Pop

They Said ‘Avatar’ Has No Cultural Impact, But Now Lizzo Is Doing Na’vi Thirst Traps And We Don’t Know What To Believe

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Lizzo SNL Saturday Night Live 2022
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The original 2009 Avatar movie and the new Avatar: The Way Of Water film are both major hits. Box office numbers don’t lie. Regardless, there have been questions about what cultural impact the series (the first movie, more specifically) has actually had. Of course, this discourse is all subjective, but if Avatar didn’t have impact, then why is Lizzo on the beach doing Na’vi thirst traps?

In a TikTok video shared today (January 9), the right half of the frame shows a female Na’vi walking on the beach. On the left is Lizzo, doing a spot-on imitation of the character in a clip that was Avatar-ized with a video filter. She later shared another video of herself with the filter, enjoying some time in the water. “tell James Cameron I’m ready…,” she captioned the second video.

@lizzo

#duet with @lizzo yes i saved this video.. uploaded it private…then duetted myself… 🤭

♬ original sound – lizzo

@lizzo

Replying to @g6brie1 tell James Cameron I’m ready…

♬ Becoming one of “The People” Becoming one with Neytiri – James Horner

Hey, James Cameron: Lizzo is ready.

Speaking of Cameron, he addressed the “cultural impact” conversation in a recent interview, saying, “There’s skepticism in the marketplace around, ‘Oh, did it ever make any real cultural impact? Can anybody even remember the characters’ names?’ When you have extraordinary success, you come back within the next three years. That’s just how the industry works. You come back to the well, and you build that cultural impact over time. Marvel had maybe 26 movies to build out a universe, with the characters cross-pollinating. So it’s an irrelevant argument. We’ll see what happens after this film.”

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Weeknd’s Six-Year-Old Song ‘Die For You’ Has Cracked The Hot 100 Top 10 For The First Time Thanks In Part To TikTok

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The Weeknd November 2022
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Over the weekend, The Weeknd commemorated one year of Dawn FM with a video for “Is There Someone Else?.” Coupled with the video’s release was this tweet: “I wonder… Did you know you’re experiencing a new trilogy?” Before we walk with The Weeknd into an enticing future, there’s reason to revisit his past.

Billboard revealed its newest Hot 100 chart (dated January 14) today, January 9. It’s unsurprisingly that Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” has returned to No. 1 for a seventh total week after debuting there in late October, but it is surprising to see The Weeknd’s 2016 Starboy hit “Die For You” at No. 8 — which is now his 16th top-10 single on the chart.

“The Weeknd’s ‘Die for You’ vaults 26 to 8 on the Hot 100, led by 67.3 million in airplay audience (up 3%) and 9.9 million streams (up 10%),” the publication additionally relayed. “The song hits the Hot 100’s top 10 over six years after its original release on The Weeknd’s album Starboy, sparked by interaction on TikTok (which does not presently contribute to Billboard‘s charts). That buzz helped lead to the song’s airplay promotion and prominence, as the track holds at its No. 4 Radio Songs high.”

The Weeknd owns six career No. 1 Hot 100 singles, including the record-breaking “Blinding Lights” and “Starboy” (the latter featuring Daft Punk). Fellow Starboy track “I Feel It Coming” (also featuring Daft Punk) peaked at No. 4 on the chart.

“Die For You” isn’t the only The Weeknd song in this week’s Hot 100 top 10, either. His collaborative track “Creepin’” with Metro Boomin and 21 Savage, off of Metro Boomin’s December No. 1 album Heroes & Villains, sits at No. 6. It peaked at No. 5 last month.

Terrifying Killer Doll M3GAN’s Spooky Rendition Of ‘Titanium’ Is On The Film’s Official Soundtrack

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M3GAN is sweeping the nation. The Gerard Johnstone-directed film centers around “a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally,” according to the film’s official synopsis. The murderous, terrifying doll was designed by a roboticist named Gemma (Allison Williams) and voiced by Jenna Davis — and the latter has a song on the official soundtrack.

In the movie, M3GAN’s chosen lullaby to serenade Cady (Violet McGraw) with is “Titanium” (as analyzed by The Daily Beast). The 2011 hit by David Guetta featuring Sia peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 over a decade ago, and apparently, one of M3GAN’s underrated abilities is that of reviving a dance-pop earworm.

Previously, at the December world premiere of M3GAN in Los Angeles, the titular doll aligned herself with Taylor Swift. More specifically, eight M3GAN-looking dancers made “It’s Nice To Have A Friend” way creepier than Swift likely ever intended. There was also some Meghan McCain discourse sparked by McCain tweeting, “I feel personally attacked by this movie and the entire premise.”

M3GAN hit theaters on Friday, January 6, and debuted with $30 million across North American box offices, per Variety. The full official soundtrack from Anthony Willis can be found here.

