WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016 lifestyle

MUSIC & MOVIES

Bruno Mars to present new song at MTV Europe awards Bruno Mars runo Mars will return to the global concert stage when he performs his fun-loving new song at the MTV BEuropean Music Awards, the network announced yes- terday. The funk-pop singer, who scored a string of hits before taking a hiatus, will sing his “24K Magic” at the EMAs, which will be broadcast live on November 6 from Rotterdam. The youth network said that Mars was the first in a series of per- formers it would announce for the televised spectacle geared toward MTV’s international audience. “24K Magic,” a party anthem with synthesizers and funk beats reminiscent of early Kevin Hart strides into Janet Jackson, came out last week as the first single off Mars’s album of the same name that will come out on November 18. The 31-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Hawaii became Hollywood Walk of Fame a fixture on Top 40 radio with pop tracks from his last album, 2012’s “Unorthodox Jukebox.” Mars had been comparatively merican comedian and actor Kevin paid comedian by Forbes in July, surpassing silent as he prepared his new album but played the Super Hart received a star on the Hollywood Jerry Seinfeld with earnings of $87.5 million Bowl halftime show in February and on Saturday will appear AWalk of Fame on Monday in a ceremo- for the 12 months up to June. The “Ride on “Saturday Night Live,” both major draws on US television. ny attended by Oscar-winning actress Halle Along” and “The Secret Life of Pets” actor’s star Beyonce, who triumphed in MTV’s signature Video Music Berry and rapper-turned-actor . is fittingly situated next to a shoe store on Awards in New York in August, is tied with Justin Bieber for the The 37-year-old former shoe salesman Hollywood Boulevard. — Reuters most nominations at the European show. — AFP from was named the highest

