Entertainment
Shane MacGowan, Lead Singer Of The Pogues And A Laureate Of Booze And Beauty, Dies At Age 65
LONDON, England – Shane MacGowan, The Pogues’ boisterous, rabble-rousing singer and lead composer who combined traditional Irish music with the intensity and spirit of punk, died Thursday, according to his family. He was 65.
MacGowan’s songwriting and persona established him as an iconic figure in contemporary Irish culture, and some of his compositions have become classics, most notably the bittersweet Christmas ballad “Fairytale of New York,” of which Irish President Michael D. Higgins stated that it “will be listened to every Christmas for the next century or more.”
“It is with deepest sorrow and heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our most beautiful, darling, and dearly beloved Shane MacGowan,” his wife Victoria Clarke, sister Siobhan, and father Maurice said in a statement.
According to the statement, the musician died peacefully with his family by his side.
After being diagnosed with viral encephalitis in late 2022, the musician was hospitalized in Dublin for several months. He was released last week, just in time for his forthcoming birthday on Christmas Day.
The Pogues fused Irish folk and rock ‘n’ roll into a unique, irresistible blend, though MacGowan became known for his slurred performances as much as his passionate compositions.
Shane MacGowan, Lead Singer Of The Pogues And A Laureate Of Booze And Beauty, Dies At Age 65
His lyrics mixed scabrous and romantic elements, ranging from carousing anthems to pictures of life in the gutter to sweet love songs. “Fairytale of New York,” The Pogues’ most famous song, is a tale about down-on-their-luck immigrant lovers that begins with the rather unfestive words: “It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank.” The duet between MacGowan’s scratchy voice and the silky tones of the late Kirsty MacColl is by far the most popular Pogues song in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Nick Cave, a singer-songwriter, described Shane MacGowan as “a true friend and the greatest songwriter of his generation.”
The Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, stated that “his songs capture within them, as Shane would put it, the measure of our dreams.”
“His words have connected Irish people all over the globe to their culture and history, encompassing so many human emotions in the most poetic of ways,” added Higgins.
According to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, MacGowan’s compositions “beautifully captured the Irish experience, especially the experience of being Irish abroad.”
According to Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, “nobody told the Irish story like Shane — stories of emigration, heartache, dislocation, redemption, love, and joy.”
MacGowan was born on Christmas Day 1957 in England to Irish parents and spent his childhood in rural Ireland before returning to London. Ireland remained the everlasting focus of his imagination and longing. He grew up listening to Irish music from family and neighbors and rock, Motown, reggae, and jazz.
He was expelled from London’s renowned Westminster School and spent time in a psychiatric facility following a breakdown in his teens.
MacGowan welcomed the punk scene that erupted in the United Kingdom in the mid-1970s. He played in a band called the Nipple Erectors as Shane O’Hooligan before forming The Pogues with musicians including Jem Finer and Spider Stacey.
Shane MacGowan, Lead Singer Of The Pogues And A Laureate Of Booze And Beauty, Dies At Age 65
The Pogues blended punk’s ferocious energy with traditional Irish tunes and instruments such as banjo, tin whistle, and accordion.
“It never occurred to me that you could play Irish music to a rock audience,” MacGowan said in his 2001 biography “A Drink with Shane MacGowan,” co-written with Clarke. “And then it clicked. Start an Irish band in London that plays Irish music with a rock and roll beat. The original plan was to simply blast out classic songs, but then I started writing.”
“Red Roses for Me,” the band’s first album, was released in 1984 and contained boisterous interpretations of Irish folk tunes among originals such as “Boys from County Hell,” “Dark Streets of London,” and “Streams of Whisky.”
The band gained a loyal following and accolades from music journalists and fellow performers ranging from Bono to Bob Dylan while performing in pubs and clubs throughout London and beyond.
The songs on the following two albums, “Rum, Sodomy and the Lash” (1985) and “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” (1988), by MacGowan, ranged from raucous rousers like the latter album’s title track to ballads like “A Pair of Brown Eyes” and “The Broad Majestic Shannon.”
The band also published an EP in 1986 called “Poguetry in Motion,” which included two of MacGowan’s best tunes, “A Rainy Night in Soho” and “The Body of an American.” The latter was featured frequently in the early-2000s TV show “The Wire,” when it was performed at the funerals of Baltimore police officers.
“I wanted to make pure music that could be from any time, to make time irrelevant, to make generations and decades irrelevant,” he wrote in his autobiographical book.
