title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The W213 E-Class' front bumper is reminiscent of the facelifted W212's optional sport kit (dubbed the AMG Sports Package), as it is governed by two air intakes united by a mesh grille. Compared to the standard front bumper of the W212, which is similar to the one used on the W205 C-Class, the W213 E-Class' proposal is more aggressive, composed and simple. The classic iconic grille, has simpler, flowing lines, with a more imposing presence on W213, while the sport variant (with the big logo in the middle) isn't so different from the W212. The S-Class inspired, sweptback (first time in Mercedes executive-class history) and rather compact headlights are the styling feature of the W213 model.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: On both cars the doors sit pretty high, squeezing the windows, but the W212 masks this "trait" with a subtle slope towards the headlights. In fact, on the profile of the facelifted W212, it still retains the edgy lines that came out in 2009. At the back, the W213 adopted a fresh design for the lights similar to the S-Class. However, the tailpipes finishers are similar to the ones found on the W212, with the rear bumper keeping its overall shape.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The interior of the 2017 E-Class was unveiled by Mercedes-Benz in December 2015, which was previewed on the Concept IAA (Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile) that Mercedes showed in September 2015 at the Frankfurt Auto show. The interior mounts two 12.3-inch full HD screens housed within a single unit. Most E-Class models receives the widescreen set-up as standard. However, base Avantgarde versions features traditional analogue dials with a seven-inch multi-information display, along with an 8.4-inch central infotainment screen. Mercedes-Benz claimed a first for the automotive industry, adding a pair of touch-sensitive control buttons on the steering wheel, which respond to finger swipes to control the car's infotainment system. The more traditional Command controller is also retained on the centre console.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: A number of sensors, cameras and radars has allowed semi-automated driving. There may be fewer sensors and cameras than before (12 and four respectively over the W212 model), but they all feature increased functionality which reduces cost and complexity.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The next level of Drive Pilot (code-named Intelligent Drive) featured on the 2017 E-Class enables the car to negotiate bends on the motorway, while maintaining a safe distance from slower moving vehicles in front at up to speeds of . The system is not a hands free operation and an audible alert will prompt the driver into regaining control if the car detects their attention has wandered.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The Steering Pilot function uses visible road markings to navigate bends at speeds of up to . The car is able to scan the surrounding area, as well as the car in front, if road markings are unclear to maintain lane discipline. The system is also able to automatically increase or decrease the E-Class's speed by reading speed limit signs if the driver fails to take any action.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Active Brake Assist and Evasive Steering Assist work in tandem to warn of and prevent potential collisions in the 2017 E-Class. The first system now features increased functionality, able to provide visible warning of potential danger as well as being able to automatically apply the brakes in an emergency. The system is now also able to detect and analyze moving traffic at junctions ahead. Evasive Steering Assist can detect when a driver is making an evasive action and apply additional steering force to ensure the pedestrian or vehicle is avoided. Car-to-X Communication is another safety system which enables vehicles on the same road to warn each other of upcoming potential hazards or accidents.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: If an unavoidable side collision is detected, PRE-SAFE Impulse Side rapidly inflates the side bolster to move the occupant away from the point of impact, while at the same time PRE-SAFE Sound pumps noise waves through the speakers to reduce hearing damage following a collision.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Introduced on the CLS for 2014, Mercedes’ Multibeam LED headlamps are enhanced for the 2017 E-class. The individual LED count increases from 24 to 84, each individually controllable—switching between high- and low-beams, and the curve-following adaptive-lighting functions are now achieved entirely via electronics. The light pattern is also altered in city driving or via information from the navigation system.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: As with the mid-cycle refresh of W212, the 2017 E-Class features two larger units instead of the four-eyes headlights, though LED light bars within the headlamps still gives the night-time effect of four individual units.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Introduced in the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+, drift mode allows the car to completely cut the front axle from its all-wheel-drive 4MATIC system and transfer all and of torque to the rear axle of the car. This allows the driver to engage in easier drifts.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: In a departure from previous generations, the Estate is offered in two distinct variants: a traditional on-road model and an All-Terrain version to directly rival the Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo V90 Cross Country.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the Estate All-Terrain features a 29 mm higher ride height due to the Air Body Control air suspension (15 mm) and 20 in wheels fitted as standard (14 mm). There is also external plastic cladding to protect the body from scratches and scrapes, as well as the 4Matic permanent four-wheel-drive system with 31/69 front-rear torque split.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: An E 300, with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, will join the range at launch. This engine was previously available in the facelift W212 E-class in some markets. This engine produces in the E 200, in the E 250 and in the E 300. Like the W212 facelift, the W213 E 300 produces and and accelerates from in 6.2 seconds.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The E 350, with an updated 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, will join the E-Class range for the 2020 model year. This engine is also used in the facelift W205 C-Class and X253/C253 GLC-Class, as well as the W167 GLE-Class. In the E 350, it produces at 5,800 - 6,100 RPM and at 3,000 - 4,000 RPM. Selected markets such as Malaysia and Australia have the EQ Boost feature available on this engine, which produces an additional . It has a acceleration time of 5.9 seconds.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: An E 400 with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo M276 V6 petrol engine. It is carried over from the W212 facelift E class and it produces and of torque. It accelerates from 0– in 4.9 seconds, a full second faster than the E 350.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: An E 400 with the same 3.0-litre M276 biturbo V6 petrol engine as the sedan version. This car share many similarities with the E 400 sedan but shows differences in its styling and engine. Unlike the E 400 sedan's single turbo engine, the E 400 wagon is equipped with a twin turbo V6 producing and of torque. The main difference seen in this particular model is the fact that it has an increased cargo area. The E 400 wagon has a maximum space of 64.3 cubic feet of load space compared to with 57.4 in the sedan version. The E 400 wagon can also be equipped through options with third row seating allowing more passengers to ride in the car. It can sprint from in 5.1 seconds and do the quarter mile in 13.7 seconds at due to its 4MATIC all wheel drive system.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: For the 2019 model year, the E 400 was renamed to E 450. It features a displacement reduced M276 3.0L Biturbo V6 engine with slightly higher outputs, producing and .


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: For the 2020 Facelift, the M276 Biturbo V6 was dropped for the new M256 3.0L Inline 6 turbo with EQ Boost. Power outputs are unchanged and .


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The E 350e is a plug-in hybrid, equipped with a turbocharged inline-four coupled with an electric motor between the engine. The E 350e's transmission is a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Mercedes claims that the car has a electric only range. The hybrid plug to charge the car is connected on rear bumper through a small door similar to how the gas door is set up. The E 350e can sprint from in 6.2 seconds. Mercedes claims the E 350e weighs about , compared to the E 300's weight of . The way to distinguish an E 350e from a non-hybrid E 300 is the badging. An E 350e badge is placed on the rear trunk as well as a blue "Plug-in Hybrid" on the side of the car. Mercedes offers an option to paint the brake calipers the same blue as the "Plug-in Hybrid" as well.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The V213 is the latest generation long wheelbase E-Class saloon. This Long-Wheelbase version so far is only available in the Chinese and Indian Markets. The E-Class V213 was launched at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show and went on sale in China in August the same year. The V213 E-Class is often referred to as the ‘smaller S-Class’, mainly due to the many similarities they have including the shape of the c-pillar and so on.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The car is 5,065 mm long, which makes it the longest E-Class ever made. The V213 E-Class is sold in three basic models, E200L, E300L and E320L, all of which can be selected between Exclusive line and AMG Line designs. The new 4-cylinder turbocharged M274 or M276 petrol engines are available, which are quick enough to get the E200L from 0- in 8.6s, E300L in 6.9s and E320L 4MATIC in a claimed 5.7s. This time the all new 9G-Tronic Transmission which focuses more on efficiency and smoother gear changes is standard across the whole range.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: On 29 September 2020, Mercedes also unveiled the Facelifted version of V213 LWB E-Class at the Auto China 2020. Like before, this is only sold in China and India.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Since its launch, there have been some disappointment as well as admiration in China. The longer wheelbase and luxury equipment have made the new E-Class popularly recognized as the less expensive alternative to the S-Class. Another reason being that the design has taken inspiration from the Maybach S-Class. While some buyers are dissatisfied with the fact that some of the equipment like the multibeam headlights and several driving assistances, which are brand new features on this model, do not come as standard and are listed as "optional extras" (to pay for), others comment that the spacious cabin, new interior (all V213 E-Class have 12.3 inch displays) and luxurious features such as onboard Wi-Fi and wireless charging, and automatic emergency brakes as standard, which are items not available on the worldwide W213 E-Class contribute to the Long-Wheelbase's market success. The price difference between W213 and V213 E-Class in China is not significantly large, around only 10,000 RMB ($1,560), which makes the V213 E-Class even more attractive to buy.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Engine options for the 2017 E-Class saw a major update, thanks to the switch to inline-6 engines from the current V6 engines, along a new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines (OM654) and existing four-cylinder petrol engines (M274). All engines, save for the AMG V8, come standard with Mercedes’ 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic gearbox; the AMG V8 uses a 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT gearbox.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Until April 2018, the E 200 was available with a 6-speed manual transmission in Europe, but it was discontinued and 9G-Tronic became standard. Alongside standard rear-wheel drive, select engines are offered with optional four-wheel drive. In 2017, Mercedes-Benz launched the E 180 model utilizing the M274 DE16 LA engine in select markets, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, the Philippines and Singapore.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: <nowiki>*</nowiki> - Only available in selected markets, including but not limited to - Turkey, Egypt, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: The all-wheel-drive only Mercedes-AMG E 43 joined the range in September 2016, powered by a 3.0-litre Biturbo V6, producing of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration from 0 to takes 4.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to . The AMG E 43 was the first of the new AMG 43 series with a higher output of 401 PS vs 367 PS of the existing AMG 43 series. The E 43 was dropped for the 2018 model year, replaced by the E 53. Since the discontinuation of the E 43 in 2018, an E 400 (now renamed to E 450) was launched to fill the gap between the 4-cylinder E300 and the 6 cylinder, high-performance AMG E 53.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: A mid-level AMG version, E 53 4MATIC+, is fitted with a 3-litre 6-cylinder inline M256 E30 DEH LA G engine, producing and . Due to the higher volume of mid-level AMG version, this type of engine is tuned by AMG and built on the assembly lines by people and robots at the manufacturing plants rather than "one man, one engine" approach. The Mercedes-AMG coupé and cabriolet versions were introduced once again after skipping C207/A207 (2010–2017). AMG E 53 4MATIC+ remains the sole AMG version for both coupé and cabriolet.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Presented in November 2016, the new Mercedes-AMG AMG E 63 4MATIC+ and AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ received AMG M177 twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 in two states of tune and with fully variable all-wheel-drive. The standard AMG E 63 4MATIC+ has and accelerates from 0 to in 3.5 seconds. The AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+ has same engine but with higher output rate at 450 kW / 612 PS / 603 HP and accelerates from 0 to in 3.4 seconds. Both versions are electronically limited to , however this can be increased to with the AMG Driver's Package. While most other high-performance AMG variants such as the E53 have had electrification added in recent years, the E63 stands out as one which didn't receive such a performance-enhancing 48V mild-hybrid system. Director of Vehicle Development at Mercedes-AMG, Drummond Jacoy, gave two main reasons, physical space and market positioning. "We want a Race Start [launch control feature], we want quick shifting," Jacoy said. "To do that we've used our electromechanical clutch and not a torque converter," the latter of which works with the integrated starter-generator (ISG) setup found in the EQ-Boost mild-hybrid tech. "To be completely honest with you, we have package restraints, so we couldn't fit the ISG in there." Secondly, "We have a car lineup," Jacoy noted, "and above the E63 we have the GT63 S, so we don't want to have an overlap there. We kept more power exclusive to the GT63 S."


