October 1 – International Coffee Day

International Coffee Day is a worldwide celebration of one of the most beloved beverages on the planet. With billions of cups consumed daily, coffee has become an integral part of many cultures around the world. This article delves into the origins of International Coffee Day, the global significance of coffee, and some fascinating facts that will leave you craving your next cup of java.

Uniting Coffee Lovers Across Borders

In the past, different countries celebrated their own National Coffee Days on varying dates. The International Coffee Organization (ICO) established International Coffee Day during a meeting held from March 3-7, 2014, to eliminate confusion and foster a global sense of camaraderie. October 1 became the designated date to celebrate coffee worldwide. Since its inception in 2015, this special day has brought together people from around the globe to honor coffee’s cultural and economic importance.

The World’s Coffee Culture

Coffee consumption is a universal phenomenon, with individuals relying on their daily cup of joe to kick-start their mornings and keep them energized throughout the day. Surprisingly, the United States does not top the charts when it comes to coffee consumption per capita. According to various surveys, Finland claims the title of the world’s top coffee-consuming country. An astonishing 88.8 gallons of coffee are consumed annually per person, showcasing the global affinity for this aromatic beverage.

The Origin of Coffee: Ethiopia and the Goat Herder

Legend has it that coffee originated in Ethiopia, where a 9th-century goat herder named Kaldi noticed his goats were unusually energetic after eating the berries from a certain tree. Curious, Kaldi tried the berries himself and experienced a similar burst of energy. The story traveled fast, and soon the monks at the local monastery were using a brew made from these berries to stay awake during long hours of prayer.

The Rise of Coffee Houses: From the Middle East to Europe

The roots of modern coffee can be traced back to 15th-century Yemen, where its cultivation and trade began. European countries encountered coffee approximately a century later, with Venice taking the lead. However, coffee faced initial skepticism and opposition. Some regarded it as the “bitter invention of Satan,” and the local clergy in Venice condemned the beverage in 1615. The coffee controversy reached such heights that Pope Clement VIII personally tasted the beverage before passing judgment. To everyone’s surprise, the Pope found the drink so satisfying that he gave it his papal approval, leading to its acceptance and widespread popularity across Europe. The first recorded coffee house, known as “qahveh khaneh,” opened in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1554. The concept spread like wildfire throughout the Middle East. By the 17th century, coffee had arrived in Europe, with the first coffee house in England opening in Oxford in 1652.

Coffee and Colonial Expansion: Plantations and Trade

Europeans saw the potential for coffee cultivation and began establishing plantations in their colonies. In 1696, the Dutch planted coffee in Java, Indonesia, while the French began cultivation in the Caribbean, the Spanish in Central America, and the Portuguese in Brazil. Brazil became a coffee powerhouse, and, to this day, remains one of the world’s largest coffee producers.

Coffee in the Modern Era: Specialty Coffee and Chains

Fast-forward to the 20th century, and coffee took on a new form with the rise of specialty coffee shops and franchises like Starbucks, founded in 1971 in Seattle. Now, we have many brewing methods, bean types, and even coffee-related technology. Did you know that coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, right after oil? Gives a new meaning to the term “black gold,” doesn’t it?

A Day to Appreciate Coffee Farmers

Beyond the pleasure it brings to consumers, International Coffee Day serves as honoring the hard work and dedication of coffee farmers worldwide. The International Coffee Organization has made it a priority to address the challenges faced by coffee farmers, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their labor. By supporting coffee farmers, we contribute to sustainable agricultural practices and promote the livelihoods of those who cultivate and nurture the cherished coffee beans.

25 Facts About Coffee and its Origins:

Coffee is the world’s second most popular beverage, after water.
Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia, around the 10th century AD.
The first written record of coffee comes from an Ethiopian monk, Khaldi, who noticed that his goats became energetic after eating coffee berries.
The Arabic word for coffee is “qahwa”.
The English word for coffee comes from the Turkish word “kahve”.
There are over 100 different species of coffee plants, but only two are commercially cultivated: Arabica and Robusta.
Arabica coffee beans are considered to be higher quality than Robusta beans.
Coffee beans are roasted to different levels to produce different flavors.
Light roast coffee beans have a more fruity flavor, while dark roast coffee beans have a more chocolatey flavor.
Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that can help to improve alertness and concentration.
Coffee can also help to improve mood and cognitive function.
Coffee is a good source of antioxidants, which can help to protect the body from damage.
Coffee has been linked to a number of health benefits, including a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
However, too much coffee can also have negative side effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, and headaches.
The average American drinks about 3 cups of coffee per day.
The world’s largest coffee producer is Brazil.
The world’s largest coffee consumer is the United States.
The world’s most expensive coffee is Kopi Luwak, which is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and digested by civet cats.
Coffee is a popular ingredient in many desserts and pastries.
Coffee is also used in some traditional medicines.
The world’s first coffeehouse opened in Constantinople, Turkey, in the 15th century.
The first coffeehouse in the United States opened in Boston in 1675.
The world’s largest coffeehouse chain is Starbucks.
International Coffee Day is celebrated on October 1st.
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes coffee cultivation and trade.

October 1, 2015

2015 Oscars 87th Academy Awards

The big reveal happened on February 22, 2015
Once again, the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, took center stage as the venue
Neil Patrick Harris served as host, marking his first time as the Oscars master of ceremonies
Films released in 2014 were eligible for this round of accolades
Noteworthy Moments: Birdman won Best Picture and Best Director for Alejandro González Iñárritu; Eddie Redmayne won Best Actor for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything; Julianne Moore received Best Actress for Still Alice
Trivia:
1. Birdman was one of the rare films to win Best Picture without having been nominated for any of its actors
2. Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in Boyhood became a viral moment as she advocated for wage equality
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel tied with Birdman for the most awards of the night, each taking home four Oscars
4. John Legend and Common’s performance of “Glory” from Selma received a standing ovation and won the Oscar for Best Original Song
5. Host Neil Patrick Harris paid homage to Birdman and Whiplash with a semi-nude drumming skit, one of the ceremony’s more comedic moments

2015 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:
Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, and James W. Skotchdopole (WINNER)
American Sniper – Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper, and Peter Morgan
Boyhood – Richard Linklater and Cathleen Sutherland
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven M. Rales and Jeremy Dawson
The Imitation Game – Nora Grossman, Ido Ostrowsky, and Teddy Schwarzman
Selma – Christian Colson, Oprah Winfrey, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner
The Theory of Everything – Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, and Anthony McCarten
Whiplash – Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, and David Lancaster

Best Director:
Alejandro G. Iñárritu – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (WINNER)
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Bennett Miller – Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum – The Imitation Game

Best Actor:
Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything as Stephen Hawking (WINNER)
Steve Carell – Foxcatcher as John Eleuthère du Pont
Bradley Cooper – American Sniper as Chris Kyle
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game as Alan Turing
Michael Keaton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as Riggan Thomson

Best Actress:
Julianne Moore – Still Alice as Alice Howland (WINNER)
Marion Cotillard – Two Days, One Night as Sandra Bya
Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything as Jane Wilde Hawking
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl as Amy Elliott-Dunne
Reese Witherspoon – Wild as Cheryl Strayed

Best Supporting Actor:
J. K. Simmons – Whiplash as Terence Fletcher (WINNER)
Robert Duvall – The Judge as Judge Joseph Palmer
Ethan Hawke – Boyhood as Mason Evans, Sr.
Edward Norton – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as Mike Shiner
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher as Dave Schultz

Best Supporting Actress:
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood as Olivia Evans (WINNER)
Laura Dern – Wild as Bobbi Grey
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game as Joan Clarke
Emma Stone – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as Sam Thomson
Meryl Streep – Into the Woods as The Witch

Best Original Screenplay:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo (WINNER)
Boyhood – Richard Linklater
Foxcatcher – E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness
Nightcrawler – Dan Gilroy

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Imitation Game – Graham Moore based on the book Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges (WINNER)
American Sniper – Jason Hall based on the book by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice
Inherent Vice – Paul Thomas Anderson based on the novel by Thomas Pynchon
The Theory of Everything – Anthony McCarten based on the book Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Jane Wilde Hawking
Whiplash – Damien Chazelle based on his short film

Best Animated Feature Film:
Big Hero 6 – Don Hall, Chris Williams, and Roy Conli (WINNER)
The Boxtrolls – Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable, and Travis Knight
How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Dean DeBlois and Bonnie Arnold
Song of the Sea – Tomm Moore and Paul Young
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya – Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura

Best Foreign Language Film:
Ida (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski (WINNER)
Leviathan (Russia) in Russian – Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev
Tangerines (Estonia) in Estonian and Russian – Directed by Zaza Urushadze
Timbuktu (Mauritania) in French – Directed by Abderrahmane Sissako
Wild Tales (Argentina) in Spanish – Directed by Damián Szifron

Best Documentary – Feature:
Citizenfour – Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, and Dirk Wilutzky (WINNER)
Finding Vivian Maier – John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Last Days in Vietnam – Rory Kennedy and Keven McAlester
The Salt of the Earth – Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and David Rosier
Virunga – Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara

Best Documentary – Short Subject:
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1 – Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry (WINNER)
Joanna – Aneta Kopacz
Our Curse – Tomasz Sliwinski and Maciej Slesicki
The Reaper – Gabriel Serra Arguello
White Earth – J. Christian Jensen

Best Live Action Short Film:
The Phone Call – Mat Kirkby and James Lucas (WINNER)
Aya – Oded Binnun and Mihal Brezis
Boogaloo and Graham – Michael Lennox and Ronan Blaney
Butter Lamp – Hu Wei and Julien Féret
Parvaneh – Talkhon Hamzavi and Stefan Eichenberger

Best Animated Short Film:
Feast – Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed (WINNER)
The Beggir Picture – Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees
The Dam Keeper – Robert Kondo and Daisuke Tsutsumi
Me and My Moulton – Torill Kove
A Single Life – Joris Oprins

Best Original Score:
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat (WINNER)
The Imitation Game – Alexandre Desplat
Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
Mr. Turner – Gary Yershon
The Theory of Everything – Jóhann Jóhannsson

Best Original Song:
“Glory” from Selma – Music and Lyrics by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn (WINNER)
“Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie – Music and Lyrics by Shawn Patterson
“Grateful” from Beyond the Lights – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me – Music and Lyrics by Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond
“Lost Stars” from Begin Again – Music and Lyrics by Gregg Alexander and Danielle Brisebois

Best Sound Editing:
American Sniper – Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman (WINNER)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Martin Hernández and Aaron Glascock
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
Interstellar – Richard King
Unbroken – Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro

Best Sound Mixing:
Whiplash – Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins, and Thomas Curley (WINNER)
American Sniper – John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff, and Walt Martin (posthumous nomination)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, and Thomas Varga
Interstellar – Gary A. Rizzo, Gregg Landaker, and Mark Weingarten
Unbroken – Jon Taylor, Frank A. Montaño, and David Lee

Best Production Design:
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock (WINNER)
The Imitation Game – Production Design: Maria Djurkovic; Set Decoration: Tatiana Macdonald
Interstellar – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
Into the Woods – Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Mr. Turner – Production Design: Suzie Davies; Set Decoration: Charlotte Watts

Best Cinematography:
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) – Emmanuel Lubezki (WINNER)
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Robert Yeoman
Ida – Lukasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski
Mr. Turner – Dick Pope
Unbroken – Roger Deakins

Best Makeup: and Hairstyling:
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier (WINNER)
Foxcatcher – Bill Corso and Dennis Liddiard
Guardians of the Galaxy – Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou and David White

Best Costume Design:
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Milena Canonero (WINNER)
Inherent Vice – Mark Bridges
Into the Woods – Colleen Atwood
Maleficent – Anna B. Sheppard
Mr. Turner – Jacqueline Durran

Best Film Editing:
Whiplash – Tom Cross (WINNER)
American Sniper – Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach
Boyhood – Sandra Adair
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Barney Pilling
The Imitation Game – William Goldenberg

Best Visual Effects:
Interstellar – Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter, and Scott Fisher (WINNER)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill, and Dan Sudick
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett, and Erik Winquist
Guardians of the Galaxy – Stephane Ceretti, Nicolas Aithadi, Jonathan Fawkner, and Paul Corbould
X-Men: Days of Future Past – Richard Stammers, Lou Pecora, Tim Crosbie, and Cameron Waldbauer

Honorary Academy Awards:
Jean-Claude Carrière
Hayao Miyazaki
Maureen O’Hara

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:
Harry Belafonte

February 22, 2015

2015 Grammy Award Winners

Winners were broadcast on February 8, 2015
Staples Center in Los Angeles was the go-to venue for the night’s festivities
LL Cool J acted as the host, a role he was becoming quite accustomed to
Music released between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2014, was eligible for awards
Noteworthy Moments: Sam Smith won four awards, including Record and Song of the Year for “Stay With Me”; Beck’s Morning Phase nabbed Album of the Year; Pharrell Williams scored three awards, including one for the infectious “Happy”
Trivia:
1. Sam Smith was one of the few artists to win in all four major categories in one night
2. Kanye West jokingly stormed the stage when Beck won Album of the Year, referencing his infamous Taylor Swift interruption from 2009
3. The awards show featured a “FourFiveSeconds” performance by Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney, generating a lot of buzz
4. AC/DC opened the show, marking their Grammy Awards performance debut
5. Madonna performed “Living for Love” with a matador-themed performance, attracting both praise and criticism

2015 Grammy Winners

Record of the Year:
Stay With Me (Darkchild Version) – Sam Smith

Album of the Year:
Morning Phase – Beck

Song of the Year:
Stay With Me (Darkchild Version) – Sam Smith

Best New Artist:
Sam Smith

Best Pop Solo Performance:
Happy (Live) – Pharrell Williams

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
Say Something – A Great Big World With Christina Aguilera

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Cheek to Cheek – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Best Pop Vocal Album:
In The Lonely Hour – Sam Smith

Best Dance Recording:
Rather Be – Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne

Best Dance/Electronic Album:
Syro – Aphex Twin

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:
Bass & Mandolin – Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer Jr

Best Rock Performance:
Lazaretto – Jack White

Best Metal Performance:
The Last in Line – Tenacious D

Best Rock Song:
Ain’t It Fun – Paramore (Hayley Williams & Taylor York, songwriters)

Best Rock Album:
Morning Phase – Beck

Best Alternative Music Album:
St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Best R&B Performance:
Drunk in Love – Beyonce featuring Jay Z

Best Traditional R&B Performance:
Jesus Children – Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Lalah Hathaway & Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Best R&B Song:
Drunk in Love – Beyonce featuring Jay Z

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Girl – Pharrell Williams

Best R&B Album:
Love, Marriage & Divorce – Toni Braxton & Babyface

Best Rap Performance:
I – Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
The Monster – Eminem Featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song:
I – Kendrick Lamar (K. Duckworth & C. Smith, songwriters)

Best Rap Album:
The Marshall Mathers LP2 – Eminem

Best Country Solo Performance:
Something in the Water – Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
Gentle on My Mind – The Band Perry

Best Country Song:
I’m Not Gonna Miss You – Glen Campbell (Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters)

Best New Age Album:
Winds of Samsara – Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
Fingerprints – Chick Corea, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Beautiful Life – Dianne Reeves

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Trilogy – Chick Corea Trio

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
Life in the Bubble – Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band

Best Latin Jazz Album:
The Offense of the Drum – Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra

Best Gospel Performance/Song:
No Greater Love – Smokie Norful (Smokie Norful; Aaron W. Lindsey & Smokie Norful, songwriters)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song:
Messengers – Lecrae featuring For King & Country

Best Gospel Album:
Help – Erica Campbell

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. – For King & Country

Best Roots Gospel Album:
Shine For All the People – Mike Farris

Best Latin Pop Album:
Tangos – Ruben Blades

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:
Multiviral – Calle 13

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano):
Mano A Mano – Tangos A La Manera De Vicente Fernandez – Vicente Fernandez

Best Tropical Latin Album:
Mas + Corazon Profundo – Carlos Vives

Best American Roots Performance:
A Feather’s Not a Bird – Rosanne Cash

Best American Roots Song:
A Feather’s Not a Bird – Rosanne Cash (Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters)

Best Americana Album:
The River & The Thread – Rosanne Cash

Best Bluegrass Album:
The Earls of Leicester – The Earls of Leicester

Best Blues Album:
Step Back – Johnny Winter

Best Folk Album:
Remedy – Old Crow Medicine Show

Best Regional Roots Music Album:
The Legacy – Jo-El Sonnier

Best Reggae Album:
Fly Rasta – Ziggy Marley

Best World Music Album:
Eve – Angelique Kidjo

Best Children’s Album:
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education and Changed the World (Malala Yousafzai) – Neela Vaswani

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
Diary of a Mad Diva – Joan Rivers

Best Comedy Album:
Mandatory Fun – “Weird Al” Yankovic

Best Musical Theater Album:
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Jason Howland, Steve Sidwell & Billy Jay Stein, producers (Carole King, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Frozen – Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez, Tom MacDougall & Chris Montan, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written for Visual Media:
Let It Go – Idina Menzel (Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters)

