In 1997, singer-songwriter 19-year-old Fiona Apple was a massive breakthrough artist on MTV, having recently scored big hits with “Shadowboxer,” “Criminal” and “Sleep to Dream” from her debut album, “Tidal.”
However, even though she was still a teenager, she was already suspicious of celebrity culture.
When accepting the award for the single “Sleep to Dream” at the MTV Video Music Awards, she gave an impromptu speech taking dead aim at the music industry. She asked the young people watching to stop emulating the stars they see in music videos and to be themselves.
Her speech was a bold move by a young woman in a room full of celebrities, rock stars and industry people. At the time, it looked like she was committing career suicide in front of the world. Twenty-six years later, it seems even more audacious in a world where the notion of being sellout is a Gen X relic and the entire culture is dominated by influencers.
To celebrate Apple’s 46th birthday on September 13, people have been sharing the speech on X, formerly known as Twitter.
it’s fiona apple’s birthday and it’s mtv vma. throwback to this iconic speech.
— max richter scale (@max richter scale) 1694561623
Apple began her speech by quoting Maya Angelou: “See, Maya Angelou said that we, as human beings, at our best, can only create opportunities. And I’m gonna use this opportunity the way that I want to use it,” she said.
“So, what I want to say is, everybody out there that’s watching, everybody that’s watching this world? This world is bulls***,” Apple continued. “And you shouldn’t model your life about what you think that we think is cool and what we’re wearing and what we’re saying and everything. Go with yourself. Go with yourself…And it’s just stupid that I’m in this world, but you’re all very cool to me so thank you very much.”
The next year, Apple clarified her remarks to Rolling Stone, but she didn’t apologize for speaking her mind.
“When I won, I felt like a sellout. I felt that I deserved recognition but that the recognition I was getting was for the wrong reasons,” Apple said. “I felt that now, in the blink of an eye, all of those people who didn’t give a f**k who I was, or what I thought, were now all at once just humoring, appeasing me, and not because of my talent, but instead because of the fact that somehow, with the help of my record company, and my makeup artist, my stylist and my press, I had successfully created the illusion that I was perfect and pretty and rich, and therefore living a higher quality of life. I’d saved myself from misfit status, but I’d betrayed my own kind by becoming a paper doll in order to be accepted.”
Apple’s speech at the 1997 VMAs appears to be a roadmap for the rest of her life. Since then, she has gone on to create one great album after another while eschewing the phoniness of celebrity culture. The “Fetch the Bold Cutters” singer even canceled an entire tour in 2013 because her dog was dying. Apple isn’t on social media and she seems completely content to spend her time watching court cases and spending time with her dog.
Writing a book is no easy task, even for adult professional writers. Many would-be authors dream of a day when their work can be found on library shelves, unsure if it will ever come.
But for 8-year-old Dillon Helbig, that day has already arrived—in truly unconventional fashion—thanks to his own determination to make it happen.
Dillon wrote his 81-page graphic novel, “The Adventures of Dillon Helbig’s Crismis” (written by “Dillon His Self”) in a hardcover journal with colored pencils over the course of a few days. He even put a label on the back of the book that reads “Made in Idho” [sic] and put an illustrated spine label on it as well. Then, without telling anyone, he brought it to his local library in Boise, Idaho, and slipped it in among the books in the children’s section.
The library Facebook page shared that it had officially added the book to the collection at the branch, writing, “Imagine our surprise yesterday when Dillon’s mom called to tell us that her son had authored an entire book, shelved it at the Lake Hazel Branch, then announced to his family later that he had written a book and it could be checked out at the library.”
The library also announced that Dillon’s book had won the first-ever Whoodini Award for Best Young Novelist—an award created in his honor.
Dillon told local news station KTVB that the book features him, his mom, Santa, a bomb, a portal and a giant carnivorous turkey. Because of course.
“I’ve been wanting to put a book in the library since I was five,” Dillon told the station. Nearly half his life, in other words.
