djfrosty

Miley Cyrus Digs In For Another Week at U.K. Chart Summit With ‘Flowers’

Miley Cyrus makes it eight straight weeks atop the U.K. singles chart with “Flowers” (Columbia), an effort that places the U.S. pop star in some esteemed company.

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

That two-month reign is the longest since LF SYSTEM’s disco number “Afraid to Feel” managed eight weeks at the chart peak from last summer, and the longest-running No. 1 by a female solo artist since Olivia Rodrigo’s breakthrough hit “drivers license” from 2021, which logged nine weeks at the top. The all-time longest streak by a female solo artist in the U.K. belongs to Tones And I, and her song “Dance Monkey” which led for 11 weeks in 2019.  

Cyrus will expect to stick around the U.K. charts for some time yet. Her eighth and latest studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, dropped last Friday, March 10.

With Cyrus locking-up the U.K. singles crown for another week, PinkPantheress enters another cycle in the runner-up spot with “Boy’s a liar” (Warner Records).

The gap between the top two tracks appears to be closing, notes the Official Charts Company, as “Boy’s a liar” lifts its game to lead the U.K. in streams. Just 1,000 chart units separate “Flowers” and “Boy’s a liar.”

Completing the podium on the latest Official U.K. Singles Chart is the Weeknd’s 2016 release “Die For You” (Republic Records/XO) up 4-3 following the release of a new cut featuring Ariana Grande.

Meanwhile, Cameroonian-American Afrobeats star Libianca lands her first U.K. Top 10 single with “People” (5K), up 11-8.

This highest debut on the latest chart, published March 10, belongs to Nicki Minaj with “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” (Republic Records). It’s new at No. 30 for the Trinidadian rap star’s 41st U.K. top 40 appearance.

And there’s a new entry from BTSJ-Hope with “On The Street” (BigHit Entertainment), featuring J Cole. It’s new at No. 37, marking the first top 40 appearance by a solo member of BTS.

Finally, honors for the biggest climb goes to rapper Jayo, whose “22” (The Flight Club) explodes 67-32 on the U.K. tally, for the north Londoner’s first top 40 entry.

Snubs & Surprises at 2023 Oscars

You can’t have an Oscar telecast without Snubs & Surprises. It’s an unwritten law. This year, mercifully, the surprises had nothing to do with bad behavior or mishandled envelopes, but simply with awards outcomes that not everyone saw coming.

Jimmy Kimmel hosted the 95th Oscars, which were held Sunday (March 12) at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Everything Everywhere All at Once was the top winner, with seven Oscars.

EEAAO became only the third film – and the first in nearly 50 years – to win three acting Oscars. The first two, both classics, were A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and Network (1976). The film’s star, Michelle Yeoh, won best actress, while Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the supporting awards.

“The Daniels” – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – won three Oscars on Sunday (March 12) for co-producing, co-writing and co-directing the buzzy film. This marks just the second time in Oscar history that two people have shared three awards on Oscar night. Joel and Ethan Coen won Oscars for serving in the same capacities 15 years ago for No Country for Old Men.

For the second year in a row, all four of the acting winners – Brendan Fraser, Yeoh, Quan and Curtis – had previously won at the SAG Awards. This is the eighth time in the past 14 years that all four Oscar winners had won at the SAG Awards, a surprisingly high rate of agreement.

Here are some of the more notable snubs and surprises from Oscar night 2023.

Lady Gaga Helped a Photographer Who Stumbled on the Oscars Red Carpet: Watch

Lady Gaga was full of surprises when she appeared at the 2023 Oscars, delivering an unexpected performance and offering a helping hand to an unfortunate photographer.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Proving her Mother Monster instincts are strong, Gaga was first to the scene when, while walking the red carpet, a photog appeared to take a tumble.

Footage shared by Access Hollywood shows the “Poker Face” star taking a sharp left turn for the guest, then heading over to check on his condition. After exchanging some words, Gaga appears to give the man a clean bill of health, adjusts her game face and rejoins the party.

It was just another moment in a big day for Gaga, who wasn’t initially expected to a big part of the Oscars, where her song “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for best original song.

Earlier, Oscars executive producer and showrunner Glenn Weiss stated that Gaga would not be performing, due to the demands of her co-starring role in the Joker: Folie à Deux, which is currently shooting.

Surprise! Gaga did hit the stage for a stripped-down rendition of the action-film anthem.

