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How 2013 Transformed A Great Big World Into The Next Pop Sensation

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Pursuing a full-time career as a musician is a risk that pays off for few. Most spend year after year working side jobs, pouring every dollar they collect into recording, touring, and merchandise, often ending up in the red, or, if they're lucky, breaking even. Despite talent, many are forced to put down their instruments and enter a new field. But every once in a while, a confluence of frustration, sleepless nights, empty stomachs and talent makes for a perfect storm as an artist is suddenly propelled into the spotlight.

Such is the tale of A Great Big World, the rising project comprised of Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino. It all began during their college days at New York University. Axel transferred to NYU during his sophomore year, placing him in the awkward position of having missed out on freshman orientation, rendering him friendless. All Axel knew was that he wanted to make music and that he needed a partner in crime. In his search, the first person he met was Vaccarino, and, for reasons that can't be explained, he was immediately drawn to him.

Sharing a music business class, Axel approached Vaccarino with a few songs, hoping he would give them a listen. However, Vaccarino kept putting Axel off, telling him he was too busy at the moment. Determined to conquer his dodges, Axel figured out Vaccarino's practice room schedule, and gave him a performance he couldn't ignore.

"The moment I heard Ian play, I freaked out," Vaccarino said in an interview with HuffPost Entertainment. "I was like, 'We should totally be friends and start playing together.'" '



What Axel didn't expect was for his new friend to compliment his voice, as his pursuit of Vaccarino was heavily driven by the knowledge of his singing capabilities. Vaccarino's managerial instincts immediately kicked in, setting up vocal lessons for Axel. The two began writing together, working a solo career under Axel's name. They performed at open mics until they got their first solo gig, which was attended by only few friends and family.

Out of nowhere, though, their song "This Is The New Year" made its way across the Internet and received a few TV placements, garnering the attention of a small label. But as quickly as the duo picked up momentum, the fire died, bringing them back to square one.

"We didn't know how were going to pay rent or record at that point," Axel said. "We wanted to get six songs laid down and in the hands of our fans, but we needed to rebrand ourselves. We put up a Kickstarter and in only two days, we raised 22 grand. And that's why we decided to call ourselves A Great Big World."

As if their sentiment was heard by the heavens, what followed in 2013 can only be described as the most incredible year of their lives. "Glee" producers had chosen to perform their own rendition of "This Is The New Year" on the show's Jan. 31, 2013 episode, "Naked." Shortly after, L.A. Reid signed the group to Black Magnetic/Epic Records. The band headed into the studio to record their debut album, "Is There Anybody Out There?" As that wrapped up, "So You Think You Can Dance?" featured their single "Say Something" in the show's final, a cut that almost never was.

"We almost didn't put 'Say Something' on the album, wanting to switch another ballad in place of it," Vaccarino said. "But then Epic put it out as a radio single, which we were totally against at first. Most of the music on the album is really upbeat, and we just didn't think it was going to fit in."

"It was a really dark time for us, both just in difficult places even outside of relationships," Axel said. "Going through some really intense heartbreak, the song was such a cathartic experience. It was the only song we had written in a year's time, but I needed to write it right that second. Whatever spare time I had, I couldn't stop writing it. It came out so fast, and I think we found closure in the song. It isn't about hanging on in the end."



A quick glance through the song's lyrics proves that it is an anomaly among the feel-good roster of their debut, but its inclusion was essential. Soon after the "So You Think You Can Dance?" final, Axel and Vaccarino received a call from Christina Aguilera, asking if they would re-record the song with her on it. Axel performed the song with Aguilera on "The Voice," and during the American Music Awards. Then in December, Axel performed "Say Something" during the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

"I had to close my eyes for some of it because I was a little nervous and there was just so much going on," Axel said of the fashion show. "The girls were coming out with their wings and it was so dramatic and they were touching the piano. We had a couple rehearsals, but it was with the stand-ins, not the models, so I didn't know what it was really going to be like live. When I opened my eyes at the end it felt so good. It was so fun and everyone was so welcoming and supportive of what we were doing."

So what can fans expect to hear on the album, which drops on Tuesday, Jan. 21? Besides being an excellent collection of radio ready hits, one of the first things listeners will notice is that the record is very clean and simple -- almost all of the focus on the vocals and piano. Much of today's mainstream pop music has layer after layer, often creating a barrier that allows artists to hide behind. But there's no room for that on "Is There Anybody Out There?" The end of "Rockstar," the opening track, is the most congested it gets on the album. There's no synth overtones, no bass wobbles, no heavy distortion. While those elements certainly have their place in their respective genres, they can be deceiving, too. "Is There Anybody Out There?" breeds the same authentic feel of something like Ben Fold's "Songs For Silverman."

