Category: Viral

HBO’s TV adaptation of Naughty Dog’s legendary video game series will apparently include at least one voice from The Last Of Us playing their on-screen counterpart in real life. While the two main characters of the post-apocalyptic show are spoken for with big-name actors, one voice actor from the gaming world will reprise their role from the PlayStation classic.

As The Hollywood Reporter detailed, Merle Dandridge will appear in the HBO series from creator Neil Druckmann and Chernobyl showrunner Craig Mazin.

The Last of Us revolves around the relationship between Joel (Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian), a hardened survivor of the collapse of modern civilization 20 years ago, and 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey, Game of Thrones), whom he’s hired to smuggle out of an oppressive quarantine zone.

Dandridge’s Marlene is the head of the Fireflies, a resistance movement struggling for freedom against an oppressive military regime. She joins a cast that also includes Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Joel’s younger brother.

The series was officially green lit in November, and though Druckmann will oversee the series’ adaptation we already know there will be significant departures from the two games in the series. The playable version of The Last Of Us, meanwhile, has a story outline for a potential third game but it’s unclear if that will ever see the light of day right now.

AMC’s fortunes are, like all movie theaters, rising in recent weeks as more vaccinated Americans continue to head back to the movies. A new slate of films hitting theaters is certainly helping, but as the actual business of screening movies starts to get back on track it seems AMC is having another wild ride on the stock market.

The movie chain was one of several retail stocks to see huge gains earlier in the year, though GameStop seems to be the one that’s attracted the most attention and movie pitches. And though there were some wild peaks and valleys, AMC continues to rise as retail traders boost its value and target hedge funds in similar ways that made the stock a topic of national conversation earlier in the year.

As CNBC detailed, shares of AMC quadrupled on Wednesday, causing trading to halt several times amid wild spikes in value.

The frenzy started right out of the gate. About 10 minutes into the session, trading in the stock was halted for the first time due to volatility. Shares were halted several additional times during the first hour of trading amid heavy activity.

The stock finished the day with a 301.21% gain to close at $19.90. That was slightly below the stock’s high of the day — $20.36 — from just after the opening bell. During premarket trading shares had been up as much as 360%.

Roughly one hour into trading more than 500 million shares had already changed hands — significantly above the stock’s 30-day average volume of 86.8 million shares a day. By 4pmET more than 1.1 billion shares had been traded.

Shot selling continues to be a focus of traders on financial-based Reddit boards, who have fueled many of these big jumps in value in recent months. Some of the other retail stocks targeted by meme stock enthusiasts also saw bumps this week, too, like Bed Bath And Beyond and Kodak. But as MarketWatch explains, after weeks of similar trading patters, the fates of AMC and GameStop seem to have divided in recent days in part to the percentage of short sellers on the movie stock compared to GameStop.

According to Ortex Analytics, short interest in GameStop stock fell off Thursday morning while short interest in AMC was up slightly. The data reinforces the thesis widely held by the retail crowd that short sellers are still a major factor in their trade even after January’s manic short squeeze caused panic and pain for hedge funds betting against both stocks.

“HEDGIES – REAL TALK TIME,” Reddit user PeakedInThe80s posted on r/Supertstonk midday Thursday. “The first one of you to cover your shorts MIGHT be able to scrape together enough shares to make it out alive. The later ones are f—d.”

Meme stocks and crypto have been all the rage in recent weeks, and if this latest surge is any indication its impact on the market isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And as CEO Adam Aron has already said the surge AMC stock has seen officially has helped save the company from bankruptcy, saying earlier in the week that it’s now “completely off the table.”

Just over a week ago, Stephen A. Smith offered a brief response on Twitter after Kwame Brown had pulled him into his beef with Gilbert Arenas, Stephen Jackson, and Matt Barnes after the trio had a few too many laughs about Brown’s career on the All The Smoke podcast. Brown has gone off on Instagram Live, taking Arenas, Jackson, and Barnes to task with some very personal attacks, and invited Smith to fight him in Seattle because Seattle apparently doesn’t require a waiver for hand-to-hand combat.

Smith’s initial response was that Brown was right and with his career long since over, it’s time for the jokes at his expense to stop and that he was guilty of that. That seemed to be the extent of it on Smith’s side at the time, but on Thursday, Smith used his ESPN+ show, Stephen A.’s World, to offer a more full response to Brown who has continued going after Smith and other members of the media like Michael Wilbon. That has apparently led Stephen A. to rescind his initial statement, because after starting in about how Brown has gotten very personal with his comments, none of the people he’s come after have done the same and have been speaking on his basketball career.

At that point, Smith proceeded to roll the tape on a full minute of Kwame Brown lowlights to illustrate his point that all he has ever done was talk about how Brown couldn’t cut it in the NBA.

It is the exact opposite of what Smith said he would do regarding Brown a week ago, but it certainly made for an entertaining and very on-brand Stephen A. response. It certainly won’t be well received by Brown, but Stephen A. has apparently decided he can no longer just ignore the story and as such he is steering into it the only way he can, by making that sweet, sweet content out of it.

Midleton Very Rare is one of those bottles that you probably hear way more about that actually get to drink. These very limited releases from Irish Distillers down in Midleton, County Cork, have a rabid fan base of whiskey drinkers who care deeply about Irish whiskey as a style. (Irish Distillers also makes some of Ireland’s most famous whiskey brands from Redbreast to Jameson to Powers and so many more.)

This year’s 2021 Vintage marked the beginning of a new era as Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman’s first Very Rare release. O’Gorman took over the reins of Midelton from Irish whiskey distilling legend Brian Nation who’s now in Minnesota making a go of it there as a Master Distiller in the craft game.

As an avid fan of Midleton and Irish whiskey in general, I was very happy when this bottle arrived on my doorstep. So let’s get into how this one tastes!

Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release 2021 Finest Irish Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Average Price: Sold Out ($180 MSRP)

The Whiskey:

The 38th Very Rare release from Midleton is a marrying of single pot still and grain whiskeys that spent 15 to 36 years aging in ex-bourbon barrels. The barrels were specifically chosen for their very light char. Those whiskeys were masterfully vatted and then proofed down with that iconic Cork County springwater to a very accessible 80 proof.

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a clear sense of Irish grain whiskey that leads towards apple candy (think fancy Jolly Ranchers). There’s also a touch of lemon pepper on the nose that works really well with that sweet apple candy.

The palate is interesting. You definitely know you’re drinking Irish whiskey with a light grain vibe with a slightly floral note that leads towards … I want to say … pears stewed with saffron, very mild cinnamon, and grape-forward brandy. The fruitiness kicks up a notch as you sip again, surfacing as a sweet/tart/savory kiwi — the green flesh and white pith, not the sandpaper skin.

Going back in for a second and third nose and sip reveals a deep vanilla bourbon nature next to a light maltiness. There’s exactly zero alcohol burn thanks to that low ABV. The end is soft, fruity, and slightly warming but doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The Bottle:

The presentation of this bottle is pretty damn special. The bottle comes tucked into a nice wooden box with some serious heft. The bottle itself feels like an art-deco throwback, also with some serious heft. It’s not overly ostentatious but is eye-catching.

The label has a lot on it, which can be intimidating. But it sort of works for how special this release is.

Bottom Line:

Overall, this is a perfectly fine dram of very refined whiskey. It’s much thinner than Redbreast but not as light as Jameson. Still, it doesn’t feel like I’m drinking something overly aged or tinkered with. That’s a good thing because that means it’s super easy to drink, ultra-refined and confident, and quite pleasant.

Rating:

If I were ranking this against only Irish whiskey, I think it’d fall around 95/100. It’s a fine dram that highlights the beautiful nuance of the style. If I were ranking this against all whisk(e)y (which I am!), I’d say this is more an 85/100.

It’s very light for the bracket of high-end whiskeys this falls into. I could see whiskey heads who drink murky Kentucky, Texas, or Indiana bourbons at the same price point saying, “there’s not a lot of there there” thanks to the very low ABV.

On the set of Crime Scene Kitchen (which airs Wednesdays on FOX and which you can stream on Hulu), Joel McHale‘s job is to be the ringleader of a competition cooking show where contestants try to analyze scattered ingredients and clues to guess the desserts that they’re supposed to make. Also, sometimes he gently toys with and lightly tortures them. Very lightly. For fun!

His (and my) job during this interview, on the other hand?

Not being distracted by my toy shelf (this is becoming a problem) and discussing the art and science and miracle of baking when we both really just want to talk about the eating part. Does he succeed? Kinda, with little help from me. What I can say is, we go into the DNA of the show, discuss Kelly Clarkson, murder, more murder, Batman, the virtue of perseverance when cooking the meats, and how wedding cakes can predict the viability of a marriage. If you dig on that sort of interview mayhem, check it out!

***

So, you’re hosting a baking competition show, how does this come together?

Well, I entered the baking competition show lottery…

Boy, I think it’s a combination of the fact that I appeared on The Masked Singer and I Can See Your Voice, and I did the New Year’s Eve thing for Fox. That’s been over a few years, and I do love cooking, as evidenced by my Instagram. And secretly I love baked goods, but I just have to be very careful with that. Unless you’re hosting a baking show where you eat 16 desserts a day, which — when somebody gave me that green light, I went for it like a lemming does the cliff.

So, yeah. If I wasn’t an actor or host, I would probably be working for Curtis Stone in his restaurant.

Are you just on a treadmill like 24/7 to try to work it all off?

[Laughs] Yes. I’m opening a new bakery where it’s just treadmills, and it’s a zero-sum baked goods thing where you walk in, you’re like, “Oh, you would like a piece of carrot cake? Terrific. Hop on there for the next two hours, and you will have no guilt.”

That sounds like something we could see legitimately within the next couple of years.

I’ll do it.

I did see you had a couple of appearances baking beside Kelly Clarkson. Is that intimidating?

Everything is intimidating next to Kelly Clarkson. I don’t know if you’ve interviewed her, but she’s the bee’s knees. She is the gal that when she walks into a party, you go, “Oh, now it’s a party.” I mean, obviously, she’s insanely talented, and it was no joke that she freaking won American Idol when 25 million people were tuning in every couple of nights. The room is a little bit brighter when she’s in it. And so, I joke around a lot with her, but I highly recommend interviewing her. And Gonzo [alluding to a Muppet on my bookcase].

I’ve interviewed Dave Goelz, the voice of Gonzo, so close enough.

Have you interviewed Frank Oz?

Not yet. I will have to add him to my list. Not that I have a list. That would make me sound like a serial killer.

It would be great if you did have a list, you interviewed people and then murdered them. I wonder how long you could keep that show going before you’d be caught?

That’s my Facebook Watch original show idea that I’m going to put into play, actually.

I’ll tune in. I mean, sure. It’s all evidence and I would be a witness, but still.

Where does the evidence aspect of Crime Scene Kitchen come into play, by the way?

That’s called a transition!

And I applaud you on that! That shows that we are both professionals. So I think like with The Masked Singer and I Can See Your Voice, ultimately, it’s kind of a fascinating unboxing video. People want to know what’s behind or what is that thing, and that’s kind of the same idea. There’s a kitchen, they leave a little bit of cocoa powder. “Oh, there’s some fondant” or “oh, there’s a whisk of a certain type.” Some things are open, some things are not, and [you can tell] something was baked there. So they have to go figure that out in two minutes. And then they have a couple of hours to recreate that thing. All while trying to solve an actual murder. Well, not the murder part… but close.

Look, my heart is basically just a ball-bearing. I don’t really have one, but I genuinely was getting excited, not only to eat these things, but you would be amazed at how close people get. And of course, how they miss it. And there are incredibly well-trained bakers who have schooling, went to France, did all that stuff, and then people who were self-taught, and you’d be amazed at how successful and unsuccessful both of those groups are. So, it’s not like it was like, “Oh, all the trained bakers won.”