‘I’m not afraid to return to Johansson fights Bataclan’, says Marianne Faithfull for Planned arianne Faithfull knows why some musicians are Parenthood and reluctant to return to play at the Bataclan concert hall ‘Music can be healing’ Min Paris, where jihadist gunmen massacred 90 people The concert, she insisted, will be a homage not just to the last year. But one of rock’s great survivors, whose voice and dead but those left injured and traumatized by what they saw. women’s health body carry the scars of battling through cancer, heroin and Faithfull is convinced that music can help reclaim the venue alcohol addictions, will not be put off. She will perform there from the horror. “I think that music makes people happy... and lanned Parenthood has come under attack during the next month, a week after a concert by another reborn British it can be very healing, which is why (reopening) the Bataclan presidential election, as pro-life Republicans attempt star Pete Doherty reopens the refurbished venue. His sold-out is a very good thing. And if I can help do that, I am glad.” Two Pto cut funding for the organization that provides abor- gig will be just three days after the first anniversary of the days after Doherty’s concert, the Senegalese singer Youssou tions and an array of other medical services for women. “It’s November 13 attacks. N’Dour and his Super Etoile de Dakar band are billed to pretty terrifying,” says Scarlett Johansson. “Somehow, a “I understand that it’s frightening. And I don’t blame them,” appear in what is also likely to be a highly emotional night. woman’s right to choose has become a subject that’s on the Faithfull, 69, told AFP. “But there is no point in being afraid. “I The Muslim musician, who sees himself as an ambassador Republican platform. I don’t really know what it has to do don’t think it will happen again,” she adds of another terror of peace and tolerance, will play the Bataclan for two nights. with politics at all. It seems to be a deeply personal issue.” attack. “And if it does, it does. What can you do?” The icon of Faithfull, who played her show of Kurt Weill cabaret songs In this file photo, performs in concert as part of the Growing up in New York, the actress relied on Planned Parenthood for regular checkups, she says. “I used them to the “Swinging Sixties” said she was “not going to say anything” there in the past, says, “I love the Bataclan”. And she adds the Tour at in New screen me for STDs or take care of my reproductive health, as about the fateful night when she takes the Bataclan stage on French capital is a resilient place. “Paris has been marked by York. — AP November 25. Instead Faithfull, who lives between Paris and many terrible events. And this is one of them.” did all my girlfriends. When I was asked to represent their Ireland, will sing “They Come at Night”, a song she wrote in the initiative, it was a no-brainer.” Planned Parenthood turns 100 days after gunmen burst into a concert by the US band Eagles Independent spirit this year, with 650 health centers across the US that see 2.5 of Death Metal. Most of the songs she will sing at the Bataclan will be from million patients a year for cancer screenings, birth control, Drake cancels STD testing, and breast exams. Johansson is a major advo- the newly released live album from that tour, “No Exit”. The woman who would go on to record the classic album “Broken cate of such services. In 2012, she made Planned Parenthood English” was first spotted aged just 17 in 1964 by the Rolling and women’s health central themes of her speech at the Democratic National Convention. Two years later, she helped Stones’ manager. Jagger and Keith Richard wrote her first hit remaining tour dates design T-shirts to boost voting in the midterm elections, and “As Tears Go By” and she began a tumultuous four-year rela- she has recorded an audio message that encourages listen- tionship with the frontman. Faithfull was much too independ- ers to enroll in less-expensive insurance options available ent a spirit to be restricted to the role of rock star girlfriend. A through the Affordable Care Act. descendant of the Austro-Hungarian writer Leopold Ritter von because of ankle injury Her high-profile efforts on behalf of the nonprofit don’t Sacher-Masoch, who wrote “Venus in Furs”, and from whose stop there, according to Caren Spruch, Planned Parenthood’s name the word masochism was taken, she had her own ideas. rake is canceling the rest of his summer tour director of arts and entertainment engagement. Related “I was thinking of going back to school” at the time she because of an ongoing ankle injury. A spokes- Helen Mirren Helps Empower Children Who Stutter “She met Jagger, she told AFP. “Then I got caught up in it, and I was Dwoman for the rapper-actor says doctors have even filmed a video about the impact that Congressional successful. I discovered I love performing. And I love music. It advised him to nix the three remaining dates of his assaults would have on millions of women who rely on wasn’t how I planned my life, not at all.” After years as a drug Summer Sixteen Tour “to allow him time to recuperate his Planned Parenthood when she was on location shooting a addict on the streets of London after her bruising break-up ankle injury.” The newly canceled stops include on film,” Spruch says. Johansson is enhancing her efforts by with Jagger-who got custody of their son-she returned to the Oct 9, Philadelphia on Oct 13 and Newark, New Jersey, on publicly backing Hillary Clinton, who has vowed to support spotlight with the punkish, post-reggae album “Broken Oct 16. Planned Parenthood if elected president. “Hillary is the right English” in 1979. This file photo shows English singer Marianne Faithfull The “” singer previously postponed three candidate for right now,” Johansson says. “I think she’s got a Over the past two years Faithfull has faced personal chal- performing on stage during the 23rd edition of the concerts in New York and New Jersey because of the injury. lot of integrity. She’s got a lot of stamina. She’s a very clever lenges-she broke her hip during a tour to mark her half centu- Cognac Blues Passion festival in Cognac. — AFP Drake announced earlier Monday that his 26-show The Boy politician, and that’s actually important to me. Maybe it’s ry in the business, and was then laid low by an infection in the Meets World Tour is set for January through March 2017 in because I have a daughter now.” — Reuters bone. Despite such health problems, which now limit her Europe. — AP “The fact that I am doing the concert and that I wrote the touring to Europe, she is hoping to release a new album song speaks for itself,” said the singer who was Rolling Stone “Negative Capability”, with possible collaborations in the off- Mick Jagger’s one-time partner and muse. Writing the song, ing with Nick Cave and Damon Albarn. But she hates the word which only her band and her manager have heard, was “the “survivor... A survivor is somebody who got through Miley Cyrus only thing I could do”, she said as she lit a cigarette. Auschwitz,” she said. “I’ve had a wonderful life.” — AFP “Everybody was completely traumatized by the whole thing. It was just so terrible.” She explained that she had not put herself forward to play at the resurrected Bataclan. Instead, “they asked me... It seemed very natural.”.

