olympics
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Adele didn’t let her live show get in the way of watching the 2024 Summer Olympics.
During her concert in Munich on Saturday (Aug. 3), the 36-year-old British songstress paused her performance to watch the women’s 100-meter final in Paris, as seen in a fan-captured clip posted on the X (formerly Twitter) account for NBC Olympics.
The “Easy on Me” singer then broadcast the 11-second race on the big screen for all 75,000-something fans at the custom-built Adele Arena, where her 10-night residency launched on Friday.
The Munich crowd fell to a hush as Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia took home the gold medal, finishing the race in 10.72 seconds. U.S. stars Sha’carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson won silver and bronze, respectively.
After Alfred’s victory, which marked Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medal in history, Adele asked the audience to give the runner a hand for the accomplishment.
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“Let’s give her a round of applause!” the 16-time Grammy winner said. “Let’s get on with the show. Fantastic, St. Lucia!”
Adele also had the Olympics on her mind during the opening night of the mini-residency on Friday.
“… While I was watching world-class athletes, I’d be like, ‘Oh that landing was a bit dodgy, wasn’t it? Oh her legs weren’t really straight,’ Meanwhile, if I tried anything that they do, I’d be dead,” she said in a fan-captured video from the show. “I’d absolutely die if I tried to even do a little, any kind of movement at all.”
During the concert, Adele also gave props to U.S. gymnast Simone Biles for winning multiple gold medals, calling her “absolutely brilliant.”
Adele’s 10-night stand in Munich concludes Aug. 31. See a full recap of the opening night here. The singer’s Weekends With Adele residency at Las Vegas’ Colosseum at Caesars Palace picks back up in October.
Taylor Swift is celebrating Team USA’s top athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
During NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics on Saturday (Aug. 3), the 34-year-old pop superstar narrated a promotional video praising three medal-winning stars at this year’s games: gymnast Simone Biles, swimmer Katie Ledecky and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
“Never be afraid to show them who you are, especially when the whole world is watching,” Swift says as her 2015 hit “Style” plays in the background. “Because there is no one way to be the best. No one way to inspire everyone else who will someday follow.”
The inspiring clip opens with written quote from fashion icon Coco Chanel, followed by a shot of Biles at the vault, then moving to Richardson confidently walking on a field, and Ledecky fiercely swimming in a pool.
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“You do what you love. You love what you do,” Swift says as more competition footage is shown. “You believe in your style, whatever it is.”
The video concludes with Swift name-checking the three women as shots of the athletes gleefully winning their medals flash across the screen.
“Katie, Sha’Carri and Simone,” the pop star says. “Three American stars. Three different visions of greatness. Tonight, in Paris.”
Last weekend, Swift’s live version of “…Ready for It?” from The Eras Tour was the soundtrack to a NBC commercial promoting the network’s coverage of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“So ready to scream at my tv cheering for these athletes,” Swift reacted in an Instagram Story, adding a gold medal emoji to her comment while sharing a reel of the “…Ready for It?” promo.
The spot featured U.S. Olympic stars including Noah Lyles, LeBron James, Carissa Moore, Jagger Eaton and more, with Biles appearing at the end of the ad.
Watch Swift’s Paris Olympics promo video on X (formerly Twitter) below.
A number of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens are coming for Missouri politician Valentina Gomez after a homophobic tirade about the Olympics she posted to social media. “These f—-ts should get their own f—-t category, because, before, if a man hit a woman, it used to land him in jail. Now, it gets you a gold […]
Snoop Dogg has kept busy amid the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but he’s still finding time to take in a little culture. In a hilarious Instagram video posted Friday (Aug. 2), the rapper embarks on a guided one-on-one tour through the city’s famous Louvre museum while no one else is around. “We’re finna be snooping […]
“I was determined to make a living doing music,” says Ryan Tedder of his early start writing music for commercials, movies and TV series. And while, for a time, he thought that would be the extent of his music career, that experience is what made him the perfect choice to write and produce the official Paris Olympics song in partnership with the Coca-Cola Company.
“It was the perfect combination of fun and challenging,” he says of crafting the song titled “Hello World” and performed by Gwen Stefani and Anderson .Paak. “It definitely tested my Rolodex. There’s a list of desired artists [from the International Olympic Committee and Coca-Cola], then they have to find where those artists commingle.”
Tedder, who grew up watching the Olympics, says he never misses gymnastics, track and field or swimming. And he’s already thinking ahead to the 2028 games, which will take place in Los Angeles. He says, “I definitely would like to do the song for 2028, I’ve already made that abundantly clear with the IOC and Coke. Sonically, I would want to encapsulate the essence of California. Some combination of West Coast hip-hop, but then I also think Beach Boys.”