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Just like the AMG sedan versions, the E 63 wagon is also equipped with 4MATIC+ fully variable AWD and is also equipped with the M177 biturbo 4.0 litre V8 in two states of tune. The AMG E 63 wagon's styling cues and features are much different from the base model to distinguish that it is a performance variant of the car. The front bumper is wider, a front splitter is added, and large opening flanks are seen on the AMG-branded grille. The car also has various AMG branding throughout it to show its significance and the badging on the rear trunk lid depicts that it is in fact an AMG E 63 (S) wagon. The AMG E 63 wagon is equipped with 64 cubic feet of cargo volume compared to the AMG E 63 sedan's 57.4 cubic feet. The vehicle is also used as the official F1 medical car. As with the sedan, the wagon also does not receive the mild-hybrid technology found in other cars in the AMG lineup.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: For the 2021 model year, the E-Class has received updated front and rear fascias along with a new mild-hybrid 6-cylinder inline engine for the E450 model; the All-Terrain model will now be available in the United States, replacing the standard estate version. Inside, COMAND is replaced by MBUX with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and revised touch-sensitive controls. Driver-assistance technology has also been updated featuring an advanced capacitive hands-off detection system.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: Mercedes-AMG announced on 27 May 2020 that the updated Mercedes-AMG versions of coupé and cabriolet are now available. The E 53 4MATIC+ version remains the sole choice for both coupé and cabriolet.


title: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W213)

text: In mid-2022, Mercedes-AMG revealed the Final Edition version of the E63 S 4Matic+. Signifying the V8s swan song in production, a total of 999 units will be built.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: Music of the Spheres (subtitled Vol I. From Earth with Love) is the ninth studio album by British rock band Coldplay, released on 15 October 2021 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States. The album was produced by Max Martin, who is a new producer to the band's discography. It features guest appearances from Selena Gomez, We Are King, Jacob Collier and BTS, as well as returning contributions from electronic producer Jon Hopkins.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: The album is the band's second space-themed concept album, after 2005's "X&Y", and explores pop, pop rock, space rock, space music and ambient influences. It is set in a fictional planetary system called "The Spheres", which contains nine planets, three natural satellites, a star and a nebula, with each one of them corresponding to a certain track on the record. According to lead singer Chris Martin, its concept and themes were inspired by the "Star Wars" film franchise, which made him and the other band members wonder what other artists could be like across the universe, while also using the planets as canvas to explore human experience.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: In anticipation for the album, they released "Higher Power" and "My Universe" as singles, with the former being nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, and the latter being nominated for the same award at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. "My Universe" also debuted at number-one in the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, making Coldplay the first British group in history to achieve the feat. "Let Somebody Go" was later released as the third official single on 7 February 2022. "Coloratura", "People of the Pride", "Biutyful" and a live version of "Humankind" were served as promotional singles.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Music of the Spheres" received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom criticised the album's overtly pop sensibilities and style. The closing track "Coloratura", however, received critical acclaim for its lengthy, unconventional structure and production. The album earned nods for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, marking the band's third nomination in both categories. It debuted atop the UK Albums Chart as the first project since Ed Sheeran's "No.6 Collaborations Project" (2019) to sell over 100,000 units during its first week. To support the record, Coldplay embarked on the Music of the Spheres World Tour.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: The idea for a space-themed record had been envisioned by the band since 2010, when lead vocalist Chris Martin proposed a project of building "a solar system", as stated in a blog published by the band, named "Roadie #42". This project eventually led to the creation of the universe for Coldplay's 2011 album "Mylo Xyloto", which would go on to inspire the "Music of the Spheres" universe as well. At the time "Everyday Life" was released, in November 2019, one of the hints was hidden within the bifold of the booklet of the physical vinyl and digibook editions of the album, in which a black and white billboard in a field advertises "Music of the Spheres". In the bottom left corner, smaller writing says "Coldplay coming soon". This, combined with the band's history of teasers for future material, fueled speculation about "Music of the Spheres"'s themes and release date. Other hints to future material were purportedly hidden within song lyrics and music videos from the "Everyday Life" era.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: According to bassist Guy Berryman, when the band first "made "Everyday Life" (2019), we knew we weren't planning on touring it, so that directed the course of that album musically. The idea was always to follow that up with "Music of the Spheres", which definitely would be toured. So the new album was created with one eye on the live performances. I think that shaped the overall energy levels and song selections for the album". The record was produced by Max Martin, whom the band called "a true wonder of the universe". Their first work together was in the single "Orphans". He met Chris during a Rihanna concert in Sweden in 2016 and they started to share potential about possible collaborations, with the rest of the band sharing the same feeling and considering him as a "new band member" for the album.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: Chris stated Max was very involved on most of the creative process, helping to decide which songs would be chosen as well. He added that "just before 'Higher Power', I'd done a whole session with him auditioning songs for a potential album". Drummer Will Champion noted one of the reasons of feeling certain relief while working with Max "is that he is very conscious of not filling too many gaps", with Berryman further adding that a sound "will not be impressive by just adding another layer of sound and another layer of sound", comparing it to a mix of "too many colors together, [but] you always end up with brown". They cited "Humankind" as an example, which was according to them was the hardest song to be recorded in the album, as the band "couldn't get the feel of it right until the end of the sessions".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Music of the Spheres" has been described as pop, pop rock, synth-pop, space rock, space music, electropop, soft rock, and ambient. Lead singer Chris Martin stated that the theme for the album was inspired by "wonder[ing] what musicians would be like across the universe" after watching the fictional Mos Eisley cantina band perform in "Star Wars" and making speculations in relation to outer space sounds.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: The album is set in a fictional planetary system called "The Spheres", which consists of nine planets, three natural satellites, one star and a nearby nebula. Each track on the album represents a celestial body from "The Spheres". Following the album's track listing, they are: Neon Moon I ("Music of the Spheres"), Kaotica ("Higher Power"), Echo ("Humankind"), Kubik ("Alien Choir"), Calypso ("Let Somebody Go"), Supersolis ("Human Heart"), Ultra ("People of the Pride"), Floris ("Biutyful"), Neon Moon II ("Music of the Spheres II"), Epiphane ("My Universe"), Infinity Station ("Infinity Sign"), and Coloratura ("Coloratura"). Supersolis is the star at the centre of the system, and Coloratura is the Nebula. Each celestial body in "The Spheres" has its own language: EL 1 for Neon Moon I, Kaotican for Kaotica, Mirror Text for Echo, Qblok for Kubik, Aquamarine for Calypso, Supersolar for Supersolis, Voltik for Ultra, Bloom for Floris, EL 2 for Neon Moon II, Spheric for Epiphane, Infinitum for Infinity Station, and Coloraturan for Coloratura. An unnamed natural satellite orbits Echo, while both Neon Moons orbit Epiphane. A "lost planet" named Aurora is also part of the system, and although no song on the album represents it, fans have theorised that the short instrumental "A Wave", which was played at the end of concerts during the first leg of the Music of the Spheres World Tour, is connected to it. The artwork featuring the planetary system was created by Pilar Zeta, who had worked on Coldplay's previous two albums "Everyday Life" (2019) and "A Head Full of Dreams" (2015).


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: Martin uses the planets as a canvas to explore the human experience: "It's really another record about life as a human person, but given this freedom that comes when you pretend it's about other creatures in other places". Drummer Will Champion stated that "Everyday Life" was about making big questions personal, while "Music of the Spheres" promoted more about the purpose of the band in relation to humanity and manmade demarcations, saying: "We historically as a band tend to fill space". The album was promoted with the words "Everyone is an alien somewhere", which, according to Champion, was about persons look to what unites them, not to what separate them, saying: "From the perspective from another planet, we would be the aliens. We searched the perspective where we are all equal".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: The fictional universe for "Music of the Spheres" is in part inspired by the universe created by the band for their 2011 album "Mylo Xyloto", and, according to creative director Phil Harvey, features several references to it. One of these references may be the appearance of the "Mylo Xyloto" "silencers" in the music video for "My Universe".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: On 23 April 2021, a post from an account titled 'Alien Radio FM' on social media released a set of coordinates (51°30'24.6"N 0°08'34.4"W) that led to Green Park in Piccadilly, London. The post included a photo of an advertisement at these coordinates with unknown bright neon purple characters set to a blue background. The characters were quickly decoded by fan sites and said "Coldplay Higher Power May Seven". Similar posts would follow, which all teased the lead single, "Higher Power""."


