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Michael Phelps Was Going Crazy Watching Leon Marchand’s Comeback Win In The 200 Meter Butterfly

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NBC Sports

Michael Phelps’ 2008 Olympics performance is arguably the single most dominant Games by one athlete in history, as Phelps competed in eight events and won eight gold medals. This year, French swimming sensation Leon Marchand might not get to eight golds, as that’s dependent on the French relay teams, but he’s chasing a similar individual schedule as Phelps, competing in four individual events, and has the same coach as Phelps did, Bob Bowman.

After winning gold in the 400 individual medley on Sunday, Marchand spent Tuesday racing in the heats and semifinals of the 200 meter breaststroke and butterfly, earning one of the top seeds in both finals on Wednesday. The first of those finals was the 200m butterfly, which figured to be his stiffest test as Hungary’s Kristof Milak is the world record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the event.

At the final turn, Marchand was trailing by a considerable margin and was going to need an unbelievable final 50 meters to get his second gold of the Games. Phelps was in NBC’s Paris studio with Mike Tirico for Wednesday’s swimming events and was losing his mind watching Marchand’s closing 50, as he reeled in and passed the world record holder for the gold.

It’s always very cool to see elite athletes cheering on other elite athletes, but it’s especially the case for Phelps to be doing this for Marchand, who isn’t an American swimmer and is the closest thing we’ve seen to Phelps since he retired. Not every retired great would be rooting (much less rooting this hard) for their heir apparent, but Phelps loves seeing the young Frenchman getting his moment in Paris — Marchand also cruised to gold in the 200 meter breaststroke later in the evening for his third in three events.

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Drake Supported Vybz Kartel’s Release From Prison, And As With Anything Drake-Related, People Had Thoughts

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Drake hasn’t released a song since Kendrick Lamar metaphorically punted him into the sun with “Not Like Us,” and Drake meekly responded with “The Heart Part 6.”

However, Drake has had plenty to say on his Instagram Story — from causing a stir with a graphic tee to seemingly referencing Lamar and calling out Gordo (formerly known as DJ Carnage).

The trend continued on Wednesday, July 31, when Drake celebrated Vybz Kartel’s release from prison by posting a selfie showing him posing in a “FREE KARTEL FREE WORLD BOSS” graphic tee.

According to Rolling Stone, the Jamaican dancehall artist is “a free man after a decade in prison” after “a Jamaican court of appeals declined Wednesday to retry Vybz Kartel after the dancehall star’s 2014 murder conviction was overturned earlier this year.”

As per Rolling Stone, Kartel had been found guilty in 2014 of murdering Clive “Lizard” Williams, but the UK-based Privy Council overturned the ruling this March after “finding evidence of juror misconduct in Kartel’s initial trial.”

As happens every time Drake gets involved with anything, this news was overshadowed online by people reacting to Drake’s post — mostly jokingly (or maybe seriously) hoping that Kartel will not collaborate on a song with Drake.

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Is Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry On ‘American Idol’?

carrie underwood 2024 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction And Awards Gala
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Carrie Underwood won American Idol in 2005 and proceeded to mount a multi-Grammy-winning country music career. Still, she’s perhaps most widely known for singing NBC’s Sunday Night Football theme song for the past decade.

Underwood might soon have a monopoly on Sunday night network television, as that’s also when American Idol airs.

Is Carrie Underwood Replacing Katy Perry On American Idol?

In May, Katy Perry concluded her run as an American Idol judge after seven seasons. The same month, ABC renewed American Idol but did not announce Perry’s replacement.

On Wednesday, TMZ exclusively reported that Underwood is “very close to filling” Perry’s Idol seat.

“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Carrie and her team are in the final stages of locking her into a contract to appear on the hit ABC show, and if all goes smoothly, the former Idol winner will soon join Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie as the new judge.”

TMZ additionally speculated that Underwood could formally announce her new job while appearing on Good Morning America on Friday, August 2.

Deadline separately reported that Underwood “is expected to sit alongside Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan” for Season 25 after other names such as Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Pink, and Meghan Trainor “were in talks” before ABC landed on Underwood.

As of this writing, American Idol representatives and Underwood’s representatives declined to comment to Billboard.

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Illuminati Hotties Makes Taking ‘The L’ Sound Cool In Her Rock-Tinged Single From ‘Power’

In May, Illuminati Hotties announced a North American fall tour, due to begin in September. The following month, Sarah Tudzin, the mastermind behind Illuminati Hotties, doubled down on good news by revealing that an Illuminati Hotties album entitled Power would be released on August 23.

