Reba McEntire Ditches Politics – Focuses On Unity While Hosting The ‎CMAs Alongside Darius Rucker

 


These days, the vast majority of entertainment awards shows are all about politics. That’s why it was so refreshing when Reba McEntire ditched politics altogether as she hosted the Country Music Awards (CMAs) alongside Darius Rucker.

“In 2020, it’s great to be anywhere,” said McEntire, according to Fox News. “Tonight’s a wonderful evening to sing together, stand together and be together at the end of a year when too much in this world has been pulling us apart, sometimes more than six feet.”

“So true,” Rucker added in agreement.

 Rucker went on to point out that this was his first time hosting, which was a stark contrast to McEntire, who had hosted “many times.” He then asked McEntire if it felt “strange” to be six feet away from him onstage, to which she replied with a resounding no.

“Listen, I hosted with Dolly Parton last year,” McEntire explained, with Rucker joking, “Those are two big reasons to socially-distance.”

Eric Church ended up taking home the top prize of the night, winning the coveted entertainer of the year award.

“If there was ever a year not to win this award…,” Church said. “This award this year, at least for me has been about the loss of this year, loss of life, loss of playing shows, loss of freedom, loss of kids being in school. And you know what the win is? The win is we all were here tonight, together as country music. In-person live, not on Zoom.”

He then also talked about the need to set politics aside, as it only serves to divide us.

“I really believe this: it’s going to be music that brings us out of this. That is the one thing that is going to save the entire world,” Church said. “Politicians are about division and music is about unity. And I promise you, it’s going to take everybody in this room to unite.”

Other big winners from last night were Maren Morris and Luke Combs, who won best female vocalist of the year and best male vocalist of the year, respectively. While the awards show was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee as usual, it was not broadcast at its typical home at Bridgestone Arena. Instead, it took place across the street at the more intimate Music City Center.

Samra Amaru Shakur - Samra compares himself to Tupac


For many rap fans, Tupac Shakur is probably the greatest and most important rapper in all of history. And not only because he delivered musically with tracks like “California Love”, but above all because of his intellectual nature, which, thanks to his unique charisma, was well received in both problem areas and the middle class of America.

Even in today's comparison, many of the rapper's thoughts, who died at the young age of 25 and still had a great deal of experience, are still progressive and indicate his great foresight, especially with regard to the current situation in the USA. Nowadays songs like “Changes” seem more relevant than ever.

Given this background, it is difficult for many fans to accept today's rappers comparing themselves to Tupac. At least one cannot choose a larger legend for a comparison. In his latest audio sample, Samra dared to tackle this topic anyway and openly compares himself to Tupac. To underline this he even calls himself "Samra Amaru Shakur":

"Rraah, a few years ago I still ticked degrees / I took the sharp with me and pulled the trigger in daylight / They say 'Samra, Mashallah how talented you are' / you know me - if I fall I'll take everyone with me / Don't think about tomorrow / I've died 6 times in these 25 years /

Today there are deaths, Kafa overdose / if I overtake a patrol car again / Cashmere sweater, freezing outside '/ We always stay real, because money is just paper / Kill the brandy, I'm so hoarse / I race and I drive in the streets of Milan /

95BPM and I shoot / shot in a projector like Tupac and I bleed to death / Samra Amaru Shakur / we walk over snow, but leave no trace / "

Here you hear the part

ABT album: Nicki Minaj sends sweet message to Davido Read

- Nigerian singer, Davido, recently released his highly anticipated album, A Better Time, to the excitement of his fans - Both local and international artistes were featured on the 16-track album - Davido’s collaboration with Nicki Minaj titled Holy Ground celebrated love as they praised their partners on the track PAY ATTENTION: Win a prize of N115,000, N75000 or N38000: participate in Big Naija Independence contest by Legit.ng Nigerian artiste, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is the man of the moment as he recently dropped his highly anticipated album, A Better Time, intended for initial release last month. The 16-track album featured both local and international artistes like Tiwa Savage, Mayorkun, Lil Baby, Nas, and Chris Brown.