Best Instrumental Composition:
The Book Thief – John Williams, composer

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella:
Daft Punk – Pentatonix (Ben Bram, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Kirstin Maldonado & Kevin Olusola, arrangers)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals:
New York Tendaberry” Billy Childs featuring Renee Fleming & Yo-Yo Ma (Billy Childs, arranger)

Best Recording Package:
Lightning Bolt – Pearl Jam (Jeff Ament, Don Pendleton, Joe Spix & Jerome Turner, art directors)

Best Boxed or Special Edition Limited Edition Package:
The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27) – Various Artists (Susan Archie, Dean Blackwood & Jack White, art directors)

Best Album Notes:
Offering: Live At Temple University – John Coltrane (Ashley Kahn, album notes writer)

Best Historical Album:
The Garden Spot Programs, 1950 – Hank Williams (Colin Escott & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Morning Phase – Beck (Tom Elmhirst, David Greenbaum, Florian Lagatta, Cole Marsden Greif-Neill, Robbie Nelson, Darrell Thorp, Cassidy Turbin & Joe Visciano, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical:
Max Martin

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical:
All Of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix) – John Legend (Tijs Michiel Verwest, remixer)

Best Surround Sound Album:
Beyonce – Beyonce (Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Beyonce Knowles, surround producer)

Best Engineered Album, Classical:
Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem; Symphony No. 4; The Lark Ascending – Robert Spano, Norman Mackenzie, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (Michael Bishop, engineer; Michael Bishop, mastering engineer)

Producer of the Year, Classical:
Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance:
Adams, John: City Noir – St. Louis Symphony (David Robertson, conductor)

Best Opera Recording:
Charpentier: La Descente D’Orphee Aux Enfers – Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble; Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble (Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Aaron Sheehan; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer)

Best Choral Performance:
The Sacred Spirit of Russia – Conspirare (Craig Hella Johnson, conductor)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance:
In 27 Pieces – The Hilary Hahn Encores – Hilary Hahn & Cory Smythe

Best Classical Instrumental Solo:
Play – Jason Vieaux

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album:
Douce France – Carl Bagge, Margareta Bengston, Mats Bergström, Per Ekdahl, Bengan Janson, Olle Linder & Antoine Tamestit (Anne Sofie Von Otter; Bengt Forsberg, accompanist)

Best Classical Compendium:
Partch: Plectra & Percussion Dances – Partch (John Schneider, producer)

Best Contemporary Classical Composition:
Adams, John Luther: Become Ocean – Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony (John Luther Adams, composer)

Best Music Video:
Happy – Pharrell Williams (We Are From LA, video director; Kathleen Heffernan, Solal Micenmacher, Jett Steiger, video producers)

Best Music Film:
20 Feet From Stardom – Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill (Morgan Neville, video director; Gil Friesen & Caitrin Rogers, video producers)

February 8, 2015

2014 Number One Hits

2014 Number One Hits

December 29, 2013 – January 4, 2014: The Monster – Eminem featuring Rihanna
January 5 – January 18, 2014: Timber – Pitbull featuring Kesha
January 19 – February 1, 2014: Dark Horse – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
February 2 – May 3, 2014: Happy – Pharrell Williams
May 4 – May 10, 2014: All of Me – John Legend
May 11 – May 24, 2014: Happy – Pharrell Williams
May 25 – June 7, 2014: All of Me – John Legend
June 8 – July 5, 2014: Fancy – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
July 6 – August 16, 2014: Rude – Magic!
August 17 – September 6, 2014: Stay with Me – Sam Smith
September 7 – October 4, 2014: Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
October 5 – November 1, 2014: All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
November 2 – November 15, 2014: Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
November 16 – December 6, 2014: All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
December 7 – December 27, 2014: Blank Space – Taylor Swift
December 28, 2014 – January 3, 2015: Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

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December 31, 2014

2014 History, Facts and Trivia

2014 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2014:

World Bold Event: CVS stopped selling tobacco products in favor of promoting good health.
The Top Song was Happy by Pharell Williams
The Movies to Watch include Interstellar, Jersey Boys, John Wick, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Big Hero 6, and The LEGO Movie
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Chris Hemsworth
Notable books include The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The price of a postage stamp in 2014 was 49 cents
Keurig coffee maker: $149.99
Titleist golf balls: $39.99/12
The number 2147483647 is the biggest possible number in 32-bit computing. In December 2014, “Gangnam Style” exceeded the 32-bit limit for view count, necessitating YouTube to upgrade the variable to a 64-bit integer.
The beard of Tutankhamun’s golden mask fell off during the cleaning process in the Egyptian Museum in 2014. The workers used epoxy glue to reattach the beard, but since that was not the professional method, the mask was permanently damaged. They were later prosecuted for this.
The Funny Musician was: Weird Al Yankovic
The Feud: Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and Anderson Cooper had a public feud that began when Cooper openly mocked Corgan on his show because Corgan posed with his cats on the cover of Paws Chicago, a cat magazine.
The Challenge: The Ice Bucket Challenge took place in the Summer of 2014, supporting the ALS Association.

Top Ten Baby Names of 2014:

Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Isabella, Ava, Noah, Liam, Mason, Jacob, William

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Erin Andrews, Alessandra Ambrosio, Gillian Anderson, Hayley Atwell, Morena Baccarin, Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Ashley Benson, Julie Benz, Tia Blanco, Alison Brie, Emilia Clarke, Lauren Cohan, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Kaley Cuoco, Alexandra Daddario, Brooklyn Decker, Kat Dennings, Zooey Deschanel, Gal Gadot, Karen Gillan, Ellie Goulding, Ariana Grande, Gigi Hadid, Lena Headey, Sarah Hyland, Katie Holmes, Samantha Hoopes, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Scarlett Johansson, Victoria Justice, Jennifer Lawrence, Evangeline Lilly, Demi Lovato, Tatiana Maslany, Rose Mciver, AJ Michalka, Aly Michalka, Kate Middleton, Olivia Munn, Rachel Nichols, Michelle Obama, Elizabeth Olsen, Rita Ora, Katy Perry, Emily Ratajkowski, Bar Refaeli, Rihanna, Margot Robbie, Emmy Rossum, Ronda Rousey, Zoe Saldana, Nicole Scherzinger, Léa Seydoux, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Ivanka Trump, Sophie Turner, Sofia Vergara, Emma Watson, Deborah Ann Woll

The Oscars Selfie:

(Taken by Bradley Cooper at the 2014 Oscars ceremony, including Jennifer Lawrence, Jared Leto, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Spacey, Bradley Cooper, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie)

Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year:

Ebola Fighters

Miss America:

Nina Davuluri

Miss USA:

Nia Sanchez

The Scandals:

Pablo Escobar’s personal hitman, John J. Velásquez, responsible for 3500 murders, was released from jail in 2014 and is now a YouTube personality with 250,000 subscribers.

When the MV Sewol Ferry started sinking in South Korea in 2014, the captain told the passengers, mostly secondary school students, to not move and just stay put. 304 passengers and crew members died in the disaster.

In 2014, more people died in Mexico as a result of armed conflict than in Pakistan or Sudan, both regions with active military conflicts.

Pia Farrenkopf died in 2009… but her body wasn’t discovered until 2014, largely because she had auto-pay set up for her bills. Her mummified body was found in the garage of her newly foreclosed home only after her bank account finally ran dry.

Michelle Carter, a 17-year-old girl, was charged with manslaughter for encouraging her 18-year-old boyfriend to commit suicide.

The Trost family had to leave their $450,000 home in Weldon Spring, MO after it was infested with 4,500 – 6,000 brown recluse spiders, and exterminators could not get rid of them.

Greenpeace ruined the ancient South American UNESCO World Heritage Site- The Nazca Lines, for their own publicity stunt.

South Korean Christians made a Christmas tree visible from the North Korean Border. North Korea responded by calling it a “tool for psychological warfare” and threatened to bomb it.

Charles Manson was granted a marriage license, but the wedding was canceled after it was discovered that 26-year-old Afton Elaine “Star” Burton only wanted to marry Manson so she and a friend, Craig “Gray Wolf” Hammond, could use his corpse as a tourist attraction after he died.

An 8-year-old boy named Tyler Doohan saved six members of his family from his burning house before finally succumbing to the fire himself while trying to save the last victim, his disabled grandfather.

So far, Comcast has won the “Worst Company in America” award twice, first in 2010 and second in 2014.

In 2014, Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon and owner of WaPo) was named the world’s worst boss by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), an organization with 176 million members in 162 countries.

When James Brady (the man paralyzed by a gunshot wound from the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt) died in 2014, it was ruled a homicide 33 years after the incident.

During a concert, Kanye West halted the performance of Good Life because the entire audience was not standing. The person he signaled out was in a wheelchair.

Romania shipped a reputed 93.4 Tons of gold to Russia in 1916 so that Russia would safely keep the Romanian Treasure in the Kremlin until the war’s end. And, as of 2014, they got back only 33 kg of it.

Namibia raised over $350k by auctioning off the right to hunt one endangered black rhino. The rhino was past breeding age and detrimental to the rest of the herd. The money was used to protect endangered animals.

Pop Culture Fun Facts:

In 2014, Betty White was awarded the Guinness World Record for “Longest TV Career for an Entertainer (Female)”, with a 1939 debut.

The US Murder rate in 2014 is less than half of what it was in 1990 and far lower than the ’70s and ’80s.

“Dagobertducktaks” – the 2014 Dutch word of the year – is an extra tax for the super-rich, named after Donald Duck’s uncle Dagobert, known in English as Scrooge McDuck.

As of 2014, the USA ranked 25th worldwide in internet download speeds and 40th in upload speeds. Though this accounting varies daily, America’s download speeds were never in the top 20 countries.

Google became more valuable than Russia’s entire stock market in December 2014.

Original Top Model winner Adrianne Curry fended off an attacker with a bullwhip while dressed as Catwoman at San Diego Comic-Con.

Mazda recalled 42,000 cars because the yellow sac spider would climb into the gas tank and form a web, blocking airflow. This was the second recall- the first was in 2011 for the same reason.

Cheetos made a fragrance called Chateau in 2014.

Early one morning in St. Petersburg, Florida, a Starbucks drive-thru customer decided to pay for the next customer’s order, which ignited an 11-hour-long pay-it-forward chain that lasted from 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. later that evening when customer No. 379 declined to participate.

In 2014, Hilton Worldwide sold the famous Waldorf Astoria New York hotel to a Chinese Insurance Company for just under $2 billion, with plans to turn the Art Deco landmark into luxury apartments.

As of 2014, only two artists have had their first two singles reach #1 and #2 on the Billboard charts: The Beatles and Iggy Azalea.

Superman would have entered the public domain on 1 January 2014 if copyright terms in the United States had not been extended in the late 1990s. Currently, 2033 is the next date to look for possible changes.

In 2014, the ALS Association received $100.9 million in donations compared to $2.8 million during the same period the year before, thanks to the ice bucket challenge.

ISTAT, the Italian government’s National Institute of Statistics, won an “IG Nobel Prize” (a parody of the Nobel prizes) in economics for ” including revenue from illegal drug sales, prostitution, smuggling, etc., in GDP reporting, to meet an EU regulatory mandate.”

Godzilla was only seen for about 8 minutes in the 2014 film Godzilla.

Taylor Swift accidentally released 8 seconds of white noise on iTunes for $1.29. It became #1 in Canada almost immediately before being removed.

English YouTube star Zoella uploaded a picture of a “random man & his dog” on the beach to Instagram. The “random man” was Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.

A Swiss Bank Deposit Vault containing 8 million five-centime coins, or 400,000 Swiss francs, was sold. It has been described as “the perfect gift for a real-life Scrooge McDuck”.

In 2014, bots outnumbered humans on the internet for the first time, making up 60 percent of all web traffic.

Molecular biologist James Watson put his Nobel Prize up for auction in 2014 due to financial hardships. It sold for $4.1 million and was promptly returned to him by the buyer.

Shavarsh Karapetyan, a 17-time world champion swimmer, heard that a bus had crashed in the water. He went into the deep water and rescued 20 people from drowning. After 10 years, he rescued more people from a burning hospital. He also carried the torch in the Winter Olympics of 2014.

At the 2014 Kid’s Choice Awards for Nickelodeon, nominees for “Favorite Book” included Harry Potter, which ended in 2007, and The Hobbit, published in 1937.

In 2014, only 7 humans were killed by sharks, while humans killed an estimated 63,000,000 sharks.

111-year-old Alexander Imich was a survivor of both the Holocaust and the Soviet gulags. Mr. Imich also became the World’s Oldest Living Man in 2014.

United Passions opened in 10 US theatres on its three-day opening weekend and only grossed $941, the lowest opening in US box office history.

If all the K-cups sold in 2014 were laid end to end, they would circle the Earth at least ten times.

“The Simpsons Guy”, the 2014 crossover between The Simpsons and Family Guy, was described by one critic as a “blight on humanity itself”.

During the Super Bowl and Puppy Bowl, Nat Geo Wild showed the “Fish Bowl,” a 4-hour clip of a goldfish swimming in a bowl.

Because the NFL owns and enforces the trademark for the term “Super Bowl,” almost all ads and commercial uses will instead reference “The Big Game” or something similar. Stephen Colbert even used “The Superb Owl” in 2014.

The cost of a 30-second Super Bowl ad is 4.25 million dollars.

A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, serial number 3851GT, sold at Bonham’s Quail Auction on August 14, 2014, for $34,650,000.00 ($38,115,000.00 including buyer premium), breaking the record previously held by a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196R race car

Dr. Oz’s The Good Life began publication

2014 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:

Little Green Army Men, Bubbles, Rubik’s Cube

1st Appearances & 2014’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

New Nintendo 3DS XL

Broadway Show – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Musical) Opened on January 12, 2014

Broadway Show – Aladdin (Musical) Opened on March 20, 2014

Broadway Show – Les Miserables (Musical) Opened on March 23, 2014, and closed on September 4, 2016 (revival)

Best Film Oscar:

12 Years a Slave (presented in 2014)

2014 Entries to The National Film Registry:

13 Lakes (released in 2004)
Bert Williams Lime Kiln Club Field Day (released in 1913)
The Big Lebowski (released in 1998)
Down Argentine Way (released in 1940)
The Dragon Painter (released in 1919)
Felicia (released in 1965)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (released in 1986)
The Gang’s All Here (released in 1943)
House of Wax (released in 1953)
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport (released in 2000)
Little Big Man (released in 1970)
Luxo Jr. (released in 1986)
Moon Breath Beat (released in 1980)
Please Don’t Bury Me Alive! (released in 1976)
The Power and the Glory (released in 1933)
Rio Bravo (released in 1959)
Rosemary’s Baby (released in 1968)
Ruggles of Red Gap (released in 1935)
Saving Private Ryan (released in 1998)
Shoes (released in 1916)
State Fair (released in 1933)
Unmasked (released in 1917)
V-E Day +1 (May 9, 1945) (released in 1945)
The Way of Peace (released in 1947)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (released in 1971)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. American Sniper
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
5. The LEGO Movie
6. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
7. Transformers: Age of Extinction
8. Maleficent
9. X-Men: Days of Future Past
10. Big Hero 6

Sports:

World Series Champions: San Francisco Giants
Super Bowl Champions: Seattle Seahawks
NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
Stanley Cup Champs: Los Angeles Kings
US Open Golf: Martin Kaymer
US Tennis: (Men/Ladies): Marin Cilic/Serena Williams
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Novak Djokovic/Petra Kvitová
NCAA Football Champions: Ohio State
NCAA Basketball Champions: Connecticut
Kentucky Derby: California Chrome
FIFA World Cup (Soccer): Germany

December 30, 2014

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2014

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2014:

2014 Best-seller Highlights

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the final installment in the epic Wheel of Time series. It concludes the sprawling fantasy saga with a dramatic and satisfying resolution, weaving together numerous storylines in an intricate tapestry of magic, war, and destiny.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: A beautiful and poignant novel set during World War II, it tells the parallel stories of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths eventually cross, exploring themes of fate, humanity, and the unseen light in a dark world.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth: The third book in the Divergent series, this dystopian young adult novel continues the adventures of Tris Prior in a society divided into factions. It delves deeper into rebellion, loyalty, and the complexities of choice and consequence.

America by Dinesh D’Souza: This book critically examines American history and politics. D’Souza challenges perceptions of the United States, arguing against what he sees as a distorted view of its history and global role.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: A clever and witty novel set in Australia, it revolves around three women and a series of events leading up to a mysterious death. It’s a brilliant take on ex-husbands, second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves to survive.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: This touching young adult novel tells the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two teenagers who meet and fall in love at a cancer support group, exploring themes of love, loss, and the human condition.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a thrilling novel that explores the complexities of marriage, media, and manipulation. The story revolves around the disappearance of Amy Dunne and the ensuing media frenzy and police investigation, with surprising twists.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: A sweeping and emotionally gripping novel that follows the life of Theo Decker, who, after surviving a terrorist bombing as a child, is taken in by a wealthy family and drawn into a world of art, obsession and underground antiques.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: A non-fiction masterpiece, it tells the incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic runner who became an airman during World War II, survived a plane crash, spent 47 days drifting on a raft, and was then captured and tortured by the Japanese navy.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler: In this memoir, the beloved comedian and actress offers a hilarious and candid collection of stories, thoughts, ideas, lists, and haikus, providing a unique and humorous insight into her world.