On Wednesday, July 31, Illuminati Hotties dropped “the last single” before Power drops, and the rock-tinged single provides more than enough substance to hold people over for three-ish weeks.

“‘The L’ is about knowing when to back down – it’s a lesson I’ve had the great fortune to have many chances to learn over and over again,” Tudzin said, as per Stereogum. “It’s about putting your pride aside in favor of resolution. We could go separate ways, but I’ll take the ‘L’ instead.”

Tudzin continued, “The vocals in the bridge are from the original demo and capture how tiny and vulnerable I feel when I’m surrendering to love and compromise. It’s very hard when you’re independent and sure-headed and stubborn to figure out how to navigate partnership, but I’ve thrown my hands up in this song. Love always comes out on top.”

“The L” follows “Didn’t” and “Power” as Power singles.

Listen to “The L” above.

Power is out 8/23 via Hopeless Records. Find more information here.

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The Best Vinyl Releases Of July 2024

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Derrick Rossignol

Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.

Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of July below.

Stars — Set Yourself On Fire (20th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue)

Arts & Crafts

Stars are going on a North American tour to celebrate 20 years of their album Set Yourself On Fire, but that’s not all: There’s also a vinyl reissue that comes with a bunch of goodies, including new liner notes, a pin-up poster, a temporary tattoo, and of course, the album itself, pressed on 140g opaque red vinyl.

Get it here.

Duran Duran — Duran Duran, Rio, Seven And The Ragged Tiger, Notorious, and Big Thing (Reissues)

Warner

Duran Duran came out the gate scorching hot, and now that era can be celebrated with a new vinyl set that includes the group’s first five studio albums. The albums have long been out of print and they appear in remastered form here, so this is a big thing. From the iconic Rio cover art to the parade of massive hits including “Notorious” and “Girls On Film,” this is an essential run of records for both new fans and those wanting their faves on wax.

Get it here.

John Lennon — Mind Games (The Ultimate Mixes) Super Deluxe Box Set

Capitol/UMe

1973’s Mind Games was John Lennon’s fourth solo album, but in a way, it was also his first, in that it was the first one he produced himself. It’s a big one in his discography and this massive new box set (a literal box, in this case) is limited to only 1,100 pieces and comes with everything from reproduction artworks to posters to books and so much more.

Get it here.

The Police — Synchronicity (Reissue)

UMe/Polydor

You may not have known this, but Synchronicity started with a bunch of Sting demos. Well, those have never been heard before… until now, as they’re included in an impressive new reissue of the album. The box set contains 55 previously unreleased tracks in all, along with new liner notes, interviews, and more.

Get it here.

Beastie Boys — Ill Communication

Grand Royal/Capitol Records/UMe

We just passed the 30th anniversary of Beastie Boys’ Ill Communication (the “Sabotage” album). To mark the occasion, the group has unveiled a 3LP deluxe edition that marks the return of a rare edition of the album that had a limited release in 2009. It comes with lenticular cover art and 12 bonus tracks.

Get it here.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens — Foreigner (Reissue)

A&M/UMe

There has been a slew of Yusuf/Cat Stevens remasters gradually making their way out over the past few years, and now we have another. This time, it’s the 1973 classic Foreigner, and this reissue marks the first time the project is available on vinyl since its original release.

Get it here.

Talking Heads — Stop Making Sense (Reissue)

Rhino Records

Last year’s vinyl reissue of Stop Making Sense sold out (naturally), but now the Talking Heads classic back as a 2LP black vinyl edition on Rhino.com and retail, and as a 2LP crystal clear vinyl version at Barnes And Noble. Whatever edition you get, it comes with a 12-page booklet featuring liner notes from all four band members.

Get it here.

The Mountain Goats — The Coroner’s Gambit (Reissue)

Merge

The Coroner’s Gambit has been out of print for a while, but fret no more: There’s a new edition out now that comes pressed on candy corn-colored vinyl and with new liner notes from John Darnielle. It even comes wrapped in a reproduction of the 15” × 18” white paper bag that the original tape came in, making for a fine homage to the humble roots of the project.

Get it here.

Land Of Talk — Applause Cheer Boo Hiss: The Definitive Edition

Saddle Creek/One Little Independent

Before Land Of Talk’s 2008 debut album Some Are Lakes was Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. Now that original project has gotten a reissue that pushes it into full-length territory, expanding the tracklist to 10 songs, plus an additional 10 tracks of acoustic renditions.

