title: Buffalo Bill

text: At the time of his death, Cody's once-great fortune had dwindled to less than $100,000 (approximately $ in 2022). He left his burial arrangements with his wife. She said that he had always said he wanted to be buried on Lookout Mountain, which was corroborated by their daughter Irma, Cody's sisters, and family friends. But other family members joined the people of Cody in saying that he should be buried in the town he founded.


title: Buffalo Bill

text: On June 3, 1917, Cody was buried on Lookout Mountain, in Golden, Colorado, west of Denver, on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, overlooking the Great Plains. His burial site was selected by his sister Mary Decker. In 1948 the Cody chapter of the American Legion offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could steal Cody's body and deliver it to Cody, Wyoming. In response, the Denver chapter of the American Legion mounted a guard over the grave. There are still rumors about the true burial place of Buffalo Bill Cody, although Lookout Mountain has a gravesite behind a fence and under concrete, Cody, Wyoming also claims that a great body swap was carried out before he was buried in Colorado and instead he is laid to rest on top of Cedar Mountain in Cody.


title: Buffalo Bill

text: On June 9, 1917, his show was sold to Archer Banker of Salina, Kansas, for $105,000 (approximately $ today).


title: Buffalo Bill

text: As a frontier scout, Cody respected Native Americans and supported their civil rights. He employed many Native Americans, as he thought his show offered them good pay with a chance to improve their lives. He described them as "the former foe, present friend, the American" and once said that "every Indian outbreak that I have ever known has resulted from broken promises and broken treaties by the government."


title: Buffalo Bill

text: Cody supported the rights of women. He said, "What we want to do is give women, even more, liberty than they have. Let them do any kind of work they see fit, and if they do it as well as men, give them the same pay." Women such as Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane had legendary roles in his show, and later in life Cody continued to hire and treat women fairly. Cody said in an interview in 1898, "Set that down in great big black type that Buffalo Bill favors woman suffrage… These fellows who prate about the women taking their places make me laugh… If a woman can do the same work that a man can do and do it just as well, she should have the same pay."


title: Buffalo Bill

text: In his shows, the Indians were usually depicted attacking stagecoaches and wagon trains and were driven off by cowboys and soldiers. Many family members traveled with the men; Cody encouraged the wives and children of his Native American performers, as part of the show, to set up camp just as they would in their homelands. He wanted the paying public to see the human side of the "fierce warriors".


title: Buffalo Bill

text: Cody was known as a conservationist who spoke out against hide-hunting and advocated the establishment of a hunting season.


title: Buffalo Bill

text: Cody was active in the concordant bodies of the fraternal organization of Freemasonry having been initiated in Platte Valley Lodge No. 32, in North Platte, Nebraska, on March 5, 1870. He received his second and third degrees on April 2, 1870, and January 10, 1871, respectively. He became a Knight Templar in 1889 and received his 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in 1894.


title: Buffalo Bill

text: Buffalo Bill has been portrayed in many literary, musical, and theatrical works, movies, and television shows, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, when Westerns were most popular. Some examples are listed below.


title: Buffalo Bill

text: Movies about Cody inspired a youth subculture in the Belgian Congo in the 1950s, with young men and women dressing like him and forming neighborhood gangs. After Congolese independence, some of the "Bills" went on to careers in the music industry.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Orville Richard Burrell CD (born October 22, 1968), better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American reggae rapper, singer, and songwriter who scored hits with the songs "It Wasn't Me", "Boombastic", "In The Summertime", "Oh Carolina", and "Angel". He has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning twice for Best Reggae Album with "Boombastic" in 1996 and "44/876" with Sting in 2019, and has won the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist in 2002.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 2007, he was awarded the Jamaican Order of Distinction with the rank of Commander. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Burrell was born on October 22, 1968, in Kingston. In 1987, he took singing lessons and was discovered a year later while singing in the streets with friends.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1988 and obtained the MOS of 0811 (Field Artillery Cannon Crewman). He served with a Field Artillery Battery in the 10th Marine Regiment during the Persian Gulf War. The highest rank he achieved was lance corporal, although he was reduced in rank twice. Shaggy perfected his signature "toasting" voice while he was in the Marine Corps.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy decided to pursue his music career and his first hit in 1993, "Oh Carolina", was a dancehall re-make of a ska hit by the Folkes Brothers, which appeared in the film "Sliver". The same year, Shaggy appeared on Kenny Dope's hip hop album "The Unreleased Project". He worked together with producers such as Sting International, Don One, Lloyd 'Spiderman' Campbell, Robert Livingston and Frankie Cutlass on the Maxi-Single title "Nice and Lovely" Hip Hop Remix. He had further big hits, including "Boombastic" in 1995, the theme tune of a popular Levi's commercial, and sang with Maxi Priest on his Top 20 hit from 1996, "That Girl".


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 1999, Shaggy was dropped by Virgin, who felt he was unlikely to release another song as successful as 1995's "Boombastic". He would sign with DreamWorks to release the album "Hot Shot", the following year. The album featured the smash hit singles "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel", the latter of which was built around two song samples – Chip Taylor's song "Angel of the Morning" (which released by Merrilee Rush in 1968 and covered in 1981 by Juice Newton), and The Steve Miller Band's 1973 hit "The Joker". Both songs topped the "Billboard" Hot 100 and saw similar success worldwide, reaching number one in the UK, Ireland, Scotland and France, among others. Female artist Lady Saw (aka Marion Hall) did an answer record to "It Wasn't Me" ("Son of a Bit@h") that also saw chart action. "Hot Shot" debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200, and would go on to be certified 8x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as well as achieving platinum or multi platinum status in a number of other countries, and ranking as the second most successful album of 2001 on the "Billboard" Year-End charts.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 2001 Shaggy was selected to perform with Rayvon and Rikrok at , performing the songs "Angel" and "It Wasn't Me" from "Hot Shot".


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: However, his 2002 release "Lucky Day", and the 2005 album "Clothes Drop", failed to match "Hot Shot"'s success, although "Lucky Day" still went gold. The albums, however, found success in Europe, especially with heavy airplay for the single "Hey Sexy Lady". Shaggy re-made the Scooby-Doo theme song on the soundtrack titled "Shaggy, Where Are You?". Shaggy also recorded the theme for the 2002 movie "Showtime". Shaggy's last top 40 single in the United States was "Angel" from the album "Hot Shot". On March 11, 2002, Shaggy and Ali G released "Me Julie" from the soundtrack to the film "Ali G Indahouse". The song sold 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom, as stated by the Official Charts Company. It spent 14 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy was featured on the album "True Love" by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Following the release of "Clothes Drop", Shaggy began to increase his number of live performances. In 2006, he was a featured artist on Japanese-American singer Ai's song "Famous" alongside Turkish singer Yalın from her album, "What's Goin' On Ai". The trio performed "Famous" in Los Angeles in 2008. In March 2007, Shaggy performed the official song of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, titled "The Game of Love and Unity", alongside Bajan entertainer Rupee and Trinidadian soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons, at the opening ceremony of the tournament, held at The Greenfield Stadium, Trelawny, Jamaica. Later that year, he left Universal Music and released his latest album, "Intoxication" under his own label, Big Yard Records, with distribution rights by VP Records. In August 2007, he joined Cyndi Lauper live on stage in Singapore for the Sonnet Music Festival, where they performed "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" together. In October 2007, he was awarded the Jamaican Order of Distinction with the rank of Commander.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In January 2008, he completed a six-date arena tour with Belgian singer Natalia. He later performed with band En Vogue in Antwerp, to a crowd of 78,000 people. Shaggy also collaborated with Arash Derakhshani in the song "Donya" (Arabic & Persian: "دنیا", meaning "The World"). In April 2008, Shaggy was chosen to record the official anthem for the Mascots (Trix and Flix) of the Euro 2008 football tournament held in Austria and Switzerland. The song, "Feel the Rush", topped charts in most of Europe. In June 2008, a live DVD of his concert material was released under the name "Shaggy – Live". In July 2008, he appeared on VH1's "I Love the New Millennium", talking about his video "It Wasn't Me". In August 2008, he performed live at the Dar es Salaam festival, to mark the Zain Global Brand launch in Tanzania. The concert was held at the Leaders Club. In December 2008, "Intoxication" was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In May 2009, Shaggy performed at the closing ceremony of the 2009 IPL tournament held in South Africa. He also performed at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 in the same month, held in Bangalore, India. In August 2009, he performed live at the Ottawa Reggae Festival in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Here he revealed plans for a new single, "Fading Away", which featured Kevin Rudolf and Lil Jon. He later cancelled this release in favour of "Fly High", a track featuring Gary Pine, which was released on December 5. Shaggy was also invited to perform at the Festival Creole, a festival held every year from November 28 to December 6 in Mauritius.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In January 2010, "Rise Again", a track featuring Sean Paul, Sean Kingston, Alison Hinds, Shontelle Layne, Edwin Yearwood, Destra Garcia, David Rudder, Kees Dieffenthaller, Tessanne Chin, Etana and Belo was released to support victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake that struck on January 12. Shaggy's collaboration with the Balkan group Sahara (consisting of the Romanian singer Costi Ioniţă and the Bulgarian singer Andrea) and French House DJ Bob Sinclar on a track entitled "I Wanna" was a commercial success, released as a single in March 2010 throughout Europe. Shaggy later performed the track several times during Miami's Winter Music Conference in April 2010. In May 2010 he once again performed before cricket audiences at the ICC T20 World Championships, also providing between play performances.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On July 17, 2010, he performed at the Party FM Meja Jam Concert in Country Fair Entertainment Park, Medford, New York. Later that month, he recorded the song "Target" with Japanese reggae singer lecca, which was released on her album, "パワーバタフライ" ("Power Butterfly"). Shaggy also released "For Your Eyez Only", which topped reggae charts across the world. Shaggy recorded the song with fellow Jamaican singer Alaine.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 2011, Shaggy released the official videos for "For Your Eyez Only", along with the hit singles "Sweet Jamaica", featuring Mr. Vegas and Josie Wales, and "Girlz Dem Luv We" featuring Mavado. That same year it was announced that Shaggy would release his first new album in four years. Preceded by the single "Champagne", featuring Sahara, the album was released digitally on January 19, 2011. Titled "Shaggy & Friends", the album featured many collaborations, including songs with his long-time collaborators Rikrok and Rayvon. A physical release of the album followed. On July 16, 2011, he launched the album "Summer in Kingston" which contained his single "Sugarcane". The album was launched at a free party in Kingston, Jamaica, where he released the video for "Sugarcane". The video was premiered globally on MTV. "Sugarcane" went on to become the number-two best-selling reggae song on the Canadian iTunes chart, and number four in the United States. Shaggy also collaborated with Apache Indian on the latter's album "Home Run", on a remix of "Chokthere".


