Taylor Swift Wins Best Director
The 2020 MTV, VMA's were marked with not only the first virtual broadcast but also with a new take on live performances. Since quarantine is still under full effect, all performances were shot on closed sets. Among the notable moments of the evening, was Taylor Swift's win for best direction for her music video, "The Man", a single release from her seventh studio album, "Lover".
Swift stars in the video, playing a white male of extreme privilege. It follows her around as she boldly tramples through the day. The tone is both funny and charming and she successfully captures a day in the life of an entitled wealthy white man. She gave her acceptance speech via video as did the other performers and made a point to thank both her industry peers as well as her devoted fans.
Swift is the first woman to win this award as well. This just goes to show you, all it takes is a global pandemic for women to be acknowledged as great directors by MTV.
Music Finds Ways To Thrive During Covid
How and why do artists do what they do? Is it for the money? Fame? The unlimited supply of green m&m's? Well, it might be a combination of all of these things. However, in times of crisis, like the one we are all currently experiencing, artists, have been known to tap into a deeper zeitgeist that has become the here and now. This time its one which involves reflection, authenticity, and a questioning of the status quo.
For many musicians, the existential crises and epiphanies go hand in hand. And while this time in human history has been riddled with tragedy, cruelty, and unjustified heartache, it's also been a time for everyone to take stock in asking the question, "How can I become my highest self?"
And artists all over the world have been quite vocal in answering this. For musicians specifically, it remains to be seen when, where, and how they will return to their worlds of live performance, but the act of creating new music is surely seeing a new renaissance. While it may not be a source of lucrative monetization, it is one that brings a deep fulfillment.
So the next time you see your favorite musician going live on Instagram, maybe stop the scroll for just a few moments and take a listen to what they have to share. It might just become the new soundtrack to your life.
Celeb Musicians Doing Good Things During Quarantine
It’s nice to see celebs doing good works during this incredibly difficult time in our global history. There’s nothing better than seeing someone who you dig as a musician who also happens to be a decent human being paying it forward. Here are some good people doing good things who also happen to be celebs.
Post Malone- The rapper's Shaboink brand has partnered with Direct Relief to donate 40,000 N95 masks to help keep front-line workers safer during the global crisis.
Miley Cyrus has created a daily talk show on her Instagram called, “Bright Minded” which focuses on positive ways to cope with quarantine. She speaks with mental health experts, fellow musicians, and those on the front lines. She’s spotlighting a lot of great causes with the intent of “staying positive and engaged”.
Watsky The rapper and poet raised over $140,000 for Sweet Relief's COVID-19 Fund, which provides financial assistance for musicians and industry workers affected by the pandemic. Watsky is raising money by performing non-stop, rapping over 33 hours, which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest continuous rap. Glad he’s doing it and not us.
Ariana Grande has a slew of organizations that she has been supporting during the crisis, including Fund For Families, The Bail Project, The Mental Health Fund, and more.
Billy Ray Cyrus, another Cyrus doing good, has created with Native American communities, donating 20,000 masks to use for their protection against the virus. The announcement came during the Native Americans & Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall.
Madonna has teamed up with REFORM Alliance to donate 100,000 masks to jails and prisons with the hope of curbing the spread of the coronavirus behind bars. REFORM has donated 100,000 masks to those at Rikers Island in NYC.
Willie Nelson-He’s no stranger to helping those in need. He’s been successfully raising money for others for thirty plus years. His virtual Farm Aid concert on April 11 raised more than $500,000 for family farmers and ranchers who have been impacted during the crisis. "The coronavirus has disrupted our entire country and is a grave threat to all of us. One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers," Nelson said in a statement.
Things To Do On The Fourth Of July During Quarantine
Ok, it's the beginning of July and we are still under lockdown for good reason. So what does that mean for the best holiday of the summer? Well, more of the same as far as quarantine is concerned. But that doesn't mean you still can't take the day to celebrate some special things.
