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The 9 Best Thanksgiving TV Episodes to Watch on Turkey Day
Celebrate thanksgiving by hiding from your family and watching these fictional families enjoy turkey day!
11.25.2020
Celebrating Thanksgiving usually entails a day of eating, answering uncomfortable questions from your family about your career and romantic life, hearing about your grandma's bunion surgery, and, if you're lucky, a well-earned doze in front of the TV. This year, given the social distancing guidelines, you may bypass the family time and go straight to the couch.
Regardless of your plans for Turkey Day, when that second helping of turkey starts to settle in your belly and your eyelids start to feel heavy, it's time to shove your cousin (or cat) over on the couch, settle in, and turn on one of these classic Thanksgiving-themed episodes.
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“The One With the Rumor,” Friends
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNTcyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTg1MDUwM30.HQbIHMBhvTWbQXJfVjNNEdyF2dDzBgalqgLZBCxKPDs/img.jpg?width=980" id="5630d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="43c434173d17f82544480a47c4a8fb30" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Friends Thanksgiving episode" />Friends<p><strong>Season 8 Epsiode 9</strong></p><p>This iconic episode guest stars Brad Pitt (then married to Jennifer Aniston) as Rachel's former classmate who was still bitter about being an ignored and overweight teenager who co-founded the "I Hate Rachel Green Club" with Ross back in high school.</p><p><strong>Where to watch: </strong>Netflix</p>"Parents," New Girl
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNTc2Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODI3MjI1NH0.oNG7ZNehomcjG8q5GShlB4QGnaMwQIIZOjLuU-uOVGk/img.jpg?width=980" id="9e04b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a6c4d706bbef84d1987a5fc8d320368a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="New Girl Thanksgiving" /><p><strong>Season 2 Episode 8</strong></p><p>This is an adorable and realistic depiction of the family drama that inevitably comes with Thanksgiving. Here, Jess tries to reunite her divorced parents and, obviously, chaos ensues. </p><p><strong>Where to watch: </strong>Netflix</p>"Homo for the Holidays," Will and Grace
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNTgzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MTMyNjA2OH0.K_t3o1VI9Uu5vD24GR6RYbfFKkgpU2Xqt53G5_0NRF0/img.jpg?width=980" id="6b500" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="73c6dc0fde532b5293d958e38fd88e09" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Will And Grace Thanksgiving episode" /><p><strong>Season 2 Episode 7</strong></p><p>This episode centers on Jack trying to come out to his mother over Thanksgiving dinner. It's as messy and hilarious as it is touching. </p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Hulu</p><p><center><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- Popdust Mobile Banner 320x100 --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:320px;height:100px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4301469008561137" data-ad-slot="6952751205"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></center></p>"Slapsgiving," How I Met Your Mother
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNTk1Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTk2NzAwOH0.M1_L9ywWjrMCAUxURvr9FvXu1jaiL5PGEnvztptXHHY/img.jpg?width=980" id="b2791" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="23b9b895b1bd6b28b27a8e8d14ebd992" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="How I Met Your Mother Thanksgiving Episode" /><p><strong>Season 3 Episode 9</strong></p><p>HIMYM is all about running jokes, and this episode is full of them. The gang is going through a time of transition, since Ted and Robin just broke up and Lilly and Marshall were recently married, and things get rocky (and hilarious) as a result. </p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Hulu</p>"Turkey In a Can," Bob's Burgers
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNjA2MC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTM1MjU5N30.5zhyqTD_xtyocyGKNe3J14VYwYM_YV6_EdZB4b42VGc/img.gif?width=980" id="bc662" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="99ddebe8711e7cde94576da02d51e1f4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Bob's Burgers Thanksgiving Episode" /><p><strong>Season 7 Episode 6</strong></p><p>The plot of this episode revolves around a turkey ending up in a toilet. That's it. Its fantastic. </p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Hulu</p>"A Lilith Thanksgiving," Frasier
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNjE5My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTIxMDc0N30.MYlpMkpq7GwzX_yYEceAipyPv8cQC8MNR0jyzwP3jPM/img.jpg?width=980" id="34cd3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3c950fa81fe24a4abfb08f8320d3f2e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Thanksgiving Frasier" /><p><strong>Season 4 Episode 7</strong></p><p>One of the few <em>Frasier </em>episodes that takes place in Boston, this episode sees Frasier and his ex-wife vying to get their son into a prestigious school, while Frasier's dad tries to teach his grandson to play baseball. There are also some fantastic Niles cooking mishaps that make the episode worth watching. </p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Netflix</p>"Lockdown," Brooklyn Nine-Nine
