What did your elementary school music program look like? Did you have a particularly passionate teacher who made the class incredibly memorable? Perhaps you were given an instrument that you had never seen before and were able to create amazing sounds with it. Whatever the answer, prepare to be humbled.

A Reddit post depicting a group of elementary-age children absolutely crushing a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's classic 1980 song “Crazy Train” recently went viral. In the video, a classroom of kids expertly play xylophones, drums, keyboards, and a single bass guitar. The result is incredible.  They even stay on beat for the entire song without the use of sheet music.

The video was originally published on YouTube in 2012.  At the time, the kids were 4th-6th graders participating in the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, which is a non-profit organization “offering extracurricular music opportunities to local children at little or no cost.” The program has been operating in the Louisville, Kentucky area since 1993, and it is clear that the kids are incredibly passionate about what they are doing. Their energy is truly infectious. Even Ozzy Osbourne took notice, saying, “Myself, my whole family, and my fans all loved your rendition of “Crazy Train.” Keep up the good work!” In 2018, a group of children participating in the program even had the chance to perform for Osbourne and his family.

Since the original video is over a decade old, one can only wonder what the kids featured in it are up to now. How many of them have decided to pursue music, either as a hobby or as a career? Judging by the amount of talent captured in the video, it isn't a stretch that say that any one of those kids could go as far as they want. As one Redditor said, “Amazing. That teacher changed every one of those kids' lives.”

A 2012 video of elementary-age children playing a perfect cover of Ozzy Osbourne's “Crazy Train” recently went viral.

Kiddos absolutely crush Ozzy Osbourne's “Crazy Train” xylophone-style
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Redditors were blown away by the kids' talent and passion.

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The kids were members of the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a non-profit that has been operating since 1993 and continues to help children explore their musicality.

In 2018, the group even performed “Crazy Train” for Ozzy Osbourne and his family.

The Louisville Leopard Percussionists: Website | YouTube | Instagram
h/t: [Reddit]

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READ: Watch These Kids Play a Perfect Cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” on Xylophone

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The Death Star may be best known for blowing up Alderaan in Star Wars, but now it also does a great job of blowing up popcorn kernels and turning them into a delicious snack. By producing a vortex of hot air, the Death Star Popcorn Maker pops kernels using heat alone, without needing butter or oil. This clever design also ensures that all kernels are toasted to perfection without being burnt.

The ingenious machine comes in two spherical halves. The bottom portion is placed on a stand bearing the Star Wars logo, and that is where the popcorn is made. The top half of the Death Star can conveniently be repurposed as a bowl that can sit beneath your machine and collect the freshly popped popcorn. With its unique design, it is perfect for your next Star Wars marathon, as long as you are okay with sharing with your friends and family.

In addition to the out-of-this-world design, the popcorn maker's other main strength is how low maintenance it is. The only cleaning that the machine requires is emptying out the unpopped kernels after each use. With a 98% pop rate, this shouldn't be too taxing, and will certainly take less time than having to wipe out any grease. However, if you like your popcorn with extra seasoning (or would prefer the butter and oil that the machine is lacking) feel free to add it to the batch once it is finished popping. You shouldn't have to wait very long, as it will only take two to three minutes to finish a batch of popcorn with this convenient machine.

The popcorn maker is designed by Uncanny Brands, which specializes in creating pop-culture-themed kitchen ware. If one piece of Star Wars memorabilia isn't enough, be sure to head over to their website, where they have everything from waffle makers to blenders that are all modeled after beloved characters from the series such as R2-D2 and Grogu from The Mandalorian.

Thankfully, the Death Star Popcorn Maker is not in a galaxy far, far away, and can be purchased off of Amazon for $59.99 or directly from the Uncanny Brands website for the same price.

Uncanny Brands recently released a Death Star-shaped popcorn maker.

The machine pumps a vortex of hot air into the popcorn, allowing the maker to run without butter or oil.

Uncanny Brands: Website
h/t: [Yanko Design]

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READ: ‘Star Wars’ Death Star Popcorn Maker Creates Delicious Snack Without Butter or Oil

Photo: Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos

Many entertainers choose to use a stage name for a number of reasons. Maybe it sounds catchier or it fits their persona better. For Oscar-winning actor Emma Stone, the reason for adopting a stage name was more of a bureaucratic thing. Now, the Poor Things star has spoken out about it, revealing she'd like it better to be called by her actual name.

