Tag Archives: Christmas

José Feliciano Officially Honored with National Medal of Arts

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José Feliciano is officially a medalist…

Following a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 77-year-old Puerto Rican musician, singer and composer has finally received his 2021 National Medal of Arts prize.

Jose FelicianoPresident Joe Biden doled out medals to the National Medal of Arts recipients, as well as the 2021 National Humanities Medal honorees.

The White House hosted a livestreamed East Room ceremony on Tuesday for the recipients, who included Mindy Kaling, Gladys Knight, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bruce Springsteen and fashion designer Vera Wang. Feliciano was unable to attend the event as he’s in Hawaii after performances on the West Coast.

Feliciano was born blind as a result of glaucoma. His family moved to New York City’s Spanish Harlem when he was five years old, and he fell in love with music and playing the accordion and the guitar. While in high school, he played as a regular at a Greenwich Village coffeehouse. He eventually dropped out of high school and moved to Detroit to take a more permanent singing gig, and soon after was signed with RCA Records. He is most known for his bilingual Christmas song, “Feliz Navidad” which has been named among the most popular holiday songs of all time.

According to Billboard, Feliciano has two top-10 hits in his career and 11 top-100 songs. Feliciano is also a seven-time Grammy award winner.

The NEA website writes the decision to honor Feliciano came from his tenure in the music industry, saying “Over 60 years, 60 albums, and 600 songs, Jose Feliciano has opened hearts and built bridges — overcoming obstacles, never losing faith, and enriching the goodness and greatness of the Nation.”

The honorees received their awards about two years late due to a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

First lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the ceremony, which Biden opened with a speech filled with quips about the honorees.

The recipients of the National Medals of Arts – the highest honor from the United States government for advancing the country’s arts – include actors, comedians and singers. Other recipients were artist-activist Judith Francisca Baca, philanthropist Fred Eychaner, Puerto Rican painter Antonio Martorell-Cardona and film producer Joan Shigekawa.

The Billie Holiday Theatre and The International Association of Blacks in Dance also received medals.

The National Humanities Medal honors those who have improved Americans’ understanding and engagement with history, literature, philosophy and more humanities subjects.

The 2021 recipients are poet Richard Blanco, anthropologist Johnnetta Betsch Cole, author Walter Isaacson, social historian Earl Lewis, Native American studies academic Henrietta Mann, novelist Ann Patchett, activist Bryan Stevenson, novelist Amy Tan, memoirist Tara Westover and novelist Colson Whitehead, as well as the organization Native America Calling.

Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias to Star on Season Two of Disney+’s “The Santa Clauses”

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It’s a case of clause and effect for Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias. 

The 46-year-old Mexican American comedian/actor is joining the cast of Disney+‘s The Santa Clauses as a series regular.

Gabriel IglesiasIglesias will play Kris Kringle, the owner and operator of a Christmas-themed amusement park called Santaland. Sweet, happy, and perpetually-optimistic, Kris is a warm, generous soul who is determined to keep his struggling theme park afloat. However, his belief in Santa and love for all things Christmas may not be enough.

In the second season, the Calvin family is back in the North Pole as Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) continues his role as Santa Claus after retirement plans were thwarted when failing to find a worthy successor in season one. Now that Scott and his family have successfully saved Christmas, Scott turns his focus towards training his son Calvin to eventually take over the family business as Santa Claus.

Also returning as series regulars in season two are Elizabeth Mitchell as Mrs. Claus/Carol, Elizabeth Allen-Dick as Sandra Calvin Claus, Austin Kane as Cal Calvin Claus, and Devin Bright as Santa’s elf bestie Noel. Matilda Lawler will reprise her role of Santa’s chief of staff, Betty, as a recurring guest star.

Additional guest stars include newcomer Marta Kessler as Olga, a surly, take-no-prisoners gnome who is a sidekick to Magnus Antas (Eric Stonestreet), aka The Mad Santa; along with returning guest stars Liam Kyle as Gary, Isabella Bennett as Edie, Sasha Knight as Crouton, Ruby Jay as Riley, Mia Lynn Bangunan as Pontoon, and Laura San Giacomo as La Befana, the Christmas Witch.