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: On 29 April, Coldplay confirmed on their main social media accounts that a new single called "Higher Power" would in fact be released on 7 May. Branded as a form of "extraterrestrial transmission", the band previewed the video to French European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet aboard the International Space Station prior to its public release. Lead singer Chris Martin had stated that the theme for their upcoming music had been inspired by "wonder[ing] what musicians are like across the universe" after watching the fictional Mos Eisley cantina band perform in "Star Wars".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: After the promotion cycle of "Higher Power" was done, creative director Phil Harvey teased a possible announcement on 19 July 2021. During the next day, Coldplay revealed the album, its tracklist, and a trailer titled "Overtura" containing a snippet for each song. They also said that the song "Coloratura" would be released on 23 July, while the next official single would follow in September. On 13 September, Coldplay announced that their second single "My Universe" which features BTS, would be released on 24 September 2021. On 4 October 2021, Selena Gomez confirmed via Twitter that she is featured on "Let Somebody Go".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: On 7 October 2021, Coldplay announced that an album launch event for "Music of the Spheres", entitled "The Atmospheres", would be held in four cities across the world (Berlin, London, New York and Tokyo) on 15 and 16 October. In each city, there was a "custom-built installation" that enabled fans to "be transported to The Spheres – the distant solar system that plays host to the band's latest album, where each of the twelve tracks is twinned with a different planet." During the event, fans had the opportunity to "create their own alien language messages, snap selfies in the augmented reality photo booth, and even help to power the experience through bespoke kinetic walkways." According to the band, the event was made possible by partnering with Amazon Music.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: On 14 October 2021, a day before the release of "Music of the Spheres", Coldplay officially announced the Music of the Spheres World Tour in 2022 to promote the album. The band had not toured for their previous album, "Everyday Life", as they had decided to pause touring until they could work out how to ensure that it would be environmentally friendly. Alongside the announcement, they released a detailed plan setting out how they would ensure that the tour would have a minimal impact on the environment and would result in 50% less carbon dioxide generated than during the A Head Full of Dreams Tour. The plan was developed over two years by Coldplay and a number of leading environmental experts, and features a number of innovative sustainability strategies. For example, the band have joined forces with BMW to create the first "mobile, rechargeable show battery" to power each concert on the tour, and have announced that the tour's stage will be built from "a combination of lightweight, low-carbon and re-usable materials (including bamboo and recycled steel) that can be properly reused or recycled at the end of the tour". They have also pledged to plant one tree for every ticket sold.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Higher Power" was released as the lead single on 7 May 2021. The song was produced by Max Martin, whom the band called "a true wonder of the universe". The band stated in a tweet that "it arrived on a little keyboard and a bathroom sink at the start of 2020". An audio visualiser directed by Paul Dugdale premiered on Coldplay's YouTube channel at 12:01 a.m. BST on the same day. The official music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was released on 8 June 2021, it features Chris exploring the fictional planet Kaotica.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "My Universe", a collaboration with South Korean pop group BTS, was released as the second single on 24 September 2021. The official music video, also directed by Meyers, was released on 30 September 2021. It features both groups performing the song alongside a fictional band named "Supernova 7" in different futuristic planets, set during an era where music is banned around the universe. The track debuted at number-one in "Billboard" Hot 100, which made Coldplay the first British group in history to achieve the feat. It was their second United States chart-topper and BTS' sixth.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Let Somebody Go", a collaboration with American singer and actress Selena Gomez, was released as the third single in the adult contemporary radio on 14 February 2022. A music video was released a week prior, on 7 February 2022, once again being directed by Meyers.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: The album's closing track, "Coloratura", was released on 23 July 2021 in anticipation for the album. It is the longest song ever released by the band, running at 10 minutes and 18 seconds. "People of the Pride" impacted American alternative rock radio stations on 8 March 2022, however, Chris stated during an interview the song would not be marketed as an official single. Its lyrics explore themes of human politics and is inspired by empowerment movements. A music video was directed by Paul Dugdale and released on 15 March 2022. A live version of "Humankind" was released as a charity single on 22 April 2022 through Bandcamp for Earth Day 2022, with royalties being donated to EarthPercent, a project supporting numerous organizations working to help tackle the climate crisis. The music video was directed by Stevie Rae Gibbs and Marcus Haney, being released on 17 August 2022 to further promote the Music of the Spheres World Tour (2022). On 16 September 2022, the song was then released as a promotional single in Italian and Dutch radio stations serving the same purpose. "Biutyful" was made available as a promotional single on 6 July 2022 along with a video directed by Mat Whitecross.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Music of the Spheres" received generally mixed reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 55 out of 100 based on 18 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the "Financial Times" gave the album two stars out of five, praising its cheerful lyrics but criticising its superficial feeling. This sentiment was echoed by Neil McCormick of "The Daily Telegraph", which called the album a "giddy sugar rush" and gave it three stars out of five. Alexis Petridis of "The Guardian" also gave the album two stars out of five, calling its pop tones a "desperate" attempt by the band to stay on top of the record charts. Rhian Daly of "NME" gave the album four stars out of five, and said that "While "Music of the Spheres" feels like quintessential Coldplay, there are some more surprising moments buried in its tracklist". Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic also gave the album four stars out of five, calling it "[the band's] most unabashedly pop-centric and optimistic album to date". He elaborated thus: "This sci-fi concept piece is the spiritual successor to technicolor predecessors "Mylo Xyloto" and "A Head Full of Dreams" – outpacing both with its sharp focus and lean runtime – while maintaining the boundary-pushing energy heard on the "Kaleidoscope EP" and "Everyday Life"". "The Courier" and "Uproxx" included the album on their unranked lists of "Top Favorite Albums of 2021", and "The Best Pop Albums of 2021", respectively. Meanwhile, "G1" chose it as part of their "Albums That Defined 2021" editorial.


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: Many of the critics, however, praised the closing track, "Coloratura". AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung stated "while they typically end their albums on a grand, uplifting note, ["Coloratura"] takes the prize for ambition and sheer beauty". Ella Kemp, writing for "Rolling Stone UK", said the song "might be the most dazzling thing Coldplay have ever done, a sprawling Pink Floyd-esque experiment which pays off infinitely". Will Hodgkinson of "The Times" called it as a "forward-thinking vision of a melodic utopia with shades of Pink Floyd at their most hopeful". Jeremy Levine of "PopMatters" praised the track "plenty of structural risks that allow it to achieve a surprising level of intimacy. It's still a little lyrically over-the-top, but the variations in tone, as well as the climactic use of the band's retro instrumentation, leave us with at least one flicker of Coldplay's brilliance". Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of the "Financial Times" felt the album's concept "only really registers" on "Coloratura", praising the elaborate orchestrations and "more sophisticated lyrics than the gaucheries of the previous songs". Paolo Ragusa of "Consequence" agreed, saying the song "really flesh out what the record is supposed to sound like: sprawling, odd, and unique". Bobby Olivier of "Spin", however, felt it was "overlong", while David Cobbald of "The Line of Best Fit" said it "lacks a sense of originality, as all of emotions and lyrics have in way appeared in their music previously".


title: Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album)

text: "Music of the Spheres" debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with 101,045 units sold, marking Coldplay's ninth number-one album and the fastest selling record of the year at the time of release, being the first project since Ed Sheeran's "No.6 Collaborations Project" to debut with over 100,000 units sold in the country. According to "Music Week", the record was one of the key releases which contributed to the increase of CD sales during 2021, along with Adele's "30", Sheeran's "=" and ABBA's "Voyage". It was also the fifth and 15th best-selling album of the year in the cassette and vinyl formats, respectively.


title: Trudie Styler

text: Styler was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, the daughter of Pauline and Harry Styler, a farmer and factory worker. When Styler was two years old, she was hit by a van. She received severe facial injuries that left her badly scarred and required several plastic surgery operations up until the age of 18. Her classmates nicknamed her "scarface", which caused her to feel for many years that she was "not a very attractive person". She attended North Bromsgrove High School, where one of her teachers was the singer-songwriter Clifford T. Ward.


title: Trudie Styler

text: Styler trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and went on to appear in various period BBC productions. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, in which she played multiple major roles. Her theatre credits also include "The Vagina Monologues", "Twin Spirits", and "The Seagull".


title: Trudie Styler

text: She has appeared in many British television series such as "The Mayor of Casterbridge" and "The Scold's Bridle", and in the United States television shows "Empire", "The Night Of", "Friends" (S8 Ep10), and "Falling Water".


title: Trudie Styler

text: Film work includes Lifetime Television's "Living Proof" and Paul Haggis' "The Next Three Days". Styler has also made seven mind-body fitness DVDs released by Gaia, Inc.


title: Trudie Styler

text: In the mid-nineties Styler established Xingu Films, a production company dedicated to supporting new talent, such as Guy Ritchie, Dito Montiel and Duncan Jones. In late July 2008 it was announced that Xingu had optioned "American Reaper", an upcoming graphic novel written by Pat Mills, who would also write the screenplay.


title: Trudie Styler

text: Styler has produced and co-directed several award-winning documentaries and feature films, including Guy Ritchie's "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch"; Duncan Jones' "Moon"; and Michael Apted's "Moving the Mountain", which won the 1994 International Independent Documentary Award.


title: Trudie Styler

text: After moving to New York, Styler co-founded the production company Maven Pictures with Celine Rattray in 2011. Their first feature, "Girl Most Likely", starred Kristen Wiig; closely followed by "Filth", starring James McAvoy; "Black Nativity" starring Forest Whitaker; "Ten Thousand Saints" starring Ethan Hawke; and "American Honey" starring Shia LaBeouf, which won Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. Styler's 2017 directorial debut, "Freak Show", is based on the New York Times bestseller by James St. James, and stars AnnaSophia Robb, Alex Lawther, and Bette Midler. "Freak Show" debuted at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.


title: Trudie Styler

text: In 2011, she and producer Celine Rattray founded Maven Pictures, a motion picture development, production, and financing company.


title: Trudie Styler

text: With her husband, Sting, Styler started in 1989 the Rainforest Foundation Fund, an organisation devoted to protecting rainforests and their indigenous peoples, and since 1991 she has produced regular Rock for the Rainforest benefits at Carnegie Hall. As a UNICEF Ambassador, Styler has also raised millions for their projects around the globe.