Dillon said there were a lot of librarians he had to sneak past with his book to surreptitiously put it on the shelf, but he did it.
“I’ll always be sneaky, like how I get chocolate,” he explained. Classic.
The adults on every front handled this kid’s creativity and determination the best possible way. His mom called the library to let them know the book was there so it wouldn’t get lost or taken. And rather than just returning the book, the librarians actually put it into circulation.
“His parents were worried we would find his book and we would get rid of it,” Lake Hazel Branch Library manager Alex Hartman told KTVB. “Which was an unfounded fear because if there’s ever a place a book would be safe, it would be here.”
The librarians loved Dillon’s book.
“It deserves a spot on our library shelves,” said Hartman. “It’s a good story.”
At the time of this local news report, the book had a handful of people in line to check it out. But The New York Times reports that as of the end of January, the waiting list has grown to a whopping 56 people. If each person kept the book for the maximum four-week checkout period it would take four years to get to the people at the bottom of the list.
The experience has made Dillon decide to become an author, his mom said, and he even has some career goals laid out.
“I’m going to stop writing when I’m 40,” Dillon said. After that, he will switch to game creation. In the meantime, he has a sequel to his first novel in the works.
“My next book is going to be called ‘The Jacket-Eating Closet,’” he said, “based on actual events.”
Amazing. Kudos to Dillon for following his dream and making it happen, kudos to his mom for encouraging him and kudos to the librarians who saw an opportunity to support a child’s creativity and ran with it.
Writing a book is no easy task, even for adult professional writers. Many would-be authors dream of a day when their work can be found on library shelves, unsure if it will ever come.
But for 8-year-old Dillon Helbig, that day has already arrived—in truly unconventional fashion—thanks to his own determination to make it happen.
Dillon wrote his 81-page graphic novel, “The Adventures of Dillon Helbig’s Crismis” (written by “Dillon His Self”) in a hardcover journal with colored pencils over the course of a few days. He even put a label on the back of the book that reads “Made in Idho” [sic] and put an illustrated spine label on it as well. Then, without telling anyone, he brought it to his local library in Boise, Idaho, and slipped it in among the books in the children’s section.
The library Facebook page shared that it had officially added the book to the collection at the branch, writing, “Imagine our surprise yesterday when Dillon’s mom called to tell us that her son had authored an entire book, shelved it at the Lake Hazel Branch, then announced to his family later that he had written a book and it could be checked out at the library.”
The library also announced that Dillon’s book had won the first-ever Whoodini Award for Best Young Novelist—an award created in his honor.
Dillon told local news station KTVB that the book features him, his mom, Santa, a bomb, a portal and a giant carnivorous turkey. Because of course.
“I’ve been wanting to put a book in the library since I was five,” Dillon told the station. Nearly half his life, in other words.
Dillon said there were a lot of librarians he had to sneak past with his book to surreptitiously put it on the shelf, but he did it.
“I’ll always be sneaky, like how I get chocolate,” he explained. Classic.
The adults on every front handled this kid’s creativity and determination the best possible way. His mom called the library to let them know the book was there so it wouldn’t get lost or taken. And rather than just returning the book, the librarians actually put it into circulation.
“His parents were worried we would find his book and we would get rid of it,” Lake Hazel Branch Library manager Alex Hartman told KTVB. “Which was an unfounded fear because if there’s ever a place a book would be safe, it would be here.”
The librarians loved Dillon’s book.
“It deserves a spot on our library shelves,” said Hartman. “It’s a good story.”
At the time of this local news report, the book had a handful of people in line to check it out. But The New York Times reports that as of the end of January, the waiting list has grown to a whopping 56 people. If each person kept the book for the maximum four-week checkout period it would take four years to get to the people at the bottom of the list.
The experience has made Dillon decide to become an author, his mom said, and he even has some career goals laid out.
