lifestyle SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017

MUSIC & MOVIES Badshah takes Kuwait music lovers by storm

By Sajeev K Peter within 30 hours. "I want to foray into other Indian movies. I polished my songs for movies. languages also including south Indian languages However, I have an identity as a rapper even though opular Indian rapper Badshah took music though language remains as a major stumbling most of my popular songs are being taken in lovers in Kuwait by storm on Friday evening at block for me," he said. "I was overwhelmed by the movies. Obviously, is a big platform for Pthe Shaheed Park open air ground with his huge response from the crowd yesterday in Kuwait. any artist," he said. Before becoming a full-time pulsating vocal range of rap delivery. Performing That included many Kuwaiti music lovers. I am quite musician, Badshah received formal education to during the musical show presented by Indian Youth happy," he said. become a civil engineer from PEC University of Society Kuwait, Badshah kept all spellbound. "Rap in Technology, Chandigarh. Talking about his transition is a small genre compared to other music gen- Poetry and rhythm from a civil engineer to a rapper, Badshah quipped, res. My humble attempt is to broaden its scope and Rap is a shortened form of poetry and it is a "During my training as an engineer, I was exposed to reach by making it more popular," Badshah told a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates new Punjabi music inspiring me to take on rap writ- post-event press conference yesterday at Holiday rhyme, rhythmic speech and street vernacular. "I ing and singing." Inn Crowne Plaza. could make a mark as a rapper and I wanted to con- "There is no training institute today on how to Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, better known by his tinue to do what I am doing right now without com- rap. You learn through listening and singing. At the stage name Badshah, has come a long way ever promising the quality of my music," he explained. end of the day, if you are talented, you become a since he debuted into the world of rap in 2006 on a Badshah's music has been featured in Bollywood rapper," he pointed out. My first song 'Mercy' from growing fan - especially the youth. Today, he is pop- soundtracks for movies such as the 2014 film my debut album O.N.E. became the third most ular as an Indian rapper for his Hindi, Haryanvi and 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania,' and Sonam Kapoor viewed video in the whole world. It was a great Punjabi songs though he sings in Marathi, Benagli starrer 'Khoobsurat'. He has also collaborated with moment for me. I am proud of speaking on behalf of and Gujarati. He is known for hits such as Chul, 2 artists such as , Diljeet Dosanjh, Manj the genre I represent," he said. Badshah said his new Many Girls and the recent hit 'DJ Waley Babu,' featur- Musik, , Navv Inder and Aastha Gill among album will be released in September. "Whatever I ing Aastha Gill which was ranked number one on others. make, I make it with passion and a conviction." Popular Indian rapper speaks during the press conference yesterday in Kuwait. Indian i-tunes charts within 24 hours of the release. Talking about his foray into Bollywood, Badshah — Photo by Sajeev K Peter The song also crossed a million views on Youtube said, "In fact I was rapping my way into Bollywood

'Yep, I'm Gay': Happy 20th out Paltrow brings anniversary, Ellen DeGeneres ith a headline of "Yep, I'm Gay" on and the show was canceled. Goop to print the cover of Time magazine and DeGeneres went into a "hole," a deep Wthe same declaration on her sit- depression, where she stayed without com, Ellen DeGeneres made history 20 work for more than three years. Laura with Conde Nast years ago as the first prime-time lead on Dern, among the guest stars on "Puppy" network TV to come out, capturing the and happy to be included, didn't work for a ctress and lifestyle maven Gwyneth Paltrow hearts of supporters gay and straight amid year after she played the out love interest announced Friday she is launching a print magazine a swirl of hate mail, death threats and, ulti- to whom Ellen Morgan finally came out. Abased on her style website Goop with publishing mately, dark times on and off the screen. (Both Dern and Winfrey join DeGeneres on group Conde Nast. A statement from the US publishing The code-named "The Puppy Episode" Friday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to group said Goop would launch as a quarterly magazine in of "Ellen" that aired April 30, 1997, was mark the anniversary). Ellen Garcia in San September as part of a "multi-platform content experience more than just a hit. It was one of those Pedro, California, is a gay, 47-year-old office that will include print, digital and social initiatives." huge cultural "where were you" moments administrator for a mental health nonprof- The partnership will include "a steady stream of co-pro- for anybody remotely interested in TV, or it. She was 27 and out to just close friends duced, co-branded digital content that will be distributed the advancement of LGBTQ people work- and co-workers when she watched. In new Gorillaz album, dark across select Conde Nast titles' websites, goop.com and ing in TV, or who were itching to come out "How you feel about yourself, and how the brands' social channels," the statement said. Paltrow, an of their closets at home at a still-perilous you feel about how society views you, Oscar-winner in 1999 for her role in "Shakespeare in Love," time. plays a huge factor and that's why this political vision comes true launched goop.com in 2008 focusing on fashion, wellness, Variety summed it up this way: show was so significant, because it reating the latest album of his virtual into an exploration of the reaction to Trump's travel, recipes, parenting, and cultural issues. "Climaxing a season