Get it here.

Blur — Live At Wembley Stadium

In 2023, Blur went massive at Wembley Stadium, playing to a combined 150,000 spectators across two concerts. Now, the occasion as been memorialized in a new live album, but pay attention to which edition you get: The triple black vinyl and triple teal colored vinyl editions feature the Sunday performances, while the double black vinyl and double picture disc vinyl versions feature highlights from both shows.

Get it here.

Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells — Together (Reissue)

Motown

The Motown Records catalog is in the midst of a reissue series, with a handful of releases dropping every month. For July, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells’ Together, which brought together Gaye, then an up-and-comer who hadn’t yet attained his now-legendary status, and Wells, an established star of the time. In addition, Motown also offered up The Supremes’ I Hear a Symphony on green vinyl and The Temptations’ Cloud Nine this month. It’s a good time to be a Motown fan.

Get them here.

DMX — It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)

Vinyl Me, Please

Vinyl Me, Please routinely nails it with the aesthetics of their reissues, and their new DMX release is another example, with the red and black vinyl perfectly complementing the cover art. Like all VMP releases, this one comes with a new listening notes booklet, too.

Get it here.

Bad Company — Bad Company and Yes — Relayer

Rhino

Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi) offered up two more stellar titles from its high-end reissue series this month, classic rock gems from Bad Company and Yes. Both albums are limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies in which Kevin Gray expertly cuts lacquers and Optimal handles the 180-gram vinyl pressing. These are as good as the albums have ever sounded, providing definitive issues of two classics.

Get them here and here.

L’Impératrice – Pulsar

via the artist

Fresh off their performance at Coachella and ahead of a widely sold out tour that will play multiple nights in NYC and Paris, L’Impératrice’s Pulsar is now out in the world. Featuring appearances from the likes of Maggie Rogers and Erick the Architect, Exclaim notes that the group “sounds more like themselves than ever” on the set. It’s a great addition to your vinyl collection, and one that might age well as the years go on.

Get it here.

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Mom attempts impossible Olympic gymnastics routine in her kitchen so you don’t have to

How many of us watch the Olympics and suddenly become inspired to attempt some of those amazing feats ourselves? Of course, we talk ourselves out of it. After all, leave it to the pros, right? But a part of us still thinks…wouldn’t it be fun to just try?

One mom decided to abandon inhibition and follow those urges, setting up her own gymnastics stadium (i.e. a kid’s mat on the floor of her kitchen) to channel her inner Simone Biles.

In a now-viral video posted to her Instagram, we see Breanne Allarie wearing a swimsuit as a leotard as she switch leaps, handstands and even attempts the Shushunova—which ends up looking like a glorious belly flop.


In an interview with Today, Allarie revealed that she in fact does have a gymnastics background, and at one time wanted to compete in the Olympics. But life—and injuries—changed those plans a bit, though she did end up dancing professionally on cruise ships.

So when she says “I feel like I could do a backflip” in the video, there’s merit! But with her husband’s protest, she played it safe.

Still, people were totally impressed by the tricks she did manage to pull off, and charmed by her enthusiasm.

“10’s across the board,” one person wrote, while another quipped, “The whispered ‘nailed it’ 😆 So good!”

Many former athletes reached out to thank Allarie for essentially living out the dream that still remains in part of their hearts.

As one person put it, “All of us former athletes out here pulling muscles and throwing tricks to prove we still got it — when in fact, we don’t fully still got it.”

Allarie told Today, with her signature sense of humor, that she wants to show that world that “midsize moms can do it, too … maybe … sort of.” Although she would also like everyone to know that Olympians “make it look so much easier than it is.”

And perhaps the biggest takeaway of all was the amount of joy she felt, which was palpable. May it be your official permission slip to do something just for the fun of it, regardless of whether or not you’d win a gold medal.

We know that trying new things, even if we won’t be the best at it, is important for our well being in multiple ways. And yet, it’s so easy to talk ourselves out of it and remain in the comfort zone of longing for more.

So take a page from Allarie’s book. Do the thing. Have fun. And be sure to give yourself a pat on the back when it’s done.

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Gen X finds itself floored by Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav becoming beloved Olympic mascots

If you were to go back to 1993 and tell a teen or young adult that Snoop Dogg would one day be a beloved commentator for the Olympics, proudly carrying the Olympic torch, adored by young and old alike, they’d look at you like you’d lost your mind.

