Parade
Nearly 30,000 Pounds of Beef Have Been Recalled—Check Your Freezer
Nearly 30,000 pounds of beef are being recalled after entering the United States without the proper inspection.
Florida-based Corte Argentino USA LLC is recalling approximately 29,628 pounds of raw beef imported from Argentina after missing a required import reinspection, the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.
The affected products were produced between May 15 and May 20, 2026, and have use or freeze-by dates between September 15, 2026, and September 20, 2026. The items were sold in Florida and Texas.
While there have been no confirmed reports of illness related to the affected meat, the Food Safety and Inspection Service urges consumers not to consume the products. The affected items should be discarded or returned.
What Items Are Being Recalled?According to the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the products subject to the recall bear Argentinian establishment number "EST. N° OF. 2025" and shipping mark "26644-AA."
- Various weight cardboard boxes containing “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” boneless beef “Top Sirloin Butt” (“Cuadril Sin Tapa”)
- Various weight cardboard boxes containing “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” boneless beef “Eye Round” (“Peceto”)
- Various weight cardboard boxes containing “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” boneless beef “Topside Cap Off” (“Nalga AD S/Tapa”)
- Various weight cardboard boxes containing “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” boneless beef “Flat” (“Carnaza Cuadrada”)
- Various weight cardboard boxes containing “FrigorIfico Gorina SAIC” boneless beef “Knuckle” (“Bola de Lomo”)
Drew Barrymore’s 'Stylish' Sofa Is the Perfect 'Cozy' Living Room Upgrade, and It's $200 Off at Walmart
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
As someone who spent weeks searching for a new couch, I know how expensive they can be. Finding budget-friendly options feels nearly impossible when all of the costs rack up — but, thanks to Drew Barrymore's home collection, you can turn your house into a home without breaking the bank.. Walmart is currently selling the Beautiful Drew Modular Sectional Sofa for over $200 off, and it's already in over 25 customer carts.
The sectional sofa originally cost $1,006, but has been reduced to $798. Most sofas generally cost upwards of $1,500 making this piece an absolute steal. It's available in three colors: cream, taupe, and dark gray. The light gray is already out of stock, so you'll want to add this sofa to your cart quickly in order to take advantage of this deal.
Beautiful Drew Modular Sectional Sofa, $798 (was $1,006) at Walmart Shop at WalmartDesigned as a sectional, it measures 109.5 inches wide, 38 inches long, and 36.25 inches tall, and can seat you and a few friends. It comes with a matching ottoman that is 33.75 inches wide, 33.75 inches long, and 17.5 inches tall. The four-piece furniture consists of one left edge, one right wedge, one armless chair to place in between the ends, and the ottoman, which essentially serves as a chaise. Since it's modular, you can position the pieces as you see fit. To round it all out, it comes with three small accent pillows which will match whichever color you choose.
Made of a solid wood frame and polyester fabric, the interior cushions are filled with foam for added comfort and the body of the couch has sinuous springs for support. The fabric has a ribbed stripe-like design that we think is perfect for modern and mid-century homes. Shoppers described the sofa as "perfect," "great quality," and "comfortable," adding that its firmness is the "perfect balance — not too soft, not too firm."
The best part is that the couch material is described as stain-resistant and "easy to clean." One reviewer said, "spills, pet hair, and everyday messes wipe away easily, which has been a total lifesaver." Plus, customers love the ottoman, which makes the couch "super functional," "stylish," and "cozy." Due to the fact that the pieces separate, it's also a great option for those who live in a space without an elevator.
Shop More Deals- Cate & Chloe Sophia White Gold-Plated Halo Necklace, $18 (was $40) at Walmart
- Lazzo 3-Piece Patio Outdoor Set, $170 (was $270) at Walmart
- Bifanuo Resin Deck Box, $180 (was $209) at Walmart
You will have to assemble this sofa upon arrival, but shoppers noted that it will take 20 minutes or less. Therefore, you can have this gorgeous Drew Barrymore sofa in your living room in as little as a week. Score it while it's $200 off at Walmart!
Related: Pyrex’s ‘Nostalgic’ Glass Baking Essential Has Over 1,600 5-Star Reviews, and It’s Just $6
Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.
1974 Hit, Written About Chicago by 2 Men Who’d Never Been There, Hit No. 1 52 Years Ago Today
One of the most memorable story songs of the 1970s reached the top of the charts 52 years ago today, despite getting some rather important details about its subject spectacularly wrong.
Paper Lace's "The Night Chicago Died" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week ending Aug. 17, 1974. Written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander, the song tells the dramatic tale of a bloody showdown between Chicago police and gangsters working for mob boss Al Capone.
There was just one rather large problem: the battle never happened. And the two British songwriters had never even been to Chicago.
"The Night Chicago Died" depicts a massive gun battle between Capone's men and Chicago police, with the narrator anxiously awaiting word about his policeman father. While the song was inspired by Chicago's Prohibition-era gangster history, there was never a confrontation resembling the one described in the lyrics.
Murray and Callander later acknowledged that they had never visited Chicago when they wrote the song and that much of what they knew about the city and the era came from gangster movies.
That might help explain one of the song's most notorious details: its reference to the "East Side of Chicago." While Chicago does have a neighborhood called East Side on the city's Far South Side, the city isn't conventionally divided into an East Side in the way the song suggests. Lake Michigan sits directly east of downtown.
In "Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs," Barry's readers voted "The Night Chicago Died" among the selections that inspired particularly strong reactions, writing that the song "still arouses great hostility" for both its music and lyrics.
As one reader wrote, "There IS no east side of Chicago; just awfully, awfully big lake. Daddy would've needed scuba gear to walk the beat."
In "The Billboard Book of Number One Hits," author Fred Bronson recounts Murray admitting that the pair's research was "a little bit slipshod." Murray also explained that the song wasn't written with American listeners in mind. It was recorded by Paper Lace, a Nottingham, England, group that had recently found success in its home country.
"The Night Chicago Died" wasn't even Paper Lace's first Murray-Callander story song. The band previously recorded "Billy Don't Be a Hero," which became a No. 1 hit in the U.K. Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods then recorded their own version and beat Paper Lace to the American market, taking the song to No. 1 in the U.S.
There was no such obstacle for Paper Lace's follow-up.
"The Night Chicago Died" became the band's lone Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, while also reaching No. 3 in the U.K., No. 2 in Canada and No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand.
Chicago itself wasn't exactly thrilled by its fictional musical bloodbath.
After Paper Lace's song became a hit, a copy was reportedly sent to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. According to accounts of the incident, the response from his office was considerably less than congratulatory.
The song's reputation hasn't necessarily improved with age.
Wayne Jancik was similarly amused by its relationship with reality in "The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders," writing that Paper Lace "rewrote a piece of history" with its account of the "mythical night."
"Their bubblegummy voices maintained that 100 officers died one mythical night in a big gun battle on Chicago's non-existent East Side. By evening's end, the forces of truth and justice triumph by either killing or arresting all the vermin, and the Windy City lived happily ever after," Jancik wrote.
More recently, Paste included "The Night Chicago Died" near the bottom of its ranking of 1974's No. 1 hits, placing it No. 28 out of 34, writing, "'The Night Chicago Died' is basically a novelty song but a good-sounding one, so that counts for something, I suppose. Chicago mayor Richard Daley hated the song, and one of his staffers allegedly said that Paper Lace should 'jump in the Chicago River, placing your heads under water three times and surfacing twice.'"
Yet none of that stopped Americans from buying the record. "The Night Chicago Died" earned a Gold certification in the U.S., and its bizarre combination of gangster mythology, historical invention and irresistible pop storytelling gave Paper Lace the biggest American hit of its career.
Fifty-two years later, it remains an unusual piece of chart history: two English songwriters who had never been to Chicago wrote a song about a Chicago battle that never happened, and Americans took it all the way to No. 1.