"We're really big fans of the craft of songwriting, Ian and I," Vaccarino said. "Our big goal was to deliver the songs as pure as they could be without going overboard. We want to be able to recreate this live, we want to give an accurate sonic interpretation. I would find simplicity as a compliment, things need to be effortless."

While Axel and Vaccarino struggled to find the proper words to capture the message of their album, the best comparison available was the concept of a cosmic pool of consciousness.

"It's funny that you say pool because when we write our music it feels bigger than us and it comes from everybody," Axel said. "We feel that everything is so very connected. We are wearing our hearts on our sleeves, and want to find out if anyone is listening on the other end."



After rocketing through 2013 at warp speed, Axel and Vaccarino have no intentions of slowing down in 2014, looking to bring their craft to the stage in more than one manner.

"We opened for Maroon 5 on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, giving us a taste of what it is like to perform for 8,000 people. I would love to do that nightly," Axel said. "We also have been working on a musical for over a year now. Producers on Broadway approached us with an original script after relaunching ourselves as A Great Big World, and wanted us to write the music. They asked us to make the music we would sing if we could, and so we can go a little crazier. We refer to it as 'our music on steroids.'"

"We're also kind of space nerds, and we want to play in outer space one day, but I think Lady Gaga is gonna beat us to that one," Vaccarino joked.

"Is Anybody Out There?" Track By Track, As Explained By A Great Big World

1. "Rockstar"

"We were feeling our age more than ever and feeling like we were stuck in our routines and settling on day jobs that weren't right for us. We wanted to remind ourselves to keep dreaming as big as we did when we were kids."

2. "Land of Opportunity"

"We had a falling out with a friend when we wrote this song. And were really inspired by The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' album and ELO's "Mr Blue Sky" at the time. Chad had also just started playing the trumpet again, so he took a solo!"

3. "Already Home"

"This was actually one of the first songs we ever wrote together. It was originally an Ian solo song. Over the years, we just kinda forgot about it. It was put on the back burner. It wasn't until we were choosing songs for the A Great Big World album that we stumbled upon a demo of it and it just hit us differently than it ever had. We were on the road a ton and were dealing with being away from home and loved ones. The idea is that we are always 'home.' Love transcends any distance."

4. "I Really Want It"

"We had recently quit our day jobs and were 'full-time' musicians and writers for the first time. We were stepping into a new role in life and really honing in on our dreams. This was us venting and sort of rebelling against the norm and what was expected of us. It was a way to tell ourselves that we could have it all if we wanted it."

5. "Say Something"

"We were both in a dark place with our relationships. Writing this helped us to heal and find closure. We had never had a more powerful experience writing a song. It was 'religious' in a way. It's funny ... sometimes we joke around and say that we're both the same person. The fact that we were having similar experiences at the same time and were able to write about it was very special."

6. "You'll Be Okay"

"We wrote this when we lived in a one bedroom apartment in Queens, NY. Chad was living in the kitchen, and our apartment became infested with bedbugs. For five months, Ian was sleeping on the couch (in the kitchen) and Chad was on an air mattress. It was one of the lowest points in both our lives, and we had just gotten through the 'Say Something' relationships! Thus, we felt it was appropriate for this song to follow that one."

7. "Everyone Is Gay"

"Our friends at EveryoneIsGay.com asked us to write the 'gayest song ever' for their compilation album they were putting together. They give advice to kids who are struggling with their sexuality. We wanted to speak to the kids who are bullied for being who they are, and to write a song we wish we could've had growing up. Because in the end, we're all human, no matter who you love."

8. "There Is an Answer"

"This song came from the awe that we both share at the interconnectedness of all things."

9. "I Don't Wanna Love Somebody Else"

"This was inspired by a toxic relationship that I (Chad) was in. In a weird way, I enjoyed the pain I was feeling from it. I thought it was better than feeling nothing at all. And I didn't want to let go of it. I also made up the whole thing in my head. So there's that."

10. "This Is the New Year"

"In 2008 we went to the most epic New Years party ever in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania. On our way back, we felt incredibly inspired by life. This song came from a place where making changes and resolutions in our lives seems to only happen once a year, and we feel like they should be and can be made every day."

11. "Shorty Don't Wait"

"Ian was playing around with the line 'Shorty don't wait' and we both thought it was the funniest thing ever for him to sing that ... and it stuck. This was just a fun tune to write and we just tried to inject some positivity into the world through a three-minute song. Ultimately, we decided Chad should sing it because the word 'shorty' sounds more natural coming from him for some reason.

12. "Cheer Up!"

"We had just visited Yosemite and saw all the stars for the first time. You just can't see any in NYC. And seeing them gave us a new perspective on everything. When we got home, I [Ian] was talking to my parents and they were stressed out about something, and I wished they could've gotten to see what we saw in Yosemite. That's what inspired this song. And also the fact that I had just gotten myself a Casio keyboard from the '80s, and also that we have a friend who we SWEAR is from another star system."

