Born Marcel Theo Hall, the rapper-DJ died peacefully Friday evening with his wife by his side, according to a representative.
LOS ANGELES — Biz Markie, a hip-hop staple known for his beatboxing prowess, turntable mastery and the 1989 classic “Just a Friend,” has died. He was 57.
Markie’s representative, Jenni Izumi, said the rapper-DJ died peacefully Friday evening with his wife by his side. The cause of death has not been released.
“We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time,” Izumi said in a statement. “Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter.”
Markie, who birth name was Marcel Theo Hall, became known within the rap genre realm as the self-proclaimed “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop” for lighthearted lyrics and a humorous nature. He made music with the Beastie Boys, opened for Chris Rock’s comedy tour and was a sought-after DJ for countless star-studded events.
The New York-native’s music career began in 1985 as a beat boxer of the Juice Crew, a rap collective he helped Big Daddy Kane join. Three years later, he released his debut album “Goin’ Off,” which featured underground hits “Vapors” and “Pickin’ Boogers.”
Markie broke into mainstream music with his platinum-selling song “Just a Friend,” the lead single on his sophomore album “The Biz Never Sleeps.” The friend-zone anthem cracked Rolling Stone’s top 100 pop songs and made VH1’s list of 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all time.
Markie, who released five total studio albums, consistently booked more than 175 shows a year, according to the rapper’s website. He’s appeared on television shows including “In Living Color” and the 2002 movie “Men in Black II,” which had him playing an alien parody of himself in the film starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
Markie also taught the method of beatboxing in an episode of the children’s show “Yo Gabba Gabba!”
Queen’s Greatest Hits is the UK’s best-selling album ever and a recent 40th anniversary re-issue narrowly missed out on being UK No 1 for a fifth time this week. Nevertheless, Brian May is proud of the iconic tracks featured on the record that he made with Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. And now the Queen guitarist has shared which song on the record-breaking album is his favourite.
Speaking with Absolute Radio, Brian May struggled to pick a song at first, before landing on one he penned himself.
The 73-year-old said: “Oh it’s very hard to say. What’s my favourite? I don’t know if I do have favourites.
“If I was being very…allowing myself to be partisan, probably would be We Will Rock You.
“Because it sort of says everything in a short time and it’s something that’s always worked for us.”
Brian continued: “Everybody’s jumping up and down, making a noise. And what they were doing was singing along.”
“In those days, it was really new I have to tell you. You just didn’t go to concerts where people sang to rock bands. But on this particular occasion, they didn’t stop. And when we went off stage they sang You’ll Never Walk Alone to us.”
The Queen guitarist went to sleep that night thinking: “What could an audience do? What could you ask them to do?”
In the end, he realised: “They’re all crammed in there, they can’t do much. But they can stamp their feet, they can clap their hands, and they can sing.”
Last night, Kane again scored the winning goal – taking his shot after a missed penalty, causing celebrations across the country.
However, as the celebrations got underway, Sky News’ David Blevins tweeted: “Official: Commentator confirms that England fans have stolen ‘Sweet Caroline’ from Northern Ireland fans. I prefer the word ‘borrowed’ myself.”
“Get yer own song Ingerland [sic],” added Irish Mirror’ Jilly Beattie.
After seeing the post, Eamonn responded: “Guys, I’ve been itching about this all night. Not a single reference to us. #GAWA Football or Boxing. @NeilDiamond would have got nowhere with that Song if it wasn’t for Our Wee Country.”
This weekend England fans witnessed the national team triumph over Ukraine in a stunning display. The Euro 2020’s quarter-finals ended with Kane’s boys winning 4-0 to line up a semi-final clash with Denmark on Wednesday. At 8pm Gareth Southgate’s side go up against Denmark in the semi-final, and they will need all the support they can get from England fans – and what better way than to chant one of the country’s legendary songs?
With so many iconic tracks to choose from, scroll down to have your say on which song is the best in our poll.
Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)
When football fans are keen to show their support for England at the World Cup or the Euros, they would be hard-pressed to not think of David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s legendary 1996 anthem.
The comedy duo worked with The Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie to write the track to commemorate the 1996 Euros which was hosted in England – the first time since 1966.
Although Germany ultimately won the competition, England claimed the top scorer accolade, with Alan Shearer scoring five goals throughout the event.