1974 Hard Rock Hit, One of Eddie Van Halen's Favorite Guitar Riffs of All Time, Is Every Bit as Powerful 52 Years Later
It goes without saying that Eddie Van Halen was responsible for some of the most iconic guitar riffs in rock history...but which hard rock heroes did he look up to?
Over the course of his career, Van Halen credited a number of guitarists with influencing his own sound, from Eric Clapton to Tony Iommi to Allan Holdsworth, per Rock and Roll Garage. Another pioneering axe man who made a huge impression on Van Halen, perhaps unsurprisingly, was Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore.
As Van Halen explained in an interview with Billboard magazine (per the BBC), it was Blackmore who came up with one of his favorite guitar riffs of all time: "Burn." The opening track from Deep Purple's 1974 album of the same name, "Burn" was co-written by Blackmore and lead singer David Coverdale.
The lyrics tell a very Deep Purple-esque, supernatural kind of story:
The sky is red, I don't understand
Past midnight I still see the land
People are sayin' the woman is damned
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand
The city's ablaze, the town's on fire
The woman's flames are reaching higher
We were fools, we called her liar
All I hear is "Burn!"
"I wrote about half a dozen sets of lyrics for this song — I was that keen!" Coverdale told Classic Rock magazine. "The final words to 'Burn' — and also the words to the 'Stormbringer' song for the next album, for idle curiosity — came about because I was just trying to please Ritchie [Blackmore], I guess. These lyrics aren’t the stuff I would normally write; I looked upon them as science-fiction poems."
In the same Classic Rock interview, bassist Glenn Hughes reflected on the unlikely song that inspired Blackmore to write "Burn" (allegedly).
"Blackmore came up with that classic rock riff, but there’s a lot of talk about it being ripped from something that was written in the forties," he said. "[George Gershwin’s] 'Fascinating Rhythm,' wasn’t it? I think it could be from that. Every artist borrows from other artists — but this is a classic example of where Ritchie may have taken something from the forties or fifties." ("Fascinating Rhyhm" was actually written by Gershwin in 1924.)
Drummer Ian Paice called "Burn" a "pretty well-played track."
"It’s got a rapid pace about it," Paice explained. "I’ve always said that playing fast is a lot easier than playing slow, because if you play something fast and you screw up, nobody really hears it. But if you play slow and you screw something up, then everybody hears it."
Over half a decade later, "Burn" remains one of the most beloved Deep Purple tracks ever, and the track's influence is well-documented. As Tom Taylor of Far Out recently wrote, "Burn" is part of the reason why Van Halen's guitar playing "sounded so unfathomable."
"When he was riffing away in Van Halen, his most notable characteristic was stunning speed," Taylor pointed out. "Similar quick-fire aptitude is displayed by Ritchie Blackmore here, but it is all essentially a two-finger idea. That allows for incredible efficiency across the fret. If you’re aiming for the 196BPM [beats per minute] that Blackmore achieves with this blistering banger, then you’d better know a few shortcuts."
Related: 1968 Classic, Recorded in Two Takes, Turned a Country Song Into a Timeless Hard Rock Anthem
1987 WrestleMania Match Featuring an Iconic Bodyslam Was Hulk Hogan’s Best
When Hulk Hogan faced Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III in 1987, it not only became one of the most iconic matches in wrestling history, it set the tone for how future WWE bouts would be presented. A new ranking of Hulk Hogan’s wrestling matches names the 1987 contest, which featured one of the most famous bodyslams in the sport’s history, his best of all time. Rewatching the match, it’s hard to imagine anything better.
The Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant WrestleMania III match had everything the growing WWE audience wanted: two enormous personalities, a massive championship, a personal rivalry and a seemingly impossible challenge for the hero at the center of Hulkamania.
Muscle & Fitness names the legendary ’80s bout Hogan’s best of all time, writing:
“Why is it so great? While the 7’4” giant was past his peak, he still more than delivered, owning his role as the intimidating, seemingly unstoppable force that would surely derail Hulkamania. In the end, however, The Hulkster didn’t just pin his bigger foe, he also executed the most famous bodyslam in history and set the standard for how WrestleMania main events should be presented to the mat-loving masses.”
Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant Was the Ultimate 1980s Rivalry @wwe_highlights06Hulk Hogan iconic body slam to Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III #wwe #wrestlemania #hulkhogan #andrethegiant #wwetiktok #wrestling #fyp
♬ son original - 💪Catch💪Billed at 7’4” and more than 500 pounds, Andre the Giant was more a mythical figure in professional wrestling than a human. Hogan, meanwhile, had become the larger-than-life face of WWE. Putting the two together created an immediate physical contrast: the unstoppable giant against the superstar who had become synonymous with WWE’s expanding popularity.
The match also had the kind of buildup that made wrestling feel like can’t-miss television. Once portrayed as Hogan’s friend, Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan felt personal rather than solely like a professional competition.
With enormous buildup before the match, the two athletes delivered, and more. The defining moment came when Hogan lifted Andre and delivered the infamous bodyslam heard around the world.
The Bodyslam That Became Wrestling HistoryIt wasn’t just Hogan’s bold move that made this one of the defining moments in wrestling history. It was the visual of the larger-than-life giant being humbled to the ground by the new face of the sport.
Hogan went on to defeat Andre, cementing his place as the heroic centerpiece of WWE at the height of Hulkamania.
How WrestleMania III Changed WWE @onthisdayinwweAn emotional Hulk Hogan talks about the death of Andre the Giant on Saturday Night: “When Andre was buried, I felt part of me was buried with him” And he seems to confirm the rumours that the Eighth Wonder of the World has a son... This would be The Giant - later known in WWE as The Big Show Originally, Paul Wight was going to be known as Andre The Giant Jr, seeking revenge on Hogan for his father's loss at WrestleMania 3 A few years ago, Wight explained to T95: The Rock Station: “That’s how they did things back in the day "When you get introduced, you’ve got to have some kind of legacy and validity of who they are. And that was one of the ways they did it "Arn Anderson wasn’t really Ole Anderson’s nephew — stuff like that" Last week, Andre's daughter posted on Instagram about Hulk's passing: "Hulk Hogan and André the Giant helped define an entire era of professional wrestling "From their iconic showdown at WrestleMania III to the moments that followed, their story was one of the greatest sporting events of all time "On behalf of André’s family and those who knew him best, we send our love and gratitude to Hulk Hogan— for the memories, the moments, and the legacy they built together "Two icons. Forever connected" 📺YouTube/KrisZ891979 #OnThisDayInWWE
♬ original sound - OnThisDayInWWEAfter WrestleMania III, the sport would never be the same. The match demonstrated how effectively WWE could turn a wrestling match into an entertainment spectacle.
Though the number has been contested, the reported attendance of 93,173 at the Pontiac Silverdome became part of the mythology surrounding the event. While the actual number was debatable, the scale of the event was undisputed.
WrestleMania III showed that WWE’s biggest matches should feel like cultural events. The wrestlers weren’t just competing in the ring; they were creating storylines and defining moments designed to be remembered.
The Hogan-Andre matchup became the blueprint for future WWE main events: the perfect combination of an unmistakable hero, an enormous villain, a personal backstory, a massive audience and a visual moment never to be forgotten.
Why Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant Are Still RememberedDecades later, the match remains one of the defining memories of 1980s wrestling. Fans could become a part of the spectacle without any knowledge of the sport, making it one of the most accessible and talked-about events of the 1980s.
Over 40 years later, it’s now been named Hulk Hogan’s best.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Wednesday, August 12, 2026
To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, brush up on women’s basketball, Greek mythology, Hawaiian greetings, modern slang, bird behavior, baseball legends, common expressions, mythical creatures and abbreviations, among other things.
Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!
Although the NYT is known for "The Crossword," a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you're working on today's Mini Crossword on Wednesday, August 12, and need some help (I've been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both "Across" and "Down" words, followed by "Across Answers" and "Down Answers," so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!
Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Wednesday, August 12, 2026Here are additional clues for each of the words in today's Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints1 Across: Caitlin Clark's league, for short — HINT: Starts with the letter "W"
5 Across: Odysseus's hiding places when entering the city of Troy —HINT: Ends with the letter "E"
7 Across: Hawaiian "hi" — HINT: Starts with the letter "A"
8 Across: Personal opinions, in modern parlance — HINT: Starts with the letter "T"
9 Across: Where a nuthatch hatches — HINT: Ends with the letter "T"
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints1 Down: "Come again?" — HINT: Starts with the letter "W"
2 Down: Hall-of-Fame pitcher ___— HINT: Ends with the letter "N"
3 Down: Unloaded? — HINT: Starts with the letter "B"
4 Down: What a phoenix rises from — HINT: Ends with the letter "S"
6 Down: The "E" of NE — HINT: Ends with the letter "T"
Don't go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today's Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: Caitlin Clark's league, for short — WNBA
5 Across: Odysseus's hiding places when entering the city of Troy —HORSE
7 Across: Hawaiian "hi" — ALOHA
8 Across: Personal opinions, in modern parlance — TAKES
9 Across: Where a nuthatch hatches — NEST
1 Down: "Come again?" — WHAT
2 Down: Hall-of-Fame pitcher ___— NOLAN
3 Down: Unloaded? — BROKE
4 Down: What a phoenix rises from — ASHES
6 Down: The "E" of NE — EAST
Related: NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Liz Claiborne's $11 Ribbed Henley Tee Is So 'Flattering,’ One Shopper Bought 5 Colors
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Whether you are updating your workwear, adding to your weekend options, or looking for a reliable layering piece, a well-fitting, flattering shirt consistently delivers value and style for everyday wear. A good shirt that's simple, solid, and endlessly adaptable is a prized addition to any wardrobe.
The Liz Claiborne Short Sleeve Button Detail Henley Shirt is quickly becoming a top choice in the tee category. Available for $11 during JCPenney's Liz Claiborne flash sale (down from $34), it appeals to shoppers for its comfort, versatility, and affordability. Offered in ten colors and a full range of sizes, the Henley has earned repeat purchases and positive reviews from customers who appreciate its flattering fit and practicality. Make sure to apply the code LIZDEAL at checkout to lock in the lowest price.
Liz Claiborne Short Sleeve Button Detail Henley Shirt, From $11 (was $34) at JCPenney Shop at JCPenneyLiz Claiborne's take on the classic features a ribbed fabric that hugs in all the right places without clinging uncomfortably. The button-front detail adds a hint of polish, making it easy to dress up or down depending on the day's agenda.
This Henley shirt comes in sizes ranging from extra-small to XX-large, so shoppers of all shapes can find their match. The array of colors is equally impressive: choose from soft rose quartz, fresh green, timeless black, crisp white, and several other options. Many shoppers have returned for another shade after trying it on for the first time.
"I love this top so much that I bought it in five colors," one shopper stated. "The top fits just right and is very flattering. It is long enough to cover my tummy and looks great with jeans and crops or the linen pants I found at JCPenney's."
Liz Claiborne Short Sleeve Button Detail Henley Shirt, From $11 (was $34) at JCPenney Shop at JCPenneyPair the bold blue with crisp white shorts for a classic summer look, or tuck a cabaret red tee into a denim skirt for brunch. The black and white versions provide endless styling potential, serving as the foundation for everything from casual streetwear to statement jackets. The layering potential makes this top especially great for late summer and early fall, when temperatures can quickly go from balmy to chilly.
The cut is what sets this shirt apart from standard T-shirts. It features elbow-length, fitted sleeves that offer a bit more coverage than cap sleeves, and a classic rounded neckline that complements the collarbone and frames the face. At 24 inches in length, it hits right at the hip for most, offering enough coverage to pair with jeans, trousers, or skirts.
"[I] bought this in navy and bold blue and love them both," another shopper said. "The sleeves are a much more flattering length than traditional short sleeves, and the thin vertical ribbing makes the tops a little dressier than basic tees."
The tee's fabric is a blend of 68% polyester, 29% rayon, and 3% spandex, delivering just the right amount of stretch. The ribbed texture helps the shirt maintain its shape wear after wear, while still feeling soft and breathable against the skin.
Shop More Deals- Liz Claiborne 50th Anniversary Drop Earrings, $6 (were $18) at JCPenney
- Liz Claiborne Danni North/South Crossbody Bag, $25 (was $55) at JCPenney
- Liz Claiborne Reconstituted 28-Inch Turquoise Pendant Necklace, $13 (was $36) at JCPenney
In a world where shoppers are looking for pieces that offer more than just a fleeting trend, the $11 Liz Claiborne tee delivers on both style and substance. With the flash sale in effect through August 12, now is the perfect time to find out why so many shoppers are building a rainbow of Henleys in their closets.
Don't miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team's curated selection of discounts and sales twice a week.
1974 Rock Hit, Hated by Randy Bachman's 1st Band, Was a 'Gift From the Songwriting Gods'
As just about anyone who's ever listened to classic rock radio can tell you, "Takin' Care of Business" was a definitely one of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's biggest hits. But according to Randy Bachman, he actually started writing the tune back when he was with the Guess Who...and his fellow band members weren't exactly enthusiastic about it.
In a new interview with Guitar Player, Bachman called "Takin' Care of Business" his "gift from the songwriting gods."
“That took me six or seven years to write,” he explained. “I started it about ’67 at Scepter Studios in New York, where the Guess Who were recording.”
"I was trying to write a song like the Beatles’ ‘Paperback Writer’ — a day in the life of a guy — rather than write a love song," Bachman continued. "In fact, I was actually writing about Stanley Greenberg, who was the son of Florence Greenberg, who owned Scepter Records. She managed the Shirelles and Dionne Warwick, and she wrote ’Soldier Boy.’"
According to Bachman, Stanley, who was the engineer, was also blind.
"And every day coming to work, he would wear a white button-down shirt, a tweed tie, tweed jacket, tweed pants and brogue shoes," Bachman recalled. "And this is in August in New York, when it’s 95 above and 95 humidity! We’re wearing ripped shirts, cut-off pants, ripped jeans and clogs, and he’s coming to work in a suit. We’d ask, ‘Stanley, why are you dressed this way? It’s so hot out there!’ He’d say, ‘I want to look like George Martin. I know this is what he wears.’"
Stanley inspired Bachman to write a song called "White Collar Man," because "he wore that white button-down shirt every day.” The engineer's description of his usual morning routine (alarm clock, train, working his "slavin' job") was worked into the lyrics: "I thought, Great! There’s a song!"
Before "White Collar Man" turned into "Takin' Care of Business," it sounded quite a bit different.
“Originally, when we got to the hook, the song stopped and we sang, ‘White Collar Man,’ the same as [sings] ‘Paperback Writer,'" Bachman said. "I played it for Burton Cummings [Guesss Who singer/keyboardist] who hated it. He said, ‘The verses are great — but "White Collar Man?" Gag me with a drumstick! I’m never gonna do this song. We’ll get sued by Lennon and McCartney. Let me change the hook.’ I said, ‘No, it’s my song. I’ll find the hook!"
The Guess Who never recorded "White Collar Man," which turned out to be a lucky thing a few years later for Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
“I’m driving to a gig one night,” Bachman said, "and this DJ on the radio, who I knew very well, says, ‘This is Daryl B on CFUN radio, takin’ care of business!’ I thought, What a song title!”
Once at the gig, Bachman learned that lead singer C.F. Turner had lost his voice and it was up to him to sing the last set. Because Bachman wasn't generally a singer, his repertoire was somewhat limited, and he wasn't sure what to play.
“And then a little light went on in my head,” he said. “I thought, This is your big chance for ‘White Collar Man!’ Put it together with the ‘takin’ care of business’ line you just heard on the radio. The band can’t say no — they are your hostage. I said to them, ‘Just play these three chords and follow me!’ And I started singing, ‘You get up every morning the alarm clock’s warning...’ And when I got to the hook, I started singing, ‘Takin’ Care of Business.’”