of swelling anticipa- brought all those things out," she said. "It band Gorillaz, Damon Albarn had what shock victory. "Hallelujah Money," a trip-hop- Anna Wintour, Conde Nast artistic director and editor- tion, Ellen Morgan (the bookstore-manag- made me feel normal." So what made it the Che considered a dark, sci-fi vision- infused single with the powerful voice of in-chief of Vogue, said in the statement that "Goop and ing alter ego of Ellen DeGeneres) finally right time for DeGeneres? Well, nothing, Donald Trump as president of the United Mercury Prize-winning singer Benjamin Conde Nast are natural partners and I'm excited (Paltrow) is acknowledges her lesbianism tonight in an she said. "There was every indication that I States. Then it came true. "I wanted to make a Clementine, attacks the power of money bringing her point of view to the company. We all look for- 'Ellen' hour that represents television's should not do it. My publicist at the time kind of science fiction record. But more a without naming the president directly, ward to working with her and her team." Paltrow said in the most-hyped coming out since Little Ricky said, 'Don't do it.' The studio, the network, social fiction, sort of anticipation," said the although the video showed an elevator in a statement the tie-up is "an opportunity for us to push our came out of Lucy 44 years ago." The hype everyone said (it)," she recalled. "I said, 'You Britpop icon best known as the frontman of representation of his Trump Tower home. boundaries visually and deliver Goop's point of view to was real, fed by DeGeneres' personal desire know, look, you may lose a show but you Blur. "There were several options and I chose The song gives way to an antidote in the consumers in new, dynamic ways."— AFP to end her secret-keeping at age 38 and to have thousands of other shows revolving the worst case scenario," he told AFP over a album's final track, "We Got the Power," a call bring her TV character along for the ride. through this door that come to you and meal on a visit to Paris. "I wanted to make a to love and unity. "It's a simple answer, I The off-screen act came first in Time by you'll have another show. This is my career. social fiction record, but reality hit." know, but it is probably the truth, especially slightly more than two weeks, but "Puppy" If I'm willing to lose my career for this, you Gorillaz has been an outlet for Albarn's now," Albarn said of the closing song. "You was months in the making under lock and have to let me do this.'" more experimental side, breaking free from know I can't resent the people who made this key, something that failed to matter when The doing wasn't easy. The first draft of guitar pop to explore trippy, futuristic choice," he said, referring both to supporters the script leaked and the world then wait- "Puppy" was rejected by the show's Disney sounds. Created in 2001, Gorillaz is a virtual of Trump and, in his own country, the narrow ed. Why risk it all? Because DeGeneres, one point person. It took forever for script band with four fictional members -- 2D, majority that voted to pull Britain from the of America's sweethearts then and now, approval, with "Puppy" finally hitting air as Murdoc, Russel and Noodle. The real-life, but European Union. was done with the lying and the hiding. "It the fourth season's third-to-last show, a full behind-the-scenes, members are Albarn and became more important to me than my hour as opposed to the usual half-hour. the comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, who has 'You're gonna be dead' career," she said in a recent interview with DeGeneres had thrown a bash at her matched the music with an elaborate visual Albarn is passionate when discussing The Associated Press. "I suddenly said, California house for cast members and representation that includes cartoon videos. Brexit, saying, "You can't imagine how 'Why am I being, you know, ashamed of writers months earlier, at the top of the Preparing "Humanz," the group's fifth depressing it is for us." "It's hard to express who I am just to be successful and famous fourth, declaring then that she wanted to album which came out on Friday, Albarn how angry I am," he said. "People who voted in society's eyes?'" come out, but nobody was sure how it started in 2015 by imagining the United Brexit, as with American people who voted The hate was also real. There was pul- would all play out. States ruled by Trump, then considered a for Trump, are people who don't travel," he pit-pounding from conservatives, includ- "I remember these walks from our reality television celebrity with little chance said. "They're blind! Genuinely blind! They ing full-page newspaper ads (the late Rev. offices to the Disney offices to see the big of landing the world's most powerful job. "I genuinely think that closing borders and Jerry Falwell called her "Ellen guys," recalled Dava Savel, one of the exec- did not believe Trump would be president, becoming nationalistic is a really good idea." DeGenerate"). There was nasty mail all utive producers and writers. "We walked but I wanted to imagine what would hap- "I don't want the next generations to grow up around, including some for guest star with her and it was kind of like the Bataan pen," Albarn said. having less access to the world," he said. Oprah Winfrey suggesting that she "go Death March. We were like, 'Ohhh, here we "We're a little island. A little island must be back to Africa." After "Puppy" wrapped, go.' I remember Ellen crying on the way Joyful and painful open." cast, crew and live audience were hustled back when Disney finally gave her the OK." Albarn reached out for American voices to "The people who voted for this are the out of the Burbank, California, studio History was made. Friends gathered create the album, including Mavis Staples, old. What are you doing? Voting for your because of a bomb threat. around