Helen Mirren helps empower children who stutter

magine it: You’re standing in front of 850 people, and Mirren got involved with SAY after learning about you can’t get your words out. The moment might the New York-based nonprofit from Broadway actress Iprovoke awkwardness or discomfort in a lot of audi- Kelli O’Hara. The two knew each other from the theater ences, but not the one that gathers together every year scene-they both won Tony Awards in 2015 — and in support of SAY, the Stuttering Assn. for the Young. O’Hara invited Mirren and her husband, director Taylor “There’s something very magical about an audience full Hackford, to the organization’s fundraising gala. “I of people just sitting, without any embarrassment, and absolutely was blown away by it,” Mirren recalls. SAY waiting for the person onstage to say what they have to runs after-school and weekend programs, as well as Miley Cyrus say,” says Helen Mirren of the annual gala. “It’s beautiful.” speech therapy, for young people who stutter. But its stands up fastest-growing initiative is Camp SAY, the annual two- week sleep-away retreat for 8- to 18-year-olds. Drawing some 125 participants to its North Carolina facility, the camp offers traditional summer activities, as well as pro- for homeless youth grams aimed at empowering young people who stutter. “It’s about making a space to be who you are, and be free and be accepted,” Mirren says. With a full-time staff iley Cyrus was at a turning point in her life after 40,000 meals, 20,000 snacks, and 40,000 pairs of under- of just eight, SAY sustains itself through funds raised by a performance as a gyrating teddy bear at the wear and socks to homeless kids over the past two years. the gala as well as by annual bowling nights hosted by M2013 Video Music Awards generated mockery Happy Hippie has partnered with Gender Spectrum board member Paul Rudd (in New York) and and endless media coverage. “It seemed wrong that I to create support groups for 1,300 transgender and gen- Astros player George Springer (in Houston). That money had so much attention, and there were so many people der-expansive youth and their families; MAC AIDS Fund, also helps bolster a financial-aid fund that allows kids in the country that didn’t have a place to call home,” to help transgender people living with HIV in LA and San from all socioeconomic backgrounds to attend the Cyrus says. “I wanted to bring attention to what was real- Francisco find medical care and housing; and the Zebra camp. No child has ever been turned away from the ly important.” Coalition, which offered immediate counseling and sup- camp because a family can’t afford it. The next year, she attended the VMAs with a 22-year- port in the aftermath of last summer’s Orlando nightclub Despite a busy acting schedule that includes upcoming tentpole film “Fast 8” and “Collateral Beauty,” old homeless man named Jessie Helt, who went onstage shooting. Cyrus has been the organization’s voice and the December Warner Bros. release in which she plays to accept Cyrus’ Video of the Year award, delivering a embodies its spirit; this includes handing out bottles of a woman who is the personification of Death, Mirren speech about homelessness in front of 13.7 million view- water and graham crackers to homeless people she supports not only SAY but a wide range of other chari- ers. The gesture was inspired by the 1973 Oscars, at passes on the street. table organizations, including international body which Marlon Brando sent Native American activist “I just think I found a purpose to do things,” says Oxfam and the UK’s Refuge. As she notes, “It is a Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his award. Warwick Saint Cyrus, who serves as a mentor on NBC’s “The Voice” and responsibility.”— Reuters for Variety “I thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen,” recently released an album of 23 songs-freeof charge. Cyrus says. “Finally, someone made it not about them.” “That’s what I wanted to do. That’s what made me hap- Enter the Happy Hippie Foundation, which Cyrus found- py. And that’s what Happy Hippie is about: doing what ed in 2014 as a nonprofit to provide basic needs and you do, being happy, and not hurting anyone. It gave support to homeless youth, the LGBTQ community, and me meaning in everything.”— Reuters Helen Mirren other vulnerable populations. The group, working with the -based My Friend’s Place, has donated