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Act of War by Brad Thor
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
America by Dinesh D’Souza
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Blood Feud by Edward Klein
Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
Captivated by You by Sylvia Day
Carnal Curiosity by Stuart Woods
The Chance by Robyn Carr
The Collector by Nora Roberts
Concealed in Death by Nora Roberts
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Duty by Robert M. Gates
Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Festive in Death by J.D. Robb
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Flash Boys by Michael Lewis
41 by George W. Bush
Frozen by Victoria Saxon
The Future of the Mind by Michio Kaku
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gray Mountain by John Grisham
Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hope to Die by James Patterson
Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Invisible by James Patterson
Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly
The King by J.R. Ward
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
Missing You by Harlan Coben
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
The One and Only by Emily Giffin
One Nation by Ben Carson with Candy Carson
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Personal by Lee Child
Private L.A. by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
Revival by Stephen King
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts
Skin Game by Jim Butcher
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
10% Happier by Dan Harris
The Target by David Baldacci
Things That Matter by Charles Krauthammer
13 Hours by Mitchell Zuckoff
Thrive by Arianna Huffington
Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich
Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Unlucky 13 by James Patterson
What If by Randall Munroe
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Yes Please by Amy Poehler

December 26, 2014

2014 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

2014 Most Popular Songs

1. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

2. Stay With Me – Sam Smith

3. Fancy – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX

4. Happy – Pharrell Williams

5. All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor

6. Turn Down For What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon

7. Pompeii – Bastille

8. Bang Bang – Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj

9. Talk Dirty – Jason Derulo Featuring 2 Chainz

10. Sing – Ed Sheeran

11. Chandelier – Sia

12. Let It Go – Idina Menzel

13. Boom Clap – Charlie XCX

14. Really Don’t Care – Demi Lovato Featuring Cher Lloyd

15. Breaking Free – Ariana Grande featuring Zedd

16. Best Day of My Life – American Authors

17. Don’t – Ed Sheeran

18. The Walker – Fitz And The Tantrums

19. Rather Be – Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne New Eyes

20. Problem – Ariana Grande Featuring Iggy Azalea

21. Maps – Maroon 5

22. Story of My Life – One Direction

23. Classic – MKTO

24. Demons – Imagine Dragons

25. Sleeping With A Friend – Neon Trees

26. Ain’t It Fun – Paramore

27. O.A.R. – Peace

28. Me and My Broken Heart – Rixton

29. Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo

30. Move – Little Mix

31. Stay The Night – Zedd Featuring Hayley Williams

32. Love Runs Out – OneRepublic

33. Am I Wrong? – Nico & Vinz

34. Magic – Coldplay

35. Hey Brother – Avicii

36. Neon Lights – Demi Lovato

37. A Sky Full Of Stars – Coldplay

38. Latch – Disclosure Featuring Sam Smith

39. Riptide – Vance Joy

40. I Don’t Dance – Lee Brice

41. Anaconda – Nicki Minaj

42. Summer – Calvin Harris

43. All of Me – John Legend

44. Come With Me Now – Kongos

45. Black Widow – Iggy Azalea featuring Rita Ora

46. The Monster – Eminem Featuring Rihanna

47. Animals – Maroon 5

48. Wiggle – Jason Derulo Featuring Snoop Dogg

49. Do What You Want – Lady Gaga featuring R. Kelly

50. Dark Horse – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J

51. Not A Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake

52. #Selfie – The Chainsmokers

53. The Worst – Jhene Aiko

54. Birthday – Katy Perry

55. Team – Lorde

56. Shower – Becky G

57. Sweater Weather – The Neighbourhood

58. Part II (On The Run) Jay Z Featuring Beyonce

59. Dirt – Florida Georgia Line

60. Move – Little Mix

61. Bailando – Enrique Iglesias Featuring Descemer Bueno

62. On Top Of The World – Imagine Dragons

63. Say Something – A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera

64. Fever – Black Keys

65. Can’t Remember To Forget You – Shakira Featuring Rihanna

66. She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds Of Summer

67. Cool Kids – Echosmith

68. Human – Christina Perri

69. This is How We Roll – Florida Georgia Line featuring Luke Bryan

70. Girls Chase Boys – Ingrid Michaelson

71. Unbelievers – Vampire Weekend

72. I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore – Rise Against

73. Out of My League – Fitz and the Tantrums

74. Don’t Tell ‘Em – Jeremih Featuring YG

75. Adore You – Miley Cyrus

76. Raging Fire – Phillip Phillips

77. Dangerous – Big Data with Joywave

78. Good Kisser – Usher

79. The Man – Aloe Blacc

80. Amnesia – 5 Seconds Of Summer

81. The Mother We Share – Chvrches

82. Empire – Shakira

83. Heaven Knows – The Pretty Reckless

84. Back To The Shack – Weezer

85. Back Home – Andy Grammer

86. I Blame You – Ledisi

87. Love Never Felt So Good – Michael Jackson & Justin Timberlake

88. Feelin It – Scotty McCreery

89. Drunk In Love – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z

90. Na Na – Trey Songz

91. Dirty Paws – Of Monsters and Men

92. My Sweet Summer – Dirty Heads

93. Chocolate – The 1975

94. You & I – One Direction

95. Animals – Martin Garrix

96. American Kids- Kenny Chesney

97. Do You Want To Build a Snowman? – Kristin Bell

98. Headlights – Eminem Featuring Nate Ruess

99. Show Me – Kid Ink Featuring Chris Brown

100. Red Lights – Tiesto

December 26, 2014

Happy Songs and Upbeat Music

150 Inspirational Songs & Happy Music

It has been shown that people can increase their positive mood when the music they listen to is cheerful and optimistic. Twenty-three separate studies (so far) involving more than 1,500 people have found that music can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. If your songs are happy, you can not only reduce your stress, but also do your body a favor… GET HAPPY!

Does the order really matter? No – just get these Happy Tracks and play them on shuffle!

1. What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

2. Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

3. I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits

4. Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes

5. Happy – Pharrell Williams

6. Firework – Katy Perry

7. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

8. Good As Hell – Lizzo

9. Shut Up and Dance With Me – Walk The Moon

10. Happy Together – The Turtles

11. Can’t Stop the Feeling! – Justin Timberlake

12. Joy To The World – Three Dog Night

13. Good Feeling – Flo Rida

14. C’est La Vie – B*Witched

15. Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars

16. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

17. Don’t Worry, Be Happy- Bobby McFerrin

18. Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus

19. Perfect Day – Hoku

20. Feeling Groovy – Simon and Garfunkle

21. Get Happy – Judy Garland

22. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift

23. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction

24. What A Feeling (Flashdance) – Irene Cara

25. Best Day of My Life – American Authors

26. Celebration – Kool and the Gang

27. Say Yes – Michelle Williams Featuring Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland

28. Footloose – Kenny Loggins

29. I’m Like a Bird – Nelly Furtado

30. Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland

31. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye

32. You Make Me Feel… Cobra Starship featuring Sabi

33. Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti And Spearhead

34. Lovely Day – Bill Withers

35. Rhythm Of Love – Plain White T’s

36. Get on Your Feet – Gloria Estefan

37. I’m A Believer – The Monkees

38. Beautiful Day – U2

39. Valerie – Mark Ronson Featuring Amy Winehouse

40. Enjoy Yourself – The Jacksons

41. Love Shack – B-52s

42. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

43. Friend of Mine – Clarence Clemons and Jackson Brown

44. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

45. Domino – Jessie J

46. You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor or Carol King

47. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown

48. Good Vibrations – Beach Boys

49. I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross

50. Happy And You Know It – Ray Castoldi

51. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO

52. Pocketful of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield

53. Burnin’ Up – Jonas Brothers

54. Simply The Best – Tina Turner

55. A Moment Like This – Kelly Clarkson

56. Lean On Me – Bill Withers or Club Nouveau

57. Fine By Me – Andy Grammer

58. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles

59. Pocket Full of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfield

60. Dynamite – Taio Cruz

61. A Beautiful Morning – The Rascals

62. Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles

63. Wonderful! Wonderful! – Johnny Mathis

64. You’re My Best Friend – Queen

65. You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates

66. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life – Eric Idle

67. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley

68. Kokomo – Beach Boys

69. Happy – Rolling Stones

70. Make It Happen – Mariah Carey

71. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown

72. Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder

73. Sing A Song – Earth, Wind and Fire

74. Bubbly – Colbie Caillat

75. This Is Your Night – Amber

76. Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here – various (Pop Standard)

77. It’s A Miracle – Barry Manilow

78. You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban

79. Together Forever – Rick Astley

80. Oh! What A Beautiful Morning! – From Oklahoma!

81. Feelin’ Stronger Every Day – Chicago

82. I’m Still Standing – Elton John

83. Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO

84. Top Of The World – Carpenters

85. Make Someone Happy- Jimmy Durante

86. I Feel Pretty – Maria (West Side Story)

87. Stronger – Kelly Clarkson

88. That’s The Way (I Like It) – KC & The Sunshine Band

89. Holiday – Madonna

90. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac

91. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!

92. Best Friend – Aqua

93. Love On Top – Beyonce

94. Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead

95. Tightrope – Janelle Monáe

96. What Dreams Are made Of – Hillary Duff

97. Groovin’ – The Young Rascals

98. Hey Ya! – Outkast

99. Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band

100. Daylight – Matt & Kim

125. We Will Rock You – Queen

126. I’m So Excited -The Pointer Sisters

127. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder

128. 22 – Taylor Swift.

129. Good Life – OneRepublic

130. Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

131. Ready To Go – Republica

132. Oh Yeah – Yello

133. Shake It Out – Florence + The Machine

134. Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down – Mase

135. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

136. Theme From New York, New York – Frank Sinatra (or Liza Minelli)

137. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher – Jackie Wilson

138. I’ll Tumble 4 Ya – Culture Club

139. Lose Yourself To Dance – Daft Punk

140. Roll With It – Steve Winwood

141. I Got Rhythm – written by Gershwin & Gershin

142. Hold Your Head Up – Argent

143. Give Me Everything Tonight – Pitbull Featuring Ne-Yo

144. California Dreamin’ – Mamas and the Papas

145. I Don’t Want It at All – Kim Petras

146. The Rising – Bruce Springsteen

147. Living In America – James Brown

148. Good Day Sunshine – Beatles

149. C’mon Get Happy – The Partridge Family Theme

150. Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann

June 21, 2014

2014 Oscars 86th Academy Award Winners

Winners were unveiled on March 2, 2014
The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood was once more the setting for Hollywood’s biggest night.
Ellen DeGeneres took on hosting duties, returning to the role for the second time.
Films released in 2013 were up for awards.
Noteworthy Moments: 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture; Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for Dallas Buyers Club; Cate Blanchett took home Best Actress for Blue Jasmine
Take the PCM Hollywood Sign Quiz!
Trivia:
1. Ellen DeGeneres’ (actually taken by Bradley Cooper) selfie with several A-list celebrities became the most retweeted photo at the time
2. Lupita Nyong’o won Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave, her first feature film role
3. The film Gravity scored seven Oscars but missed out on Best Picture
4. Matthew McConaughey’s acceptance speech coined the term “McConaissance,” highlighting his career resurgence
5. Pharrell Williams performed “Happy” and danced with audience members, including Lupita Nyong’o, adding a feel-good moment to the ceremony

2014 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:

12 Years a Slave – Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Steve McQueen and Anthony Katagas, producers (WINNER)
American Hustle – Charles Roven, Richard Suckle, Megan Ellison and Jonathan Gordon, producers
Captain Phillips – Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, producers
Dallas Buyers Club – Robbie Brenner and Rachel Winter, producers
Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón and David Heyman, producers
Her – Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay, producers
Nebraska – Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, producers
Philomena – Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan and Tracey Seaward, producers
The Wolf of Wall Street – Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joey McFarland and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, producers

Best Director:

Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity (WINNER)
Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell – American Hustle
Alexander Payne – Nebraska
Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor:

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club as Ron Woodroof (WINNER)
Christian Bale – American Hustle as Irving Rosenfeld
Bruce Dern – Nebraska as Woodrow “Woody” Grant
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street as Jordan Belfort
Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave as Solomon Northup

Best Actress:

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine as Jeanette “Jasmine” Francis (WINNER)
Amy Adams – American Hustle as Edith Greensly / Sydney Prosser
Sandra Bullock – Gravity as Dr. Ryan Stone
Judi Dench – Philomena as Philomena Lee
Meryl Streep – August: Osage County as Violet Weston

Best Supporting Actor:

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club as Rayon (WINNER)
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips as Abduwali Muse
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle as Richard “Richie” DiMaso
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave as Edwin Epps
Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street as Donnie Azoff

Best Supporting Actress:

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave as Patsey (WINNER)
Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine as Ginger
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle as Rosalyn Rosenfeld
Julia Roberts – August: Osage County as Barbara Weston-Fordham
June Squibb – Nebraska as Kate Grant

Best Original Screenplay:

Her – Spike Jonze (WINNER)
American Hustle – Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Blue Jasmine – Woody Allen
Dallas Buyers Club – Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack
Nebraska – Bob Nelson

Best Adapted Screenplay:

12 Years a Slave – John Ridley based on the book Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (WINNER)
Before Midnight – Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke based on characters created by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan
Captain Phillips – Billy Ray based on the book A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty
Philomena – Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
The Wolf of Wall Street – Terence Winter based on the book by Jordan Belfort

Best Animated Feature Film:

Frozen – Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho (WINNER)
The Croods – Kirk DeMicco, Chris Sanders and Kristine Belson
Despicable Me 2 – Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin and Chris Meledandri
Ernest & Celestine – Benjamin Renner and Didier Brunner
The Wind Rises – Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki

Best Foreign Language Film:

The Great Beauty (Italy) in Italian – Directed by Paolo Sorrentino (WINNER)
The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium) in Dutch – Directed by Felix Van Groeningen
The Hunt (Denmark) in Danish – Directed by Thomas Vinterberg
The Missing Picture (Cambodia) in French – Directed by Rithy Panh
Omar (Palestine) in Arabic – Directed by Hany Abu-Assad

Best Documentary – Feature:

20 Feet from Stardom – Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers and Gil Friesen (posthumous award) (WINNER)
The Act of Killing – Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
Cutie and the Boxer – Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher
Dirty Wars – Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill
The Square – Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer

Best Documentary – Short Subject:

The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life – Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed (WINNER)
CaveDeggir – Jeffrey Karoff
Facing Fear – Jason Cohen
Karama Has No Walls – Sara Ishaq
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall – Edgar Barens

Best Live Action Short Film:

Helium – Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson (WINNER)
Aquél no era yo (That Wasn’t Me) – Esteban Crespo
Avant que de tout perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) – Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras
Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?) – Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari
The Voorman Problem – Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

Best Animated Short Film:

Mr Hublot – Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares (WINNER)
Feral – Daniel Sousa and Dan Golden
Get a Horse! – Lauren MacMullan and Dorothy McKim
Possessions – Shuhei Morita
Room on the Broom – Max Lang and Jan Lachauer

Best Original Score:

Gravity – Steven Price (WINNER)
The Book Thief – John Williams
Her – William Butler and Owen Pallett
Philomena – Alexandre Desplat
Saving Mr. Banks – Thomas Newman

Best Original Song:

“Let It Go” from Frozen – Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (WINNER)
“Happy” from Despicable Me 2 – Music and Lyrics by Pharrell Williams
“The Moon Song” from Her – Music by Karen O; Lyrics by Karen O and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Music by Paul Hewson, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen (U2); Lyrics by Paul Hewson
“Alone yet Not Alone” from Alone yet Not Alone – Music by Bruce Broughton; Lyrics by Dennis Spiegel (nomination revoked)

Best Sound Editing:

Gravity – Glenn Freemantle (WINNER)
All Is Lost – Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
Captain Phillips – Oliver Tarney
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Brent Burge and Chris Ward
Lone Survivor – Wylie Stateman

Best Sound Mixing:

Gravity – Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro (WINNER)
Captain Phillips – Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson
Inside Llewyn Davis – Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland
Lone Survivor – Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Best Production Design:

The Great Gatsby – Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn (WINNER)
12 Years a Slave – Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker
American Hustle – Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler
Gravity – Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard
Her – Production Design: K. K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena

Best Cinematography:

Gravity – Emmanuel Lubezki (WINNER)
The Grandmaster – Philippe Le Sourd
Inside Llewyn Davis – Bruno Delbonnel
Nebraska – Phedon Papamichael
Prisoners – Roger Deakins

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Dallas Buyers Club – Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews (WINNER)
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – Stephen Prouty
The Lone Ranger – Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

Best Costume Design:

The Great Gatsby – Catherine Martin (WINNER)
12 Years a Slave – Patricia Norris
American Hustle – Michael Wilkinson
The Grandmaster – William Chang Suk Ping
The Invisible Woman – Michael O’Connor

Best Film Editing:

Gravity – Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger (WINNER)
12 Years a Slave – Joe Walker
American Hustle – Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
Captain Phillips – Christopher Rouse
Dallas Buyers Club – John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa

Best Visual Effects:

Gravity – Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould (WINNER)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds
Iron Man 3 – Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick
The Lone Ranger – Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier
Star Trek Into Darkness – Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton]

Academy Honorary Awards:

Angela Lansbury
Steve Martin
Piero Tosi

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:

Angelina Jolie

March 2, 2014

2014 Grammy Award Winners

2014 Grammy Award Winners

Announced on January 26, 2014
Staples Center was the venue of choice in Los Angeles
LL Cool J hosted, adding to his Grammy hosting repertoire
The eligibility period spanned from October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013
Noteworthy Moments: Daft Punk won Record of the Year for Get Lucky and Album of the Year for Random Access Memories; Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home four awards, including Best New Artist; Lorde won Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for Royals.
Trivia:
1. Daft Punk’s performance with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder became a standout medley of the night
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis sent a political message by featuring a mass wedding during their performance of Same Love.
3. The night was dubbed “the year of the rookies” as Lorde and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, both newcomers, stole the show
4. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, two of The Beatles, reunited for a performance, receiving a standing ovation
5. Taylor Swift headbanged during her performance of “All Too Well,” creating a memorable moment and a wealth of internet memes

2014 Grammy Winners

Record Of The Year of 2014

Get Lucky – Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers

Album Of The Year

Random Access Memories – Daft Punk

Song Of The Year

Royals – Ella Yelich O’Connor, Joel Little, songwriters (Lorde)

Best New Artist of 2014

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Pop Solo Performance

Royals – Lorde

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Get Lucky – Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Steppin’ Out – Herb Alpert

Best Pop Vocal Album

Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars

Best Dance Recording of 2014

Clarity – Zedd & Foxes

Best Dance/Electronica Album

Random Access Memories – Daft Punk

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

To Be Loved – Michael Bublé

Best Rock Performance

Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

Best Metal Performance

God Is Dead? – Black Sabbath

Best Rock Song of 2014

Cut Me Some Slack – Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear.

