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Why China is creating a ‘blacklist’ of karaoke songs

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chinese government is set to create a “blacklist” of popular karaoke songs that may contain “harmful content”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to rules outlined by the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, karaoke must not endanger national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are also strict guidelines around entertainment that may incite ethnic hatred or undermine ethnic unity, promote cults or superstition or violate the state’s religious policies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Songs must not encourage obscenity, gambling, violence, drug-related activities or crime, nor should they insult or slander others, the ministry said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The regulations have been put in place to “promote socialist core values, and maintain national cultural security and ideological security,” according to the ministry. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Companies who provide content to karaoke venues will be responsible for monitoring the songs, and making sure the rules are being adhered to by customers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">China has over 50,000 venues that cater to song and dance entertainment, as well as boasting a catalogue of more than 100,000, which could prove difficult to police</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ban will come into effect in venues across the country on October 1st. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The news comes after the country banned a catalogue of 120 songs in 2015 from the internet that were deemed inappropriate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Censorship is common in China, with an increasingly hard line taken on entertainment content that is deemed inappropriate, or that criticizes the strict government. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Shutterstock</span></em></p>

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"I'm not OK": Michael Bublé opens up about his son's cancer battle

<p>Singer Michael Bublé has spoken of the ongoing effect his son’s cancer diagnosis is having on him.</p> <p>It was during a special <span>episode of "Carpool Karaoke" with late-night TV host James Corden for charity Stand Up to Cancer.</span></p> <p>The popular crooner’s son Noah, with actress Luisana Lopilato, was diagnosed with liver cancer when he was three years old.</p> <p>Now 5, Noah is doing well and in remission.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kg7UWnNF_rA" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span>In the emotional interview, Bublé teared up remembering his son’s cancer diagnosis in 2016, saying at one point to Corden, "It's too hard to talk about man.”</span></p> <p><span>"We got the diagnosis, and that was it man," said the 43-year-old. "My whole life ended."</span></p> <p>The Canadian singer and his immediate and extended family decided to relocate to be close to the hospital where Noah was being treated, reports <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.today.com/parents/michael-bubl-talks-about-son-s-cancer-battle-carpool-karaoke-t140779" target="_blank"><em>Today</em></a>.</p> <p>During that time, the singer said that he was the rock in the relationship, but once Noah had been given the all-clear, the pressure of the ordeal took its toll and remains with him today.</p> <p>“I’m not OK,” he admitted.</p> <p>“My wife, honestly, when this all started, I became the strength to somehow pull us and lift us and to be positive,” he explained.</p> <p>“And when they got [the cancer] out and the chemo was done and they said, 'We did it, it's good, he's OK,' I fell, I just fell. My wife picks me up now."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821678/14642240_10154003873729157_4873649632082196909_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f5ef2cc6822046808577d7216abc5f17" /></p> <p>Revealing the cancer diagnosis late in 2016, Bublé posted a poignant message on his Facebook page saying, <span></span><span>"We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the US.”</span></p> <p>“We will win this battle.”</p> <p>Both he and Argentinian-born Lopilato, who are also parents to Elias, 2, and baby girl Vida, put their careers on hold to see their son through his treatment.</p> <p>In an interview with the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/singer-michael-buble-opens-up-about-son-noahs-cancer-battle/news-story/4458edecc7bf6d66c7cc2f8ab08fffb9" target="_blank">Herald Sun</a> in July, Bublé called Noah a “superhero".</p> <p>“It’s my boy. He’s a superhero," he told the publication. “But I’ve been to hell. And you know what, hell seems like a really nice place to vacation compared to where we’ve been.”</p> <p>Recently, amidst reports Bublé was going to retire, his publicist Liz Rosenberg set the record straight.</p> <p>“Michael Bublé has absolutely no plans to retire,” she told INSIDER. “I assure you with a new album coming out, TV appearances, and a possible tour, he is not retiring.”</p> <p>Bublé’s upcoming album, Love, will be the singer's 10th record.</p>

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80-year-old man with Alzheimer’s scores record deal