I’m going to make a creative suggestion. Instead of placing the evidence throughout a kitchen, just put it on a fat guy’s shirt, like track the stains on my shirt.

[Laughs] Wow, I cannot say that out loud but thank you.

I get to say it because I am fat.

I will make this official. I’m going to pay you for that joke. I will be using that joke later. Definitely in stand-ups, so I want to thank you in advance for that, and I am absolutely going to be plagiarizing.

That’s fine. That’s totally fine. I stole from The Soup for years.

Oh, well then we’re even.

I’m trying to think of some baking-specific questions.

Oh, well, don’t worry about that. I did not know much about baking, is what I’ll say.

I’m not asking specifics about how to bake. I don’t know it either. I’m talking about the consumption portion of it. You’re a fit guy. Did you consider bulking up for this?

[Laughs] I basically did the opposite. I basically starved myself, because we were eating a lot and you can’t be some a-hole that just takes one bite, and then, because I’m not the… I mean, Yolanda Gampp and Curtis Stone were the judges, and they truly are like scientists. They know their shit so well. I’m genuinely excited to eat these things, and you can’t just take one bite and go, “I know.” So I really enjoyed them, and I thought, “How often does this happen, where I have 16 desserts a day?” So… A couple of times, I really did have to go lie down on a couch and just let the sugar cascade out of my system, because at one point I was like, “Oh, boy, so this is like drinking.” I was enjoying it so much.

But I will say, I knew that baking was difficult, but the complexity of getting it all right, I swear to you is like trying to make The Godfather over and over again, because if you screw up one little thing, they’re like, “Well, you know what happened here?” People are like, “Yeah, I know.” I’m like, “What?” They’re like, “You let your egg whites cook for more than three minutes, and that just ruined the whole thing, and now I can taste it.” And I’m like, “I can’t.”

The precision is bananas. So, it’s like ice skating.

Do you have a preference: pie versus cake?

I think cake has been so adulterated in America. Is that the right word? I did not know what it was like to have a certain quality of cake. The world of cakes has been opened up to me and I’m like, “Bring it on. It’s so good.” I think wedding cake is probably one of the worst versions of cake, unless you get a really good baker. I went to a wedding one time where they served ice cream wedding cake, and it was the only time I’ve seen people go back for a second.

Like a big Fudgie the Whale or like a custom?

So it was a custom wedding cake, and each layer was half ice cream, half cake. So when you cut into that thing, you got a piece of, like it was cake on one side, ice cream on the other, and it was like vanilla cake and chocolate ice cream. And I was just like, “Thank you, Jesus.”

That’s a couple that’s going to make it. They know how to compromise.

They are still married.

See. You can tell from the cake.

So, I saw you were on Fallon and, you were talking about making the perfect ribeye. Any more cooking tips… beyond baking, where you’ve established that you’re more of a consumer than a craftsman, which is, again, completely understandable.

It’s like, I love wine. I love it. And I have a lot of it and I know about it somewhat, but when people are like, “Hey, are you going to make your own wine?” I was like, “No way.” You have to be so educated and so good. It’s a lifetime. I was like, “What?” Every time I hear about a freaking actor making their own wine, I’m just like, “They’re not.” The only actor I know, I think there are three actors… I know Kyle MacLachlan can actually make wine. He knows how to do it. He’s good at it, and it’s a whole skillset. Kurt Russell, I think makes his own. I think he kind of makes it. Emilio Estevez can actually make wine.

I think Sam Neill is also on that list.

Sam, yes. But you could make the argument that Sam Neill has kind of stepped away from acting to pursue the perfect Shiraz. He is definitely a scientist, as well. Anyway, so with ribeye… what were you saying about ribeyes? [Laughs]

I have no fucking idea. [Laughs]

Here’s what I’ll say: I love cooking steaks. It drives my wife out of her mind, because she’s like, “I wouldn’t even eat steak if I wasn’t married to you.” And I was like, “25 years married. Let’s eat some steak.” But the great thing about steak is that you can undercook it and be okay, and put it right back on the stove or in the oven, but if you overcook it, then you’re an abomination and should be taken out back.

When I test out my jokes for stand-up, I do the same joke like 10 shows in a row to get the joke going and to get the bit going, so I will do a bone-in ribeye brown butter thing, which is what I told Fallon to do. I’ve done that now like I don’t know, 50 times just so I can get it right. It’s actually a pretty easy recipe. I think people get a little scared. But the more you practice, I mean, it makes perfect sense. The more you practice it, the easier it is.

I’m out of questions.

I like that. That’s fine. I got questions for you. This is good. I can’t tell if that’s…I think it’s Batman. For a moment I thought it was Darth Vader, but it’s definitely Batman. [he’s talking about my bookcase again]

Many Batmans. Too many Batmans.

Who’s your favorite Batman?

The Keaton era movie one, because it’s the first one for me.

I was in high school when those started coming out. I’m sure you weren’t even born, but I was on the football team, and the band would play the theme to Batman while it was raining in Seattle, and I was just like, “This is the coolest high school band of all time.”

You know what would’ve been cooler? If they played “Partyman.” From the soundtrack, that would’ve been cooler if they would’ve done that.

They played Batdance by Prince.

That’s pretty cool. That’s up there.

Are you excited? I’m actually very excited for Robert Pattinson’s Batman because I think he is a tremendous actor, and after watching him in Tenet, I was just like, “This guy can do anything. He’s amazing.”

I’m very excited for it. I think he’s a tremendous actor. That movie he made with the Safdie Brothers is really good. So good I forget the name of it.

I was going to say, he played Kevin Garnett and I was like, “Wow. That’s amazing.”

So much range. You look at Pattinson and you think he’s more of a Stephon Marbury type of actor, but no, he elevated.

Oi, Kevin Garnett, he did a great job in Uncut Gems. Also that guy, the kind of older enforcer guy who was not an actor was incredible.

Yes. A lot of those people weren’t actors actually. It’s really incredible.