Stone's real first name is Emily, but she had to change it when earning her SAG card. This was due to there already being an actor named Emily Stone in the union. Her choice of becoming “Emma” can be traced back to her childhood. In a 2018 appearance on The Tonight Show, Stone revealed that, as a child, she once asked to be called Emma because she was such a fan of the Spice Girls, particularly of Emma Bunton, aka Baby Spice. “Growing up, I was super blonde,” she said. “My real name is Emily, but I wanted to be called Emma because of Baby Spice. And guess what? Now I am.”

However, this later started to take a toll on the La La Land star. “I freaked out a couple of years ago,” Stone told The Hollywood Reporter. “For some reason, I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore. Just call me Emily.'”

Her name change was brought up during a conversation in which she was joined by her The Curse co-star Nathan Fielder. Switching between both names, Fielder told the interviewer, “When there’s people that don’t know her, I end up saying Emma. But I’m going to just say Emily from here on.” The actor shared that Fielder calls her “Em,” bringing the two options together.

Stone later explained that, once people get to know her or work together, they start using “Emily.” When asked if she'd correct any fans who called her “Emily” instead of “Emma,” she said that on the contrary, she'd like it very much. “That would be so nice. I would like to be Emily.”

You can see Stone in her Academy Award-winning role in Poor Things on Hulu and The Curse, streaming now on Paramount+.

Did you know Oscar-winning actor Emma Stone's real name is Emily?

Photo: Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos

She had to change it when earning her SAG card. This was due to there already being an actor named Emily Stone in the union.

Photo: imagepressagency/Depositphotos

However, it began to take a toll on her, and she has since said that those closest to her call her Emily—and she would enjoy it if fans called her Emily too.

Photo: imagepressagency/Depositphotos

h/t: [BuzzFeed]

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READ: Emma Stone Says It “Would Be So Nice” to Be Called by Her Real Name

Photo: Featureflash/Depositphotos

Many people know Eminem for his illustrious rap career, which was equally groundbreaking and controversial. Regardless of praises annd criticisms about the artist's style, his impact on rap music, as well as American culture as a whole, is undeniable. Any longtime fan of the artist will know that he has struggled with addiction in the past, but this year, the rapper celebrated 16 years of sobriety.

Eminem—whose legal name is Marshall Mathers—chose to share his achievement on Instagram. He opted to not write anything on the post, allowing the silver Alcoholics Anonymous chip in his hand to speak for itself. The chip, which is engraved with the number 16 within a triangle and tucked beneath the branches of a tree, is a modest token of Mathers' milestone. Though small, it speaks volumes. Family, friends, and fans made their feelings for the musician's personal accomplishment very clear in the comments section of the post by filling it with an outpouring of love and support. Paul Rosenberg, Mathers' longtime music manager and business partner, appropriately wrote, “Sweet 16. So proud of you.”

Eminem's current clean lifestyle is worthy of praise but it did not come easy. His sobriety journey began after years of struggling with addictions to Vicodin and Valium. He suffered a near-fatal overdose in 2007 and this is what seems to have prompted him to take the steps to get clean. He turned to exercise in order to stay sober, as he found that running released the same endorphins that he normally needed to go to sleep. Anyone who has either struggled with addiction or knows someone who has knows how difficult it is to stay sober, so Mathers' accomplishment and his ability to change his life for the better has deeply resonated with many people.

If you or someone you know has addiction issues, please reach out for help. If you're in the United States, you can get help and find support groups for substance abuse in your area through USA.gov. You can also dial 988 to speak with a mental health professional, 24/7, in English or in Spanish. The lifeline also uses Language Line Solutions to provide translation services in over 250 additional languages.

Rapper Eminem recently celebrated 16 years of sobriety with a simple yet inspiring Instagram post featuring his AA chip.

 

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A post shared by Marshall Mathers (@eminem)

Eminem: Website | Instagram | Spotify
h/t: [ETOnline]

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READ: Eminem Celebrates 16 Years of Sobriety by Sharing His Recovery Chip With Pride

Photo: MOMO11353@HOTMAIL.COM/Depositphotos
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Calling all Tolkien fans: for the first time ever, the Tolkien Estate has approved an operatic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Despite previous rebuffs, composer Paul Corfield Godfrey finally got the go ahead with an opera that is 60 years in the making. The hefty 17 hours' worth of music is being recorded by the Welsh Volante Opera Productions and is planned to be released in 2025. Fittingly, it will be the 70-year anniversary since the publication of the final book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King.