Best Rock Album

Celebration Day – Led Zeppelin

Best Alternative Music Album

Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend

Best R&B Performance

Something – Snarky Puppy & Lalah Hathaway

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Please Come Home – Gary Clark, Jr.

Best R&B Song of 2014

Pusher Love Girl – James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Unapologetic – Rihanna

Best R&B Album of 2014

Girl on Fire – Alicia Key

Best Rap Performance

Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Holy Grail – Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake

Best Rap Song of 2014

Thrift Shop -Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)

Best Rap Album of 2014

The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Best Country Solo Performance

Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

From This Valley – The Civil Wars

Best Country Song of 2014

Merry Go ‘Round – Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

Best Country Album of 2014

Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves

Best New Age Album

Love’s River – Laura Sullivan

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Orbits – Wayne Shorter, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Liquid Spirit – Gregory Porter

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue – Terri Lyne Carrington

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Night in Calisia – Randy Brecker, Wlodek Pawlik Trio & Kalisz Philharmonic

Best Latin Jazz Album

Song for Maura – Paquito D’Rivera and Trio Corrente

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Break Every Chain (Live) – Tasha Cobbs

Best Gospel Song

If He Did It Before… Same God (Live) – Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song

Overcomer – David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)

Best Gospel Album

Greater Than (Live) – Tye Tribbett

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Overcomer – Mandisa

Best Latin Pop Album

Vida – Draco Rosa

Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album

Treinta Días – La Santa Cecilia

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano)

A Mi Manera – Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea

Best Tropical Latin Album

Pacific Mambo Orchestra – Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Best American Roots Song

Love Has Come For You – Edie Brickell & Steve Martin, songwriters (Steve Martin & Edie Brickell)

Best Americana Album

Old Yellow Moon — Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

Best Bluegrass Album

The Streets of Baltimore — Del McCoury Band

Best Blues Album

Get Up! — Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite

Best Folk Album

My Favorite Picture of You — Guy Clark

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Dockside Sessions — Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

Best Reggae Album

Ziggy Marley In Concert – Ziggy Marley

Best World Music Album

Savor Flamenco – Gipsy Kings

Best Children’s Album

Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well – Jennifer Gasoi

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)

America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren’t – Stephen Colbert

Best Comedy Album of 2014

Calm Down Gurrl – Kathy Griffin

Musical Theater Album

Kinky Boots – Billy Porter & Stark Sands, principal soloists; Sammy James, Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus & William Wittman, producers; Cyndi Lauper, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Sound City: Real to Reel – Dave Grohl & Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

Skyfall – Thomas Newman, composer

Best Song Written For Visual Media

Skyfall (from Skyfall) – Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)

Best Instrumental Composition

Pensamientos For Solo Alto Saxophone And Chamber Orchestra

Best Instrumental Arrangement

On Green Dolphin Street – Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

Swing Low – Gil Goldstein, arranger (Bobby McFerrin & Esperanza Spalding)

Best Recording Package

Long Night Moon – Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

Wings Over America (Deluxe Edition) – Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney and Wings)

Best Album Notes

Afro Blue Impressions (Remastered & Expanded) – Neil Tesser, album notes writer (John Coltrane)

Best Historical Album (tie)

Charlie Is My Darling – Ireland 1965
Teri Landi, Andrew Loog Oldham & Steve Rosenthal, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (The Rolling Stones)

The Complete Sussex And Columbia Albums
Leo Sacks, compilation producer; Joseph M. Palmaccio, Tom Ruff & Mark Wilder, mastering engineers (Bill Withers)

Best Engineered Album, Non-classical

Random Access Memories – Peter Franco, Mick Guzauski, Florian Lagatta & Daniel Lerner, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Daft Punk)

Producer Of The Year, Non-classical

Pharrell Williams

Best Remixed Recording, Non-classical

Summertime Sadness (Cedric Gervais Remix)

Best Surround Sound Album

Live Kisses -Al Schmitt, surround mix engineer; Tommy LiPuma, surround producer (Paul McCartney)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Winter Morning Walks -David Frost, Brian Losch & Tim Martyn, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Dawn Upshaw, Maria Schneider, Australian Chamber Orchestra & Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra)

Producer Of The Year, Classical

David Frost – Andres: Home Stretch (Timo Andres, Andrew Cyr & Metropolis Ensemble)

Best Orchestral Performance

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4 – Osmo Vänskä (conductor), Minnesota Orchestra

Best Opera Recording

Adès: The Tempest – Thomas Adès (conductor); Simon Keenlyside, Isabel Leonard, Audrey Luna, Alan Oke (soloists); Luisa Bricetti and Victoria Warivonchick (producers)

Best Choral Performance

Pärt: Adam’s Lament, Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor) (with Tui Hirv & Rainer Vilu; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Sinfonietta Riga & Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; Latvian Radio Choir & Vox Clamantis)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Roomful of Teeth – Brad Wells & Roomful of Teeth

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Corigliano: Conjurer – Concerto for Percussionist & String Orchestra – Evelyn Glennie (soloist), David Alan Miller (conductor)

Best Classical Vocal Solo

Winter Morning Walks- Dawn Upshaw

Best Classical Compendium

Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic; Konzertmusik, Christoph Eschenbach (conductor)

Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Winter Morning Walks- Maria Schneider

Best Music Video of 2014

Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z, David Fincher, video director; Timory King, video producer

Best Music Film

Live Kisses – Paul McCartney, Jonas Åkerlund, video director; Violaine Etienne, Aron Levine & Scott Rodger, video producers

January 26, 2014

2013 Number One Hits

2013 Number One Hits

December 30, 2013– January 12, 2013: Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
January 13 – February 2, 2013: Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
February 3 – February 9, 2013: Harlem Shake – Baauer
February 10 – March 2, 2013: Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
March 3 – March 9, 2013: Harlem Shake – Baauer
March 10 – April 6, 2013: Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
April 7 – April 13, 2013: When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
April 14 – April 20, 2013: Just Give Me a Reason – Pink featuring Nate Ruess
April 21 – May 18, 2013: Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton
May 19 – June 1, 2013: Just Give Me a Reason – Pink featuring Nate Ruess
June 2 – June 29, 2013: Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
June 30 – July 6, 2013: We Can’t Stop – Miley Cyrus
July 7 – September 7, 2013: Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
September 8 – September 14, 2013: Roar – Katy Perry
September 15 – September 28, 2013: Wrecking Ball – Miley Cyrus
September 29 – December 7, 2013: Royals – Lorde
December 8 – December 14, 2013: The Monster – Eminem featuring Rihanna
December 15 – December 28, 2013: Timber – Pitbull featuring Kesha
December 29, 2013 – January 4, 2014: The Monster – Eminem featuring Rihanna

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December 31, 2013

2013 History, Facts and Trivia

2013 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2013:

The Mis-heard Event: Public schools in Philadelphia went on lockdown in 2013 after a teacher misheard The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song lyrics as “shooting some people outside of school,” instead of “shooting some b-ball.”
When Ed Sheeran’s “The A-Team” received a Grammy nomination Elton John tried to get Ed a performance slot at the award show, but was told he was not high-profile enough. Elton decided to perform with Ed to solve the problem.
The Top Song was Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke with T.I. and Pharrell
The Movies to Watch include Frozen, 12 Years a Slave, The Great Gatsby, The Lone Ranger, Saving Mr. Banks, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Gravity, Oz the Great and Powerful, and Captain Phillips
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Adam Levine
Notable books include: American Sniper by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice and Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach
Price of Lipton Teabags in 2013: $3.99/100
Price of a movie ticket: $8.00
Price of extra-large eggs: $2.40/dozen
The Funny Co-Hosts were: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
Electronic Arts was voted “The Worst Company In America” by The Consumerist for 2 years in a row in 2012 and 2013
The Rap Record: Eminem set the Guinness World Record with Rap God for most words in a hit single. The song has a record-breaking 1560 words in 6 minutes 4 seconds and averaging 4.28 words per second.
The Game Sensation: Flappy Bird was a free-to-play casual mobile game released on the iOS App Store on May 24, 2013, and on Google Play on January 30, 2014, by mobile app developer Dong Nguyen. On February 9th, he took the game off the market.

Top Ten Baby Names of 2013:
Isabella, Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jayden, William

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:
Malin Ackerman, Amy Adams, Alessandra Ambrosio, Gillian Anderson, Jennifer Anniston, Hayley Atwell, Morena Baccarin, Kristen Bell, Ashley Benson, Julie Benz, Beyonce, Alison Brie, Gisele Bündchen, Emilia Clarke, Lauren Cohan, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Kaley Cuoco, Miley Cyrus, Alexandra Daddario, Brooklyn Decker, Kat Dennings, Zooey Deschanel, Natalie Dormer, Jenna Fischer, Isla Fisher, Megan Fox, Karen Gillan, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, Maggie Grace, Ariana Grande, Christina Hendricks, Amber Heard, Katie Holmes, Carly Rae Jepson, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, Jana Kramer, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence, Blake Lively, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lupita Nyong’o, Rooney Mara, Tatiana Maslany, Lea Michele, Aly Michalka, Kate Middleton, Janelle Monae, Alex Morgan, Olivia Munn, Rachel Nichols, Michelle Obama, Rita Ora, Cote de Pablo, Katy Perry, Bar Refaeli, Rihanna, Margot Robbie, Emmy Rossum, Zoe Saldana, Shakira, Cobie Smulders, Emma Stone, Taylor Swift, Sophie Turner, Kate Upton, Sofia Vergara, Emma Watson, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Kristen Wiig, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Williams

“The Quotes”
“If we left, they wouldn’t have nobody,” the 34-year-old Alvarez says. (see the California shut down an elder care facility story below)

Prince used an image of Dave Chappelle dressed as him on the cover of his 2013 single, Breakfast Can Wait. When asked about it Chappelle said, “What am I going to do… sue him for using a picture of me dressed up like him? That’s checkmate right there.”
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:
Pope Francis

Miss America:
Mallory Hagan

The Terrible:
April 15 – two bombs built from explosive-packed pressure cookers went off near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three and wounding over 260 people.

November 8th – Typhoon Haiyan plowed through the Philippines, with winds of more than 150 miles an hour. The storm killed more than 6,000 people and displaced more than three million.

The Scandals:
Edward Snowden released thousands of classified US government documents. The leaks showed that the NSA has collected millions of phone records, spied on US citizens, and tapped the phones of foreign leaders.

Healthcare.gov melted down. The health insurance marketplace that was supposed to be a keystone of the administration’s landmark Affordable Care Act. The website froze under relatively low traffic and produced errors that made getting insurance, or finding if you were eligible, almost impossible. Costs are still adding up, but the website itself has cost US taxpayers over a billion dollars.

Lance Armstrong admitted to doping in all seven of his Tour de France victories.

In February, US Postal Service announces the cessation of Saturday first-class mail delivery from August 2013. By spring, they announced it was not going to happen after all.

Oscar Pistorius, a South African amputee sprint runner, was charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.

US Politics:
January 21, 2013 (Monday) Second inauguration of Barack Obama

Pop Culture Facts & History:
May 21st – Microsoft announced the release of Xbox One.

Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 but announced it in Latin. One reporter, Italian wire service reporter Giovanna Chirri, got the scoop and broke the story because she understood Latin. Most other reporters waited for official translations.

Twitter, one of the hottest initial public offerings of 2013, raising about $2.1 billion.

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as of February 28, the first pope to resign since 1415.

Hannah Warren, who was born without a trachea, at 2, becomes the youngest patient to receive a stem cell bioengineered organ, a new trachea.

Yahoo purchased Tumbler for $1.1 Billion

Scientists used the internet to link the brains of two rats separated by thousands of miles, with one in the researchers’ lab at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and the other in Natal, Brazil.

The European Space Agency revealed new information that indicates that the universe is 13.82 billion years old. Our guess is, that they are not finished yet. 🙂

Cat Stevens, Hall & Oates, Kiss, Linda Ronstadt, and Nirvana were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Estonia became the first country to establish a national system of fast chargers for electric cars.

Sony launches the Playstation Four, selling one million units on the first day, November 15th.

2013 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:
Chess, Rubber Duck

The Habit:
Playing with Playstation Four

Broadway Show – Kinky Boots (Musical) Opened on April 4, 2013

Broadway Show – Matilda the Musical (Musical) Opened on April 11, 2013 and closed on January 1, 2017

Best Film Oscar Winner: Argo (presented in 2013)

2013 Entries to The National Film Registry:
Bless Their Little Hearts (released in 1984)
Brandy in the Wilderness (released in 1969)
Cicero March (released in 1966)
Daughter of Dawn (released in 1920)
Decasia (released in 2002)
Ella Cinders (released in 1926)
Forbidden Planet (released in 1956)
Gilda (released in 1946)
The Hole (released in 1963)
Judgment at Nuremberg (released in 1961)
King of Jazz (released in 1930)
The Lunch Date (released in 1989)
The Magnificent Seven (released in 1961)
Martha Graham Dance Films)
Mary Poppins (released in 1964)
Men and Dust (released in 1940)
Midnight (released in 1939)
Notes on the Port of St. Francis (released in 1951)
Pulp Fiction (released in 1994)
The Quiet Man (released in 1952)
The Right Stuff (released in 1983)
Roger & Me (released in 1989)
A Virtuous Vamp (released in 19 (released in 19)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (released in 1966)
Wild Boys of the Road (released in 1933)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)
1. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2. Iron Man 3
3. Frozen
4. Despicable Me 2
5. Man of Steel
6. Gravity
7. Monsters University
8. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
9. Fast & Furious 6
10. Oz The Great and Powerful

Sports:
World Series Champions: Boston Red Sox
Super Bowl Champions: Seattle Seahawks
NBA Champions: Miami Heat
Stanley Cup Champs: Chicago Blackhawks
U.S. Open Golf: Justin Rose
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies): Rafael Nadal/Serena Williams
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Andy Murray/Marion Bartoli
NCAA Football Champions: North Dakota State
NCAA Basketball Champions: Louisville
Kentucky Derby: Orb

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December 30, 2013

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2013

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2013:
Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
American Sniper by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice
The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken
Burn by Maya Banks
Calculated in Death by J.D. Robb
Cross My Heart by James Patterson
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Eleven Rings by Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Gone by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Guns at Last Light by Rick Atkinson
Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach
The Hero by Robyn Carr
Hidden Order by Brad Thor
The Hit by David Baldicci
The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton
Inferno by Dan Brown
Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George
Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris
The Liberty Amendments by Mark R. Levin
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks
Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
Never Go Back by Lee Child
Reckless by S.C. Stephens
Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss
Second Honeymoon by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Si-cology 1 by Si Robertson with Mark Schlabach
Six Years by Harlan Coben
Storm Front by John Sandford
Sum It Up by Pat Summitt with Sally Jenkins
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich
Tenth of December by George Saunders
Things That Matter by Charles Krauthammer
12th of Never by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
“W” is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts
Zealot by Reza Aslan