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On January 7, 2012, Shaggy released a collaborative single with Egyptian star Tamer Hosny, "Smile", with a music video filmed in New York City. In February 2012, he re-released his EP, "Summer in Kingston", in the form of the "Lava Edition", containing two new tracks, one of which was taken from his upcoming "Sly & Robbie & Shaggy" project, plus a remix of the track "Dame" featuring Kat Deluna.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On April 5, 2012, Shaggy released the lead single from his eleventh studio album, "Rise". The track, "World Citizen", is a collaboration with European folk singer Jahcoustix, and was a hit all over Europe. Shaggy launched his own label, Ranch Entertainment, on June 4, 2012, at a press launch in New York City. He was joined by label mates Rayvon and Red Fox for the launch, which was publicized by Manhattan-based PR firm, Fox Fuse and publicist Rhona Fox. Ranch Entertainment is based in New York and Jamaica.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On August 24, Shaggy released his new single, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", featuring American female rapper Eve. The song samples the homonymous 1983 hit song by Cyndi Lauper, written by Robert Hazard in 1979 and recorded and released by Lauper in 1983. The video for the song was directed by Ras Kassa and released on YouTube on June 14, 2012.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On September 28, Shaggy released "Rise" across Europe. The album contains nine of the ten tracks from "Summer in Kingston", as well as new tracks "Rise", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (the second single), "Diva", "World Citizen" (the first single) and "Get Back My Baby", as well as his single from three years previously, "Fly High".


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy confirmed in January 2012 that he is working on a new studio album, where all of the tracks will be produced by production duo Sly and Robbie. A taster track from the album, "Make Up", featuring Wayne Wonder, was released in July 2012, while one of the tracks, "She Gives Me Love", was released early on the Lava edition of "Summer in Kingston". In December 2012, Shaggy confirmed that the album would be released in the summer of 2013. On May 14, 2013, Shaggy released the lead single from the album, entitled "Fight This Feeling", featuring Beres Hammond. Shaggy started the year with his first live presentation in Costa Rica on January 20.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy is credited for persuading Tessanne Chin to compete in NBC's singing competition "The Voice", which she ultimately won.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 2015, his single "Habibi (I Need Your Love)", featuring Mohombi, Faydee and Costi peaked at 66 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, as well as charting in several international territories. Shaggy then featured on the track "Black and White", from Kylie Minogue and Fernando Garibay's EP, "Kylie + Garibay".


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: January 2018 saw the release of "Don't Make Me Wait", the first single from a collaboration album with Sting, who invited him to tour along. The album, titled "44/876", was released on April 20, 2018. In March 2018, the single "Why", featuring Massari, was released.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In November 2018, Shaggy featured on the title track of Olly Murs' sixth album "You Know I Know". In May 2019, Shaggy's album "Wah Gwaan?!" was released.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In August 2019, it was announced that Shaggy, alongside Sean Paul, would be headlining the One Love Festival In Queensland slated for February 1, 2020, the first time the festival would be held in Australia.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In November 2019, Shaggy played Sebastian in musical television special "The Little Mermaid Live!" on ABC.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In January 2020, Shaggy told the "Daily Star" in an interview that some of Rihanna's representatives had reached out to him to collaborate on a song for her ninth album. However, he turned down the opportunity because he was asked to audition, saying that he would "leave that to the younger guys". Shaggy later stated in another interview that he meant no offense by his remarks. Despite passing on the project, he seemed optimistic about how it would turn out, saying: "From what I hear, it should be good."


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In April 2020, Shaggy celebrated the 20th anniversary of his 2000 album "Hot Shot" by announcing an updated version of the album, called "Hot Shot 2020". "It Wasn't Me" returned as the first single on the updated album with Rayvon. His original collaborator on the song, Rikrok, does not appear on the new version.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy, Spice and Sean Paul performed "Go Down Deh" on Good Morning America on June 11, 2021. Their performance was a part of the Caesars Rewards Summer Concert Series.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: June 15, 2021, Shaggy, Spice and Sean Paul performed "Go Down Deh" on Jimmy Kimmel Live as a part of the Mercedez Benz Concert Series.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: June 18, 2021, Shaggy, Spice and Sean Paul performed live, and was interviewed by Wendy on The Wendy Williams Show


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Caribbean Heritage Month, 2021, Shaggy, Spice and Sean Paul celebrate with "Go Down Deh" on Pix 11I New York


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: July 1, 2021, International Reggae Day Shaggy, Spice and Sean Paul were interviewed live on ITV1's Good Morning Britain


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: In 2022, Shaggy competed in season seven of "The Masked Singer" as "Space Bunny" of Team Cuddly. He was eliminated alongside En Vogue as the "Queen Cobras" of Team Bad.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: On May 28, 2022, Shaggy was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Burrell married his long-term partner Rebecca Packer in 2014 and together they have three daughters. Burrell has two sons from a previous relationship. His son Richard O'Neil Burrell is an American rapper known as Robb Banks.


title: Shaggy (musician)

text: Shaggy started his philanthropy with a project called Shaggy and Friends, in 2016, donating more than US$1 million, to the Bustamante Children's Hospital in Jamaica. Along with financial assistance to the hospital, he has donated hospital equipment and machinery. He also did his first collaboration in the Caribbean called "Can't Let my Love Go", which he performed with "Queen of Soca" Alison Hinds of Barbados.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The Toyota MR2 is a line of two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports cars manufactured in Japan and marketed globally by Toyota from 1984 until 2007 over three generations: W10 (1984–1989), W20 (1989–1999) and W30 (2000–2007). It is Japan's first rear mid-engined production car.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Conceived as a small, economical and sporty car, the MR2 employed straightforward design elements, including fully independent MacPherson strut front and rear suspensions, four-wheel disc brakes, and a transverse-mounted inline-four engine.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The name MR2 stands for either "mid-ship run-about 2-seater" or "mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-seater". In French-speaking markets, the vehicle was renamed Toyota MR because the abbreviation "MR2" sounds like the profanity "merde" when spoken in French.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The MR2 derived from a 1976 Toyota design project with the goal of a car which would be enjoyable to drive, yet still provide good fuel economy – not necessarily a sports car. Design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate alternatives for engine placement and drive method, finalizing a mid-transverse engine placement. Toyota called the 1981 prototype SA-X.


title: Toyota MR2

text: From its original design, the car evolved into a sports car, and further prototypes were tested both in Japan and in the US. Significant testing was performed on race circuits including Willow Springs, where former Formula One driver Dan Gurney tested the car.


title: Toyota MR2

text: All three generations were in compliance with Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement. The MR2 appeared around the same time as the Honda CR-X and the Nissan EXA from Japan, the Pontiac Fiero and Ford EXP from North America, and about a decade after the VW Scirocco and Fiat X1/9 from Europe made their debut.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Toyota debuted its SV-3 concept car in October 1983 at the Tokyo Motor Show, gathering press and audience publicity. The car was scheduled for a Japanese launch in the second quarter of 1984 under the name MR2.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Toyota introduced the first-generation MR2 in 1984, designating it the model code "W10". When fitted with the 1.5-liter "3A" engine, it was known as the "AW10". Likewise, the 1.6-liter "4A" version is identified by the "AW11" code.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In Japan, the MR2 was marketed exclusively via Toyota's "Toyota Auto Store" and "Toyota Vista Store", both rebranded in 1998 as "Netz Toyota Store". At its introduction in 1984, the MR2 won the Car of the Year Japan.


title: Toyota MR2

text: As Toyota engineered the MR2 to accommodate a 2-liter engine, its primary features included its light body (as low as in Japan and in the US), strong handling, and low-power small-displacement engine. The car is often referred to as the AW11, referring to the chassis code of the most common 1.6-liter, A-engined versions.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The MR2's suspension and handling were designed by Toyota with the help of Lotus engineer Roger Becker. Toyota's cooperation with Lotus during the prototype phase can be seen in the AW11, and it owes much to Lotus's sports cars of the 1960s and 1970s. Toyota's active suspension technology, called TEMS, was not installed. With five structural bulkheads, the MR2 was quite heavy for a two-seater of its size.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Toyota employed the naturally aspirated 4A-GE inline-four engine, a DOHC four-valve-per-cylinder motor, borrowed from the E80 series Corolla. This engine was also equipped with Denso electronic port fuel injection and T-VIS variable intake geometry, giving the engine a maximum power output of in the US, in the UK, in Europe (with or without catalytic converter), in Australia and in Japan. Japanese models were later detuned to . A five-speed manual transmission was standard, with a four-speed automatic available as an option.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Road tests delivered 0– times in the mid- to high-8 second range and times in the mid- to high-16 second range, significantly faster than the four-cylinder Pontiac Fiero or Fiat X1/9. In the home market, the AW10 base model was offered, which used the more economical "3A-U" engine rated at .