England was knocked out in the semi-finals after playing Germany. The teams drew 1-1 and went to penalties, which the Germans won 6-5.
Is Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) your favourite football song? Vote in the poll at the bottom of this article.
Vindaloo
British band Fat Les, containing actor Keith Allen and Alex James of Blur fame, wrote Vindaloo.
The track was written and released to commemorate England’s participation in the 1998 World Cup.
The iconic song is instantly recognisable and utilises the timeless “nah nah nah”s that are still screamed in football stadiums to this day.
The anthem reached number two in the UK Singles Chart. However, it was just beaten by Three Lions ’98, the revitalisation of the Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) song from two years prior.
Is Vindaloo your favourite football song? Vote in the poll at the bottom of this article.
Atomic Kitten – Whole Again (Gareth Southgate Version)
England fans were extremely hopeful during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Although England ultimately came fourth in the competition, the support surrounding the team was stronger than ever.
A lot of the encouragement was aimed at England’s waistcoat-clad manager, Gareth Southgate.
The pop hit Whole Again by Atomic Kitten has been adopted as a symbol of support for Southgate.
The lyrics croon: “Looking back on when we first met / I cannot escape and I cannot forget / Southgate, you’re the one / You still turn me on / Football’s coming home again.”
Meat Pie, Sausage Roll
British comedian Smug Roberts contributed to the football anthem discography in 1998 with Meat Pie, Sausage Roll.
The hilarious track was performed and released by one of Smug Roberts’ personas, Grandad Roberts.
Despite the song originally beginning on Smug Roberts’ comedy radio show on Key 103, it has become a staple chant in almost every football event.
World in Motion
Before being featured in Gavin & Stacey, New Order’s iconic World in Motion changed the game for football anthems.
Not only was it extremely catchy, but it also included a guest rap from England footballer John Barnes.
Barnes has since laid down his historic bars on various occasions, proving that World in Motion is still a contender in the football song world.
Barnes even beat other members of the team to claim the featured spot, including Peter Beardsley, Paul Gascoigne and Chris Waddle.
The song was the anthem for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which saw England crash out on penalties against old foe Germany.
Ant & Dec – We’re On The Ball
The Newcastle duo has been a part of TV and music culture in the UK for decades and their 2002 hit We’re On The Ball was another example of their popularity.
The song was a smash hit to English audiences as it reached number three in the UK Singles Chart.
The cheeky tune was the England football team’s “official song” of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
In their music video for the track Ant & Dec dressed up as then-football manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
The Farm – All Together Now
The song was written originally about the World War One Christmas truce between German and British troops in the trenches in 1914. It was released back in 1990 and soon become an anthem in clubs up and down the United Kingdom.
Then, in 2004, the song was re-released for the European Championships in Portugal, peaking in the UK Singles Chart at number five – one lower than its 1990 performance.
The song would later be re-worked by Atomic Kitten for the 2006 World Cup.
Author: Callum Crumlish
Read more here >>> Daily Express
The Government is suggesting the ‘One Britain, One Nation (OBON)’ anthem could be sung on OBON Day, June 25. However the song sparked backlash with some arguing it’s too nationalistic, while others said Britain already has a range of patriotic songs.
Asked if UK schoolchildren should sing the song 2,018 out of 4,064, or 49.6 percent, said they should.
However 1,965, or 48.3 percent of those who responded, disagreed.
The balance was made up by the 81 respondents who were unsure.
Children at the St John’s CE Primary School in Bradford wrote the new song.
One wrote: “Instilling a little patriotism would not be a bad thing, but making sure that all children benefited from a higher standard of literacy and numeracy would be even better.”
Another added: “Must be only Remainers complaining but they don’t complain about the EU flag and anthem, strange.”
However other readers were more sceptical about the new song.
One commented: “Are you familiar with the expression, ‘ way over the top?’
A second said: “This is too much like North Korea.
“The person who wrote song is doing away with our national anthem.”
Several other commentators argued Britain already has patriotic songs that could be used.
A user called Brian wrote: “I voted NO.. Why because we already have our patriotic songs that we had to sing at the start and end of term.
“Rule Britannia, The Sailors Hornpipe, I Vow to thee my Country, there are several more. What more do you want than these?”
Another stated: “Despite having worked and lived outside the UK for the last 56 years I am still British born in Wales.