British composer Paul Corfield Godfrey first started sketching out scenes inspired by Tolkien's works in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, Godfrey approached United Artists, who had just received the film rights, but they passed on the opportunity. When the posthumously published Tolkien book, The Silmarillion, came out, Godfrey was once again inspired musically.

The musician wrote to the publisher and got permission to move forward once Tolkien's estate heard a preview. Not only did they approve, but they also shared some of J.R.R. Tolkien's unpublished writings with the composer to help him flesh out themes. Priscilla Tolkien, the daughter of J.R.R. Tolkien, even joined the chorus for a performance of some scenes for the Tolkien Society. That led to the eventual recording and release of a 10-CD series of The Silmarillion in 2023, also with Volante Opera. While Godfrey had put LOTR aside, The Silmarillion inspired him to pick his previous plans back up, with the approval of the Tolkien family.

While the trilogy will be abridged, the words will stay true to the original publication. Don't think you'll be able to listen to the opera in one sitting though. There are over 30 “chapters” to the opera and it is intended to be performed over six evenings. Some scenes will have expanded musical accompaniment such as Aragorn's wedding.

Once you finish The Lord of the Rings, you won't have to wait long for an operatic recording of The Hobbit. The estate also approved Godfrey's adaptation of that, which is planned to be released in 2026.

The Lord of the Rings is being reimagined as an opera by composer Paul Corfield Godfrey with approval from the Tolkien estate.

It will be available to listen to in time for the 70th anniversary of the final book's publication.

Photo: ASTFREELANCER/Depositphotos

This will be the largest scale musical work based on Tolkien's writings, topping the composer's previous work The Silmarillion.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Volante Opera Productions (@volanteopera)

Volante Opera: Website | Instagram | YouTube
h/t: [Classic FM]

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READ: ’Lord of the Rings‘ Is Being Turned Into an Opera

Some pieces of literature capture our imaginations from the moment they are published. The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter are two epic series that have done just that. Whether you've read all the books or watched all the films, these epic fantasy tales have had an undeniable impact on our culture. Now, you can bring a bit of the magic of these stories with you thanks to beautifully designed playing cards by theory11.

Filled with Easter eggs that any fan will love, each deck of cards comes in an artfully designed box with gold details and imagery from the series. With The Lord of the Rings, your traditional cards have been replaced by iconic characters such as Gandalf, Aragorn, and Legolas. Illustrations help bring you on a journey from The Shire to Mordor, and superfans will appreciate subtle touches that incorporate the Light of Eärendil, Lurtz, and Minas Morgul.

Harry Potter lovers will appreciate the chance to select between two different decks—red for Gryffindor house and green for Slytherin house. Once again, the box is a work of art with gold touches and illustrations on both that include the emblems of all four Hogwarts houses and other icons to draw you into Harry Potter's wizarding world. Of course, you'll find all of your favorite characters on the cards, from Harry and Hermione to Voldemort and Draco Malfoy.

Thanks to illustrations based on the films, the artful decks of cards are a treat even if you've only enjoyed these stories on the silver screen. John Rhys-Davies' Gimli and Elijah Woods' Frodo are unmistakable, as are Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson as Harry Potter and Hermione, respectively.

Any pop culture lover who enjoys a game of poker, rummy, or solitaire will enjoy these luxurious cards. Made in the U.S.A., the cards are printed on FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests, using vegetable-based inks and starch-based laminates. Honestly, they're so nice you might just want to frame them.

Scroll down to get a peek of these fun, magical card decks, and head over to My Modern Met Store when you're ready to check out.

Fantasy fiction lovers will be thrilled with these Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings playing cards filled with hidden Easter eggs for die-hard fans of both series.

Harry Potter Playing Cards (Gryffindor / Red)

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Harry Potter Playing Cards (Slytherin / Green)

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The Lord of the Rings Playing Cards

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All decks are now available for purchase at My Modern Met Store.

theory11 | $14.95

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theory11 | $14.95

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READ: Artistic Playing Cards Celebrate the Fantasy Worlds of ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’

America has always had a unique relationship with film. Movies have shaped the United States in more ways than one, from drive-in theaters to classic blockbuster films. Amid these iconic cultural symbols, there is also a vast array of short films that have been nearly forgotten. The Prelinger Archives‘ goal is to prevent these movies from being lost in the ether.