“I’m going to stop writing when I’m 40,” Dillon said. After that, he will switch to game creation. In the meantime, he has a sequel to his first novel in the works.
“My next book is going to be called ‘The Jacket-Eating Closet,’” he said, “based on actual events.”
Amazing. Kudos to Dillon for following his dream and making it happen, kudos to his mom for encouraging him and kudos to the librarians who saw an opportunity to support a child’s creativity and ran with it.
This time, they’ll be bringing along frequent collaborator MIKE and producer Black Noi$e, who produced a couple of tracks on Earl’s 2022 album, Sick! The tour kicks off November 6 and runs through the 27th, hitting the Pacific Northwest, the Bay Area, and key stops in the South and East Coast (although, curiously, it does not run through their shared hometown, Los Angeles. I’m betting that’s going to change at some point). You can see the tour dates below.
11/06 — Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO
11/07 — Portland, OR @ McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom
11/09 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
11/14 — Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Factory
11/15 — Houston, TX @ The Ballroom at Warehouse Live
11/18 — Atlanta, GA @ Heaven at The Masquerade
11/20 — Washington, DC @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
11/21 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
11/22 — New York City, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
11/24 — Boston, MA @ Royale
11/27 — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
“Can I be honest?” Vagabon, moniker of musician Laetitia Tamko, asks in her song “Can I Talk My Shit?” It’s a question that sets the tone for her entire third LP. “This whole record is how I talk to my friends and how to talk to my lovers,” she said in a statement. “I think honesty and conversational songwriting can become poetry. There’s beauty in plainly speaking without metaphors and without flowery imagery.”
Produced by Rostam, Sorry I Haven’t Called, which is out everywhere this Friday, leans into Vagabon’s poptimist side. The Cameroonian-American musician first introduced her delicate ballads in 2017 on the debut Infinite Worlds, then re-introduced herself with the shimmering self-titled 2019 LP. Now with Sorry I Haven’t Called, Vagabon is making her bid for indie pop royality.
Ahead of the release of Sorry I Haven’t Called, Vagabon sits down with Uproxx to talk reading minds, unrequited love, and Pharrell in our latest Q&A.
What are four words you would use to describe your music?
Good, fun, deep, complex.
It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I’d like for it to remind people of a special time in their life.
Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?
Pharrell, I admire him as a producer.
Where did you eat the best meal of your life and what was it?
Best of my life, it’s hard to say but I’ve just had an amazing meal at Brawn in London.
Tell us about the best concert you’ve ever attended.
I wish I went to concerts much, I usually just end up seeing artists play from side stage at festivals. I did watch JPEGMAFIA from side stage at Pitchfork Fest 2023 and that was fun.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
“Thyme Mezzaluna.”
Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?
In a sleeping bag on the beer-soaked floor we had just played, at a house show.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform and what’s the city you hope to perform in for the first time?
In the states, I love NYC because it’s where I’m from. Internationally, Paris. The Paris audience has always been incredible to me.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Don’t spend so much time being self-conscious.
What’s one of your hidden talents?
Reading minds.
If you had a million dollars to donate to charity, what cause would you support?
Houselessness.
What are your thoughts about AI and the future of music?
I don’t have as much information as I’d like to give my thoughts but overall I hope music made by people has supremacy.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location it would be held.
Mitski, Frank Ocean, Japanese House, and Nosaj Thing on a pony farm in the south of Iceland
Who’s your favorite person to follow on social media?
My little sister.
What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?
My friend gave me a tiny blue rose signifying unrequited love in a Bushwick apartment at like 11pm at night.
What is your pre-show ritual?
Warm up vocals, be alone.
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Hm… I don’t remember ha!
You have a month off and the resources to take a dream vacation. Where are you going and who is coming with you?
Japan with my little sister.
What is your biggest fear?
Drowning.
Sorry I Haven’t Called is out 9/15 via Nonesuch Records. Find more information here.
