The past 24 hours have proven to be a busy news day for Canadian media, but amidst the Canadian scandals only one proves to have some international potential. Toronto mayor Rob Ford has been accused of substance abuse by The Toronto Star and American news outlet Gawker. Both publications claim to have reporters who have seen actual video footage of the mayor smoking crack.
It’s not like Torontonians needed a reason to be embarrassed by Ford. The internet has already made a mockery of him by turning a photo of Ford trying to kick a football into a meme and launching him as a viral video sensation after he walked into a cameraman last month. But we do appreciate that his current scandal has led to him landing his very own Taiwanese animated news piece. In it, the mayor is portrayed as running over little kids and partying with Toronto’s elite, which hilariously includes a beaver.
Contrary to this animated report, the people of Toronto do very much care about the irrational behaviour of Rob Ford. We even tried to kick him out of office for conflict of interest. Will this scandal, true or not, finally get rid of the city’s most polarizing politician? We can only hope.
[H/T to Uproxx]
The title track for Toronto R&B artist the Weeknd’s upcoming album Kiss Land is out! The almost eight-minute track is spacey, twisted and dark which surprisingly compliments the Weeknd’s silky smooth vocals. As for what the Japanese text in the video says our guess is as good as yours, but this has to be our favourite suggestion:
If “Kiss Land” the song isn’t enough for you, check out this 21-second preview of “John Carpenter,” another song set to appear on Kiss Land the album, HERE.
Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as the The Weeknd, released a preview to a new song titled “John Carpenter” on his official YouTube page Monday.
The quick 21-second video clip shows a fuzzy image of the musician swaying to his music in what looks to be his music studio. The audio itself sounds a little darker, or as one YouTube commenter put it:
Which, for the record, we totally love by the way. We can’t wait to hear the full track which, we assume, will be on his new LP Kiss Land. So far, there is no release date for either the full version of “John Carpenter” or Kiss Land but we hope it’s soon.
ANDPOP is filming a very special episode of Making Waves with the Irish duo Heathers and we want you there!
If you’re Irish or just a big fan of good music, then make sure to visit Toronto’s An Sibin Irish pub on Monday April 15th to watch the magic happen.
Here are the dirty deets:
Who: ANDPOP and Ellie and Louise Macnamara of Heathers
What: ANDPOP will be filming and interviewing Heathers and we want you there!
Where: An Sibin Irish Pub (709 Queen Street East) *This is an ALL AGES EVENT*
When: Monday April 15th. Filming starts before 7:30, please arrive before then
ABOUT HEATHERS:
Acoustic folk duo Heathers is comprised of twin sisters Ellie and Louise Macnamara.
The two released their first album Here, Not There in 2010 where their melodic hooks and unique voices caught the critics’ attention. Since then, Heathers have gone on two extensive summer tours with included stints supporting the likes of Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches and Scottish singer Paolo Nutini.
Heathers will soon release their sophomore album Kingdom on April 16th. Listen to album’s first single, “Forget Me Knots” below!
While this Toronto raccoon walking across phone wires is impressive by itself (they’re learning. we must prepare for when they decide to attack), the dear lady narrating his feat is quite charming. It’s like she’s narrating a nature video for kids!
Want to see Olly Murs live in Toronto? Here’s your chance to win TWO TICKETS to see the British singer live on May 1 at Toronto’s The Phoenix Concert Theatre before tickets go on sale!
Here’s how to enter:
1. Follow @andpop on instagram
2. Re-gram the photo above
3. Make sure to tag us @andpop so we know you’ve entered
It’s that easy!
You have until Thursday March 14th at 12:00 pm EST to enter. We will contact the winner the day of.
*Contest only open to residents of Canada, excluding Québec. We will not be providing transportation.*
GOOD LUCK!
Read our Q&A with Olly Murs HERE.
While many of us were sleeping soundly in our beds, Drake treated his nightowl fans to a treat. Posting the single “5AM in Toronto” early Thursday morning on his October’s Very Own SoundCloud Page, the hit has since been played over 1,100,000 times.