It’s surprising Tedder has much time to watch the Olympics at all, considering his schedule not only writing and producing for others, but also his own band OneRepublic. The band released its sixth album this July, titled Artificial Paradise. The project includes the previous Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “I Ain’t Worried” from Top Gun: Maverick as well as “Hurt” and “Runaway.”
“The weirdest thing about this album — and the next album will be different because we’re always trying to switch it up — but this represents, more or less, the end of our album cycle,” he says, noting the lead single “West Coast” arrived about two years ago. “I Ain’t Worried” came next, which he says “strangled” “West Coast” to become the album’s best-known track.
He has plenty more on the horizon as well, teasing he and Tate McRae (for whom he executive produced her second album Think Later) are talking “every day” about what is next. “I was texting her this morning,” he says with a laugh, before adding he is keeping his lips sealed about what’s to come. “When it comes to work ethic, she’s Olympic-level focused.” He’s also eager to work with Rosalía and Sabrina Carpenter (he’s more “Espresso” than “Please Please Please,” he says) and has been working a bit more with rappers lately too.
He says those sessions have made him think about remixing one of OneRepublic’s biggest hits, “Apologize,” saying it would “go crazy right now. “It’s been 17 years, it’s time,” he adds. “I want to figure out who the right rapper is. … I’ve dropped some hints to Jack [Harlow]. I did a record with 21 Savage last year and I asked his crew, like, ‘Does he like “Apologize”?’”
And when it comes to re-recording your own hits, he acknowledges the tireless work that Taylor Swift has done in that department. “Somebody yesterday was like, ‘When’s she running for president?’ It would be the biggest sweep of all time — but don’t do that to yourself,” he says with a laugh. “She’s got plenty more songs to write. She’s the most prolific… I’ve said in countless interviews who the most talented people [I’ve worked with are]: [Paul] McCartney blew my mind and then Taylor.”
Watch the full interview — in which Tedder also discusses his publishing company Runner and which OneRepublic era is his favorite — above.
Flavor Flav is once again stepping up to support female athletes at the 2024 Olympics, this time covering rent for 24-year-old discus thrower Veronica Fraley.
The Public Enemy rapper’s act of goodwill came directly in response to a tweet from the track and field competitor, who attends Vanderbilt University. “I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent 😒,” she wrote Thursday (Aug. 1). “my school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything 😂) enough to buy new cars and houses 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾”
Within a few hours, Flav saw her post and offered to help. “I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,” he replied. “and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!”
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Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian — who is married to Olympic champion Serena Williams — then offered to “split it with Flav.” He then posted a screenshot of his Venmo transaction of $7,760 sent to Fraley under the subject line, “‘MURICA.”
The hip-hop star confirmed in a comment to a fan that his donation covered Fraley’s rent this month, while Ohanian’s paid off her costs for the rest of the year. “Man of my word,!!!” he added in another post. “This is what I been saying and promoting with water polo,,, I can’t fix everything on my own,,, but right now I am.”
Fraley is just the latest Olympic athlete the “Harder Than You Think” musician has assisted this year. Flav is currently in Paris cheering on the women’s water polo team, whom he started sponsoring in May after coach Maggie Steffens called for support on social media. So far, he’s gifted each team member $1,000 and a Virgin Voyage cruise.
Flav also represented the team at a press conference on the first day of the 2024 Games July 26. The next day, he personally greeted Dr. Jill Biden at Team USA’s water polo match against Greece, telling the first lady, “These girls are my girls, they work hard … They got three back-to-back gold medals. I’m just trying to cheer them on to get that No. 4.”
See Flav and Fraley’s exchange play out below.
I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 1, 2024
This the power of community,,, my girl @vmfraley had 7000 people see her tweet,, only 41 people “liked” it,, only 5 people commented,, only 1 tagged me and @alexisohanian. Now that tweet been seen by 10 MILLION people,, her rent paid off for the year,, and people gots her back!— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 1, 2024
Man of my word,!!! This is what I been saying and promoting with water polo,,, I can’t fix everything on my own,,, but right now I am https://t.co/T8zZ3usMbu— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 1, 2024
If there are two people on this planet who know anything and everything about getting to the top — and staying there — it’s Beyoncé and Simone Biles. Ahead of the Stateside airing of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics women’s gymnastics all-around finals (Aug. 1), NBC has released a new commercial honoring Biles, narrated by Queen Bey herself.
“Let’s talk about power. Because, really, that’s what this story’s about,” Beyoncé begins. “Physical power: its beauty, its wonder. The way it never stops amazing you. Then there’s spiritual power, the kind that really matters. The power you can’t see, only sense. The power you need in those moments when life goes a little sideways on you. And, of course, lasting power. Only a select few know what it feels like to get to the top and stay there. And, somehow, keep getting better.”