American rapper Nicki was one of the foreign artistes featured on the album and she has joined the list of those who have reached out to Davido after the album dropped on November 13. She sent a message to the Nigerian singer, congratulating him.

Nicki Minaj featured on A Better Time album Photo credit: @davido/@nickiminaj Source: Instagram She wrote: "Congratulations @davido!!! #HolyGround #ABetterTime #Naija to the WORLD!!!! " See post below:

One of the early highlights of the album was his Holy Ground track with Nicki, which celebrated and honoured love. The track was one fans anticipated for quite some time after Davido confirmed its existence earlier this year. Davido previously spoke about the Nicki Minaj collaboration and revealed it came after he sent a drunk DM to the rapper while he was at a party. In an interview with W magazine, he revealed: “I woke up the next morning and I forgot that I had messaged her the night before. I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, I was drunk.’ Nothing was really planned on this album—Nicki be charging people $500,000 for verses. And she did it for me for free.” PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Davido said he was not expecting Wizkid to respond after he showed support for his MIL album.

The FEM crooner said he was not really thinking when he shared the congratulatory post on social media. Davido also stated that he knew Wizkid would not respond or acknowledge the post but it didn’t stop him from sharing it anyway.

Luke Combs Faces Backlash For Resurfaced 'Nasty' Tweets About Miley Cyrus And Other Stars


If you think you have even the slightest chance of becoming famous one day, you better watch what you say online! Unless, of course, you want to become famous for being a sassy person with opinions online (ahem, ahem), at which point, go ahead, but be aware that everything you put out on the internet is on there forever, and people WILL find it.

Especially if what you put on the internet is some trash talk.

Luke tweeted that Miley Cyrus was the reason he would be spanking his future children.



While some of the backlash was as simple as one fan tweeting "you're nasty," some went a bit further, with one Miley fan responding, "I'm so sorry for your future children."

Honestly, this tweet seems a little bit uncalled for, and that's coming from me.

He also offered some fashion advice.           


Luke tweeted at Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj in 2011 that they should "stop dressing like Lady Gaga."

Now, I tend to not take a lot of fashion advice from men I don't know, but something tells me Katy and Nicki aren't turning to Luke Combs for their style inspiration.

Kanye West receives thousands of votes from SoCal residents

As the nation watches a tight presidential race and agonizes over the future of American democracy, Kim Kardashian’s husband received thousands of votes from Orange County residents.

West was listed as a vice presidential candidate in California on the American Independent Party ticket headed by Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente Guerra. As of noon Wednesday, the ticket had received 3,641 votes from Orange County residents.

It won’t be good enough to put the man who called himself “the greatest artist that God has ever created” in the Oval Office.

West, who said he was listed on the California ballot by the American Independent Party without his knowledge, had separately mounted an independent campaign for president. He appeared on the ballot in 12 states and asked for write-in votes in others, but he conceded defeat late Tuesday after falling behind Joe Biden and Donald Trump by tens of millions of votes.

West ran on a platform that included restoration of prayer in schools, expansion of education opportunities, investment in renewable energy, and criminal justice reform. “In our future, we will H.E.A.L.,” his campaign website reads. “Hold Everyone Accountable to Love.”

West could not be reached for comment.

In Los Angeles County, the American Independent Party ticket of West and De La Fuente Guerra received more than 10,000 votes.

A few people voiced their dismay on Twitter at West’s vote totals.

One Twitter account read, “2623 adults in #OrangeCounty voted for Kanye! Post election task: Find ALL and cancel their voting rights!”

“Oh lord,” another user commented.

How Music Therapy Is Easing Anxiety and Isolation

Therapists say there are psychological benefits associated with music. Singing and listening to songs is helping people cope with emotional hurdles while COVID-19 quarantining.


When Tom Sweitzer tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer, he ended up in the hospital for a week with a case of pneumonia. After two or three days, he did what he would tell any of his clients to do: He put on a song, listened, and breathed along to the music.