The band started singing along by the next chorus, so Bachman answered them with "Every day!" and "Every way!"
“And then — boom — it hit me: This is a classic!” Bachman said.
He was right, of course. "Takin' Care of Business" was released as a single from Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, in January 1974, eventually peaking at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August and spending 20 weeks on the chart overall.
1967 Motown Song, Written by Smokey Robinson, Launched a Young Band’s Career
Before The Beat had a hit of their own, they were hooked on a Motown classic. “Tears of a Clown,” first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1967, was one of the songs the young Birmingham band loved to play in rehearsal. Eventually, it became their breakthrough single.
Written by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Henry Cosby, “Tears of a Clown” appeared on the Miracles’ 1967 album Make It Happen. It was released as a single in 1970 and reached No. 1 on both the U.K. Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Nearly a decade later, The Beat put their own spin on the song, transforming the soul record into a ska-infused 2 Tone hit.
The Beat formed in Birmingham in late 1978 around singer-guitarist Dave Wakeling, guitarist Andy Cox, bassist David Steele and drummer Everett Morton. The young group drew from punk, reggae, ska and New Wave as they worked to develop their sound.
They played their first show on March 31, 1979, at the Mattador Club, opening for the Dum Dum Boyz. Their teenage frontman, Ranking Roger, was impressed by what he heard and soon signed on as a co-singer and toaster.
Early on, though, the band sometimes had trouble keeping their own songs on track. In rehearsal, the musicians could head off in different directions and lose the groove. Morton suggested they try a song everyone already knew and could play together.
They settled on “Tears of a Clown.” Wakeling later explained that the song gave them something to come back to, so they’d play it between their own material.
“We'd play ‘Tears Of A Clown,’ then we'd play ‘Mirror in the Bathroom,’ then we'd play ‘Tears Of A Clown,’” he recalled to Songacts. “We'd practiced that song more than any of the others because it was our magnet, our training model for all the other tunes.”
As The Beat began playing more shows, “Tears of a Clown” became a regular part of their set. The band took virtually any gig they could get, playing punk and reggae shows as well as pubs and working men's clubs.
The Motown cover was always a hit with crowds. “Sometimes the punky songs went well, sometimes the reggae songs went well,” Wakeling recalled. “But everywhere we went, every time, ‘Tears Of A Clown’ always went down fantastic.”
The Beat's growing reputation caught the attention of Jerry Dammers of The Specials and the emerging 2 Tone movement.
When The Beat had the opportunity to release their first single, they wanted to use “Mirror in the Bathroom,” one of their own songs. However, things got complicated by the band’s contract.
Rather than compromise on the song, the band chose the track they already knew worked with audiences. “We said, ‘We'll do ‘Tears Of A Clown’ then,’” Wakeling recalled. “Because that always goes down great.”
The Beat released “Tears of a Clown” as their debut single on 2 Tone Records in November 1979. The song caught on pretty quickly, making the U.K. Singles Chart in December and climbing all the way to No. 6.
The song became a Christmas party and jukebox favorite. Just months after their first gig, The Beat were on Top of the Pops. “Whether it was a Factory mess hall, grannies with kids around their knees, or a bunch of punks, ‘Tears Of A Clown’ always brought the house down,” Wakeling told Quietus.
The success gave The Beat the push they needed to focus on their own songwriting. Their follow-up, “Hands Off...She's Mine,” came out in February 1980. It reached No. 9 in the U.K. and topped the charts in Ireland.
Related: 1961 Pop Hit Launched 14-Year-Old Helen Shapiro’s Singing Career
‘The Challenge’ Star Reilly Smedley Reveals the Misunderstood Rule That Sent Her Home (Exclusive)
The Challenge Season 42 is here! Throughout the season, Parade.com will speak with the challengers who were eliminated from Cutthroat.
Reilly Smedley was eager not to let history repeat itself. After a solid start three years ago on Big Brother, her game quickly petered out, leading to her becoming the second boot. Getting another shot at reality TV, she was eager to prove herself and make up for all those sleepless nights of wondering "what if?"
Unfortunately, Reilly would continue to feel blue about her prospects when she was put on the blue team, a hodgepodge of rookies and contentious vets. When the first women's elimination came around, she was easily thrown in, feeling her team was seeing her as "disposable." But, for what it's worth, she was proving her mettle in the sand, outpacing fellow rookie Deb Chubb for most of the cardio/puzzle challenge. But, yet again, her prospects of making it far rolled away like an errant colored ball. Deb came from behind to sneak out a victory, and Reilly, yet again, finished as a second boot.
Read on for our full interview with Reilly. New episodes of The Challenge: Cutthroat drop Wednesdays on Paramount+.
Related: 'The Challenge’ Star Nelson Thomas Speaks Out on Historic Return After Amputation: ‘This Comeback is Everything’ (Exclusive)
We need to start with the elimination. It seemed like you were ahead for most of the challenge. But then, for whatever reason, Deb came from behind to win. I know that there was talk about your team and other people giving you advice about where to go. So what exactly happened?
So, other than blacking out during that entire elimination, it is so much more intense than people realize. You're sitting on your couch and you're watching. You're like, "Oh, I would have done that and that." When you're in there, it is war. And also on top of that, it's one of those ones where your team has a better view of this puzzle than you, and they can kind of calculate the moves you're supposed to make from a bird's-eye view. So it's one of those ones where you can lean on your team. Like Cara said in the episode, you're kind of the motor, and they're the voice of reason.
So I'm listening to them. I am busting my ass, Mike. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I'm like, "I'm gonna throw up." But honestly, Deb was absolutely killing it. Props to Deb for pulling out the win. But I think I did have the lead most of the time. I don't know if the episode really showed that enough, but I did feel like I was really ahead. I felt like I was getting somewhere. I felt the win. You know, I felt myself being able to pull it out. But there was one move where I moved a purple ball into a blue lane, which created 20 more steps for me when I could have done something else. It was nobody's fault. I should have recognized that on my own. But we're in the heat of the moment. I am exhausted mentally, physically.
So I didn't realize that was the wrong move because I was just being told what to do at that point. And it's my fault for obviously not doing it myself. But when you're in the moment and people are telling you what to do and they're confident, I'm like, "Okay, I'm gonna follow that because they can see it better than me." So it ended up being you know a huge mistake, and I think that's what cost me the win.
On top of that, the black ball! Oh, I'll never live it down. When we were doing instructions, I was like, "Okay, I'm just clarifying with everyone every step we make, every move we make, everything goes from the top right?" And I swear on my life, they said, "From the top." Maybe I was just nervous and not thinking. But I didn't know you could go down the stairs and put the black ball on the bottom of anyone's row. So that's I think those two moves completely messed me up. Because Deb had already given the black ball to me, so if I had known the rule and gone under one of her stacks, I would have won. But congrats to Deb. It was a tough one. It was so hard. Oh my god, I love her.
Let's talk about what got you into that elimination in the first place. Your team was entirely disqualified from the daily because of making noise. Talk me through all the fallout that happened as you all were trying to figure out who to blame.
I mean, again, the episodes are so edited that you don't see the three hours of us sitting there waiting in the lobby for us to go on our turn. I mean, I felt terrible for Cara. I feel horrible that she's getting this flack because I love Cara. And I know what it feels like to have a full-blown panic attack. I saw her. She was not faking that. And that's why we were sitting there with her encouraging her, like, "Come on, you can do it! You're a superhero. It's gonna be okay." But no one understands how panic feels until you're in that position. So I felt terrible for Cara. But I think that was just one of those things out of my control.
On top of that, Keanu was sick, Anna Leigh was sick. A lot of people actually were sick. And I think that's just being in another country, different food, different air, different everything. We're exhausted; none of us are sleeping. We're completely deprived of normal life. We're under duress. The pressure's on for our team; we already lost Cedric. We obviously are not the strongest team by a landslide. I mean, Jesus! My God, it sucked.