<p>An 80-year-old British man, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago, has been offered a record deal after his videos of him singing in the car with his son went viral.</p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/08/father-and-son-carpool-karaoke/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Ted McDermott’s “car karaoke” videos with his son Simon have been watched over 40 million times online</strong></span></a>. As Simon explains it, he found that singing in the car while the two drove around Blackburn, in northern England, helped his father cope with his dementia.</p> <p>Simon posted videos of the drives with his dad to raise awareness and money for the Alzheimer's Society. The videos have raised $197,000 so far.</p> <p>"This is a dream come true not only for Dad but for the entire family," Simon McDermott told the Alzheimer's Society.</p> <p>"There have been some really tough days in the last few years, especially for Mum. The more the Alzheimer's kicked in, the more Dad became aggressive, both physically and verbally.</p> <p>"It was incredibly difficult to manage and terrifying at times."</p> <p>Although Ted has difficulty recognising his son, his decades working as a holiday camp entertainer meant Ted could remember all the words to a number of Frank Sinatra songs, including <em>Quando, Quando, Quando.</em></p> <p>Now Ted will be able to share his love of Frank Sinatra when his version of the classic <em>You Make Me Feel So Young </em>is released September 23.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/06/original-names-of-famous-bands/"><em>The surprising original names of famous bands</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/05/1970s-songs-that-defined-a-decade/"><em>1970s: songs that defined a decade</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/2016/04/heartbreaking-meaning-behind-songs/"><em>The real meaning behind these songs is heartbreaking</em></a></strong></span></p>

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Son and Alzheimer’s sufferer father perform carpool karaoke

<p>After his music-loving father Ted, 79, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Simon McDermott decided to do something special to help raise awareness of the disease, as well as some much-needed funds for the UK Alzheimer’s Society.</p> <p>The pair have set up a YouTube channel where they regularly upload videos of themselves performing classic tunes like “On The Street Where You Live” and “Quando Quando Quando” in the car, a la James Corden’s popular <a href="/news/news/2016/02/elton-john-carpool-karaoke-with-james-corden/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Carpool Karaoke</span></strong></a> series.</p> <p>Plus, the classic songs have the added benefit of acting as a sort of therapy for the crooner. “Now when we've got him singing again he's back in the room,” Simon writes on the pair’s <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/songaminute" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">JustGiving</span></strong></a> page. “It's these moments that we treasure.”</p> <p>Take a listen in the video above. You’ll be blown away when you listen to Ted’s voice – it’s truly spectacular.</p> <p>The McDermotts have already raised almost $130,000 for Alzheimer’s research. Well done!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/dick-van-dyke-performs-chitty-chitty-bang-bang/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dick Van Dyke treats diners to a performance of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/74-year-old-coach-of-wayde-van-niekerk/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Meet the 74-year-old coach behind South Africa’s golden boy</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/grandpa-declines-seat-on-rio-train/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Grandpa declines seat on Rio train in the most impressive way</strong></span></em></a></p>

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Watch Elton John singing karaoke… to Elton John!

<p>The great Sir Elton John recently joined talk show host James Corden on a special episode of “Carpool Karaoke". If you’re not familiar with the show, the popular segment sees James Corden drive around celebrities in a car. And if their famous songs happen to come up on the radio, all the better for some “impromptu” karaoke.</p> <p>That’s what happened when Elton John stopped by and the pair sang along to several of John's hits, including <em>Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Crocodile Rock</em> and of course, <em>Circle of Life.</em></p> <p>The singer also opened up in-between belting out tunes to reveal the most outrageous tantrum he’se ever thrown and how being a dad has changed his life.</p> <p>Watch the video above and we promise you’ll have no worries for the rest of your days! </p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/top-tracks-by-the-doors/">Top tracks by The Doors</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/what-classical-music-does-to-your-brain/">The surprising effect classical music has on your brain</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/beach-playlist/">The perfect beach playlist</a></em></strong></span></p> <p> </p>

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Watch Elton John singing karaoke… to Elton John!

<p>The great Sir Elton John recently joined talk show host James Corden on a special episode of “Carpool Karaoke". If you’re not familiar with the show, the popular segment sees James Corden drive around celebrities in a car. And if their famous songs happen to come up on the radio, all the better for some “impromptu” karaoke.</p> <p>That’s what happened when Elton John stopped by and the pair sang along to several of John's hits, including <em>Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Crocodile Rock</em> and of course, <em>Circle of Life.</em></p> <p>The singer also opened up in-between belting out tunes to reveal the most outrageous tantrum he’se ever thrown and how being a dad has changed his life.</p> <p>Watch the video above and we promise you’ll have no worries for the rest of your days! </p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/top-tracks-by-the-doors/">Top tracks by The Doors</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/what-classical-music-does-to-your-brain/">The surprising effect classical music has on your brain</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/music/2015/12/beach-playlist/">The perfect beach playlist</a></em></strong></span></p> <p> </p>

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