The Pogues momentarily ruled the world, with sold-out tours and appearances on American television, but the band’s output and appearances became more unpredictable, owing in part to MacGowan’s troubles with drink and narcotics. He was fired by the other band members in 1991 after a spate of no-shows, notably while The Pogues were opening for Dylan. Before disbanding, the band momentarily replaced MacGowan with Clash frontman Joe Strummer.
Shane MacGowan, Lead Singer Of The Pogues And A Laureate Of Booze And Beauty, Dies At Age 65
MacGowan joined a new band, Shane MacGowan and the Popes, and released two albums: “The Snake” in 1995 and “The Crock Of Gold” in 1997. Despite his well-documented drinking problems and performances that frequently included slurred lyrics and at least one stage collapse, he reconnected with The Pogues in 2001 for a series of concerts and tours.
MacGowan struggled with health issues for years and relied on a wheelchair after breaking his pelvis a decade ago. He was well-known for his damaged, decaying teeth until he received a full set of implants in 2015 from a dental specialist who referred to the treatment as “the Everest of dentistry.”
On his 60th birthday, MacGowan got a lifetime achievement award from Ireland’s president. A celebratory concert featuring Bono, Nick Cave, Sinead O’Connor, and Johnny Depp took place at Dublin’s National Concert Hall to mark the occasion.
In an Instagram post, Clarke said, “There’s no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world.”
“I am blessed beyond words to have met him and to have loved him and to have been so endlessly and unconditionally loved by him and to have had so many years of life and love and joy and fun and laughter and so many adventures,” she wrote in an email.
SOURCE – (AP)
Entertainment
Streaming of iBOMMA Telugu Movies Surges in Canada
In recent years, iBOMMA Telugu Movies have emerged not only as a leader, but as one of the most important platforms for streaming Telugu movies in Canada. In the midst of the increase in the international establishment of streaming services in the western sphere.
This rapid expansion of Telugu Movies can also be seen in the demand for regional content due to the increasing South Asian population within Canada.
The growth of the iBOMMA platform makes sense as there is a large population of Telugu speakers in Canada. The growing South Asian population in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and others has aided in the diversification of the market and similar platforms.
“Between 2013 and 2023, Indians immigrating to Canada rose from 32,828 to 139,715, an increase of 326%,” according to Forbes.
Indian enrollment at Canadian universities rose more than 5,800% in the last two decades, from 2,181 in 2000 to 128,928 in 2021, an increase of 126,747 students.
Between 2016 and 2019, Indian international students enrolled in U.S. universities dropped by 13% but increased by 182% at Canadian universities. Diplomatic issues between India and Canada have reduced Indian student visa approvals in the short term.
International student enrollment at Canadian universities rose from 62,223 in 2000 to 400,521 in 2021, increasing by 544%, according to the NFAP analysis. International student enrollment in America increased by 45% between 2000 and 2021.
Due to the increase in Telugu speaking people in Canada, streaming services for Telugu Canadians have shifted focus from entertainment to a tool to maintain their culture. With iBOMMA and its peers, they are able to stay in touch with a piece of their motherland while adapting to the realities of life in the Great White North.
Telugu cinema has started to grow in popularity outside of India, with several recent classics gradually starting to become of interest to the general populace. RRR and Kantara are among a slew of movies that are now finding success on a global stage, thus generating interest in films originating from the region.
This has in turn brought new customers onto iBOMMA Telugu Movies and introduced the platform to a whole new demographic of non Telugu – speakers.
In Canada these blockbusters have sparked some discussions and fans expressing their excitement on social media. The buzz around such films has often caused an increase in searches for options to stream the film, with iBOMMA Telugu Movies being a top.
Up Coming iBOMMA Telugu Movies for 2025
Movie | Release Date |
---|---|
Game Changer | Jan 10, 2025 |
Vidaamuyarchi | Jan 10, 2025 |
Daaku Maharaaj | Jan 12, 2025 |
Sankranthiki Vasthunnam | Jan 14, 2025 |
Thandel | Feb 07, 2025 |
Laila | Feb 14, 2025 |
#K10 | Feb 2025 |
Robinhood | Feb 2025 |
L2E (Dub) | March 27, 2025 |
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 1 | March 28, 2025 |
VD12 | March 28, 2025 |
JACK | April 10, 2025 |
Ghaati | April 18, 2025 |
Kannappa | April 25, 2025 |
HIT 3 | May 01, 2025 |
The Raja Saab | Summer 2025 |
Thug Life (Dub) | June 5, 2025 |
Kantara Chapter 1 | Oct 02, 2025 |
#NTRNeel | Jan 09, 2026 |
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (dub) | Jan 21, 2027 |
Entertainment
Superman 2025 Trailer Drops With Great Fanfare
James Gunn’s next film, Superman 2025, has its first teaser trailer, which dropped on Thursday. It gives DC fans their first look at David Corenswet’s Superman, AKA Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
Before its release, DC Studios unveiled a Superman 2025 enamel pin on Monday featuring a revamped Corenswet in her superhero costume and an updated depiction of Pierce Brosnahan’s daring reporter on Wednesday.