“I already have my anthems “God save the Queen/King” and “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” I do not need another.”
The Beatles spent a large portion of time in India in 1968 to write their ninth studio album, The White Album. The record included influences from a range of genres including folk, blues and ska. John Lennon was not entirely pleased with every song he wrote while out there, however.
SCROLL DOWN TO LISTEN TO MEAN MR MUSTARD
The band visited India from March to April of 1968, before returning to London in May and recording the album until October.
The record, which has been certified 24x platinum, included such iconic songs as While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Helter Skelter and Back in the USSR.
At the time the band also wrote and recorded a song which was later included on their 11th album, Abbey Road: Mean Mr Mustard. This track, however, is a song Lennon was not pleased with at all.
Speaking to Playboy’s David Sheff, Lennon said of the song: “That’s me, writing a piece of garbage.”
Lennon recalled where he got the idea for the song in the interview.
He explained that he was not writing about drugs, despite the lyrics which indicated otherwise.
The song coos: “Mean Mister Mustard sleeps in the park / Shaves in the dark trying to save paper / Sleeps in a hole in the road / Saving up to buy some clothes / Keeps a ten-bob note up his nose /Such a mean old man, Such a mean old man.”
The singer told Sheff: “I’d read somewhere in the newspaper about this mean guy who hid five-pound notes, not up his nose but somewhere else.”
What do you think? Was John Lennon’s song about drugs? Join the debate in the comments section here
Lennon added: “They are only finished bits of cr*p that I wrote in India.”
These interviews were not the only instances of the star denying his songs were talking about drugs.
One of the band’s most famous songs with narcotic connotations is Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, which is often abbreviated to LSD.
However, Lennon once again claimed this was not the intention.
Lennon told Sheff: “I had no idea it spelt LSD. This is the truth: my son came home with a drawing and showed me this strange-looking woman flying around.
“I said: ‘What is it?’ and he said: ‘It’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds.’ I thought: ‘That’s beautiful.’ I immediately wrote a song about it.”
Bandmate Paul McCartney later backed up this story, saying in Anthology: “I showed up at John’s house and he had a drawing Julian had done at school with the title Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds above it.
“Then we went up to his music room and wrote the song, swapping psychedelic suggestions as we went.”
Today marks the release day of In the Heights, a musical based on a Broadway show which was originally penned and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The star is best known for creating Hamilton, the other hit Broadway show, which saw a release on Disney Plus in 2020. The film tells the compelling story of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), his goals and the tight-nit community around him that supports him at every turn.
Is there a scene after the credits in In the Heights?
WARNING: In the Heights spoilers ahead.
Yes, there is a post-credits scene during In the Heights.
The film’s post-credit scene continues the rivalry between Miranda’s character Piraguero and Christopher Jackson’s character Mr Softee.
Earlier in the film, Piraguero became frustrated when the youth of Washington Heights opted to buy ice cream rather than his delectable piragua.
A sense of gentrification was felt throughout the film, as the residents of the Heights were priced out of their own neighbourhood. This theme was exemplified with the arrival of ice cream over piragua.
But Piraguero got the last laugh in the post-credits scene,
During the extra scene, Mr Softee’s ice cream truck is shown broken down leaving his business in disarray.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE PIRAGUA (REPRISE) SONG BELOW
The added scene at the end of In the Heights acts as a reprise for the character, and the song.
Miranda executive produced the film after creating every aspect of the stage show in the early 2000s.
Speaking about why he wrote the show in the first place, the artist revealed: “I wrote [the first draft of In the Heights] on a winter break [from college]. I didn’t sleep. My long-term girlfriend went abroad.
“So suddenly, I had all this time, and all this angst, which are two of the ingredients you need the most when you’re 19 years old.”
Miranda went on: “I think that was a big part of me being able to access more of myself in my writing.
“Everything I’d written prior to then kind of sounded like [Rent creator] Jonathan Larson, kind of musical theater-ish, rock-ish stuff.”
The singer and songwriter added: “But I didn’t bring any of my culture to it or any of my heritage to it.”
In 1994 the three remaining members of The Beatles – Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – got together to record a retrospective album titled Anthology 1. The album included rarities, outtakes and live performances from the early years of the band. Although the Fab Four could not bring a new song to life without John Lennon – who had been assassinated in 1980 – that didn’t stop them. The band began working on a long-lost song called Free as a Bird where they used the star’s vocals.