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNjIxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTM4MDU0Nn0.ZHzj8bYLjSEvNWhQIpLC82kZOxPD0MJxMFqG6X5Apq0/img.jpg?width=980" id="154e1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2da54f625cc5508fc4b6abceadae0b5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Brooklyn nine nine thanksgiving episode" /><p><strong>Season 2 Episode 7 </strong></p><p>There are several great Thanksgiving episodes of <em>Brooklyn Nine-Nine,</em> but this one, in which the squad gets locked inside the station due to an anthrax scare, takes the cake.</p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Hulu</p>"Thanksgiving," Master of None
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNjIyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODMzODY4NH0.P6Ttnfk2Zu0ViTUFLc-La5pUDyLUMA8Aba6G6IRlqAU/img.jpg?width=980" id="8a36b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c247d8edbc6c937a360e1a087ab2df5f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Master of None Thanksgiving Episode" /><p><strong>Season 2 Episode 8 </strong></p><p>This episode hits all the heart strings in all the right ways. It shows family Thanksgivings over the course of 30 years and tells the moving story of Dez's bestfriend coming out to her mom. </p><p><strong>Where the watch:</strong> Netflix</p>"WUPHF.com," The Office
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjEwNjIzOS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNTk1NDc0Nn0.YIyfcAsAgJJUQvFeQFw-d9HAZYdStj7Lodm-UxUz_FY/img.gif?width=980" id="0a047" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="59e7c43a63ff3b54811a903eb6a3cb8f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="The Office Thanksgiving Episode" /><p><strong>Season 7 Episode 9</strong></p><p>In this episode, Dwight decides that a hay festival is just what everyone needs to get them in the holiday spirit. Meanwhile, Ryan tries to scam his coworkers out of a lot of money. Good stuff!</p><p><strong>Where to watch:</strong> Netflix</p>From Your Site Articles
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How to Watch Taylor Swift's "folklore" Concert Film
folklore: the long pond studio sessions was filmed in upstate New York in September.
11.24.2020
Back in July, Taylor Swift shook the music world by surprise-dropping her eighth album, folklore.
Released less than a year after its predecessor, the pop sugar rush Lover, folklore marked a stark shift for Swift by implementing a quieter, folksier sound. To pull it off, she collaborated with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, The National's Aaron Dessner, and her go-to producer Jack Antonoff—all of whom will be featured in a new concert film called folklore: the long pond studio sessions, premiering tonight on Disney Plus.
<p><em>folklore </em>was recorded remotely, meaning Swift, Vernon, Dessner, and Antonoff had yet to meet together in person until filming <em>the long pond studio sessions </em>in September<em>. </em>Directed by Swift, the concert film will showcase the album's personnel performing all its songs in full at Long Pond Studio in upstate New York, where the National also recorded their 2017 album, <em>Sleep Well Beast.</em></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-630"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - underfirst11 - under_first_paragraph --></p><div id="a7a67" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="61f088da4e7015bd77a30b72148b10d7"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1331224929233227777" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Well it’s 11/24 and 24-11=13 so I’ve got an announcement 🤓 You haven’t seen this film before ✨ folklore: the long p… https://t.co/MoNRJI0rFL</div> — Taylor Swift (@Taylor Swift)<a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/statuses/1331224929233227777">1606223730.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><p><em>folklore: the long pond studio sessions</em> will premiere exclusively on Disney Plus tonight at 12:01 a.m. PT, with the music hitting streaming services at the same time. See the trailer below.</p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Taylor Swift – folklore: the long pond studio sessions | Official Trailer | Disney+</small>
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Music Reviews
Third Time’s the Charm with Sam Smith’s "Love Goes"
Sam Smith's artistry has always been most interesting when partnered with electronic soundscapes.
11.05.2020
Sam Smith
On Sam Smith's third LP, Love Goes, the singer excels at exploring the LED glow and disco ball glitter of dance pop and electronica.
Although Sam Smith has made a name for themself in today's pop game as the chieftain of soulful, the multi-platinum singer-songwriter has best showcased their talent when their voice travels across enveloping, electronic soundscapes made for endless dancing rather than elegiac ruminating.