Although the song isn’t like “Started From the Bottom“, Drizzy’s “5AM in Toronto” hits back at haters with lyrics like:
“You underestimated greatly, most number ones ever, how long did it really take me?” and “Give these ni**as the look, the verse, and even the hook That’s why every song sound like Drake featuring Drake.”
According to Exclaim!, the new song is the follow-up to the track “9AM in Dallas” and was produced by Toronto’s Boi-1da ( also known as Matthew Samuels) who has previously worked with artists like Eminem.
The lyrics in this song are significantly better than “Started From the Bottom”, although I love Drake’s continuous theme of giving tribute to his home city. It just makes me wonder though, was his CD sponsored by The City of Toronto?!!
To celebrate the release of his new self-titled album, Classified held a mysterious concert for 100 fans in Toronto on Jan. 22. Leading up to the TOP SECRET show, he gave out clues that led to the exclusive performance at The Baitshop in Toronto.
All the social media tips had a military theme to go with his “This Is Classified” campaign and the location was finally revealed the day of the performance. The hour-long show was livestreamed on his website and now ANDPOP has the exclusive footage. His five-song performance was highlighted by his laid-back, onstage presence — I love that he nonchalantly handed lager out to an eager fan offstage.
The Nova Scotian rapper has been an integral part of the Canadian hip hop scene for over 17 years. 2011’s Handshakes and Middle Fingers marked his 14th studio album and his various releases have garnered a combined 18 nominations and 8 wins at the MuchMusic Video Awards, Juno Awards and East Coast Music Awards.
We’re pretty stoked about the new album — don’t forget to listen to “Growing Pains, which is dedicated to his two daughters, if you haven’t had the chance yet. We’ll have more exclusive footage in the coming week!
Watch his performance below
Want to see Lawson LIVE at Toronto’s Mod Club on Feb. 2?! [INSERT FANGIRL SCREAMS.]
ANDPOP and Universal are giving away three pairs of tickets to their show in Toronto so you and a lucky friend can swoon to the tune of “Standing in the Dark.”
Here’s what you have to do:
Fill out the form below and tell us in 150 characters or less why you deserve to win the tickets. We’ll randomly draw three winners and notify you on Jan. 30.
*Contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec. Deadline to enter is Jan. 30 at 5 pm.
GOOD LUCK! And don’t forget to tune in to our livestream with the guys on Feb. 1 at 7 pm ET!! We’re drawing more pairs of tickets during the interview. Find out how you can be part of our audience here.
Sorry! We already picked our winners on Jan. 30/13.
Find out more about Lawson below! Read more…
Want to see Tyler Ward LIVE in Toronto on Dec. 20? ANDPOP and Live Nation are giving away three pairs of tickets to his upcoming show at the Sound Academy. It’s like Christmas came early!!
All you have to do is “Like” our Facebook page and fill out the form below. Before you know it, you could be swooning in the presence of the “Somewhere With You” singer. Make sure to fill out the form before Dec. 18 at 12 pm ET.
*Contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec.
Fill out the form below
Sorry! We already picked our winners on Dec. 18!
Do: Faux fur
Krystin Lee, 26 - Furrrrrrr is a must-have this winter season! It’s the perfect way to transform a simple outfit into “high class” without spending too much! The brown really compliments this full-on navy blue attire.
Do: Cable Knit Sweater
Christina C. – Overgrown sweaters paired with a lumberjack shirt is definitely the way to go. The colours just go so well together and the gold jewelry really add the fancy element to this laid back outfit.
Do: Corduroy pants
Samantha Pereira – The fur vest and corduroy pants really compliment each other; two unique textures that offer a little extra something to any look. And the pairing with the suede wedges is excellent!
Do: Coon hat
Gabrielle Miau - All I have to say about this look is the coon hat. Have you ever seen someone look more Canadian? And the leopard print wedge boots are perfection!
Do: Leather and hoodie Read more…
The first album Wiz Khalifa ever bought with his own money was DMX’s single “Get At Me Dog,” which is pretty trippy considering the Pittsburgh rapper has since toured with X for Rock the Bells and his fiance Amber Rose has a soft spot for the guy.