“I wrote this song with my friend BloodPop for the film Top Gun: Maverick in my studio basement,” she said at the top of her performance. “It’s deeply personal for me, and I think that we all need each other. We need a lot of love to walk through this life, and we all need a hero sometimes. There’s heroes all around us, in unassuming places, but you might find that you can be your own hero even if you feel broken inside.”

There was another surprise to come when the award went to “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, with music by M. M. Keeravani and lyrics by Chandrabose.

Gaga previously won the Oscar for best original song at the 2019 Academy Awards, for her Hot 100-topping Bradley Cooper duet “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.

Watch Gaga’s red carpet assist below.

Record-Setters at the 2023 Oscars

Everything, Everywhere All at Once lived up to is name at the 2023 Oscars, which were presented at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Sunday (March 12). EEAAO became only the third film – and the first in nearly 50 years – to win three acting Oscars. The first two, both classics, were A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and Network (1976). The film’s star, Michelle Yeoh, won best actress, while Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the supporting awards.

“The Daniels” – Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – won three Oscars for co-producing, co-writing and co-directing the buzzy film. This marks just the second time in Oscar history that two people have shared three awards on Oscar night. Joel and Ethan Coen won Oscars for serving in the same three capacities 15 years ago for No Country for Old Men.

The Daniels are the just third pair to win an Oscar for directing. They follow Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise for West Side Story (1961) and the Coen Brothers for the aforementioned No Country for Old Men (2007).

Kwan is the first writer of a Chinese descent to win best original screenplay.

Many others set records at the 95th Oscars, Take a look:

“Naatu Naatu” from RRR won best original song. It’s the first song performed in a language other than English to win in this category since “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire 14 years ago. “Naatu Naatu” is an Indian Telugu-language song. “Jai Ho” was performed in Hindi.

Three other such songs have won over the years – “Mona Lisa” from Captain, Carey, U.S.A. (which is performed in Spanish by a troubadour in the 1950 film, though it is best known for Nat King Cole’s smash cover version in English); “Never on Sunday” from the film of the same name (which is performed in Greek in the 1960 film); and “Al otro lado del río” from The Motorcycle Diaries (which is performed in Spanish in the 2004 film).

In a charming speech, M.M. Keeravaani said he grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here he is at the Oscars. The Carpenters performed the nominated “Bless the Beasts and Children” on the Oscar stage in 1972.

Ruth E. Carter won best costume design for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Carter is the first African American woman to win multiple Oscars. She previously won for the first installment of Black Panther. Only four other African Americans – all men – have won two competitive Oscars – actors Denzel Washington and Mahershala Ali; and sound experts Willie D. Burton and Russell Williams II.

In accepting her second Oscar, Carter said “Thank you for recognizing the superhero that is the Black woman.” She dedicated the award to her mother who, in Carter’s phrase, “became an ancestor” last week at age 101.

For the second year in a row, all four of the acting winners – Brendan Fraser, Yeoh, Quan and Curtis – had previously won at the SAG Awards. This is the eighth time in the past 14 years that all four Oscar winners had previously won at the SAG Awards, a surprisingly high rate of agreement.

Fraser won best actor for The Whale, becoming the first Canadian to win in that category. The actor holds dual Canadian-American citizenship.

Yeoh is the first Southeast Asian actress to win best actress. Quan is the first actor born in Vietnam to win an Oscar.

Curtis’ parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, were both nominated for acting Oscars, but didn’t win. Curtis was nominated for best actor for The Defiant Ones (1958); Leigh for best supporting actress for Psycho (1960).

All Quiet on the Western Front won best international feature film. It’s the third German film to win in that category since 2000. Nowhere in America won the 2002 award. The Lives of Others took the 2006 award. Before that, the West German entry The Tin Drum won the 1979 award.

Volker Bertelmann won best original score for All Quiet on the Western Front. This is the second year in a row that the award has gone to a German composer. Hans Zimmer won last year for Dune. Bertelmann triumphed in a strong field which included John Williams, a five-time winner for his scores, and Justin Hurwitz, who won for his La La Land score. Bertelmann’s score also won a BAFTA Award last month.

James Friend won achievement in cinematography for All Quiet on the Western Front. Just as noteworthy, Mandy Walker lost for her work on Elvis. She was vying to become the first woman to win in the category. Only two other women have ever been nominated in the category – Rachel Morrison for Mudbound (2018) and Ari Wegner for The Power of the Dog (2021).