<p><Awin>
</Awin></p><p>Case in point: Despite its release prior to the pop singer's 2014 debut full-length, <em>The Lonely Hour</em>, Smith's critically acclaimed collaboration with Disclosure on "Latch" will forever feel like their most charismatically experimental performance (though the artist has had consistent commercial success since then).</p><p>Similarly, Smith's feature on Naughty Boy's smash "La La La" (2013) still has the power to put listeners under a spell that can take anyone back to the club well past 4 AM, inducing a trance that holds up even years later.<br></p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --><p></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Sam Smith, Labrinth - Love Goes (Audio)</small>
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</p><p>The same can be said of the dance tracks on Smith's newest album, <em>Love Goes</em>, where the artist—mostly on their own—embraces their glitter dance pop and electronica more fully than ever before. The world heard a flicker of Smith's EDM expertise on the Calvin Harris-produced "Promises" on "Dancing with a Stranger," a duet with Normani. These two fairly old but equally silky-smooth singers both managed to make the side-two cut of Smith's latest 17-track project, proving that Smith stands by his adventures in to EDM (and for good reason).<br></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-630"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - underfirst11 - under_first_paragraph --></p><p>But the magic of Smith's explorations in electronica hardly stops at high-profile collaborations. Instead, a refreshingly light up-tempo magnetism leaks throughout all of <em>Love Goes</em>. Though the album is far from flawless, its overall groove—as opposed to the artist's usual mellow brood—makes it Smith's best work so far. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-632"></div>
<!-- End Ezoic - undersecond12 - under_second_paragraph --></p><iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:5XCBX16KNYsAe7V5hQV9mC" id="fe7f0" frameborder="0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="82d35fab886b2dfd587ebad242c19b1d" expand="1" height="480" width="100%"></iframe><p>"Diamonds" and "Another One," two cuts appearing early in the collection, remind us that there's something entrancing and incomparably cool about the singer's clear, androgynous tenor–particularly when it's paired with breakbeats, four-on-the-floor, and any beat exceeding 90 BPM. "My Oasis" is another instance of Smith's moody but mesmeric swagger, which is complemented by the steez of none other than Burna Boy and his afrobeat energy.<br></p><p>Of these three kick-starting tracks, "Another One" and "My Oasis" are especially magnificent. The latter is one of the strongest of the album's singles, while the former pulsates with silvery instrumentation and Smith's typically relatable, heartbreak-focused lyricism. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-633"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent1 - mid_content --></p><p>There's nothing wrong with that signature broken-heartedness—in fact, that type of storytelling feels more urbane when juxtaposed against sounds that makes listeners want to carouse out of misery, if only for three minutes. Indeed, on "Dance ('Til You Love Someone Else)," the singer offers a pathway to escape through great dance music, illustrated by the song's refrain: "They say you can't fall out of love 'til you love someone else, oh / Guess I'll dance, dance, dance, dance, 'til then."</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-634"> </div>
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</script></p><p>But not all of <em>Love Goes</em>'s best bits are crafted for dancing the night away. Both "So Serious" and "Kids Again" are mid-tempo (but entirely different-sounding) achievements that exemplify not only Smith's profound self-awareness but their growing talent for dabbling in the unexpected. </p><p>"Kids Again" could possibly even be considered country-pop, if Smith were less influenced by blue-eyed soul and more by the likes of Kacey Musgraves, or even if they threw on a faux twang a là Taylor Swift. The composition is a wildly gorgeous, photographic end to the first side of <em>Love Goes</em>, with big, swirling instrumentation that's as wide-eyed and melancholic as childhood dreams.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-635"> </div>
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Sam Smith - Kids Again</small>
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</p><p>Still, this third record doesn't fully alienate the bulk of Sam Smith diehards, which include those who have loved him from day one and those who love the comparatively earnest, hushed sounds of the singer's well-established M.O. However, those expected, perhaps even predictable, moments are also the most forgettable.<br></p><p>"For the Lover That I Lost" is a forlorn ballad that Smith carries with more dexterity than Celine Dion. Written by Smith, along with frequent collaborators Jimmy Napes and Stargate, the track first appeared on the adult contemporary queen's 2019 album, <em>Courage</em>, but even in Smith's hands, it's not a tear-jerking performance (or anything we haven't heard from Smith a dozen times before).</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-636"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent22 - long_content --></p><p>"Breaking Hearts" and "Forgive Myself" are also uninspiring, while side two's "I'm Ready" is a Demi Lovato collaboration that stirs sentiments of...absolute nothingness inside—although it does serve to remind us all that pairing two pop titans together doesn't automate creative synergy, even if both artists are equipped with star-power and stellar pipes. </p><p>However, even with its gaffes—and admittedly, there are only a few—<em>Love Goes</em> is a triumph and hopefully the beginning of a new era for one of this generation's most vocally gifted pop talents.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-637"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent3 - longer_content --></p><input class="image-alt__title" placeholder="Add Image Alt..." type="text"><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY1NzgzNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2OTQ4NDk4OX0.Zpgh9L-lRKoefycwZ6rQFfo3UFaUIaJkY8IE_Oyp6Sc/img.jpg?width=980" id="a07bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0e13d69f122ed8fb8965e2a40d37858c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Love Goes"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Sam Smith Love Goes</small></p>
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Music Features
Taylor Swift Praises Bon Iver, Anaïs Mitchell, and Aaron Dessner's "The Latter Days"
Justin Vernon debuted the song as part of a GOTV initiative in his home state of Wisconsin.