Jack Burditt will continue as executive producer and showrunner, while Kevin Hench, Richard Baker and Rick Messina will serve as executive producers along with Jason Winer and Jon Radler for Small Dog Picture Company.

The Disney Branded Television series is produced by 20th Television.

Iglesias recently became the second highest grossing touring comedian and is one of the most watched comedians on YouTube with over 1.1 billion views and over 25 million fans on social media.

His acting credits include Mr. Iglesias, Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, A Haunted House and Smurfs: The Lost Village.

Antonio Banderas to Star in Sony Affirm’s Untitled, Nativity-Themed Holiday Musical

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Antonio Banderas is preparing to spread holiday cheer…

The 62-year-old Spanish actor will star in Sony Affirm’s upcoming untitled holiday musical centered around the Nativity.

Antonio BanderasBanderas, who will star as King Herod, will appear opposite Fiona Palomo as Mary and Milo Manheim as Joseph.

The film is currently in production with Monarch Media on the coast of Spain for a November 10 theatrical release.

Music producer Adam Anders is making his feature directorial debut and wrote the script along with Peter Barsocchini and wrote the music with Nikki Anders and Peer Astrom.

Here’s the logline: A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical celebration for the entire family, weaves classic Christmas melodies into new pop songs in a music-infused retelling of the timeless story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus.

Filling out the cast are Moriah, Stephanie Gil, 4x Grammy award-winning Joel Smallbone from the pop duo FOR KING + COUNTRY as King Herod’s son, Antipater and multiple Grammy award-winning Lecrae as Gabriel, Rizwan Manji as Gaspar, Geno Seagers as Balthazar, and Omid Djalili as Melchior.

“This joyous and fresh take on Mary and Joseph’s journey, combined with infectious music and insanely passionate vision of Adam Anders made this an undeniable fit for Affirm Films and Sony Pictures to come alongside and help turn this amazing story into a Christmas classic that will resound with young children, families, teens and adults” said Rich Peluso, EVP and Head of Affirm Films.

“We’ve been amazed at Adam’s ability to tell the widely known story of Mary, Joseph and a jealous king in a way that feels fresh and contemporary, like you’ve never heard it before.” says Alan Powell of Monarch Media.

Justin Quiles Teams Up with Myke Towers for New Single “Whiskey y Coco”

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Justin Quiles is back with new music…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican singer has joined voices with Myke Towers for the new single “Whiskey y Coco,” which could become this year’s anthem for ladies.

Justin QuilesReleased via Warner Music Latina, the track was produced by BK, Dimelo Flow and Slow Mike.

The new track merges classic reggaeton beats with synthetic sounds, in an anthem that is both vibrant and catchy. The song gets its title from one of Justin’s favorite drink combinations that’s extremely popular in Puerto Rico.

The track also celebrates the beauty of all women as depicted in the visuals.

“Whiskey y Coco” is anchored by Justin Quiles’ singular voice coupled with Myke Towers’ unparalleled flow.

“Last year was such an incredible year for me in many ways creatively and professionally. I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to release this track that my good friend and collaborator Myke Towers and I have worked so hard on. I’m ready for everyone to see and hear what we have in store for 2023,” said Justin Quiles.

“For me, doing this track with Justin was an honor because he is one of the most respected songwriters in the game, as well as being an artist. We had never been able to collaborate on a song before, so I hope this song will be a classic and a crowd pleaser. It is the first time that El Young King and La Nueva Promesa get together and in the song you can feel the essence of Puerto Rico very strongly!” said Myke Towers.

Filmed in Puerto Rico, the official music video stars both reggaeton superstars in a dynamic visual story set against lush landscapes. The dreamy cinematography transports viewers to green open fields and whimsical beaches. The video features a diverse cast of women in a celebration of female beauty and empowerment. Known also for being a fashion trendsetter, Justin Quiles wears a variety of clothing that enhances the visual storytelling.