In an interview with MSNBC, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat explained his decision to have the former president booked and photographed at his jail. Though Labat insisted he doesn’t regret the choice to have Trump sit for his mugshot, he did admit to lamenting over the decision for a couple of days. Ultimately, Labat felt he owed it to the community to treat Trump the way he would any other perp. Unfortunately, since having his mugshot taken, Trump and his supporters have found ways to profit off the photo, using it on shirts and other merch to raise money for his next campaign cycle. And this is why Labat is ready to get his department’s legal team involved.
“In retrospect, I want to make sure that all of our legal teams go back and take a look at the publication and the use of the mugshot as an opportunity to make money,” Labat said. “And if so, how much does the county get from it?”
When questioned whether he was referring to the Trump campaign’s usage of the photo, Labat responded, “Correct,” and when asked whether he felt that his county could be entitled to some of the profits, Labat said, “I absolutely do.” So, it sounds like the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department might be launching an inquiry into how Trump is using his mugshot and if it violates any copyright laws.
Exclusive:
Inside the Fulton County jail where Donald Trump was booked and had a mug shot taken.
On Trump fundraising off his mug shot, the sheriff reveals he directed his legal department to explore whether the county is entitled to that money. https://t.co/aVQyiznAFEpic.twitter.com/4xbVXhlHJ6
Summer is unfortunately on its last legs, but with the change of seasons comes one great advantage: less crowding at US National Parks. With kids back in school and family vacations already Instagrammed, shoulder seasons are the perfect time to visit National Parks… if you have the flexibility.
Summer’s end is especially clutch if you’re a more spontaneous National Park traveler – as many parks have now instituted summer reservations and permitting systems that must be planned far in advance. As the crowds lessen, the entry requirements do as well, meaning it’s much easier to set out on the road without a care. Just like we did back during the times of printed MapQuest directions!
If you’re heading to any of the most popular National Parks (or want to be the type of person who might decide on a whim to do exactly that) this fall, here is precisely when each park ends its reservation requirements:
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK — MAINE
Emily Hart
Acadia National Park in coastal Maine is one of the top ten most visited parks annually. With over 4 million visitors in 2021, over just over 49,000 acres — the number of visitors per acre is much higher than the most visited parks in the system, prompting vehicle reservations for one of the park’s main attractions – Cadillac Mountain.
WHAT DO I NEED A RESERVATION FOR?
Despite its massive popularity, you don’t need a reservation to enter the park. However, you will need one to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain – which is a must. From October 7 to March 6, the summit of the Maine Mountain sees the first sunrise in the United States – but anytime you visit, it is a sight that will take your breath away.
WHEN DO RESERVATIONS END?
Reservations to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain last a bit longer into the fall – as fall is the prime season to visit Acadia. Reservations end on October 22, and visitors have until the road closes on December 1 to visit unencumbered.
WHERE TO STAY:
My favorite Bed and Breakfast in Bar Harbor, The Elmhurst Inn, is open year-round. Or find a short-term rental to cozy up in.
WHAT TO DO:
Hike Jordan Pond Path, Gorham Mountain Loop, or Ocean Path Trail after catching the first sunrise in the United States atop Cadillac Mountain. Acadia is an excellent place for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing if you visit in the winter.
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK — UTAH
Emily Hart
Like Acadia, Arches National Park in Utah is a smaller park by land area than many others on this list. It’s also unique in that it’s not super remote – just 5 miles north of the booming vacation destination of Moab. With more people than ever venturing into National Parks, Arches has recently started requiring timed entry reservations.
WHAT DO I NEED A RESERVATION FOR?
You’ll need a reservation to access any part of the park during the reservation season. Arches is unique from most major National Parks — as there is just one gated entrance to the park — so there is no getting around this.
WHEN DO RESERVATIONS END?
Reservations to enter the park end on October 31, 2023, and don’t begin again until April 1. Typically, the park is open year-round, with some snow during the winter months, but generally, nothing that could squash your plans.