I think in the moment, I was trying so hard because I have a freak memory. I might not have the biggest biceps in the room, but I have a freak memory. I'm a bartender. I'm one of those people that will remember something from 2004, okay? I was telling my team during that entire preparation, "I have such a good memory. I remember. I'll remember everything. I'll go twice if we have to because we're down a person. I don't care. I'll do it." And I'm not afraid of heights. I'm not afraid of anything. I will jump out of a plane; I have [before .] And so I was like, "This one's ours to win. I got this for us. I'm gonna do whatever I can to help us win." And when we got up there, and I heard "DQ'd," I'm like, "F—k! This is actually the one that I could have really helped us out. And I didn't do anything."
So when we're sitting there and there's about to be a fist fight with Nelly and Brad, they're looking at me like I did it. I'm like, "No, I am the first person who's probably gonna go into that arena if we lose this. So there is no chance on earth I am gonna lose this for us." And they were looking at me. I think everyone was just in a panic and pissed off and embarrassed, and I get that. But the accusation was so crazy. I just had to wait till the episode started for people to realize I didn't open my mouth. I didn't even breathe, I wanted that so bad. You guys also didn't see after I was crying with my sunglasses on on the bus. I'm like, "F—k this. I literally had this one." That was really frustrating.
At one point, Keanu says that he wanted to try to protect you and Anna Leigh from you going into elimination. Who were you working with by the time you left the game?
I mean, it's hard. So the difference between Big Brother and The Challenge is that for the most part, Big Brother is mainly a group of people who have never met each other before and never done this experience before, so you can make your own alliances and you're coming into it fresh like everybody else. The Challenge, these people have been there for 1000 years and they've been doing it together forever. They've seen each other get married and they all have kids. It's so different socially and that has a major impact. I mean, you saw Cara's best friends were on Orange, so those are the people she leaned on.
When I walked in, I knew I wanted to work with Cedric. I love Cedric. He's the best. I'm so sad about his elimination. It sucks he had to go out early, but like I was mainly gonna lean on Cedric. I was gonna lean on Anna Leigh because I had met her before, and Keanu. Those are the people that I knew the most obviously. Of course I wanted to go in and make my own connections and I think I did. Honestly that was another reason I was so sad to get eliminated early, because I really loved the cast. I loved all the vets. There's not one person I didn't love; I really wish I had more time with them. It's like your first day at summer camp, you're gonna lean on people that you have some sort of bond or connection with, some sort of similarity with. And that was predominantly Keanu, Anna Leigh, and Cedric. So I mean, it was nice to have someone on another team who was looking out for me.
In honor of the infamous "S—t They Should Have Shown" episode of the old-school days of The Challenge, what's one moment from your time on the show that you wish you had made the edit?
I mean, there's so many moments. With so much happening, you can't include everything. But I kind of got the loser edit! I just looked like I didn't talk to anybody. I looked like I didn't speak. In my Big Brother experience, I was first HoH and made this huge onion alliance, and it was just a f—king mess. And I didn't want to do that when I got to The Challenge. I wanted to socialize. I wanted to be friends.
None of my conversations with anyone are really shown in there. And it sucks because I do think I was doing well socially. I had other people from other teams telling me how well I was doing socially, and I do think that that would have saved me if the if the nomination setup was different. Because I do think that I at least began to do really well, connecting with other people as opposed to just my own team and just my own alliance. So it sucks.
I do wish that more of my personality was shown. I wish that more of my conversations were shown because I really thought I was off to a good start. It just sucks how it all kind of happened in the vote situation. I wish more of my physical capabilities were shown. I wish that I was there longer to show that I'm not physically incapable. I am a very strong, determined person. And I don't know what the second boot fricking curse is, but I'm tired of it! I want another chance. I want another chance to go back there and rewrite the narrative because I know what I can do. I have to sit with this one too, and it sucks. So I wish I got to show more of me.
You spoke about the trauma you experienced after Big Brother, saying you haven't slept right since, knowing you could do better. How are you leaving this experience?
So when I left, we do our confessionals after it's already over. So I was doing that at 1:00 A.M. I was disheveled. I had been bawling my eyes out. I looked like a crazy person in this interview. I had barely a half hour after that. I was covered in sweat. I had blood on my arm. I was covered in dirt. I was so defeated in that interview and so exhausted. When I left, I was like, "Not again. This cannot be my fricking story. I cannot be the professional second boot." It's kind of funny, but it's not. It's embarrassing because I know how good I can be, and I know how badly I want it.
And for it to happen again, when I was so close. I'm telling you, it was so close to working. I was I went into that elimination so locked and so focused. I was nervous and I was scared. But I knew, I was like, "I have to win this. I have to rewrite the story."
So I think I'm handling it better than I did my Big Brother one because that was my first experience and it was such an intense experience. This time around, I'm just hungry for more. I really am. I'm hungry to go back and get another chance. I'm gonna freaking get my ass in the gym. I'm gonna be curling the dumbbells. I'm gonna be training. It's so hard to train for something like this. But now I know what I need to do, and it's a learning lesson.
It's not one of those things where I'm gonna sit in a pile of my own tears and drool and like feel bad for myself. It's one of those things where I hope that they saw enough of me to let me back in there and f—king do it right. I wasn't in the right mental or physical place when I was there. I was going through stuff at home, which I don't really need to harp on, but I just wasn't in the right place for it. And now I just see what it could be and I see what I missed out on. I want to change. I want to rewrite the narrative. So I, I have a better mindset about it now. I'm motivated. I'm angry. I want to go back.
1995 Silverchair Rock Song, Written by 15-Year-Olds, Is Still a Powerful Hit 31 Years Later
When Silverchair burst onto the international rock scene in the mid-1990s, many listeners focused on one thing: the band's age.
But the Australian trio quickly proved it was far more than a group of talented teenagers. One of the clearest examples was "Pure Massacre," a powerful anti-war song the members wrote when they were just 15 years old. Released in 1995, the track remains one of Silverchair's most enduring recordings more than three decades later.
The song showcased an unexpected level of maturity.
Written by Daniel Johns and Ben Gillies while they were still in high school, "Pure Massacre" tackled the devastating human cost of war rather than the personal themes many expected from musicians their age. Its thoughtful lyrics and haunting melody demonstrated that Silverchair possessed songwriting ambitions well beyond the grunge sound with which they were often associated.
The recording became an early standout.
Appearing on the band's debut album, Frogstomp, "Pure Massacre" was released as the record's second single. Built around heavy guitar riffs, dynamic shifts and Johns' emotionally charged vocal performance, the song further established Silverchair as one of the most exciting new rock acts to emerge from Australia.
"At that point, we were doing music because we just love the sounds and music we were making, and we were having a ball doing it," Gillies told Artist Waves. "We were just making these songs and we didn’t have any preconceptions about what the band was going to do. I remember going to Dan's house when were young and we'd talk about being the biggest band in the world. We were definitely ambitious, there's no doubt. But when you are 13 and 14 years-old, you don’t actually think that stuff is going to happen."
Its success helped cement the band's remarkable breakthrough.
Frogstomp was a hit in Australia went on to achieve international success, while "Pure Massacre" became one of the album's signature tracks. Alongside hits such as "Tomorrow" and "Israel's Son," it introduced audiences to a band whose songwriting depth belied its members' youth.
"It sounds exactly like we sounded," Johns told Diffuser in 2015. "There was no big American producer calling the shots behind the desk and telling us to do this, this and this. It was literally this guy, Kevin Shirley, who was a great producer, just saying, “I want it to sound like you guys, but I want it to sound really [expletive] loud and I want the guitars really [expletive] loud.” So to me, I was like, [expletive] yeah! The songwriting might not be genius, but I think sonically, the performances are really good. It’s really honest; it’s just three Australian kids thrashing it out in the studio and that's exactly how it sounds.