“Whiskey y Coco” comes shortly after the release of his rendition of Juan Gabriel’s “Así Fue,” and his tropical Christmas hit “Alegría.”

Mariah Carey Crowns First 2023 Billboard Hot 100 Chart with “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

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It’s Christmas in January for Mariah Carey…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, despite the latest data tracking week reflecting four days after Christmas Day (Dec. 23-29).

Mariah CareyThe track now extends its lifetime reign for a 12th total week.

It leads for a fourth week this holiday season – the most over any Yuletide season since it began topping the tally annually over the holidays in December 2019.

The song also becomes the second holiday hit to reign for four consecutive weeks, and the first in 64 years, after “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four frames at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

Carey’s “Christmas,” on Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, was first released on her album Merry Christmas in 1994. As streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, the song first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in December 2017 and first hit the top five in the 2018 holiday season, before leading over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three) and this season (a single-season-best four).

Carey’s “Christmas” drew 46.9 million streams (down 4%) and 24.6 million radio airplay audience impressions (down 38%) and sold 6,000 downloads (down 47%) in the U.S. Dec. 23-29, according to Luminate.

Up to 12 total weeks, Carey’s “Christmas” expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent, as noted above, four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

The two songs now share the mark for the most consecutive frames atop the Hot 100 – four each – for a Yuletide title, as well as the most in any singular holiday season.

With this week’s Hot 100 dated January 7, 2023, Carey’s “Christmas” is the first song to lead Hot 100 charts dated in five distinct years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and now 2023). No other song has reigned in more than two individual years.

Carey has now placed at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in a record-extending 19 distinct years (per Hot 100 chart dates): 1990-2000, 2005-06, 2008 and, thanks to “Christmas,” 2019-23.

Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 12 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat.

Carey’s “Christmas” extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and two weeks (Dec. 21, 2019-Jan. 7, 2023).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” stretches Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart to 32 years and five months, dating to her first week atop the list dated Aug. 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

With “Christmas,” Carey adds her record-extending 91st week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception.

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week on top with “Vision of Love.” “Christmas” is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey.

She concurrently crowns the multi-metric Holiday 100 chart for a 57th week, of the chart’s 62 total weeks since the list originated in 2011. It has led the list for 42 consecutive weeks, dating to the start of the 2015-16 holiday season, and rules as the top title on the Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs chart.

 

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

Willy Chirino Celebrates Half-Century Spanning Music Career with Release of “Sigo Pa’lante”

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Willy Chirino is celebrating his 50-year music career with new music.

The 75-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter behind salsa classics like “Medias Negras” and “Pobre Diabla” has released Sigo Pa’lante, his first studio album in more than a decade.

Willy ChirinoWith reggaetón becoming more and more popular, Chirino was taking his time to study the landscape before releasing the album in December. 

“There was a transition in music after my last album that was very dramatic,” he explains to Billboard Español about his hiatus. But the 50th anniversary, with all the fanfare and the news surrounding it, was the perfect occasion to release the album he’d been working on for the past three years.

Chirino wasn’t hibernating — in recent years he’d released an album of traditional Latin American songs with his wife Lissette (Amarraditos), two Christmas albums (Llegó la Navidad and Willy & Lissette Navidad En Familia) and other covers sets (My Favorites and My Beatles Heart) — Sigo Pa’lante is his first project of new music since 2008’s Pa’lante.

Composed of 12 tracks, it opens with the joyous “Imagínate” and includes collaborations with Gilberto Santa Rosa (on the first single “La Música”), Leoni Torres (“Para Mi Viejo”), El Chacal (the album’s title track), Lissette (“Mi Corazón Es Un Pueblo”) and his daughter Jesse (“Agua De Marzo,” a cover of the Brazilian classic “Aguas De Marzo” by Antonio Carlos Jobim).

It closes with an anthem of freedom for Cuba, “Que Se Vaya Ya,” a song as energetic as it is emotional, released in September 2021 with contributions from Lenier, Micha, Chacal, Osmani García and Srta. Dayana.