Wiz was growing up in Pittsburgh and had to save up for the album, which included the clean, regular and instrumental versions as well as “Stop Being Greedy” on the B-side.
“I was doing chores at the time,” Wiz told ANDPOP. “I was in second or third grade probably and had $10. There was this place called Edgewood Towne Centre right up the street from where I lived on the East side of town so I had to walk all the way up the street, all the way up the hill. I got the the Towne Centre, looked at everything and for some reason DMX stood out so I was like ‘I’ll get that one,’ and I loved it.”
Wiz also opened up about getting crazy sh*t stuck up his nose and first learning about doggy-style as a “crazy little man” for an episode of “Way Back When.” Naturally, this resulted in obligatory talk about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because (duh) Wiz is OBSESSED with the art of ninjutsu.
Want to see Rihanna perform a PRIVATE SHOW at a secret location in Toronto? Think of it: Just you, a bunch of journalists and the fierce, incomparable being that is RiRi.
It’s easy! Here’s what you need to do
1. Like our Facebook page to have access to the contest form.
2. Complete the contest form (available here). You’ll be asked general information.
Once everyone has entered, we’ll select the winners.
Contest deadline: Nov. 14, 2012
**Contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec. We will not provide transportation.**
Want to see Justin Bieber perform at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Dec. 1? Cue: Squeals, fits of laughter and tears of joy. ANDPOP wants to send you and a friend to see JB live.
Here’s what you need to do
1. Film yourself singing your favourite Justin Bieber lyrics in a public space. It could be a mall, your school or a park — any place where people can see you! Get creative.
2. Upload your video to YouTube. It should have the headline “ANDPOP Pick Me: Justin Bieber tickets.” Make sure your video is public so everyone can hear your beautiful voice!
3.Head over to our Facebook page so you can have access to the contest form. Once you have access, the contest form will ask you for general information, including the link to your YouTube video. Please copy and paste the URL into the contest form. See contest form here.
Once everyone has entered we’ll choose our favourite video. Good luck Beliebers!! CLICK HERE to enter.
Contest deadline: Nov. 29th, 2012
**Contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec. We will not provide transportation.**
It’s cold/wet out which means the majority of us are wearing super dull and dark colours — my favourite! Yes, this colour scheme can get boring after a while but there are always ways in which you can add a little spunk to a boring yet stylish look. It’s all about finding the right pieces that are unique in some way! And that’s exactly what these college fashionistas did!
Do: Red pants
Angelina Irinici, 22 — Black, beige and brown is typical for the the fall season and can get a bit boring. So why not add a little colour to your fall wardrobe? Red pants are a must have. This look consists of all the fall favourites this season. The brown combat boots toughen up her red pants and aztec print sweater.
Do: Blue accents
Caryn Ceolin, 20 — You can’t go wrong with black! It’s the perfect shade because you can add any burst of colour and get away with it. Ceolin’s blue bag and YSL ring really make statements on a gloomy day.
Do: Past the knee dresses Read more…
It’s the night of Hurricane Sandy in Toronto and I have to repeat my question for Milo Greene’s Robbie Arnett a few times because the wireless service over the phone keeps cutting out. I hear music in the background — it sounds like a piano — as he tells me what he ordered at the restaurant. Pad Thai, mildly spicy, with lemon and water. Delicious. The indie folk band drove straight from Montreal in their van, and is now relaxing before their show at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern in a couple hours.
Robbie is one of four vocalists, none of whom are actually named Milo, in the Los Angeles quintet. Milo Greene was the fictional identity of their British booking agent who “represented” them through their college years. They don’t need his services anymore and are currently playing shows across North America. They recently released a self-titled debut album that includes the track “1957″ and completed a short film named Moddison, which is the name of a track on their album. Over the phone, Robbie tells me all about pre-show jitters, guilty music pleasures and nearly driving off a cliff at the Grand Canyon.
First, some mood music. Listen to “1957.”