And Public Enemy co-founder Flavor Flav hanging out with the women’s Olympic water polo team, which he swooped in like a superhero to fund and hype? Say what now?

How did these two go from gangsta rap and hardcore hip-hop bad boys, with arrest records for charges ranging from drug possession to murder, to a wholesome part of everyone’s favorite international sports competition? Are we actually living in the upside down?


Gen X in particular is reeling from the surreality of it all. It’s delightful, don’t get me wrong, but it’s…weird. Older folks and youngsters may not fully understand who Snoop and Flav were in the 90s, and they definitely weren’t immersed in youth culture of that time. But these guys were famously rebels of the highest degree and criminals by definition. The last word most people would use to describe them would be “wholesome,” and yet here we are.

Snoop Dogg is one of the official hosts of the Olympics and has been crushing it with his uniquely hilarious and endearing commentary. He even hopped into a pool to let Michael Phelps teach him to swim like an Olympian, for goodness sake. And not only has Flavor Flav been all in on water polo, but he’s also met First Lady Jill Biden in the aquatic center with a joyful hug and played the piano for the U.S. Ambassador to France in Paris—and that’s just so far.

So many of us are incredulous at these developments:

“Look I don’t know how we got here but in the year 2024 the two most wholesome people on the television are Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav.”

“If you’re younger than maybe thirty years old, it’s probably impossible to fully explain to you how surreal it is to see Snoop be the star of the NBC Olympics opening ceremony broadcast.”

“Imagine going back to 1992 when ‘Nothin’ but a ‘G Thang’’ dropped and telling people that in 30 years Snoop would be the one celebrity Americans generally agree they like.”

“I would love to go back 20 years and see the reaction of people when I tell them that Snoop Dogg and Flavor Flav have become warm and fuzzy mainstream personalities.”

“Has there ever been a bigger career 180 than Snoop Dogg going from the drive-by murder of a rival gang member in 1993 to being America’s Fun Uncle, the guy you call when you need a co-host for Martha Stewart or a kid’s choice award presenter?”

“Snoop Dogg at the Olympics in Paris cheering on the American swimmers. Flavor Flav in Paris sponsoring the USA Women’s water polo team. I don’t know what the what is going but 18-year old me thinks this totally awesome.”

However people might feel about Snoop and Flav’s unsavory pasts, they appear to have redeemed themselves in the public eye. There’s something so loveable about them both, with their infectious enthusiasm for the Olympic Games, the way they seem to get along with everyone they encounter and the genuine joy the exude as they talk about the sports they enjoy and athletes they admire. It’s all just so…wholesome. There’s really no other word for it. We love it. And we’re weirded out by it.

What a time to be alive.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 14 best pieces of advice he’s sharing for his 77th birthday

There are few more remarkable examples of someone achieving the American Dream than Arnold Schwarzenegger. He had a humble upbringing in Austria, where his family struggled to make ends meet. Still, after enjoying the opportunity in America, he became a 7-time Mr. Universe, the biggest action star of the ‘80s and ‘90s and the 2-time Governor of California.

Even though Schwarzenegger is known for being a larger-than-life movie star who never had a problem flaunting his ego, he’s also a generous man who’s always spoken about the importance of giving back. He attributes much of his success to being helped by others.

“The whole concept of the self‑made man or woman is a myth,” he said in a commencement speech at the University of Houston in May 2017. “The reason why I want you to understand that is because as soon as you understand that you are here because of a lot of help, then you also understand that now is time to help others.”

July 30th was Schwarzenegger’s 77th birthday, so he shared some of the wisdom he’s accumulated over the years with members of “Arnold’s Pump Club,” a daily newsletter by him and his team about nutrition, fitness and wellness. Schwarzenegger calls the club the “positive corner of the internet.”

“No matter where you are in life, negativity and jealousy won’t help you get to a better place. I put together these 77 lessons from my 77 years to help you learn and dream a little more, and offer suggestions that will support you in living a better life,” Schwarzenegger wrote in the book’s intro.

Here are 14 of the most inspiring pieces of advice Schwarzenegger shared in his 77 Lessons at 77 e-book. You can download the whole book here.

1. Everything starts with vision

You have to see it before you can achieve it. You will never regret the time you spend to develop a very clear vision. When I say clear, I mean so clear that it plays in your mind like a movie. Before I stepped on a bodybuilding stage, I saw myself standing on the podium holding the trophy. It was like a memory — one that just hadn’t happened yet.

