Cam Newton’s last stint in the NFL came as a member of the Carolina Panthers last season. Currently a free agent, Newton appeared at a recent I Am Athlete live tour event, where he expressed his belief that all four starting signal callers in the NFC South — Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Sam Darnold, and Desmond Ridder — are not as good as he is.
“So, 18 months ago, 24 months ago, we had this conversation and you said there ain’t 32,” Brandon Marshall asked around the 13:30 mark of the above video. “So what’s the number right now?”
“Man, one thing about it, bro, God has blessed me,” Newton responded. Marshall jumped out of his seat over Newton’s answer, with Newton saying “college graduate Cam” answered that.
“I mean, sh*t, we can say the whole NFC South,” Newton then said.
A former NFL MVP and No. 1 overall Draft pick who spent 133 of the 148 games he has played in his career as a member of the Panthers, Newton, who is 33, spent the 2020 season with the New England Patriots before getting cut last offseason. He signed a 1-year deal to return to Carolina in November of 2021 and struggled as the starting signal caller for a team that finished the season 5-12.
SZA’s long-awaited album SOS is finally out, following lots of delays and a little bit of drama. Fans can’t believe it’s finally here, and they’re reacting to everything at once on Twitter through hot takes, threads, and, mostly, memes. They’re loving the Phoebe Bridgers collaboration on “Ghost In The Machine“; they’re heartbroken by the powerful “Nobody Gets Me.”
There is one specific moment on the record that surprised many listeners — and that’s the unexpected pop-punk track “F2F.” Falling near the middle of the LP, the song starts off sounding nostalgic of early-2000s pop, which one user pointed out, writing, “sza recreating that feeling at the end of every early 2000s films when school is over and its time for summer break on f2f.”
sza recreating that feeling at the end of every early 2000s films when school is over and its time for summer break on f2f
It picks up toward the chorus and catapults into a pop-punk direction with brave, infectious guitars and self-deprecating lyrics: “I hate me enough for the two of us / Hate that I can’t let go of you enough,” she sings. This has led to viral tweets involving pictures of scene kids with piercings, colorful hair, eyeliner, and band t-shirts from the Myspace era. Of course, this isn’t all that surprising, considering the past couple of years have consisted of lots of mainstream artists switching to pop punk, like Willow and MGK.
Piers Morgan may not have devoted the entirety of his Thursday to thinking about Meghan Markle, but let’s get real because this is a royal fanboy who stormed off a TV set while arguing about her Oprah interview. It’s safe to assume that Piers devoted a hefty chunk of his Thursday waking moments to trouncing Meghan and raining a barrage of complaints upon Harry & Meghan on Netflix.
The Fox Nation host live-tweeted his responses to the first three episodes of the Netflix docuseries. He was somehow riveted yet still tweet-shouting, “God, they’re so boring! #HarryandMeghanNetflix.” He then whipped up a review (published for The Sun) of what he called a “WHINE-A-THON.” He also breathlessly bashes Meghan’s every move, years after he freely admitted that she “ghosted” him after a date.
Well, Thursday also happened to be the birthday of his wife, Celia Waldon. They tied the knot back in 2010, and Piers kinda-sorta did not mention anything about the special day. Sure, not everyone cares too much about birthdays, but Piers was so laser-sharp focused on Meghan all day that, yes, it’s funny as hell. And apparently, Piers finally had enough of seeing people remind him of his omission and addressed the subject.
“All the trolls raging that I only criticise Meghan Markle because I ‘fancied’ her & then got upset when she ghosted me,” Piers tweeted. “[H]ave reminded me that I forgot to publicly wish my wife Celia a happy birthday yesterday.” He then added (along with an emoji), “And yes, she knows she lucked out…”
Oh boy. Don’t be too surprised if we see photos of Piers ducking out of a jewelry store or clutching flowers over this one.
There’s a lot of rent-free time in Piers’ head when it comes to not only Meghan but Prince Harry, who Piers recently branded a “d*ckhead” because he dared to write a memoir that will publish in 2023. That also happens to be King Charles’ coronation ceremony year, and Piers seems to believe that Harry scheduled the book to upstage his dad. Yet Spare will publish in January, and the coronation is scheduled for… May.
Piers is not only a disliker of Meghan but a staunch defender of most things royal, so he really had a field day on Thursday. Hopefully, Celia still managed to have a nice birthday (at a spa or something).
Continuing his Magic Man agenda, the Chinese pop singer steps into a new persona in the music video “Come Alive.” Jackson has officially entered his zombie era. And it’s kind of giving Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” but more modern and sexier.