Rick Prelinger started the archive in 1983 with a focus on preserving “ephemeral” films, which are typically educational or industrial in subject matter. Many of the films listed in the archive are from the mid-20th century and include vintage documentaries, instructional videos, political propaganda, and home videos that provide a glimpse into what life in the United States was like many decades ago. Of the 30,000 films in the Prelinger Archives, over 9,200 can be found at the Internet Archive or uploaded to the official YouTube channel.

Many of the films are as strange or campy as you might imagine, from heavily sanitized sexual education videos on puberty and dating to an uncomfortably long and detailed 31-minute tutorial on how to handle raw meat. But there are hidden gems in the vast online repository as well, including rare performance footage of Billie Holiday, playful Felix the Cat cartoons, and same-day news coverage of major historical events, including the Hindenburg explosion or the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Vintage home videos are where the collection really shines, as these tapes offer an uncensored, unedited look into the lives of everyday Americans. Watching footage of family vacations, road trips, and Christmas celebrations provides a unique glimpse into the past. While the clothes, styles, and social norms have changed drastically since many of these videos were created, they do serve as a reminder that people have always found ways to enjoy themselves and that humans have always been undeniably human. Even though it may take some digging, you are bound to find something that stands out to you in the Prelinger Archives and makes your day a little bit brighter.

The Prelinger Archives has the goal of documenting and preserving vintage films that are normally instructional, educational, or home videos.

Over 9,200 short films from the archive can be found on Internet Archive and the Prelinger Archives YouTube channel.

Prelinger Archives: Website | YouTube
h/t: [Open Culture]

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READ: You Can Now Download and Watch Over 9,200 Short Vintage Films for Free

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)

The Spice Girls were one of the biggest pop phenomenons of the 90s, which is why their disbandment left millions of fans heartbroken. Luckily, the five singers have reunited over the years, making each of their encounters a memorable event, whether it's a tour or closing the London Olympics. Their latest get-together took place at a much more intimate occasion. The Spice Girls recently reunited at Victoria Beckham‘s, aka Posh Spice's, 50th birthday party.

“As I get ready to step into 50 (in heels, of course!), I feel so incredibly blessed to have reached this milestone,” Beckham wrote in an Instagram post. “Blessed, but also accomplished and deeply content. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and I’m only just getting started.”

The ritzy celebration took place at Oswald's, a private members' club in London. The star-studded guest list included Tom Cruise, Salma Hayek, Gordon Ramsay, and Guy Ritchie. To honor their former bandmate's landmark birthday, the other four Spice Girls, Geri Halliwell-Horner (Ginger), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty), Melanie Brown (Scary), and Emma Bunton (Baby), made their way to the party.

The five pop stars then posed together for a picture, much to the delight of their fans. Ultimately, the real treat was a clip shot by Posh Spice's husband, former soccer player David Beckham. In the video, the Spice Girls dance and sing to their 1997 hit single “Stop.” The clip is particularly meaningful because Beckham hasn't performed publicly with the group since 2012, choosing to sit out their 2019 European tour.

“I mean come on,” Beckham captioned the 12-second video, which he posted to Instagram. He appears cheerfully bobbing his head as the five women sing and perform the original choreography to the song. His wife then shared the video on her own account, writing, “Best night ever! Happy Birthday to me! I love you all so much!”

As charming as their one-night reunion was, the moment may hint at something bigger. Brown later shared the clip on her Instagram stories, adding, “About last night #tourdatescomingsoon.” While Beckham has stated in the past that she's more focused on her successful fashion line rather than singing, we'll keep our fingers crossed.

You can watch the short but sweet moment below.

Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, recently celebrated her 50th birthday party.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)

The star-studded guest list included the likes of Tom Cruise, Salma Hayek, Gordon Ramsay, and Guy Ritchie.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)

The other four Spice Girls were also in attendance, and as the evening went on, they performed their 1997 hit “Stop.” The impromptu performance is the first time the full group has sung together since 2012.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham)

h/t: [The New York Times]

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READ: Spice Girls Reunite—and Sing—at Victoria Beckham’s 50th Birthday Party

Actor Michael J. Fox has given us some of the most memorable roles in film and TV. From Back to the Future‘s Marty McFly to his Emmy-winning performance as Alex Keaton in Family Ties and his voice acting work on Stuart Little and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. In 2020, Fox announced his retirement from acting due to his declining health, as he continues to live with Parkinson's disease. Much to the delight of his fans, Fox seems to be open to act again, should the right role come along.