- How about instead of a large BBQ- try making something unique for you or the people you are in isolation with.
- Maybe take the day to watch a historical program on Harriet Tubman, or Lincoln.
- Or perhaps make a gratitude list for everything you're grateful for on this day of privilege.
- Lastly, make a donation, big or small to a non-profit doing good works in the world.
- And if you want to throw a hot dog into the mix somewhere, that's not such a terrible idea either.
In a time when everything is upside down, re-thinking a holiday about freedom never seemed more appropriate. Pass on some good juju and bring new traditions to this Fourth of July.
Rock/Metal Documentaries, Movies + Shows to Binge While In Quarantine
- Gone Too Soon (Netflix) the so-called “27 Club” an exclusive group of famous musicians who died at 27, explores the untimely passing of six musicians, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Kobain, and Amy Winehouse.
- Alice Cooper-Good To See You Again (Amazon Prime)- one of the most electrifying stage shows in rock history, was one put on by Alice Cooper. They had a shocking reputation that garnered them millions of fans who loved to watch their unique brand of theatrical rock.
- Death By Metal (Amazon Prime) this doc celebrates the life and legacy of the godfather of death metal, Chuck Schuldiner.
- Devil At The Crossroads: A Robert Johnson Story (Netflix)- not a lot is known about the blues legend, Robert Johnson who died at the age of 27 in 1938. But this Mississippi native had a lasting and profound effect on music and is considered one of the fathers of rock and roll. This documentary peels back all the layers to find out all there was to know about this legendary musician.
- Hired Gun (Amazon Prime)- Session musicians never get the proper acknowledgment or even the residual payment of their essential musical contribution to a recording. But this story is about Jason Hook who went from side-man to front-man of his own band, Five Finger Death Punch, and what happened along the way.
Benefits Of Learning To Play An Instrument During Quarantine
So, it's been well over 3 months of quarantine for most of us, and the world is starting to look a little grey around the edges. You've binged watched every episode of Star Trek, The New Girl, and Grey's Anatomy, and it's starting to feel like you're having legitimate conversations with your toaster. So maybe it's time to start expanding your mental stimuli. There is a myriad of options out there as far as indoor hobbies, as we've all seen the successful and not-so-successful attempts to build birdhouses out of toothpicks and peanut butter, sew home-made masks out of unmatched socks, and bake an "I'm-sorry-I-used-your-socks-for-a-face-mask" cake for your housemate.
But consider maybe now's the time you finally hunker down and learn to play that instrument you've always wanted. And if you don't already own it, monthly rentals for most instruments are the equivalent of a few cups of Starbuck's Mocha Latte Frappuccinos.
Studies have shown the benefits of not only learning a new skill helping with increasing brain function and staving off dementia but also, playing a musical instrument can be a rock-solid form of self-soothing when you feel like you just can't keep your marbles together for one more minute. Focusing on learning a new skill requires concentration, dedication, and consistency. All of these are things that might be in shorter supply these days.
And while it may be frustrating in the beginning, learning that instrument will give you a new sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is something that we all could use a little more of right now.
When Will Music Festivals Return?
When oh when will be smashed together in crowds to listen to music in the summer open air? Hard to say since the risks of covid are still a big concern. By most estimates, big concerts won’t happen again until the end of the year or early 2021. It’s hard to say exactly as the timeline keeps changing but according to live promotion company Live Nation, they will resume a “full blown” concert schedule by 2021. Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino has outlined the company's plans to resume concerts and tours. This includes, as he stated, "...drive-in concerts, which we’re going to test and roll out and we’re having some success with; or reduced-capacity festival concerts, which could be outdoors in a theater on a large stadium floor, where there’s enough room to be safe."
Surely other large venues and promoters will follow suit. Smaller clubs and venues may have a harder time adapting to the social distancing rules due to space. So only time will tell what will happen to the world of live music performance.
Until then, it looks like watching concerts either on your computer or the occasional neighborhood marching band is your best outlet for live music.