Seth Rogen said it, that comedy, and this is going to say ‘woe is me’ because I’ve obviously made a living doing comedy, but comedy’s always like the last on the list of anything that gets honored, and I couldn’t agree more, because when I look at Sandler’s performance in Uncut Gems, it’s Oscar-worthy. Of course, he should have won and he should be nominated for a lot of things he’s done. But that performance was incredible, and it just gets written off as, “oh, it’s Adam Sandler.” And because he is such an insanely successful comedian, it gets overlooked, because that movie is a masterpiece. I mean, not only is it well made obviously, but the performances are amazing. Now, I’ll keep talking about this.

This has reached the point in the article where no one’s actually going to be reading anymore, so it’s fine.

I think that happened about half an hour ago.

New episodes of ‘Crime Scene Kitchen’ air Wednesdays at 9 on FOX

Well, he didn’t change his middle name to “Love” for nothing. Sean Combs — aka Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, and Brother Love — has proven himself once again to be a masterful social media troll, keying into the renewed rumors of his ex Jennifer Lopez’s reunion with Ben Affleck to incite a little Joker-esque chaos on an otherwise quiet Thursday.

After the news broke that J. Lo — who’s had a bit of fun with the celebrity gossip industrial complex on social media herself lately — had broken up with Alex Rodriguez, the peanut gallery got a huge chunk of fat to chew as the actress/singer was later seen out with former beau Ben Affleck. Not to be outdone or forgotten, though, Diddy made sure that followers would remember that before there was “Bennifer,” Diddy was the other half of a Lopez power couple — one that had its fair share of memorable moments.

Posting a photo of the two of them together with a #TBT (Throwback Thursday) hashtag, Diddy stirred up a veritable symphony of flabbergasted fan reactions wondering whether he was shooting his shot or just kicking up dust for the fun of it. For what it’s worth, for Puff to still be in the running after all these years, J. Lo would have to have forgiven him for getting her arrested after the infamous 1999 nightclub shooting that sent Shyne to prison for a decade and contributed to the couple’s breakup. Diddy’s a notorious optimist, and it has been twenty years, but if he really is calling his shot, his odds probably aren’t great after this stunt. Check out the responses below.

Knockout City is kind of like a lot of things. Its bright, endlessly-customizable outfits and gear instantly bring Fortnite to mind and the chaotic gameplay certainly reinforces that. It’s like a lot of frenetic shooters, skinned in a style that games like Rocket Arena have emulated without the instant replayability that has made similar titles Rocket League and Fortnite extremely successful.

But the early returns on playing the chaotic dodgeball simulator — whimsically set in a world where guns were never invented and scores are settled by gangs with high-tech dodgeball matches — are strong enough to make you wonder if Knockout City will be a game future titles emulate themselves. Unlike Rocket Arena, a game where chaos and confusion never really translated into fun, Knockout City is fun even when it’s frenetically busy.

Part of the allure is that, at its core, it’s very simple. The main controls are on the triggers, which allow you to catch a ball and throw a ball. There are varying kinds of special balls, power moves, and lots and lots of dodging and running, but the core mechanics are the timing of throwing and catching a ball. Get hit once and you can get eliminated with a second hit. Or catch a ball thrown your way and you can try to knock someone else out.

Once you get all that down and test out the mechanics, playing through the various modes of Knockout City is to immediately confront just how good you are at the game. Because despite its simplicity, it can get complicated in a hurry. Teamwork is everything, timing is key and working together to find isolated players and plunk them in the face with digital balls is essential. The learning curve is swift here, especially when playing against teams that are in a groove and know what to expect. If you’re going to wander off alone and not communicate with your teammates, you could get completely wrecked by a more experienced squad.

Ultimately what makes Knockout City worth trying is that it feels like dodgeball, which is good because at its core, it is. Teams can go to work on individuals, and the fear of taking someone on with a ball in their hands is real. But making that happen in a video game is easier said than done. The game’s engine works here, and the physics are realistic without making things too simplistic. Knockouts don’t come cheap, and they certainly don’t feel it.

This is a skill-based game through and through, which means if you don’t have the juice, you can feel like a liability to your teammates in a hurry. Though there are few things more immediately satisfying than turning yourself into a ball and letting a teammate use you to plunk someone else, being the easy target for another team is a humbling experience no matter how quick the game goes. There’s an equity in there that’s hard to beat, though, and knowing less-talented players can’t simply VC-spend their way to glory is at least a bit of comfort here.

EA launched the game on Friday with a Block Party event where the game is free to try for its first two weeks. With no level caps or restrictions on what you can play and earn, anyone still skeptical of the $20 price of admission can give it a try for themselves and see if the juice is worth the squeeze here. I’d just recommend playing with some friends, taking it slow and practicing a good deal before you let yourself into the competitive space, because things are already tough out there.

With the premiere of Loki is just around the corner, Marvel continues to share bits and pieces from the time-traveling Disney+ series as it slowly pulls back the curtain on Loki’s solo adventure after breaking reality by cheating death in Avengers: Endgame. In the latest promotional spot, titled “Chaos,” the Trickster God drops the line that will sound very familiar to Guardians of the Galaxy fans.

During a voiceover, Loki refers to himself as “Good… bad… a little of both,” which is almost the same language that Star-Lord uses in the final moments of the first Guardians film when he asks the newly formed team what they want to do next. Does this mean Loki will have a run-in with Rocket Raccoon and the others? Who knows? The Disney+ series promises a cataclysmic event on a massive scale, and with at least one Infinity Stone in the mix, the God of Mischief is essentially traipsing through the Guardians’ backyard. But with the timeline raveling apart, will the Guardians even exist or have the same members from the previous MCU films? Marvel fans will have to wait and see.

Here’s the official synopsis for Loki:

Picking up immediately after Loki steals the Tesseract (again), he finds himself called before the Time Variance Authority, a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of time and space, forced to answer for his crimes against the timeline and given a choice: face deletion from reality or assist in catching an even greater threat.