WHERE TO STAY:
While there are some seasonal lodgings in Moab, many options are available year-round, with short-term rentals readily available at lower prices. Check out Red Cliffs Lodge for an incredible location.
I’ve visited the massive Glacier National Park in Montana four times over the past decade, and each time, it seems even more breathtaking. The park is large, with seven separate entrance points, but, like many parks, the dramatic landscape, glaciers, lakes, and world-class hiking can create problems in the busy summer months. Glacier instituted a reservation system for Going-To-The-Sun road to combat the crowds in 2021 and added reservation requirements to four separate park areas this year.
WHAT DO I NEED A RESERVATION FOR?
Starting in 2023, anyone who entered Going-To-The-Sun Corridor, the North Fork, Two Medicine, and Many Glacier during the reservation periods from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. had to have a valid reservation for that day and that specific entrance.
WHEN DO RESERVATIONS END?
Reservations for all areas of the park ended on September 10 – just as fall colors are beginning to pop in this far northern park. Going-To-The-Sun Road generally closes in mid-October — so while it is a small window to visit, it’s well worth it for the lessened crowds, more affordable accommodations, and less hassle.
WHERE TO STAY:
You can camp at several campgrounds in Glacier through September and even into October at Agpar and Quartz Creek if you have the gear. Otherwise, I loved staying in a cabin at East Glacier KOA, open until the end of September. After that, there are many year-round options in nearby Whitefish — I recommend Grouse Mountain Lodge.
WHAT TO DO:
The leaves will pop in the park from September through October when the larches turn golden yellow. Drive Going-To-The-Sun road until its seasonal closure to stop at Logan Pass, hike the Highline or Hidden Lake Trails.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK — COLORADO
Emily Hart
Rocky Mountain National Park is the quintessential landscape many people visualize when thinking of a “National Park.” With incredible jutting peaks, golden aspens, and a wealth of awe-inspiring hiking trails pristine and clear blue alpine lakes – the park has long brought many visitors to the iconic Colorado park. But in the past few years, like the other famous National Parks on this list, the crowds have expanded to a degree where a timed entry system is necessary to protect the alpine tundra ecosystem and biodiversity that the park is known for.
WHAT DO I NEED A RESERVATION FOR?
There are two types of timed entry tickets for Rocky Mountain National Park – and every visitor needs one during the reservation period. The beloved Bear Lake Corridor has a specific timed entry ticket (that will also allow you to access the rest of the park), while the “rest of the park” also has a specific timed entry ticket that gains you access to all but the Bear Lake Corridor.
WHEN DO RESERVATIONS END?
Reservations end on October 22, 2023, for the entire park. Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, but some roads are closed seasonally — including Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road.
Rocky Mountain National Park is incredible in winter, with hiking, snowshoeing, and scenic drives still accessible. Head to Bear Lake to walk around the lake, or head up on snowshoes to Dream and Emerald Lakes.
Rootin’ tootin Lauren Boebert did not wait around too long after filing for divorce from alleged hothead Jayson Boebert. She did release a pointed statement while insisting that she’s “always been faithful in my marriage.” Boebert also cited irreconcilable differences, which is generally a catchall term, as many people who have been divorced knows. The suddenness of the announcement presumably blindsided Jayson, and given that Boebert is all about “family values” and told women to run after Jesus when they have marriage problems, her divorce statement felt rather cryptic.
The filing happened in May, which really isn’t too long ago in light of an 18-year marriage. Everyone moves at their own pace, yet it was still moderately surprising to see Boebert looking cozy in video footage of her being kicked out of Broadway’s traveling Beetlejuice show in Denver. The MAGA congresswoman was holding hands with a man that was revealed by the Daily Mail to be Quinn Gallagher, who is not only a bartender and co-owner of Hooch Craft Cocktail bar but also apparently a Democrat. Not only that, but MeidasTouch did some more legwork, which reflects interestingly upon a 2022 Boebert tweet: “Take your children to CHURCH, not drag bars.”