13. "Say Something ft. Christina Aguilera"

"After 'Say Something' was featured on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' it started generating some buzz. Christina heard it, called us up and wanted to record a new version as a duet. We are so grateful for what she added to the song, and for everything that happened as a result. We feel like the luckiest two guys alive."

Hulu's 'Hotwives Of Orlando' Trailer Is A Hot Mess

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"Happy Endings" fans can rejoice as Casey WIlson is returning to comedy. While the ABC comedy may have ended too soon, Wilson appears to have found a perfect vehicle for her abrasive style of physical comedy. She's joining forces with Kristen Schaal, Angela Kinsey and a cast of hilarious women in a "Real Housewives" parody series for Hulu.

If you've ever watched any of the "Real Housewives" shows and wondered what it would be like if the women were even more narcissistic and terrible to one another, "Hotwives" is definitely the show for you! The series premieres later this year.

Chris Hemsworth Will Announce Oscar Nominations

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Chris Hemsworth, a.k.a. Thor, will announce the 2014 Oscar nominees on Jan. 16 with help from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, this according to the official Oscars website.

Hemsworth, who enjoyed a successful 2013 thanks to "Thor: The Dark World" and Ron Howard's "Rush," follows in the footsteps of Emma Stone, who announced last year's nominations alongside then-host Seth MacFarlane. Ellen DeGeneres is emcee of the 2014 Oscars.

Key times for the upcoming nominations, courtesy of the AMPAS press release announcing Hemsworth's involvement in the festivities:

Boone Isaacs and Hemsworth will unveil the nominations at a 5:38 a.m. PT live news conference at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media representatives from around the world will be gathered. Nominations information for all categories will be distributed simultaneously to news media in attendance and via the Internet on the official Academy Awards website, www.oscar.com.


It's unlikely that Hemsworth will earn an Academy recognition on Jan. 16, but his "Rush" co-star, Daniel Bruhl, is a major contender in the Best Supporting Actor category.

Crowdsourced Artwork Reimagines Vintage Posters Devoted To America's Parks

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In the 1930s the U.S. government commissioned a series of posters to celebrate the country's gorgeous public landscapes. The project, "See America," resulted in beautiful illustrations of Montana's mountains or the geysers of Yellowstone, all part of a post-Great Depression era initiative known as the Federal Arts Project that gave work to struggling American artists.

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Death Valley National Park by Braulio Amado


Seventy five years later, this unique art campaign is receiving a 21st century update courtesy of the Creative Action Network. The independent community of artists has launched a crowdsourced art campaign dedicated to reviving the spirit of "See America." The group enlisted the help of illustrators from all 50 states to craft a collection of new posters honoring the splendor of America's national parks.

"With so many artists in need of jobs and so many causes in need of national attention, our government set out over 75 years ago to put the nation’s artists to work, illustrating and celebrating our shared national identity," explains Max Slavkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Action Network, on CAN's blog. "With today’s digital tools, individual artists have the power to create and share their work like never before. That’s why now is the time to pick up where the New Deal left off, and harness America’s creative energy."

capecod
Cape Cod National Seashore by Susanne Lamb


CAN released the hand-printed posters online today to coincide with the opening of their own "See America" exhibition at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York. Some of the new artworks look as though they could have been imagined during the original New Deal program, but others like "Forsyth Park" by Sawsan Chalabi or "Appalachian National Scenic Trail" by Livia Veneziano pull from more contemporary visions, deconstructing landscapes and infusing the designs with atypical typography.

forsyth
Forsyth Park by Sawsan Chalabi


appal
Appalachian National Scenic Trail by Livia Veneziano


Scroll through a preview of the posters here. For more information on the project, check out CAN's website.

badlands
Badlands National Park by Bryan Bromstrup


josh
Joshua Tree National Park by Joshua Sierra


bad
Badlands National Park by Matt Brass


blue
Blue Ridge Parkway by Ed Gaither


boston
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area by Joshua Sierra


wyoming
Devils Tower National Monument by Christopher Scott


hawaii
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by Alyssa Winans


montana
Montana by Victoria Fernandez


rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial by Wedha Abdul Rasyid


yoes
Yosemite National Park by Anna Masini

Woman 'Draws' Penis, Vagina On Football Field With Her Nike+ App, Wins Internet (PHOTOS)

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Picassos they ain't, but these penis and vagina "drawings" created using the Nike+ running app are still pretty amazing.

The hilarious imagery originated from a bet, according to Redditor Alyxchosen. On Wednesday, the user posted the masculine masterpiece to the r/funny subreddit with the title, "Told my friend [I'd] give her $20 if she drew a penis for me with her Nike run. I didn't think I'd actually have to pay up..."