Loki starts streaming Wednesday, June 9 on Disney+.

Logan Cemetery in Utah is home to one of the most creative and practical headstones to ever mark a final resting place. The headstone for husband and wife, Wade and Kathryn Andrews, features the dates they lived, some images that represent Wade’s life, and Kathryn’s fudge recipe.

Wade first passed away in 2000 and Kathryn helped select the images that went on his side of the headstone. When her children asked what she’d like to have to have on hers, she said she’d like her fudge recipe.

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via Find a Grave

“She really loved people,” Janice Johnson, Kathryn’s daughter, said according to Lexington 18. “She would write poetry, and she would take fudge whenever people got together.”

The headstone has become quite the attraction at Logan Cemetery with photos of it popping up online.

Kay’s Fudge Recipe – The tombstone is a Marble slab and this photo was… #funniness #laugh #grin #jolly https://t.co/HTS50SeT7p

— Caiden Albrecht (@caialbrefire)
1547754171.0

The cool thing is that Kathryn, who also went by Kay, knew that it brought people joy because it was engraved years before her passing in 2019 at the age of 97.

Kay may have left this mortal coil, but her fudge recipe lives on.

KAY’S FUDGE

2 SQ. CHOCOLATE

2 TBS. BUTTER

MELT ON LOW HEAT

STIR IN 1 CUP MILK

BRING TO BOIL

3 CUPS SUGAR

1 TSP. VANILLA

PINCH OF SALT

COOK TO SOFTBALL STAGE

POUR ON MARBLE SLAB

COOL & BEAT & EAT

Lady Gaga. Mother Monster. Stefani Germanotta. It doesn’t matter which name she goes by, it’s undeniable that Lady Gaga is one of the most exhilarating pop stars of this generation. Ever since her major-label debut with 2008’s The Fame, she’s donned many hats: a human-motorcycle hybrid for her sophomore album Born This Way (which turned 10 on May 23rd), a Warholian figure for 2013’s ARTPOP, a smoky jazz singer who doubled as Tony Bennett’s BFF, a political advocate for the underrepresented youth, an Oscar-nominated actress (and -winning musician), and a businesswoman who oversees everything from her Born This Way Foundation to her Haus Laboratories cosmetics line. She even took the hat-wearing literally, going full cowgirl for 2016’s Joanne.

Lady Gaga’s journey is an inspiring one: from scoring gigs in the Lower East Side of her native Manhattan to trying to replicate the genius of David Bowie, Queen and Madonna to becoming a fully realized artist whose greatest attribute is fearlessly being herself. Her vulnerability and willingness to experiment with every inch of her sound and looks has rubbed off on a new generation of quirky singers, who now also have a chance at fame thanks to Lady Gaga helping to pave the way.

In celebration of Lady Gaga’s rising icon status, we present a ranking of our favorite songs.

30. “LoveGame” (The Fame, 2008)

Lady Gaga wrote “LoveGame” in just four minutes the day after she went clubbing, using a guy she thought was hot as her muse. The pickup line she uttered — “I wanna ride on your disco stick” — transformed from the song’s intro into a literal rock candy-shaped disco stick that was seen everywhere from the music video and her live performances to Halloween costumes. While it hasn’t aged the best compared to the rest of The Fame, “LoveGame” was essential in Gaga’s building blocks of her pop music takeover.

29. “Sour Candy” (Chromatica, 2020)

Here, the singer lets her guests take over the show. K-pop girl group Blackpink’s sticky-sweet harmonies bring the song’s title to life, charming listeners in both their native Korean and English tongues. Gaga’s vocals are somewhat of a moody shadow, looming over the infectious deep house beat (courtesy of dance-pop masters BloodPop and Burns) that’ll make mouths water all over the dance floor.

28. “Sinner’s Prayer” (Joanne, 2016)

The pink cowboy hat that Lady Gaga donned throughout her Joanne era founds its purpose on “Sinner’s Prayer.” A jangling “take me as I am” midtempo tune, it’s a heartfelt fusion of bluegrass, indie folk, and pop — a product of its eclectic collaborators Mark Ronson, Father John Misty, and BloodPop. Gaga isn’t looking for any kind of redemption here, contrasting the string of biblical references tossed throughout the song. It’s a wonder Quentin Tarantino has yet to snatch this to soundtrack his next spaghetti western.

27. “Teeth” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

The Fame Monster gave us the first glimpse of just how brilliantly weird Lady Gaga was going to become, and “Teeth” is the ultimate marker. Co-written and co-produced by New Jack Swing legend Teddy Riley, the track is a standout from the rest of the EP’s synth-pop. “Take a bite of my bad girl meat,” the singer commands over a wobbly, funkified production that’s lifted from the most guttural parts of the Bible Belt. Leave it up to Gaga to make oral fixations sound so gnarly.

26. “Million Reasons” (Joanne, 2016)

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The Joanne era found Gaga stumbling a bit as she tried to seamlessly meld country and pop. And while “Million Reasons” isn’t her strongest ballad, it’s certainly one of her most touching. The song’s tenderness appears to resonate with Gaga as well. It was the closer of her Joanne World Tour and she performed it nearly every chance she got, from the Grammy Awards (where it earned a Best Pop Solo Performance nomination) to her 2017 Super Bowl halftime show. “Million Reasons” even crept into her promotional run for A Star Is Born two years later, taking on a new life as the now-infamous “There can be 100 people in a room” quote.

25. “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” (The Fame, 2008)

Sure, some fans may call this track “basic.” But not every Lady Gaga song is meant to smack you across the face with otherworldly synths. “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” is refreshing because of its simplistic nature. Borrowing from ‘90s Eurodance melodies as heard in Ace Of Base, the song is irresistible bubblegum pop bliss. The Joseph Kahn-directed video amplifies this feeling, with Gaga embracing her Italian heritage as a housewife ready to find a new man in a ‘50s-inspired Little Italy dream world.