In 2025, Superman fans will be able to enjoy Gunn’s new storytelling, a new main actor, and more character development. Many are also curious about whether Superman will face Ultraman.
The preview opens with Superman, battered and bloodied, crash-landing in a desolate, icy scene. His canine sidekick, Krypto, also known as Super Dog, rushes to his aid after he has visions of himself as Clark in the Daily Planet office and at his parents’ house.
The trailer offers few storyline details, aside from the involvement of a fire-breathing dragon and the shaved-head Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. It seems that Superman 2025 also attracts the ire of the general public; one irate citizen even beaned him on the back of the head with a throwaway cup.
After revealing his grand vision for the newly formed DCU in 2023, Gunn’s film—originally named Superman: Legacy—would serve as the prequel to a trilogy dubbed Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. The sequels will feature films centred around Supergirl, Clayface, and Swamp Thing.
Krypto Appears in Superman 2025
Despite living among other super-beings, Gunn noted that Corenswet’s Superman can stand on Earth due to his devotion and honesty.
In addition to his enormous stronghold that emerges from the ground, Superman possesses a flying dog and battles enormous creatures. The director praised Superman in his film for bringing elements from the comics and mythology that fans have been missing from the superhero franchise.
He may have done it again with Krypto, this time with a take that challenges the canine stereotype of a muscular, well-groomed hero.
More than anything else, this one appears to be a rescue operation. According to Gunn, the dog that steals the show in the trailer isn’t the greatest. You’re missing out on much of Krypto’s depth in this trailer.
According to Gunn, “it’s a movie about kindness” when asked about the film’s themes.
In the 2025 teaser for Superman, Superman only says, “Take me home,” and whispers Krypto’s name. John Williams’s iconic score from the Christopher Reeve films gets a modern update to underscore the video.
Superman 2025, the first solo film starring Superman since 2013’s Man of Steel, opens on July 11, and a lot is riding on it.
The property is the foundation for the ambitious plans of DC Studios co-chiefs Gunn and Peter Safran, who were appointed to re-invent DC by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav. Their plans include an entire universe of television shows and films.
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Entertainment
iBomma Telugu Movies Are Gaining Popularity in Canada
iBomma, an online portal offering Telugu movies, has found unexpected development in Canada. Many Indio-Canadians are streaming foreign films, enticed by the genre-blending nature of Telugu films.
Telugu-speaking immigrants make up a sizable proportion of Canada’s South Asian population. Telugu films provide these people with a link to their birthplace.
Platforms such as iBomma allow users to quickly access the most recent releases without waiting for DVDs or other means of distribution.
Platforms such as Reddit, Instagram, and WhatsApp have helped iBomma gain popularity. Fans frequently post free movie links or discuss future Telugu releases, generating buzz. This word-of-mouth marketing attracts additional users to sites like iBomma, increasing Canadian viewership.
Telugu Movies Display India Culture
Social influencers have also had an impact. This increased enthusiasm is seen in YouTube channels evaluating Telugu movies and Instagram clips showing Tollywood dance numbers. Many consumers watch Telugu films on their mobile devices, reducing the need for traditional cable subscriptions.
Furthermore, subtitles have made Telugu movies available to non-Telugu-speaking Canadians. With English as the primary language in Canada, this function allows for a more seamless watching experience. The global enthusiasm for Indian regional cinema is growing, and Canada has emerged as a surprising hotbed for cultural interchange.
Apps and platforms that cater to certain hobbies, such as Telugu films, are here to stay, assuming they strike the correct balance.
iBomma’s success in Canada demonstrates Telugu cinema’s global appeal. These films have won the hearts of Canadians with their fascinating storylines, relatable emotions, and jaw-dropping action.
While debates about legality and piracy continue, iBomma’s contribution to propagating Telugu Movie culture worldwide is obvious. Whether it’s a blockbuster like Pushpa 2 or a lesser indie treasure, platforms like iBomma take localized stories worldwide.
As Canadians continue to discover the enchantment of Tollywood, one thing is clear: language and distance cannot limit great storytelling.
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