The friend created the football-field sized penis using her Nike+ running app, which allows users to map out their routes, track calories burned and share personal statistics. While certainly not the intended usage of the app, we've got to hand it to our creative athlete -- that is quite clearly a penis.

Not surprisingly, the first photo was a viral hit, garnering tens of thousands of upvotes on Reddit and leading to promises of a second drawing. The resulting work is more feminine in nature, but it still manages to convey the jogger's distinctive style:



Legendary.

(h/t SBNation)

All The F-Words In 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'

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Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" features a lot of swear words. According to Vulture, there are 569 variations on the f-word alone, including obscene gems like "f--kity," "f--kheads" and "f--kface." Slate, in counting the f-words, found only 544, though the site acknowledged that some might have been missed. All of which is to say that this is a dirty movie! In honor of the film's proclivity for R-rated language, Slackstory put together a compilation of every time the f-word was spoken, shouted, whispered or slurred in "The Wolf of Wall Street." Check out the site's NSFW effort below.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill And Rapper Q-Tip Team Up For Hip-Hop TV Series

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After tackling the corrupt world of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill are teaming up again to develop a new project, but this time it's for the small screen and based in the world of hip-hop.

The "Wolf of Wall Street" duo are partnering with rapper Q-Tip for a new TV series based on his experiences with the '80s and '90s hip-hop collective Native Tongues. The collective, known for their Afrocentric lyrics, was comprised of Q-Tip's A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah and more. The series, which will be produced by DiCaprio's production company Appian Way, will focus on the collective's friendships and the influence their music had on hip-hop culture and young rappers.

While it may seem like an odd pairing among the trio, Q-Tip and DiCaprio have actually been close friends for years. Plus, we can totally imagine DiCaprio grooving to some Native Tongues tracks.
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'The Simpsons' Honors Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki With Elaborate Tribute

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"The Simpsons" is well-known for both parodying as well as honoring many aspects of popular culture, and this tribute to Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is especially impressive. The nostalgic, fantastical dream sequence is from the show's latest episode.

The popular animated series invokes the work of Miyazaki, a master of anime and manga, with nods to many of his famous films, including "Sprited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," and "Princess Mononoke."

Miyazaki has won numerous awards for his work and recently announced that "The Wind Rises," which was released in July of 2013, would be his last feature-length film.

Slate has annotated the clip, highlighting each reference.


The Most Gorgeous Apartment Building You'll See Today (PHOTOS)

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You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but we certainly judged these London apartments by their incredible exterior. From floor-to-ceiling windows to the subtle chevron motif used throughout, Squire and Partners' Hanover Street is the opposite of boring, characterless apartment complexes that often dot urban landscapes.

Take a look at the slideshow below to see what we mean.

All photos by: Gareth Gardner and James Balston



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Awesome Arcade Room With Full Bar Is The Room You'd Never Want To Leave (PHOTOS)

Miley Cyrus And Britney Spears Banned From Daytime TV In France

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Apparently Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears are way too sexy for France to handle -- well, at least in the daytime.

According to AP, the French broadcast watchdog Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) has determined that Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" and Britney Spears' "Work B-tch" videos are not suitable for daytime television. The music videos may now only be shown after 10 p.m., a time when more adult-appropriate content sneaks onto the screen.

CSA said that Cyrus' naked construction swings are too sexually explicit, and that Spears' bondage in the video depicts "a sadomachistic universe representing women in a way that risks shocking many viewers."

How To Convince Your Friends To Watch 'Parks & Recreation'

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"Parks & Recreation" just celebrated 100 episodes. It's an impressive achievement for any television show, but even more so for the critically acclaimed NBC sitcom. Despite a passionate fanbase, the good folks in Pawnee seem to always be on the bubble for renewal. What "Parks & Recreation" really needs is more viewers.

As die-hard fans of the show, it's hard to fathom that everyone isn't laughing along with Amy Poehler and her cohorts. But that's where we can come in. As thanks for giving us 100 great episodes, we can do our part to give back by giving "Parks & Recreation" more viewers. It's all about spreading the word and convincing our friends and co-workers to give the show a try.

With its varied cast, "Parks & Recreation" seems to represent virtually every personality type out there. In other words, there's at least one character on the show who's probably a lot like your various friends. Just make the right connections with people and we can double this show's audience in no time. Simply find your friend's personality type in the list below and appeal to them based on the character they'll most relate to ... and ultimately fall in love with.

Is your friend a Type A personality, driven to succeed?
So is Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). There is no one more passionate about her hometown than Leslie. Even when the people are voting to recall her, Leslie continues to fight for them. She fills her office with pictures of female political powerhouses, and she never gives up on her goals.



Is your friend a man's man, or attracted to intense masculinity?
So is Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman). In fact, Ron Swanson is one of the manliest men ever to appear on television. He eats almost exclusively meat, doesn't trust the government and creates hand-crafted wood furniture.