‘SOS’ Logged A Fourth-Straight No. 1 Week On The ‘Billboard’ 200 Chart And SZA Is Beside Herself

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Last week, SZA kept the SOS train rolling by dropping a different version of the album, including revamped singles “PSA” and “Open Arms.” She also cleared up the phantom rumor that she had beef with Taylor Swift, and ironically enough, SOS now has something in common with Swift’s Midnights: breaking records previously held by Adele.

SOS sits atop the Billboard 200 chart dated January 14, its fourth-straight week at No. 1 since debuting there on December 19. According to Billboard, SZA’s sophomore offering is “the first album by a woman to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 in a year, since Adele’s 30 ruled for its first six weeks (December 4, 2021 through January 8, 2022-dated charts) and is the first album by a woman to have four consecutive weeks at No. 1 since 30‘s six week-run at No. 1.”

When Swift’s Midnights debuted at No. 1 in late October, it moved the most first-week equivalent album units since Adele’s 30 in 2015. (Midnights remains at No. 2 on this week’s chart.)

SOS is also the first R&B album by a woman to have four weeks at No. 1 since February of 2008, when Alicia Keys’ As I Am notched a fourth and final nonconsecutive week atop the list (Feb. 16, 2008),” Billboard additionally relayed. “More strikingly, SOS is the first R&B album by a woman to spend its first four weeks at No. 1 in nearly 30 years, since Janet Jackson’s Janet. ruled for its first six frames (June 5-July 10, 1993).”

The feat is not lost on SZA.

“I don’t have sh*t to say but thank you to God my ancestors my family my team and ALL OF YOU THAT RIDE FOR ME ! ESPECIALLY CAMP [tent emoji]!!” SZA captioned an Instagram post on Sunday, January 8. “Y’all my family too [white heart emoji] we have so much more to come.”

She also tweeted, “4 weeks at number one is INSANE. Thank you God and thank you everyone for riding for me.”

As for what’s still to come, SZA’s teased “Kill Bill” video should drop any day now. Her SOS Tour is slated to kick off on February 21 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, with Omar Apollo serving as the opener.

Charli XCX Offer Hilarious Response To Hailey Bieber’s ‘Nepo Baby’ Tshirt

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Charli XCX Crash album launch party 2022
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Hailey Bieber has been trending a lot these days, but not for her famous husband or modeling. It was for her response to the discourse surrounding nepotism in the media and entertainment industry.

In December, Vulture released an article titled “Year of the Nepo Baby,” which sparked a major debate about “nepo babies” that have become famous, including Euphoria‘s Maude Apatow (who is the daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann), Maya Hawke of Stranger Things, ( the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman), and more. The 26-year-old model, who is the daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, offered her own cheeky response to the online discourse with an interesting fashion statement.

Bieber was seen around town in LA, wearing a plain white tee with the lego “Nepo Baby” on it. Some people loved it, like actress Gweneth Paltrow. In the comment section of InStyle’s official Instagram that noted Bieber’s look, Paltrow implied that she’d even consider wearing one herself.

“I might need a few of these,” the star commented.

UK singer-songwriter Charli XCX also joined in, writing, ” I respect the nepo baby t-shirt attempt.” The comments were flooded with hilarious responses to the singer’s tweet, wondering if it was an attempt to shade the model.

“Attempt,” one person wrote with a laughing meme.

“[I’m] hooting n’ hollering at Charli being as messy as us,” another wrote, alongside a Wendy Williams meme.

Others compared Hailey’s shirt with an old Charli XCX SSENSE shirt that read, “They don’t build statues of critics.”

“Some people just don’t have that IT factor, y’know?” another person tweeted.

Model Emily Ratajkowski Slams Ellen DeGeneres Over ‘F*cked up’ Taylor Swift Interview

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emily ratajkowski
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It looks like model Emily Ratajkowski and former TV show host Ellen DeGeneres might have some “Bad Blood” over Taylor Swift. In a resurfaced clip on TikTok, DeGeneres can be seen hammering the Nashville singer, who looked visibly uncomfortable, about her dating life during a 2012 appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Throughout the cringey clip, Swift sits across from DeGeneres, asking the singer to choose from an array of images of famous men that she might have been involved with, like Taylor Lautner, Justin Bieber, Joe Jonas, and Justin Timberlake.

“This is so f*ked up,” the supermodel wrote.

“She’s literally begging her to stop,” Ratajkowski continued.

In spite of Swift’s pleas to DeGeneres to stop, the daytime talk show host asked Swift to “ring a bell” every time she came across a picture of one of the men she dated. The singer said she wanted to keep “the one shred of dignity that I have.”

“I don’t want to [do it]. They’ll send me angry emails, and I don’t want to get them,” Swift stated.

It’s unclear whether the bit was planned, but Swift didn’t seem too happy with it either way.