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio won best animated feature film of the year. It’s del Toro’s third Oscar win. He won five years ago for producing and directing The Shape of Water.

Avatar: The Way of Water won for achievement in visual effects The first Avatar film also won in this category. Avatar is the sixth franchise to win multiple Oscars in this category. It follows Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Aliens, King Kong and Star Wars.

2023 Oscars: Best Photos From the Show

The 95th Academy Awards, which aired live on ABC, took over the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday (March 12).

Everything Everywhere All at Once was the evening’s biggest winner, nabbing seven trophies out of its 11 nominations, including best picture, best directing, best actress, best supporting actress and best supporting actor.

Pop royalty was present and accounted for, with Rihanna performing “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Lady Gaga belting “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick. Both were nominated in the best original song category, but lost out to M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose for “Naatu Naatu” from RRR. In the best original score category, Volker Bertelmann won for All Quiet on the Western Front.

John Travolta introduced Lenny Kravitz’s performance of “Calling All Angels” during the In Memoriam segment. Travolta paid homage to “dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to,” choking up while referencing his late Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John, who died last August at age 73. Travolta teared up while saluting his friend and musical collaborator.

It was host Jimmy Kimmel’s third time steering the Academy Awards. In his opening monologue, Kimmel naturally had a joke about Will Smith’s infamous slap of 2022 Oscars host Chris Rock. “We want me to feel safe. We have strict policies in place. If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during this show, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute-long speech,” Kimmel said.

John Travolta Tears Up Saluting Olivia Newton-John Ahead of Lenny Kravitz’s Oscars In Memoriam Performance

Rock legend Lenny Kravitz was present at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday (March 12) to perform the In Memoriam musical accompaniment at the 2023 Oscars. Each year, the Academy Awards pay homage to cinematic legends, both behind and in front of the camera, who have died since the last year’s ceremony.

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Prior to his performance, John Travolta took the stage to introduce him. “In this industry we have a rare luxury of getting to do what we love for a living and sometimes getting to do it with people that we come to love,” Travolta said. “It’s only fitting that we celebrate those we lost.”

Of those departed talents, Travolta said, “They’ve touched our hearts, made us smile and became dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to.” As he delivered that last line, a reference to his Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John’s song “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” he noticeably choked up, pushing back tears. Newton-John, who topped the Billboard Hot 100 five times, died last August at the age of 73. Travolta and Newton-John remained lifelong friends after starring in the smash 1978 film Grease, which launched both of their careers into the stratosphere.

Kravitz performed an elegant, heartfelt rendition of “Calling All Angels” from his 2004 album Baptism. “Calling All Angels” was one of that album’s singles. Last fall, Kravitz covered Billboard alongside rising star Steve Lacy. The “Bad Habit” singer cites Kravitz as a career inspiration, and the two discussed everything from their favorite musicians to playing the drums.

‘Naatu Naatu’ From ‘RRR’ Wins Best Original Song at the 2023 Oscars 

Following a chilling performance from Rihanna of “Lift Me Up” — the last best original song contender to be performed at the 2023 Oscars — it was finally time to announce the award. Together, Janelle Monáe and Kate Hudson announced the winner to be RRR‘s “Naatu Naatu.”

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Composer M.M. Keeravani and artist-lyricist Chandrabose accepted the win — it was the first nomination for both. The global hit “Naatu Naatu” soundtracks the most vibrant and upbeat scene in the otherwise battle-filled film.

“I grew up listening to the Carpenters and now here I am with the Oscars,” Keeravani said with a wide grin. He then continued to sing-speak the rest of his acceptance speech before concluding: “I love you all!” As for Chandrabose, he had a one-word message: “Namaste.”

“Naatu Naatu” (an Indian Telugu-language song) is the first song performed in a language other than English to win in this category since “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire 14 years ago.

“Naatu Naatu” competed against “Applause” (Tell It Like a Woman, music and lyric by Dianne Warren), “Hold My Hand” (Top Gun: Maverick, music and lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop), “Lift Me Up” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson and lyric by Tems and Coogler) and “This Is a Life” (Everything Everywhere All at Once, music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne).

Keeravani previously told Billboard he was hoping to meet Rihanna at the Oscars. As for what’s next? He said: “I am looking forward to the world embracing more and more Indian songs, movies, stories and cultures. Not only from me, but from my fellow musicians, directors and movie-makers in India.”