First releasing its lyric video three months ago, the official music video dropped today at midnight (December 9). Creating what seems to be a postapocalyptic version of the circus where zombies run the carnival, Jackson Wang’s zombie character has the power to resurrect people and make them come alive as zombies. The video thrives with captivating visuals and tantalizing choreography starring the MAGIC MAN himself with a female lead and a small group of dancers. (To be frank, some of the scenes can be compared to Jackson Wang’s post-apocalyptic “Cruel” music video, released months ago.)
According to the credits, the music video features creative direction by Jackson Wang, with direction by Rich Lee who has worked with acts like Billie Eilish, Eminem, and Lana del Rey.
“Come Alive” is the sixth track off of Jackson Wang’s sophomore album, MAGIC MAN. According to a press release, the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Current Sales and Top Album Sales charts the week of its release and at No. 15 on Billboard 200, making it Jackson’s highest-charting album.
Jackson Wang is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Soulful R&B star HER is all set to make history as the first Filipina to portray Disney princess Belle in ABC’s television special adaptation of Disney’s animated classic Beauty And The Beast. The 30th-anniversary celebration is set to air on Thursday, December 15 at 8 pm ET and stream the next day on Disney+. HER will make her appearance credited under her real name, Gabriella Wilson. Last night, she appeared on The Tonight Show to talk about making her childhood dream come true and wound up playing an impromptu ukulele cover of the film’s Grammy-winning title track.
HER knows a thing or two about winning Grammys. She’s already got some hardware for her protest anthem, “I Can’t Breathe” (along with an Oscar for the Judas And The Black Messiah track “Fight For You”), but she’s also nominated this year after co-writing “Good Morning Gorgeous” with Mary J. Blige. During her interview last night, in lieu of showing a clip of the show — which will air live and so there wasn’t one available — Jimmy Fallon pulled the ukulele from behind his desk, handing it over, and letting Ms. Wilson shine. Jimmy joined in, harmonizing admirably with the veteran performer (he’s been doing this for some time, himself) and the audience was clearly delighted. Check it out above.
It’s that time of the week again, when we gather together the most smile-worthy tidbits of the past seven days and share them with you all. As the lucky person who gets to wrap them up in a nice, shiny, virtual bow, I’m delighted to tell you that this week’s list is awesome. They always are—that’s kind of the point—but this week I can practically guarantee you’re going to be brimming with joy by the end.
Right out of the gate, we’ve got baby giggles. I mean, come on. Who can resist baby giggles?
In a twist I never would have expected, we have a rap about a deceased aunt (surprisingly not as dark as it sounds), 13 strangers taking an unplanned road trip together, a girl who might as well apply for Disney princesshood now, an impressive show of solidarity for a struggling writer and more.
So much great stuff in here. Get comfy and enjoy!
1. This baby’s squeals are the best after his dada celebrates his first ‘Dada.’
There is nothing like that sound in the whole world. So precious.
2. A flood of famous authors swooped in to lift up a debut novelist when only two people showed up to her book signing.
This Twitter thread was simply amazing. So many famous writers shared that they’d experienced empty room book signings, and so many others, from Henry Winkler to Flavor Flav, chimed in with words of encouragement as well. Read the full story here.
3. Check out this angel’s dance moves during ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful.’
A loved one dying on a holiday isn’t usually something to laugh at, but there are exceptions to every rule. His follow-up video explaining who his aunt was and how she used humor to cope with hard times makes it all the better. She would have loved this. Find the full story here.
Why do Japanese football fans clean up after a match? @Sandra Gathmann asks the fans #QatarWorldCup2022 #FIFA #WorldCup #Qatar #Football #Qatar2022 #WorldCup2022 #Japan #cleaning #fans
Atarimae! What a delightful concept. Read the full story here.
9. The reaction of this delivery driver when he saw the snacks someone left for him is so wholesome.
I cant make this up. Road trip! 🚐 @The Farm Babe @StarrPuck @doerksen92 @Renee @robinwharton976 @CozumelAutentico
The baker’s dozen became fast friends on their “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” adventure, documenting it on TikTok as it went viral. Read the full story here. So heartwarming.
Hope that brought some smiles to your face! If you’d like to have these weekly roundups delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.
You probably haven’t seen it as it was meant to be seen, however.
A scene where Ebenezer Scrooge (Caine) and Belle (Meredith Braun) sing a lovely Paul Williams-written song called “When Love is Gone” was cut from the theatrical version of The Muppet Christmas Carol because Disney felt it wouldn’t appeal to kids. The sequence appeared on the VHS, but was left off the DVD and Disney+ — until now.