title: Toyota MR2

text: In 1986 (1988 for the US market), Toyota introduced a supercharged engine for the MR2. Based on the same block and head, the 4A-GZE was equipped with a small Roots-type supercharger and a Denso intercooler. T-VIS was eliminated and the compression ratio was lowered to 8:1. It produced at 6,400 rpm and of torque at 4,400 rpm and accelerated the car from 0 to in 6.5 to 7.0 seconds. The supercharger was belt-driven but actuated by an electromagnetic clutch, so that it would not be driven except when needed, increasing fuel economy. Curb weight increased to as much as for supercharged models, due to the weight of the supercharger equipment and a new, stronger transmission. A fuel selector switch was also added in some markets, to allow the car to run on regular unleaded fuel if required. In addition to the new engine, the MR2 SC was also equipped with stiffer springs, and received special "tear-drop" aluminum wheels. The engine cover had two raised vents (only one of which was functional) that visually distinguished it from the naturally aspirated models. It was also labeled "SUPER CHARGER" on the rear trunk and body mouldings behind both doors. This model was never offered outside of the Japanese and North American markets, although some cars were privately imported to other countries.


title: Toyota MR2

text: MK1a and MK1b are unofficial designations, but are frequently used by owners and vendors to distinguish between early production vehicles and later face-lifted models. While there are considerable differences detailed below, the most notable being that rear suspension components are not interchangeable between the MK1a and MK1b cars.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The changes in MY 1986 and MY 1987 occurred in parts. Instead of a drastic change in MY 1987 models for the above MK1b upgrades, some MK1a parts continued on in early MY 1987 cars while some MK1b parts came on MY 1986 cars as options. An example is that some MY 1987 cars still retained the old "flat" front bumper despite having MK1b upgrades everywhere else on the car. Some early MY 1987 7-rib engines came with the earlier blue top valve cover. This was also noticed in the rear sway bar removal for the MY 1986. Some MY 1986 cars have a rear sway bar, while the mounting tabs on the strut housing were either there for both sides, only one side, or none at all depending on when Toyota ran out of the older rear struts with mounting tabs as production used up parts.


title: Toyota MR2

text: American car magazines "Road & Track" and "Car and Driver" both chose the MR2 on their "ten best" car lists. The Australian "Wheels" magazine chose the 1988 MR2 as its favourite sports car. The MR2 was "Motor Trend"'s Import Car of the Year for 1985. The MR2 was also on "Car and Driver" magazine's Ten Best list for 1986 and 1987. In 2004, "Sports Car International" ranked the MR2 number eight on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In 1988 and 1989 Toyota produced two final production runs of fully optioned "Super Edition" MR2s, based upon the supercharged Japanese market model, and only sold in Japan. The 1988 'Super Edition' was a run of 300 units, had white/gold two-tone paint, bronze glass, unique half-leather and half-cloth seats, along with a MOMO-commissioned steering wheel and gear knob. The 1989 model, a run of 270 units, featured a special Midnight Blue paint, the MOMO-commissioned steering wheel and gear knob, Recaro "Milano" seats with matching door panels. The 1989 model also benefited from some of the last G-Limited model options, such as the LED rear spoiler brake light and more aerodynamic wing mirrors. Both "Super Edition" models had unique decals on the rear visor and side stripes.


title: Toyota MR2

text: While Toyota's front-engine, rear-drive Celica rally cars proved dominant in the African Group B rallies of the 1980s, they were at a disadvantage on the twistier European stages. Thus, in 1985 Toyota Team Europe started a rally project codenamed "222D" based on the MR2, for competition in Group S and potentially Group B as well. Though somewhat similar on the outside, it is clear that it shared very little with the production car although it does appear to have the factory AW11 floor pan. Little is known about this project because it never competed. With Group B cancelled in 1986, the proposed Group S regulations suffered the same fate, and the car was reduced to a museum piece. Supposedly eleven prototypes were made, many were destroyed during testing leaving only three known examples: a black one is stored at Toyota Gazoo's facility in Cologne, a white one with a 50mm lengthened wheelbase and a more production styled body in Tokyo and another one in black was sold to a collector in 2017.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Although the 222D was still a prototype, it made it very far into its development before Group B was canceled. Of the rumored eleven built, eight were destroyed in testing, indicating Toyota was considering bringing the 222D to competition soon. However the short wheelbase did prove to be a challenge when driving it, as Toyota Team Europe owner Ove Anderson describes: "you never knew what it was going to do. with such a short wheelbase and such power in such a light car it could swap ends at anytime, and without any warning". The 222D also suffered from enormous turbo lag as did most of the competitive Group B cars, but this paired with the extremely short wheel base made driving it at speed almost impossible.


title: Toyota MR2

text: During a surprise appearance at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Toyota drove and displayed a black 222D. The race-ready car weighed around and its transverse-mounted, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine (what appears to be a 503E race engine, though other prototypes may have used the 4T-GTE) was reported to produce as much as .


title: Toyota MR2

text: The MR2 went through a redesign in 1989 (though North America did not receive them until early 1990 as 1991 models). The new car was larger, weighed more than its predecessor due to having a more luxurious and spacious cabin, larger engine sizes, sturdier transaxle, and a more durable suspension setup. The overall design of the automobile received more rounded, streamlined styling, with some calling the MR2 SW20 a "baby Ferrari" or "poor man's Ferrari" due to design cues similar to the Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS or Ferrari 348.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Like the AW11 before it, Toyota spent countless hours fine-tuning the handling capabilities of the SW20, seeking advice from professional race car drivers, including Dan Gurney of Formula One, NASCAR, and Le Mans fame.


title: Toyota MR2

text: When the AW11 was still in production and before the SW20 was officially shown to the public, several rumors were spreading stating that Toyota was building yet another mid-engine sports car, one that would have a 3.0L V6 engine that could directly compete with the 348, though this specific rumor was later shot down under the pretense that such a car would belong under the Lexus branding.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Differences between the normally aspirated and turbocharged models include the "Turbo" emblem (US) on the rear trunk, 'TWIN CAM 16 TURBO' decal above the side intake (Japanese market), a fiberglass engine lid with raised vents, fog lights, and an added interior center storage compartment located between the two seats. All SW20 MR2s came with a staggered wheel setup, with wider wheels and tires in the rear than in the front.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The stock US market MR2 Turbo model was able to accelerate from in 6.1 seconds and finish the 1/4 mile in 14.7 seconds.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The Revision 1 Turbo SW20 can pull 0.89g at the skidpad, with later revisions averaging 0.90g – 0.94.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Revision 2 cars were fitted with Yokohama A022s; coincidentally, the Honda NSX also uses a special variant of the A022.


title: Toyota MR2

text: A stock Japanese market Rev 3 GT-S Turbo was able to run the 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds, beating out more expensive and higher powered automobiles such as the Honda NSX, Toyota Supra RZ, and even the Ferrari 348 TB.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Best Motoring, a popular Japanese automobile TV show, featured an episode that had them battle a factory stock Rev 5 GT-S Turbo versus other Japanese market contemporaries on the Tsukuba Circuit, with the MR2 winning the circuit race. In the rankings of personal bests, a Rev 2 GT-S was able to clock 1:08.00 at Tsukuba Circuit.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The second-generation MR2 underwent a variety of changes during its 10 years of production, grouped in four different periods:


title: Toyota MR2

text: Changes to the suspension geometry, tire sizes and power steering in January 1992 (MY 1993) were made in response to journalist reports that the MR2 was prone to "snap-oversteer". As a counterpoint to the snap-oversteer phenomenon of the MR2, other journalists point out that most mid-engine and rear engine sports and super cars exhibit similar behaviour, and that a change to the driver's response to oversteer is really the solution. In any car, braking shifts the weight forward, and acceleration to the rear. When drivers enter a corner with too much speed, and lift the throttle mid-corner, the weight transfers forward causing the rear tires to lose traction (called lift-off oversteer), which can result in a spin. When improper steering inputs were made attempting to correct this non-power-on oversteer, the rear of the MR2 would swing one way, then wildly (and quickly) the other—thus the term "snap" oversteer. Toyota elected to change the MR2 suspension and tires to reduce the likelihood that this would occur, though many drivers would lament the change and claim that it "neutered" the sharp edge the MR2 was known for. Toyota claimed that the changes were made "for drivers whose reflexes were not those of Formula One drivers".


title: Toyota MR2

text: In 1998, Toyota Racing Development offered an official kit body conversion and tuning program for MR2 owners to transform their existing SW20 MR2 into a wide-body TRD2000GT replica car. This was to pay homage to the TRD2000GT wins in the GT-C Japanese racing series, since the TRD2000GT racing series cars were based on the SW20 floor pan. The TRD2000GT body kit widened the MR2 by a total of . Prior to MR2s being fitted with the TRD2000GT body kit, TRD had its customers select which additional engine, suspension, wheel, and interior upgrades they wanted. For this reason, no two TRD2000GT MR2s are alike. It is rumored that at least one was built to produce up to whereas some others had few modifications to their engines.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In order to ensure exclusivity, a high price tag was charged and total of just 35 factory car conversions were completed by Toyota Technocraft Ltd. Each official Technocraft-converted car was made using lightweight fiberglass components (front fenders, trunk lid extension, rear quarter panels, gas door, front and rear bumpers, 3-piece wing) and re-classified as completely new cars (with their own specially numbered TRD VIN plate riveted to the body to indicate their authenticity and rarity).


