ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

American singer and songwriter Robin Thicke performs at the unveiling of ‘The Fountain’, a multicolored dancing water fountain at Okada Manila casino resort in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines on March 31, 2017. Thicke’s eighth album, ‘On Earth, and In Heaven,’ released on Feb 12. (AP) People Music ‘Entire family delighted’ ‘On Earth,’ a breezy, positive album Duchess of Sussex expecting 2nd child In Thicke of it, Robin fi nds light

LOS ANGELES, Feb 15, (AP): The Duke and Duch- By Mesfi n Fekadu ally is: when everything hits the wall. went over my album and he wasn’t ess of Sussex are expecting their second child, their And some of these things I could not very impressed, to say the least. He tabloid-heavy divorce and mon- control — my father, Andre, my man- was like, “Where’s all the horns and offi ce confi rmed Sunday. strous lawsuit about his biggest A spokesperson for Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan, A ager Jordan Feldstein, my house burn- the strings and the vocal production hit was hard enough, but then life hit ing down. But there were other things and the background you do? All the 39, said in a statement: “We can confi rm that Archie Robin Thicke beyond the gossip col- is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess that happened like getting a divorce, bass lines and stuff?” Then he passed umn. getting sued, getting bad public press. away, so I went to work. I realized that of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second His father, “Growing Pains” ac- child.” Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan There were things that I did and that he’d already given me so much life arrive at the annual Endeavour Fund tor Alan Thicke, died. The follow- I could have done much better, that I and fuel to my fi re. He supported me In a black-and-white photo of themselves, the cou- Awards in London, March 5, 2020. ing year, his popular manager Jordan ple sat near a tree with Harry’s hand placed under could have handled much better that and believed in me and had some new The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are Feldstein — actor Jonah Hill’s brother made all of these problems come into place to take my talents. I wanted to Meghan’s head as she lies on his lap with her hand expecting their second child, their of- who also oversaw Maroon 5’s career resting on her bump. fi ce confi rmed Sunday, Feb 14. (AP) play at one time. My vanity. My ego. honor him and also honor my father, — died at just 40. My arrogance. All the things that need- of course, by fi nishing it. The baby will be eighth in line to the British throne. Thicke’s Malibu home burned A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Her Maj- ed to be met all were met over this pe- AP: What do you remember most down a year later because of the riod of time. They all shook hands and about Andre? esty, Duke of Edinburgh, Woolsey fi re. And last year his cham- Prince of Wales and the entire they fought it out. Right now, the good Thicke: He was just nonstop posi- Variety pion and mentor Andre Harrell, the angel is winning and is enjoying music tive, fun, generous with his energy, family are delighted and wish record executive who launched the them well.” and his family. ...I’m really just going patient with people and inspiring. He careers of Sean “Diddy” Combs and through a gratitude period for every- really could look around the room The duke told chimpanzee MINEOLA, NY: The 64-year-old father Mary J. Blige, died. expert Jane Goodall in 2019 of rapper Nicki Minaj has died after be- thing I have. I’m happier because of it. and see where everybody was at and “I’ve always been a pretty positive AP: What helped you get out of that give them some little tidbit, some lit- that he would only have two ing struck by a hit-and-run driver in New person and obviously this fi ve, six children for the sake of the York, police said. dark place? tle piece, some little nugget that’ll help years I just went through challenged Thicke: planet. Robert Maraj was walking along a road all of my preconceived notions of faith I think we all reach our push them forward. He was almost like Goodall said: “Not too in Mineola on Long Island at 6:15 pm breaking point in some way. The an angel in disguise that way. He even many,” and Harry replied: and positivity,” Thicke said. Friday when he was hit by a car that kept While trying to live life and fi nd the world is telling you, “You need to taught me that, he said, “You never “Two, maximum.” going, Nassau County police said. Maraj make some changes.” The people that know if that guy on the street that just was taken to a hospital, where he was light, Thicke also grew distant from Meghan Harry and American actor love you, the people that don’t, some- handed you his mixtape is the next Meghan Markle married at pronounced dead Saturday. music — a hard realization for the Grammy-nominated performer who how you’re getting a recurring mes- Jay-Z.” He saw magic come from the Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son Archie was Police are asking any witnesses to the sage that change needs to happen. For most unlikeliest of places. He went to born a year later. fatal crash to come forward. typically takes one to two-year breaks in between albums. me I had to strip down my selfi shness, the projects and signed Mary J. Blige In early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they Minaj, 38, was born Onika Tanya my vanity, my self-importance. My and told her mother right after she sang, were quitting royal duties and moving to North Amer- Maraj in Trinidad and was raised in the Then he wrote a song about his fa- ther. And another about Harrell. sensitivities of being made fun of or “Your daughter is going to sing for ica, citing what they said were the unbearable intru- New York City borough of Queens. She being called names. kings and queens someday.” She did. sions and racist attitudes of the British media. They has not made any public statement about “I just kind of woke up out of the her father’s death. fog, the creative fog I was in and per- Robin Thicke says he’s a new man He did that for me. He believed in me recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California. after experiences deaths of family more than anybody else did. In November, Meghan revealed that she had a mis- An email seeking comment was sent to a sonal fog I was in. Just started seeing representative for Minaj. (AP) the world a little differently, fi nally,” members and close friends, a public AP: Andre’s son, Gianni Credle- carriage in July 2020, giving a personal account of the divorce and more. Harrell, is listed as a co-writer on traumatic experience in hope of helping others. ❑ ❑ ❑ he said. “On Earth, and in Heaven,” I think that is one of the great super- “Beautiful.” What was it like working LEWISTON, Maine: A group of budding powers, to be able to laugh at yourself, with his him? Privacy young writers is about to publish a book with Thicke’s eighth album, released