TVs. The gay rights advocacy group the classic R&B singer and civil rights activist, grandchildren's future? You're gonna be dead Winfrey, who played Ellen's therapist, GLAAD organized watch parties after an as well as hip-hop pioneers De La Soul, the in 10 years! Dead!" His anger subsided as he told the AP she had no clue that "I would ABC affiliate in Alabama declined to air rapper Pusha T and the innovative R&B artist gazed down at a plate that had just been put get the worst hate mail of my career." She "Puppy." Kelela. With an underlying chaos that evokes in front of him. On it were two soft-boiled praised DeGeneres for having the courage DeGeneres herself made a spectacular the film scores of Ennio Morricone, of whom eggs surrounded by slices of smoked salmon to produce a "seminal moment for any- comeback, eventually, now the host of Albarn is an admirer, "Humanz" also has on a bed of arugula. "I have never seen eggs body who was hiding behind anything." her own daytime talk show and still songs co-written by artists ranging from elec- presented like that in my life. Have you?" he The episode was watched by an estimated America's sweetheart at age 59. (President tronic legend Jean-Michel Jarre to fellow said with a laugh. "It's quite artistic-science 44 million viewers. It won an Emmy for Barack Obama awarded her the nation's Britpop star Noel Gallagher. fiction," he said. "I should have stated a story writing, a Peabody as a landmark in broad- highest civilian honor, the Medal of "I kinda wanted it to be something urgent, with that." — AFP casting and numerous other accolades. Freedom, last year.) Numerous gay leads and joyful and painful at the same time," The attention coincided with a new and followed on TV, yet advocates hope for Albarn said of the album, which transformed very public relationship for DeGeneres still more diversity and accuracy in story with her girlfriend at the time, Anne Heche, and character development. None of that herself new to the out life. The following mattered the night of April 30, 1997. Eric season, DeGeneres' fifth, was the last. It Marcus, creator and host of the podcast was a failure in terms of ratings. The net- "Making Gay History" and author of a work took to slapping "adult content" 2002 collection of oral history of the same Get to know the new Wonder warnings on the show, something name, put it this way: "For everyday peo- DeGeneres knew nothing about ahead of ple, Ellen made gay OK."—AP time. The season was bashed by some as unfunny and "too gay," as was the out-and- Woman and Spider-Man proud DeGeneres herself as she lived life big with Heche offscreen. Sponsors fled ou know the names and you've met them tiful naivet√©." "She sees the world in such a ence? Girls and no uniforms - quite a departure briefly before, but this summer Gal Gadot's healthy way," Gadot says. "Diana Prince basically from the all-boys school he attended in the UK. "I YWonder Woman and Tom Holland's Spider- stands for everything I stand for: love, peace, jus- really think people will enjoy the Peter Parker side Man take center stage in blockbusters all their tice, truth. I keep on saying that if each and every of the story," Holland says. "With superhero movies own. Both face the gargantuan task of revitalizing one of us had a little bit of Wonder Woman in us I feel like you're always looking for more superhero. brands and properties that could use some help: the world would be a better place." But in this movie I hope it will be the reverse ... the For "Wonder Woman," the thus critically-derided Spider-Man part is just an added bonus." — AP DC Comics films, and for "Spider-Man: Tom Holland as Spider-Man Homecoming," Sony hopes its lone comic book Like Wonder Woman's brief appearance in property can launch its own extended universe. "Batman v Superman," Holland made his debut in a Good thing they're both superheroes. Get to know small, but memorable, part in "Captain America: a bit more about the actors who are playing some Civil War," when Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark of summer's biggest superhero roles: enlists the Queens teenager for some help. Unlike Wonder Woman who has never had a big screen Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman movie to herself, audiences have now had three The 31-year-old Israeli model and actress teased Spider-Mans in the past 15 years: Tobey Maguire, audiences with a bit of her Diana Prince/Wonder Andrew Garfield and Holland. Woman in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," The 20-year-old British actor says that his Peter but on June 2 fans will get to explore the origins of Parker/Spider-Man is fairly similar to both the Amazonian warrior in "Wonder Woman." The Maguire's and Garfield's takes, but with one impor- film takes Diana from her home island of tant difference: Holland was actually in the right Themyscira and into the throes of World War I, age range to play a high school student. (Maguire along with American soldier named Steve Trevor was 27 when his first Spider-Man came out, and (Chris Pine). Garfield was 29). In this combination photo, Gal Gadot arrives at In this photo released by Warner Bros., Oprah Winfrey, left, and Laura Dern appear Gadot's Diana, she says, is a powerful warrior To prepare for "Spider-Man: Homecoming," out the premiere of the ‘Fast & Furious 6’ in with host Ellen DeGeneres at a taping of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in Burbank, with high emotional intelligence, although she July 15, Holland even went undercover to a Universal City, California, left, and Tom Holland California. doesn't quite understand the gender and social Queens, N.Y. high school to try to understand what attends the premiere of ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ norms of WWI-era London. Gadgot calls it a "beau- American high school life is like. The biggest differ- in New York. — AP