5. Decide who — not what — you want to be

Make your vision a part of your identity. Don’t say, “I want to be fit.” Say, “I want to be the type of person who can keep up with my kids and grandkids,” or “I want to be the person who everyone looks at on the beach.”

9. None of us make it alone

I am not a self-made man, even though I came to America without any money. Claiming I made it on my own would mean disrespecting my parents, the mentors and early coaches, the training

partners and friends like Franco, and every single person who reached out and gave me a hand when I needed it. No matter who you are, someone helped you or laid the groundwork for you along the way. Once you accept that, you can see the tremendous responsibility that comes with it. You have a duty to help the next generation.

12. Reps, reps, reps

You might think you only do reps in the gym, but repetitions are the key to life. Whether you want to improve at speaking in public or reading books or just eating better, you will need to do reps. Whatever you work at, it becomes easier and less uncomfortable with every rep you do.

25. Your mind can be your greatest enemy

It can be your biggest naysayer. Learning to overcome yourself is much more important than learning to overcome anyone else. Your mind will seek comfort. It will ask why you don’t just stay in bed, under the covers, when you wake up before the sun to train or to work. It will tell you that you might fail, so why even try? You need to learn to shut it off.

26. There are times for thinking, and there are times to be a machine

I start every day like a machine. Everything is on automatic pilot. I wake up, I make coffee, I feed all of my animals, then I drink my coffee, get on my bike, and ride to the gym to train. I don’t turn my brain on until I’ve biked to breakfast after the gym.

39. Sometimes, nothing f*ckin’ matters

There are other times that my team makes fun of me because I am so relaxed. We will come to someone else’s event where I’m supposed to speak, and they’ll tell me they’re sorry, but we don’t know when I’ll be on stage. I say, “It doesn’t f*ckin matter.” Because it doesn’t. We don’t have control. Trying to control something we can’t will only make all of us stressed out, and that won’t help anybody.

43. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of progress

I know a lot of people who will start a workout plan that’s supposed to be every other day, and then as soon as something comes up and they miss a day, they give up. You’re never going to be perfect. None of us are. Just accept it. Progress is about moving forward. So you can only do two workout days this week instead of three? That’s still progress compared to zero workouts. Just keep moving forward.

49. Sell, sell, sell

No matter what you do in life, you need to learn to sell. Whether you have a product or whether you are the product, we all have to sell something. Become comfortable with selling.

58. Develop a sense of humor

People love to laugh. They like being around funny people. You might think you’re either funny or you’re not. That’s not true. Like everything, you can get better with reps. When I wanted to get into Hollywood, I became friends with a very famous comedian, Milton Berle. I asked him to help me with comedy. Milton would write jokes for me, and then he would critique my timing. (He wasn’t very gentle about it, I remember a few, “Schwarzenegger, you Nazi, you fucked it up!”) The more I practiced, by getting in a joke in every TV appearance, the better I became.

62. If you ever feel stuck, pick three small things you can focus on

Make them so small it’s impossible for you to fail. If your goals are to learn a new language, get in shape, and read more, write all three things on a notecard, and write “5 minutes a day.” When you wake up, do 5 minutes of reading, 5 minutes of pushups and squats, and 5 minutes of language practice before you brush your teeth. Make a tally for each habit on the notecard, and keep it on your nightstand. No matter what, you get that tally every day. Even if you’re about to climb into bed and you realize you didn’t do all three things, you do it and then go to sleep.

68. Find joy, not happiness

I think one of the nicest things anybody ever said about me came from Jim Lorimer. He said, “If I needed one word to describe Arnold, it’s ‘joy.’ When he’s working, there is joy, when he’s with his friends, there is joy, when he’s with his family, there is joy. I’ve never seen someone have joy in everything they do.” Now, I believe joy is different than happiness. Joy is deeper. People chase happiness, but I think they should chase joy. Happiness is fleeting. You can feel joy when you’re struggling. You can feel joy when you’re grieving the loss of a dear friend. Joy, to me, is having a sense of purpose. It’s what gives meaning to life.

70. The world isn’t as broken as your phone makes it seem

Read your social media feed. Now imagine going to a gym, or a bar, or church, and hearing

people talk like that. You’d say, “It’s enough already — stop fucking whining.” But that’s normal on social media! Get out there in the real world as often as you can. Talk to real people, not avatars. You will not find joy on social media.

76. Leave the world better than you found it

That’s it. If every one of us tries to live up to that simple rule, imagine the world we’ll leave to our grandkids.