title: Trudie Styler

text: In 2008, it was reported that Styler donated £10,000 into the charitable Ama Sumani cancer fund. Sumani was terminally ill with cancer and unable to afford treatment in her native Ghana, but had been deported from a Cardiff hospital after the expiry of her visa. Sumani died on 19 March 2008.


title: Trudie Styler

text: Styler married rock musician Sting at Camden Registry Office on 20 August 1992, and the couple had their wedding blessed two days later in the twelfth-century parish church of St Andrew in Great Durnford, Wiltshire, south-west England. In 1982, Sting separated from his first wife, actress Frances Tomelty, following an affair with Styler; Tomelty and Sting divorced in 1984. The split was controversial; as "The Independent" reported in 2006, Tomelty "just happened to be Trudie's best friend (Sting and Frances lived next door to Trudie in Bayswater, west London, for several years before the two of them became lovers)".


title: Trudie Styler

text: Sting and Styler have four children including Brigitte Michael ("Mickey", born 19 January 1984), Jake (24 May 1985), Eliot Paulina (nicknamed "Coco", 30 July 1990), and Giacomo Luke (17 December 1995). Coco is a singer who now goes by the name Eliot Sumner, and was the founder and lead singer of the group I Blame Coco. Giacomo Luke is the inspiration behind the name of Kentucky Derby–winning horse Giacomo.


title: Jay Shah

text: Jay Amitbhai Shah (born 22 September 1988) is an Indian businessman and cricket administrator. He became the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary in 2019. He is also the president of Asian Cricket Council. He is the son of Amit Shah, India's Minister of Home Affairs.


title: Jay Shah

text: Jay Shah was born to Amit Shah, an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and Sonal Shah on 22 September 1988. He graduated from Nirma University with a B.Tech. He underwent cricket training in Ahmedabad under Jayendra Sehgal.


title: Jay Shah

text: Shah worked as one of the directors of Temple Enterprise, a company which was founded in 2004 and involved in the trade of agricultural products. The company shut operations in October 2016. Shah owns a 60 per cent stake in Kusum Finserve which was established in 2015.


title: Jay Shah

text: After serving as an executive board member of the Central Board of Cricket, Ahmedabad, starting 2009, Shah became the joint secretary of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) in September 2013. During his tenure as joint secretary, he oversaw GCA's construction of the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, along with his father Amit Shah who was GCA president at the time.


title: Jay Shah

text: Shah became a member of the finance and marketing committees of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2015. He stepped down from the position of GCA joint secretary in September 2019. The following month, he was elected as the secretary of BCCI for a one-and-a-half-year term and the youngest of the five office bearers. In December 2019, the BCCI selected Shah as its representative for future CEC meetings of International Cricket Council. In January 2021, Asian Cricket Council appointed Shah as President.


title: Jay Shah

text: In February 2015, Shah married Rishita Patel, his college girlfriend, in a traditional Gujarati ceremony. The wedding was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking public officials.


title: Jay Shah

text: Shah filed a criminal defamation case and a civil lawsuit of 100 crore against the editors of "The Wire" who, in an October 2017 article, reported that Shah's company's revenue increased 16,000 times one year after Narendra Modi became the Indian Prime Minister. In 2018, the Gujarat High Court restored a gag order, earlier placed by a civil court, on the website, preventing it from publishing any content connecting Shah's businesses to Modi. In August 2019, "The Wire" withdrew its appeal against the criminal defamation case and announced that it will stand trial.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The Colt AR-15 is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic rifle. It is a semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle sold for the civilian and law enforcement markets in the United States. Colt's Manufacturing Company currently owns the "AR-15" trademark, which is used exclusively for its line of semi-automatic AR-15 rifles.


title: Colt AR-15

text: Due to financial problems, and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity, ArmaLite sold the AR-15 design and the AR-15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR-10 to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. Colt started selling the semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle as the Colt AR-15 in 1964. The first mass production version was the Colt AR-15 Sporter, in .223 Remington, with a 20-inch barrel, issued with 5-round magazines. Colt has since made many different models of AR-15 rifle and carbine models, including the AR-15, AR-15A2, AR-15A3, AR-15A4, and others.


title: Colt AR-15

text: Sale of new AR-15s in the USA was banned by the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 to 2004. Colt and others continued to sell legally compliant versions during that period. On September 20, 2019, Colt announced that it would no longer produce the AR-15 for private use, due to market saturation. It would still produce the AR-15 for police and military units. By May 2020, changed market conditions encouraged Colt to resume production for sales to private users.


title: Colt AR-15

text: describes the cycling mechanism used in the original AR-15. The bolt carrier acts as a movable cylinder and the bolt itself acts as a piston. This mechanism is often called "direct gas impingement" (DGI), although that is now considered to be a misconception. The mechanism is now referred to as an "internal gas piston operating system".


title: Colt AR-15

text: Gas is tapped from the barrel as the bullet moves past a gas port located above the rifle's front sight base. The gas expands into the port and down a gas tube, located above the barrel that runs from the front sight base into the AR-15's upper receiver. Here, the gas tube protrudes into a "gas key" (bolt carrier key), which accepts the gas and funnels it into the bolt carrier.


title: Colt AR-15

text: At this point, the bolt is locked into the barrel extension by locking lugs, so the expanding gas forces the bolt carrier backward a short distance. As the bolt carrier moves toward the butt of the gun, the bolt cam pin, riding in a slot on the bolt carrier, forces the bolt to rotate and thus unlocks it from the barrel extension. Once the bolt is fully unlocked, it begins its rearward movement along with the bolt carrier. The bolt's rearward motion extracts the empty cartridge case from the chamber. As soon as the neck of the case clears the barrel extension, the bolt's spring-loaded ejector forces it out the ejection port in the side of the upper receiver.


title: Colt AR-15

text: Behind the bolt carrier is a plastic or metal buffer, which rests in line with a return spring. The buffer spring begins to push the bolt carrier and bolt back toward the chamber once it is compressed sufficiently. A groove machined into the upper receiver guides the bolt cam pin and prevents it and the bolt from rotating into a closed position. The bolt's locking lugs push a fresh round from the magazine as the bolt moves forward. The round is guided by feed ramps into the chamber. As the bolt's locking lugs move past the barrel extension, the cam pin twists into a pocket milled into the upper receiver. This twisting action follows the groove cut into the carrier and forces the bolt to twist and "lock" into the barrel extension.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The upper receiver incorporates the fore stock, the charging handle, the forward assist, the gas operating system, the barrel, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly. AR-15s employ a modular design. Thus one upper receiver can quickly and easily be substituted for another. Upper receivers are available with barrels of different weights, lengths, calibers, and rail systems with various sights and accessories. The standard AR-15 rifle uses a barrel. Although, both shorter carbine barrels and longer target barrels are also available.


title: Colt AR-15

text: Early models had barrels with a 1:12 rate of twist for the original .223 Remington, bullets. Current models have barrels with a 1:9 or 1:7 twist rate for the 5.56×45mm NATO, bullets.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The lower receiver incorporates the magazine well, the pistol grip, the buttstock, the buffer and the buffer spring. The lower receiver also contains the trigger, disconnector, hammer and fire selector (collectively known as the fire control group). Full-sized rifles use a fixed buttstock, while carbines generally use an adjustable telescoping buttstock.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The early commercial SP-1 AR-15s used a pair of diameter receiver push pins, identical to those found on the military rifles. In 1966 the company replaced the front pin with a paired nut and screw hinge using a pin to prevent shooters from being able to change receivers with military rifles or competitor rifles without the use of an adapter. They resumed production with the smaller and standardized 0.250-inch pin in the mid-1990s.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The AR-15's most distinctive ergonomic feature is the carrying handle and rear sight assembly on top of the receiver. This is a by-product of the original ArmaLite design, where the carry handle served to protect the charging handle. As the line of sight is over the bore, the AR-15 has an inherent parallax problem. At closer ranges (typically inside 15–20 meters), the shooter must compensate by aiming high to place shots where desired. The standard AR-15 rifle has a sight radius. The AR-15 uses an L-type flip, aperture rear sight and it is adjustable with two settings, 0 to 300 meters and 300 to 400 meters. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage. The sights can be adjusted with a bullet tip or pointed tool. The AR-15 can also mount a scope on the carrying handle. With the advent of the AR-15A2, a new fully adjustable rear sight was added, allowing the rear sight to be dialed in for specific range settings between 300 and 800 meters and to allow windage adjustments without the need of a tool or cartridge. Current versions such as AR-15A4 have a detachable carrying handle and use Picatinny rails, which allows for the use of various scopes and sighting devices.


title: Colt AR-15

text: Colt AR-15 rifles most often have a barrel threaded in ″-28 threads to incorporate the use of a muzzle device such as a flash suppressor, sound suppressor or muzzle brake. The initial design, the "duckbill," had three tines or prongs and was prone to breakage and getting entangled in vegetation. The design was later changed to close the end to avoid this problem. Eventually, on the A2 version of the rifle, the bottom port was closed to reduce muzzle climb and prevent dust from rising when the rifle was fired in the prone position. For these reasons, the US military declared this muzzle device a compensator, but it is more commonly known as the "GI", "A2", or "Birdcage" muzzle device. The standard AR15 muzzle device conforms to the STANAG dimensional requirements for firing 22 mm rifle grenades.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The Colt AR-15 uses 20- or 30-round staggered-column detachable box magazines. Low-capacity 5- or 10-round magazines are also available to comply with legal restrictions, for hunting, for benchrest shooting or where a larger magazine can be inconvenient.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The primary distinction between civilian semi-automatic rifles and military models is select fire. Military rifles were produced with firing modes, semi-automatic fire and either fully automatic fire mode or burst fire mode, in which the rifle fires three rounds in succession when the trigger is depressed. Most components are interchangeable between semi-auto and select fire rifles including magazines, sights, upper receiver, barrels and accessories. The military M4 carbine typically uses a barrel. Civilian rifles commonly have 16-inch or longer barrels to comply with the National Firearms Act.