December 29, 2013

2013 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

2013 Music Hits Chart

1. Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell

2. Timber – Pitbull featuring Kesha

3. I Love It – Icona Pop Featuring Charlie XCX

4. Counting Stars – OneRepublic

5. Get Lucky – Daft Punk

6. Safe and Sound – Capital Cities

7. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring R Dalton

8. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

9. Roar – Katy Perry

10. I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift

11. Daylight – Maroon 5

12. Cups – Anna Kendrick

13.Wake Me Up – Avicii

14. Pompeii – Bastille

15. Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

16. Best Song Ever – One Direction

17. 22 – Taylor Swift

18. Wrecking Ball – Miley Cyrus

19. The Fox – Ylvis

20. Applause – Lady Gaga

21. Treasure – Bruno Mars

22. Brave – Sara Bareilles

23. Demons – Imagine Dragons

24. Dark Horse – Katy Perry Featuring Juicy J

25. Royals – Lorde

26. Scream & Shout – will.i.am & Britney Spears

27. Harlem Shake – Baauer

28. C’Mon – Kesha

29. Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey

30. Suit and Tie – Justin Timberlake

31. Team – Lorde

32. Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia

33. Just Give Me a Reason – Pink featuring Nate Ruess

34. Stay – Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko

35. Cruise – Florida Georgia Line Featuring Nelly

36. One More Night – Maroon 5

37. My Songs Know What You Did It In The Dark (Light Em Up) – Fall Out Boy

38. Stay The Night – Zedd Featuring Hayley Williams

39. Let Her Go – Passenger

40. People Like Us – Kelly Clarkson

41. Animals – Martin Garrix

42. Clarity – Zedd featuring Foxes

43. We Can’t Stop – Miley Cyrus

44. I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Goulding

45. Diamonds – Rihanna

46. Still Into You – Paramore

47. Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

48. Sail – AWOLNATION

49. The Way – Ariana Grande Featuring Mac Miller

50. Love Somebody – Maroon 5

51. Feel This Moment – Pitbull featuring Christan Aguilera

52. It’s Time – Imagine Dragons

53. Come and Get It – Selena Gomez

54. Pour It Up – Rihanna

55. When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars

56. #Beautiful – Mariah Carey Featuring Miguel

57. Hall of Fame – The Script Featuring will.i.am

58. Alive – Krewella

59. Here’s To Never Growing Up – Avril Lavigne

60. Love Don’t Die – The Fray

61. Wanted – Hunter Hayes

62. I Cry – Flo Rida

63. Next To Me – Emeli Sande

64. Gorilla – Bruno Mars

65. Catch My Breath – Kelly Clarkson

66. Same Love – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert

67. Closer – Tegan & Sara

68. Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake Featuring Majid Jordan

69. I Will Wait – Mumford and Sons

70. Marry Me – Jason Derulo

71. Mirrors – Justin Timberlake

72. Troublemaker – Olly Mars

73. Everything Has Changed – Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

74. Do What U Want – Lady Gaga featuring R Kelly

75. Heart Attack – Demi Lovato

76. Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves

77. Beauty and A Beat – Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj

78. Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) – Ne-Yo

79. Unconditionally – Katy Perry

80. Between The Raindrops – Lifehouse featuring Natasha Bedingfield

81. Holy Grail – Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake

82. Sweet Nothing – Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch

83. Take Back The Night – Justin Timberlake

84. Crazy Kids – Kesha featuring will.i.am

85. True Love – Pink featuring Lily Allen

86. Bruises – Train Featuring Ashley More

87. Work – Britney Spears

88. Our Song – Matchbox 20

89. Started From The Bottom – Drake

90. Chloe – Emblem3

91. Slow Down – Selena Gomez

92. What If – Five For Fighting

93. Love Me Again – John Newman

94. Get The Girl Back – Hanson

95. The Other Side – Jason Derulo

96. Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert

97. Walk Off The Earth – Red Hands

98. Adorn – Miguel

99. Remember When (Push Rewind) – Chris Wallace

100. Lego House – Ed Sheeran

December 26, 2013

2013 Oscars 85th Academy Awards

Winners were spotlighted on February 24, 2013
Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre served as the grand stage for the evening
Seth MacFarlane, known for his humor and animation work, was the host
The movies of 2012 were the focus of the awards
Noteworthy Moments: Argo won Best Picture, although Ben Affleck was not nominated for Best Director; Daniel Day-Lewis won his third Best Actor Oscar for Lincoln; Jennifer Lawrence took Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook
Trivia:
1. Seth MacFarlane’s opening number, “We Saw Your Boobs,” was met with both laughter and controversy
2. Jennifer Lawrence tripped on her dress while going up the stairs to accept her award, but gracefully recovered
3. This was the first time since 1989 that the Best Picture winner (Argo) didn’t have its director nominated
4. Quvenzhané Wallis, nominated for Beasts of the Southern Wild, became the youngest-ever Best Actress nominee at age 9
5. Adele won the Best Original Song for “Skyfall,” marking the first Oscar win for a James Bond theme

2013 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:
Argo – Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, producers (WINNER)
Amour – Margaret Ménégoz, Stefan Arndt, Veit Heiduschka and Michael Katz, producers
Beasts of the Southern Wild – Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, producers
Django Unchained – Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, producers
Les Misérables – Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, producers
Life of Pi – Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, producers
Lincoln – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers
Silver Linings Playbook – Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, producers
Zero Dark Thirty – Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, producers

Best Director:
Ang Lee – Life of Pi (WINNER)
Michael Haneke – Amour
Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild
Steven Spielberg – Lincoln
David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook

Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln as Abraham Lincoln (WINNER)
Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook as Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Jr.
Hugh Jackman – Les Misérables as Jean Valjean
Joaquin Phoenix – The Master as Freddie Quell
Denzel Washington – Flight as William “Whip” Whitaker Sr.

Best Actress:
Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook as Tiffany Maxwell (WINNER)
Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty as Maya
Emmanuelle Riva – Amour as Anne Laurent
Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild as Hushpuppy
Naomi Watts – The Impossible as Maria Bennett

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained as Dr. King Schultz (WINNER)
Alan Arkin – Argo as Lester Siegel
Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook as Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Sr.
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master as Lancaster Dodd
Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln as Thaddeus Stevens

Best Supporting Actress:
Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables as Fantine (WINNER)
Amy Adams – The Master as Peggy Dodd
Sally Field – Lincoln as Mary Todd Lincoln
Helen Hunt – The Sessions as Cheryl Cohen-Greene
Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook as Dolores Solitano

Best Original Screenplay:
Django Unchained – Quentin Tarantino (WINNER)
Amour – Michael Haneke
Flight – John Gatins
Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Zero Dark Thirty – Mark Boal

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Argo – Chris Terrio based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired magazine article The Great Escape by Joshuah Bearman (WINNER)
Beasts of the Southern Wild – Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin based on the play Juicy and Delicious by Lucy Alibar
Life of Pi – David Magee based on the novel by Yann Martel
Lincoln – Tony Kushner based in part on the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Silver Linings Playbook – David O. Russell based on the novel by Matthew Quick

Best Animated Feature Film:
Brave – Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman (WINNER)
Frankenweenie – Directed by Tim Burton
ParaNorman – Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler
The Pirates! Band of Misfits – Directed by Peter Lord
Wreck-It Ralph – Directed by Rich Moore

Best Foreign Language Film:
Amour (Austria) in French – Directed by Michael Haneke (WINNER)
Kon-Tiki (Norway) in English and Norwegian – Directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
No (Chile) in Spanish – Directed by Pablo Larraín
A Royal Affair (Denmark) in Danish – Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
War Witch (Canada) in French – Directed by Kim Nguyen

Best Documentary – Feature:
Searching for Sugar Man – Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn (WINNER)
5 Broken Cameras – Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi
The Gatekeepers – Dror Moreh, Philippa Kowarsky and Estelle Fialon
How to Survive a Plague – David France and Howard Gertler
The Invisible War – Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering

Best Documentary – Short Subject:
Inocente – Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine (WINNER)
Kings Point – Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider
Mondays at Racine – Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan
Open Heart – Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern
Redemption – Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

Best Live Action Short Film:
Curfew – Shawn Christensen (WINNER)
Asad – Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura
Buzkashi Boys – Sam French and Ariel Nasr
Death of a Shadow (Dood Van Een Schaduw) – Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele
Henry – Yan England

Best Animated Short Film:
Paperman – John Kahrs (WINNER)
Adam and Dog – Minkyu Lee
Fresh Guacamole – PES
Head over Heels – Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly
The Longest Daycare – David Silverman

Best Original Score:
Life of Pi – Mychael Danna (WINNER)
Anna Karenina – Dario Marianelli
Argo – Alexandre Desplat
Lincoln – John Williams
Skyfall – Thomas Newman

Best Original Song:
“Skyfall” from Skyfall – Music and Lyrics by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth (WINNER)
“Before My Time” from Chasing Ice – Music and Lyrics by J. Ralph
“Everybody Needs a Best Friend” from Ted – Music by Walter Murphy; Lyrics by Seth MacFarlane
“Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi – Music by Mychael Danna; Lyrics by Bombay Jayashri
“Suddenly” from Les Misérables – Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil

Best Sound Editing:
Skyfall – Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers (WINNER)
Zero Dark Thirty – Paul N. J. Ottosson (WINNER)
Argo – Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
Django Unchained – Wylie Stateman
Life of Pi – Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton

Best Sound Mixing:
Les Misérables – Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes (WINNER)
Argo – John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and José Antonio Garcia
Life of Pi – Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill and Drew Kunin
Lincoln – Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ron Judkins
Skyfall – Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson

Best Production Design:
Lincoln – Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson (WINNER)
Anna Karenina – Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Production Design: Dan Hennah; Set Decoration: Ra Vincent and Simon Bright
Les Misérables – Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Anna Lynch-Robinson
Life of Pi – Production Design: David Gropman; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock

Best Cinematography:
Life of Pi – Claudio Miranda (WINNER)
Anna Karenina – Seamus McGarvey
Django Unchained – Robert Richardson
Lincoln – Janusz Kaminski
Skyfall – Roger Deakins

Best Makeup: and Hairstyling:
Les Misérables – Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell (WINNER)
Hitchcock – Howard Berger, Peter Montagna, and Martin Samuel
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater, and Tami Lane

Best Costume Design:
Anna Karenina – Jacqueline Durran (WINNER)
Les Misérables – Paco Delgado
Lincoln – Joanna Johnston
Mirror Mirror – Eiko Ishioka (posthumous nomination)
Snow White and the Huntsman – Colleen Atwood

Best Film Editing:
Argo – William Goldenberg (WINNER)
Life of Pi – Tim Squyres
Lincoln – Michael Kahn
Silver Linings Playbook – Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers
Zero Dark Thirty – Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg

Best Visual Effects:
Life of Pi – Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan de Boer and Donald R. Elliott (WINNER)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White
Marvel’s The Avengers – Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
Prometheus – Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill
Snow White and the Huntsman – Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson

Academy Honorary Awards:
Hal Needham
D. A. Pennebaker
George Stevens Jr.

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:
Jeffrey Katzenberg

February 24, 2013

2013 Grammy Award Winners

The winners were revealed on February 10, 2013.
The ceremony was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
LL Cool J served as the host for the second consecutive year.
The eligibility period for the awards was from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012.
Noteworthy Moments: Mumford & Sons secured Album of the Year with Babel. Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know won Record of the Year. Fun. received both Best New Artist and Song of the Year for We Are Young.
Trivia:
1. Taylor Swift performed We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together with a circus-themed backdrop.
2. Kelly Clarkson’s acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Album turned heads as she humorously confessed to not knowing fellow nominee Miguel, despite praising him.
3. Frank Ocean performed Forrest Gump, noted for its emotional depth, especially since it was one of his first public performances after coming out.
4. Justin Timberlake performed at the Grammys for the first time since 2009, signaling his return to music.
5. A Bob Marley tribute featured Bruno Mars, Sting, Rihanna, and Marley’s sons Ziggy and Damian performing together.

2013 Grammy Winners

Record Of The Year
Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Album Of The Year
Babel – Mumford & Sons

Song Of The Year
We Are Young – Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

Best New Artist
fun.

Best Pop Solo Performance
Set Fire To The Rain – Adele

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Best Pop Instrumental Album
Impressions – Chris Botti

Best Pop Vocal Album
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson

Best Dance Recording
Bangarang – Skrillex Featuring Sirah

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Bangarang – Skrillex

Best Tradional Pop Vocal Album:
Kisses On The Bottom – Paul McCartney

Best Rock Performance:
Lonely Boy – The Black Keys

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance:
Love Bites (So Do I) – Halestorm

Best Rock Song
Lonely Boy – Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Best Rock Album
El Camino – The Black Keys

Best Alternative Music Album
Making Mirrors – Gotye

Best R&B Performance
Climax – Usher

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Love On Top – Beyoncé

Best R&B Song
Adorn – Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)

Best R&B Album
Black Radio – Robert Glasper Experiment

Best Rap Performance
… In Paris – Jay-z & Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
No Church In The Wild – Jay-z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The Dream

Best Rap Song
… In Paris – Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, Songwriters (W.A. Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best Rap Album
Take Care – Drake

Best Country Solo Performance
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Pontoon – Little Big Town

Best Country Song
Blown Away – Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)

Best Country Album
Uncaged – Zac Brown Band

Best New Age Album
Echoes Of Love – Omar Akram

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
Hot House – Gary Burton & Chick Corea, soloists

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Radio Music Society – Esperanza Spalding

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Unity Band – Pat Metheny Unity Band

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You) – Arturo Sandoval

Best Latin Jazz Album
¡ritmo! – The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
10,000 Reasons (bless The Lord) – Matt Redman

Best Gospel Song
Go Get It – Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, Songwriters (Mary Mary)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) – Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)

Best Gospel Album
Gravity – Lecrae

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Eye On It – Tobymac

Best Latin Pop Album
MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition – Juanes

Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album
Imaginaries – Quetzal

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano)
Pecados Y Milagros – Lila Downs

Best Tropical Latin Album
Retro – Marlow Rosado Y La Riqueña

Best Americana Album
Slipstream – Bonnie Raitt

Best Bluegrass Album
Nobody Knows You – Steep Canyon Rangers

Best Blues Album
Locked Down – Dr. John

Best Folk Album
The Goat Rodeo Sessions – Yo-yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile

Best Regional Roots Music Album
The Band Courtbouillon – Wayne Toups, Steve Riley & Wilson Savoy

Best Reggae Album
Rebirth – Jimmy Cliff

Best World Music Album
The Living Room Sessions Part 1 – Ravi Shankar

Best Children’s Album
Can You Canoe? – The Okee Dokee Brothers

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Society’s Child: My Autobiography – Janis Ian

Best Comedy Album
Blow Your Pants Off – Jimmy Fallon

Musical Theater Album
Once: A New Musical – Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti, Principal Soloists; Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe, producers (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, Composers/lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast With Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti & Others)

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Midnight In Paris- (Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media
Safe & Sound (from The Hunger Games) – T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, Songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)

Best Instrumental Composition
Mozart Goes Dancing – Chick Corea, Composer (Chick Corea & Gary Burton)

Best Instrumental Arrangement
How About You – Gil Evans, Arranger (Gil Evans Project)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
City Of Roses – Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding, Arrangers (Esperanza Spalding)

Best Recording Package
Biophilia – Michael Amzalag & Mathias Augustyniak, Art Directors (Björk)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection – Fritz Klaetke, Art Director (Woody Guthrie)

Best Album Notes
Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles, Billy Vera, album notes writer (Ray Charles)

Best Historical Album
The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set) – Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson & Dennis Wolfe, Compilation Producers; Mark Linett, Mastering Engineer (The Beach Boys)

Best Engineered Album, Non-classical
The Goat Rodeo Sessions – Richard King, Engineer; Richard King, Mastering Engineer (Yo-Yo Ma)

Producer Of The Year, Non-classical
Dan Auerbach

Best Remixed Recording, Non-classical
Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix) – Skrillex, Remixer (nero)

Best Surround Sound Album
Modern Cool – Jim Anderson, Surround Mix Engineer; Darcy Proper, Surround Mastering Engineer; Michael Friedman, Surround Producer (Patricia Barber)

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Life & Breath – Choral Works By René Clausen – Tom Caulfield & John Newton, Engineers; Mark Donahue, Mastering Engineer (Charles Bruffy & Kansas City Chorale)

Producer Of The Year, Classical
Blanton Alspaugh

Best Orchestral Performance
Adams: Harmonielehre & Short Ride In A Fast Machine – Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor (San Francisco Symphony)

Best Opera Recording
Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen – James Levine & Fabio Luisi, Conductors; Hans-peter König, Jay Hunter Morris, Bryn Terfel & Deborah Voigt; Jay David Saks, Producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance
Life & Breath – Choral Works By René Clausen – Charles Bruffy, Conductor (Matthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah Tannehill & Pamela Williamson; Kansas City Chorale)

Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Meanwhile – Eighth Blackbird

Classical Instrumental Solo
Kurtág & Ligeti: Music For Viola – Kim Kashkashian

Classical Vocal Solo
Poémes – Renée Fleming (Alan Gilbert & Seiji Ozawa; Orchestre National De France & Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France)

Classical Compendium
Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis – Antoni Wit, Conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, Producers