What are you up to right now?
I’m over at Rivoli’s, which is a bar right next to Horseshoe Tavern. We’re just getting some food and enjoying Monday night football before the show.
Do you get nervous before performing?
It’s more of a nervous energy. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing in front of five people or 500, I just get a little anxious. Once I get up there settle into it I get a little more relaxed.
You just played The Bowery Ballroom a few days ago. Looks like you narrowly missed Hurricane Sandy in New York.
It’s kind of scary. Our manager is in Boston with his girlfriend and they were supposed to fly back to LA this morning but he’s not able to fly back for a few days. Everything’s locked down but we kind of escaped some madness.
Any plans for tomorrow in Toronto? Read more…
ANDPOP is giving two lucky fans of the script a chance to meet the band and see them perform in Toronto on Nov. 6 at the Sony Centre. The whole package includes the following:
- Two passes for a pre-show backstage tour
- Two meet and greet passes
- Two tickets to the concert at the Sony Centre
Want to win? It’s easy! Just fill out the form below and we’ll get in touch if you’re selected.
Good luck!
You can pick up a copy of their album here: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/3-deluxe-version/id563641795?s=143455
The Script: “Six Degrees of Separation”
This contest has ended. Like us on Facebook to see when we do it again! Thanks homie!
These two friendly Canadians took some time out of their busy schedules, packed with maple syrup tapping and curling, to teach a few typical Canadian dance moves.
These dance moves extend far into the roots of Canadianess and I’m sure if you travelled back to the days of John A. MacDonald and Wilfred Laurier you would have seen them (sometimes drunkenly) pulling out these tricks on Parliament Hill.
The educational video also takes you on a visual tour of Canada’s biggest city Toronto (no it’s not the capital) so you’ll get a glimpse of the CN Tower, ROM and Steam Whistle Brewary.
Some of our favourite moves include “The Friendly Backpacker,” “Scrape the Windshield” and “The Glove Save.”
What’s your favourite move?
Want to see Walk Off The Earth perform in Toronto on Sept. 20?ANDPOPis teaming up with Sony Music Canada to give one lucky winner and a guest tickets to see the group at the Danforth Music Hall.
Here’s what you have to do:
Fill out the form below! It’s that simple. The contest is open to anyone in Canada (excluding Quebec) and will run from today (Sept. 7) until Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Make sure to like our Facebook page (it’s required) and remember, only ONE ENTRY per person.
Good luck!
Sorry. This form is no longer available.
Selena Gomez provided my favourite insight during the Q&A portion of TIFF’s Spring Breakers premiere. She said: “It’s really hard to find a teen movie that tells the truth and shows what’s raw and real.”
I can’t say I personally know anyone my age that funds their hedonist exploits by robbing and threatening to blow the f*cking heads off customers at fast food joints with booze-filled water guns. But director Harmony Korine is painting a broader portrait of a selfish, Jersey Shore-loving generation that becomes young, wild and free completely disillusioned during their “break from reality.” And we sure as hell all know college kids like that.
Plot
Faith (Selena Gomez) is a Jesus-thumping undergrad who is disillusioned by the banality of her life. She eagerly follows her childhood friends, played by Hudgens, Pretty Little Liars’ Ashley Benson and Korines’ wife Rachel, on their illegally funded spring break vacation to Florida.
While Faith is encouraged by her “spiritual retreat” — even wishing to make her pause from reality infinite — her fun is over when the ladies land in jail and meet a cornrowed hustler named Alien (James Franco). Just as Faith’s spring break vacation ends, it just gets started for her thrill-seeking friends.
Three things I loved
The cast
The film isn’t for the faint of heart, nor is it necessarily for Gomez and Hudgens’ fans. The Disney stars smoke bongs and dance alongside breast-baring partiers during their violent and sexual retreat. Teen idol haters might be pleasantly surprised by all the actresses’ adaptability, particularly during some raunchy scenes with Benson, Hudgens and Franco, that couldn’t have been comfortable to shoot… for the girls anyway.
Direction (and see photos from the premiere below)