10.20.2020
Taylor Swift just announced support for a new song by two of her folklore collaborators: The National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon.
The song, called "The Latter Days" is, first and foremost, a call to action. Written from the perspective of someone in the future, it asks the question: Have I done enough?
<p>Its enigmatic lyrics were written by folk singer Anaïs Mitchell, whose musical <em>Hadestown </em>was a smash hit on Broadway this year before it all shut down. (Mitchell debuted a song of her own, "Backwoods," as part of the Eux Claires voting initiative).</p><div id="c4115" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="34c53412815da1d40dfe81c242ecf229"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1317078367385124866" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I love Wisconsin! My granddad grew up there! Praying for y’all to get out the vote! ICYMI it I shared a new song ca… https://t.co/0IkTnrTA9F</div> — Anaïs Mitchell (@Anaïs Mitchell)<a href="https://twitter.com/anaismitchell/statuses/1317078367385124866">1602850927.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Justin Vernon recently debuted their song in a live solo performance on a roof in Wisconsin as part of his "Visit with Vernon Milwaukee" series, where he speaks with undecided voters in Wisconsin.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-630"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - underfirst11 - under_first_paragraph --></p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --><p></p><p> In the video, he talks to a mother and her daughter about voting, action, and protest. While the daughter, who lives in Milwaukee, has been attending protests and trying to educate her mother about social issues, her mother is still having trouble fully understanding and trusting either presidential candidate.</p><div id="d3743" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dc1d5686dcab679432fb934ebacbc1b7"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1316778382575763456" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">One beautiful evening in Milwaukee, Justin visited with Vic and her mother Mary Jane to speak about voting.
Justin… https://t.co/tYVYsgJyAr</div> — Eaux Claires (@Eaux Claires)<a href="https://twitter.com/EauxClairesWI/statuses/1316778382575763456">1602779405.0</a></blockquote></div><p>They don't start by addressing politics directly. "You know I just need to I guess take a little bit more of an active role and even if it's just my own community to help make a difference," the mother said, citing how proud she was of her daughter for participating in peaceful protests.<br></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-632"></div>
<!-- End Ezoic - undersecond12 - under_second_paragraph --></p><p>Vernon says, "Protesting can be done on a daily basis. Like if you see somebody being belittled or taken advantage of. If you are the witness to it, it's sort of like we can protest that way." </p><p>Vernon then goes on to discuss the importance of helping people in one's own backyard, and he slowly steers the conversation towards the importance of voting. He asks the mother why she isn't sure if she's going to vote, and then she cites her distrust of all forms of media reporting about political candidates. </p><p>"Change is going to happen whether you do something or not," Vernon says. "You not doing anything, it's just you not getting a say in the change being made." Voting, he says, represents our "insignificant significance." </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-633"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent1 - mid_content --></p><p>Ultimately, though, he's not there to persuade his audience to vote for either candidate or to dive into arguments about policies. Instead, he makes an appeal to his audience's emotions, praising the visible love between mother and daughter and then launching into the new song. </p><p>"I think about what it's going to feel like in the future, when we look back and we wonder if we did enough?" says Vernon in the introduction. </p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-634"> </div>
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Visit with Vernon Milwaukee</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31qJBO9LJoM&feature=emb_title" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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</p><p>"Dear Wisconsin, Vote early. Text Vote to 56005," the video's caption reads. </p><p>This isn't the first time that Justin Vernon has joined Anaïs Mitchell on a song about the overwhelming challenges of wanting to change the world. He sang the part of Orpheus on the original <em>Hadestown </em>album, and one of his solos, "If It's True," is an anthem for anyone who's ever been caught up in hopelessness about the way nothing ever seems to really change. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa58e7acdeebddd4d8b751d879008df3"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9KD92M6ggtA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Anais Mitchell feat. Justin Vernon - If It's True</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KD92M6ggtA" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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<!