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Celebrities

Katy Perry ‘traumatized’ ‘American Idol’ contestant with harsh critique: ‘In my nightmares’

Perry is an ‘American Idol’ judge with artists Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan

Three years after auditioning for “American Idol,” a former contestant revealed judge Katy Perry continues to haunt him in his dreams.

Adriel Carrion auditioned for the popular singing competition when he was 18 and took to TikTok to share a moment that triggered him for years.

While auditioning for season 19, Carrion posted a video clip of the “Teenage Dream” singer announcing “we have officially banned everyone from singing ‘Watermelon Sugar.'”

After “American Idol” judge Lionel Richie asked the auditioners what song they were going to sing next, Carrion and fellow contestant Anthony Guzman prepared for a “sweet” duet.

“We’re going to do something sweet for you,” Guzman responded.

Perry’s eyes appeared wide after the contestant announced the song, and she said “not ‘Watermelon Sugar.’”

The video immediately showed Carrion’s reaction to Perry’s disapproval of their audition song. His wide smile instantly turned to a disappointed frown.

“I can’t take another ‘Watermelon Sugar,’” the “California Gurls” songstress laughed.

The camera turned to Carrion who had an earnest reaction on his face.

“Is this ‘Watermelon Sugar’? Oh f—!” Perry expressed.

Present-day Carrion appeared in the selfie video and spoke out about his “nightmare.”

“It’s the way that it’s been three years, and I’m still traumatized by this moment,” he explained.

“I can be getting my beauty rest and all I hear in my nightmares ‘Not ‘Watermelon Sugar,’” Carrion continued.

He ended the video clip by singing the popular Harry Styles song out of tune.

“The Dark Horse” singer is an “American Idol” judge along with “All Night Long” artist Lionel Richie and country star Luke Bryan. Host Ryan Seacrest will join the judges for the singing competition’s sixth season on ABC and the 21st season overall. The series is slated to return to television in spring 2023.

“American Idol” first premiered on Fox in 2002 with Seacrest being the host since the show was created.

Categories
Festivals

All crazy for carnival

From Venice to Cadiz, from Mamoiada to Basel and Viareggio journey to discover one of Europe’s oldest holidays

It’s a world upside down why Carnival fascinates young and old alike. Artists of all ages have been inspired by the merriment of these days such as Schumann in “Carnival op. 9” or Saint-Saëns “Le Carnaval des animaux.” Without the Carnival the whole work of Rabelais is unthinkable. In art it is recounted from Bruegel to Picasso, from Cezanne to Miró. In ancient Rome during Saturnalia they played role reversal: slaves were temporarily free and masters pretended to be in their service. In the Middle Ages during carnival festivals they elected, for laughs, kings and queens drawn from the people. With Christianity, Carnival precedes Lent, a period of prayer, recollection and fasting; today many Carnivals have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

Hurray for Carnival
The one in Viareggio has the largest floats and caricatures in the world; in Ivrea they play the Battle of the Oranges; in Acireale marvelous allegorical floats parade; during the Carnival of Fano, founded in 1347, among floats, masks appears the giant Pupo, will be set on fire on Shrove Tuesday; the Carnival of Cento is twinned with that of Rio de Janeiro. Putignano enjoys the record of being the one that lasts the longest: it starts on December 26 and ends in February, on Shrove Tuesday. And then Cadiz, the famous and ancient Mamuthones in Mamoiada, Ronciglione, Schignano.

Venice Carnival
The Ambrosian Carnival celebrates four extra days. It was in 1094 when Doge Vitale Falier called for the first Carnival in Venice; masked men and women can act in total anonymity. The use of the mask allows ordinary people the opportunity to mock power, aristocracy, and authority. The Doge’s Ball was born (or returned) in the early 1990s; Antonia Sautter, a young costume designer, accidentally meets Terry Jones of Monty Phyton who is in the lagoon to shoot a documentary on the Crusades for the BBC. At the end of filming they decide to hold a big costume party in a palace on the Grand Canal. For 30 years the tradition has been repeated every Shrove Saturday; guests at the Doge’s Ball come from all over the world; this year the star of the evening is Federica Pellegrini.

Frau Fasnacht
The first edition of Frau Fasnacht, the Basel Carnival, dates back to 1376. On the Monday after Ash Wednesday instituted by the Catholic rite, the inhabitants of Basel, a Protestant town, gather at four o’clock in the morning. In darkness, in absolute silence, the macebearers announce the start of the festival by shouting “Morgestraich vorwärts marsch.” Suddenly hand-painted lanterns are lit with carnival themes, animals, fairy tales, grotesque faces or ironic political figures; hundreds of drummers and masked pipers parade through the streets of the city, a merriment that lasts for 72 consecutive hours; costumes, masks, lanterns, allegorical accessories are made by the wearers.

The display of 180 lanterns on Münsterplatz is the highlight of the event. The Basel Carnival devotes Tuesday to children and the “Guggenmusiken,” marching bands. On Monday and Wednesday, parades, with jesters in the lead, pass through the city streets skirting the banks of the Rhine. The Roman Carnival ends on February 21, Shrove Tuesday.

The Doge’s Ball will be held in Venice at the Scuola Grande de la Misericordia on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Ambrosian Carnival ends on Saturday, Feb. 25. The most important Protestant Carnival in Europe takes place from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Basel.

Categories
News

Eurovision 2023: discover “Evidemment”, the song performed by La Zarra which will represent France

The Quebec artist will defend the French chances on May 13 in Liverpool.
End of the suspense. The Quebec singer La Zarra revealed live in 20h30 le dimanche on France 2, Sunday, January 18, the song Evidemment that she will sing to represent France at the Eurovision 2023, next May 13 in Liverpool in the United Kingdom. The Zarra was selected without going through a vote of a jury and the public as in recent years.

The artist, who became known with Tu t’en iras (20 million listens on Spotify, the leading music platform), cultivates an image between glamour and mystery. Nothing filters on his age. “I like my intimacy, I don’t reveal anything about my intimacy, I let my music speak for itself”, she explains on France 2. She just concedes in the newspaper Le Parisien that she comes from a family of seven children born in Quebec of North African parents.

Zarra, who travels back and forth between Quebec and France and lives mostly in Paris these days, does not hide her attachment to France. “It is a great pride for me to represent France at Eurovision, France is the cradle of the French-speaking world,” she explained on France 2. The artist is now looking forward to the contest that will be held in May. “I’m preparing myself a bit like an athlete preparing for the Olympics,” she confided on France 2.