“Let them take all the bad things/ Let them go, let them go/ We can’t take the beatings anymore/ Let them leave now/ Because the people suffer and keep quiet/ Let them go, let them go/ Let them take the shrapnel/ Let them go now ”, they sing in Spanish.

Chirino, in fact, dedicates Sigo Pa’lante to his fans in Cuba, where he says that people continue to listen to his songs “despite all the mishaps they have suffered to do so.”

“They’ve paid a price that is not monetary, because listening to my music for a long time was totally prohibited,” the artist continues, adding that “when they found them listening, [the authorities] beat them, imprisoned them, took their boomboxes away. In other words, they were mistreated simply for the fact of listening to my music. So that for me has a special recognition”.

Although he clarifies that his songs are not currently banned in his native country, he says that his anti-Castro stance has made him persona non grata, and that his requests to perform in the island have never been answered.

Chirino debuted in 1974 with the album One Man Alone, and has released more than twenty albums since — but his career began earlier, as part of different bands and orchestras. The 50th anniversary dates back to 1972, when he says he began to use his own name when creating music as a solo artist.

On the Billboard charts, he’s scored 13 entries on the Tropical Albums listing, seven of which reached the top 10. He’s also had six entries on the Hot Latin Songs chart, two on Latin Airplay, and two on Top Latin Albums.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” Tops Billboard Global Charts in First 2023 List

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The world is still Mariah Carey‘s (holiday) stage…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” leads the first all-holiday top 10 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and tops the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. survey.

Mariah CareyCarey’s insta-classic holiday song adds a 13th total week at No. 1 on the former and an eighth week atop the latter, dating to the charts’ inceptions two years ago.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” holds at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 with 124.9 million streams (up 16%) and 12,000 sold (down 31%) worldwide in the December 23-29 tracking week.

The modern holiday classic, released in 1994, adds a 13th week at the summit, and a single-season-best fifth frame this holiday season, after it led for four weeks each over the 2021 and 2020 holidays.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” keeps atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 82.8 million streams (up 27%) and 6,000 downloads sold (essentially even week-over-week) in territories outside the U.S. Dec.ember 23-29.

The song scores an eighth total week at No. 1, and a single-season-high fourth frame this Yuletide season, after it ruled for three weeks over last year’s holidays and for a week during the 2020 holiday season.

The two global charts, which began in September 2020, rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Billboard Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the U.S.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Earns Second Week at No. 1 in Australia

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Mariah Carey is still a darling Down Under…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, lives up to her nickname as her enduring holiday classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” rings in Christmas as the No. 1 single in Australia.

Mariah CareyCarey’s single, released in 1994, earns a second consecutive week at the top Down Under, and a fifth year at No. 1 during the Christmas week, ARIA reports.

Although it’s peak summer in Australia, a time when Aussies head to the beach en masse, those wintry yuletide classics dominate playlists in these parts, a fact that’s reflected by both main ARIA Charts.

Four of the top 10 singles on the chart published December 23 are Christmas numbers, including Wham’s “Last Christmas” (up 6-3), Michael Bublé’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (up 11-5), Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” (up 12-7) and Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” (up 15-8), while Bobby Helms’ ‘50s tune Jingle Bell Rock lifts 19-14. Also, Xmas singles from Kelly Clarkson, Andy Williams, The Ronettes, Band Aid, Sia, John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band and Burl Ives impact the top 40.

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You” Remains at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

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Mariah Carey is the reigning Queen of Christmas…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” remains atop the Billboard Hot 100 for an 11th total week.

Mariah CareyIt leads for a third week this holiday season, as it has topped the chart over the holidays each year since December 2019.

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

“All I Want for Christmas Is You,” on Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings, was first released on Carey’s album Merry Christmas in 1994 and, as streaming has grown and holiday music has become more prominent on streaming services’ playlists, it first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 in December 2017 and first hit the top five in the 2018 holiday season, before dominating over the holidays in 2019 (for three weeks), 2020 (two), 2021 (three) and now 2022 (three to-date).