MeidasTouch reports that Hooch, which is located in Aspen, Colorado, regularly participates in the city’s annual Gay Ski Week festivities. You can see a purported flyer for the event here for this year’s “A Winter Wonderland Burlesque and Drag Show.” As Meidas Touch further notes and illustrates, “Dances and other performances were captured by those in attendance.”
Boebert has yet to comment on Bar Guy on Twitter (she has been trashing Bidenomics today), but just FYI, Hooch is listed on the roster for 2024’s Aspen Gay Ski Week. The bar will host a Women’s Cocktail Reception with the following description:
Cocktails & Nibbles – Join us for a fun party starting at 5:30 on Thursday night. We will be serving up a selection of complimentary cocktails and appetizers. This is a great chance to meet with old friends and maybe meet that new special someone.
DJ Autumn Leilani joins us again during this cozy and energetic event for Womxn of AGSW.
Something tells me that Boebert will not be in attendance, but who knows?
It wasn’t all that long ago that Mitt Romney was the face of the GOP. A lot has changed since 2012, when the outgoing senator was the party’s presidential candidate. Not only is it now ruled by a repeatedly indicted guy who can’t spell the word “rumor,” but it’s being devoured by MAGA extremists. In a new profile by The Atlantic, Romney dumps on those guys while also saying something positive — namely that he enjoys a terrible-sounding sandwich.
In the piece, Romney — who announced Wednesday he was not running again for his Senate seat — says he does not care for Jan. 6 cheerleader Josh Hawley. But he really hates one of his colleagues
“I don’t know that I can disrespect someone more than J. D. Vance,” Romney confessed. He didn’t always despise him. He enjoyed his novel Hillbilly Elegy, and thought he had some good ideas on how to reshape the Republican party away from Trumpism. Then he went full Trump.
“I do wonder, how do you make that decision?” Romney said of Vance’s makeover. “How can you go over a line so stark as that—and for what?” He added, “It’s not like you’re going to be famous and powerful because you became a United States senator. It’s like, really? You sell yourself so cheap?”
Romney also opened up about his D.C. living situation, where he often spent his time alone, his wife back home in Utah, stuck in a town where he had few real friends. (After all, his fellow GOPers were laughing behind his back.) Nights were often spent by himself, watching Ted Lasso or Better Call Saul, eating by himself. He’d eat healthy: his freezer is full of salmon.
Thing is, Romney didn’t actually care much for the fish. But he came up with a life hack: Throw it in a sandwich bun and slather it with ketchup.
Salmon pairs well with many condiments, but ketchup? No way. It’s not Romney’s only questionable food take: Over the summer, he decided to celebrate National Hot Dog Day in the weirdest way possible.
Spotify Duo is a new feature from Spotify that allows two people who live together to share one payment plan but with two separate premium accounts, ensuring that they get to keep their own passwords, playlists, and shared music. The discount is presumably designed to give roommates and partners a savings option that doesn’t just saddle them with a family plan or sharing an account.
To use Spotify Duo, one of the two people must be designated as the plan manager. This person sets up the payment method, sets the address, and invites the other member to join. Meanwhile, the second person can join once they’ve been invited by logging into their own account, then entering the correct address. If they were already on a premium account, they’ll be prompted once that account expires after canceling the final month. Users can only switch Duo plans once a year.
In order to cancel your existing premium plan, click CHANGE PLAN under the Your Plan tab. Under Cancel Spotify, click CANCEL PREMIUM. The account will switch to a free account after the next billing date. Your playlists and saved music remain with the addition of ads. Once you’re on a Duo account, following these steps will simply remove you from the plan, while the plan manager will still need to cancel or update the payment method.
If you don’t already have a premium account, you may want to sign up soon; Spotify is currently testing restricting access to song lyrics to just premium users.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