Contemporary Classical Composition
Hartke, Stephen: Meanwhile – Incidental Music To Imaginary Puppet Plays Stephen Hartke, Composer (eighth blackbird)

Short Form Music Video
We Found Love – Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris | Melina Matsoukas, Video Director; Juliette Larthe & Ben Sullivan, Video Producers

Long Form Music Video
Big Easy Express – Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros & Old Crow Medicine Show | Emmett Malloy, Video Director; Bryan Ling, Mike Luba & Tim Lynch, Video Producers

February 10, 2013

2012 Number One Hits

2012 Number One Hits

January 1 – January 7, 2012: Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO
January 8 – February 4, 2012: We Found Love – Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
February 5 – February 18, 2012: Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
February 19 – March 3, 2012: Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
March 4 – March 10, 2012: Part of Me – Katy Perry
March 11 – April 7, 2012: We Are Young – Fun featuring Janelle Monáe
April 8 – April 14, 2012: Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
April 15 – May 5, 2012: Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
May 6 – May 12, 2012: Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
May 13 – June 2, 2012: Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
June 3 – June 9, 2012: Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
June 10 – August 25, 2012: Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen
August 26 – September 1, 2012: Whistle – Flo Rida
September 2 – September 8, 2012: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift
September 9 – September 15, 2012: One More Night – Maroon 5
September 16 – October 6, 2012: Gangnam Style – Psy
October 7 – October 13, 2012: One More Night – Maroon 5
October 14 – November 3, 2012: Diamonds – Rihanna
November 4 – November 10, 2012: Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
November 11 – December 1, 2012: Diamonds – Rihanna
December 2 – December 8, 2012: Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
December 9 – December 15, 2012: Diamonds – Rihanna
December 16 – December 29, 2012: Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
December 30, 2012 – January 5, 2013: Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars

(Data is compiled from various charts, including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance,” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)

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December 31, 2012

2012 Trivia, History and Fun Facts

2012 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2012:

Map Changing Event: Sandy Island, New Caledonia was a nonexistent island that was mapped from 1774 until it’s ‘un’discovery in 2012.
The Top Song was Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson
The Movies to Watch include The Avengers, Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, John Carter, Rock of Ages, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hunger Games, Brave and Life of Pi
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Channing Tatum
The Bestselling books included: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Price of a postage stamp in 2012: 45 cents
Price of a Blu-Ray movie: 19.99
Price of a music CD: $9.99
Before 2012 the largest buyer of kale in the US was Pizza Hut, and they only used it as garnish around their salad bar.
The Funny Guys were: John Mullaney & Ron White & Aziz Ansar
The Mouse: Employees of Disney World and Disneyland were prohibited from having mustaches, beards, and goatees until the ban was lifted in 2012. Soul patches are still banned.
The Conversation: Electronic Arts were voted “The Worst Company In America” by The Consumerist for 2 years in a row in 2012 and 2013

Top Ten Baby Names of 2012:
Sophia, Emma, Isabella, Olivia, Ava, Jacob, Mason, Ethan, Noah, William

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:
Mila Kunis, Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Munn, Emma Stone, Megan Fox, Emma Watson, Malin Ackerman, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Olivia Wilde

The Heartthrob(s):
Chris Evans, Ryan Lochte, Stephen Amell, Tom Hardy, Justin Timberlake, Robert Pattinson, Hugh Laurie, Christian Bale, Adam Levine

Fresh Faces:
Rita Ora, Frank Ocean

“The Quotes”
“There are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business you didn’t build that.” – President Barack Obama

“Puny god”
-Hulk in The Avengers

“The ‘D’ is silent.”
Jamie Foxx in Django Unchained

Time Magazine’s Person of the Year:
Barack Obama

Miss America:
Laura Kaeppeler

Miss USA:
Olivia Culpo (Miss Universe), Nana Meriwether

The Scandals:
The middle finger that M.I.A. flashed during the 2012 Super Bowl halftime show was a result of the singer’s Hindu spiritual enlightenment, she claimed.

Most of the millions of fans who were watching her back up Madonna disagreed. When sued by the NFL for $1.5 million, she defended herself by saying that it was no big deal since there were young, provocative cheerleaders also performing.

Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) blackout as the largest protest in the history of the internet, so far.

The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar reached the date 13.0.0.0.0 on December 21, 2012. Many people thought that this would be the end of the world.

The Terrible:
28 people, including 20 children, were shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut

Pop Culture Facts & History:

Stephen Hawking won the $3 million Fundamental Physics Prize, the most lucrative academic prize in the world

Google’s Gmail became the world’s most popular email service

Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, passed the heliopause, entering interstellar space. (The heliopause is the theoretical boundary where the Sun’s solar wind is stopped by the interstellar medium; where the solar wind’s strength is no longer great enough to push back the stellar winds of the surrounding stars.)

Walt Disney purchased Lucasfilm Ltd and its rights for Star Wars and Indiana Jones for $4.05 billion

Russian scientists regenerated Silene stenophylla (a flower) from a 31,800 year old group of cells, a record for regeneration.

Edvard Munch’s famous painting ‘The Scream’ sold at auction for $119,922,500.

Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey resulting in 110 deaths and $50 billion in damage and forces the New York stock exchange to close

In March, Wendy’s overtook Burger King to become the second best selling hamburger chain.

For the first time since 1977 no Pulitzer Prize is awarded for fiction.

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 2’ grossed $500 million in 24 hours to become the biggest entertainment launch of all time

Doomsday Clock:
5 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
2012: “The challenges to rid the world of nuclear weapons, harness nuclear power, and meet the nearly inexorable climate disruptions from global warming are complex and interconnected. In the face of such complex problems, it is difficult to see where the capacity lies to address these challenges.” Political processes seem wholly inadequate; the potential for nuclear weapons use in regional conflicts in the Middle East, Northeast Asia, and South Asia are alarming; safer nuclear reactor designs need to be developed and built, and more stringent oversight, training, and attention are needed to prevent future disasters; the pace of technological solutions to address climate change may not be adequate to meet the hardships that large-scale disruption of the climate portends.

The Habits:
Playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Dancing to PSY’s “Gangnam Style, Reading Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James or The Hunger Games (Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins

2012 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:
Star Wars action figures, Dominoes

Broadway Show – Once (Musical) Opened on March 18, 2012 and closed on January 4, 2015

Broadway Show – Newsies (Musical) Opened on March 29, 2012 and closed on August 24, 2014

Best Film Oscar Winner:
The Artist (presented in 2102)

The Number One Hits Of 2012:
November 12, 2011 – January 6, 2012:
Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris – We Found Love

January 7, 2012 – February 3, 2012:
LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It

February 4, 2012 – February 17, 2012:
Adele – Set Fire to the Rain

February 18, 2012 – March 2, 2012:
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)

March 3, 2012 – March 16, 2012:
Katy Perry – Part of Me

March 17, 2012 – April 27, 2012:
Fun featuring Janelle Monae – We Are Young

April 28, 2012 – June 22, 2012:
Gotye featuring Kimbra – Somebody That I Used to Know

June 23, 2012 – August 24, 2012:
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

August 25, 2012 – August 31, 2012:
Flo Rida – Whistle

September 1, 2012 – September 28, 2012:
Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

September 29, 2012 – November 30, 2012:
Maroon 5 – One More Night

December 1, 2012 – December 21, 2012:
Rihanna – Diamonds

December 22, 2012 – February 1, 2013:
Bruno Mars – Locked Out of Heaven

2012 Entries to The National Film Registry:
3:10 to Yuma (released in 1957)
Anatomy of a Murder (released in 1959)
The Augustas (released in 1930s/1950s)
Born Yesterday (released in 1950)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (released in 1961)
A Christmas Story (released in 1983)
Corbett-Fitzsimmons Title Fight (released in 1897)
Dirty Harry (released in 1971)
Hours for Jerome: Parts 1 and 2 (released in 1980-82)
Kidnapper’s Foil (released in 1930s)
A League of Their Own (released in 1992)
The Matrix (released in 1999)
The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair (released in 1939)
One Survivor Remembers (released in 1995)
Parable (released in 1964)
Samsara: Death and Rebirth in Cambodia (released in 1990)
Slacker (released in 1991)
Sons of the Desert (released in 1933)
The Spook Who Sat by the Door (released in 1973)
They Call It Pro Football (released in 1966)
The Times of Harvey Milk (released in 1984)
Two-Color Kodachrome Test Shots No. III (released in 1922)
Two-Lane Blacktop (released in 1971)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin (released in 1914)
The Wishing Ring: an Idyll of Old England (released in 1914)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)
1. Marvel’s The Avengers
2. The Dark Knight Rises
3. The Hunger Games
4. Skyfall
5. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
6. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
7. The Amazing Spider-Man
8. Brave
9. Ted
10. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Sports:
World Series Champions: San Francisco Giants
Super Bowl Champions: New York Giants
NBA Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder
Stanley Cup Champs: Los Angeles Kings
U.S. Open Golf: Webb Simpson
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies): Andy Murray/Serena Williams
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Roger Federer/Serena Williams
NCAA Football Champions: North Dakota State
NCAA Basketball Champions: Kentucky
Kentucky Derby: I’ll Have Another

December 30, 2012

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2012

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2012:
A Wanted Man by Lee Child
Amateur by Edward Klein
American Sniper by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice
Ameritopia by Mark Levin
The Black Box by Michael Connelly
The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Building Stories by Chris Ware
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
Drift by Rachel Maddow
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Imagine by Jonah Lehrer
Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
The Last Man by Vince Flynn
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
No Easy Day by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer
Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
Obama’s America by Dinesh D’Souza
The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
The Passage of Power by Robert Caro
Paterno by Joe Posnanski
Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Private Games by James Patterson
The Racketeer by John Grisham
Reflected in You by Sylvia Day
The Round House by Louise Erdich
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Thomas Jefferson by Jon Meacham
Threat Vector by Tom Clancy
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Winter of the World by Ken Follett

December 29, 2012

2012 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

2012 Music Hits Chart

1. Gangnam Style – PSY

2. Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepson

3. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
– Taylor Swift

4. Starships – Nicki Minaj

5. What Makes You Beautiful – One Direction

6. Sexy and I Know It – LMAFO

7. We Are Young – fun.

8. Domino – Jessie J

9. We Found Love – Rihanna with Calvin Harris

10. Some Nights – fun.

11. Glad You Came – The Wanted

12. Brokenhearted – Karmin

13. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera

14. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye Featuring Kimbra

15. Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes with Adam Levine

16. Locked Out Of Heaven – Bruno Mars

17. Payphone – Maroon 5 Featuring Wiz Khalifa

18. Die Young – Kesha

19. Drive By – Train

20. As Long As You Love Me – Justin Bieber Featuring Big Sean

21. Titanium – David Guetta Featuring Sia

22. Love You Like A Love Song – Selena Gomez

23. Everybody Talks -Neon Trees

24. Without You – David Guetta and Usher

25. Ho Hey – The Lumineers

26. Good Feeling – Flo Rida

27. Lights – Ellie Goulding

28. The One That Got Away – Katy Perry

29. I Like It Like That – Hot Chelle Rae

30. Good Time – Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen

31. One Thing – One Direction

32. Part Of Me – Katy Perry

33. Whistle – Flo Rida

34. Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith

35. Too Close – Alex Clare

36. Blow Me (One Last Kiss) – Pink

37. How We Do – Rita Ora

38. Rumour Has It It – Adele

39. She’s So Mean – Matchbox 20

40. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

41. International Love – Pitbull with Usher

42. Set Fire To The Rain – Adele

43. 50 Ways To Say Goodbye – Train

44. Not Over You – Gavin DeGraw

45. A Thousand Years – Christina Perry

46. Turn Me On – David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj

47. It Will Rain – Bruno Mars

48. Give Your Heart a Break – Demi Lovato

49. Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson

50. Scream – Usher

51. Ed Sheeran – The “A” Team

52. Wild Ones – Flo-Rida with Sia

53. Home – Philip Phillips

54. Diamonds – Rihanna

55. Madness – Muse

56. Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls) – Foster The People

57. You & I – Lady Gaga

58. Fine By Me – Andy Grammer

59. Crawling Back To You – Daughtry

60. Where Have You Been? – Rihanna

61. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

62. Burn It Down –
Linkin Park

63. It’s Time – Imagine Dragons

64. Eyes Open – Taylor Swift

65. Want U Back – Cher Lloyd

66. Feels So Close – Calvin Harris

67. Dance Again – Jennifer Lopez ft Pitbull

68. Try – Pink

69. One More Night – Maroon 5

70. Wide Awake – Katy Perry

71. Tonight Is The Night – Outasight

72. Finally Found You – Enrique Iglesias

73. Boyfriend – Justin Beiber

74. Just A Kiss – Lady Antebellum

75. Feel Again – OneRepublic

76. Aerosmith – What Could Have Been Love

77. Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys

78. Blackout – Breathe Carolina

79. Let’s Go – Calvin Harris ft Ne-Yo

80. Don’t Wake Me Up – Chris Brown

81. Vision Of Love – Kris Allen

82. Back In Time – Pitbull

83. Tongue Tied – Grouplove

84. Let Me Love You – Ne-Yo

85. Watching You Watching Him – Eric Hutchinson

86. Dark Side – Kelly Clarkson

87. Graffiti6 – Free

88. Heartbeat – The Fray

89. Pound The Alarm – Nicki Minaj

90. Skyfall – Adele

91. Gold On The Ceiling – The Black Keys

92. Levels – Avicii

93. Hall of Fame – Script with will.i.am

94. Little Talks – Of Monsters And Men

95. When We Stand Together – Nickelback

96. Brighter Than the Sun – Colbie Caillat

97. In The Dark – Dev

98. Take Care – Drake Featuring Rihanna

99. Shake It Out – Florence + The Machine

100. Paradise – Coldplay

December 26, 2012

2012 Oscars 84th Academy Awards

The 84th Academy Awards announced its winners on February 24, 2012.
The venue was the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles.
Billy Crystal took on the hosting duties for the ninth time in his career.
Films released during the 2011 calendar year were eligible for the awards.
Noteworthy Moments:
- The Artist took home the Best Picture, making it the first silent feature to win the award since Wings in 1929.
- Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for The Iron Lady, her first win in 29 years.
- Christopher Plummer became the oldest actor to win an Oscar at the age of 82 for his supporting role in Beginners.
- Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Help, receiving a standing ovation.
Trivia:
1. Billy Crystal’s hosting stint was last-minute; he replaced Eddie Murphy, who withdrew after Brett Ratner resigned as the ceremony’s producer.
2. The Artist‘s Uggie became the first dog to be invited to leave his paw prints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
3. Sacha Baron Cohen, invited for Hugo, came dressed as his character from The Dictator and spilled “ashes” on Ryan Seacrest.
4. A tribute to the James Bond franchise was notably absent, despite 2012 being its 50th anniversary.
5. The awards ceremony ran for 3 hours and 14 minutes, making it one of the shorter Oscars broadcasts in recent years.

