People
SHANGHAI — Pharrell Williams is using music to sound the warning about climate change.
The Grammy-winning musician appeared in Shanghai this week to debut a song titled “100 Years,” which he described as “a postcard, a sarcastic one, to the people who should be ashamed to call themselves scientists and politicians.”
The song addresses those who deny climate change.
“I thought, 'Let me just troll all the pseudoscientists, the ones that don't care about the ecosystem,”' he said. “There are a lot of great fine scientists. We just happen to have some that agree with our current administration in the States. I don't get it.”
President Donald Trump's administration has downplayed man's role in climate change and has announced plans to pull out of the landmark Paris climate accord, which was agreed to by President Barack Obama's administration.
However, the targets of Williams' song most likely won't hear it: The song, a collaboration with the cognac brand Louis XIII, won't be released for 100 years.
Williams spoke to a group of reporters and celebrities, many of whom had been flown to Shanghai for the event. Actors Jesse Williams and Zhao Wei were among those present.
In an earlier interview with The Associated Press, Williams struck a mostly optimistic tone, saying young people in particular make him hopeful for the planet's future.
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NEW YORK — Sam Smith was personal on his debut album, but he says he wanted to get deeper on his sophomore project.
Smith's “The Thrill of It All” features songs about his love life, his parents and his friends. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week.
The 25-year-old says “I knew that I wanted this album to be more personal than the first one.” He added that the songs are “about me and how I didn't like myself a lot while I was making this record and how I can be my worst enemy.”
“Too Good at Goodbyes,” the lead single, is currently No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart. Smith's 2014 debut, “In the Lonely Hour,” won the British singer four Grammy Awards.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Taylor Swift left some fans shocked by dropping by a Tennessee Target store to pick up a few things, including her new album.
The Nashville Tennessean reports the superstar singer chronicled her Target run through Instagram Stories. The newspaper reports Swift approached fans and video chatted with their friends who missed out on the surprise visit to the store.
Swift said in her story that she has a tradition of visiting the store to buy her album when a new one comes out. Her sixth album, “Reputation,” was released last week.
By The Associated Press