title: Toyota MR2

text: The Toyota Technocraft Ltd. TRD2000GT had a wider front and rear track (due to the addition of wider wheels and tires). Virtually every car converted also had other TRD parts fitted too, including extensive changes to both the suspension and engine. Most cars left the factory making more power due to TRD bolt-ons, some cars even left the factory boasting up to and less than 1100 kg (2425 lb) for a very impressive power-to-weight ratio. While TRD Japan only offered a small number of kits with all body parts required for third-party conversion, Toyota Technocraft Ltd. offered complete car conversions.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Apart from the cars listed on the TRD2000GT register it is unknown how many original Toyota Technocraft Ltd. cars still exist today, but it is rumored that approximately 10 conversion kits were imported from TRD Japan into the US for conversions. In many respects, the extended body can be compared to that of a Porsche 911 Slantnose modification. The car's width is extended and body dimensions dramatically changing the car's overall visuals. Very little is known about these cars outside Japan.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Apart from Toyota Racing Development, TOM'S also released official body kits and a variety of tuning parts for the MR2. The "T020" as it was called, was powered by a naturally aspirated 2.2L stroked 3S-GE that produced at 6,800 rpm, this was due to more aggressive "F3" cams, a stroker kit, better intake flow with the aid of the "TOM'S Hyper Induction Carbon" intake kit, and an upgraded exhaust system labeled the "TOM'S Barrel", a lightened flywheel was also equipped to help the engine rev easier. The T020 also featured a more race-oriented suspension/chassis set up via camber kits, upgraded tie-rods, strut bars, roll center adjusters, stiffer springs, race shock absorbers, and sports brake pads. These modifications lowered the vehicle's center of gravity for increased agility and stability while cornering, and combined with the engine modifications enabling the T020 to accelerate from in 4.9 seconds, in turn further made the SW20 chassis a much more capable track machine. A sportier look was given to the vehicle as well through engine scoops, side skirts, a Ferrari 348-esque rear light grille, forged wheels, revised bumper designs, and a larger rear spoiler.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Though undeniably still an MR2, the T020 was in all essence a more refined automobile, as is the nature of any TOM'S outfitted vehicle. Whilst the T020 was a normally aspirated vehicle, TOM'S also produced equipment for turbocharged models — e.g. wastegates, boost controllers, air filters, a 3S-GTE version of their "TOM'S Barrel" exhaust system, and "T.E.C. II" Engine Control Units. Despite the fact that these products are no longer purchasable brand new, some of these modification parts may still be procured as second-hand items, and are highly sought after by the MR2 community. TOM'S still keeps a T020 part list on their website, and there are still T020 part catalogues in circulation between enthusiasts to this day, albeit second-hand.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Between 1996 and 1999, Toyota TechnoCraft (TTC) produced 91 MKII SW20 MR2 Spiders. These cars featured a retractable, cloth softtop roof, wingless trunk lid, and an engine lid that was unique to the SW20 spider. Most of these cars were automatics and nearly all of them sported a naturally aspirated engine. Toyota decided against putting its name or logo on these cars as a result of its desire to distance itself from cars that featured leaky roofs. Most of the Spiders came in Lucerne Silver with a blue side moulding and featured black and blue accented cloth seats.


title: Toyota MR2

text: During its era the SW20 enjoyed a myriad of tuning parts from world renowned Japanese tuners such as HKS, Blitz, Phoenix Power, etc. While some companies only offered aesthetic modifications for the SW20, others such as Phoenix Power delivered a more comprehensive experience for customers, modifications such as a tuned ECU, longblock modifications, and a trunk mounted intercooler combined with a T04R Turbocharger were fitted. The Phoenix Power MR2 also featured a large rear wing reminiscent of the 911 (993) GT2 for massive downforce at high speeds, and a reworked suspension set up with Öhlins equipment, all of this turned the SW20 into a "street" monster that can feel equally at home on the track. Japanese tuner Border Racing, made available several parts as well, consisting mostly of parts that improved the car's suspension geometry, namely roll-center adapters, extended tie rods, etc., though they have also produced intercooler kits for the car and several interior pieces. AP Racing at a time also produced a brake kit as well for the MR2, but this has now long been discontinued. Performance parts manufacturer JUN offered engine upgrades for the MR2's 3SGTE engine which came in the form of stroker kits, which were co-developed with Cosworth, these are currently still available alongside, lightened flywheels, cam gears, and camshafts.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The SW20 garnered generally favorable reviews during its production life, with various sources complimenting the styling, power, and responsive handling. Car and Driver noted the revised SW20's braking capabilities to be superb, stating that 70 mph to standstill could be done in 157 feet, rivaling that of the Honda NSX. Former Top Gear host and racing driver Tiff Needell commends the SW20's handling having said that it "encourages you to drive with enthusiasm" in a review back in 1990. He does note however, that the sudden transition from understeer to oversteer may be startling for some people.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The car is infamous for its "snap-oversteer", this notoriety comes from numerous instances where individuals crash their SW20 either on or off the race track due to inexperience with a mid-ship platform, as MR layouts handle very differently in comparison to the common FF or even FR layouts. Even in its revised state the SW20 still has a large enough following that labels it to be a very challenging car to push to its limits, with some even labeling it as "the most dangerous car that you can buy", such a label may be true since MR2s are relatively cheaper than most automobiles with an MR platform (Honda NSX, Ferrari F355, Lotus Elise) and that it is readily accessible to more people.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In 1997 the video game "Gran Turismo" for the PlayStation, featured the MR2 SW20 alongside other 1990s Japanese market cars such as the Honda NSX, Mitsubishi FTO and Nissan Skyline. The 1999 sequel "Gran Turismo 2" introduced other variants of the MR2, including the TOM'S T020, the TRD2000GT, and the MOMOCORSE MR2 JGTC.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Early in the 1990s, the SW20 enjoyed considerable success throughout the world. Several teams fielded the MR2 in the Swiss Touring Car Championship, as well as in the South-East Asian Supercar Championship, with much success. The chassis was also used for a time during the mid 90s in the Fuji Freshman Series in Japan in which the SW20 succeeded the earlier AE86 chassis. Currently both the SW20 and ZZW30 chassis are used in 750 Motor Club's MR2 Championship in the UK which started in the early 2000s.


title: Toyota MR2

text: SARD (Sigma Advanced Research Development) built a heavily-modified and lengthened version of the SW20 for GT racing called the SARD MC8-R. It used a heavily-modified MR2 frontal chassis with a custom rear chassis made to fit a twin-turbo version of the 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8 producing . This is the first car which only used the frontal chassis of a production car and was effectively a purpose-built semi-sports-prototype that successfully got GT1 homologation. The overall construction method of this car (a heavily-modified production car frontal chassis with race-built rear chassis combined into a style of semi-prototype) inspired Porsche to make 911 GT1 homologation specials which dominates the GT1 and indirectly led to the cancellation of the early GT1.


title: Toyota MR2

text: With JGTC being the highest form of sports car racing in Japan, many manufacturers and private teams alike spent countless hours of research and development into perfecting their respective chassis. Toyota would enter their premier production cars, namely the Celica, MR2, and Supra. Unlike the experimental MC8-R, the MR2 JGTC shared more qualities chassis wise to the road-going production car, though it had a lower ride height than the standard SW20s, was wider, featured advanced aerodynamics and Brembo racing brakes. While it kept the MacPherson suspension setup from the road car, these components too were heavily modified (strut towers were more inward). The standard E153 5-speed transmission was swapped out for a race sequential transmission, which was mated to a race-spec version of the 3S-GTE engine. With the car's interior gutted, the intercooler was placed in the forward section of the vehicle with pipes travelling to and fro inside the cabin, as opposed to in the engine bay as a "side-mount" in production MR2s. Having won back to back in the years 1998 to 1999 against arguably more sophisticated race cars such as the BMW M3, Porsche 911, Ferrari F355, Toyota has proven that the SW20 chassis was competitive enough for top level sports car racing.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In 1992, Dennis Aase, a member of Toyota's American factory team, became the first driver to achieve over in the cars class as he took his SW20 to a average. The car posted on the two opposing runs required for the record.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The car, which previously saw action at the Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship by P. J. Jones, ran with a boost of with changes to the intake and exhaust systems and the cam timing, output a maximum of . The car ran with its stock body apart minus wing mirrors and wiper blades. His attempt at improving his record the following year was thwarted by poor weather.


title: Toyota MR2

text: , the G/BGT record (Class G, Blown Grand Touring Sports or 2 Liter production turbo-charged GT) still stands.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The third-generation MR2 was marketed as the Toyota MR-S in Japan, Toyota MR2 Spyder in the US, and the Toyota MR2 Roadster in Europe, except for France and Belgium, where it was marketed as the Toyota MR Roadster.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Also known as the Midship Runabout-Sports, the newest MR2 took a different approach than its predecessor, most obviously becoming a convertible and receiving the 'Spyder' marketing nomenclature.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The first prototype of MR-S appeared in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The MR2 Spyder chief engineer Harunori Shiratori said, "First, we wanted true driver enjoyment, blending good movement, low inertia, and lightweight. Then, a long wheelbase to achieve high stability and fresh new styling; a mid-engine design to create excellent handling and steering without the weight of the engine upfront; a body structure as simple as possible to allow for easy customizing, and low cost to the consumer."


title: Toyota MR2

text: The only engine available for the ZZW30 was the all-aluminum alloy 1ZZ-FED, a inline-four engine. Like its predecessors, it used DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder. The intake camshaft timing was adjustable via the VVT-i system, which was introduced earlier on the 1998 MR2 in some markets. Unlike its predecessors, however, the engine was placed onto the car the other way round, with the exhaust manifold towards the rear of the car instead of towards the front. The maximum power of at 6,400 rpm and of torque at 4,400 rpm was quite a drop from the previous generation, but thanks to the lightness of the car it could still move quite quickly, accelerating from 0 to in 6.8 to 8.7 seconds depending on the transmission option, the SMT being unable to launch and shift as quickly as the conventional manual transmission. Curb weight is for manual transmission models.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In addition to the 5-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed manual and 5-speed SMT were made available starting in 2002. A form of automated manual transmission, the SMT has no conventional H-pattern shift lever nor clutch pedal. The driver shifts gears by tapping the shift lever forward or backward or by pressing steering-wheel-mounted buttons. Clutch engagement is automated, and the system modulates the throttle on downshifts, matching engine speed to transmission speed seamlessly. The system prioritizes clutch life over shift speed, hence shifts and launches are slower and gentler than those a human driver can perform using a conventional manual transmission, hindering rapid acceleration somewhat. Unlike similar systems offered in contemporary sports cars, the SMT lacks a fully automated mode emulating an automatic transmission. The SMT automatically shifts to second and then first gear when stopping. The SMT was a standard feature in the Australian market; however, air conditioning was optional. After 2003, a 6-speed SMT was an option. Cruise control was never offered with the manual transmission but was standard for SMT-equipped cars. Some collectors prefer the SMT over the standard 5-speed manual transmission because in top gear the SMT spins at 2,780 rpm instead of 3,000 rpm for the 5-speed manual at – making it slightly quieter and giving better economy, even with the extra weight. The drawback to the SMT is slower acceleration and very few technicians actually understand the more complex system.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The MR2 Spyder featured a heated glass rear window. A hardtop was also available from Toyota in Japan and Europe.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The MR-S was introduced in October 1999 to the Japanese market in three trim levels: the "B", the "Standard", and the "S". The "S" trim level included power windows, locks, mirrors, AM/FM/CD radio, cloth seats, tilt steering wheel, and alloy wheels.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The feedback for the new model was somewhat mixed. Some liked its new design concept, while fans of the SW20 would've liked it to continue along the path of the previous model. All agreed, however, that the ZZW30 had nearly perfect handling. The ZZW30 is considered to be the best-handling MR2 in both overall limit and controllability. For example, Tiff Needell, a very experienced race driver and the former host of the BBC television series Top Gear, praised the handling of the ZZW30. Although some complained of the relative lack of power, many owners have opted to switch out the 1ZZ-FE engine in exchange for the 2ZZ-GE.