2012 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:
The Artist – Thomas Langmann, producer (WINNER)
The Descendants – Jim Burke, Jim Taylor, and Alexander Payne, producers
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – Scott Rudin, producer
The Help – Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, and Michael Barnathan, producers
Hugo – Graham King and Martin Scorsese, producers
Midnight in Paris – Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, producers
Moneyball – Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, and Brad Pitt, producers
The Tree of Life – Dede Gardner, Sarah Green, Grant Hill, and Bill Pohlad, producers
War Horse – Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, producers

Best Director:
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist (WINNER)
Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Woody Allen – Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life

Best Actor:
Jean Dujardin – The Artist as George Valentin (WINNER)
Demián Bichir – A Better Life as Carlos Galindo
George Clooney – The Descendants as Matthew “Matt” King
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy as George Smiley
Brad Pitt – Moneyball as Billy Beane

Best Actress:
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady as Margaret Thatcher (WINNER)
Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs as Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis – The Help as Aibileen Clark
Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Lisbeth Salander
Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn as Marilyn Monroe

Best Supporting Actor:
Christopher Plummer – Beginners as Hal Fields (WINNER)
Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn as Laurence Olivier
Jonah Hill – Moneyball as Peter Brand
Nick Nolte – Warrior as Paddy Conlon
Max von Sydow – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as The Renter

Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer – The Help as Minny Jackson (WINNER)
Bérénice Bejo – The Artist as Peppy Miller
Jessica Chastain – The Help as Celia Foote
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids as Megan Price
Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs as Hubert Page

Best Original Screenplay:
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen (WINNER)
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo
Margin Call – J. C. Chandor
A Separation – Asghar Farhadi

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings (WINNER)
Hugo – John Logan based on the book entitled The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
The Ides of March – George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon based on the play Farragut North by Beau Willimon
Moneyball – Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin; Story by Stan Chervin based on the book by Michael Lewis
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Bridget O’Connor (posthumous nomination) and Peter Straughan based on the novel by John le Carré

Best Animated Feature Film:
Rango – Directed by Gore Verbinski (WINNER)
A Cat in Paris – Directed by Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
Chico and Rita – Directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
Kung Fu Panda 2 – Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Puss in Boots – Directed by Chris Miller

Best Foreign Language Film:
A Separation (Iran) in Persian – Directed by Asghar Farhadi (WINNER)
Bullhead (Belgium) in Dutch and French – Directed by Michaël R. Roskam
Footnote (Israel) in Hebrew – Directed by Joseph Cedar
In Darkness (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Agnieszka Holland
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada) in French – Directed by Philippe Falardeau

Best Documentary – Feature:
Undefeated – T. J. Martin, Daniel Lindsay, and Rich Middlemas (WINNER)
Hell and Back Again – Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front – Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Pina – Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel

Best Documentary – Short Subject:
Saving Face – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge (WINNER)
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement – Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin (posthumous nomination)
God Is the Beggir Elvis – Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
Incident in New Baghdad – James Spione
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom – Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Best Live Action Short Film:
The Shore – Terry George and Oorlagh George (WINNER)
Pentecost – Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
Raju – Max Zahle and Stefan Gieren
Time Freak – Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
Tuba Atlantic – Hallvar Witzø (nomination revoked)

Best Animated Short Film:
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg (WINNER)
Dimanche – Patrick Doyon
La Luna – Enrico Casarosa
A Morning Stroll – Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
Wild Life – Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Best Original Score:
The Artist – Ludovic Bource (WINNER)
The Adventures of Tintin – John Williams
Hugo – Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Alberto Iglesias
War Horse – John Williams

Best Original Song:
“Man or Muppet” from The Muppets – Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie (WINNER)
“Real in Rio” from Rio – Music by Sérgio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown; Lyrics by Siedah Garrett

Best Sound Editing:
Hugo – Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty (WINNER)
Drive – Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Ren Klyce
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
War Horse – Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

Best Sound Mixing:
Hugo – Tom Fleischman and John Midgley (WINNER)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
Moneyball – Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco, and Ed Novick
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush, and Peter J. Devlin
War Horse – Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, and Stuart Wilson

Best Art Direction:
Hugo – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo (WINNER)
The Artist – Art Direction: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Midnight in Paris – Art Direction: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse – Art Direction: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Best Cinematography:
Hugo – Robert Richardson (WINNER)
The Artist – Guillaume Schiffman
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Jeff Cronenweth
The Tree of Life – Emmanuel Lubezki
War Horse – Janusz Kaminski

Best Makeup:
The Iron Lady – Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland (WINNER)
Albert Nobbs – Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnson, and Matthew W. Mungle
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight, and Lisa Tomblin

Best Costume Design:
The Artist – Mark Bridges (WINNER)
Anonymous – Lisy Christl
Hugo – Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre – Michael O’Connor
W.E. – Arianne Phillips

Best Film Editing:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter (WINNER)
The Artist – Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants – Kevin Tent
Hugo – Thelma Schoonmaker
Moneyball – Christopher Tellefsen

Best Visual Effects:
Hugo – Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossmann, and Alex Henning (WINNER)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler, and John Richardson
Real Steel – Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor, and Swen Gillberg
Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White, and Daniel Barrett
Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew E. Butler, and John Frazier

Academy Honorary Award:
James Earl Jones.
Dick Smith

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:
Oprah Winfrey

February 24, 2012

2012 Grammy Award Winners

Winners for the 2012 Grammy Awards were announced on February 12, 2012.
The event was at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
LL Cool J served as the host for the night, his first time in this role for the Grammys.
Music that was released from October 1, 2010, to September 30, 2011, was eligible for the awards.
Noteworthy Moments: Adele dominated the night, sweeping six categories including Album of the Year for 21 and Song of the Year for Rolling in the Deep. The Beach Boys returned to the Grammy stage for their 50th anniversary, sharing the limelight with Maroon 5 and Foster the People. Jennifer Hudson delivered a touching tribute to the recently departed Whitney Houston. Skrillex broke into the mainstream by winning three awards in the electronic dance music categories.
Trivia:
1. LL Cool J began the event with a heartfelt prayer in memory of Whitney Houston.
2. The Foo Fighters also had a big night, winning five of the six awards for which they were nominated.
3. The ceremony marked the first time that the Grammys did not have a General Field category nomination for a woman in seven years.
4. Bruce Springsteen opened the show, making it a rock-solid start before the awards were handed out.
5. This was the first year the Grammys were held after a major overhaul of award categories, reducing the total number from 109 to 78.

2012 Grammy Winners

Album of the Year:
21 – Adele

Record Of The Year:
Rolling In The Deep – Adele

Song Of The Year:
Rolling In The Deep – Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters

New Artist
Bon Iver

Best Country Album:
Own The Night – Lady Antebellum

Best R&B Album:
F.A.M.E. – Chris Brown

Best Rock Performance:
Walk – Foo Fighters

Best Rap Performance:
Otis – Jay-Z & Kanye West

Best Pop Solo Performance:
Someone Like You – Adele

Best Country Solo Performance:
Mean – Taylor Swift

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars

Best Country Song:
Mean – Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)

Best Folk Album:
Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance:
White Limo – Foo Fighters

Best Rock Song:
Walk – Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)

Best Rock Album:
Wasting Light – Foo Fighters

Best Alternative Music Album:
Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Paul Epworth, For work with Foster the People, Adele and Cee-Lo Green

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
All Of The Lights – Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie

Best Rap Song:
All Of The Lights – Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)

Best Rap Album:
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

Best R&B Performance:
Is This Love – Corinne Bailey Rae

Best Traditional R&B Performance:
Fool For You – Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Best R&B Song:
Fool For You – Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim, Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
Body And Soul – Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Best Pop Instrumental Album:
The Road From Memphis – Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Vocal Album:
21 – Adele

Best Short Form Music Video:
Rolling In The Deep – Adele, Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer

Best Long Form Music Video:
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth – Foo Fighters

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
500 Miles High – Chick Corea, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
The Mosaic Project – Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
The Good Feeling – Christian McBride Big Band

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Forever – Corea, Clarke & White

Best Americana Album:
Ramble At The Ryman – Levon Helm

Best Bluegrass Album
Paper Airplane – Alison Krauss & Union Station

Best Blues Album:
Revelator – Tedeschi Trucks Band

Best Regional Roots Music Album:
Rebirth Of New Orleans – Rebirth Brass Band

Best New Age Album:
What’s It All About – Pat Metheny

Best Reggae Album:
Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life – Stephen Marley

Best World Music Album:
Tassili – Tinariwen

Best Children’s Album:
All About Bullies … Big And Small – (Various Artists) Jim Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling):
If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t) – Betty White

Best Comedy Album:
Hilarious – Louis C.K

Best Musical Theater Album:
The Book Of Mormon – Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, artists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez, Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)

Best Dance Recording:
Skrillex – Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer

Best Dance/Electronica Album:
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites – Skrillex

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Duets II – Tony Bennett & Various Artists

Best Engineered Album, Classical:
Aldridge: Elmer Gantry – Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)

Producer Of The Year, Classical:
Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance:
Brahms: Symphony No. 4, Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)

Best Opera Recording:
Adams: Doctor Atomic – Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance
Light & Gold – Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King’s Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)

Best Small Ensemble Performance:
Mackey: Lonely Motel – Music From Slide – Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird

Best Classical Instrumental Solo:
Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra – Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)

Best Classical Vocal Solo:
Diva Divo – Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L’Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L’Opéra National De Lyon)

Best Contemporary Classical Composition:
Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry – Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance:
Jesus – Le’Andria Johnson

Best Gospel Song:
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song:
Blessings – Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)

Best Gospel Album:
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
And If Our God Is For Us… – Chris Tomlin

Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album:
Drama Y Luz – Maná

Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album:
Bicentenario – Pepe Aguilar

Best Banda Or Norteño Album:
Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends – Los Tigres Del Norte

Best Tropical Latin Album:
The Last Mambo – Cachao

Best Recording Package:
Scenes From The Suburbs – Caroline Robert, art director (Arcade Fire)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:
The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story – Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)

Best Album Notes:
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s – Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Best Historical Album
Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition), Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Paper Airplane – Neal Cappellino & Mike Shipley, engineers; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical:
Cinema (Skrillex Remix) – Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)

Best Surround Sound Album:
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs(Super Deluxe Edition) – Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)

Best Instrumental Composition:
Life In Eleven – Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones)

Best Instrumental Arrangement:
Rhapsody In Blue – Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s):
Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:
Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1″ (Various Artists), Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, producers

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:
The King’s Speech – Alexandre Desplat, composer

Best Song Written For Visual Media:
I See The Light” (From “Tangled”). Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)

February 12, 2012

2011 Number One Hits

2011 Number One Hits

December 18, 2010 – January 8, 2011: Firework – Katy Perry
January 9 – February 19, 2011: Grenade – Bruno Mars
February 20 – April 16, 2011: Born This Way – Lady Gaga
April 17 – July 2, 2011: E.T. – Katy Perry featuring Kanye West
July 3 – July 9, 2011: Rolling in the Deep – Adele
July 10 – September 10, 2011: Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock
September 11 – September 17, 2011: Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry
September 18 – October 1, 2011: Someone Like You – Adele
October 2 – October 8, 2011: Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera
October 9 – November 26, 2011: Someone Like You – Adele
November 27 – December 3, 2011: We Found Love – Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
December 4 – December 31, 2011: Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO

December 31, 2011

2011 History, Facts and Trivia

2011 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2011:

World Changing Event: Snapchat App became available
The Top Song was We Found Love by Rihanna
Influential Songs include: Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons, It Will Rain by Bruno Mars, Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People, and Born This Way by Lady Gaga
The Movies to Watch include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, We Bought a Zoo, The Help, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Bradley Cooper
Notable books include: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Price of a gallon of gas in 2011: $3.58
Croft & Barrow Necktie: $34.00
Nike sneakers: $59.99/pair
The Funny Guy was: Daniel Tosh
In 2011 it cost 2.41 cents to make a single American Penny.
The Billionaire: JK Rowling was the youngest self-made female billionaire in 2011, although charitable giving has put her into the hundreds of millions range since then.

Year of The Rabbit
The year of the rabbit is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the cycle.
The years of the rabbit include: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035, 2047, and 2059
The year of the rabbit is associated with elegance, diplomacy, and good luck. People born in the year of the rabbit are said to be kind, gentle, and sensitive. They are also said to be wise, discreet, and have a good sense of humor. They are usually good at avoiding conflicts, and they are very good listeners. They are also very sensitive, so they can easily understand other people’s feelings. They are said to be lucky in love and money matters. They are also known to be good at art and design.

Top Ten Baby Names of 2011:
Sophia, Isabella, Emma, Olivia, Ava, Jacob, Mason, William, Jayden, Noah

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:
Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Katy Perry, Emma Watson, Bar Refaeli, Blake Lively, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Cobie Smulders, Olivia Munn, Cameron Diaz, Kate Middleton

The Heartthrob(s):
Colin Firth, Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Taylor Lautner, Johnny Depp, Rob Pattinson, Hugh Laurie, Joe Manganiello, Tim Tebow, Brad Pitt

“The Quote:”
“I’m a winner” – Charlie Sheen

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:
The Protester

Miss America:
Teresa Scanlan

Miss USA:
Alyssa Campanella

The Picture:

“It was completely engulfed and everything was up in flames,” said bride Nancy Rogers, posing here with new husband Mike as White Point Beach Resort’s main lodge burned in the background. “We lost all of that stuff, but that’s not important to us. We got the most important things.”

The Scandal:
Charlie Sheen

Whas New:
Dynamic Eye Sunglasses, invented by Chris Mullin, block sun glare instantly with liquid crystal lenses.

The Habit:
Playing Angry Birds

2011 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:
Hot Wheels, Dollhouse, Blanket

2011’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:
LeapFrog LeapPad, Amazon Kindle Fire

Best Film Oscar Winner:
The King’s Speech

Broadway Show – Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Musical) Opened on June 14, 2011, and closed on January 4, 2014

2011 Entries to The National Film Registry:
Allures (released in 1961)
Bambi (released in 1942)
The Big Heat (released in 1953)
A Computer Animated Hand (released in 1972)
Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (released in 1963)
The Cry of the Children (released in 1912)
A Cure for Pokeritis (released in 1912)
El Mariachi (released in 1992)
Faces (released in 1968)
Fake Fruit Factory (released in 1986)
Forrest Gump (released in 1994)
Growing Up Female (released in 1971)
Hester Street (released in 1975)
I, an Actress (released in 1977)
The Iron Horse (released in 1924)
The Kid (released in 1921)
The Lost Weekend (released in 1945)
The Negro Soldier (released in 1944)
Nicholas Brothers’ Home Movies (released in 1930s-’40s)
Norma Rae (released in 1979)
Porgy and Bess (released in 1959)
The Silence of the Lambs (released in 1991)
Stand and Deliver (released in 1988)
Twentieth Century (released in 1934)
War of the Worlds (released in 1953)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
5. Kung Fu Panda 2
6. Fast Five
7. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,
8. The Hangover Part II
9. The Smurfs
10. Cars 2

2011/12 Most Popular TV Shows:
1. NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC)
2. American Idol (Fox)
3. The Voice (NBC)
4. Modern Family (ABC)
5. Big Bang Theory (CBS)
6. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
7. X-Factor (Fox)
8. 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
9. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
10. New Girl (Fox)

Sports:
World Series Champions: St. Louis Cardinals
Super Bowl Champions: Green Bay Packers
NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks
Stanley Cup Champs: Boston Bruins
U.S. Open Golf Rory Mcllroy
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Novak Djokovic/Samantha Stosur
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Novak Djokovic/Petra Kvitova
NCAA Football Champions: North Dakota State
NCAA Basketball Champions: UConn Huskies
Kentucky Derby: Animal Kingdom

December 30, 2011

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2011

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2011:
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
The Affair by Lee Child
Alone by Lisa Gardner
Archery in Death by J.D. Robb
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy and Grant Blackwood
Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Decision Points by George W. Bush
The Drop by Michael Connelly
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
The Greater Journey by David McCullough
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
In My Time by Dick Cheney
The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer
Jacqueline Kennedy by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Known and Unknown by Donald Rumsfeld
Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler
The Litigators by John Grisham
Locked On by Tom Clancy and Mark Greaney
Micro by Michael Crichton
Onward by Howard Schultz with Joanne Gordon
Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan
Pym by Mat Johnson
Red by Sammy Hagar with Joel Selvin
Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
Smokin’ Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
The Social Animal by David Brooks
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Stone Arabia by Dana Spiotta
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Those Guys Have All the Fun by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
Tick Tock by James Patterson
The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Zero Day by David Baldacci

December 29, 2011

2011 Music – The 100 Most Popular Songs

2011 Music Hits Chart

1. Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO

2. We Found Love – Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris

3. Forget You! – Cee-Lo Green

4. Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

5. Blow – Kesha

6. Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes Featuring Adam Levine

7. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People

8. Rolling In The Deep – Adele

9. You Make Me Feel – Cobra Starship

10. Tonight Tonight – Hot Chelle Rae

“La, la la, whatever, la la la, it doesn’t matter”

11. Grenade – Bruno Mars

12. Born This Way – Lady Gaga

13. Till The World Ends – Britney Spears

14. Someone Like You – Adele

15. Tonight (I’m Loving You) – Enrique Iglesias w/ Ludacris & DJ Frank E

16. E.T. – Katy Perry with Kanye West

17. Without You – David Guetta with Usher

18. Give Me Everything – Pitbull with Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer

19. The Edge Of Glory – Lady Gaga

20. It Will Rain – Bruno Mars

21. I Wanna Go – Britney Spears

22. On The Floor – Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull

23. Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor) – Pitbull with T-Pain

24. You and I – Lady Gaga

25. Yeah 3X – Chris Brown

26. Where Them Girls At – David Guetta with Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj

27. Hold It Against Me – Britney Spears

28. Just Can’t Get Enough – Black Eyed Peas

29. Fly – Nicki Minaj and Rihanna

30. Mr. Saxobeat – Alexandra Stan

31. Rocketeer – Far*East Movement with Ryan Tedder

32. Hello – Martin Solveig and Dragonette

33. Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson

34. Who’s That Chick – David Guetta with Rihanna

35. Stereo Love – Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina

36. Little Lion Man – Mumford and Sons

37. Price Tag – Jesse J

38. Cheers (Drink To That) – Rihanna

39. Rhythm of Love – Plain White T’s

40. Who Says – Selena Gomez and the Scene

41. The Cave – Mumford and Sons

42. Marry Me – Train

43. Down On Me – Jeremih

44. Written In The Stars – Tinie Tempah with Eric Turner

45. Pretty Girl Rock – Keri Hilson

46. Waiting For The End – Linkin Park

47. How To Love – Lil Wayne

48. Higher – Taio Cruz and Travie McCoy

49. Walk – Foo Fighters

50. For The First Time – The Script

51. Black and Yellow – Wiz Khalifa

52. Paradise – Coldplay

53. Sail – AWOLNation

54. S&M – Rihanna

55. All In – Lifehouse

56. Just a Kiss – Lady Antebellum

57. Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri

58. I Need A Doctor – Dr. Dre with Eminem and Skylar Grey

59. Dirty Dancer – Enrique Iglesias With Usher and Lil Wayne

60. In The Dark – Dev

61. Dirt Road Anthem – Jason Aldean

62. I Do – Colbie Caillat

63. It Girl – Jason Derulo

64. Monster – Paramore

65. Strange Clouds – B.o.B. with Lil Wayne

66. The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie – Red Hot Chili Peppers

67. Lonely Boy – The Black Keys

68. All of the Lights – Kanye West

69. What the Hell – Avril Lavigne

70. Closer To The Edge – 30 Seconds To Mars

71. Big Night – Big Time Rush

72. Don’t You Wanna Stay – Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

73. Shake Me Down – Cage The Elephant

74. Tighten Up – The Black Keys

75. Up N Down – Britney Spears

76. Skyscraper – Demi Lovato

77. The Sound of Winter – Bush

78. Ships In The Night – Mat Kearney

79. Boyfriend – Big Time Rush

80. Howlin’ For You – The Black Keys

81. Young Blood – Naked and Famous

82. Dancing Crazy – Miranda Cosgrove

83. A Thousand Years – Christina Perry

84. I Feel Like Dancin’ – All Time Low

85. Sing – My Chemical Romance

86. Changing – The Airborne Toxic Event

87. You Are A Tourist – Death Cab For Cutie

88. Party All Night (Sleep All Day) – Sean Kingston

89. Save The World – Swedish House Mafia

90. Do The John Wall – Troop 41

91. Mrs. Right – Mindless Behavior

92. Help Is On The Way – Rise Against

93. Maybe – Sick Puppies

94. I Got You – Thompson Square

95. Adolescents – Incubus

96. Sick Of You – Cake

97. Faster – Matt Nathanson

98. Kiss Me Slowly – Parachute

99. Face To The Floor – Chevelle

100. The Golden Age – The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

December 26, 2011

2011 Oscars 83rd Academy Awards

The 2011 Oscars, or 83rd Academy Awards, announced winners on February 27, 2011.
The ceremony took place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
James Franco and Anne Hathaway were the hosts for the event, marking the first time in Oscar history that both hosts were under the age of 40.
Films eligible for awards were released in the year 2010.