title: Colt AR-15

text: In order to prevent a civilian semi-automatic AR-15 from being readily converted for use with the select fire components, Colt changed a number of features. Parts changed include the lower receiver, bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, disconnector, and safety/mode selector. The semi-automatic bolt carrier has a longer lightening slot to prevent the bolt's engagement with an automatic sear. Due to a decrease in mass the buffer spring is heavier. On the select fire version, the hammer has an extra spur which interacts with the additional auto-sear that holds it back until the bolt carrier group is fully in battery, when automatic fire is selected. Using a portion of the select fire parts in a semi-automatic rifle will not enable a select fire option. As designed by Colt the pins supporting the semi-auto trigger and hammer in the lower receiver are larger than those used in the military rifle to prevent interchangeability between semi-automatic and select fire components.


title: Colt AR-15

text: After Colt's patents expired in 1977, other manufacturers began to copy the design of the Colt AR-15. The term "AR-15" is a Colt registered trademark which it uses only to refer to its line of semi-automatic rifles. Other manufacturers marketed generic AR-15s under other designations, frequently referred to as AR-15s, as are some rifles and carbines not based on the AR-15 design.


title: Colt AR-15

text: AR-15 style rifles are available in a wide range of configurations and calibers from a large number of manufacturers. These configurations range from standard full-size rifles with 20-inch barrels, to short carbine-length models with 16-inch barrels, adjustable length stocks and optical sights, to long range target models with 24-inch barrels, bipods and high-powered scopes. These rifles may also have short-stroke gas piston system, forgoing the direct gas system standard in AR-15 rifles. These calibers include the 5.56×45mm NATO, 5.7×28mm, 6.8mm Remington SPC, .300 Blackout, 9×19mm Parabellum and .458 SOCOM to name a few.


title: Colt AR-15

text: From April 28 to 29, 1996, Martin Bryant killed 35 and injured 23 in the Port Arthur massacre, during which he used a Colt AR-15 and a .308 L1A1 SLR. It was the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history and resulted in the 1996 National Firearms Agreement.


title: Colt AR-15

text: The Colt AR-15 is banned by name in California with a list of additional AR-style and AK-style firearms in the "Kasler v. Lockyer" Assault Weapons List. This list deems the Colt AR-15, as well as the Armalite AR-15, Bushmaster XM-15, DPMS Panther, and many other AR-style rifles as assault weapons by name, thus illegal to own/possess in the state of California. The rifle is banned in Maryland as well.


title: G-Unit

text: G-Unit (short for Guerilla Unit) was an American hip hop group formed by longtime friends and East Coast rappers 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks. After amassing a string of self-released mixtapes in the early 2000s, the group released their debut album "Beg for Mercy" in 2003, which went on to ship over four million copies in the US and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).


title: G-Unit

text: During Tony Yayo's imprisonment in 2003, the group recruited Tennessee-based rapper Young Buck as a temporary replacement and later an official member. The Game was also made a member in late 2003 in an effort to promote him after he was signed to Aftermath/Interscope, but he was removed from the group after several months. In April 2008, Young Buck was ousted from the group due to his problematic behavior. In July 2008, the group released their second studio album, "T·O·S (Terminate on Sight)", featuring the original trio.


title: G-Unit

text: In early 2014, Yayo and 50 Cent both separately stated that G-Unit was no more. However, the group members reconciled and reunited soon thereafter, now becoming a quintet, with the rejoining of Young Buck and the addition of G-Unit Records artist Kidd Kidd. The group performed at Summer Jam 2014 and then released their first collaborative project in six years, the EP "The Beauty of Independence", in August of the same year.


title: G-Unit

text: In 2018, Kidd Kidd announced that he was leaving both the group and label to become independent; Lloyd Banks and Young Buck followed suit after revolved disputes with 50 Cent. In 2022, 50 Cent confirmed that the group had once again disbanded and stated that there would never be a reunion, citing disaffection with the other members.


title: G-Unit

text: The group's founding members, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo were all raised in South Jamaica, a neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, and began rapping together as teenagers. After 50 Cent was blackballed from the music industry in 2000 and lost his record deal, the group began recording music independently, and released several mixtapes between 2002 and 2003, the most prominent of these being "50 Cent Is the Future", "God's Plan", "No Mercy, No Fear" and "Automatic Gunfire".


title: G-Unit

text: In 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by Eminem and signed a $1 million contract with Shady Records, under the aegis of Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. After the success of his commercial debut album, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", he was granted his own record label, which led to the creation of G-Unit Records. 50 Cent immediately signed both Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo to the label, and they began working on G-Unit's debut album, however, Tony Yayo was incarcerated at the time and was unable to record any new material for the album, which led to 50 Cent signing Tennessee-based rapper Young Buck to G-Unit Records and subsequently adding him to the group. After the signing of Young Buck, G-Unit made their first major label appearance as a group on the remix to 50 Cent's single "P.I.M.P.", which featured Snoop Dogg, Banks and Young Buck.


title: G-Unit

text: Later in November 2003, the group released their debut studio album, "Beg for Mercy". The album featured guest appearances from R&B singers Joe and Butch Cassidy, and production was handled by high-profile producers such as Hi-Tek, Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, among several others. 50 Cent also served as the album's executive producer. Due to Tony Yayo's incarceration, he only made two appearances on the album, both of which used pre-recorded material. His face is seen on the brick wall of the album cover because he could not be photographed on account of his jail sentence. "Beg for Mercy" went on to sell over 3.9 million units in the U.S., 5.8 million copies worldwide, and has since been certified quadruple Platinum by the RIAA.


title: G-Unit

text: During the production of Beg for Mercy, Los Angeles rapper The Game was discovered and placed into G-Unit by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records. Their plan was to market The Game as a devotee, or a loyal member of 50 Cent's "camp". The Game made his first appearances as a member of G-Unit on Lloyd Banks and Young Buck's debut albums, The Hunger for More and Straight Outta Cashville. Throughout 2004, The Game began working on his debut studio album, which was set to be executive produced by 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. In November 2004, the album's second single, How We Do featuring 50 Cent became a top 5 hit, as did the album's third single, Hate It or Love It, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, being held back from the top spot by 50 Cent's single, Candy Shop featuring Olivia.


title: G-Unit

text: Beginning in 2005, tensions began to rise between 50 Cent and The Game, and shortly after the release of "The Documentary", tensions escalated into a full-scale feud which led to 50 Cent announcing that The Game had been kicked out of G-Unit, with 50 Cent saying he had not received full credit for writing six songs from "The Documentary". The two held a press conference on March 9, 2005, calling a truce between the two of them and seeming to publicly squash the feud. However, shortly after, The Game and G-Unit continued to attack one another, releasing numerous diss tracks throughout 2005 and 2006.


title: G-Unit

text: In 2007 while leaving a studio, Tony Yayo (one third of G-Unit), and his friend Lodi Mack saw Jimmy Henchman's (The Game's manager) 14-year-old son. The two proceeded to assault the 14 year old which would lead to Lodi Mack's arrest. He was sentenced to two years in Prison and in 2009 Jimmy Henchman hired a hitman to kill Lodi Mack. In 2017, Jimmy Henchman was found guilty of murder and is now spending 2 life sentences in prison.


title: G-Unit

text: On April 7, 2008, in an interview with Shanna Leviste on New York's Hot 97 FM, 50 Cent stated that Young Buck was no longer a member of G-Unit, but was still signed to G-Unit Records. 50 Cent said problems involving excessive spending and Young Buck's public statement to not being paid royalty checks and "inconsistent behavior" from Young Buck, such as appearing on stage with his former Cash Money label-mate Lil Wayne, then seemingly dissing him on records with G-Unit were the main reasons for his removal.


title: G-Unit

text: On June 17, 2008, Young Buck responded to 50 Cent 's allegations with the song Taped Conversation. The Game jumped onto the track later on, in which they take shots at 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.


title: G-Unit

text: Their second album, "T"·"O"·"S (Terminate on Sight)", was released on July 1, 2008. As a result of Young Buck's removal from the group, Young Buck still appeared on songs previously recorded with the group, but was credited as a featured artist. As of August 8, 2008, the album had sold 507,000 copies in the United States. Along with Young Buck, reggae singer Mavado appears on the album, while production came from Swizz Beatz, Street Radio, Tha Bizness, Rick Rock and Polow da Don, among several others.


title: G-Unit

text: On February 20, 2014, Tony Yayo said that G-Unit had officially broken up, saying he and 50 Cent were no longer friends, and also announced his retirement from music, saying it had caused him too much stress and that he had already accomplished everything he wished to do. Then, after what seemed like condescending comments made about Lloyd Banks and Yayo in multiple interviews, on April 25, 2014, 50 Cent said that due to the recent inside-fighting, G-Unit was currently "dismantled." Despite this, on June 1, 2014, G-Unit reunited at the 21st annual Summer Jam with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and G-Unit's newest member, Louisiana rapper Kidd Kidd appearing on stage together. The following day, G-Unit released a song titled "Nah I'm Talkin' Bout", a remix of HS87's "Grindin My Whole Life", making their comeback official. Throughout June 2014, G-Unit released numerous remixes to popular songs by other artists, including Drake, Trey Songz, and Jeremih, as well as an original song, "They Talked About Jesus". On June 4, 50 Cent announced they were working on a studio album and revealed plans to release it by late November 2014, and on June 25, 2014, announced they would be releasing a mixtape prior to the album. On August 25, 2014, G-Unit surprised fans with an extended play (EP) titled "The Beauty of Independence", which was released at midnight, via digital retailers.


title: G-Unit

text: After the first EP, the group released music videos for "Watch Me" and "Changes". G-Unit planned to release the second EP in November, but after the release of "The Beauty of Independence", it was announced that the album would divided into two parts, "The Beauty of Independence" and "The Beast Is G-Unit". The group planned to release "The Beast" in late October, but the EP was pushed back to a later release in 2015. On November 10, 2014, a deluxe version of "The Beauty of Independence" was released, containing two new songs, "Ease Up" and "Big Body Benz". On January 20, 2015, the cover art for "The Beast Is G-Unit" was revealed via social media. The Beast Is G-Unit was released on March 3, 2015.