title: Toyota MR2

text: In July 2004, Toyota announced that sales of the MR2, as well as the Celica, would be discontinued in the US at the end of the 2005 model year because of lower sales numbers. The ZZW30 sold 7,233 units in its debut year, falling to just 901 for the 2005 model, for a total of 27,941 through its six years of production in the US. The 2005 model year was the last for the MR2 in the US. While the MR2 Spyder was not sold after 2005 in the US, it was offered in Japan, Mexico, and Europe until 2007. Production of the car ceased permanently in July 2007.


title: Toyota MR2

text: As a farewell to the MR2, Toyota produced 1000 limited-production "V-Edition" cars for Japan and the UK. They are distinguished by different color wheels, titanium interior accents, minor body changes, a helical limited-slip differential, and different steering wheel trim.


title: Toyota MR2

text: Also for the model year 2007, the United Kingdom received 300 models in a special numbered "TF300" series. A special turbocharged variant called the TTE Turbo (TTE standing for Toyota Team Europe) was available as a dealer-installed package. This package was also available for fitting to customer MR2s.


title: Toyota MR2

text: The "Toyota VM180 Zagato" was designed by Zagato, based on the MR-S, and built at Toyota Modelista International for sale in Japan only through the Toyota Vista dealer network. It was first shown on 10 January 2001 in Tokyo and then at the February 2001 Geneva Motor Show. The body panels are attached to the original MR-S chassis, as can be seen by the recess around the door handles. The stock engine was tuned to produce .


title: Toyota MR2

text: Between 2000 and 2008, several teams campaigned the MR-S in Super GT (known as JGTC prior to 2004 season).


title: Toyota MR2

text: On March 8, 2017, automotive website and magazine "Evo" revealed that Toyota has expressed a desire for a performance range of cars whose core has been referred to as "the Three Brothers" by Tetsuya Tada, chief of Toyota Gazoo Racing. This includes a lightweight mid-engined sports car, rumored to be a spiritual, if not direct, successor to the MR2.


title: Mafia

text: "Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of disputes between criminals as well as the organization and enforcement of illicit agreements between criminals through the use of or threat of violence. Mafias often engage in secondary activities such as gambling, loan sharking, drug-trafficking, prostitution, and fraud.


title: Mafia

text: In modern times, the 'Ndrangheta, originating in the Southern Italian region of Calabria, is widely considered the richest and most powerful mafia in the world.


title: Mafia

text: The term "mafia" was originally applied only to the Italian Mafia or specifically the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia, and the term originates in Sicily. However, the term has since expanded to encompass other organizations of similar methods and purpose, e.g., "the Russian Mafia" or "the Japanese Mafia". The term is applied informally by the press and public; the criminal organizations themselves have their own terms (e.g. the Sicilian Mafia and the related Italian-American Mafia refer to their organizations as "Cosa Nostra"; the "Japanese Mafia" calls itself "Ninkyō dantai" but is more commonly known as "Yakuza" by the public; and "Russian Mafia" groups often call themselves "Bratva").


title: Mafia

text: When used alone and without any qualifier, "Mafia" or "the Mafia" typically refers to either the Sicilian Mafia or the Italian-American Mafia and sometimes Italian organized crime in general (e.g., Camorra, 'Ndrangheta, etc.).


title: Mafia

text: The word "mafia" (; ) derives from the Sicilian adjective ', which, roughly translated, means "swagger", but can also be translated as "boldness" or "bravado". In reference to a man, ' ("mafioso" in Italian) in 19th century Sicily signified "fearless", "enterprising", and "proud", according to scholar Diego Gambetta. In reference to a woman, however, the feminine-form adjective "" means 'beautiful' or 'attractive'.


title: Mafia

text: Because Sicily was once an Islamic emirate from 831 to 1072, "mafia" may have come to Sicilian through Arabic, though the word's origins are uncertain. Possible Arabic roots of the word include:


title: Mafia

text: The public's association of the word with the criminal secret society was perhaps inspired by the 1863 play ' ("The Mafiosi of the Vicaria") by Giuseppe Rizzotto and Gaspare Mosca. The words "mafia" and ' are never mentioned in the play. The play is about a Palermo prison gang with traits similar to the Mafia: a boss, an initiation ritual, and talk of ""umirtà"" (omertà or code of silence) and ""pizzu"" (a codeword for extortion money). The play had great success throughout Italy. Soon after, the use of the term "mafia" began appearing in the Italian state's early reports on the phenomenon. The word made its first official appearance in 1865 in a report by the prefect of Palermo .


title: Mafia

text: The term "mafia" was never officially used by Sicilian mafiosi, who prefer to refer to their organization as "Cosa Nostra". Nevertheless, it is typically by comparison to the groups and families that comprise the Sicilian Mafia that other criminal groups are given the label. Giovanni Falcone, an anti-Mafia judge murdered by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992, objected to the conflation of the term "Mafia" with organized crime in general:


title: Mafia

text: Scholars such as Diego Gambetta and Leopoldo Franchetti have characterized the Sicilian Mafia as a cartel of private protection firms whose primary business is protection racketeering: they use their fearsome reputation for violence to deter people from swindling, robbing, or competing with those who pay them for protection. For many businessmen in Sicily, they provide an essential service when they cannot rely on the police and judiciary to enforce their contracts and protect their properties from thieves (this is often because they are engaged in black market deals).


title: Mafia

text: Scholars have observed that many other societies around the world have criminal organizations of their own that provide the same sort of protection service. For instance, in Russia after the collapse of communism, the state security system had all but collapsed, forcing businessmen to hire criminal gangs to enforce their contracts and protect their properties from thieves. These gangs are popularly called "the Russian Mafia" by foreigners, but they prefer to go by the term "krysha".


title: Mafia

text: In his analysis of the Sicilian Mafia, Gambetta provided the following hypothetical scenario to illustrate the Mafia's function in the Sicilian economy. Suppose a grocer wants to buy meat from a butcher without paying sales tax to the government. Because this is a black market deal, neither party can take the other to court if the other cheats. The grocer is afraid that the butcher will sell him rotten meat. The butcher is afraid that the grocer will not pay him. If the butcher and the grocer can't get over their mistrust and refuse to trade, they would both miss out on an opportunity for profit. Their solution is to ask the local mafioso to oversee the transaction, in exchange for a fee proportional to the value of the transaction but below the legal tax. If the butcher cheats the grocer by selling rotten meat, the mafioso will punish the butcher. If the grocer cheats the butcher by not paying on time and in full, the mafioso will punish the grocer. Punishment might take the form of a violent assault or vandalism against property. The grocer and the butcher both fear the mafioso, so each honors their side of the bargain. All three parties profit.


title: Mafia

text: Introduced by Pio La Torre, article 416-bis of the Italian Penal Code defines a Mafia-type association ("Associazione di Tipo Mafioso") as one where "those belonging to the association exploit the potential for intimidation which their membership gives them, and the compliance and omertà which membership entails and which lead to the committing of crimes, the direct or indirect assumption of management or control of financial activities, concessions, permissions, enterprises and public services for the purpose of deriving profit or wrongful advantages for themselves or others."


title: Maggie Grace

text: Margaret Grace Denig (born ) is an American actress and model. She is known for playing Shannon Rutherford on the ABC television series "Lost" (2004–2006; 2010), Kim Mills in the "Taken" trilogy (2008–2014), Irina in "The Twilight Saga" (2011–2012), and Althea Szewczyk-Przygocki in "Fear the Walking Dead" (2018–2021).


title: Maggie Grace

text: Grace earned a Young Artist Award nomination in 2002 with her portrayal of 15-year-old murder victim Martha Moxley in the television movie "Murder in Greenwich". In 2004, she was cast as Shannon Rutherford in the television series "Lost", on which she was a main cast member for the first two seasons, winning a Screen Actors Guild Award shared with the ensemble cast. Leaving the series, Grace was keen to work more prominently in film. She appeared in "The Jane Austen Book Club" (2007), and opposite Liam Neeson as Kim Mills in "Taken" in 2008. She reprised the role of Kim in "Taken 2" (2012) and "Taken 3" (2014).


title: Maggie Grace

text: She played the lead role, Alice, in "Malice in Wonderland", a modern take on Lewis Carroll's novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Grace reprised the role of Shannon in two more episodes of "Lost", including the series finale. In 2013, she appeared in the sixth season of "Californication". She portrayed Faith, a groupie and a muse to the stars, who captures the eye of Hank Moody, played by David Duchovny. She joined the cast of the series "Fear the Walking Dead" in 2018 as a journalist named Althea.


title: Maggie Grace

text: Margaret Grace Denig was born in Worthington, Ohio, to Valinn ("née" Everett) and Fred Denig, who ran a family jewelry business. She attended Worthington Christian Schools from kindergarten through ninth grade and briefly attended Thomas Worthington High School, where she began acting in school plays and community theater, including a 2000 Gallery Players production of "The Crucible", at a local Jewish Community Center. As a child, Grace was a voracious reader and a self-described "Shakespeare nerd" telling the "Los Angeles Times" that at age 13, she "was really into Jane Austen, kind of like how some kids are into "Star Trek"".