-- End Ezoic - incontent2 - long_content --></p><p>Ultimately, though, Orpheus realizes that hopelessness is exactly what the people in power want you to feel. "And the ones who load the dice / always say the toss is fair," he realizes. "I believe our answer matters more than anything they say. I believe there is a way / I believe in us together / More than anyone alone." </p><p>Now, Bon Iver and Anaïs Mitchell seem to be channeling that same energy—which wavers between despair and hope—into another call to action with "The Latter Days." </p><p>The song has been met with approval by none other than Taylor Swift, who retweeted the video along with the message, "Stunning and important." Swift has previously announced her support for the Biden/Harris campaign.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-636"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent22 - long_content --></p><div id="876ed" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="006cde5548a050e8354543ac2e4bc369"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318297296254226435" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Stunning and important. So much love and respect for @boniver https://t.co/rmz8gx90KI</div> — Taylor Swift (@Taylor Swift)<a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/statuses/1318297296254226435">1603141542.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Read the lyrics to "The Latter Days" here:<br></p><p>How long? Is what you asked<br>How long do you think it's gonna last?<br>You at the corner store<br>You were stocking up before the storm<br>Stacked yourself against the odds<br>Talkin' back to an act of god<br>You and your clever mouth<br>You were laughing when the lights went out</p><p><br>I recall it all forever<br>How it found us where we lay<br>With our arms around each other<br>In the latterdays, in the latterdays</p><p><br>How high? Is what you said<br>How high do you think we're gonna get?<br>You at the water's edge<br>On the jetty when you were a kid<br>Passed around a plastic cup<br>Passed out spinning in the house where you grew up<br>You in your childhood bed<br>And the wildest dream you ever had<br><br></p>You recall it all forever<p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-637"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent3 - longer_content --></p><br>How it found ya where you lay<br>And you called out for your brother<br>In the latterdays, in the latterdays, in the latterdays<p><br>How high do you wanna go?<br>How high do you wanna get?<br>How high do you wanna get?</p><p><br>And we called out for our brothers<br>In the latterdays, in the latterdays<br>I recall it all forever<br>How we sheltered in our place<br>And we called out for our brothers<br>In those latterdays, in those latterdays<br>In those latterdays, in those latterdays, in those latterdays</p><h2></h2><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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Believe it or not, October is next week.
Fall is officially here, meaning it's time to light your candles, put on your sweaters, and set the autumn mood with some good tunes.
<h2></h2><p>There's no better way to mark phases in time than a themed playlist. Below, we've compiled our 10 favorite songs to welcome in the best season of the year.</p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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Yo La Tengo, “Autumn Sweater”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6e0946e4034e45ca5a6227d83ba75692"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vtOfYeJFq0k?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Much of Yo La Tengo's discography is perfectly suited for fall weather. But as its name suggests, "Autumn Sweater" is their most explicitly autumnal song, driven by a subtle electronic groove that evokes the comfort of slightly chillier weather. The song's lyrics pine for a romantic getaway, and it's easy to picture a secluded cabin or a beach house on a cloudy day. "We could slip away / Wouldn't that be better? / Me with nothing to say / And you in your autumn sweater," vocalist Ira Kaplan sings.</p>Neil Young, “Harvest Moon”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2a01dbd547086748dd5e975ebd504b90"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n2MtEsrcTTs?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Few genres evoke the earthy ambience of fall like '70s folk rock. While Neil Young's album <em>Harvest Moon </em>was released in the early '90s, its sound harks back to the legendary songwriter's recordings after his departure from Crosby, Stills & Nash. Its title track, a tribute to Young's wife, is complete with a harmonica solo, slide guitar, and background vocals that are perfectly suited for campfire gatherings.</p>Fiona Apple, “Pale September”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4433383d8fa7e42043da50d2f1d50057"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKmjKbAInkU?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>As much as many of us embrace the arrival of fall, the season still carries the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to the salad days of summer until next year. Fiona Apple's "Pale September" posits the changing of the seasons alongside grief. Few lyrics are as quintessentially fall as "the autumn days swung soft around me like cotton on my skin."</p>Broadcast, “Echo’s Answer”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a76d26f6e32372242cdb66498de8bb32"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WZV9OqdFFyk?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Before the untimely death of vocalist Trish Keenan in 2011, British group Broadcast earned themselves a cult following as a leading act in electronic pop. One of their first singles, "Echo's Answer," is a spare, synth-driven tune that serves as a fitting soundtrack for welcoming in a new season. "Oh, the wind will come, blow answer, echo's answer," Keenan coos, as if watching leaves turn brown across mountain ranges.