24. “Dancin’ In Circles” (Joanne, 2016)

Who knew Beck was such a freak? The experimental rock artist is the co-writer of this self-love anthem, which doubles as the millennial version of Divinyls’ 1990 classic, “I Touch Myself.” A fusion of reggae, ska, and pop, “Dancin’ In Circles” finds Gaga yearning for pleasure… if only her partner was around. The singer has praised masturbation before (see The Fame Monster’s “So Happy I Could Die” and ARTPOP’s “Sexxx Dreams”), but here she makes loneliness feel oh-so-good.

23. “Stupid Love” (Chromatica, 2020)

After Joanne’s lukewarm reviews and Gaga leaping further into the movie industry, many wondered if she was capable of returning to her original form as pop’s wild child. Well “Stupid Love,” the lead single from Chromatica, proved that spark never left. The blippy, disco-pop melodies combined with soaring ‘80s-style vocals transported doubters back to the early days of her career. It’s partly thanks to co-writer and pop mastermind Max Martin, marking the first time the pair collaborated. “Stupid Love” is a silly, joyous club jam that doesn’t take itself too seriously, leaving us all with no choice but to “freak out, freak out, freak out, freak out”.

22. “Electric Chapel” (Born This Way, 2011)

There’s a song on Born This Way titled “Heavy Metal Lover,” but “Electric Chapel” is where heavy metal is actually found. Whipping up the best of Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Judas Priest into a blender, the track transports you to the genre’s ‘80s glory days as soon as that dagger-sharp riff kicks in. Like many songs on the album, it’s a stellar mix of religious and pop music metaphors, with Gaga substituting a traditional church for a chrome-colored safe space for fans and lovers alike.

21. “G.U.Y.” (ARTPOP, 2013)

ARTPOP remains Gaga’s strangest era, and it’s a shame that “G.U.Y.” got stuck beneath all the theatrics. A power-bottom anthem for the ages, the song is for the girls and gays who take pride in being submissive — but only in the bedroom. Standing for “Girl Under You,” Gaga teamed up with Zedd for a buzzing tune stuffed with clever double-entendres (the “retweet” line references the Twitter icon resembling the 69 position). The seven-minute-long short film took the song’s campiness to new heights, starring the cast from Bravo’s reality show The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills who revel in the artist’s over-the-top extravaganza.

20. “So Happy I Could Die” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

For most pop singers, a song titled “So Happy I Could Die” is more flippant than metaphorical. But Gaga has always been one to take her meanings a step further. This trance-like Fame Monster deep cut has a somber undertone, straddling the line of enjoying alcohol-induced liberation and fear of addiction. Throughout this inner conflict, she just happens to meet a lavender blonde that piques her bi-curiosity. Overall, “So Happy I Could Die” exudes pure euphoria that makes you want to ascend to the heavens after a single listen.

19. “Applause” (ARTPOP, 2013)

“Applause” signified just how massive Lady Gaga had become. She was no longer the NYC Italian-American girl struggling to find gigs at local venues. No, she was a bonafide superstar whose every breath relied on the praise of her diehard fans. That kind of codependency was the basis for “Applause,” which was written in the aftermath of the singer taking a six-month hiatus following hip surgery. During that time, she craved the attention from Little Monsters screaming her name at sold-out arenas. The music video, directed by fashion photography duo Inez and Vinoodh, was equal parts self-aware musician and off-the-wall theater kid. She herself summed it up best: “Pop culture was in art, now art’s in pop culture, in me!”

18. “Scheiße” (Born This Way, 2011)

Like the majority of Born This Way, “Scheiße” was the product of Lady Gaga’s tour bus recording sessions as she bulldozed through Europe during The Monster Ball Tour. The song is utter chaos in a way that only Gaga could pull off, kicking off with purely nonsensical German tongue. It’s a ridiculously catchy headspin of Eurodisco, techno, and electroclash found in the deepest corners of Berlin, wired together by whirring synths and a head-pounding bassline. “Scheiße” is one of her most liberating tunes, commanding the dance floor just as strongly as she commands female empowerment rights: “If you’re a strong female / You don’t need permission.”

17. “Swine” (ARTPOP, 2013)

If “Scheiße” is chaotic, then “Swine” is the mayhem that tornadoes around it. The ARTPOP deep cut is a melodic madhouse, with Gaga using her sexual assault by a music producer at age 19 as an emotional release. Being the genius she is, she transformed that traumatic memory into an unsettling call-out to those who take advantage of others. “You’re just a pig inside a human body / Squealer, squealer, SQUEAL OUT, you’re so disgusting!” she wails on the chorus, which she intensified during a vomit-filled performance at 2014’s SXSW. After the song is over, you’re left feeling repulsed and uneasy — not only by the predatory men that still freely roam the earth, but the inner demons that you’ve tried and failed to suppress.

16. “Just Dance” (The Fame, 2008)

Picture this: it’s the beginning of spring in 2008 and students who are just returning from break are still longing to party ‘til the sun comes up. In comes a relatively unknown singer from New York City who has her eyes set on dominating the pop world. “Just Dance,” produced by RedOne and co-written by Akon, was Lady Gaga’s drunken daze of a debut single. Using dance as the remedy for our problems, the song replicated that rush to the sticky-and-sweaty club floors for millennial kids everywhere. It was a sleeper hit: finally topping the Billboard Hot 100 after five months of being on the chart, showing Gaga was here to stay. One can’t say the same for Colby O’Donis, whose clichéd guest verse remains trapped in late ‘00s clubs.

15. “I’ll Never Love Again” (A Star Is Born, 2018)

Lady Gaga is at her best when she’s stripped away from all the wacky (but still beloved) synths and solely accompanied by a piano. She’s recorded plenty of piano ballads, but the Grammy-winning “I’ll Never Love Again” is absolutely devastating. Serving as the final scene of A Star Is Born, the track combines two tragedies: the fictional loss of Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Maine and Gaga’s real-life loss of her childhood friend Sonja Durham. Gaga, who arrived from the film’s set to the hospital just 10 minutes after Durham passed from cancer, poured every inch of her grief into the song and the scene. It’s one of the most powerful film moments that sits right up there with Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” from 1992’s The Bodyguard.