The Midnights singer recently opened up about being reduced to the men she dated in the early days of her career, such as with Apple Beats’ Zane Lowe. Despite Swift not mentioning DeGeneres by name at the time, many Swifties argued that she was referencing the uncomfortable 2012 interview.

Will Bad Bunny Headline Coachella 2023?

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Bad Bunny World's Hottest Tour 2022
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Bad Bunny could be performing on the main stage of Coachella next. Today (January 6), a report was released naming the Puerto Rican superstar as a possible headliner for the upcoming music festival.

Hits Daily Double released a report with the rumored headliners for 2023 Coachella. Bad Bunny is listed as a possible headliner along with South Korean girl group Blackpink and elusive singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. After finishing off 2022 as the No. 1 global artist, Coachella would be the perfect stage for Bad Bunny to take on next.

Thanks to his success of his blockbuster album, Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny made history by claiming the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 year-end chart. The album was first Latin LP and the first all-Spanish release to reach the summit of the chart. Bad Bunny was also named Spotify’s most-streamed artist of 2022. He claimed the top touring artist of the year title as well. Bad Bunny pulled ahead of Ed Sheeran and Elton John with a total touring gross of $373.5 million.

Bad Bunny started off 2023 in a storm of controversy. Earlier this week, a video went viral of the singer tossing a fan’s phone after they were forcefully trying to take selfies with him. Bad Bunny responded to the backlash by calling the fan’s behavior “a lack of respect.” The Coachella stage in April could be a great way for him to make a triumphant comeback to the live music scene.

Of Course ‘The Simpsons’ Seemingly Predicted Bad Bunny Recently Throwing A Fan’s Phone

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Bad Bunny 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards 2021
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International star Bad Bunny’s music was inescapable last year. His breakout album Un Verano Sin Ti earned the Puerto Rico native Apple Music’s Artist Of The Yearear title and Spotify Wrapped’s most-streamed artist. If that wasn’t enough, many predict Bunny will make history at this year’s Grammy Awards as he is nominated for Album Of The Year. But with all of the success, controversy is sure to follow.

First, some of the Latin trap rapper’s fans were duped out of concert tickets for his show in Mexico City. Second, his fans’ admiration for him has become too much for him to handle. While visiting the Dominican Republic, the musician was displeased by locals violating his personal space with cell phones. In a viral clip, Bunny is seen tossing a fan’s phone into the nearby water while going for a stroll on the street. During the same visit, another clip surfaced of him destroying a fan’s phone inside a club.

Now, fans have realized that it looks like The Simpsons, as it often does, predicted this.

In 2021, The Simpsons and Bad Bunny collaborated for the music star’s “Te Deseo Lo Mejor” video, in which Bunny enters the Simpsons universe. In the clip, an animated Bunny breaks Homer’s cell phone. While his actions in the clip helped Homer get back on wife Marge’s good side, in real life, Dominicans aren’t at all happy with him after he released a statement saying, “The people who come up to me to say hello, to tell me something, or just to meet me, will always receive my attention and respect. Those who come to put a f*cking phone in my face I will consider it for what it is, a lack of respect, and I will treat it likewise.”

The Simpson’s creative team’s gift of prophecy may seem like a joke, but to some, it is more accurate than you think. The show foreshadowed Richard Branson’s space trip, Donald Trump’s presidency, and Las Vegas Monorail’s bankruptcy years ahead of time.

Revisit the full “Te Deseo Lo Mejor” video below.

SZA Has Cleared Up Rumors Of Beef With Taylor Swift: ‘I Feel Silly That I Even Have To Say This’

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SZA has dealt with a lot of haters after the release of her stunning new album SOS. “Sos is me singing about relationships from 6 years ago,” she clarified in one tweet after people criticized the content of her lyrics. “Ctrl was about relationships from high school n college. Reflection is a part of growth. Reflection is good.”

She’s taken to Twitter again to clear up something else — rumors of bad blood between her and Taylor Swift, who recently released her new album Midnights. “Uhh I feel silly that I even have to say this but i see supporters arguing and I hate that,” she wrote. “I don’t have beef w ANYONE especially not Taylor lmao I genuinely loved her album and the writing!Everyone’s jus tryna do their BEST as we all should . LOVE TO EVERYONE. Gn [white heart emoji].”

She also had to point out that her new record isn’t all sad songs; there are some uplifting tracks as well, and she didn’t want them to be dismissed or belittled. “Ignoring songs like ‘SOS,’ ‘PSA,’ ‘Conceited,’ ‘Low,’ ‘Forgiveless,’ ‘Seek N Destroy,’ ‘Notice Me,’ or ‘Ex Pack,’ to pretend I only make sad girl music is dumb,” she wrote, and then added in the replies, “Forgot ‘Good Days.’”