Is you friend compassionate and loyal; always there with a helping hand?
So is Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). Through thick and thin, Ann has been the best of friends to Leslie, who isn't always the easiest person to get along with. Ann has been known to put everything aside at the drop of a dime to be there for her friends, whether it be with some tough love, or just to help elevate an important life moment to the stature it deserves.



Is your friend brilliant but socially awkward?
So is Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott). A child mayor, Ben has spent his entire life trying to make up for the failures of his ambitious youth. He's brilliant and compassionate, but sometimes he struggles in social situations, letting his inner geek get the best of him and weirding everyone out a bit.



Is your friend snarky, brooding and sarcastic?
So is April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza). April has grown a lot over the years, finding things she actually cares about with her relationships. But she resists it with every fiber of her being. April loves her dark side, is quick with a cutting comment and remains determined to look like she doesn't care about anything.



Is your friend someone who believes in a healthy body and mind?
So is Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe). There is almost nothing in this world than can shake the smile off of Chris' face. He always has something positive and supportive to say. Chris treats his body like a temple and believes he can accomplish anything. Of course, he also believes everyone around him can accomplish anything, too. It's literally all about a positive attitude.



Is your friend a free-spirit, joyful and happy with his/her head often in the clouds?
So is Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt). Easily one of the sweetest people on the show, Andy isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. But he's eager to please, and up for absolutely anything. In fact, his eternal optimism and joy in life was the only thing able to crack April's dark shell, leading to an unlikely-and-yet-perfect marriage.



Does your friend ooze with self-confidence, style, and an entrepreneurial spirit?
So does Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari). While it took him a while, Tom finally came into his own as a business visionary with Rent-A-Swag. Obsessed with style, Tom thinks he's much cooler than he is. While his reach usually exceeds his grasp, he'll never stop believing it's finally going to happen.



Is your friend fabulous and confident, if a little private?
So is Donna Meagle (Retta). We know that Donna believes in "treating yo' self" to the finer things in life, and we know that she is a strong and confident woman, but she keeps most details of her personal life close to the vest. A woman of mystery, she has nevertheless proven to be a great ally and friend.



Is your friend clumsy and forgetful; prone to getting teased?
So is Jerry Gergich (Jim O'Heir). And yet, Jerry never lets all the teasing and put-downs get him down. He has a beautiful wife and family at home and he's learned not to rock the boat in life. In fact, his name isn't even Jerry. It's Gary. He just didn't want to correct everyone ... and now they call him Larry!


'Catching Fire' Is The Box Office Champ For 2013

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Jennifer Lawrence is the queen of Hollywood. As Lionsgate announced on Friday, Lawrence's blockbuster "Hunger Games" film, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," is now the number one release of 2013, with $409.4 million in ticket sales through Jan. 9. That put "Catching Fire" above "Iron Man 3," which earned $409 million after its release in May of 2013.

"The 'Hunger Game's franchise continues to evolve into a truly global phenomenon," Lionsgate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer said in a statement. "The success of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' is a testament to the vision of author Suzanne Collins, the sure hand of director Francis Lawrence, the brilliant performances of a remarkably talented cast led by the amazing Jennifer Lawrence and superb execution by our motion picture production, marketing and distribution teams. We will continue to grow the transformative 'Hunger Games' franchise in the years to come even as we continue to develop a dynamic portfolio of premium new brands."

In 2012, "The Hunger Games," the first film in the franchise, grossed $408 million, good for third place on that year's box-office chart.

"Catching Fire" winning 2013 is a significant achievement, as writer Mark Harris pointed out on Twitter. The film is the first female-led feature to top a year since "The Exorcist" in 1970. As BuzzFeed noted, other films with lead female roles have won the box office since then (including "Titanic," two "Harry Potter" films and "Avatar"), but all of those movies had major male co-stars. Lawrence is out in front of "The Hunger Games" as Katniss Everdeen, with Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth acting as supporting players.

12 Of Tom Morello's Best Guitar Tracks To Get You Pumped For His Solo Album

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When it comes to wielding the six-string guitar, few have the chops, inventiveness and catalogue of Tom Morello. On top of Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club, Morello recently recorded with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on Springsteen's new album, "High Hopes." Never one to slow down, Morello revealed in an interview with Billboard that he's “in the midst of making [his] first solo big rock record.”

Waiting to hit the studio once his current stint with Springsteen is finished in March, Morello gave some insight as to the direction of his upcoming solo LP: “I want to make the craziest guitar record that anyone’s ever heard. The idea is that this is the Hendrix of now."

In preparation for what can only be a blistering cannonade of mind blowing riffs and solos, here are 12 of Morello's best guitar tracks.

