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In rare footage, Helen Keller verbally shared why she understood the ‘infinite capacity of hope’

In a 1954 documentary short, humanitarian Helen Keller expressed that her greatest regret in life was being unable to speak clearly. But given that she could not see or hear, her speech was quite remarkable.

Keller was born in 1880 and, at the age of 18 months, contracted an unknown illness that left her deaf and blind. But with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, she was able to overcome her disabilities and become an outspoken advocate for the voiceless and oppressed.


Throughout her life, Keller advocated for peace, women’s rights and the worker’s rights movement. She was a devout socialist and an early member of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Her most lasting work was with the American Foundation for the Blind, which she joined in 1924 and would work for over 40 years. Over that time, she visited 35 countries, met with world leaders, and advocated for improved healthcare and education for those with vision loss.

However, even though her efforts changed the lives of millions, she always thought she could do more if she spoke more clearly. But her inability to do so gave her a greater understanding of the human condition.

“It is not blindness or deafness that bring me my darkest hours. It is the acute disappointment in not being able to speak normally,” she said. “Longingly I feel how much more good I may have done, if I had only acquired normal speech. But out of this sorrowful experience, I understand more fully all human striving, thwarted ambitions, and the infinite capacity of hope.”

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10 years ago, a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ performance brought Led Zeppelin’s surviving members to tears

When Billboard and Rolling Stone pull together their “Best Songs of All Time” lists, there are some tunes you know for sure will be included. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is most definitely one of them.

It has everything—the beauty of a ballad, the grunginess of a rock song, the simple solo voice, and the band in full force. “Stairway to Heaven” takes us on a musical journey, and even people who aren’t necessarily giant Led Zeppelin or classic rock fans can’t help but nod or sing along to it.

Of course, it’s also been so ubiquitous (or overplayed, as some would claim) to become a meme among musicians. Signs saying “No Stairway to Heaven” in guitar stores point to how sick of the song many guitarists get, and when Oregon radio station KBOO told listeners they would never play the song again if someone pledged $10,000, Led Zepelin singer Robert Plant himself called in and gave the donation.


Musicians can often tire of performing their songs over and over again, but it’s a different story when someone else puts their spin on it. And at a Led Zeppelin tribute concert at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 2, 2012, rock legends Heart and the son of John Bonham, Led Zeppelin’s original drummer who passed away in 1980 at age 32, performed a rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” that brought the surviving members of the band to their feet—and to tears.

It helps that Heart’s Ann Wilson had been a huge fan of the song since she was 19 and that her voice has a similar quality to Plant’s. But what makes this performance so epic is the contrast between its simple beginnings and huge, full climax with an orchestra and full choir wearing bowler hats (a touching shout out to Bonham, who famously wore one) behind the band.

It’s quite a ride to see the audience grow more and more excited as the song builds and to see Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones clearly awed at their own music being performed with such excellence. As one commenter quipped, “I think this is the first time Led Zeppelin was feeling what people felt listening to them all their lives.”

It’s definitely worth a watch. Enjoy:

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The last surviving witness to Lincoln’s assassination lived long enough to share his story on TV

Samuel J. Seymour was one of the approximately 1,700 people at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. He was also the last to live long enough to talk about that historic night on television.

Seymour was 5 years old when he went to see the play “Our American Cousin” with his nurse, Sarah Cook, and Mrs. Goldsboro, the wife of his father’s employer.

When Booth shot Lincoln, he pulled the trigger during the biggest laugh of the night so that it wouldn’t be heard. What caught Seymour’s attention was when Booth fell from the balcony after a scuffle with Henry Reed Rathbone.


Chaos erupted in the theater and Seymour was ushered out by his nurse. While they fled he overheard people screaming, “Lincoln’s shot! The President is dead!”

“I saw Lincoln slumped forward in his seat,” the old man later recalled. “That night I was shot 50 times, at least, in my dreams—and I sometimes relive the horror of Lincoln’s assassination, dozing in my rocker as an old codger like me is bound to do.”

Two months before Seymour’s death at the age of 95, he appeared on the game show “I’ve Got a Secret,” where panelists tried to guess his secret: “I saw John Wilkes Booth shoot Abraham Lincoln (April 14, 1865).”

Seymour didn’t speak much during the show but he did make a historic understatement when panelist Jayne Meadows asked if his secret was “a pleasant thing,” to which Seymour replied, “Not very pleasant I don’t think. I was scared to death.”

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Lizzo explains how her new video explores the ‘juxtaposition’ of how Black women are seen

Lizzo has taken her hero status to new levels in her latest music video—becoming a full-fledged caped crusader.