last Friday and the 11-track set is a breezy, to not take yourself too seriously and Thicke: That was actually just a fun A few days ago, the duchess won a privacy claim some help from Maine’s most famous writer. to enjoy the room, even when they’re evening. I had crafted the song, but I against a newspaper over the publication of a personal Stephen King’s foundation covered acoustic R&B journey about his hard and heavy times, though hope is at the teasing you. I didn’t have that before. didn’t have the lyrics fi nished and I letter to her estranged father. the $6,500 cost of publishing a 290-page I held on to my music and my art too didn’t have some of the message fi n- A newspaper invaded the Duchess of Sussex’s pri- manuscript by students participating in center of it. Farwell Elementary School’s Author Stud- “That’s What Love Can Do,” which tight. I held on to everything I had ished. I had the chorus, the base of it vacy by publishing a personal letter to her estranged worked so hard for too tight. Then I and the musical structure, but I hadn’t father, a British judge has ruled Thursday, in a major ies Program. closes the album, was written after his victory for the royal in her campaign against what she The students started with “Fletcher Mc- father passed; “Look Easy,” the new couldn’t take any negativity — any connected to what made that song sees as media intrusion. Kenzie and the Passage to Whole,” a story single, is dedicated to “the front line apples, oranges and tomatoes being stand apart. Gianni came and he gave Meghan Markle sued publisher Associated News- about a Maine boy by Gary Savage, and workers and our moms and our teach- thrown at me. At this point in my life, me some ideas for some melody fl ows papers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringe- then reworked it to refl ect their experiences ers”; “Out of My Mind” touches on luckily, I’ve learned to embrace all (and) I ended up keeping a little part. ment over fi ve February 2019 articles in the Mail re- during the pandemic. depression and anxiety as well as fi nd- parts of the culture of fame and enter- It wasn’t until George Floyd hap- cently and on the MailOnline website that published Farwell Principal Amanda Winslow ing peace; and “Beautiful” is about tainment. pened that I brought the song back. It large portions of a letter she wrote to her father after said she is proud of the students for their fi nding the light in a sea of darkness. AP: Was is diffi cult writing about was actually sitting still for four years. accomplishment and thankful for the dedi- In an interview with The Associ- your father on this album? When George Floyd happened, I went her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. cation of Savage, who advised the students, High Court judge Mark Warby ruled that the pub- ated Press, edited for clarity and brev- Thicke: It’s cathartic for me. It’s back to the song and I rewrote it be- and librarian Kathy Martin. ity, Thicke talks about writing about therapeutic. It helps me get through cause there’s a line that says, “I look lisher had misused the duchess’s private information A number of local groups also sent and infringed her copyright. his loved ones, getting rid of his ego, my tough times. It defi nitely helped in your eyes, your smile reminds me donations that will be used for the Author me. If it helps me, then maybe it’ll what love’s about.” That famous pic- He said the duchess “had a reasonable expectation Studies program. (AP) fatherhood and what he learned from that the contents of the letter would remain private. ❑ ❑ ❑ the gift and curse that was “Blurred help somebody else. Maybe it’ll com- ture of George Floyd, where he’s smil- The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable ex- Lines.” fort them. ing, the lyric came back to my head pectation.” LONDON: Larry the cat, a four-legged AP: You’ve been through a lot in AP: Did writing about your father when I saw him smiling in the midst of Meghan said she was grateful to the court for hold- inhabitant of London’s 10 Downing St, the last few years, but the album is and Andre open the fl oodgates so you the situation. I wanted to write a song ing Associated Newspapers to account “for their il- is marking a decade as Britain’s mouse- positive. Is that the message you want- could write the rest of the album? about tearing down the existing sys- legal and dehumanizing practices.” catcher in chief on Monday. ed to send? Thicke: Yeah. I spoke with Andre tem and rebuilding something that’s She said that “with this comprehensive win on both The tabby cat was recruited by then- Thicke: That’s what the album re- about a week before he passed. We beautiful, something better. (AP) privacy and copyright, we have all won.” Prime Minister David Cameron to deal Associated Newspapers said it was “very surprised with a pack of rats seen scuttling close to by today’s summary judgment and disappointed at be- the British leader’s offi cial residence, and entered Downing Street on Feb 15, 2011. ing denied the chance to have all the evidence heard The former stray, adopted from London’s has proven himself to not only be a brilliant but took a liking to former US president and tested in open court at a full trial.” Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, was given ambassador for Battersea but also demon- Barack Obama. When former president “We are carefully considering the judgment’s con- the title Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Offi ce, strated to millions of people around the world Donald Trump visited in 2019, Larry took tents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an unoffi cial pest control post. He was the how incredible rescue cats are,’’ she said. a nap under his car. an appeal,” said the publishing company, which had fi rst cat to hold the rat-catching portfolio “His rags to riches tale is yet more proof of His grip on the public imagination is strongly contested Meghan’s claim. since the retirement of Humphrey in 1997, why all animals deserve a second chance — clear — and political leaders know better A trial in the case, scheduled for the fall, would and has loyally served three prime ministers. one minute they may be an overlooked stray than to ignore that popularity. The tomcat have been one of the most high-profi le civil legal But it seems like yesterday that Larry on the streets, the next they could become one was a sentimental topic of conversation in showdowns in London for years. But at hearings last was just another cat — as opposed to a of the nation’s beloved political fi gures, with Cameron’s fi nal appearance in Parliament month, lawyers for the duchess asked for a summary media superstar — said Lindsey Quinlan, fans around the world.” as prime minister when he said he wanted judgment to settle the case without a trial. the head of cattery of Battersea. Larry, who has met a number of world to quash a rumor that — perish the thought “Throughout his time at Number 10, Larry leaders, has been largely unfriendly to men Minaj King — he didn’t like Larry. (AP)