title: G-Unit

text: On April 11, 2018, Kidd Kidd announced his departure from both the group and G-Unit Records to focus on his own label, RLLNR Entertainment.


title: G-Unit

text: On February 1, 2018, in his single "Crazy" featuring PnB Rock, 50 Cent said he and Lloyd Banks were no longer on speaking terms, and in June, Banks and 50 Cent announced his departure from both the group and the label via Instagram.


title: G-Unit

text: On September 2, 2020, 50 Cent stated during an Instagram Live interview with DJ Whoo Kid that he wanted to erase the group and their success from his memories "forever". He also echoed accusations that Lloyd Banks' hiatus, Tony Yayo and Young Buck's inconsistencies were what caused him to blame himself for their failures as solo artists. With him and Tony Yayo left as the only members of the original lineup by this time, on August 3, 2022, 50 Cent stated on "The Breakfast Club" that he was done "carrying" the group; this was confirmation that G-Unit had officially broken up for the second time.


title: G-Unit

text: The G-Unit Clothing Company was established in 2003, when 50 Cent teamed up with Marc Ecko (the founder of Eckō Unlimited), to create a line of clothing and accessories inspired by 50 Cent and fellow members of G-Unit.


title: G-Unit

text: G-Unit has founded G-Unity Foundation Inc. (often called simply G-Unity), a public foundation that provides grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on improving the quality of life for low-income and under served communities.


title: G-Unit

text: Before signing with Interscope Records, 50 Cent had been in disputes with rapper Ja Rule and his label Murder Inc. Records. 50 Cent said that the feud began in 1999 after Ja Rule spotted him with a man who took his chain. However, Ja Rule said the conflict stemmed from a video shoot in Queens because 50 Cent did not like Ja Rule "getting so much love" from the neighborhood. A confrontation occurred in a New York studio where rapper Black Child, a Murder Inc. artist, stabbed 50 Cent, which resulted in him having four stitches.


title: G-Unit

text: Although it seemed that the feud was over, Ja Rule returned with a track entitled "21 Gunz". In response, Lloyd Banks and 50 Cent released the track "Return of Ja Fool" on Lloyd Banks' mixtape "Mo Money in the Bank Pt. 4, Gang Green Season Starts Now".


title: G-Unit

text: In an interview with MTV, Ja Rule has stated that his new album, "", will not be continuing any past feuds that he has engaged in. He said:


title: G-Unit

text: In early 2005, a feud between The Game and G-Unit began. Even before The Game's first album, "The Documentary", was released and their feud became public, there was tension between The Game and 50 Cent. Soon after "The Documentary"s release, 50 Cent felt that the rapper was disloyal for saying he did not want to participate in G-Unit's feud with other rappers, and even wanting to work with artists with whom G-Unit were feuding, such as Nas and Jadakiss.


title: G-Unit

text: 50 Cent also said that he was not getting his proper credit for the creation of the album. He also said that he wrote five of the songs, but The Game denied that. During that dispute, The Game confronted 50 Cent at the Hot 97 studio in New York City and members of The Game's entourage began shooting at 50 Cent and other members of the G-unit entourage, causing them to flee the building and causing Hot 97 radio security to shoot a member of The Game's entourage. After the situation between them escalated, 50 Cent and The Game held a press conference to announce their reconciliation. Fans had mixed feelings as to whether the rappers created a publicity stunt to boost the sales of the two albums the pair had just released. Nevertheless, even after the situation had apparently deflated, G-Unit continued to feud with The Game who responded during a performance at Summer Jam and launched a boycott of G-Unit called "G-Unot".


title: G-Unit

text: After the performance at Summer Jam, The Game responded with "300 Bars and Runnin'", an extended track aimed at G-Unit as well as members of Roc-A-Fella Records on the mixtape "You Know What It Is Vol. 3". 50 Cent responded through his "Piggy Bank" music video, which features The Game as a Mr. Potato Head doll and also parodies other rivals. Since then both groups continued to attack each other. The Game released two more mixtapes, "Ghost Unit" and a mixtape/DVD called "Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin".


title: G-Unit

text: 50 Cent's rebuttal was "Not Rich, Still Lyin'" where he mocks The Game. In addition, G-Unit started to respond on numerous mixtapes and new G-Unit Records artist Spider Loc began insulting The Game in various songs. The Game responded with "240 Bars (Spider Joke)", a song mainly aimed at Spider Loc, but also addressing Tony Yayo and rap group M.O.P., and on the song 100 Bars (The Funeral).


title: G-Unit

text: The feud seemed to have gained steam after Tony Yayo allegedly slapped the fourteen-year-old son of Czar Entertainment CEO, Jimmy Henchman. The Game responded with "Body Bags" on his mixtape, "You Know What It Is Vol. 4". G-Unit have released a song named "We on Some Shit " which is aimed at Czar Entertainment as well as Cam'ron and Fat Joe. In June 2010 Game expressed that he would not object to a G-Unit reunion. After the G-Unit reunion idea circulated around the internet a Facebook group was launched to help encourage the G-Unit comeback. In late 2016, the two ended their long standing feud.


title: G-Unit

text: 50 Cent pointed out that Fat Joe painted a target on himself for partnering up with Ja Rule on the song "New York". 50 Cent recorded the track "Piggy Bank", in which he attacked Fat Joe. Fat Joe responded with a track entitled "My Fofo" and although he said that he would not respond in songs after this, he made one more track, "Victim" which 50 Cent is purportedly the subject of as well as a guest appearance on Rick Ross' Mafia Music remix. 50 Cent and Tony Yayo took more shots at him on "I Run NY".


title: G-Unit

text: Even though things died down, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Fat Joe mentioned that all of the police presence in the venue was "courtesy of G-Unit" which related to his lyrical accusations that 50 Cent was a "snitch". 50 Cent and Tony Yayo retaliated on set later in the show at the end of their performance by shouting obscenities towards Fat Joe and Terror Squad, which were censored by MTV. Tony Yayo said Fat Joe ran from them at the VMAs.


title: G-Unit

text: When asked about the 50 Cent and G-Unit situation in an interview Fat Joe said he will no longer be responding and that he has left it to his close friend Pistol Pete and his crew Kill All Rats (K.A.R) to handle. Pistol Pete appeared on The Game's "Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin" DVD and disrespected Tony Yayo, Chris Lighty (owner of Violator Records who had ties with 50 Cent), and James Cruz (50 Cent's manager) and said he chased Tony Yayo near a jewelry store. Lloyd Banks, Spider Loc, and Young Buck have also been insulted by Fat Joe.


title: G-Unit

text: In 2007, the feud was continued in interviews and by affiliates from both parties. In 2008, the beef boiled over when 50 Cent released a mixtape entitled "Elephant In the Sand", which is a mock title of Fat Joe's album "The Elephant in the Room". The front and back covers contain photos of Fat Joe on a beach. In response Fat Joe and his group K.A.R. released a mixtape titled "Gay-Unit" hosted by Fat Joe himself.


title: G-Unit

text: The feud between 50 Cent and Fat Joe ended in 2012 when 50 Cent approached Fat Joe's trailer at the BET Awards where he was confronted by Fat Joe's entourage he told them he wanted to make peace out of respect for Chris Lighty, however Fat Joe was unsure of his intentions until later that day when they shook hands while appearing on stage together amongst other past and present Violator artists at the BET Awards segment that paid tribute to the label's founder Chris Lighty who died that year.


title: G-Unit

text: In 2014 Fat Joe gave a track titled "Free" to DJ Kay Slay to use as he was working on his final album and told him he can do whatever he wants with it. In light of the 2012 BET Awards Kay Slay decided to get 50 Cent to do a verse for it and put his on his mixtape "The Rise Of A City". Although Fat Joe was unaware Kay Slay was putting 50 Cent on his track he approved stating unity is good for hip-hop.


title: G-Unit

text: A feud between 50 Cent and Cam'ron began when 50 Cent was on Hot 97 giving an interview and Cam'ron called in. Cam’ron asked 50 Cent whether he had the power to stop records from being released on Koch Records and 50 Cent said that he does in some respects. As the conversation escalated into an argument, 50 Cent called Koch Records the "industry graveyard". Cam'ron pointed out that Jim Jones' newest album sold just as much as Lloyd Banks' album did, despite the fact that Dipset is on an independent label while G-Unit is on a major label. 50 Cent took offense to this and said that Lloyd Banks has more money than Lil Wayne and Jim Jones, which makes record sales irrelevant. Cam'ron became upset and rebutted 50 Cent's statements. Most notably, he brought up the poor record sales of the Mobb Deep album, "Blood Money". Eventually the debate became so heated that the radio station was forced to end the call.


title: Annie Wersching

text: Annie Wersching (born March 28, 1977) is an American actress known for her regular role as Renee Walker in "24" and recurring roles in several American television series, such as "Bosch" and "Timeless". She also performed motion-capture and voice work for the character of Tess in Naughty Dog's video game "The Last of Us".


title: Annie Wersching

text: Wersching was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended high school at Crossroads College Preparatory School in St. Louis's Central West End, graduating in 1995. During her youth, she competed in Irish dance and belonged to the St. Louis Celtic Stepdancers. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre from Millikin University, where she graduated in 1999.


title: Annie Wersching

text: Wersching began her acting career with a guest appearance on the show "", and moved on to guest starring roles on such shows as "Charmed", "Killer Instinct", "Supernatural" and "Cold Case". From March to November 2007, she played the recurring role of Amelia Joffe on the ABC Daytime soap opera "General Hospital". She has also worked in theaters such as Victory Gardens, Marriott Lincolnshire, and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.


title: Annie Wersching

text: After her two-season stint in "24", Wersching guest starred on various shows, including "", "NCIS", "Rizzoli & Isles", "Hawaii Five-0", "Body of Proof", "Dallas", "Revolution", "Castle", "Blue Bloods", "The Vampire Diaries" and "Touch" (which stars her "24" co-star Kiefer Sutherland). In 2014, she was a series regular for the first season of the Amazon Prime crime show "Bosch".