The story follows Lizzo as a waitress with a secret identity as a Marvel-esque superhero, who saves strangers from peril. In particular, she saves a little Black girl from getting hit by a car, reminding her just how special she is.

We also see that while doing heroic deeds, Lizzo is adored by the crowd—even by those who initially hold up signs in protest. As a regular Black woman, however, Lizzo (or “Melly,” as it says on her waitress name tag) doesn’t garner nearly as much respect. That is, until she starts standing up for herself.


The video, of course, is for her song “Special,” which has universal resonance as a power anthem of self-love. But in a voice note shared to her Instagram account, Lizzo explained that for the visual story, she wanted to tap into the specific point-of-view of a Black woman.

“The music video starts off as showing the superhero, the Black woman as superhero. And it’s like, America loves a Black woman as superhero, but absolutely hates her as a human being,” she said.

She continued, “The glorious superhero, you see her doing the regular life-saving, press, everyone loves her. And then she takes off her costume, it’s a Black woman and just showing the juxtaposition of how she gets treated in the real world.”

In her caption, the singer shared how she would like for others who look like her to receive the same kind of love that she gets from her fans. “Every night on stage I say ‘thank you for supporting me. For loving me. And when you see someone that looks like me in the Real World, keep that same energy.’ What good is representation if I’m the only one benefiting?”

While that perspective might have been the “seed that planted” the idea for the video, Lizzo did share that the story “is for anyone who has felt unseen, alone, disrespected. I see you.”

Watch the superpowered video below:

Real heroes lift others up. They help make the world a better place for everyone. If anyone fits that bill, it’s Lizzo. And she doesn’t even need a cape to do it.

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Adele moved to tears after a man in the crowd holds up a photo of his late wife

Adele is an artist who regularly interacts with her fans during concerts. But one particular exchange left the singer in tears.

During one of her “Weekends with Adele” shows at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas, the British pop icon began walking through the crowd singing “When We Were Young” when she noticed a man holding up his phone to show a picture of his wife.

Back on stage to sing “Someone Like You,” Adele then said, “This is for you, sir, who’s showing me a photo of his wife on his phone,” while smiling.

Only a few moments later, Adele realized there was an additional layer to the man’s story.


After the song ended, Adele took a moment to describe to the crowd what just happened. “When I walk through the crowd,” she said, taking a big breath to hold back tears, “I wish you could see what I could see.”

She continued, “I know I talk to a few people every night, but then I just see little stories of people happening. There was a man. He’s just there—can you see him holding his phone up?”

Tearing up, the “Hello” singer explained, “I think that’s his wife on his phone, and I don’t think she’s here, and it just really moved me.”

@adeleaccess A very special moment from Adele’s concert this past Friday ♥️ #adele #weekendswithadele #adelevegas #adelelive #someonelikeyou #whenwewereyoung ♬ Someone Like You – Adele

“It looks like you’re here on your own, and I’m so sorry,” she told the man. “I’m so sorry for your loss, and I’m so sorry I didn’t realize what you were showing me until I was already over there. I see these little pockets of people’s lives when I walk through, and it’s so beautiful.”

People who watched the video noticed that the man had held up his wife’s picture while holding his heart. One person wrote, “crying bc he looked so content even if Adele didn’t notice, like he was happy knowing his wife would’ve loved just seeing what he’s seeing.”

It goes to show not only what a big heart Adele has, but the inherent empathy humans have for one another. Complete strangers can create intimate bonds because, to some extent, we all share an experience of love and loss. It’s a painful part of life, but arguably one that makes life so rewarding.

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Who Is Performing At The 2023 Grammys?

The 2023 Grammys are officially just days away! With the show airing live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night, many fans and even just casual music listeners might be wondering what exactly the event has in store.

Along with handing out awards for the coveted Album Of The Year and Song Of The Year awards (and many more), the Recording Academy has a stacked lineup of performances planned throughout the night.

Currently, Bad Bunny, Brandi Carlile, Kim Petras, Lizzo, Luke Combs, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and Steve Lacy are among the first wave of announced musicians hitting the stage.

In addition, earlier today, the Recording Academy revealed that they’ll also be including a tribute segment to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Hosted by LL Cool J and produced by Questlove, the performance will also include Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Too $hort.

The 2023 Grammy Awards airs this Sunday, February 5 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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NLE Choppa Honors The ‘Champions’ Of His Hometown On His New Single

In the midst of turmoil in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, rapper NLE Choppa remains proud of the strength the city has displayed. On his new single, “Champions,” Choppa honors the people of Memphis, and encourages them to keep fighting and being resilient.

