Connect with us

Published

on

It started with a gentle “I need your participation, please”, as Blur frontman Damon Albarn sought an audience singalong during a Coachella performance.

But as the British rock band were consistently met with near-silence, an increasingly frustrated Albarn eventually remarked: “You’ll never see us again”.

The English band have released nine albums since its formation in 1988, seven of which reached No 1 in the charts, including their latest record, The Ballad of Darren, which was produced following an eight-year break.

But some of their hits did not seem to resonate with audiences at the world-famous Coachella festival, held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, over the weekend.

During their Saturday slot, the group, part of a star-studded line-up, performed a host of their hits including Song 2, Beetlebum and Tender.

As the band struck up the chords to their 1994 hit Girls & Boys, lead singer Albarn, 56, tried to encourage the crowd to sing along to the chorus, saying: “I need your participation, please.”

In videos shared on social media, he can be seen attempting to engage the concert-goers a number of times, telling them “you can do it better than that”, but his efforts continued to receive a lacklustre response from the US crowd.

Damon Albarn of British band Blur performs during the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California in 2013. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Damon Albarn of British band Blur performs during the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California in 2013. Pic: Reuters


The musician appeared to get increasingly frustrated until he told the audience: “You’ll never see us again so you may as
well f****** sing it.”

Read more:
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce spotted at Coachella
Shakira announces world tour during surprise Coachella appearance

Dressed in a white suit and a black T-shirt paired with a pair of black sunglasses, Albarn led the band, which also includes guitarist Graham Coxon, bass guitarist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree.

Blur have released nine albums in total, including 1994’s Parklife, 1995’s The Great Escape, 1997’s Blur, 1999’s 13, 2003’s Think Tank and 2015’s The Magic Whip – which all went to number one in the charts.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

The group helped pioneer the Britpop genre, fiercely competing with rival band Oasis in the charts over the years.

They went on hiatus after their 2015 Magic Whip tour, but came back last year with their first record for eight years, titled The Ballad Of Darren, which soared to number one.

Singer-songwriter Raye and dance outfit Jungle were also among the British acts who took to the Coachella stage over the weekend.

London-born Raye teased her next music project during her set, the follow-up to her award-winning debut album My 21st Century Blues.

Last month, she overtook Blur, Harry Styles and Adele by picking up the most Brit awards in one year during the 2024 ceremony.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

Published

on

By

Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in pictures

It’s a night of glitz, glamour and high camp, in which pop, rock, disco and opera all come together in one big Eurovision cocktail.

This year’s acts incorporate a giant gold microphone, a sauna – and of course pyrotechnics and fake ice aplenty.

Here are some of the best moments on stage in Basel.

Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Tommy Cash, singing Espresso Macchiato for Estonia. Pic: Reuters

Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP
Image:
Kyle Alessandro performs Lighter for Norway. Pic: AP

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
Image:
Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
Image:
JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP
Image:
VAEB performing Roa for Iceland. Pic: AP

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
Image:
Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP
Image:
Ziferblat perform Bird Of Pray for Ukraine. Pic: AP

Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP
Image:
Melody perform Esa Diva for Spain. Pic: AP

Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Lucio Corsi performing Volevo Essere Un Duro for Italy. Pic: Reuters

Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Tautumeitas performing Bur Man Laimi for Latvia. Pic: Reuters

Erika Vikman performing Ich Komme for Finland. Pic: Reuters
Erika Vikman, representing Finland, performs "ICH KOMME", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Image:
Erika Vikman performs Ich Komme for Finland. Pics: Reuters

Claude singing C'est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Claude singing C’est La Vie for The Netherlands. Pic: Reuters

Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP
Image:
Abor & Tynna sing Baller for Germany. Pic: AP

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
Image:
KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP
Image:
Shkodra Elektronike performing Zjerm for Albania. Pic: AP

Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP
Image:
Louane sings Maman for France. Pic: AP

PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP
Image:
PARG performs Survivor for Armenia. Pic: AP

Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP
Image:
Klavdia sings Asteromata for Greece. Pic: AP

Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L'Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP
Image:
Gabry Ponte performing Tutta L’Italia for San Marino. Pic: AP

JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters
Image:
JJ is crowned the winner of Eurovision 2025. Pic: Reuters

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded ‘nul points’

Published

on

By

Eurovision 2025: Austria wins Eurovision, as UK avoids dreaded 'nul points'

Austria has won Eurovision 2025, with Austrian-Filipino singer-songwriter JJ taking the glass microphone.