The original song’s demo tape was given to The Beatles by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono.
With it, they mixed the star’s voice, sang alongside him and created a brand new track.
This was a decision the band were slammed for in the press by Prince.
He said in an interview: “What they did with that Beatles song [Free As a Bird], manipulating John Lennon’s voice to have him singing from across the grave… that’ll never happen to me.” (via Guitar World)
Prince continued: “To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.”
He went on: “That’s the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age.”
The Purple One continued: “That whole virtual reality thing… it really is demonic. And I am not a demon.”
McCartney later defended the band’s choice to use Lennon’s mixtape, and his voice.
Starr said: “We took the easy route, which was to do some incidental music, because what else can we do?
“There were four Beatles, and there are only three of us left. We were going to do some incidental music and just get there and play the instruments and see what happened.
“Then we thought, well, why don’t we do some new music? And then we always hit the wall, and OK, Paul had a song, or George had a song, or I had a song, well that’s the three of us, why don’t the three of us go in and do this.
“And we kept hitting that wall because this is the Beatles; it’s not Paul, George, and Ringo.”
What do you think? Should The Beatles have used John Lennon’s voice long after he had died? Join the debate in the comments section here
Despite Prince’s barbed words, the two acts remained on good terms.
A decade later, after Harrison’s death, Prince honoured the late Beatle by performing a version of his While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo live on stage.
The event occurred during the posthumous induction of Harrison to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
The iconic British pop group has been a cultural mainstay around the globe for decades showcasing the bubbly side of British entertainment.
WASHINGTON — Editor’s note: The WKYC video is from June 2019.
Look who’s back! The Spice Girls, who shot to worldwide fame in the 90s, are releasing a new song to mark the 25th anniversary of the group’s debut single “Wannabe.”
The girl power group have apparently held onto a previously unreleased ballad called “Feed Your Love,” which they have now decided to release to commemorate the big anniversary.
Ginger, Sporty, Baby, Scary and Posh Spice have put together a special EP, including the previously unreleased ballad “Feed Your Love,” for their 25th anniversary commemoration album called “Wannabe25.”
The new song contains vocals from all five members including Geri Horner, 48, Melanie Chisholm, 47, Emma Bunton, 45, Melanie Brown, 46 and Victoria Beckham, 47. The new song will be available to stream on July 9.
In 2012, the group reunited to perform a medley of their greatest hits during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
In 2019, the Spice Girls reunited again for a U.K. tour without Beckham.
The group has also launched their #IAmASpiceGirl campaign, OK! Magazine and other entertainment outlets reported. The group is asking fans to upload their favorite memories involving the group to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag. Fans can also email content to [email protected].
As the Sun reported, the Spice Girls said in a statement “the Spice Girls belong to everyone and that’s why we want to mark 25 years of ‘Wannabe’ by celebrating our incredible fans.”
Led Zeppelin came together as a band in the late 1960s and quickly became hugely successful. They lasted a decade together, parting ways in 1980 after the death of their drummer, John Bonham. But can you name the song and complete these famous lyrics?
Led Zeppelin included Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page.
The foursome rose to stardom in the USA after performing live, rarely releasing singles and focusing instead on albums and live gigs.
However, it ended after a short time when their drummer, John, died, and the band parted ways.
But do you know their songs and could complete their lyrics?
7. Complete the lyrics: “On my way/I’ve been this way ten years to the day” 8. Complete the lyrics: “Eyes that shine, burnin’ red” 9. Complete the lyrics: “Took my chances on a big jet-plane” 10. Complete the lyrics: “You hurt and abuse/Tellin’ all of your lies” 11. Complete the lyrics: “And the warmth of your smile starts a burning” 12. Complete the lyrics: “Mellow is the man who knows what he’s been missing”
DON’T MISS
7. “Ramble on/Gotta find the queen of all my dreams” – Ramble On 8. “Dreams of you all through my head” – Black Dog 9. “Never let ’em tell ya that they’re all the same” – Going to California 10. “Run ’round, sweet baby, lord, how they hypnotize” – Dazed and Confused 11. “And the thrill of your touch give me fright” – Fool in the Rain 12. “Many, many men can’t see the open road” – Over the Hills and Far Away