14. “Bloody Mary” (Born This Way, 2011)

Love is the sweetest sin on “Bloody Mary”, one of the most sonically wicked tunes in Mother Monster’s arsenal. Here, Lady Gaga plays the role of Mary Magdalene who she called “the ultimate rockstar’s girlfriend”. Her unshakeable devotion is ultimately too seductive to ever make it beyond the steps of the Catholic Church — but that’s what makes it so satisfying. There may be Gregorian-inspired chants and promises to dance like Jesus said, but the warped vocal effects and pained shouts of “LOVE!” keep the song distinctively Gaga.

13. “Rain On Me” (Chromatica, 2020)

It’s always an event with Lady Gaga collaborates with a fellow pop star, and “Rain On Me” was no exception. She called on fellow Italian girl, Ariana Grande, for this uplifting single that provided listeners with hope at the start of the pandemic. They briefly dwell in their pain, but also churn it into positivity. During a 2020 interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Gaga revealed the line “I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive” also references her ongoing struggle with sobriety, a subject she’s tackled since the beginning of her career. That vulnerability is what keeps “Rain On Me” weighted and not simply just a radio-friendly pop tune.

12. “The Edge of Glory” (Born This Way, 2011)

Born This Way celebrates the — ahem — glory days of ‘80s rock and pop, and “The Edge Of Glory” fully encapsulates the decade’s sonic freedom. It’s a total rush, with Gaga’s vocals ballooning enough to fill stadiums that would later sing along. Inspired by the passing of her grandfather, Gaga channels her inner Bruce Springsteen to stress the importance of cherishing every waking moment of life. And what better way to honor The Boss than by calling on Clarence Clemons? Here, the late E Street band’s saxophonist adds an additional feeling of hope to the already-galvanizing track.

11. “You And I” (Born This Way, 2011)

Where “Million Reasons” had a shaky attempt at modern country, “You And I” excelled at it. Gaga’s signature kookiness is still at the heart of this Grammy-nominated honky-tonk midtempo, but (like with many songs on Born This Way) she fearlessly tackled an untouched sonic territory. An ode to her “cool Nebraska guy” (the origin of her then-boyfriend Lüc Carl), it’s the purest moment on Born This Way. Drenched in whiskey and kisses, it was meant to be an All-American classic thanks to the sample of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” (Brian May plays guitar on the track) and production by arena-rock legend Mutt Lange. “You And I” also served as the introduction to Gaga’s rowdy make alter-ego Jo Calderone, who’s in dire need of a reappearance.

10. “Telephone” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

Lady Gaga and Beyoncé first gave the collaboration thing a try with 2009’s “Video Phone” from the latter’s I Am…Sasha Fierce. But lightning officially struck with the dynamic pair traded in a then-burgeoning technology for a more classic telecommunications device. Originally meant for Britney Spears, the Grammy-nominated “Telephone” is a pop whirlwind that was made even more crazed with the nine-minute-long short film that picks up where “Paparazzi” left off. Inspired by Quentin Tarantino classics like Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Pulp Fiction (which carried on the Reservoir Dogs-inspired “Video Phone” video), it follows Beyoncé picking up her best gal-in-crime from jail as they both plan a colorful murdering spree at a diner. It’s cheeky (“Let’s make a sandwich!”), dancefloor-shattering (“This is a DISAS-TUH!”) and just fun to watch two pop stars create magic. “Telephone” was such a spectacle that you almost forget that a powerhouse like Beyoncé is sparingly utilized.

9. “Poker Face” (The Fame, 2008)

Sure, “Just Dance” was Lady Gaga’s debut single. But if you let fans tell it, it’s “Poker Face” that signifies her major breakthrough. The chart-topping, Grammy-winning tune is a naughty twist on the popular Texas Hold ‘Em card game. But rather than playing for chips, Gaga is playing her man who doesn’t know she’d rather be with a woman. And her allure is just as addicting as the song, with its robotic Mum-mum-mum-mah’s, pure pop chorus, and lyrical winks like “’Cause I’m bluffin’ with my muffin”. “Poker Face” was saved from being too cheesy with Gaga’s theatrical piano rendition that was later covered on hit shows like Glee and sampled on Kid Cudi’s “Make Her Say” single.

8. “Speechless” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

At the time of The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga was seen more for her wacky costumes. But beneath the hair bows and bubble dresses was an immensely talented vocalist and pianist. She showcased such on “Speechless,” which could’ve fit in Queen’s arena-filling heydays just as easily as beneath the bright lights of Broadway. Written as a plea for her father Joseph Germanotta to have open-heart surgery, the ballad is an impassioned urge enveloped in ‘70s rock melodies. Do yourself a favor and check out her live rendition, which drowns the original with overwhelming emotions.

7. “Dance In The Dark” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

Ask any Little Monster to choose their pick for Lady Gaga’s most underrated song, and all signs will point to “Dance In The Dark”. It was meant to be The Fame Monster’s third single, but was overlooked for the ABBA-and-Madonna homage “Alejandro”. Nevertheless, “Dance In The Dark” remains adored for its raw body image themes. At first listen, it’s an orgasmic experience fit for the grittiest of BDSM basements. But once the lights go down, it reveals a string of insecurities of not wanting your partner to see your naked body. That sense of shame is cemented in the plastic surgery-referencing opener: “Silicone, saline, poison / Inject me baby / I’m a free bitch”. The tragic glamour continues with the bridge, which evokes Madonna’s spoken word on “Vogue,” paying respects to fallen pop-culture deities like Marilyn Monroe, Sylvia Plath, JonBenét Ramsey, and Princess Diana.