"Bulls On Parade" - Rage Against The Machine


"Gasoline" - Audioslave


"Sleep Now In The Fire" - Rage Against The Machine


"100 Little Curses" - Street Sweeper Social Club


"Like A Stone" - Audioslave


"Wake Up" - Rage Against The Machine


"Know Your Enemy" - Rage Against The Machine


"Ghetto Blaster" - Street Sweeper Social Club


"Show Me How To Live" - Audioslave


"Guerilla Radio" - Rage Against The Machine


"Killing In The Name" - Rage Against The Machine


As a bonus, here is a cut from Morello's acoustic solo act. Even though his work under The Nightwatchman didn't showcase any of his pounding or glitching guitar-work, songs like "Road I Must Travel" amplify Morello's powerful messages, and deserve to be a protestors' anthem.

"Road I Must Travel" - The Nightwatchman

Is YouTube Singer Jo Wood The Next Big Thing?

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Plenty of famous singers, including Austin Mahone, Justin Bieber and Colbie Caillat, have gotten their start on YouTube or MySpace and quickly turned into stars. The Internet has the ability to turn individuals into celebrities nearly overnight.

Will Jo Wood be the next singer to join those ranks? Her song, titled "You & I," which she posted to YouTube, has been making the rounds on different online forums, and it's definitely worth a listen. The track is from her EP.

According to her social media accounts, Wood is an English singer-songwriter who seems to perform at venues in and around London.

Listen for yourself and decide whether you think Wood should become the next big thing.




Jesse Plemons Reportedly Up For 'Star Wars' Role

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Landry may get a lightsaber. According to a report from Jeff Sneider of TheWrap, Jesse Plemons, he of "Friday Night Lights" and "Breaking Bad" fame, is meeting with J.J. Abrams in the very near future to discuss the lead role in "Star Wars: Episode VII."

Per Sneider, Plemons has already filmed an audition for "Star Wars," which puts the 25-year-old star in league with many other young actors, including Michael B. Jordan and Saoirse Ronan. As yet, no one has been cast in "Episode VII," which is scheduled for release on Dec. 18, 2015. Speculation is that original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill will return for the seventh installment in the beloved franchise.

HuffPost Entertainment contacted representatives for Plemons and Lucasfilm, the company behind "Star Wars," for comment on the casting report. This post will be updated if and when they respond.

Plemons' possible involvement is just the latest "Star Wars" rumor to hit the internet. Back in September of 2013, Benedict Cumberbatch was connected to "Episode VII," but his reps shot down the speculation as fictitious. Cumberbatch, for his part, wasn't as certain.

"I don't know. Who knows, who knows? Nothing is known of that," Cumberbatch said when the "Star Wars" rumor was broached by The Hollywood Reporter's Stephen Galloway in September of 2013. "I worked with J.J. [Abrams]. Obviously, he knows. Everyone who wants to be part of that film, they know about."

"12 Years A Slave" star Chiwetel Ejiofor has also been linked to "Star Wars," though simply because he took a meeting with Abrams at the end of last year.

No word yet on what role Plemons would play in "Episode VII," but head to TheWrap to check out that site's speculation.

[via TheWrap]

'American Hustle,' '12 Years a Slave' Lead 2014 Golden Globe Awards

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By Mary Milliken and Ronald Grover
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan 12 (Reuters) - In a year widely regarded as a bountiful one for high-quality films and acting, the Golden Globes weigh in on Sunday with the first big honors of the Hollywood awards season, which culminates in seven weeks with the Oscars.
Two starkly different American stories lead nominations for the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards with seven nods apiece - the brutal depiction of pre-Civil War slavery "12 Years a Slave" and 1970s corruption caper "American Hustle." They will compete for best motion picture in different categories, drama and comedy or musical, respectively.
"Gravity," starring Sandra Bullock as an astronaut lost in space and life, also ranks high in experts' predictions and could give "12 Years a Slave" a challenge for the night's most coveted award, best drama.
Golden Globes are also given out for television, where established dramas like "Breaking Bad" and "Downton Abbey" will compete with the likes of Netflix newcomer "House of Cards."
The Golden Globes, under the purview of some 90 journalists in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have outsized clout in the awards race as buzz around these first honors influences members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in their voting for the Oscars, which will be handed out March 2.
"You can just see the Oscar voter who starts to hear the buzz build for '12 Years a Slave,' and has been dreading picking up the (DVD) screener to watch the movie," said Keith Simanton, managing editor for the IMDB movie site.
"But he reaches for it, and says to his wife, 'Maybe we ought to watch it.'"
Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, but voting has already concluded. The Globes have a mixed record when it comes to predicting the Oscar best picture, though last year's best drama winner, "Argo," did go on to win the Academy Award for best movie.
The Golden Globes follow a very good year for film, both commercially and critically. North American box office receipts totaled a record $10.9 billion in 2013 and top performers went beyond the typical blockbuster action movies to include acclaimed films such as "Gravity."
Sunday night could also boost the fortunes of smaller films that have fared well among critics, including Joel and Ethan Coen's paean to 1960s folk music "Inside Llewyn Davis," Spike Jonze's quirky computer-age romance "Her," and Alexander Payne's homage to the heartland "Nebraska."