title: Annie Wersching

text: Wersching played catcher for the National League in the 2009 Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.


title: Annie Wersching

text: In December 2012, it was revealed that in the PlayStation 3 exclusive "The Last of Us", Wersching was the voice and mo-cap actor of the character Tess. Her character was teased on Geoff Keighley's Twitter account before she was finally revealed in the story trailer shown on Spike Video Game Awards on December 7, 2012.


title: Annie Wersching

text: In September 2021, it was announced that Wersching would play the Borg Queen in the second season of "".


title: Annie Wersching

text: Wersching married actor and comedian Stephen Full at their Los Angeles home in September 2009. They have three sons together.


title: Smirnoff

text: Smirnoff (; ) is a brand of vodka owned and produced by the British company Diageo. The Smirnoff brand began with a vodka distillery founded in Moscow by Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov (1831–1898). It is distributed in 130 countries. Smirnoff products include vodka, flavoured vodka, and malt beverages. In 2014, Smirnoff was the best selling vodka around the world.


title: Smirnoff

text: The vodka is unaged made using a traditional filtration method developed by P. A. Smirnov. Recipe No. 21 was created by Smirnov's son Vladimir after escaping Russia during the October Revolution.


title: Smirnoff

text: Pyotr Arsenyevitch Smirnov (9 January 1831 – 29 November 1898) founded his vodka distillery in Moscow under the trade name PA Smirnov in 1864, pioneered charcoal filtration in the 1870s, and by 1886 had captured two-thirds of the market in Moscow by virtue of the first use of newspaper advertising while suppressing clerical calls for temperance by generously contributing to the clergy. Russian royalty reportedly regarded Smirnov as a favorite. When Pyotr died, his third son Vladimir succeeded him. The company flourished and produced more than four million cases of vodka per year.


title: Smirnoff

text: When the Tsar nationalized the Russian vodka industry in 1904, Vladimir Smirnov was forced to sell his factory and the brand. During the October Revolution of 1917, the Smirnov family fled the country. In 1920, Vladimir Smirnov established a factory in Constantinople (present day Istanbul). Four years later he moved to Lwów (then in Second Polish Republic, now Lviv in Ukraine). He renamed the vodka "Smirnoff". It sold marginally well but not nearly as it had in Russia prior to 1904. Although an additional distillery was founded in Paris in 1925, sales remained far less than that produced in Russia.


title: Smirnoff

text: In the 1930s, Vladimir met Rudolph Kunett, a Russian who had emigrated in the 1920s to New York, and had succeeded in business. The Kunett family had been a supplier of grain to Smirnov in Moscow before the Revolution. In 1933, Vladimir sold Kunett the rights to Smirnoff vodka production and sales in North America. Kunett then returned to the United States, quit his sales job, and established his first North American distillery in Bethel, Connecticut, after the end of Prohibition in 1933. However, the business in North America was not as successful as Kunett had hoped. By 1938, Kunett could not afford the sales licenses, and contacted John Martin, president of Heublein, a company that specialized in the import and export of liquors and foreign foods. Using the $14,000 that the Heublein company made from a new product that ended up saving them from bankruptcy, Martin bought the rights to Smirnoff in 1939. His board thought he was mad. Americans were traditionally whiskey drinkers unfamiliar with vodka and so sales were slow. Sales picked up considerably after Heublein advertised it as a "white whiskey" with "no taste, no smell" sealed with whiskey corks.In 1982, the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company acquired Heublein Inc. for $1.4 billion. RJR Nabisco sold the division to Grand Metropolitan in 1987. In 1985 Heublein Corporate Audit Manager Hanson J Kan had recommended to Heublein that it acquire the Grand Metropolitan IDV Smirnoff licensee and its global locations. Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness to form Diageo in 1997.


title: Smirnoff

text: During the 1990s, one of Pyotr Smirnov's descendants started producing Smirnov (Смирновъ) vodka in Russia, claiming to be "The Only Real Smirnov." After a number of lawsuits, Smirnoff successfully reclaimed its trademark, while in 2006 Diageo concluded a joint venture deal with the Smirnov company.


title: Smirnoff

text: The Smirnoff company had the naming rights to the Smirnoff Music Centre, a concert amphitheater in Dallas, Texas, from 2000-08. It also sponsored the Smirnoff Underbelly, a major venue at the Edinburgh Fringe.


title: Smirnoff

text: In the late-1990s, Smirnoff introduced a series of new products onto the UK and later the European and North American market, which quickly became popular among young people, especially within the club scene (see ""Alcopops"").


title: Smirnoff

text: There are two different products by the name of "Smirnoff Ice:" one, sold in France and the United States, is a citrus-flavoured malt beverage (5.0% ABV) with variants in "Original", and "Triple Black". The other, sold in Europe (excluding France), Latin America, Australia and Canada, is a premixed vodka drink. It also has variants in "Original" and "Black Ice" (or in some markets, "Triple Black" or "Double Black"), ranging from 4.5% in the UK, to 7% ABV in different markets.


title: Smirnoff

text: The Smirnoff Ice marketed in the United States contains no vodka, according to the official Smirnoff website. It is more similar to beer than to vodka, primarily because it is brewed. However outside of the US and countries who receive US manufactured vodka it does contain Smirnoff Vodka No. 21.


title: Smirnoff

text: "Smirnoff Ice Twisted" was a spin-off of the American Smirnoff Ice that featured flavors such as Mandarin Orange and Green Apple. The confusion in branding between Smirnoff Twist Vodka and Smirnoff Twisted Malt Beverage resulted in the decision to drop the "Twisted" from the flavored line of Smirnoff Ice. Current Smirnoff Ice flavors include Watermelon, Wild Grape, Passionfruit, Mango, Triple Black, Pomegranate Fusion, Arctic Berry (Blueberry), Green Apple Bite, Strawberry Acai, Pineapple and Raspberry Burst. It is sold in 22 oz. (650 ml) bottles and six-packs of 12 oz. (355 ml) bottles.


title: Smirnoff

text: The next line of Smirnoff's malt beverages to be produced was "Raw Teas", similar to the brand Twisted Tea. It comes in flavors such as Lemon, Peach, Raspberry and Green Tea. This product line has been marketed most notably with the "Tea Partay" music video and website. It is sold in six-packs of 12 oz. (355 ml) bottles.


title: Smirnoff

text: "Smirnoff Source", a lightly carbonated beer-alternative, was released in May 2007. It is citrus-flavoured and made with alcohol (3.5% ABV) and spring water and is sold in 4-packs of 1-quart (947 ml) bottles.


title: Smirnoff

text: A line of 22 flavoured vodkas (based on the No. 21 Red Label) with the "Twist" moniker appended on the end of the name have also been introduced. Flavours include Green Apple, Orange, Cranberry, Raspberry, Citrus (Lemon), Vanilla, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Watermelon, Lime, Blueberry, White Grape, Melon (Honeydew/Cantaloupe), Pomegranate, Passion Fruit, Pear, Peach, Pineapple, Mango, Coconut, and most recently Amaretto.


title: Smirnoff

text: In 2004, Smirnoff trialled a new blend of vodka in the UK and Canada called Smirnoff Penka. Marketing and distribution were handled by The Reserve Brands of Diageo plc. Penka is no longer available in the UK.


title: Smirnoff

text: In 2010, Smirnoff introduced the Cocktail Range. Pomegranate Martini with Meyer Lemon-flavoured Liquor and pomegranate juice, Mojito with a dash of mint and Kaffir lime and Grand Cosmopolitan with cranberry juice. Tuscan Lemonade and Savannah Tea were later added. In 2014, Smirnoff introduced Smirnoff Sours vodkas, available in Fruit Punch, Watermelon, Green Apple, and Berry Lemon.


title: Smirnoff

text: A 2013 study found that Smirnoff malt beverages were the second-most popular brand specific alcohols consumed by underage youths in the United States.


title: Smirnoff

text: In 2016, Smirnoff introduced two new Smirnoff Ice flavors: Electric Mandarin and Electric Berry. Also in 2016, Smirnoff introduced the new Spiked line, available in Original, Screwdriver, and Hurricane Punch, as well as their Sourced line of fruit juice vodka, available in Ruby Red Grapefruit, Pineapple and Cranberry Apple.


title: Smirnoff

text: Smirnoff was mistakenly targeted for boycotts during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine; however, despite its Russian origin, the brand is owned by British company Diageo and for the US market is manufactured in Illinois.


title: Smirnoff

text: Most Smirnoff products have an identifying number that is displayed on the label. Some of these numbers are:


title: Smirnoff

text: The basic Smirnoff vodka – number 21 – has performed well at spirit ratings competitions. It was awarded a double gold medal (the highest award) at the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.


title: Smirnoff

text: "Smirnov" () can be seen as the Russian version of Smirnoff vodka. It is made by the Smirnov Trading House, a company that is part of a joint venture by Russia's Alfa Group and Diageo set up in February 2006. The full title of the Smirnov Trading House is "The Trading House of the Heirs of P.A. Smirnov".