6. “Shallow” (A Star Is Born, 2018)

It’s hard to remember the last time a movie delivered a striking duet like A Star Is Born’s “Shallow.” Sure, it was exciting to hear Bradley Cooper explore musical terrain. But the thrill of the song was the humanization of Lady Gaga, who became the former’s equal while showcasing just how strong her vocals have grown. “Shallow” is all about taking a leap, whether that be with faith or love, and the pair dove headfirst. After winning two out of four Grammy Awards, the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song (among other accolades), and becoming Gaga’s longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, “Shallow” has grown bigger than the song itself. Just like Cooper’s Jackson Maine couldn’t help but to take another look at Gaga’s Ally, the entire world couldn’t help but hit that “repeat” button just one more time.

5. “Judas” (Born This Way, 2011)

A theme song for holy fools everywhere, “Judas” is all about betrayal. But rather than a simple retelling of Judas Iscariot, Gaga crowns herself as Mary Magdalene as she struggles between choosing Jesus (righteousness) or Judas (temptation). Her lyrics about wanting forgiveness for her past sins are nearly stomped out by intense industrial-inspired synths. Even Gaga herself can’t make up her mind about the sonic direction, alternating between a robotic, quasi-Caribbean tone in the verses and bubbly power pop on the radio-crafted chorus. The gothic undertones come alive in the music video, which reimagines Jesus and his Twelve Apostles as a rowdy biker gang, with Judas played by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. If any other pop counterpart attempted to pull off “Judas,” it would fail miserably. But the magic of Mother Monster is that she can make something completely unhinged look beautiful.

4. “Marry The Night” (Born This Way, 2011)

Lady Gaga often turns her pain into art, and her trauma overflows on “Marry The Night.” Looking at the title, it may seem like a mere four-on-the-floor tune. But the accompanying 14-minute-long short film reveals both the turbulent and beautiful parts of her life story. “I’m going to be a star,” she tearfully says in the video, meaning every single syllable. “You know why? Because I have nothing else to lose.” She’s battled sexual assault that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy, debilitating mental health, fibromyalgia, being rejected by major record labels, alcoholism, and more. But what always saved her was her love for her family and, of course, music. “Marry The Night” is about wholeheartedly succumbing to your dreams. For Gaga, that meant finding solace in her hometown’s bars and clubs where she could create safe spaces and ultimately launch her career. Clearly, this isn’t meant to be your average fairy tale. “Marry The Night” is a message of resilience, tenacity, and strength all wrapped up into an irresistible dance anthem. What more could you ask for?

3. “Born This Way” (Born This Way, 2011)

They don’t call her “Mother Monster” for nothing. A longtime advocate for the LGBTQ+ and marginalized ethnic communities, the singer tapped into her maternal instinct to provide comfort to those who were shunned for living in their truth. When the infamous meat dress-clad Lady Gaga first teased this chorus during her Video Of The Year acceptance speech for “Bad Romance” at the 2010 MTV VMAs, no one could predict just how momentous the song would truly become. Yes, it directly lifts from the uplifting melodies of Madonna’s “Express Yourself” (the icon later performed a taunting mashup along with “She’s Not Me” during 2012’s MDNA Tour). Yes, it was one of Gaga’s first missteps as her choice words of “chola” and “orient” was met with criticism. But, like with any ground-breaking pop song, the controversy only added to its appeal. “Born This Way” is an anthem that blasts just as loudly through the streets of annual Pride parades worldwide as it does in the girl group poster-filled walls of Middle America’s queer youths. But its meaning manages to dig deeper than that, growing into a socio-political moment that’ll be etched in history books for generations to come.

2. “Paparazzi” (The Fame, 2008)

From Princess Diana’s tragic death to the brief downfall of Britney Spears, the paparazzi have become one of the more insidious yet inseparable parts of Hollywood. And on “Paparazzi,” Lady Gaga fields it through a lens of horror. The singer’s sickly sweet tone pretties up the track in order to disguise listeners from its subtle sinister qualities. Celebrities’ relationship with the media and the paparazzi is a shameful tug-o-war, all relying on each other to float above fame’s choppy waters. It’s her most clever song to date, perfectly balancing a double meaning of stalking both a lover and a celebrity. “Paparazzi” later solidified its place in pop culture history with the cheeky music video. With its references to Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, it follows Gaga’s fall and rise to fame after killing her equally attention-starved boyfriend (played by Alexander Skarsgård). A year after its release, Gaga’s bloodied theatrical performance at the MTV VMAs that left her swinging from the ceiling proved she wasn’t your average pop star.

1. “Bad Romance” (The Fame Monster, 2009)

Ask any Lady Gaga fan about the first time they watched the “Bad Romance” video and they’ll detail the memory with excitement. For me, it was my freshman year of college: A few floormates and I gathered around my janky laptop to watch the premiere on her official website. Our expressions rapidly alternated between a fit of giddy excitement and jaw-dropping awe. As soon as that “Rah, rah, ah, ah, ah / Roma, Roma-ma / Gaga, ooh la la” buzzed in our ears, we knew we were witnessing history.

“Bad Romance” was the first taste of the formula that Gaga still uses to this day: pure pop melodies, nods to her love for ‘80s and ‘90s dance, pop culture references (the entire second chorus calls out Hitchcock classics like Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window), a radio-friendly chorus that sticks on the charts like honey, and a hefty dose of “WTF” weirdness that keeps the singer in her own lane. The song sliced through the cutesy pop that was weighing down the genre at the time, hypnotizing with its clamoring beats and shocking with an explicit music video. It’s sheer performance art that borrows from Michael Jackson’s love for over-the-top spectacle and Stanley Kubrick’s visual delirium. Here, Gaga is kidnapped and sent to a Russian bathhouse where she’s forced to perform for the highest bidder. But rather than settling, she burns it all (including the dirty gangster in her bed) down. In the words of Miley Cyrus, she couldn’t and will never be tamed.

“Bad Romance” made it clear Lady Gaga wasn’t a singer to be fu*cked with — an attitude that she’s carried throughout her career ever since. And even though she’s traded those iconic Alexander McQueen Armadillo boots seen in the video for a more demure look, the star continues to crush anyone who dares to step in her path.