“If someone offers me a part and I do it and I have a good time, great,” Fox said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I would do acting if something came up that I could put my realities into it, my challenges, if I could figure it out.”

The comment was made ahead of an event for his Michael J. Fox Foundation. In the same interview, he was asked to revisit a clip from a 1984 interview, when he was 22 years old. In the video, the young actor quips about his desire to “do it all” and his interests in the many aspects of the Hollywood film industry, from editing and writing to producing and directing. After watching that, the now 64-year-old reacted by saying, “22-year-olds are obnoxious.”

When asked if he had achieved his goals, Fox explained that they shifted with time—and away from his work on set. “My biggest goal, I think, was to raise a family. We have four amazing kids and that's been the big thing,” Fox said about his family with his wife and fellow actor Tracy Pollan. “And then the other is with the foundation.”

Since its creation in 2000, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has brought the effects of Parkinson's disease to the public eye. They've funded investigations that have resulted in more than 20 early-stage therapeutic programs and scores of clinical trials. The foundation also sponsored Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative, the most robust dataset and biosample library in the history of Parkinson’s research. Their own clinical study, Fox Insight, has encouraged 48,000 individuals with Parkinson's and their families to take an active role in research by sharing their lived experiences of the disease.

Fox's latest work in front of the camera is Still, a documentary that chronicles his fight with Parkinson's disease. “It was fun,” Fox said of filming the doc. “I never would have set that as a goal. It just happened.” You can now watch Still on Apple TV+.

Michael J. Fox: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Entertainment Weekly]

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READ: Michael J. Fox Says He Is Open to Acting Again for the Right Role

Ever since its inception, heavy metal music has been filled with trailblazers, each of whom put their own unique spin on the genre. From Metallica consistently changing their style with each album, even when they know fans might hate it, to Dream Theater seamlessly merging the sounds of progressive rock and metal, these are bands that are unafraid to do what they want. But in a musical landscape that is filled with innovation and experimentation, certain bands will still stand out for doing something new and different. UUHAI is one of these such bands and luckily for us, they have been making music since 2021.

Based in Mongolia, UUHAI effortlessly combines the modern metal sound with its own traditional instruments and vocals. The band's name, UUHAI, comes from deep cultural traditions, as “shouting ‘uuhai' in unison has roots as a spiritual mantra as a sign of goodwill leading to good fortune and was used as a way of releasing energy, emboldening one’s spirits and stimulating the elements of one’s body.” In each of the band's music videos, the five members are clad in traditional Mongolian garments while some play traditional instruments such as the Morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and the Zhangu drum. As awesome as the guitar riffs sound when paired with these instruments, the real magic starts when the vocalists come in, as they use throat singing and Urtiin Duu (long song) techniques in place of the death growls that are commonly heard in Western metal music.

The result is mesmerizing, and you don't need to speak or even understand Mongolian to recognize that. (Thankfully, for English speakers, the band's YouTube videos do feature translated captions in case you would like to know what they are singing about.) UUHAI's energy is contagious, and it is hard to keep yourself from head-banging along with them, or at the very least, tapping your foot. One English speaking commenter even wrote: “Accidentaly [sic] found this song, now i want to start horseback archery training and conquer half of the world.”

The band's goal is to “blend globalized rock music with the UNESCO-registered cultural legacies of Mongolian throat singing, long song, and horse-head fiddle music in creating Mongolian rock metal songs while uniting fans in shouts of ‘hoo-rah.'” Clearly, their plan is working, as they have caught the attention of music lovers all around the world, and will be touring across Europe later this year.

To keep up to date with UUHAI's music, you can subscribe to their channel on YouTube and follow them on Spotify.

UUHAI is a Mongolian heavy metal band that is known for combining classic metal elements with their cultural instruments and vocals, including throat singing.

You don't need to understand Mongolian to be able to jam along with them. It's hard not to head bang when you hear their signature sound.

Here are some more of their music videos:

UUHAI: Website | YouTube | Spotify | Instagram
h/t: [Laughing Squid]

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READ: Mongolian Metal Band Uses Throat Singing and Traditional Instruments to Rock Out