good It's nostalgia meets eccentricity at the Golden Cross which is Wales' oldest gay bar The Golden Cross is a legendary Welsh pub, but faces an uncertain future (Image: John Myers ) In a hidden corner of Cardiff's city centre, now swamped by modern high rise hotels and offices, is Wales' oldest gay bar. Of all the anthems played at the grade-II listed Golden Cross pub in the shadow of John Lewis and the second St David's shopping centre, Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive would be fitting. It's nostalgia meets eccentricity at the pub which dates back to 1863 and became a gay venue in the late nineties having previously been set for demolition. Now glitter portraits of stars including Welsh legends Ian H Watkins, Gareth Thomas and Tom Jones decorate the walls of the dark room at the rear. It's rather PG-guidance compared to the sort of dark room you'd find in Gran Canaria or Sitges, and yet it's where kinky lovers of Cardiff's leather scene regularly meet for a late night intriguingly described as 'anything goes'. The main room features a long L-shaped bar - one of only 14 remaining ceramic bar counters left in Britain. The room appears almost unchanged from Western Mail archive pictures taken in the nineties, and includes an open space with a raised stage. It doesn't look like much, yet the tight room where punters cram on a Friday and Saturday night has become a mecca for drag cabaret which rivals anything you'll see in Europe. You'll regularly find Amber Dextrous, Dr Bev and Baroness Mary Golds ripping the crowd to shreds - all in fabulous taste. This picture of John Gallagher, then new manager of the Golden Cross, was taken in June 1986 after the pub was refurbished following it being saved from demolition (Image: Mirrorpix ) Article continues below A third room, where custodian Rob Burnett chats to us about his decade running the place and sometimes having to prop it up financially himself, is a throwback - the sort of pub room which feels like you're sitting in your nan's dated lounge. Challenge is on repeat - usually Bullseye or The Chase - on the television which hangs from the wall. "After everyone was allowed to come back after Covid so many people said it was like coming home," Rob tells WalesOnline ahead of Wales' biggest queer weekend in the calendar - Pride Cymru in Cardiff. "That's when I knew we'd cracked it. I think that's what a pub should be. It's a community above anything else." You can read all the updates from Pride Cymru in Cardiff here. A third room, where owner Rob Burnett chats to us about his decade running the place and sometimes having to prop it up financially himself, is a throwback - the sort of pub room which feels like you're sitting in your nan's dated lounge (Image: John Myers ) This weekend the Golden will be a picture of gloriously colourful chaos in what will be Rob's last Pride Cymru here and he's putting on a street party to celebrate. Rob, who is originally from Portsmouth and made his money in the motor transport and cleaning industries, took on the pub in 2015. 'It was an old man's dying pub really,' he recalls. "I remember a lot of hype in the community when people heard it was being rescued. "It's a very loved place. It's not just running any old pub. We've got a married gay couple here who have been together for 65 years - they've seen it all, and lots of young LGBT+ people too who feel they need a safe space. It's so important. "It was something I'd honestly never planned on doing but after being here I could see how much people truly cared about it. It would have been such a shame to see that lost. I'd never run a pub before but I'd been successful in business and thought I'd give it a go." Leonard Davies, then manager of the Golden Cross, leans on the bar in January 1979 (Image: South Wales Echo ) A decade on, the Golden again finds itself on the edge of closure. Rob is desperate to find a custodian but is concerned time could run out. A countdown to the pub's closure if no-one is found to take it on is above the bar, in the hope someone will come forward. In an era where fewer people are going to the pub and the younger queer folk of Cardiff seem to be more partial to an iced matcha latte than a pint of lager, the Golden is proving a hard sell and yet Rob says he can't lie to potential custodians about how difficult it has been at times. 'I'm concerned about it,' he explains. 'I'm trying to separate emotion from a commercial sense. The building is so expensive to run. If you stick entertainment on stage costs go up but if you don't stick entertainment on stage the crowd disappears. This weekend is the biggest in the calendar for the Golden - Pride Cymru (Image: John Myers ) 'It's a rock and a hard place. At times I've had to prop it up myself with my own money from my other business. I put it out there on social media about a £2 door charge and most people say it's fine and they'd happily pay but then of course it's very difficult attracting a younger crowd when charging on the door. "We're also finding now a lot of the younger crowd don't drink either. Many come in looking for a pint of water or a non-alcoholic drink. We've had to expand our range of non-alcoholic stuff but also soft drinks. "The rising cost of living has significantly impacted people's spending. People used to come out multiple times a week and those same people come once a week now. I can't lie - it's hard. But I don't regret doing it. We've essentially done it as a social investment and it needs someone to take it over who really loves the place and wants to keep it going." Rob arrived in Cardiff having had a varied life. Realising he was gay in his twenties when he already had a wife and a daughter, he came out at 27 and began a new life (Image: John Myers ) Rob arrived in Cardiff having had a varied life. Realising he was gay in his twenties when he already had a wife and a daughter, he came out at 27 and began a new life - although he has always prioritised being a father. "I was married at 23, a dad by 25 and this year I'm going to be a grandad - although I'm definitely not being called grandad, I'll be called papa," he laughs. "I came out when my daughter was three years old. It was very hard at the time. I had no real gay outlet. I am now in contact with one gay friend who I went to school with back home and to our knowledge we are the only two openly gay people who were at that school at the time. "I came out in 2000. I was living with my family in Dumfries in Scotland at the time, where there was no gay bar or obvious gay community. But I did meet someone who was clearly openly gay and when I saw him and saw how happy he was in himself and how accepting people were of him, I realised the possibility of being myself and realised I could be gay. "We were quite different. He was young, single and free. I moved to Milton Keynes but travelled back to Scotland every weekend to keep up the relationship with my daughter. The way I saw it was that it wasn't her fault and my first responsibility had to be and will always be as a dad.' The pub in 1999 just after it began operating as a queer venue. It is now Wales' oldest operating LGBTQ+ venue (Image: Mirrorpix ) Rob, who has been honoured with a top three place in this year's WalesOnline Pinc List, has been a father-like figure to many who've come through the doors at the Golden too. 