title: Maggie Grace

text: Grace acquired an agent within a week of relocating to Los Angeles and enrolled in acting classes. She landed her first role in "Rachel's Room", a 2001 web-based video series about the affairs inside a teenage girl's bedroom that was created by "Dawson's Creek" executive producer Paul Stupin. Her next role was on the 2002 television series "Septuplets", which was cancelled before the first episode had aired. Her breakout role was on 2002's television movie "Murder in Greenwich", based on the true story of 15-year-old Martha Moxley's murder. She was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her portrayal of Moxley in the Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Leading Young Actress category, but lost to Clara Bryant for "Tru Confessions". She went on to feature in minor roles on the television series "", "The Lyon's Den", "Miracles", "Like Family", "Cold Case" and "", and the films "Twelve Mile Road" and "Creature Unknown".


title: Maggie Grace

text: In mid-2004, Grace's agent sent her the script for the pilot episode of "Lost"; she was given the role of Shannon Rutherford after a successful audition. She was nominated in 2005 for a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Performance – Female for her role on "Lost", but lost to "Desperate Housewives" Eva Longoria. She lived in Hawaii during the filming of the show's first season, and signed on to star opposite Tom Welling in "The Fog", a 2005 remake of the 1980 horror film of the same name, as a character originally played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Though the filming of "Lost" was supposed to have ended before "The Fog" began, the productions coincided due to "Lost"s extended season finale and Grace flew between the two sets, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and on Bowen Island in British Columbia.


title: Maggie Grace

text: After ranking at #27 on "Maxim"s Hot 100 list of 2005, she returned for "Lost"s second season. Her character was killed in the season's eighth episode, "Collision", when the series' writers began to feel that the character's "story avenues [were] limited". Executive producer Carlton Cuse said that Grace's departure from the show was "sort of a win-win" as she was eager to enter a full-time career in film. After leaving the series, she nevertheless joined the other principal "Lost" cast members of season 2 onstage at the 12th Screen Actors Guild Awards where "Lost" won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.


title: Maggie Grace

text: "Variety" reported in May 2005 that Grace was in negotiations to play X-Men character Kitty Pryde in the 2006 film "", but in July, auditions were reportedly being held for her replacement. The role ultimately went to Elliot Page, and Grace later revealed that she had never been contacted about the role and was surprised to read that she was up for the part in question. Grace's next role was in the 2007 independent film "Suburban Girl", alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alec Baldwin. In 2007, she starred in "The Jane Austen Book Club", based on Karen Joy Fowler's novel of the same name. She is a fan of Jane Austen and had read Fowler's novel when it was released in 2004. When she was given the film's script, she met with the director Robin Swicord, with whom she says she "geeked out", and was given the role of Allegra, an openly lesbian 20-year-old.


title: Maggie Grace

text: After the filming of "The Jane Austen Book Club" was completed, Grace briefly returned to Hawaii to shoot a guest spot on the "Lost" season 3 episode "Exposé". She starred in the 2008 thriller film "Taken" with Liam Neeson, who was at the top of a list of male actors Grace wished to work with that she had written just two months before she was cast. She played the lead in Simon Fellows' 2009 "Malice in Wonderland", a modern adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". In 2010, Grace starred in the drama "Flying Lessons", and appeared opposite Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in James Mangold's film "Knight and Day", as well as in "Faster", with Dwayne Johnson. Grace's busy schedule prevented her from returning as Shannon in "LA X", the season premiere for "Lost"'s sixth and final season, but she did return for the series finale "The End". In September 2010, it was revealed that Grace was chosen to play Irina in "" and "".


title: Maggie Grace

text: In December 2012, it was announced Grace would be making her Broadway debut in "Picnic". The play opened for previews on December 14, running at the American Airlines Theatre. Sebastian Stan co-stars with Grace in the Pulitzer Prize winning play.


title: Maggie Grace

text: She also made her first appearance as a guest star in the Showtime Series "Californication" in January 2013, in which she plays a groupie and to the rock and roll world as well as the personal interest of Hank Moody, starring David Duchovny.


title: Maggie Grace

text: Grace has been on the covers of many international fashion magazines, including "Saturday Night, Femme Fatales, Vanidades, 7x7" and "Organic Spa Magazine"; Canada's "Glow" and "Viva;" UK's "CosmoGirl;" Brazil's "Caras"; France's "Télé 7 Jours"; Singapore's "Solitaire" and Russia's "Cosmopolitan Beauty."


title: Maggie Grace

text: While still working on "Lost," Grace and Ian Somerhalder adopted a feral cat named Roo which they found "literally dying" in the jungle on the set. She said that the cat is now her "travel buddy." In February 2017, Grace became engaged to Brent Bushnell, the CEO of an entertainment company. They were married on May 28, 2017. The couple's first child, a son, was born in 2020.


title: Maggie Grace

text: Grace often credits her mother as her source of inspiration. When asked about her closest friend, she said that she and her mother were more like sisters and that she is "lucky to have an exceptionally cool mom." She is a self-proclaimed Anglophile; having written to a pen pal in the Lake District from the age of eight, and admiring a number of English poets, including William Shakespeare; she first visited England when she was thirteen. She calls herself very clumsy, claiming to "trip over my legs all the time," and was jokingly nicknamed "Maggie Graceless" by one of her former cast-mates.


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" is a song by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on November 29, 2019, through XO and Republic Records, as the second single from his fourth studio album, "After Hours" (2020). The song was written and produced by the Weeknd alongside Swedish musicians Max Martin and Oscar Holter, with fellow Canadian musicians Belly and DaHeala receiving additional writing credits. The song was met with universal acclaim.


title: Blinding Lights

text: In the United States, "Blinding Lights" topped the "Billboard" Hot 100 for four weeks, and went on to set new records as the song with most weeks spent in the top 5 and top 10, as well as the first song to hold a spot in the top 10 on the chart for an entire year. It is the longest charting song by a solo artist on the Hot 100 of all time, spending 90 weeks on the chart. The song finished 2020 as the year's top "Billboard" Hot 100 song. The song also peaked at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, giving the Weeknd his fifth number-one hit on the chart. It topped the record charts in the United Kingdom and 36 other countries. On November 23, 2021, it was ranked as the greatest Hot 100 song in "Billboard" history.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The Weeknd's most successful single worldwide to date, "Blinding Lights" was the best-performing global single of 2020, earning 2.72 billion subscription stream equivalents globally, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). It was also the 8th best-performing global single of 2021 with 1.61 billion subscription stream equivalents.


title: Blinding Lights

text: On Spotify, it was the most-streamed song of 2020 with nearly 1.6 billion streams, and is the second-most-streamed song of all time on the platform. "Blinding Lights" has three official remixes: one by electronic band Chromatics, one by electronic dance music group Major Lazer, and one featuring singer-songwriter Rosalía.


title: Blinding Lights

text: After a five-month social media hiatus, the singer-songwriter returned to Instagram on November 20, 2019, and posted six days later on November 26, 2019. He previously announced a project referred to as "Chapter VI" in June 2019. On November 24, 2019, a Mercedes-Benz commercial first aired on German TV featuring a clip of "Blinding Lights". It shows the Weeknd driving a Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV and asking the system to play his new song. The full-length version of the commercial premiered on November 29, alongside the single. In the days after, he took to social media to announce his return to music with the captions "the fall starts tomorrow night" and "Tonight we start a new brain melting psychotic chapter! Let's go!".


title: Blinding Lights

text: During an interview conducted by Jem Aswad from "Variety" magazine, the Weeknd discussed his experience working with Swedish songwriter-producer Max Martin, saying: "Max and I have become literally the best of friends, but I don't do that with many people. It's not that I can't, but a collaboration is a relationship, it's like a marriage, you've gotta build up to it." In a "Billboard" interview, the Weeknd expressed his appreciation for music of the 1980s: "I've always had an admiration for the era before I was born. You can hear it as far back as my first mixtape that the '80s — Siouxsie and the Banshees, Cocteau Twins — play such a huge role in my sound. Sometimes it helps me create a new sound and sometimes it's just obvious. I'm just glad the world's into it now."


title: Blinding Lights

text: Throughout the song, the Weeknd sings about the rekindling of a relationship and the importance of his partner. The singer also mentions the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, where he refers to it by its nickname "Sin City" in the pre-chorus. The Weeknd gave a little insight into what his hit is about. "'Blinding Lights' [is about] how you want to see someone at night, and you're intoxicated, and you're driving to this person and you're just blinded by streetlights," he explains in the profile. "But nothing could stop you from trying to go see that person, because you're so lonely. I don't want to ever promote drunk driving, but that's what the dark undertone is."


title: Blinding Lights

text: The song is written in the key of F Dorian with a tempo of 171 beats per minute. The Weeknd's vocal range spans from the low note of F to the high note of C. From its scale-laddering verses to its tension-filled chorus, the song exhibits the polish and "melodic math" for which Max Martin is renowned, according to Chris Molanphy from "Slate". The Dorian structure provides a dreamy and euphoric nature to the song while still ultimately resolving to a minor chord. Exclusively in the music video, the song temporarily modulates to Eb Dorian as the beats per minute drops for 3 and a half measures.


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Billboard" staff writer Frank DiGiacomo assessed its qualities, "The opening drumbeat is a DeLorean back to Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'. The amphetamine synth conjures fond memories of leopard-print-era Rod Stewart's 'Young Turks' — or maybe that other guy with the avian hairdo, Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls? And isn't that spooky B-movie organ from Rockwell's 'Somebody's Watching Me'? Abel Tesfaye's Drambuie-drenched vocals bathe you in euphoria as you bop around your home in an N-95 mask, punching your fist to the 'Hey!-Hey!-Hey!'s, making a magical and much-needed tonic for troubled times".


title: Blinding Lights

text: Audio engineer Serban Ghenea says he loved working on the Weeknd's crisp-sounding "Blinding Lights". "It was crossing two worlds to make something new that fits today, sonically. The older folks like it because it's a throwback, and then the kids love it because it's a new thing that they never heard before."


