Music
Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Light Up Paris, Olympic Torch Relay’s Star-Studded Finale
In a dazzling culmination of the 2024 Olympic torch relay, music legends Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams took center stage, igniting excitement ahead of the Paris Games. The iconic duo carried the Olympic torches on the final leg of this historic journey, ending with a spectacular lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremonies.
Snoop Dogg, known for his charismatic persona, brought his torch through the streets of Seine-Saint-Denis, France, where he was greeted by throngs of adoring fans. Captured in a vibrant video, Snoop danced and waved, fully embracing the honor bestowed upon him.
“I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect,” Snoop Dogg shared with the Associated Press. “I would have never dreamed of nothing like this. I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.”
Pharrell Williams, another music powerhouse, carried the torch to the pinnacle of the Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis, marking the final handoff before the flame’s grand arrival at the Olympic cauldron. Their participation adds them to a distinguished list of celebrities who have carried the torch, including K-pop star Jin, Muhammad Ali, Magic Johnson, and the Williams sisters.
Since its inception in the 1936 Summer Olympics, the torch relay has symbolized unity and friendship, crossing multiple countries and bringing people together in the spirit of the Games.
For Snoop Dogg, this moment is a crowning achievement in a year filled with successes. His revitalized Death Row Records continues to thrive, with the recent signing of Charlie Bereal creating buzz among fans. Additionally, Snoop’s upcoming album, Missionary, produced by Dr. Dre, promises to be a spiritual successor to his debut masterpiece, Doggystyle. Now, with his new title as an Olympic torch bearer, Snoop Dogg’s legacy shines brighter than ever.
Album Review
Block turns heartbreak into light on “Love Crash,” a raw journey through survival
Block’s sixth studio album, “Love Crash,” is a 10-track rock record that takes a human, quietly hopeful approach to heartbreak. Illuminated by openness, humor, and a surprising sense of joy, the album is a 32-minute, 45-second journey through grief, reflection, and emotional recovery.
With the first track, “I Thought I Won The War,” Block sets a tone of emotional ambiguity where wins are dubious, and wars within are still raging. “California Calls” wants to be far away, wants to go away, but memory tugs the other way. “Over And Over” is about cycles of emotion that keep repeating, even when you want to move on. “Firefly” offers a softer light, pointing to fragile hope in emotional weight.
“All In My Head” explores the inner turmoil of the mind, which is louder than the world outside. “Song To Jamie” feels like a letter written from regret and memory. “The Heartbreak Song” is a total embrace of emotional collapse, but it’s structured and honest. “Carly Says” is about the voices outside that inform the decisions inside. “No One Ever Taught Me How” emphasizes the lack of emotional experience and difficulty in dealing with emotions. “Still Life” ends on a quiet note of pause, as if everything has been dealt with but not forgotten.
The album was written from a dark place, and each song was a step to emotional healing. Produced by Chris Kuffner, with final mixing and mastering by ECR President Blake Morgan, “Love Crash” is a patchwork of imperfect moments, sewn together with honesty, of an artist processing pain while still reaching for the light.
Photo Credit: Dave Doobinin
Artist Spotlight
seeTrees embrace renewal and reflection on “Easy Times”
seeTrees are back with “Easy Times,” a meditative Americana-rock tune that’s like sunlight breaking through after a long storm. It’s based on the emotional reality of sticking with something and making amends, and it exploits the idea that relationships can survive a storm if you choose to recall what you initially fell in love with.
The song pulls from classic and modern Americana touchstones, reminiscent of the warm storytelling of artists like Wilco and Tom Petty, while carrying the atmospheric pull of artists like The War on Drugs and Ryan Adams. seeTrees’ vocals combine a lifelike, relatable texture with conviction. Their performances conveys clear emotions through an open, accepting view, which allows the newfound resilience in their lyrics to land naturally.
“Easy Times” captures a rare moment after a struggle has ended, when relief slowly replaces tension and possibility feels real again. seeTrees offers a song that is both personal and universal, one that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to rebuild something meaningful. “Easy Times” sees seesTrees as storytellers with a heart for emotion, a band whose sound is looking both backward and forward.
Photo Credit: Anthony Bradley
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