At long last, The Muppet Christmas Carol is available to stream as its director Brian Henson (son of Muppets creator Jim Henson) always intended, with the song “When Love Is Gone” restored for the first time in high-definition widescreen. Henson had shared that the uncut version would debut in 4k on streamer Disney+ on December 11, but in an early Christmas gift, the full-length version of the holiday favorite was added December 9.
To find the “full-length version” of The Muppet Christmas Carol, head to the film’s page on Disney+ and click Extras. It appears there, along with a promo for the holiday classic. And always remember: light the lamp, not the rat.
Today (December 9) marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Jenni Rivera, the best-selling banda artist of all time. In honor of her mother, Chiquisreleased the music video for her song “Paloma Blanca.” The rising Mexican-American star talked with Uproxx about her mother’s legacy and receiving her very first Grammy nomination.
During her lifetime, Rivera became a force in regional Mexican music. She specifically reigned in the male-dominated banda music genre, earning the title La Diva De La Banda. In her hit songs like “De Contrabando” and “Chuper Amigos,” Rivera sang about sex, partying hard, and female empowerment. On December 9, 2012, the world lost Rivera when she was killed in a plane crash.
“More than anything I want people to remember the woman behind the artist,” Chiquis told Uproxx. “To remember her for the woman that she was, for all the philanthropy work she did, and the stuff that she would never even talk about. How she always said, ‘God has blessed me and I have to bless other people with the blessings God has given me.’ I hope people can learn from that, and learn from what she did, being a single mother, and she went after her dreams and made it happen.”
Chiquis worked closely with her mother as an assistant during her career. Following Rivera’s passing, Chiquis followed in her mom’s footsteps with her debut single “Paloma Blanca,” which was released in 2014. To honor her mother today, she released a new version of the heartfelt tribute song. This time, Chiquis is joined by more women with the addition of Las Mariachi Divas. The night before her passing, Rivera dedicated the song “Paloma Negra” to her daughter during a concert, so this is Chiquis’ way of honoring her.
“[The song] is part of my story and I’m ok with that,” Chiquis said. “I have peace with how my life played out. I hope that this song also helps people that have lost a loved one and it helps them heal because it definitely helped me heal in so many ways.”
Like her mom, Chiquis has since become a powerful female voice in regional Mexican music and banda music. Last month, she won her second Latin Grammy Award for her album Abeja Reina. That same week, Chiquis found out she was nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Her LP, which features a cover of Rivera’s “De Contrabando,” is up for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano).
“I’m so inspired more than ever,” Chiquis said. “These Latin Grammys and when the American Grammy nomination hit, it just inspired me, even more, to say, ‘How can I level up? How can I better myself? What can I do differently?’ I have so many ideas for the next album. I just want to get better and better. I’m excited! I’m honored and I can’t wait for [the Grammy Awards] in February.”
Firstime fatherhood has ignited a fierce creative fire under A$AP Rocky. After releasing two singles, “D.M.B.” and “Sh*ttin’ Me,” Rocky revealed an entire project is on the way during a concert performance for Amazon Music Live.
This album will mark Rocky’s first LP since 2018’s Testing. Previously thought to be titled, All Smiles, the rapper revealed it is officially named, Don’t Be Dumb. With input from Atlanta-based producer Metro Boomin, the project will surely deliver exciting blends of Rocky’s signature alternative New York rap sound with flairs of today’s dominating southern draws.
Before taking the stage, the rapper gleamingly shared a few words with fans via the video team stationed outside, “Thursday Night Football. Amazon. My first time back on the stage. Album’s finished. Don’t Be Dumb. Let’s go!”
During the stream, hosted by 2Chainz, Rocky performed several songs from the project. One of the tracks, titled “Roddy Rod Pipper,” instantly won the crowd over as they opened up a mosh pit to jam out to it.
The rumors of a track named after pop darling Taylor Swift are still floating around, but no further information has been released regarding the album or when it is expected to hit streaming platforms. However, we will be sure to share more details as they surface.
Upsahl has had one hell of a year. How do you follow a debut album, last September’s Lady Jesus, and her first headlining tour across the globe? She found the answer this summer: by looking inward. The result produced her new EP, Sagittarius, a reference to the alt-pop star’s zodiac sign. (She is also a Pisces moon and a Libra rising.)
For those unaware of astrological traits, Sagittarians are the fiery nomads of the zodiac, who you can always count on to be the life-of-the-party… If they arrive. Upsahl sums it up in her favorite lyric, “Hold my cup, let me do a kickflip,” from the song, “Kickflip” — which also doubles as her favorite upcoming visualizer and a track she can’t wait to play live.