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" received universal acclaim from critics. It was named one of the best songs of 2020 by "Billboard" and the best song of 2020 by "Consequence of Sound"; the former highlighted its nostalgic appeal, and the latter praised its "melodic romance waxed over a blockbuster riff". "Variety" magazine named "Blinding Lights" the Record of the Year: "The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' is indisputably one of the landmark songs of 2020. The piece has a crystalline synth hook straight out of 1985. The record has come to symbolize strength and triumphing over adversity." "Blinding Lights" was named one of the best songs of 2019 by "Stereogum", where editor Chris DeVille complimented the song's '80s aesthetic and vibe, saying that "the '80s will never die—or, at least, the glamorous neon '80s of our collective imagination".


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Rolling Stone" columnist Kory Grow named "Blinding Lights" one of the best songs of 2020: "With fuzzy synths and hopscotching drum-machine line, 'Blinding Lights' is the best new wave song this side of Duran Duran. In just three minutes, the Weeknd checks off any number of Eighties pop-song signposts—unanswered phone calls, driving fast just to feel something, lights representing loneliness—but the real magic is how his voice and the song's chiming keyboard line lingers in your head well after he injects new life into the greatest Eighties-steeped lyrical cliché of them all: 'I can't sleep until I feel your touch,'" and editor Jon Dolan praised the "europhile synth-pop-steeped" production, "Blinding Lights" evokes Depeche Mode and the Human League in its lonely-planet luster. David Smyth of "Evening Standard" also praised the song, calling it a "glorious blast of air punching Eighties synth-pop". Micah Peters from "The Ringer" selected it as one of the best on the album. "The New York Times" journalist Lindsay Zoladz named "Blinding Lights" one of the best songs of 2020: "It's a propulsive, modernized bit of '80s pastiche. It's always a blessing when the year's most overplayed pop song happens to be one you wouldn't mind hearing a billion and one times anyway," and editor Jon Caramanica added that "'Blinding Lights' is a sterling song that evokes both an idyllic future and triggers aural sense memories of mega-pop's glory years. 'Blinding Lights' could have been lifted from a found Jazzercise tape from 1986, though the chilly synths have a slightly sinister tinge [and] says a lot about the durability of the Weeknd's early noir—the full commitment to the louche aesthetic he embodied—that even the raging centrist popularity of 'Blinding Lights' can't disinter it."


title: Blinding Lights

text: Ben Beaumont-Thomas of "The Guardian" named "Blinding Lights" one of the best songs of 2020: "It's a titanic pop production from backroom genius Max Martin, who seems to pay homage to his fellow Scandinavians a-ha with the peppy gated drums. Abel Tesfaye himself shows he can slip between genres casually as he does the lovers in his songs, notching up another wedding disco classic." When describing the Weeknd's ode to '80s music, Nick Levine of BBC News named "Blinding Lights" one of the best songs of 2020: "Co-written and co-produced with Swedish songwriting genius Max Martin, its synth-pop shimmer manages to feel retro and contemporary at the same time—a tricky thing to pull off. Still, the key to its enduring popularity could lie in its ambiguity. Though 'Blinding Lights' explosive chorus is one of the year's most familiar and uplifting, there's a dash of darkness baked in that keeps things interesting." Editor Makael Wood from "Los Angeles Times" named "Blinding Lights" one of the best songs of 2020: "The Weeknd's throwback synth-pop smash was so ubiquitous this year that you couldn't avoid hearing it even when you weren't going anywhere. One aspect that kept it from wearing out its welcome: a crisp tempo just a few ticks faster than you're always expecting."


title: Blinding Lights

text: Despite having a successful year in 2020 with the critical and commercial success of "Blinding Lights" and its parent album, the Weeknd received zero nominations at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on November 24, 2020. The gesture spawned much controversy and was a shock to critics, fans, and Tesfaye himself. He responded via social media calling the Grammys "corrupt" in popular social media posts. Speculation arose that the announcement of his upcoming Super Bowl performance, as well as the confusion as to whether he should be nominated as pop or R&B, contributed to the snubs in all the categories that he was submitted to. Harvey Mason Jr., interim president of the Recording Academy, responded to the backlash by saying:


title: Blinding Lights

text: We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated. I was surprised and can empathize with what he's feeling. His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone's admiration. We were thrilled when we found out he would be performing at the upcoming Super Bowl and we would have loved to have him also perform on the Grammy stage the weekend before. Unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists. But as the only peer-voted music award, we will continue to recognize and celebrate excellence in music while shining a light on the many amazing artists that make up our global community. To be clear, voting in all categories ended well before The Weeknd's performance at the Super Bowl was announced, so in no way could it have affected the nomination process. All Grammy nominees are recognized by the voting body for their excellence, and we congratulate them all.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The Weeknd later made a statement addressing the infamous snub in January 2021, where he said that it felt like "an attack", saying "Look, I personally don't care anymore. I have three GRAMMYs (sic), which mean nothing to me now, obviously...It's not like, 'Oh, I want the GRAMMY!' It's just that this happened, and I'm down to get in front of the fire, as long as it never happens again. I suck at giving speeches anyways. Forget awards shows."


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" debuted at number 11 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 on the issue dated December 14, 2019, but fell 41 places to number 52 in its second week. In its 12th week on the chart, the song became the Weeknd's tenth top ten hit by rising to a new peak at number ten. On the issue dated March 28, 2020, the song rose two places to reach number two. The song reached number one on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on April 4, 2020, leading for 11 non-consecutive weeks. The song also reached number one on R&B Songs chart on March 7, 2020, where it became his seventh number one on the chart, making him the artist with the most number ones on the chart's history and also attaining a record-breaking reign of 48 weeks. On March 30, 2020, the song rose to number one on the "Billboard" Hot 100, dethroning Roddy Ricch's "The Box" on the issue dated April 4, 2020. The single kept at its peak position the following week, becoming the Weeknd's third multi-week leader after "The Hills", which topped the chart five years earlier. "Blinding Lights" spent four weeks atop the Hot 100 and finished 2020 as the year's top "Billboard" Hot 100 song. The following year, it ranked at number three on the year-end chart, becoming the first single to finish in the top three on two occasions.


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" spent 57 weeks in the top ten of the "Billboard" Hot 100 and 43 weeks in the top five, breaking the record for the most time logged in the region over the chart's 62-year history. On the Digital Song Sales chart, the song peaked at number one for the week of March 23, 2020, and became the Weeknd's fifth Digital Songs number one. The single reached a peak of number one on the Streaming Songs chart on March 30, becoming his first topper on the listing since "The Hills" led five years earlier. On April 13, the song reached number one on Pop Songs chart, where it led for 6 non-consecutive weeks, as it slid to number two on the Hot 100. It later rose back up to number one for the two following weeks. On May 18, the song became his first number one on the Adult Pop Songs chart, leading for 20 non-consecutive weeks. On November 7, "Blinding Lights" became his first number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, where it led for 35 non-consecutive weeks. "Blinding Lights" topped Radio Songs for a record-breaking 26 weeks, passing Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris", which held the record as the longest-running chart-topper for almost 22 years.


title: Blinding Lights

text: For a short time during 2022, "Blinding Lights" was the longest running single in the history of the Hot 100 chart with a total of 90 weeks, surpassing Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive", which spent 87 weeks. In the process, the song also attained the longest chart run of any Hot 100 chart-topper in "Billboard" history, surpassing the 68-week run by LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" (2011–12). On April 5, 2022, "Blinding Lights" was awarded a Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling ten million units in the United States.


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" also became producer Max Martin's 23rd Hot 100 number one single as a writer, 21st as producer, and his first in both credits since Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling!" (2016). Martin has the third-most as writer, behind Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26), and the second-most as producer, behind George Martin (23). The Weeknd became the first artist to simultaneously lead "Billboard"s five primary charts on March 30, topping the Hot 100, "Billboard" 200, Artist 100, Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers. The next week, he topped the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Artist 100 once more, achieving the feat for a fourth time.


title: Blinding Lights

text: On the "Rolling Stone" Top 100 Songs chart, the song debuted at number two, where it was blocked from the top spot by the Weeknd's own "Heartless". The song also became the Weeknd's second entry on the chart. It later rose to number one on the chart following the release of "After Hours".


title: Blinding Lights

text: In the singer's native Canada, "Blinding Lights" debuted at number two on the Canadian Hot 100, one place higher than "Heartless". It later managed to reach number one after the release of its parent album on the issue dated April 4, 2020, becoming the Weeknd's fifth number-one single in the country. It spent seven weeks atop the chart, tying "Starboy" as his longest-running chart-topper. In May 2021, "Blinding Lights" dropped off the Canadian Hot 100 after 75 weeks on the chart, leaving it one week short of the all-time record set by "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas in 2010. For the first half of 2020, "Blinding Lights" was the top Canadian song overall, with 484,000 units. It has been certified Diamond by Music Canada for selling 800,000 units.


title: Blinding Lights

text: In the United Kingdom, "Blinding Lights" debuted at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart on December 6, 2019 – for the week ending date December 12, 2019. It eventually peaked at the top of the chart in February 2020, becoming the Weeknd's first number-one single in Britain. After two weeks at number one, it dropped a place number two. However it rebounded to number one the week after, and remained there for three consecutive weeks. The week after it fell a place to number two and also stayed at the runner-up spot for another week. The following week, it once again rebounded to number one, and stayed there for another three consecutive weeks. Overall, the single spent eight non-consecutive weeks atop the singles chart. It dropped to number two on April 24, 2020 – for the week ending April 30, 2020 – after the Weeknd used Twitter to ask people to support its close rival, a charity single, "You'll Never Walk Alone", by Michael Ball and Captain Sir Tom Moore, and make it number one for Moore's 100th birthday. As a result, "Blinding Lights" dropped a place to number two and remained at number two the following week, behind another charity single, "Times Like These". According to the Official Charts Company, "Blinding Lights" became Britain's biggest-selling song of 2020 with 2.2 million combined sales, including 250 million streams and 195,000 downloads. "Blinding Lights" has been certified 6× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for selling 3,600,000 units.