OSCAR-WINNING WOMEN COMPETE
The intense competition extends to the acting races, where Britain's Chiwetel Ejiofor will compete for best actor in a drama for his role as the free man sold into slavery in "12 Years a Slave." Matthew McConaughey is also considered a frontrunner for his portrayal of an unlikely AIDS activist in "Dallas Buyers Club," for which he lost 50 pounds.
Leonardo DiCaprio will get his shot at best actor in a comedy or musical for his turn as a swindling stockbroker in Martin Scorsese's tale of American greed, "The Wolf of Wall Street." He has stiff competition from veteran actor Bruce Dern as a cantankerous and delusional father in "Nebraska."
For best actress in a drama, it's a battle between Oscar winners, with Bullock going up against Cate Blanchett for her riches-to-rags role in Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine" and Judi Dench for her turn as a mother looking for a long-lost son in adoption drama "Philomena."
The HFPA will also honor Woody Allen with the Cecil B DeMille award recognizing outstanding contribution to the entertainment field. Allen, famously averse to awards shows, is not expected to collect the honor, but one of his favorite actresses, Diane Keaton, will reportedly stand in for him.
While considered a warm-up for the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes live telecast on Comcast Corp's NBC network offers many of the same ingredients, such as the glamour of the red carpet for Hollywood's leading ladies and the dense concentration of Tinseltown's top talent in one room.
But the Globes serve up cocktails and an air of whimsy and unpredictability in contrast to the more tightly scripted Academy Awards.
Comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will return to host the Golden Globes for the second consecutive year.

Meet Hamm Samwich, Brooklyn Drag Artist And Performer

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This is the eleventh installment in an ongoing series that explores drag culture and the nightlife scene in Brooklyn, N.Y. Over the past several years, following the large-scale exodus of artists across the East River and into northern Brooklyn, those engaged in drag culture in this outer borough have rethought what "drag performer" signifies. Accompanied by a larger movement to understand drag culture outside of the pageant circuit, many individuals engaged in the drag community throughout Brooklyn approach drag culture through a nontraditional lens of "alternative" drag or performance art. Visit HuffPost Gay Voices regularly to learn not only about the individuals involved in Brooklyn's drag community, but more about the culture of the community itself.

The Huffington Post: How did you get your start in the drag world?
Hamm Samwich: By failing repeatedly to get any kind of real job.

How would you characterize the kind of drag that you do?
Derivative.

Describe the drag scene and community in Brooklyn -- how is it different from drag culture elsewhere?
Brooklyn drag is like an experiment where the people in charge said let’s take away all the stakes, take away all the straight people, take away all the pressure to be pretty and see what happens. I’d say it’s worked out pretty well so far, even though there’s been an internal upsurge in political correctness lately that makes me wonder if Brooklyn drag is perhaps too isolated from the genuine intolerance of the outside world. Aside from that, I don’t know how it’s different. Drag culture everywhere else is ugly and lame and stupid and has too many sequins and sucks?

What role do you see drag culture playing in the trajectory of the changing landscape of Brooklyn itself?
Hopefully more people will realize there are places you can go in Brooklyn where you won’t be forced to listen to someone’s shitty band. Having read through the comments on interviews you’ve done with some of my lovely colleagues, I’ve noticed there’s always someone going, “Listen, I’m gay but I just don’t get drag. I mean don’t get me wrong I’m gay, but I just don’t get drag.” Who are these people? What is there to get? Just shut the fuck up and come to the bar. All we’re doing is trying to dress up and have fun and distract each other from the struggles of waking life. Or would you rather that Brent Corrigan hosted everything?

What does it mean to you to be a drag queen or a drag performer?
I think the essence of drag is saying no. Your body says, "You’re a man," and you say, "No." Your head says, "You’re going to go bald now," and you say, "No." Society says, "Who do you think you are, faggot? Go get AIDS and die," and you say, "No, fuck you -- for the next five minutes I AM Beyonce and I OWN society." To the command that we all be more pious and more polite and more serious and more respectful, the drag response is to say, "No." Because we’ve seen your piety, and we’re not impressed. Your piety is just more drag.

(The interview with Hamm Samwich continues after the slideshow.)


Why did you choose to showcase yourself for this interview through only selfies in mirrors?
That’s all I look at for hours every day is my stupid face in the mirror while I put on makeup -- it’s only fair your readers should have to suffer along with me. Plus I’ve had it up to here with these drag photo shoots where I’m supposed to pout and pretend like I’m a beautiful celebrity. I’m not a celebrity. I’m a joke, and I’ll take my own picture thank you very much. Enough with this bullshit.