Malala Yousafzai Had a Perfect Reply When Asked If Harry Styles Spit on Chris Pine

Before she even turned 18, Malala Yousafzai had become one of the leading advocates for women’s education in Pakistan; she survived a Taliban murder attempt; and won a Nobel Peace Prize. She’s one of the most heroic, inspirational and impactful humans on the planet.

So, of course, at the 2023 Oscars, host Jimmy Kimmel had to force her to weigh in on one of last year’s stupidest nontroversies: Did Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine during the Venice Film Festival premiere of Don’t Worry, Darling?

“As the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history, do you think Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine?” Kimmel asked Yousafzai with a completely straight face. Without missing a beat, she simply replied, “I only talk about peace.”

“That’s why you’re Malala,” Kimmel said. “That’s a great answer.”

Yousafzai is an executive producer on the short movie Stranger at the Gate, which was nominated in the best documentary short subject category at the 2023 Oscars, ultimately losing to The Elephant Whisperers.

#SpitGate became a favorite Internet debate topic last fall after a video surfaced that appeared to show the “As It Was” singer and Billboard Hot 100 topper leaning over Pine and spitting on him. A rep for Pine soon explained it was merely an “odd online illusion” in the clip.

Just a few weeks ago, Pine explained in greater detail what happened. “He leaned down, and I think he said, ‘It’s just words, isn’t it?’” Pine shared. “‘Cause we had this little joke. We’re all jet-lagged, we’re all trying to answer these questions. Sometimes when you’re doing these press things, your brain gets befuddled and you start speaking gibberish. And we had a joke: ‘It’s just words, man.’”

Rihanna Live Debuts ‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ at the 2023 Oscars

As Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel made clear during his 2023 Oscars opening monologue, Rihanna was in the building (as was her nine-month-old son, who Kimmel also said had pooped backstage during rehearsals).

Explore

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Thanks to the stunning ballad “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the superstar scored her first Oscar nomination alongside Tems, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson. For the song’s live debut, Rihanna — whom actress Danai Gurira introduced as “royalty in her own right” — delivered a soaring performance.

Surrounded by a full band, string section and backup vocalists “Lift Me Up” came to life as Rih sang with palpable passion to honor the late Chadwick Boseman. Standing on a center platform draped in diamonds, when she declared “Lift me up… I need love” the stage obliged, elevating her a few inches into the air (nothing compared to her sky-high Super Bowl performance).

“Lift Me Up” marked Rihanna’s long-awaited return to music and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. As Göransson previously told Billboard, speaking of the film’s final scene in which the song plays: “When you hear her voice and the lyrics, that’s the point where you finally take it all in. You can see what a great filmmaker [director] Ryan [Coogler] is because in the scene right before you hear the song, it’s absolute silence. You see all these flashbacks, all these memories, and then you interrupt that [with] a song honoring Chadwick and [his character], T’Challa.”

The performance was celebrated with a standing ovation while the camera panned to A$AP Rocky, who lifted his champagne flute to the sky.

Volker Bertelmann Wins Best Original Score for ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ at 2023 Oscars

Composer Volker Bertelmann won the Academy Award for best score at the 2023 Oscars, for his musical accompaniment to the war film remake All Quiet on the Western Front.

Bertelmann’s win marks the second consecutive year that the award has gone to a German composer, following Hans Zimmer’s 2022 win for Dune. Movie and TV stars John Cho and Mindy Kaling presented the award, prompting the house orchestra in performing musical illustrations of some of the emotions from the five nominees.

“Thanks to the Academy for this huge recognition,” Bertelmann began his acceptance speech. “When I was working on the film, I was thinking a couple of times of my mom, because she was telling me every now and then — when you want to change humanity and empathy in the world, you have to start by yourself and your own surroundings. Because you learn by that, and you can show actually… how we all can live together. So by working on a film like that, you always are deeply touched.”

Bertelmann then went on to thank his wife, his kids, his collaborators and his fellow nominees, and “last but not least… all of you for this wonderful evening.”

All Quiet on the Western Front is nominated for nine Academy Awards at the 2023 ceremonies, including best picture, best visual effects and best adapted screenplay. The win for best score was already the film’s fourth on the evening, following earlier victories in the best international film, best cinematography and best production design categories.