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Single Review: Sarantos “Same Old Christmas”

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of the year, full of joy and hope and dreams. Yet for some, Christmas is met with reminders of loneliness, regrets from the year past, and general disappointment. From his full-length release; A Spoonful of Greece, Sarantos releases his take on this feeling of prevailing dread with Same Old Christmas. Sarantos is known for using his colorful metaphors and vivid imagery as he weaves poetic magic in his indie/experimental rock sound. With Same Old Christmas we get much of the same, a narrative of sweeping malaise at this time of year. “I’ve gone thru my life, But I can’t enjoy the ride, Played it safe no lucky break, I never had a seat on Santa’s sleigh.” This overtone of sadness when one should be happy surmised by; “But when the time has come, Those disappointing bells have rung, It’s the same old Christmas.” Of course, in true Sarantos fashion, he is not one to be weighed down by this misery. He will rise above it, and continue to reach for his dreams, expectations, and hopes. “Every single year, As December’s drawing near, I put my hope in Christmas, Cause I always love Christmas.” and in the epitaph of his journey, he comes full circle; “I just need help, Learning not to run away, So I’ll just say, Merry Christmas to you.” A beautifully choreographed narrative for a wonderful time of year. Leave it to Sarantos to find a voice for those who don’t seem to have one of their own.

Accompanied by a wonderful piano melody and a pulsating steady groove which drives the rhythm, Sarantos incorporates jingle bells in the most opportune times to capture the hidden Christmas spirit always seeping into his lyrical form. The effective instrumentation is coupled by the dynamic range of Sarantos’ voice as he pushes his register into higher registers than he normally sings, He does this highly effectively, maybe it’s the magic of Christmas that gives him his angelic inflection. Same Old Christmas tells more than just a story; it captures the entire circulating moods and emotions of everyone during the holiday scramble. It holds the listener close and tells them, you are not alone, and it is this empathetic approach that makes this track so very enjoyable. The hook from the chorus section elicits a sing-along response in the audience, as the performance builds tension throughout each verse and bridge. It is these qualities that make Same Old Christmas marketable, and should see success on Adult Contemporary, or Soft Rock commercial radio formats.

–Lee Callaghan

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Olivier Martinez Wants Halle Berry to Cover $240K in Legal Fees Amid Custody Dispute.

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French actor Olivier Martinez is asking a Los Angeles judge to make his ex-wife, Halle Berry, pay $240,000 in legal fees as their custody battle continues. Martinez allegedly says he can no longer afford the mounting litigation costs, especially after years without landing an acting role.

The request comes less than a week after the former couple received a mixed ruling on custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo. The latest legal dispute between them is now about Martinez’s finances, and the actor is asking Berry for help paying bills he says are hard to manage.

Court documents have been obtained, and the $240,000 request is made up of two different amounts. Martinez is seeking $176,522.58 for outstanding legal fees and an additional $63,477.42 for anticipated costs. The figures indicate he is asking the court to consider both the costs he has already incurred and the legal work he anticipates will be necessary as the case progresses.

The documents also detail Martinez’s reported financial situation. He says he makes around $776.34 a month in acting residuals, and his monthly expenses are estimated at $17,555.99. He also reported approximately $43,206 in different financial accounts. Martinez is using these figures to argue that he can no longer fund the custody litigation on his own.

One piece of financial information in the filing is his disclosed residual income, but this does not represent all income sources available to him. The documents as described are a snapshot of the financial information Martinez is relying on to make his request, not a full accounting of all possible earnings.

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The request adds another financial issue to an ongoing custody dispute involving their son, Berry said. The ex-spouses recently received a mixed ruling, and Martinez’s latest filing indicates that legal fees remain a major concern as they work through issues involving Maceo.

That’s $240,000, which is a lot of money, but the request itself is not a court order. Martinez is asking a judge to make Berry pay for the costs, but the information provided does not indicate that the court has approved the request or decided how the fees should be split.

His filing also points to the financial strain that can come with drawn-out family court fights, especially when one party claims their resources are no longer adequate to cover the expenses. Martinez argues that, based on the income and expenses reported, he can’t keep paying the bills without help.

It is not known whether Berry will be asked to contribute. Martinez is now seeking a financial arrangement that will allow him to continue the legal process, and the court is due to consider his request as part of the ongoing legal dispute between the former couple.

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Cardi B Rips NYC Bullying After Death of Bronx Teen Javits Frimpong

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Cardi B is speaking out on bullying in New York City after 15-year-old Bronx student Javits Frimpong was shot and killed. The rapper spoke out against the teen’s death and slammed what she called a bullying culture in the city on a livestream caught by “Hollywood Unlocked.”

Based on the information provided, Frimpong, a 15-year-old student from the Bronx, was shot and killed this week. Cardi B spoke about the case in a social media livestream, using the moment to highlight her concern about the environment young people face. She focused on bullying and what she thinks it does to life in New York City.

The rapper said the situation makes her reluctant to raise her children in the vicinity of a New York public school or in what she called the city’s ‘hoods’. She spoke out of concern about safety and the social pressures young people may feel. The information provided does not give any more details about the circumstances of Frimpong’s death or the investigation into the shooting.

Cardi B’s response also fits into her broader pattern of speaking freely on social media about personal matters and events around her. She is also talking about a tragedy involving a young student and what she sees as a larger issue facing the city. She spoke about bullying, which she said was a concern in the environment.

The account also said that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie addressed Frimpong’s case. Details of his remarks are not included in the information, but his response adds another Bronx-connected artist to those reacting to the death of the teenager.

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The incident has caught the attention of people in the music community, and Cardi B’s comments have sparked discussion about bullying and concerns for young people’s safety. She spoke emotionally and directly, in response to the death of a teen from her home borough.

The information released does not link bullying to the circumstances of the shooting, nor does it include any information on suspects, charges, or official findings. These are things outside the scope of the account given. Frimpong’s death has sparked public reaction, including Cardi B’s criticism of what she sees as a damaging culture for young people in New York.

The tragedy also prompted Cardi B to express concern about the environments children grow up in. Her comments about public schools and city neighborhoods revealed her fears as a parent. The public reaction to Frimpong’s death continues to attract attention, and her comments have brought wider discussion about bullying into the public response.

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