Sweitzer is the co-founder and creative director of A Place to Be, a non-profit organization in Middleburg, Virginia that supports people struggling from a wide variety of emotional, physical, behavioral or mental problems through music therapy. The employees of the organization are all certified therapists carrying many of the same responsibilities as they would in traditional therapy, holding private counseling sessions or group programs. But they also use music as a method to help their clients improve their well-being. This mode of therapy seems especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I always say that music keeps you company. We are all in a place right now where isolation and loneliness is pretty much a way of life for many people,” Sweitzer says. “Music can fill in those gaps.”      

Your Brain on Music

Jesse Dollimont, a clinician who works for Canadian practice JB Music Therapy, says that when a person listens to a song, the music simultaneously engages with regions of the brain involved in memory, emotion, physical movement and communication. Two brain areas that respond most strongly to music are the amygdala and the hippocampus, core parts of the limbic system which controls emotional processing and memory. As a result, music has a strong ability to help people tune into their feelings quickly and help them express those emotions to others. Through the application of music, therapists can help patients build confidence, relieve stress or anxiety, process trauma or deal with other mental health issues.

“On a really fundamental level, in terms of how it interacts with our brain, [music] anchors us to the present,” Dollimont says. “It can allow us to move through and remember and come to terms with the past. And it can be a way to express our fears of the future, and have that validated.”

 

Read more: Why Lo-Fi Music Draws Listeners In

Dollimont says that in the pandemic, JB Music Therapy has begun conducting virtual music therapy sessions for the first time. Many of her patients have been struggling with increased depression, social isolation and uncertainty for the future. Video call sessions work to address these issues, despite a slight decrease in the impact for patients when compared to in-person sessions.

When listening to a song you like, the musical interaction releases dopamine, serotonin and endorphins in the brain, helping to alleviate depression. In addition, the act of listening to or playing music with someone has been shown to strengthen social bonds, which has been valuable for people self-quarantining. Videos from early in the pandemic captured this with Italians in quarantine singing together from their balconies. Being able to control the music you listen to also helps people who have had their circumstances disrupted from the pandemic to feel a sense of stability at a very uncertain time.

Dollimont says music also helps to validate emotional experiences. When people are sad or angry, they tend to gravitate toward sad or angry songs. Rather than increasing those emotions, however, listening to the music helps to stabilize the person and helps them feel like the issues they are going through are universal rather than personal. As such, listening to sad music can be extremely useful for people struggling in the pandemic because it can help validate their emotional reaction to their situation.

“Music plays a profound role in helping folks navigate tough times,” Dollimont says. “It gives us a tangible experience of ‘I’m not alone in this. Someone else has experienced this.’”

Just Keep Breathing

Sweitzer says that one common mode of music therapy is to help people relax through breathing techniques. In sessions, the music therapist plays a song, and leads the patients in breathing in and out with phrases. Afterwards, the therapist leads a discussion where they break apart the lyrics of the song and talk about how it made the patient feel, using the music as a platform to discuss further issues or feelings.

Sweitzer currently runs a therapy group via Zoom for COVID-19 survivors and says that playing music has helped patients open up about their struggles with the virus. In one meeting, he played the song “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera, and during the discussion afterwards, the song prompted one patient to open up about her insecurities about her hair falling out after struggling with COVID.

“That song right there, 'Beautiful,' prompted an entire discussion in a therapeutic, grounded, safe place,” Sweitzer says. “And that's what makes us different than just musicians. We are trained as therapists. So I know how to make a safe place. I know how to surround the clients we're working with music, but we have the ability to work out therapeutically with them.”

Sweitzer notes that even outside of music therapy sessions, playing and listening to music can be a stress reliever for people struggling during the pandemic. For one of his recent clients — a mom who felt overwhelmed taking care of her kids at home — he recommended she find time in the day to take breaks and listen to music she enjoys. For one of his therapy groups, consisting of elderly patients who haven’t left their house since March, he recommends that they make playlists of songs they find soothing, to help them during particularly stressful days.

“It doesn’t even really have to be powerfully emotional music. It can be music from your past, music that makes you dance, music that makes you laugh,” Sweitzer says. “Something that lifts that mental depression for a little bit, so you might be able to breathe or think differently.”