“I hate to struggle but it make me harder / I made it far but I wanna go farther / This not for me / This for my son and my daughter / My family tree in that order,” he raps on the track.

The track arrives shortly after Choppa led a peaceful protest in the city in support of Tyre Nichols, who died in Memphis at the hands of five police officers. Days later, Choppa revealed that he plans to start a foundation to support members of Nichols’ family.

In a statement accompanying the release of “Champions,” Choppa said the song is one of his favorite songs he’s ever recorded.

“I feel like this song can speak volumes to us [with motivation], but really resonate with those who don’t know what life has for them,” he said.

The song precedes Choppa’s upcoming album, Cottonwood 2, which is set to arrive this spring.

Check out “Champions” above.

NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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JID And Lute Share The First Taste Of The ‘Creed III’ Soundtrack With Their Powerful Collab, ‘Ma Boy’

On the first single from the official soundtrack to Creed III, JID and Lute step into the ring, hyping each other up on the energetic track, “Ma Boy.” The song features the Dreamville labelmates giving each other encouragement, as they put on their boxing gloves and get ready for an epic fight.

“Boy, boy, that’s my brother, so play it cool / He a fool, a tool, a loose screw / Pickin’ on me, ain’t no pick and choose / Either way that you look, it’s a lose-lose,” raps JID on his first verse.

Soon after, Lute joins in, matching JID’s energy, rapping, “You know that we ain’t the same / You know how I got these stripes / They know I’m rooted in blood / Y’all just be lit of the hype, you know this really my life.”

The soundtrack to the third installment of the Creed series will be executive produced by Dreamville, alongside Proximity Media (Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis), Outlier Society (Michael B. Jordan) and Executive Music Producer Frank Brim. In the past, the soundtrack to the second film was produced by Mike Will Made-It, and the first by Kevin Weaver.

The Creed III soundtrack will arrive next month, in tandem with the movie’s premiere.

In the meantime, you can stream “Ma Boy” here.

The Creed III soundtrack is out 3/3 via Dreamville and Interscope.

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GloRilla Gives The Middle Finger To ‘Internet Trolls’ On Her Empowering New Anthem

GloRilla is back with her empowering brand new song, “Internet Trolls,” which serves as a pushback anthem against exactly that: the online haters.

“You could be who you wanna be, live how you wanna live / Stunt how you wanna stunt, give what you ‘posed to give / Say what you wanna say, feel how you wanna feel,” Glo notes in the first verse. “Sometimes, I think they be forgettin’ the internet a fairytale / Teach that n**** for the people, but in person, he a b*tch / They be gangster on the booth, but in them papers be a snitch.”

As for the music video, it finds GloRilla tracking down her e-haters and teaching them a lesson — without any major spoilers here.

Long story short: nothing online matters. Log off. Have some real fun with your besties. And ignore anyone who has a problem with it.

She had previously teased the heavy-hitting track in a video clip from Triller, where she dances around a room and shows off her decked-out rings.

“Love the positive message Queen!” one fan wrote under Glo’s teaser.

Meanwhile, others were dying over one of the lines, “She be mommy of the year but never have them kids.”

Check out GloRilla’s latest “Internet Trolls” above. Continue scrolling for some additional fan reactions to the song.

Check out the video for “Internet Trolls” above.

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PinkPantheress And Ice Spice Pack Another Powerful Punch To Men With The New ‘Boy’s A Liar’ Remix

Two of the most attention-grabbing rising artists at the moment, PinkPantheress and Ice Spice, have united for a remix of PP’s song — now titled “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2.”

Already an anthem to calling a man out for his sketchy ways, this collab truly raises the stakes by bringing the iconic girls of the internet together. “Take a look inside your heart / Is there any room for me?” PinkPantheress maintains from the original. “You only want to hold me when I’m looking good enough.”

“His girl is a bum to me / Like that boy is a cap / Sayin’ he home, but I know where he at,” Ice Spice adds once she changes the pace for her guest verse, shifting the vibes to really tell the man off.

“If you don’t speak, does that mean we’re through? / Don’t like sneaky sh*t that you do,” the “Bikini Bottom” rapper concludes.

“Working with this amazing woman on this remix was a delight from start to finish and the easiest collaboration I’ve ever made,” PinkPantheress shared in a statement.

There’s also been hints about a music video after the two were spotted filming outside of a TikTok user’s apartment…

Listen to PinkPantheress and Ice Spice’s “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” above.

PinkPantheress is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.