title: Blinding Lights

text: Elsewhere in Europe, the song topped the charts in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland. It also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belarus, Hungary, Malta, North Macedonia, Russia, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine.


title: Blinding Lights

text: In Australia, it topped the ARIA Charts for eleven non-consecutive weeks. It is the sixth longest-running number-one of all-time in the country, tied with songs such as Spice Girls's "Wannabe", Drake's "God's Plan" and Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", as well the fifth longest by a foreign act. "Blinding Lights" has been certified 13× Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for selling 910,000 units.


title: Blinding Lights

text: In Latin America, "Blinding Lights" topped the charts in Bolivia and Mexico. It also reached the top 10 in Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Puerto Rico and Uruguay, as well as the top 20 in Argentina, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru. It also charted in Brazil and Colombia, peaking at numbers 51 and 66 respectively.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The music video for "Blinding Lights" was directed by Anton Tammi, assisted by Kenneth Taylor, and filmed in Fremont Street, Las Vegas and Downtown Los Angeles, during a four-day shooting that took place until 6 AM every day. It was produced by Sarah Parker and executive produced by Saskia Whinney for Somesuch, with production design by Adam William Wilson. Olliver Millar served as the director of photography, assisted by Devin "Daddy" Karringten on the second unit, Niels Lindelien on the steadicam operation, Nizzar Najm on the gaffer and Marlow Nunez on the key grip. The video was edited by Janne Vartia and Tim Montana, and included VFX by Mathematic, post production surpervision by Alec Ernest, color by Nicke Jacobsson, sound design by Akseli Soini, title design by Aleksi Tammi and 3D effects by Oscar Böckerman.


title: Blinding Lights

text: During the filming for the street scenes, the roads were not completely shut down, so random cars and pedestrians were passing by while the Weeknd danced in the street. Production was held up temporarily when somebody was arrested in the tunnel. The shooting required at least three vehicles driving through the nighttime streets. The Mercedes-AMG GT roadster was a specially equipped towed vehicle that allowed the Weeknd to act and lip-sync inside the moving convertible without needing to drive, and a chase SUV with a crane camera strapped to the top. Director of photography Oliver Millar said that he loves the music video format and talked about how intense it is to try and create iconic images during high-pressure shoots that don't last very long. He said that since the Weeknd's previous videos had a dark and gritty vibe, he used generators powering banks of LED lights and a Sony Venice full-frame digital motion picture camera system to try to re-create the look, ending up with the video's vintage, 1980s style.


title: Blinding Lights

text: On December 2, 2019, a commercial video containing footage from the Weeknd and Mercedes-Benz commercial, and the song's audio video, was released. The lyric video for "Blinding Lights" was released on December 6, 2019. Its official music video was released on January 21, 2020. A behind-the-scenes music video for the song was released on February 28, 2020. On May 5, 2020, a music video for the Chromatics remix of the song was released.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The video follows the "After Hours" videos sequence, starting where the "Heartless" premise ended, and presents the Weeknd as a lonely and psychotic guy walking and driving with no destination around the streets in Las Vegas, and a passing resemblance to jazz musician Herbie Hancock, circa 1978's "Sunlight". The singer sports the same garb as the previous video, adopted for the album promotion, with a red suit, specific hairstyle, mustache and sunglasses. The visual opens with the Weeknd laughing as blood drips down his face, then jumps back in time to show the mayhem that led to his gruesome end — the pop star speeding around a deserted city, dancing gleefully in the streets. The visual follows the events of the music video for "Heartless" and sees the Weeknd go on a hallucinated joyride after waking from a trance. It concludes with the Weeknd having flashbacks to a club he attended earlier in the night, where he was serenaded by a mysterious woman, played by Japanese actress Miki Hamano and beat up by a duo of bouncers, uncredited, who had forced him to go on the run. The video depicts the singer amid a story inspired by the films "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Joker", and "Casino".


title: Blinding Lights

text: Chase Ichiki from "Revolt" spoke highly of the music video, sharing that "the Weeknd crafts a world fans have eagerly waited for. Donning his staple red suit, he showcases his acting abilities in his latest video. Beginning with him hysterically laughing in a borderline psychotic way, then we see the Weeknd dance the pain away while wandering the city". Michael Cube from "Nylon" magazine wrote that "the video for "Blinding Lights" is appropriately cryptic for the famously elusive artist", and praised the presentation's alluring mystique. "HITC" columnist Christopher Weston assessed the film as "a burst of neon perfectly complimenting the gorgeous electronic sound. The 'Blinding Lights' visual accompaniment is one of the most stylish videos we've seen, packed with color, fast cars, nocturnal cityscapes and luxurious locations." "Insider" editor Callie Ahlgrim praised the visual, 'Blinding Lights' embodies everything that's made the Weeknd's newest era so successful. The video maintains his mysterious, slightly menacing aura — yet manages to create a cinematic, retro, exhilarating experience that's unlike anything he's done before". Bianca Gracie from "Vulture" named the music video one of the best of 2020: "It's a wild mix of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Casino", and "Joker" that only Abel could pull off". "USA Today" editor Gary Dinges named the visual one of the best of 2020. The clip was nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards, and won two including Best R&B Video & Video of the Year. The visual was nominated for four UK Music Video Awards, and won Best Pop Video – International.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The Weeknd performed "Blinding Lights" for the first time on December 6, 2019, during "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", a day after he performed "Heartless" on the same show. He brought a neon-lit cube with mirrored walls to the stage to sing through his brand new single. Filmed in black and white and from different perspectives on the stage, the Weeknd made the most of his mirror-cube before stepping outside of it to face the crowd. They sang the chorus of the track back to him, and some members of the audience raised mirrors of their own to flash The Weeknd's glow right back on him.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The song was performed on January 22, 2020, at "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". The performance picked up right where the "Blinding Lights" visual left off, as the Weeknd remained in the red suit and his face was still bloodied with a bandage over his nose from the beatdown he vaguely remembered in the music video. He bounced around the stage for the lively performance, as thunderbolts and lightning strikes at his back filled the darkness in the venue. Appearing once again in a red suit, black gloves and bloody-faced with a bandage over his nose, he performed the single alongside "Scared to Live" on "Saturday Night Live" on March 7, 2020.


title: Blinding Lights

text: "Blinding Lights" received a special performance during The Weeknd Experience, an augmented reality, interactive livestream held on TikTok on August 7, 2020. It featured 3D visuals and several interactive components, including virtual back-up dancers appearing behind the Weeknd, who also traveled through hyperspace in a red convertible, surrounded by lasers in the virtual world. The Weeknd kicked off the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards with "Blinding Lights", described in advance as a "keyed-up, dazzling" showcase. He performed a rooftop version of his hit single from the observation deck at 30 Hudson Yards in Manhattan, New York City, complete with a background of fireworks.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The single was also performed live in the 2020 "Time" 100 primetime event and the Z100 Jingle Ball of 2020.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The Weeknd performed "Blinding Lights" as the closing track for the Super Bowl LV halftime show. On the field, he was surrounded by hundreds of the Weeknd-alike dancers. In the beginning, he moved with them in lock step. But as the song swelled, and the dancers began to swarm in odd patterns, the Weeknd moved in his own rhythm, holding the camera's gaze, alone amid the chaos.


title: Blinding Lights

text: The song's first official remix features vocals from Chromatics and is included in the original deluxe edition of "After Hours" and the remix EP "After Hours (Remixes)". A second official remix by Major Lazer was released on April 15, 2020. An unofficial remix by W&W was released on July 2, 2020. A third official remix with Rosalía was released on December 4, 2020.


title: Blinding Lights

text: A remix of the song featuring Spanish singer and songwriter Rosalía was released on December 4, 2020, six hours after its announcement to celebrate the first year since the release of the solo version of the song, which was named "the best-selling song of the year" by "Billboard" the day before. A lyric video featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the single's photoshoot was released the same day.


title: Blinding Lights

text: Starting from October, both artists started to comment on each other's social media posts. In November, some insiders reported that a "Save Your Tears" remix featuring the Spanish singer would be released on the 20th. This, however, never happened. However, on December 1, another insider reported that a duet version of "Blinding Lights" would be released on December 4. Both artists shared a picture of them on set a couple hours prior to the single's release without specifying the project.


title: Blinding Lights

text: YouTube metal cover artist, Leo Moracchioli, released a version in April 2020 playing all instruments and the vocals himself. On July 1, 2020, quintet vocalist group Pentatonix released a video for their rendition of "Blinding Lights." In the clip, the group is seen in their respective homes. On July 3, 2020, Christine and the Queens released his studio cover of "Blinding Lights". "[His] version is an emotive yet airy rendition. The artist's pillowy voice glides effortlessly no matter the heights", "Consequence of Sound" editor Lake Schatz stated. On August 21, 2020, Rainych Ran released a video for her rendition of "Blinding Lights" in Japanese version. Her Japanese version cover of "Blinding Lights" was earned praise by The Weeknd himself on his SNS. In September 2020, London Grammar covered "Blinding Lights" at the BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, backed by piano and guitar players.


title: Blinding Lights

text: In January 2021 a bilingual (Welsh and Irish) version of Blinding Lights was released by Urdd Gobaith Cymru and TG Lurgan, 'Golau'n Dallu / Dallta ag na Soilse'. The project was hailed by First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford as a "symbol of the cultural ties that bind Ireland and Wales". In November 2021, Canadian-American rock supergroup Saint Asonia released a Hard rock version of the song as a promotional single for their EP "Introvert".


title: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

text: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a 1968 musical-fantasy film directed by Ken Hughes with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl and Hughes, loosely based on Ian Fleming's novel "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car" (1964). The film stars Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Adrian Hall, Heather Ripley, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill, James Robertson Justice, Robert Helpmann, Barbara Windsor and Gert Fröbe.


title: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

text: The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli. John Stears supervised the special effects. Irwin Kostal supervised and conducted the music, while the musical numbers, written by Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, were staged by Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood. The song "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was nominated for an Academy Award.