WHY MUSICIANS HAVE HEALTHIER BRAINS

 If you want evidence of how music affects the brain, it makes sense to look at the brains of those who play a lot of music — professional musicians.

Brain scans show that their brains are different than those of non-musicians.

Musicians have bigger, better connected, more sensitive brains. (3)

Musicians have superior working memory, auditory skills, and cognitive flexibility. (45)

Their brains are physically more symmetrical and they respond more symmetrically when listening to music. (6)

Areas of the brain responsible for motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination are larger. (7)

Musicians also have a larger corpus callosum. (8)

This is the band of nerve fibers that transfers information between the two hemispheres of the brain.

This increase in size indicates that the two sides of musicians’ brains are better at communicating with each other.

While most of us aren’t professional musicians, we still listen to a lot of music — on average of 32 hours per week. (9)

This is enough time for music to have an effect on the brains of non-musicians as well.

The Powerful Effect of Music on the Brain

 Music has been scientifically proven to have a powerful effect on the brain. Recent research shows that music can help in many aspects of the brain, including pain reduction, stress relief, memory, and brain injuries. In the book The Power of Music, Elena Mannes says, “Scientists have found that music stimulates more parts of the brain than any other human function.” Let’s look at some of the ways music can aid in the healing and stimulation of the human brain.

Pain Reduction

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.” —Billy Joel

A 2014 study found that music was helpful for patients with fibromyalgia. The study showed that listening to relaxing music of the patient’s choice “reduced pain and increased functional mobility significantly.” Researchers believe that music eases pain because listening to it triggers opioids—the body’s natural pain relievers. In a 2013 study, people given the opioid blocking drug Naltrexone experienced less pleasure while listening to their favorite song, suggesting music activates the release of pain-relieving opioids. 

Stress Relief

Depending on the type of music you listen to, relaxing music can alleviate stress by lowering cortisol levels, which is the hormone released in response to stress.

A 2013 study demonstrates a link between music and decreased stress in pediatric emergency room patients. “In the trial with 42 children ages 3 to 11, University of Alberta researchers found that patients who listened to relaxing music while getting an IV inserted reported significantly less pain, and some demonstrated significantly less distress, compared with patients who did not listen to music,” according to the American Psychological Association.

Memory

Studies linking music to memory recall have increased since the early 20th century, when the research first emerged. Listening to certain music can take your mind back decades in an instant. In a previous blog post we published, titled “Studies Prove Music Boosts Brain Activity in Alzheimer’s Patients,” we cited the documentary Alive Inside, which chronicled how music awakened patients suffering from memory loss. Neurologist Oliver Sacks said, “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory. … It brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”

A 2014 study was conducted on 89 patients with dementia, where the patient and caregivers were randomly assigned either a 10-week music listening coaching group, a 10-week singing coaching group, or regular care. The results showed that “compared with usual care, both singing and music listening improved mood, orientation, and remote episodic memory and to a lesser extent, also attention and executive function and general cognition. Singing also enhanced short-term and working memory and caregiver well-being, whereas music listening had a positive effect on quality of life.”

Seizure, Brain Injury, or Stroke

It has been reported that the brains of patients with epilepsy respond differently to music than people who do not have epilepsy. “Persons with epilepsy synchronize before a seizure. However, in our study, patients with epilepsy synchronized to the music without having a seizure,” said Christine Charyton, of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Charyton explained that stress causes seizures to occur and added, “By listening to the music, many patients reported that they felt relaxed.”

Stroke patients who listened to music in the early stages after a stroke showed an improvement in recovery according to a 2008 study. Author of the study, Teppo Särkämö, suggested that patients start listening to music soon after the stroke, as many changes occur during the first weeks and months of recovery. “We found that three months after the stroke, verbal memory improved from the first week post-stroke by 60 percent in music listeners,” said Särkämö.

In 1973 a music-based treatment called Melodic Intonation Therapy was developed to help stroke survivors or people who suffer with aphasia to be able to communicate again. The purpose of the therapy is to convert singing into speech. According to Research and Hope, even though these patients aren’t able to speak, “they are often able to sing, sometimes with the same fluency and clarity they had before the onset of illness.”