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☆ Elon Musk mocked Sam Smith's much-discussed Grammys performance, tweeting, 'If that's satan, we have nothing to worry about'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk mocked Sam Smith's performance at the Grammys, in which they dressed as Satan. Smith's appearance has been widely attacked by prominent conservatives like Marjorie Taylor Greene. In the performance, Smith dressed like a cartoonish version of Satan, donning a top hat adorned with devil horns and a red latex outfit, while surrounded by red-robed worshippers. Smith's performance has attracted much attention from conservative figures including Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump Jr., and Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Taylor Greene then shared a conspiracy theory about an abortion clinic in New Mexico, adding: "American Christians need to get to work."

☆ MTG, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump Jr are stoking a moral panic over Sam Smith dressing as Satan at the Grammys
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

They alluded that Sam Smith's Satan-themed act and Pfizer sponsorship were part of a sinister plot. "The Grammy's featured Sam Smith's demonic performance and was sponsored by Pfizer. And the Satanic Church now has an abortion clinic in NM that requires its patients to perform a satanic ritual before services. —Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) February 6, 2023In a video posted on the platform Donald Trump Jr., former President Donald Trump's son and a right-wing influencer, lamented the performance. And Fox News host Tucker Carlson, an influential far-right media commentator, devoted a segment of his show on Monday to criticizing the awards.

☆ Ted Cruz declares the Grammys 'evil' after Sam Smith's Satan-themed set has conservatives saying it encourages devil-worship
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Ted Cruz denounced the Grammys as "evil" in a tweet on Sunday. The Republican was commenting on Sam Smith and Kim Petras' Satan-themed duet of 'Unholy.'. Some conservatives have rallied around opposition to trans rights and LGBTQ teaching. In 2021, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's Grammy Awards performance of their single 'WAP,' attracted conservative fury. Smith is among pop's foremost provocateurs, and has stirred controversy with the video to their new song 'I'm not Here to Make Friends.'

☆ From Beyoncé to Taylor Swift: 7 women who made history at the 2023 Grammys
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and more female artists broke records and saw historic wins across several categories at the 2023 Grammy Awards. The winners were announced on Sunday during two different ceremonies in Los Angeles, honoring the best music of the year across a wide range of genres. Here are seven women who made history with their wins at the 2023 Grammys:BeyoncéRobert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times | Getty ImagesBeyoncé is now the winningest artist in Grammys history thanks to a quartet of awards for her album "Renaissance." Viola DavisTimothy Norris | Filmmagic | Getty ImagesThe 57-year-old actress earned EGOT status at the 2023 Grammy Awards, making her the third Black woman in history to achieve the rare and coveted honor. Germaine FrancoJay L. Clendenin | Los Angeles Times | Getty ImagesGermaine Franco won best score soundtrack for visual media for composing the Disney animated film "Encanto."

☆ At Sunday's Grammys, will Beyonce finally win top honor of best album?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Singer Beyonce arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, U.S., August 28, 2016. Beyonce heads into the show in Los Angeles with nine nominations, including an album of the year nod for dance-heavy album "Renaissance." The acclaimed 2016 album "Lemonade" was defeated by Adele's "25," prompting the British vocalist to say on stage that Beyonce deserved the honor. Beyonce's other nominations include record and song of the year for "Break My Soul." Scheduled performers include Styles, Lizzo, Sam Smith, Luke Combs and Bad Bunny.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will recognize the year's best artists, songs, albums, and more. The 2023 Grammys recognizes music released during the eligibility period, between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022. How to watch the 2023 GrammysYou can watch the 2023 Grammy Awards live on February 5 at 8 p.m. You can stream the 2023 Grammy Awards for free if you sign up for a Paramount Plus Premium free trial. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARASBeyoncé is the most nominated artist at the 2023 Grammys with nine nominations.

☆ ‘Gloria’ by Sam Smith Review: Straining for Self-Acceptance
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Mark Richardson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/gloria-by-sam-smith-review-straining-for-self-acceptance-11674512623

Bella Ramsey, the star of the highly anticipated HBO television series “The Last of Us,” recently shared that her gender has always been very fluid. However, she added, “Being gendered isn’t something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldn’t care less.”Bella Ramsey in season eight of "Game of Thrones." Helen Sloan / HBORamsey, 19, joins a growing number of young adults who identify as neither exclusively male nor female. The British actor also joins a growing number of celebrities who identify as nonbinary or gender fluid. The dystopian series centers on Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler, who is tasked with escorting lesbian teen Ellie (Ramsey) across a post-pandemic United States.

☆ Harry Styles and Wet Leg lead BRIT nominations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Sarah Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Wet Leg perform on the Pyramid Stage during Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, Britain, June 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezLONDON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Nominations for this year's BRIT Awards are out and it is Harry Styles and Wet Leg leading the way with four nods each. Announced via an online stream on Thursday, global pop star Styles and rock duo Wet Leg are both up for the coveted album of the year prize along with rap artist Stormzy, producer Fred again and pop rock band The 1975. Acts including rock band Arctic Monkeys, rapper Central Cee and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran have several nominations. The rest of the winners will be announced at the BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard on Feb. 11, 2023, at The O2 arena in London where there will also be performances from artists including Sam Smith, Kim Petras and Wet Leg.