The song has continued to resonate with fans over the years.
Although Silverchair would later expand its sound through increasingly ambitious albums, "Pure Massacre" remains a staple of the band's legacy. Its anti-war message, combined with its powerful musical arrangement, has helped the song retain its emotional impact for successive generations of listeners.
Thirty-one years after its release, "Pure Massacre" continues to stand as one of Silverchair's defining achievements. Written by three teenagers who were only beginning their musical journey, the 1995 rocker remains a powerful reminder that great songwriting isn't measured by age, but by the ability to connect with people long after the music is first heard.
Related: 1966 Rock Song, With 17-Year-Old Singer of the Spencer Davis Group, Became a No. 1 Hit
Trump Family Pic From Bedminster Golf Tournament Sparks Backlash Amid AI-Editing Accusations
Eric Trump posted a series of family pics on Instagram following the LIV Golf New York tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster over the weekend. And while Trump family fans applauded the photos, critics had a few comments of their own.
Donald Trump’s son shared two posts on Instagram earlier this week, both with several snapshots from the golf tournament—including photos of the players, his wife (Lara Trump), his children (eight-year-old Eric “Luke” Trump and six-year-old Carolina Trump), and the President.
Why did critics slam Trump’s golf tournament photos from Bedminster?Eagle-eyed critics noticed a few out-of-place images in the pics. Most notably, what seemed to be a foot behind Luke’s head. And that led to an AI accusation.
View this post on Instagram“Pic 3 is AI generated! There’s even a fifth foot behind the kids,” wrote one commenter, while another added, “Nice try with the AI photo of your dad and the kids. There’s a foot behind the boy and the whole left side is messed up.”
The backlash continued on a second post, which also included the same questionable image. “The pic with the kids is AI,” noted one commenter. Others wrote, “What in the AI-slop he** is that second picture?” and “Needing to make AI pictures of your father with your children is so, so sad.”
View this post on InstagramTrump (Eric, that is) did not respond to the AI accusations or reply to the comments.
While critics continued to pick apart Eric’s allegedly doctored photos, no one mentioned AI images on his wife’s post from the same day. Lara also shared a carousel of the kiddos, her father-in-law, and the family’s “Last weekend of the summer.” She even included a second version of the photo in question.
Like her husband’s pic, Lara’s slightly closer-up shot also has a noticeable object behind her son's ear. But it doesn’t look like her followers (or anyone else who happened to see the post) cared. Even though there were anti-Trump comments about her carousel, the criticism focused on her FIL and not her photos.
View this post on InstagramLara’s potential AI flub may have flown under the radar this time, but her World Cup photo fail did not. The mom-of-two was busted using an editing app and actually admitted the guffaw. She added the pic on her Instagram Stories, writing, “When AI takes over…the app I used to fit this in the frame changed my nails and made Carolina’s straw SOOO long.”
1967 Rock Song by The Action, Lost for Nearly 3 Decades, Became a Movie Soundtrack Hit
When psychedelic rock fans hear “Brain” by The Action, they instantly love it. A cult masterpiece mentioned in the same breath as The Zombies' "Changes" and The Byrds' "Eight Miles High," the late-'60s British freakbeat classic is a no-brainer for great needle drops.
So, it’s wild to think the song was shelved for 28 years.
One of the most famous “what if” stories of the 1960s British music scene, “Brain” is the unfortunate tale of a legendary band evolving behind closed doors but unable to share their music with the world because of bad industry timing and shifting musical goals.
According to Pitchfork, The Action—consisting of vocalist Reg King, guitarists Alan King and Pete Watson (later replaced by Martin Stone), bassist Mike Evans, and drummer Roger Powell—were heroes of the underground Mod scene in London at the time. Famous for selling out clubs, they were signed by Beatles producer George Martin, but despite critical acclaim, they couldn’t land a chart hit.
So, they went with plan B.
They expanded their lineup to include multi-instrumentalist Ian Whiteman. And in late 1967 and early 1968, they hunkered down in IBC Studios to record a load of raw material. It’s during these sessions that “Brain” was born.
Related: 1967 Rock Hit Featured in a Manson-Inspired Movie Ranked Greatest Needle Drop Ever
"The highlight of the compilation … is the transcendent, rock-splendor of 'Brain,'" Pitchfork wrote. "Reg King shouts, barely able to contain himself, 'Take your brain / It's time to go / You don't have long to go!' over a wah-wah fueled pound that would make Thunderclap Newman proud. … 'Brain' alone dwarfs most neo-psych bands entire catalogs. Classic."
The track, an experimental psychedelic groove elevated by swirling guitars, jazzy drums, and powerhouse vocals, became part of the demo the band used to secure an album deal. But they kept getting the door shut in their faces again and again, with labels repeatedly passing.
That struggle eventually led to the band’s fracturing, with King pursuing a solo career and the others rebranding as Azoth and later Mighty Baby. This confluence of events resulted in the abandonment of the master tapes, completely lost to the nature of the beast.
That is, until 1995, when indie archival label Dig The Fuzz Records dug up the demo and released it to the public on a limited-run vinyl EP, appropriately titled Brain (The Lost Recordings 1967/68). A few years later, Rolled Gold, the full set of demos remastered under the intended title, followed.
When music fans and experts finally heard “Brain,” they were stunned. The general consensus is that if “Brain” and the rest of the tracks had been finished in time and released back in the '60s, they’d be universally celebrated and given the same respect as The Zombies, The Byrds, and The Small Faces.
In the ’90s, the song bypassed mainstream charts and became a cult favorite with underground groups, mod revivalists, and psychedelic collectors. Over the years, however, the track found an unlikely second life, as a favorite for movie soundtracks, no less.
The first time the song appears on the big screen is in 2009's Observe & Report, a dark comedy written and directed by Jody Hill, and starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, and Ray Liotta. Considered a sleeper hit, the film follows an increasingly unhinged mall security guard on a mission to bring a flasher terrorizing the shopping center to justice. The Action’s menacing psychedelic groove feels almost tailor-made for the movie’s bleak comic world.
Fast-forward 17 years, and “Brain” is back on the big screen.
The song closes Tony, A24’s new film about a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain, played by Dominic Sessa, during the formative summer he spent working in a Provincetown restaurant. Directed by Matt Johnson, the movie isn’t a traditional biopic; rather, it’s a fictionalized coming-of-age story about a guy who would become one of America’s most recognizable culinary voices.
And again, the song choice is perfection.
As the film comes to a close, King’s voice rises over the music, repeating the lyrics, "Remember me, remember me,” making for both a reflective closure to a film about a figure who will always be remembered and also an eerie cry from a band who spent years trying to get people to listen. Maybe, they finally will.
Related: 1966 Love Song, Made Famous by Judy Collins, Launched a Future Rock Legend’s Career
1991 Rock Ballad, 8 Years in the Making by Guns N’ Roses, Is Still a Masterpiece 35 Years Later
Over three decades after it first came out, the impactful Guns N' Roses ballad called "November Rain" is still a true rock masterpiece.
The song might've missed the top spot on music charts, but it made its mark on the world of classic rock music. It was released on the album Use Your Illusion I in 1991 before it came out as a single the next year.
But it took a long time for the song to come together. Written by Axl Rose, he first started the song a couple of years before Guns N' Roses was even formed. In an old interview with Spin magazine, Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns, who helped form Guns N' Roses in the 1980s, talked about how the song was first started.
He said, "I remember, when we were doing that EP for L.A. Guns, like '83? He was playing 'November Rain' -- and it was called 'November Rain' … you know, on piano ... It was the only thing he knew how to play."
Guns noted how confident Rose was in the song's potential, adding that he would say, "Someday this song is gonna be really cool." Rose would apparently play the song on the piano wherever they went when he had a moment. Guns would always ask him when he would finish it.