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is the best-known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the Beatles selling over 600 million records worldwide as of 2004. Between 5 October 1962 and 8 May 1970, the partnership published approximately 180 jointly credited songs, of which the vast majority were recorded by the Beatles, forming the bulk of their catalogue.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Unlike many songwriting partnerships that comprise a separate lyricist and composer, such as George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, or Elton John and Bernie Taupin, both Lennon and McCartney wrote lyrics and music. Sometimes, especially early on, they would collaborate extensively when writing songs, working "eyeball to eyeball" as Lennon phrased it. During the latter half of their partnership, it became more common for either of them to write most of a song on their own with minimal input from the other, and sometimes none at all. By an agreement made before the Beatles became famous, Lennon and McCartney were credited equally with songs that either one of them wrote while their partnership lasted.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Lennon–McCartney compositions have been the subject of numerous cover versions. According to "Guinness World Records", "Yesterday" has been recorded by more musicians than any other song.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Although McCartney had previously seen and noticed Lennon in the local area without knowing who he was, the pair first met on 6 July 1957, at a local church fête, where 16-year-old Lennon was playing with his skiffle group the Quarrymen. The 15-year-old McCartney, brought along by a mutual friend, Ivan Vaughan, impressed Lennon with his ability on the guitar and his version of Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock". Soon afterwards, Lennon asked McCartney if he would join the Quarrymen; McCartney accepted. The duo's first musical idols were the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and they learned many of their songs and imitated their sound. Their first compositions were written at McCartney's home (20 Forthlin Road), at Lennon's aunt Mimi's house (251 Menlove Avenue), or at the Liverpool Institute. They often invited friends—including George Harrison, Nigel Walley, Barbara Baker, and Lennon's art school colleagues—to listen to performances of their new songs.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Lennon said the main intention of the Beatles' music was to communicate, and that, to this effect, he and McCartney had a shared purpose. Author David Rowley points out that at least half of all Lennon–McCartney lyrics have the words "you" and/or "your" in the first line. In Lennon's 1980 "Playboy" interview, he said of the partnership:


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Historian Todd Compton has noted that there is some truth to Lennon's statement regarding McCartney's optimism. However, it does not tell the whole story, as some of McCartney's most characteristic songs are tragic, or express themes of isolation, such as "Yesterday", "She's Leaving Home", "Eleanor Rigby" or "For No One".


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Although Lennon and McCartney often wrote independently—and many Beatles songs are primarily the work of one or the other—it was rare that a song would be completed without some input from both writers. In many instances, one writer would sketch an idea or a song fragment and take it to the other to finish or improve; in some cases, two incomplete songs or song ideas that each had worked on individually would be combined into a complete song. Often one of the pair would add a middle eight or bridge section to the other's verse and chorus. George Martin attributed the high quality of their songwriting to the friendly rivalry between the two. This approach of the Lennon–McCartney songwriting team—with elements of competitiveness and mutual inspiration as well as straightforward collaboration and creative merging of musical ideas—is often cited as a key reason for the Beatles' innovation and popular success.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: As time went on, the songs increasingly became the work of one writer or the other, often with the partner offering up only a few words or an alternative chord. "A Day in the Life" is a well-known example of a later Beatles song that includes substantial contributions by both Lennon and McCartney, where a separate song fragment by McCartney ("Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head ...") was used to flesh out the middle of Lennon's composition ("I read the news today, oh boy ..."). "Hey Jude" is another example of a later McCartney song that had input from Lennon: while auditioning the song for Lennon, when McCartney came to the lyric "the movement you need is on your shoulder", McCartney assured Lennon that he would change the line—which McCartney felt was nonsensical—as soon as he could come up with a better lyric. Lennon advised McCartney to leave that line alone, saying it was one of the strongest in the song.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Though Lennon and McCartney’s collaborative efforts decreased in later years, they continued to influence one another. As Lennon stated in 1969, “We write how we write now because of each other. Paul was there for five or ten years, and I wouldn't write like I write now if it weren't for Paul, and he wouldn't write like he does if it weren't for me.”


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: When McCartney and Lennon met as teenagers and began writing songs together, they agreed that all songs written by them (whether individually or jointly) should be credited to both of them. The precise date of the agreement is unknown; however, Lennon spoke in 1980 of an informal agreement between him and McCartney made "when we were fifteen or sixteen". Two songs written (primarily by Lennon) in 1957, "Hello Little Girl" and "One After 909", were credited to the partnership when published in the following decade. The earliest Beatles recording credited to Lennon–McCartney to be officially released is "You'll Be Mine", recorded at home in 1960 and included on "Anthology 1" 35 years later.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Some other compositions from the band's early years are not credited to the partnership. "In Spite of All the Danger", a 1958 composition that the band (then The Quarrymen) paid to record to disc, is attributed to McCartney and George Harrison. "Cayenne", recorded at the same time as "You'll Be Mine", is a solo McCartney composition. "Cry for a Shadow", an instrumental recorded during the Beatles' sessions with Tony Sheridan in June 1961 (one of the only full instrumentals the group recorded), was written by Harrison and Lennon.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: By 1962, the joint credit agreement was in effect. From the time of the Beatles' A&R Decca audition in January that year, until Lennon's announcement in September 1969 that he was leaving the band, virtually all songs by McCartney or Lennon were published with joint credit, although, on a few of their first releases, the order was reversed (see below). The only other exceptions were a handful of the McCartney compositions released by other musicians (viz. "Woman" by Peter and Gordon in 1966 (McCartney using Bernard Webb as a pseudonym), "Cat Call" by Chris Barber in 1967, and "Penina" by Carlos Mendes in 1969). Lennon kept the joint credit for "Give Peace a Chance", his first single with the Plastic Ono Band.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: After the partnership had ended, Lennon and McCartney each gave multiple accounts of their individual contribution to each jointly credited song, and sometimes claimed full authorship. Often their memories of collaboration differed, and often their early and late interviews are in conflict. In 1977, Lennon offered "Hit Parader" a list of Beatles songs with comments regarding his and McCartney's contributions to each song. In his response to the article at the time, McCartney disputed only one of Lennon's entries.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: In October 1962, the Beatles released their first single in the UK, "Love Me Do", credited to "Lennon–McCartney". However, on their next three releases the following year (the single "Please Please Me", the "Please Please Me" LP, and the single "From Me to You"), the credit was given as "McCartney–Lennon". With the "She Loves You" single, released in August 1963, the credit reverted to "Lennon–McCartney", and all subsequent official Beatles singles and albums list "Lennon–McCartney" (UK) or "John Lennon-Paul McCartney" (US) as the author of songs written by the two.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: In 1976 McCartney's band Wings released their live album "Wings over America" with songwriting credits for five Beatles songs reversed to place McCartney's name first. Neither Lennon nor Yoko Ono publicly "voiced a word of disapproval about it". Many years after Lennon's death however, in the late 1990s, McCartney and Ono became involved in a dispute over the credit order. McCartney's 2002 live album, "Back in the U.S.", also used the credit "Paul McCartney and John Lennon" for all of the Beatles songs. When Ono objected to McCartney's request for the reversed credit to be used for the 1965 song "Yesterday", McCartney said that he and Lennon had agreed in the past that the credits could be reversed, if either of them wanted to, on any future releases. In 2003, he relented, saying, "I'm happy with the way it is and always has been. Lennon and McCartney is still the rock 'n' roll trademark I'm proud to be a part of – in the order it has always been." An in-depth analysis of the legal issues was the subject of a 66-page article in the "Pepperdine Law Review" in 2006.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: The German-language versions of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" were also credited to additional songwriters for assisting with the translation. "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" was credited to Lennon–McCartney–Nicolas–Hellmer, and "Sie Liebt Dich" was credited to Lennon–McCartney–Nicolas–Montague.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Lennon–McCartney, as well as other British Invasion songwriters, inspired changes to the music industry because they were bands that wrote and performed their own music. This trend threatened the professional songwriters that dominated the American music industry. Ellie Greenwich, a Brill Building songwriter, said, “When the Beatles and the entire British Invasion came in, we were all ready to say, ‘Look, it’s been nice, there’s no more room for us… It’s now the self-contained group- makes, certain type of material. What do we do?" In 1963, "The Sunday Times" called Lennon and McCartney the greatest composers since Ludwig van Beethoven.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: The Lennon–McCartney brand would prove to be a model for several other songwriting teams in the rock genre, including, according to Lennon, the Rolling Stones' Jagger–Richards partnership. Subsequent Beatlesque songwriting teams, sometimes featuring former Beatles, attracted comparisons in the media to Lennon–McCartney. The new wave band Squeeze's partnership of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook was infamously dubbed the "new Lennon–McCartney" by music writers. Difford and Tilbrook expressed ambivalence about the comparison: Tilbrook felt that they "got a bit pompous" as a result, while Difford noted that, although the tag was "very useful" to Squeeze for getting the attention of radio programmers, the label "might have been a burden" on Tilbrook "because he had to live up to the challenge of [the Beatles'] kind of songwriting, which he didn't need to do because he's such an incredible songwriter in his own right." Similarly, when McCartney teamed up with Elvis Costello in 1989, Costello's acerbic style earned him comparisons to Lennon in his role as McCartney's collaborator. McCartney, despite conceding that Costello has "got a bit of Lennon in him", characterized the pairing as "a new thing".


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership makes up the majority of the Beatles' catalogue. The first two UK studio albums included 12 cover tunes and 15 Lennon–McCartney songs, with one track ("Don't Bother Me") credited to George Harrison. Their third UK album, "A Hard Day's Night" (1964), is the only original Beatles album made up entirely of Lennon–McCartney compositions. The next album released, "Beatles for Sale" (1964), included six covers and eight Lennon–McCartney originals. The subsequent release, "Help!" (1965), had two covers and two Harrison compositions along with ten Lennon–McCartney tracks; it was the last Beatles album to feature a non-original composition until "Let It Be", which included an arrangement of the traditional Liverpool folk song "Maggie Mae". Among the songs in this post-"Help!" output, Harrison contributed between one and four songs per album, and Starr wrote two songs in total and received a joint credit with Lennon and McCartney for a third ("What Goes On"). In addition, "Flying" and "Dig It" were credited to all four Beatles. The rest of the catalogue came from Lennon and McCartney.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: Lennon and McCartney gave songs to Starr to sing, and to Harrison before he started writing his own material. As for the songs they kept for themselves, each partner mostly sang his own composition, often with the other providing harmonies, or they shared lead vocal. If each contributed a fragment to make a whole song, he might sing his portion, as in the case of "I've Got a Feeling" and "A Day in the Life". "Every Little Thing" is a rare example of a Lennon–McCartney song in which one member of the partnership was primary composer (McCartney) but the other sang lead vocal (Lennon). McCartney sings in unison with Lennon on the verses, but Lennon's vocal is more prominent. McCartney sings the high harmony on the chorus.


title: Lennon–McCartney

text: In January 2017, McCartney filed a suit in United States district court against Sony/ATV Music Publishing seeking to reclaim ownership of his share of the Lennon–McCartney song catalogue beginning in 2018. Under US copyright law, for works published before 1978 the author can reclaim copyrights assigned to a publisher after 56 years. McCartney and Sony agreed to a confidential settlement in June 2017.