The emotional commercial traces Biles’ legendary career, from home footage of her practicing back flips to past Olympic victories. Beyoncé’s narration praises not just Biles talent and athleticism, but also her resilience. When the 32-time Grammy winner mentions life going “a little sideways on you,” she’s alluding to the infamous “twisties” — a temporary loss of air awareness while performing twisting elements — that tragically caused Biles to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Biles’ perseverance carried her from that shocking hiatus to a historic showing at this summer’s Games.
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In Paris, Biles represented the United States alongside teammates Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera, becoming the fourth American female artistic gymnast to compete at three Olympic Games. Ahead of their individual events, Biles led Team USA to the gold medal for the team event.
With this new commercial, Beyoncé marks her second appearance during this year’s Olympics. The pop icon introduced Team USA during the Opening Ceremony with a reworked version of “Ya Ya,” a song from her Billboard 200-topping Cowboy Carter LP that peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another Cowboy Carter track soundtracks the Biles commercial: the Willie Jones-assisted “Just for Fun,” which reached No. 59 on the Hot 100. Given that Biles is a fellow Black woman from Texas, it’s no surprise that Beyoncé lent her voice to uplifting the only U.S. gymnast to win six Olympic gold medals.
“Simone Biles inspires me and I’m pretty sure she inspires you too,” Beyoncé continued. “Such confidence in her strength, such beauty in her power, such a great lesson in her story. Brilliance, it doesn’t come easy. Gold can be a hell of a journey. And the greatest of all time is willing to put that title on the line every time she walks out there. Take your best shot, world. She’s ready for you.”
Although NBC and Peacock will air the women’s gymnastics all-around finals tonight at 8 p.m. ET, the event has already taken place in Paris. Biles took home the gold in the all-arounds, becoming the first U.S. Olympic gymnast in history to win two all-around gold medals (2016 and 2024). Lee — who won the gold medal in 2020 — took home the bronze medal, making her and Biles the first U.S. Olympic gymnasts to earn multiple all-around medals.
Watch the new Beyoncé-narrated Simone Biles commercial below.
Take your best shot, world. Simone Biles is ready for you.Beyonce sets the stage for Simone in the women’s all-around tonight at 8/7c on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/S2xHwxORwd— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2024
Flavor Flav might be busy in Paris hyping up the women’s water polo team at the 2024 Olympics, but he’s not letting that distract him from his other role as Taylor Swift‘s biggest fan.
On Thursday (Aug. 1), the Public Enemy rapper celebrated the first day of August by quoting the pop star’s fan-favorite Folklore track of the same name, which peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020 and has been known to receive a boost in streams during the eighth month of the year.
“It’s august here in Paris,,, and these Olympians be livin for the hope of it all,” he wrote, paraphrasing the “August” lyric “For me it was enough to live for the hope of it all.”
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Flav is currently in the French capital to cheer on the Team USA water polo athletes, having recently signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the squad. He’s been backing the women’s team financially since coach Maggie Steffens called for support on social media in May, leading him to gift each player $1,000 and a Virgin Voyage cruise. On the first official day of the Olympics on July 26, he represented the team at a press conference.
The following day, he personally greeted Dr. Jill Biden at Team USA’s match against Greece, telling the first lady, “These girls are my girls, they work hard … They got three back-to-back gold medals. I’m just trying to cheer them on to get that No. 4.”
Days before the Olympics kicked off, Flav swung by Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Hamburg, Germany. While there, he showed off a custom “King Swiftie” nameplate he received from a fan in a video and got an onstage shout-out from the “Karma” singer herself.
The hip-hop star is one of many Swifties celebrating the return of “August” season, something Swift also subtly commemorated in a recent Instagram post about her latest Eras shows in Munich. “I’m feeling really grateful for the unexpected memories this tour has created,” she wrote earlier this week. “We have 11 shows left on the European leg of the tour, kicking off *August* with 3 shows in Warsaw!”
See Flav’s tweet quoting “August” below.
It’s august here in Paris,,, and these Olympians be livin for the hope of it all— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 1, 2024
Winning looked real good on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team when they took home the team gold in Paris on Tuesday (July 30). It sounded good too, as team members Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera spent much of the day luxuriating in the golden glow of the champion’s circle […]
The 2024 Summer Olympics only kicked off on Friday, and already we’ve seen huge moments from Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Beyoncé and more music A-listers. It all started with the Opening Ceremony, which included all-French performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, set in scenic landmarks across Paris, as well as a Team USA introduction […]