Growing up in Arizona around a musically-focused family, Taylor Upsahl — the musician’s last name is her stage moniker — eventually embarked out to Los Angeles, and the rest has been a rise. Penning songs for Dua Lipa and Madison Beer, Upsahl’s songwriting presence has set her apart as a significant talent. Plus, her music is fun as sh*t. Or, as she describes the Sagittarius EP, “unapologetic” and “intense, passionate, and powerful.”
What made you want to create an astrology-themed record?
For the first time ever this summer, when I was going into the studio and writing, I wasn’t writing about a relationship or another person. The only sort of muse I had was myself.
I had to learn this very healthy version of selfishness going into making this. Each song represents a different character trait or part of me that makes me who I am. I was like, ‘How do I put who I am in one word?’ and I’ve always related so hard to being a textbook Sagittarius. I feel like that perfectly describes me, who I am, and the entire energy of the EP.
What were your musical, or even general, inspirations for Sagittarius?
My goal was not really caring about each song sounding like they fit into the same genre. I feel like genre doesn’t really exist anymore. With “Into My Body,” I wanted to make a proper dance record. I had been listening to a lot of Prince. I loved how whispery and in-your face those vocals were. With “Kickflip,” we were listening to “Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop.
Speaking of “Into My Body,” I’ve read that you grew up with parents who were involved in the punk scene, and there’s one video scene where you’re in the room with the hanging mic. It felt very early 2000s pop punk. I’m curious what your personal visual inspirations were for making it, since you mentioned Prince and Snoop Dogg for other songs.
That’s a cool question. What’s exciting about this EP is we got to create visuals for every song. I wanted it to feel just as much of a visual experience as it does a listening experience. I think there’s always gonna be a part of me that is so inspired by the punk scene. The biggest thing I’ve taken from it as a performer is that sort of ‘I don’t give a f*ck’ energy. Same with No Doubt and Gwen. That’s why she’s been such a big inspiration for me. Or Avril. They’re so unbothered, authentic, and present.
Is there a song you’re most excited to play live?
“Kickflip.” I was just on tour, and every night I was like, ‘Should we just add into the set?’ I feel like it’s so high energy, dancey, and fun. I’m also excited for “Toast,” my emo, big ballad song.
“Toast” closes the EP brilliantly with the lyric where you ask, “How didn’t I know it was coming to an end?” Was it always intended as the final song?
Having the EP end with the word “end,” I was like, ‘Oh, chef’s kiss. This is brilliant.’ That reflective energy and those big, airy synths throughout, I wanted listeners to have those three minutes to chill out. I wanted to ease down from the roller coaster.
Do you feel “Toast” or any of the songs serve as a tie-in to Lady Jesus?
I love to write about religion. Not super religious, but I’d say I’m a spiritual person. The idea of how much power we give religious figures, regardless of what our religion is, I think that’s such an interesting thing about humans.
The main lyric in “Kickflip” is “feeling like God.” The biggest theme of Lady Jesus was harnessing the power and trust that we put into religious figures and putting that into ourselves. And I think I learned to do that when I was writing. Now that I sort of have this stability in my life, this EP is very much building off of that power and confidence I found.
Did you take a different approach to the creation process compared to your debut?
When I was making my debut album, I was very project-focused. This process was more scattered. When I was home in LA, I was writing as much as I could in a week with as many people as possible. That free-flowing, honestly less-focused energy made this EP feel very much like me.
What trajectory do you picture your future projects heading in?
Yeah, I think it’s funny because I’m always writing. This EP has five songs, but I wrote probably 300. There are already a lot of ideas floating around in my head for what the next chapter holds. Once I feel like I lived and breathed Sagittarius as much as I could, that’s when I start going back and listening to old demos. I hope I’ve grown by the next time I put out a project.
Were there any songs that didn’t make the EP that you wished did?
In my dream world, I would put out a 50-song album, but I think that’s what makes these five so special. I only have fifteen minutes to let people know who the f*ck I am. Each song is very carefully handpicked.
I read in another interview you did that sometimes you write to fill in the tracklist gaps to fit a narrative. Were there any songs for Sagittarius that you did that for?
For the first time, actually, it happened pretty naturally. With Lady Jesus, I really wanted to tell a story from start to finish. With Sagittarius, it’s not so much a chronological order, it’s more just personality pieces.
What do you hope listeners take away from the EP?
Astrology aside, diving into who I am as a person and learning to own every single part was the biggest thing for me. I hope that in listening people feel empowered to do the same. I think the reasons we as humans need religion and spirituality is for the self-reflection aspect of it.
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