☆ Biden signs marriage equality act to tune of Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colors'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law on Tuesday at a jubilant celebration that featured U.S. singer Cyndi Lauper performing "True Colors" in front of thousands of supporters on the White House lawn. The law recognizes that everyone should have the right to answer those questions for themselves," Biden said. [1/8] U.S. President Joe Biden celebrates with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 1 2 3 4 5"Well, this time, love wins," Lauper said before starting to sing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, whose daughter and her wife are expecting a child, called it "a day of jubilation."

☆ Biden signs bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage months after Supreme Court raised doubts about marriage and contraception decisions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law on Tuesday. It repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and requires states to recognize marriages performed in other states. The bill emerged after the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade threw precedents into doubt. The new law, designed to protect same-sex and interracial marriage, formally repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage at the federal level as being solely between a man and a woman. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a previously outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, notably never spoke out against the bill.

☆ Biden signs bill to protect same-sex and interracial marriages
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It specifies that states must recognize same-sex marriages across state lines and that same-sex couples have the same federal benefits as any married couple. The Respect for Marriage Act does not codify same-sex marriage, though. She noted the Respect for Marriage Act will be one of the last bills she will sign as she ends her second stretch as speaker. Biden's views, like those of many Americans, shifted to support same-sex marriage over his lifetime. But in 2012 then-Vice President Biden announced his support for same-sex marriage on NBC's Meet the Press, backing the measure even before Obama did.

☆ Factbox: Key nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Nominations for the music industry’s Grammy Awards were announced during a livestreamed program at the Grammy Museum on Tuesday. The following is a list of nominations in key categories. RECORD OF THE YEAR“Don't Shut Me Down” - ABBA“Easy On Me” - Adele“BREAK MY SOUL” - Beyonce“Good Morning Gorgeous” - Mary J. Blige“Woman” - Doja Cat“Bad Habit” - Steve LacyALBUM OF THE YEAR“Voyage” - ABBA“30” - Adele“Un Verano Sin Ti” - Bad Bunny“RENAISSANCE” - Beyonce“Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)” - Mary J. Blige“In These Silent Days” - Brandi Carlile“Music Of The Spheres” - Coldplay“Mr. (Let's Go)” - Hitkidd & GloRilla“The Heart Part 5” - Kendrick LamarBEST ROCK PERFORMANCE“So Happy It Hurts” - Bryan Adams“Old Man” - Beck“Wild Child” - The Black Keys“Broken Horses” - Brandi Carlile“Crawl!” - Idles“Patient Number 9” - Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck“Holiday” - TurnstileBEST COUNTRY ALBUM“Growin' Up” - Luke Combs“Palomino” - Miranda Lambert“Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville" - Ashley McBryde“Humble Quest” - Maren Morris“A Beautiful Time” - Willie NelsonThe 2023 Grammy’s will take place in Los Angeles at the Crypto Arena on Feb. 5. Reporting by Danielle Broadway Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sam Smith and Kim Petras are first nonbinary and trans artists to reach number 1 on Billboard chart
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Toyin Owoseje | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

While Smith has had eight UK number ones, including their Grammy award-winning song “Stay with Me,” this is British singer’s first on the Billboard Hot 100. Sam Smith, Kim Petras - UnholyPetras, a transgender woman, shared the news on her Instagram page, telling her 775,000 followers that she was “so grateful” for the song’s success. “Sam, I can’t thank you enough for riding with me for years at this point,” the German pop star wrote. “I’m so honored to be part of your first number one in the US which you should have 500 of at this point. In 2019, she told UK outlet Metro that while she is a transgender activist, she wants her talent, not her gender, to be the topic of conversation.

☆ Kelly Clarkson and Sam Smith's duet of 'Breakaway' will make you believe you can accomplish anything
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Ready to spread your wings and learn how to fly? Sam Smith and Kelly Clarkson are ready to help you do that – or anything else you want to accomplish in this world – with their soaring duet of her 2004 hit “Breakaway,” featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”Smith is Tuesday’s guest on the talk show, but a pre-broadcast clip of their duet with Clarkson is already taking our will-this-week-ever-end negativity and turning it into what can only be described as a can-do-anything attitude. File this Kellyoke duet of the ages under “We deserve nice things.”Smith, who uses they/them pronouns, recently released a new video for their song “Unholy,” featuring Kim Petras. “The Kelly Clarkson” show airs daily in syndication. Check local listings for details.

☆ "Unholy:" Sam Smith's new song is a TikTok hit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —British singer-songwriter Sam Smith’s newest collab with Kim Petras, entitled “Unholy,” has taken over TikTok. “Unholy” is one of several songs that have achieved viral fame on TikTok – some even before the songs have actually been released. Petras and Smith first teased the track in August, posting a TikTok in which they dance alongside Petras to the lyrics. “At the body shop / Doing something unholy.”The video received over 29 million views and hundreds of thousands of users quickly created “Unholy” videos of their own. “I’ve never had so much fun making a record, so I hope you can all get weird and UNHOLY to it.”

☆ Inside the growing business behind TikTok song remixes, which are transforming the way music is discovered on the app
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

TikTok users are increasingly finding new music through song remixes and mashups. In the middle of August, music artist Sam Smith's somber 2014 ballad "I'm Not The Only One" reentered Spotify's top 200 chart nearly a decade after its release. Marketers embrace TikTok remixes and mashupsAs with any social-media trend, music marketers are adjusting their strategies to stay in tune with TikTok's audience. TikTok music talent can earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to produce a remixed version of a track, according to Cloherty. Outside of monetary compensation, having a track go viral can help TikTok talent grow their audience off the app.

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