'You can't be a shrinking violet when you run an LGBTQ+ venue. You can't be someone afraid of sticking their head above the parapet. It's not just about opening the doors every day. "People will always need places like this. Look at the recent Supreme Court ruling against the trans community. We have to make sure trans people especially now do not feel on their own. They must know they have a community in Cardiff's LGBTQ+ spaces.' Rob says while LGBTQ+ people might always face challenges, Cardiff is a friendlier place now. 'When I first came to the city even the bars wouldn't talk to each other. I asked for a coffee with all of the other LGBTQ+ venues and only three turned up. We put our heads together and decided to stop competing with each other and work together, agreeing to do our cabaret nights on different days, and it worked brilliantly. Mary's and I have worked really well together over the years. If I'm not drinking in here I will be in there.' While many queer venues have now changed their tag line to all-inclusive to welcome straight punters, others have remained just for LGBTQ+ or, in some circumstances, still gay men only. Some queer venues even only allow gay men with membership cards and say they rely on their strict entry codes to remain profitable, and Rob says he can see a 'dilemma' but ultimately it's 'ethically wrong' to turn down people who don't identify as LGBTQ+. Inside the Golden Cross in April 1991. The long L-shaped bar is one of only 14 remaining ceramic bar counters left in Britain (Image: Mirrorpix ) 'For years we've wanted our own safe spaces as LGBTQ+ people and then we got them. But following that more and more we were accepted into straight spaces too. We're now in a position where we'd be accepted as our authentic selves in most straight spaces in Britain. 'Gay bars still like to be known as gay and sometimes shun the appearance of straight people in their bars. To me that's ethically wrong in Britain today. In my mind you can't fight for equality and then say: 'Well these are our safe spaces so straight people aren't welcome.' 'We have lots of straight people who come in and feel it's their home too. Fantastic allies. One straight couple comes in and they dance with us every Sunday evening. When I say community it really is all encompassing. I think it has to be.' Article continues below Rob reserved special mention for Baroness Mary Golds, who he said has been a "huge part" of the Golden's success over the last 10 years.
Metro
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Strictly star says show left her in more pain than childbirth
A Strictly Come Dancing star has detailed the horror injuries she sustained from competing on the BBC series. Angela Scanlon took part in the 21st season of Strictly in 2023 alongside dance partner Carlos Gu. In week 10, she left the show, finishing in sixth place, after being voted out following her Cha-cha-cha performance of Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. However, according to the Irish TV presenter, 41, competing in the series was absolute agony, and she said she would often have 'raw bleeding blisters'. Speaking to former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison on their Get A Grip podcast, Angela explained: 'I've had two children without pain relief and would do that 10 times over in a day than have raw, bleeding blisters. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. 'You have to put the goddamn shoes on and do a Viennese waltz – my heels have never had so much action. 'You put a plaster on and, because you're sweating like a donkey, it falls off. You put socks on with your ballroom shoe, and you're still rub-a-dubbing. 'You're raw.' Angela married her entrepreneur husband, Rory Horgan, in 2014 and has two daughters with him – Ruby, seven, and Marnie, three. She also gave birth to her first daughter, Ruby, in 2018, while Marnie was delivered in 2022. Angela is far from the first Strictly contestant to suffer a bit of wear and tear. In last year's series, Nick Knowles revealed how he was forced to undergo two operations after an emotional elimination. The DIY SOS star, 62, explained that he had a 'rollercoaster' of a time. 'I think it was the right result in the end, and it means I can now get the various bits of me that are falling off sorted out,' he shared, having needed a week off ahead of his departure due to injury. Nick shared that he's still keep to maintain his rhythm, though, including by dancing with his pro. 'I might have an operation on the arm this week, then another operation on the knee in a couple of weeks, so I can get myself sorted. More Trending 'I genuinely fell in love with dancing. After I've had my operations, I'm gonna do some more training with Luba (Mushtuk), and I've got important things to do… I'm getting married next year and Luba is gonna help choreograph the first dance.' Proving that Strictly is no easy feat, during the same series, professional Nadiya Bychkova was left with a 'swollen and bruised' thumb when it 'snapped' during training. View More » The 35-year-old had been partnered with Olympian Tom Dean, but they became the first pair eliminated from the competition. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Is Ncuti Gatwa leaving? Our Doctor Who experts know who should take over MORE: Doctor Who is wasted on Disney – ditch it or it risks dying MORE: Ashley Walters calls out BBC's Who Do You Think You Are for rejecting him after 'year of research'