Related: ’60s Music Legend, Nicknamed "The Madman Flautist," Turns 79
At the time, Rose wasn't sure about what direction to go with "November Rain," but eventually, it all came together. By 1986, about a year after Guns N' Roses was formed, the band had an 18-minute demo of the song done. Over the next few years, they worked it down to a runtime of about nine minutes, still including Slash's memorable guitar solo.
"November Rain" was finally officially released in 1991, and it was worth all the time and effort. The song was very successful, and after it was released as a single, it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3. Until Taylor Swift released her extended version of "All Too Well," it was the longest song to make it into the Top 10 on the U.S. music chart.
Related: 1999 Rock Song, 30 Years in the Making for Santana, Became a 12-Week No. 1 Hit
Walmart's 7-Piece Comforter Set Is 'Soft' and 'Beautiful' With Handy Side Pockets for Books, E-Readers, and More
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
If you've been looking for some new bedding to use through the end of summer and into fall, Walmart has a bestselling option on sale for up to 45% off right now. The Amberspace 7-Piece Comforter Set delivers a full bedding refresh in one neat package, and it has a clean, cozy quilted design that will complement any style of decor.
Right now, the queen-sized bedding is available at varying markdowns, depending on color: While the deep brown and olive green styles have the best discount at $50, down from $90, the beige and sage green shades are on sale for the lowest price at just $40, down from $60. You can also shop it in blue-gray, dark green, and deep purple, and it comes in full, oversized queen, king, California king, and oversized king sizes as well.
Amberspace 7-Piece Comforter Set, $40 (was $60) at Walmart Shop at WalmartThe sophisticated set comes with a comforter, a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, two pillowcases, and two pillow shams, providing an elegant, fully coordinated look that will add style to any room. Made of ultra-soft microfiber material, each piece is breathable, gentle against the skin, and smooth to the touch, offering a lightweight feel that's suitable for the end of summer yet cozy enough for the cooler fall months. The fabric is also Oeko-Tex certified, making it a safe and reliable option for everyday use.
The plush comforter has a pillowy, cloud-filled with a sleek quilted design that elevates any room, no matter whether your personal style leans trendy or traditionalist. The flat sheet has "convenient" hidden pockets on both sides that are ideal for storing remotes, magazines, and other items. Maintenance is also simple: The entire set is machine-washable, allowing for easy care.
The seven-piece comforter set has earned high praise from Walmart shoppers, with over 175 five-star ratings. Multiple reviewers praised the "soft" and "cozy" fabric, while others highlighted the "beautiful," rich color options. One buyer praised the secure fit, writing, "The sheets have deep pockets that go completely over the corners of the bed and actually stay on the bed."
Shop More Deals- IGI Full/Queen Comforter, $23 (was $37) at Walmart
- Sonive Washed Duvet Cover Set, $25 (was $39) at Walmart
- Emonia Cooling Comforter, $45 (was $89) at Walmart
If you're looking for a cute and comfy bedding set to refresh your room ahead of fall, this seven-piece comforter set is worth a closer look. It's versatile enough to use through multiple seasons, and it comes in a variety of pretty colors to suit anyone's home. Grab one while it's still on sale for up to 45% off at Walmart.
Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.
Andy Cohen Defends 'Real Housewives' MAGA Stars, Fans Fire Back
Bravo’s Andy Cohen just made headlines for defending the MAGA Real Housewives. But don’t mistake the Watch What Happens Live host’s statements as support for Donald Trump.
Over the weekend, Cohen hosted a Q&A on Threads. When one fan asked, “Why so many MAGA women? I can’t watch OC anymore because of them,” Cohen responded, “If we didn’t showcase people with different POV’s there would be no show. Also, it’s a show about the women and their relationships, not about politics.” So basically, it’s a reality show about wealthy women and not a pre-election debate.
Even though Andy provided a reasonable, impartial answer, some fans just weren’t having it. Cue the controversy.
TV personalities Kelly Dodd and Vicki Gunvalson. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)The original poster added, “I’m finding that I can no longer watch housewives interact and get joy from it when I know they’re MAGA and actively voting against my rights and those I love. Just like I can’t go to aKid Rock concert or buy a Cybertruck.” But don’t worry, the angsty answer wasn’t directed at Cohen. The commenter continued, “You’re awesome Andy! Thank you for bringing us so much joy over these many years!”
Other comments echoed the tone of the initial question, “Andy, MAGA personalities are not entertaining…What is the point of having diverse POV’s when those POV’s are extremely harmful?” and, “They definitely talk about politics Andy especially when Kelly was on the cast wearing MAGA hats.”
Of course, some of the commenters backed up Cohen: “Thank you Andy! 100 percent agree. The differences are interesting as their alikes. Please don’t change a thang!” and, “These shows are my escape from politics, which we all need with the way politics is mentally and emotionally abusing us these days. I’m sick and tired of being so angry and sad at the same time. The housewives and Bravo let me forget about that a couple times a week. I’m grateful for it!”
Which Real Housewives are MAGA supporters?As one of the commenters pointed out, ex-Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Kelly Dodd is an outspoken Trump supporter. But she’s not the only one. The OG of the OC, Vicki Gunvalson, and Gretchen Rossi have both expressed support for the President. Likewise, RHONY’sRamona Singer and RHONJ’sSiggy Flicker have also publicly appeared to back the Republican party/Trump.
Vicki Gunvalson and Andy Cohen. (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)While Andy may have given the MAGA housewives the benefit of the doubt, he’s far from conservative. In March, Cohen bashed the President while speaking about the administration on his SiriusXM show, ‘Radio Andy.’ Of course, that wasn’t the first time.
Back in 2016, Cohen revealed (on ‘Radio Andy’) that he stopped hosting the Trump Miss Universe pageant in 2013 after the host country, Russia, passed a law discriminating against the LGBTQ community. After Page Six broke the news, Trump claimed he had never offered Cohen the job.
At the time, Cohen said, “I’m not rooting against him. I want him to succeed because if he succeeds, our country succeeds…but if he f***s with my civil liberties, that’s when I’m gonna have a problem. That’s where I’m at. And I just don’t want him to be a bigot, and I want them to take his Twitter away.”
Hobby Lobby's 'Charming' Home Accent Adds Modern Rustic Style to Cozy Spaces
The problem with window shopping is that eventually, you’re going to make a purchase. And while you can’t always control your shopping urges every time they come up, you can control where you shop to make sure you’re scoring the best deals possible.
Which brings us to Hobby Lobby and its unbeatably priced Lift-Top Coffee Table. Currently on sale for just $107.09, this versatile accent table brings a stylish touch and a world of functionality to your home. If ever there was a time to turn window shopping into the real deal, this would be it.
Lift-Top Coffee Table, $107.09 at Hobby Lobby Lift-Top Coffee Table, top openNormally priced at $153 but currently 30 percent off while supplies last, the Lift-Top Coffee Table is a great example of the elevated finds you can come across on any given Hobby Lobby shopping trip. Designed to bring a modern industrial feel to your home that blends easily with a wide range of decor styles, it features a dark wood-grain construction paired with sleek black metal accents for a clean, well-put-together look.
Unlike a standard coffee table, however, this one features a clever lift-top surface that reveals hidden storage inside and doubles as an elevated desk when you’re working from the couch. Complete with three small cubical openings on the bottom level for placing faux plants, decorative pieces or farmhouse-inspired baskets, it doesn’t just add a dark wood element to the room but also offers ample space for creative storage and organization.
Related: Aldi's Rustic $10 Acacia Stand Adds Farmhouse Charm to Your Kitchen
Everything You Need to Know Before You BuyWhile the reviews are still pouring in, the table has already earned itself a five-star rating, with one shopper calling it a “charming coffee table” and praising its prompt delivery and easy assembly. Best of all, they said it “looks perfect in our living room,” which is all anyone could want after pulling the trigger on such a substantial piece.