</p>girl in red, “we fell in love in october”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="654a59310a391f9712ecf9d3b460dcdb"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iggmiF7DNoM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>We might still be in quarantine, but the temperature drops only mean one thing for some people: cuffing season. If we weren't still at risk of contracting a deadly virus, this time of year would normally be the time many folks set out to find a partner before the holidays roll around, so we can finally appease our families when they inevitably ask if we have a significant other. The music of young indie pop phenomenon girl in red is heavily associated with love, and her most popular song, "we fell in love in october," is a heartwarming tribute to autumnal flings: "We fell in love in October / That's why I love fall."</p><p><center><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- Popdust Mobile Banner 320x100 --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:320px;height:100px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4301469008561137" data-ad-slot="6952751205"></ins><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></center></p>Fleet Foxes, “Blue Ridge Mountains”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b92864502e5d5d9001a48a803568be66"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d370CKlg-wk?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>If curling up in a sweater with a hot coffee or chai latte had a sound, that sound would probably be Fleet Foxes. The Seattle band's lush indie folk has solidified their status in the "cold weather music" canon, and "Blue Ridge Mountains"—a highlight from their 2008 self-titled debut album—feels especially autumnal. The sprawling production and acoustic guitars paint images of driving through its titular mountains, while the subject matter of missing one's sibling is a perfect predecessor to family reunions come Thanksgiving.</p>SZA, “Sweet November”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0da7bfc4236445cea09e443343bdb6b8"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpSPGfv9KoA?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Whether it's her early material or <a href="https://www.popdust.com/sza-new-song-hit-different-2647463992.html" target="_self">her latest single</a>, the mellow, R&B-infused pop of SZA is an appropriate companion to fall weather and activities. While the lyrics of "Sweet November" are decidedly morbid—they reference SZA's illness that she said <a href="https://genius.com/Sza-sweet-november-lyrics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">nearly killed her</a>—its jazzy drums and Marvin Gaye sample pair nicely with the smell of fresh-baked pumpkin bread.</p>Nina Simone, “One September Day”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="579d4c428efef890a2fe508caa8033c1"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_vfzf_O2z84?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Before Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong was begging us to let him sleep all September, jazz icon Nina Simone was wishing to relive a certain 24 hours that occurred in the same month. Though whirlwind romances are typically associated with summer, Simone's sweeping love song "One September Day" sounds like wandering in parks, holding hands with a special somebody as the leaves begin to turn brown.</p>Bon Iver, “Holocene”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="328c1c2060baa6228a8d720ed366c7be"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TWcyIpul8OE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Arguably no contemporary musician is as elusive as Justin Vernon, the leader of Bon Iver. On his Grammy-nominated single "Holocene," he reckons with finding his place in the world, feeling insignificant compared to the incomprehensible size of the universe. The song welcomes personal reflection, and echoes the strange comfort of realizing your existence is both unique and trivial in the grand scheme of things.</p>Local Natives, “Wide Eyes”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9922b82772dd812d515146153550f222"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5xjh_J8vto?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The beginning guitar notes and group background vocals of "Wide Eyes" echo like they're bouncing off a canyon in the mountains, with the sort of refreshing crispness that only autumn weather can bring. "All the men of faith and men of science had their questions / Could it ever be on earth as it is in heaven?" goes one of the track's most poignant lines, sparking your own contemplations as the season changes.</p>Taylor Swift, “cardigan”
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="875249cb081d35db2aaae487f592a883"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K-a8s8OLBSE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Let's be real: Taylor Swift definitely scheduled the surprise-release of <em>folklore </em>with just enough time for all of us to get acquainted with the new songs by autumn, right? While the entire album recalls woodsy, autumnal scenery, the longing piano number "cardigan" feels most closely connected with the season. Especially if you're spending fall in New York City, Swift's depictions of "high heels on cobblestones" and twirling under streetlights feel especially scenic.</p>
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The VMAs Were a Tribute to Chadwick Boseman
Hosted by Keke Palmer, the 2020 VMAs featured many highlights—a Lady Gaga's masks, Miley Cyrus's wrecking ball, and the Black Eyed Peas' UFO, to name a few. But Chadwick Boseman was an overarching presence.