The 24-year-old singer, who originally trained as a countertenor, represented his country with his operatic ballad Wasted Love, staged on a storm-tossed ship.

The song, which was not dissimilar to that of last year’s winner Nemo, told the story of unrequited love, with a techno breakdown near the end. Austria has won Eurovision twice before, the last time in 2014 with Conchita Wurst’s pop hit Rise Like A Phoenix.

JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters
Image:
JJ singing Wasted Love for Austria. Pic: Reuters

Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who survived the October 7, 2023, attacks which were the catalyst for Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, was the runner-up with piano ballad New Day Will Rise, performed in Hebrew, French and English.

The singer was left “shaken and upset,” after two pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards her during her grand final performance.

Organisers confirmed a backstage crew member was hit with paint but was not hurt.

A spokesman for SRG SSR said: “At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage.

More on Eurovision

“They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”

Israel has won Eurovision four times, and last year finished in fifth place with Eden Golan’s Hurricane.

Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP
Image:
Yuval Raphael performs New Day Will Rise for Israel. Pic:AP

Just as the grand final began broadcasting, Spanish broadcaster shared a message of Palestinian support which read: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”

The broadcaster had already received a warning from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over political statements reported by Israeli broadcaster Kan.

The EBU said in response to the latter incident: “We can confirm that we have spoken to RTVE regarding this matter and made it clear that commentators are expected to maintain neutrality within the broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest.”

During the evening, there were also pro-Palestinian protests near the centre of Basel, as well as a small group nearby protesting with Israeli flags.

Israeli National Security Council had issued a warning to Israeli civilians in the city to keep a low profile during the competition.

In a change from last year’s contest in Malmo, Sweden, the ban on certain flags being waved by the audience was relaxed which meant Palestinian symbols could be seen in the arena.

Read more: Sex, survival and saunas – all the songs to look out for

Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP
Image:
Remember Monday perform What The Hell Just Happened for the UK. Pic: AP

The UK’s act – country pop trio Remember Monday – who performed in colourful Bridgerton-style outfits – avoided the dreaded “nul points”, coming in at 19th place with song What The Hell Just Happened?

However, for the second year running, the UK received no points in the public score.

The UK has had five wins at Eurovision, but in recent years have struggled to rank, with the exception being Sam Ryder with Space Man in 2022, who came second.

Last year, Olly Alexander placed 18th at Malmo, and Mae Muller was second to last the previous year in Liverpool.

The Eurovision grand final took place in the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, with the winner from among the 26 performing nations decided by a mix of public voting and points from national juries.

The four-hour-long show was presented by an all-female team – stand-up comedian Hazel Brugger, TV presenter Michelle Hunziker and Eurovision veteran Sandra Studer.

There were performances by previous Eurovision runners-up Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Finland’s Kaarija, as well as last year’s winner Nemo during the night.

KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP
Image:
KAJ perform Bara Bada Bastu for Sweden. Pic: AP

Sweden had been widely tipped to win with their sauna-themed entry Bara Bada Bastu (Just Sauna), but ended up coming fourth.

Ukraine, who have made a strong showing each since they first entered the competition in 2003, and who won in 2023, came ninth.

Last year protests and politics overshadowed the singing event amid the outbreak of war in Gaza, with some calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest.

Last year also saw Dutch singer Joost Klein kicked out of the competition by the EBU over alleged verbal threats to a female production worker, which he denied.

Next year’s competition, Eurovision’s 70th, will be held in Austria.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Rapper charged with GBH – after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over ‘bottle attack’

Published

on

By

Rapper charged with GBH - after singer Chris Brown remanded in custody over 'bottle attack'

A second man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after an incident at a London nightclub that allegedly involved US singer Chris Brown.

The Metropolitan Police said Omololu Akinlolu, 38, will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

Better known by his stage name HoodyBaby, the American rapper has been charged in connection with an alleged assault at the Tape nightclub in central London in February 2023.

Brown, 36, was charged on Thursday with grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded in custody by judge in Manchester until 13 June.

He is accused of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle during the incident in February.

During a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Brown watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.

She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.

Brown spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, but did not enter a plea.

He will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing in London on 13 June.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump says ex-FBI director’s seashells post ‘meant assassination’
Seven men on run after ‘Shawshank’ escape from jail

Brown – known for hits such as “Loyal”, “Run It” and “Under the Influence” – was arrested at a hotel in Manchester in the early hours of Thursday by detectives from the Metropolitan Police.

The Grammy Award-winning singer was due to tour the UK in June and July, with dates in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Continue Reading

Trending