Do you find empowerment through drag?
The most empowering thing about drag is being able to operate as a gay person in the gay community without being constantly sized up as a potential sex partner. I also find empowerment in the fact that I’m occupationally encouraged to drink a lot, which can give a person the sensation of being very powerful indeed.

Drag is becoming increasingly more mainstream, particularly with the popularity of "RuPaul's Drag Race." How would you say this has affected drag culture and the nightlife community?
First of all, I don’t think "Drag Race" is the reason drag has suddenly become popular. I think drag and "RuPaul’s Drag Race" have both become popular because every aspect of mainstream culture has increasingly revealed itself to be full of shit. Everybody lip syncs. Beyonce lip-synced at the inauguration. She pulled out her ear piece. I mean give up, it’s all drag now. The queens are the only ones who aren’t lying about it.

As for the effects of "Drag Race" on nightlife, I think it’s great that everybody wants to be a drag queen. The more there are, the less special it is to be one. And the less special we are, the harder we all have to try. And the harder Courtney Act will have to try, especially.



You're known for rapping during your shows -- can you describe your performance style?
I quit rapping when people started liking it too much. Now I’m known for having a temper tantrum every time some tech glitch bungles my attempt at a poignant moment. I’m trying to quit performing altogether and just focus on checking Facebook but Merrie Cherry keeps booking me for things.

Where can you be found throughout the week?
Facebook. And I’m lucky to have a show called Marry/Fuck/Kill with future "Drag Race" winner Cher Noble which, in theory, happens once a month at Tandem but we’re never really sure if we’ve been asked back to do it again. So, again, check Facebook. Another monthly show people might like is called Showgasm where I get to be Robin Quivers to my friend John Early’s Howard Stern, and that takes place at Ars Nova in Manhattan. I’m not on Grindr so don’t bother looking.

Any parting words?
Let’s see. I think the Neil Patrick Harris revival of "Hedwig" is an extremely stupid idea. The greatest drag movie ever made is Fassbinder’s "In A Year of 13 Moons." I don’t give a fuck if the Pope likes gay people. Neither Tom Daley nor Dustin Lance Black was ever that interesting to begin with but they’re both much less interesting now that they’re together. And God Bless America. That should cover it. I hope I’ve managed to offend at least some portion of your readership.

Missed the previous featured drag performers and installments in this series? Check out the slideshow below.

Kiss Joins John Varvatos For Milan Fashion Week Appearance

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MILAN (AP) — Gene Simmons wagged his trademark tongue as an all-glammed-up Kiss swept down the John Varvatos runway in an unannounced appearance during Milan Fashion Week.

The band that brought glam to rock decades ago gave a burst of energy to the Varvatos' rock-inspired menswear preview for next winter Saturday, bringing the normally restrained fashion crowd to its feet to "Rock and Roll All Nite." Simmons said fashion for him is "to be an individual and not to be a lemming."

Varvato's designs have that "rock persona," Simmons said, adding "if he wasn't designing clothes, he'd have a guitar around his neck."

"The idea is to have a fiery heart and an insatiable appetite for any pair of beautiful eyes, male or female, looking at you. And what you wear is an extension of your sexuality," said Simmons, the band's bassist.

Singer and guitarist Paul Stanley said the band met Varvatos during Milan Fashion Week last year when they were performing in the city. The band has since signed on to do an ad campaign for Varvatos.

"I knew John's clothes for years because they have all those elements that I love in clothes, which are timeless," Stanley said. "There is a style that goes back to some of the great rock 'n' roll bands of the 60s."

The looks that preceded Kiss's show-stopping appearance had a rock 'n' roll edge, with many stage-ready touches like gold- and silver-tone leather jackets, leopard top hats and a dramatic black jacket with pointy felt cutouts on the shoulders that gave the look a raptor-like quality.

Kiss celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of its first album this year, and will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

'Becoming More Visible' Seeks To Highlight Plights Of Homeless Trans Youth

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"Becoming More Visible" is a groundbreaking film that hopes to elevate and generate awareness about the realities plaguing homeless transgender youth.

The project, conceptualized by Pamela French and photographer Josh Lehrer, challenges viewers to examine their own complacency in regards to transgender youth homelessness. According to recent statistics, 40 percent of America's homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).

"This project is a dynamic one for me, after years of exploring and educating myself about the plight of trans kids and their disproportionate representation in the homeless community, I have become more interested in exploring what social functions (or disfunction) put them in this predicament," Lehrer told The Huffington Post. "There are lots of valuable and extremely informative stories out there that tell of the difficulties these kids face. And at the same time, I have yet to see or know of one that asks society what it says about us that we are the ones to have so profoundly let them down."

French and Lehrer are currently engaged in a Kickstarter campaign in order to fund this project. Head here to learn more about "Becoming More Visible."
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