08.31.2020
Keke Palmer and Chadwick Boseman
The 2020 VMAs were different from the start.
At the very beginning of the show, host Keke Palmer told viewers that the night was dedicated to Chaswick Boseman, who died on Friday after a private fight with colon cancer.
"Before we get into the music tonight, we need to take the time to talk about the devastating loss of Chadwick Boseman, an actor whose talent and passion were a true inspiration to all the fans he touched, and everyone he encountered," Palmer said. "We dedicate this show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He's a true hero – not just on screen, but in everything he did. His impact lives forever."
<p>Boseman's legacy was also honored through a moving one-minute clip that paid tribute to the real-life superhero's life. "The world needs more superheroes," the clip began, before jumping to footage of the <em>Black Panther </em>star accepting an award for Best Hero at the 2018 MTV movie awards.</p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph -->
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --></p><p>"Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing," Boseman says in the clip. "But, it's even greater to acknowledge the heroes that we have in real life. So, I just wanna acknowledge somebody that's here today, James Shaw Jr. If you don't know James Shaw Jr., he fought off a gunman in Antioch, Tennessee, at a Waffle House, saved lives. So, this is gonna live at your house, God bless you."Boseman's words are a reminder that as much as fiction can move and inspire us, real-life heroes and change-makers make our great stories possible.</p><p>Certainly we need more superheroes like Boseman today—heroes who break ground and fight their own personal demons for the greater good. Our culture is dominated by stories about heroes who wreak destruction and havoc on the world and only work for personal gain and glory, but Boseman and his legacy illuminate a different path.</p><p>The VMAs this year happened in the shadow of Boseman's death, COVID-19, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Originally intended to take place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, the VMAs were instead a compilation of live and pre-recorded videos that ran the gamut from nostalgic to radical.</p>
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Old Favorites, New Highlights: Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and More
<div id="76ddd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5d94556f3dd4ab329437ddbd04cf85e1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1300250040393510915" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"Wear a mask, it's a sign of respect." -@LadyGaga https://t.co/TOIwydnKMz</div> — InStyle (@InStyle)<a href="https://twitter.com/InStyle/statuses/1300250040393510915">1598838741.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Lady Gaga won Artist of the Year and took home an additional four new trophies. She also brought her own brand of activism to the show, sporting a total of nine masks throughout the show. During her performance, she told the audience, "I might sound like a broken record, but wear a mask. It's a sign of respect."</p><p>Gaga performed a medley that included "Rain on Me" with Ariana Grande, which won <a href="https://people.com/music/mtv-vmas-2020-lady-gaga-ariana-grande-truly-soul-sisters/" target="_blank"><u>Best Collaboration</u></a>. She also left the audience with a message about art's ability to inspire people and spark change. "This has not been an easy year for a lot of people, but what I see in the world is a massive triumph of courage," she said. "Just because we're separated right now and culture may feel less alive in some ways, I know a renaissance is coming, and the wrath of pop culture will inspire you and the rage of art will empower you as it responds to hardship with its generosity and love."</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a84a3e0a2a2a11817a24ec110d39e79b"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5D4vjndnB0w?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="79257fa78508d8ba0cf10a3215e2b3c7"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mVfZy7Jo6jM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Miley Cyrus also went for a throwback, speeding in on a glittering wrecking ball to perform her song "Midnight Sky."</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="835ed918fafbfa057d6133d802105a58"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zJCdkOpU90g?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Taylor Swift became the first solo female artist to win best directing for her video "The Man."</p><p>BTS—who won for pop video, group, K-pop, and choreography—put a classic spin on their dance number "Dynamite," turning out in fresh-looking suits.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2b1846746f3b4b6e02b2e1ea9fc1efed"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KjLFcJscU70?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The Black Eyed Peas closed out the show with "Vida Loca" "I Gotta Feeling," a major throwback if there ever was one; their performance ended with an image of a massive UFO descending. Some fans were less confused by the UFO than by the performers' <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/mtv-vmas-2020-viewers-confused-over-black-eyed-peas-performance/news-story/73cec90deee0ebaab7e137dab0c0c44d" target="_blank"><u>glowing crotches</u></a>. But Will.I.Am brought things back down to Earth before leaving the stage. "Wanna send love to the first responders and the freedom fighters. I know it's tough right now but we gotta keep the love alive," he said. "Wakanda forever. Black Lives Matter."</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e4320fc4ffaa24041605793b31957162"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xRoUZVfrnHU?