Noteworthy Moments:

“King’s Speech” took home Best Picture and Colin Firth won Best Actor for the same film.
Natalie Portman won Best Actress for her role in Black Swan.
Aaron Sorkin’s memorable speech: “Roxy Sorkin, your father just won the Academy Award. I’m going to have to insist on some respect from your guinea pig.”
James Franco and Anne Hathaway’s hosting was generally poorly received, leading to a return to solo hosts in subsequent years.
Melissa Leo dropped an F-bomb during her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, causing a stir.
The event drew 37.9 million viewers, a decline from the previous year.
This was the second year in a row that a film distributed by The Weinstein Company won Best Picture.
“Inception” won four technical awards but failed to capture any of the major Oscars.

2011 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:
The King’s Speech – Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, producers (WINNER)
127 Hours – Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, producers
Black Swan – Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, producers
The Fighter – David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, producers
Inception – Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, producers
The Kids Are All Right – Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, producers
The Social Network – Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, producers
Toy Story 3 – Darla K. Anderson, producer
True Grit – Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, producers
Winter’s Bone – Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, producers

Best Director:
Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech (WINNER)
Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan
David O. Russell – The Fighter
David Fincher – The Social Network
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – True Grit

Best Actor:
Colin Firth – The King’s Speech as King George VI (WINNER)
Javier Bardem – Biutiful as Uxbal
Jeff Bridges – True Grit as Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn
Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network as Mark Zuckerberg
James Franco – 127 Hours as Aron Ralston

Best Actress:
Natalie Portman – Black Swan as Nina Sayers (WINNER)
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right as Dr. Nicole “Nic” Allgood
Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole as Becca Corbett
Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone as Ree Dolly
Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine as Cynthia “Cindy” Heller

Best Supporting Actor:
Christian Bale – The Fighter as Dicky Eklund (WINNER)
John Hawkes – Winter’s Bone as Teardrop Dolly
Jeremy Renner – The Town as James “Jem” Coughlin
Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right as Paul Hatfield
Geoffrey Rush – The King’s Speech as Lionel Logue

Best Supporting Actress:
Melissa Leo – The Fighter as Alice Eklund-Ward (WINNER)
Amy Adams – The Fighter as Charlene Fleming
Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech as Queen Elizabeth
Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit as Mattalyn “Mattie” Ross
Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom as Janine “Smurf” Cody

Best Original Screenplay:
The King’s Speech – David Seidler (WINNER)
Another Year – Mike Leigh
The Fighter – Screenplay by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson
Inception – Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right – Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich (WINNER)
127 Hours – Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy based on the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
Toy Story 3 – Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich based on the previous films Toy Story and Toy Story 2
True Grit – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen based on the novel by Charles Portis
Winter’s Bone – Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell

Best Animated Feature Film:
Toy Story 3 – Directed by Lee Unkrich (WINNER)
How to Train Your Dragon – Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
The Illusionist – Directed by Sylvain Chomet

Best Foreign Language Film:
In a Better World (Denmark) in Danish – Susanne Bier (WINNER)
Biutiful (Mexico) in Spanish – Alejandro González Iñárritu
Dogtooth (Greece) in Greek – Yorgos Lanthimos
Incendies (Canada) in French – Denis Villeneuve
Outside the Law (Algeria) in Arabic – Rachid Bouchareb

Best Documentary Feature:
Inside Job – Charles H. Ferguson and Audrey Marrs (WINNER)
Exit Through the Gift Shop – Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz
Gasland – Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic
Restrepo – Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger
Waste Land – Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley

Best Documentary Short Subject:
Strangers No More – Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon (WINNER)
Killing in the Name – Jed Rothstein
Poster Girl – Sara Nesson and Mitchell W. Block
Sun Come Up – Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger
The Warriors of Qiugang – Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon

Best Live Action Short Film:
God of Love – Luke Matheny (WINNER)
The Confession – Tanel Toom
The Crush – Michael Creagh
Na Wewe – Ivan Goldschmidt
Wish 143 – Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Best Animated Short Film:
The Lost Thing – Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan (WINNER)
Day & Night – Teddy Newton
The Gruffalo – Max Lang and Jakob Schuh
Let’s Pollute – Geefwee Boedoe
Madagascar, a Journey Diary – Bastien Dubois

Best Original Score:
The Social Network – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (WINNER)
127 Hours – A. R. Rahman
How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell
Inception – Hans Zimmer
The King’s Speech – Alexandre Desplat

Best Original Song:
“We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3 – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman (WINNER)
“Coming Home” from Country Strong – Music and Lyrics by Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey and Troy Verges
“If I Rise” from 127 Hours – Music by A. R. Rahman; Lyrics by Rollo Armstrong and Dido
“I See the Light” from Tangled – Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Glenn Slater

Best Sound Editing:
Inception – Richard King (WINNER)
Toy Story 3 – Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
Tron: Legacy – Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit – Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable – Mark Stoeckinger

Best Sound Mixing:
Inception – Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick (WINNER)
The King’s Speech – Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Salt – Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
The Social Network – Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
True Grit – Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter Kurland

Best Art Direction:
Alice in Wonderland – Art Direction: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara (WINNER)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Inception – Art Direction: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
The King’s Speech – Art Direction: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
True Grit – Art Direction: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Best Cinematography:
Inception – Wally Pfister (WINNER)
Black Swan – Matthew Libatique
The King’s Speech – Danny Cohen
The Social Network – Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit – Roger Deakins

Best Makeup:
The Wolfman – Rick Baker and Dave Elsey (WINNER)
Barney’s Version – Adrien Morot
The Way Back – Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng

Best Costume Design:
Alice in Wonderland – Colleen Atwood (WINNER)
I Am Love – Antonella Cannarozzi
The King’s Speech – Jenny Beavan
The Tempest – Sandy Powell
True Grit – Mary Zophres

Best Film Editing:
The Social Network – Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter (WINNER)
127 Hours – Jon Harris
Black Swan – Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter – Pamela Martin
The King’s Speech – Tariq Anwar

Best Visual Effects:
Inception – Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb (WINNER)
Alice in Wonderland – Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter – Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
Iron Man 2 – Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Dan Sudick

Academy Honorary Awards:
Kevin Brownlow
Jean-Luc Godard
Eli Wallach

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award:
Francis Ford Coppola

February 27, 2011

2011 Grammy Award Winners

The 2011 Grammy Award winners were announced on February 13, 2011.
The event was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Unlike many other years, there was no official host for this ceremony.
The eligibility year for the awards ranged from September 1, 2009, to September 30, 2010.

Noteworthy Moments:

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire won Album of the Year, surprising many.
Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now snagged Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Esperanza Spalding became the first jazz artist to win Best New Artist.
This was the last Grammy ceremony to be held before the categories were reduced from 109 to 7
Mick Jagger made his first-ever live appearance at the Grammys, performing a tribute to Solomon Burke
Barbra Streisand returned to the Grammy stage for the first time in 6 years to perform “Evergreen
Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding upset Justin Bieber and Drake to win Best New Artist
The awards ceremony was watched by 26.6 million viewers, a significant increase from the previous year.

2011 Grammy Winners

Album of the Year:
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Record of the Year:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Rap Album:
Recovery, Eminem

New Artist:
Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Pop Vocal Album:
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
Hey, Soul Sister (Live) – Train

Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Crazy Love – Michael Bublé

Female Pop Vocal Performance:
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Male Pop Vocal Performance:
Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars

Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
Imagine – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare, The Imagine Project

Pop Instrumental Performance:
Nessun Dorma – Jeff Beck, Emotion & Commotion

Pop Instrumental Album:
Take Your Pick – Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto

Female R&B Vocal Performance:
Back to Me – Fantasia

Male R&B Vocal Performance:
There Goes My Baby – Usher

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
Soldier of Love – Sade

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance:
Wake Up! – John Legend & The Roots

R&B Song:
Wake Up! – John Legend & The Roots

R&B Album:
Wake Up! – John Legend & The Roots

Contemporary R&B Album:
Raymond V Raymond – Usher

Rap Song:
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Rap Performance by a Duo or Group:
On to the Next One – Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

Rap Solo Performance:
Eminem – Not Afraid

Urban/Alternative Performance:
F*** You – Cee Lo Green

Rock Album:
The Resistance – Muse

Solo Rock Vocal Performance:
Helter Skelter – Paul McCartney

Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
Tighten Up – The Black Keys

Rock Song:
Angry World – Neil Young

Hard Rock Performance:
Them Crooked Vultures – New Fang

Metal Performance:
El Dorado – Iron Maiden

Rock Instrumental Performance:
Hammerhead – Jeff Beck

Country Album:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Female Country Vocal Performance:
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert

Male Country Vocal Performance:
-Til Summer Comes Around – Keith Urban

Country Song:
Need You Now – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Country Instrumental Performance:
Hummingbyrd – Marty Stuart

New Age Album:
Miho: Journey to the Mountain – Paul Winter Consort

Contemporary Jazz Album:
The Stanley Clarke Band – The Stanley Clarke Band

Jazz Vocal Album:
Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, – Dee Dee Bridgewater

Latin Pop Album:
Paraiso Express – Alejandro Sanz

Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album:
El Existential – Grupo Fantasma

Tropical Latin Album:
Viva La Tradición – Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Tejano Album:
Recuerdos – Little Joe & La Familia

Norteño Album:
Classic – Intocable

Banda Album:
Enamórate De Mí – El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario

Contemporary Jazz Album:
The Stanley Clarke Band – The Stanley Clarke Band

Jazz Vocal Album:
Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee – Dee Dee Bridgewater

Improvised Jazz Solo:
A Change Is Gonna Come – Herbie Hancock

Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group:
Moody 4B – James Moody

Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
Live at Jazz Standard – Mingus Big Band

Latin Jazz Album:
Chucho’s Steps – Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers

Gospel Performance:
Grace – BeBe & CeCe Winans, Still

Gospel Song:
It’s What I Do – Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway), The Gospel According to Jazz Chapter III

Rock or Rap Gospel Album:
Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot

Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album:
Love God. Love People – Israel Houghton

Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album:
The Reason – Diamond Rio

Traditional Gospel Album:
Downtown Church – Patty Griffin

Contemporary R&B Gospel Album:
Still – BeBe & CeCe Winans

Dance Recording:
Only Girl (in the World) – Rihanna

Electronic/Dance Album:
La Roux – La Roux

Alternative Music Album:
Brothers, The Black Keys

Americana Album:
You Are Not Alone, Mavis Staples

Bluegrass Album:
Mountain Soul II – Patty Loveless

Traditional Blues Album:
Joined At The Hip – Pinetop Perkins & Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith

Contemporary Blues Album:
Living Proof – Buddy Guy

Traditional Folk Album:
Genuine Negro Jig – Carolina Chocolate Drops

Contemporary Folk Album:
God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise – Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs

Hawaiian Music Album:
Huana Ke Aloha – Tia Carrere

Native American Music Album:
2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit’s Dance – Various Artists

Zydeco or Cajun Music Album:
Zydeco Junkie – Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band

Reggae Album:
Before The Dawn – Buju Banton

Traditional World Music Album:
Ali And Toumani – Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté

Contemporary World Music Album:
Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks – Béla Fleck

New Age Album:
Miho: Journey to the Mountain – Paul Winter Consort

Short Form Music Video:
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Long Form Music Video:
When You’re Strange – The Doors

Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Storytelling):
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)

Musical Show Album:
American Idiot (Featuring Green Day)

Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
Crazy Heart (Various Artists)

Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
Toy Story 3 – Randy Newman, composer

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:
The Weary Kind (From Crazy Heart), Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters

Instrumental Composition:
The Path Among the Trees – Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble), Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz – Chamber Music Vol. 2

Instrumental Arrangement:
Carlos – Vince Mendoza, arranger (John Scofield, Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest), 54

Engineered Album, Classical:
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina – Giancarlo Guerrero &Nashville Symphony Orchestra

Producer of the Year, Classical:
David Frost

Classical Album:
Verdi: Requiem – Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus

Orchestral Performance:
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina – Nashville Symphony

Opera Recording:
Saariaho: L’Amour De Loin – Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

Choral Performance:
Verdi: Requiem – Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus

Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra):
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 – Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)

Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra):
Paul Jacobs – Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement

Chamber Music Performance:
Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 – Parker Quartet

Small Ensemble Performance:
Dinastia Borja – Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya

Classical Vocal Performance:
Sacrificium – Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)

Classical Contemporary Composition:
Michael Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina – Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero) – Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony

Classical Crossover Album:
Christopher Tin: Calling All Dawns

Surround Sound Album:
Britten’s Orchestra – Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony

Musical Album for Children:
Tomorrow’s Children – Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends

Spoken Word Album for Children:
Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies – Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

Comedy Album:
Lewis Black, Stark Raving Black

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s):
Baba Yetu – Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Calling All Dawns

Recording Package:
Brothers – The Black Keys

Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package:
Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set) – The White Stripes

Album Notes:
Keep An Eye On The Sky – Big Star

Historical Album:
The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings) – The Beatles

Engineered Album, Nonclassical:
Battle Studies – John Mayer

Producer of the Year, Nonclassical:
Danger Mouse

Remixed Recording, Nonclassical:
Revolver (David Guetta’s One Love Club Remix) – Madonna

February 13, 2011

Author: Joe Hummel III

2015 Top 100 Popular Songs

October 1 – International Coffee Day

Uniting Coffee Lovers Across Borders

The World’s Coffee Culture

The Origin of Coffee: Ethiopia and the Goat Herder

The Rise of Coffee Houses: From the Middle East to Europe

Coffee and Colonial Expansion: Plantations and Trade

Coffee in the Modern Era: Specialty Coffee and Chains

A Day to Appreciate Coffee Farmers

25 Facts About Coffee and its Origins:

2015 Oscars 87th Academy Awards

2015 Oscar Nominees and Winners

2015 Grammy Award Winners

2015 Grammy Winners

2014 Number One Hits

2014 Pop Culture History

Quick Facts from 2014:

Top Ten Baby Names of 2014:

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

The Oscars Selfie:

Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year:

Miss America:

Miss USA:

The Scandals:

Pop Culture Fun Facts:

2014 Toys inducted to the National Toy Hall of Fame:

1st Appearances & 2014’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Best Film Oscar:

2014 Entries to The National Film Registry:

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

Sports:

Popular and Best-selling Books From 2014:

2014 Best-seller Highlights

2014 Most Popular Songs

150 Inspirational Songs & Happy Music

2014 Oscars 86th Academy Award Winners

2014 Oscar Nominees and Winners

Best Picture:

Best Director:

Best Actor:

Best Actress:

Best Supporting Actor:

Best Supporting Actress:

Best Original Screenplay:

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Best Animated Feature Film:

Best Foreign Language Film:

Best Documentary – Feature:

Best Documentary – Short Subject:

Best Live Action Short Film:

Best Animated Short Film:

Best Original Score:

Best Original Song:

Best Sound Editing:

Best Sound Mixing:

Best Production Design:

Best Cinematography:

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Best Costume Design:

Best Film Editing:

Best Visual Effects:

Academy Honorary Awards:

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:

2014 Grammy Award Winners

2014 Grammy Winners

Record Of The Year of 2014

Album Of The Year

Song Of The Year

Best New Artist of 2014

Best Pop Solo Performance

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Best Pop Vocal Album

Best Dance Recording of 2014

Best Dance/Electronica Album

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Best Rock Performance

Best Metal Performance

Best Rock Song of 2014