The insta-holiday classic drew 48.7 million streams (up 18%) and 39.5 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 19%) and sold 11,000 downloads (up 3%) in the U.S. in the December 16-22 tracking week, according to Luminate. Adding to the song’s momentum, Carey’s two-hour holiday special Merry Christmas to All! premiered on December 20 on CBS.

The song adds a fourth total week at No. 1, and second in a row, on the Digital Song Sales chart, following frames on top in 2005 and 2019; rebounds 2-1 for an 18th week atop Streaming Songs; and jingles 14-11 for a new high on Radio Songs, where it reached a previous No. 12 best over the 1994 holidays and has returned to the top 15 in each of the last four holiday seasons.

Carey becomes the second artist, and first woman, with three songs that have topped the Hot 100 for 11 or more weeks each. She joins Boyz II Men for the honor – with Carey and the group having teamed for one song contributing to the feat:

Mariah Carey:
16 weeks, “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, 1995-96
14 weeks, “We Belong Together,” 2005
11 weeks (to-date), “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” 2019-22

Carey’s track extends the longest span from a song’s first week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 to its latest, to over three years and a week (December 21, 2019-December 31, 2022).

Plus, the latest week atop the Hot 100 for “Christmas” extends Carey’s record for the longest span of an artist ranking at No. 1 on the chart: 32 years and nearly five months, dating to her first week at No. 1 on the list dated August 4, 1990, with her debut single “Vision of Love.”

With “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Carey adds her record-extending 90th week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, dating to the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958 inception.

Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot 100:
90, Mariah Carey
60, Rihanna
59, The Beatles
54, Drake
50, Boyz II Men
47, Usher
43, Beyoncé
37, Michael Jackson
34, Adele
34, Elton John
34, Bruno Mars

“Christmas” became Carey’s 19th Hot 100 No. 1, the most among soloists and one away from The Beatles’ overall record 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades, dating to her first week at the summit with “Vision of Love.” The song is additionally the only title to have led in four separate runs on the survey.

Carey’s holiday song expands its record for the most time atop the Hot 100 for a holiday song. The only other seasonal single to lead, “The Chipmunk Song,” by David Seville & the Chipmunks, spent four weeks at No. 1 beginning in December 1958.

Bad Bunny Teases New Single He’ll Release “to Close the Year”

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Bad Bunny is ending the year with a banger…

Just five days before Christmas, the 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar has unveiled a preview clip of a never-before-heard track on TikTok.

Bad Bunny“OK, now yes, check this out,” he said in the 50-second clip. “Let me play this for you. This is to close the year.”

Bunny’s sultry vocals are heard over a simple beat that soon transitions into a hard-hitting reggaeton track.

“He loves you and gives you everything/ But you’re the devil and you’re crazy for me/ You like the bad boys and are playing fire with me […] although you’re a sin, I’m going to hell following that big a–/ I’m on my way/ Today I’m picking you up after midnight,” he chants in the saucy snippet.

He teased fans some more in the caption. “Let me know if you want another preview,” he wrote, which has fans speculating in the comments that this could either mark the return of “Trap Bunny,” or that he might drop a whole new album before 2022 comes to an end.

As fans patiently wait for El Conejo Malo’s next big move, there’s no denying that Bad Bunny was the year’s biggest music star.

Bad Bunny ruled Billboard’s year-end Top Artists chart for the first time, while his Un Verano Sin Ti made history as the first all-Spanish album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 year-end albums chart (and has spent 13 weeks at the top so far), and the album also became the first-ever all-Spanish release to earn a Grammy nomination for album of the year.

He also closed out the year with his record-breaking $435 million in tour grosses that combine more than 80 concerts from two separate tours (El Último Tour del Mundo and The World’s Hottest Tour). That amount became the highest gross for an artist in a calendar year since Billboard Boxscore launched in the late 1980s.

@badbunny

me dicen si quieren otro preview…

♬ original sound – Bad Bunny

The unreleased track he teased on TikTok will follow his Arcangel-assisted “La Jumpa,” which debuted at No. 3 on the Hot Latin Songs chart dated December 10, 2022.