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>New blood gave the show an extra burst of energy. Chloe x Halle brought an incredible rendition of "Ungodly Hour" to the pre-show, and CNCO, DaBaby, and <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/maluma" target="_blank">Maluma</a> also took to the stage.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2e2ef6ec46188d84ee6d7076935ed7ad"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MVD4hk652IE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c3ae0dcfe3c2250ba41f324ecdb30fef"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_KbFNKWdnvE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/vmas-2020-megan-thee-stallion-makes-appearance-after-shooting/" target="_blank"><u>Megan Thee Stallion</u></a> showed up one month after being shot, and Doja Cat performed TikTok dances and took home the <a href="https://www.okayplayer.com/music/doja-cat-say-so-like-that-2020-mtv-vmas.html" target="_blank"><u>Push Best New Artist</u></a> award.</p>
Black Lives Matter Takes Center Stage
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0e9888d51b184bcc82c1022403974165"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zFzwgFO2bsg?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>While many of the artists remained political in a similarly vague way, some chose to recognize the current political climate more overtly. "It's hard to celebrate, so<a href="https://twitter.com/MTVNEWS/status/1300254825251311616" target="_blank"> I'm just going to say justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor</a>," the Weeknd said upon receiving the award for video of the year.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ee11e8990b6a8b7e9f742d8d1bb5631a"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WUQXgU-R_wM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><br>Da Baby also made a political statement with his performance. He performed his song "Blind" while handcuffed to the back of a police car, an overt anti-police brutality statement.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="456517fabcfc4309ffc3e655817955e3"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4OJEeR8Aj4o?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>Keke Palmer also acknowledged Black Lives Matter in her <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/read-keke-palmers-vmas-monologue-its-time-to-be-the-change-we-want-to-see/ar-BB18wVO2" target="_blank"><u>opening statement</u></a>. "We can never tolerate police brutality," she said. "It's our time to be the change we want to see. We need to come together, and music has that power."<br></p><p>"We must <a href="https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1183436/keke-palmer-kicks-off-the-2020-mtv-vmas-with-a-call-to-end-systemic-racism" target="_blank">continue the fight to end systemic racism</a>," she continued. "The leaders of that movement are you, us, the people watching tonight. It's our time to be the change we want to see. We need to come together, and music, music has that power. Music can help us heal. It's all love and that's what tonight is about. We are making the impossible possible, pushing the boundaries of music performances, because that's what we do on the VMAs!"</p>
Grief, Sickness, and Music
<div id="15c7f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="60d4e87403dff6efac526b04dcc6d412"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1300227642965331970" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Tonight's #VMAs are dedicated to Chadwick Boseman who knew the true meaning of being a hero, on and off-screen. In… https://t.co/mjnUhpmQOf</div> — MTV NEWS (@MTV NEWS)<a href="https://twitter.com/MTVNEWS/statuses/1300227642965331970">1598833401.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Though the VMAs was technically a celebration, the shadows of current events and recent tragedies loomed large. A tribute video honored Naya Rivera, Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD, and other stars, many of whom died far too young. Some fans were angered that the montage left out Kobe Bryant, <a href="https://people.com/sports/kobe-bryant-absent-2020-mtv-vmas-in-memoriam-segment/" target="_blank"><u>sparking a backlash</u></a>.</p><p>Some people were charmed by the awards show's valiant attempts at creating a coherent event that included social distancing, but others weren't so pleased. Many felt that the entire show felt like a simulation, a compilation of fake New York scenes pulled together from across the world.</p><p>"Mostly, though, the VMAs gave the impression that they were happening in a collective imaginary place, a computer-generated nothingsville," writes Kathryn VanArendonk for <em>Vulture. </em>"Sometimes it looked like <em>The Matrix</em>, sometimes like a <em>Star Trek </em>holodeck, and sometimes like the inside of Janet's mind in <em>The</em> <em>Good Place." </em>Many felt that because the performances were all filmed in different locations, the show felt disorienting and alien.</p><p>Still, in the time of COVID-19, sometimes we have to take what we can get. "There was something about the cloud of nothingness that also convinced me — we're all nowhere, but we're all nowhere together," VanAredonk finishes.</p><p>The VMAs alone will never heal our cultural and political wounds, and they were inevitably strange and a bit tone-deaf. But as Chadwick Boseman's legacy shows, art and performers truly can change lives—and we shouldn't take them for granted.</p><p><!-- Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --> <div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-813"><center><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4301469008561137" data-ad-slot="9626795938"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></center></div> <!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --></p>
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