As for its overall footprint, the table stands 19.25 inches tall, 47.13 inches wide and 28.25 inches deep, giving it a commanding presence that can work just as well in a small apartment as it can in a larger living space. And when the tabletop is extended, it reaches a height of 24.38 inches, making it even more convenient for everything from working on your laptop to getting a closer look at a puzzle you’ve been putting together.
If you’re already eyeing it up for yourself, keep in mind that some assembly is required. However, a screwdriver and two Allen wrenches are provided to help you put it together. Also take note that it’s intended for indoor use only and has a weight limit of 33 pounds when the top is extended. Otherwise, don’t wait too long to add this piece to your collection. It’s only a matter of time before everyone snatches it up while the price is right.
For more home upgrade inspiration, check out the Karma Home 2-Pack Rope Table Lamps Set at Marshall’s and the Trudeau Bloom 2-Pack Nesting Serving Bowls at Costco.
Related: Hobby Lobby's Rustic $42 Accent Table Is So Popular, One Shopper Bought Four
49-Year-Old Songwriter Has Written More Hits Than You Probably Realize
Hillary Lindsey has spent decades behind some of country music's biggest hits, and now the acclaimed songwriter is celebrating a major milestone of her own.
Lindsey, one of Nashville's most respected songwriters, turns 49 on Aug. 11, 2026. Over the course of her career, she has helped write songs recorded by some of the biggest names in country and pop music, including Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan.
But Lindsey's résumé goes well beyond the names attached to her songs.
She earned her first No. 1 hit in 2002 with McBride's "Blessed," according to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. A few years later, she helped write one of Underwood's signature songs, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," alongside Brett James and Gordie Sampson.
The song became a major career moment for Underwood, 43, and earned Lindsey and her co-writers the Grammy Award for Best Country Song. Lindsey later won the same Grammy for Little Big Town's "Girl Crush," which she co-wrote with Lori McKenna and Liz Rose.
Lindsey's work has also crossed well beyond traditional country music.
She co-wrote songs recorded by Lady Gaga, 40, including "Always Remember Us This Way" and "I'll Never Love Again" from A Star Is Born. "I'll Never Love Again" went on to win a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.
Her songwriting credits also include Keith Urban's "Blue Ain't Your Color," Little Big Town's "Girl Crush," Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger" and numerous other country hits. The Songwriters Hall of Fame currently credits Lindsey with 27 No. 1 songs.
Lindsey's career has earned her some of Nashville's highest honors, too. She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022 and has received multiple ACM and CMA honors for her songwriting.
For a songwriter who has spent so much of her career helping other artists create career-defining moments, Lindsey's 49th birthday is a fitting reminder of just how much music has come from behind the scenes.
RELATED: The Animals’ 1967 Rock Hit Captured the Spirit of the Summer of Love
George and Amal Clooney Seen With Twins In Rare Photo After Being Forced to Flee Home
George and Amal Clooney are back in Lake Como with their children following a frightening few weeks.
The couple made a rare public appearance with their 9-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, on Monday, August 10, when the family attended a fundraising dinner benefiting the Clooney Foundation for Justice at Villa Passalacqua in Lake Como, Italy.
According to photos obtained by Hola!, the foursome arrived by boat, with George wearing a light gray suit and Amal opting for a black midi dress with embroidered flowers. Their rarely seen children dressed up for the occasion as well: Ella wore a gold dress, while Alexander coordinated with his dad in a light-colored blazer.
The event may also explain a celebrity sighting that had fans scratching their heads just days earlier. Emma Watson was photographed arriving at George and Amal's famous Lake Como villa on Saturday, August 8. At the time, the unexpected connection between the Harry Potter star and the Clooneys prompted plenty of speculation online.
But with the Clooney Foundation for Justice fundraiser taking place just two days later, Watson's visit may not have been quite so random after all. Like Amal, Watson has spent years advocating for human rights and gender equality. The actress previously served as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and helped launch the organization's HeForShe campaign, which encourages men and boys to join the fight for gender equality.
It's unclear whether Watson's visit was connected to the Monday gathering or whether she attended any of the foundation's events.
READ MORE: George Clooney and Wife Amal Face Devastating Uncertainty as They’re Forced to Flee Home
The family appearance also comes less than two weeks after George, Amal, and the twins were forced to evacuate their home in Brignoles, France, as wildfires threatened the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
At the time, the couple admitted they didn't know whether their property would survive the fires but made clear that their biggest concern was their community. “As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise 2 things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole,” they wrote in a letter to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond.
Vera Bradley’s Quilted Mini Backpack ‘Holds All the Essentials’ for Travel and Errands, Now 50% Off at Amazon
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
When it comes to comfort and practicality, backpacks are the optimal bag choice. Unlike purses, they offer more than enough space for your daily essentials and keep the weight balanced on your shoulders. However, a standard-size backpack isn’t always the most stylish and can be pretty bulky for everyday activities. Mini backpacks are a fantastic alternative, adding a chic accent to any outfit while allowing you to conveniently go about your day hands-free.
Whether you’re strolling through the farmer’s market, sightseeing on vacation, or spending the day at an amusement park, this Vera Bradley Premium Cotton Mini Banbury Backpack ensures that you stay prepared and look stylish for any outing. Right now, you can score it on sale at Amazon for a whopping 50% off. Normally retailing for $70, it’s now marked down to just $35 in three styles. This backpack is also on sale in four other designs under $40, plus three more versions ranging from $42 to $62.
Vera Bradley Premium Cotton Mini Banbury Backpack, From $35 (was $70) at Amazon Shop at AmazonAs practical as a backpack and as stylish as a purse, this bag gives you the best of both worlds. Measuring 7 inches wide, 9 inches tall, and 5 inches deep, it offers just the right amount of space for your on-the-go essentials without becoming too bulky. For size reference, a reviewer said that they were able to fit a phone, wallet, small water bottle, and snack into their backpack.
@verabradleyFits everything you need with plenty of room to spare✨ #VeraBradley #BoldandInspired #WhatsinmyBag #MiniBackpack
♬ 4EVER - ♪Designed to keep your belongings organized so you can find everything with ease, this mini backpack has pockets galore. The front of the bag is equipped with a zippered compartment, where you can stash smaller items like lip gloss, cash, and a set of keys. For additional storage, the interior of the main compartment boasts a small zippered pocket. Behind the bag, you’ll find a concealed slip pocket, which is ideal for your phone, wallet, or any other important items that you want to keep from getting stolen.
This backpack is equipped with two adjustable straps that measure 37 inches long at full length. You can tailor the straps depending on your preference, whether you want the bag to sit high on your back or by your waist. The straps are padded, and shoppers raved about how comfortable they are on their shoulders. This backpack also has a top with a 2-inch drop so you can hang it up on a coat rack or wall hook.
Vera Bradley Premium Cotton Mini Banbury Backpack, From $35 (was $70) at Amazon Shop at AmazonGiving this some texture and dimension, the fabric is quilted with a trendy diamond design in vibrant, eye-catching patterns that make a statement. You can choose from ornate botanical patterns, whimsical floral designs, paisley prints, and more.
Amazon shoppers loved everything about this bag. They described the patterns as “fun," “super cute,” and “absolutely darling.” One reviewer said that the bag is “very lightweight and tiny, but holds all the essentials.” A second customer commented that it’s the “perfect size for vacation.”
Made of soft premium cotton, this bag weighs less than 0.6 pounds, hardly adding any extra weight. If you ever want to clean this bag, you can just toss it into the washing machine with cold water on a gentle cycle. Hang it up to dry afterward, and it should be as good as new.
Shop More Deals- Vera Bradley Sullivan Crossbody Bag, From $46 (was $65) at Amazon
- Vera Bradley Springbrook Crossbody Bag, From $38 (was $55) at Amazon
- Vera Bradley Cotton Small Zip Tote Bag, From $56 (was $80) at Amazon
Equal parts stylish, practical, and comfortable, the Vera Bradley Premium Cotton Mini Banbury Backpack will keep you prepared for whatever the day throws your way. Head to Amazon and snag it while it’s still on sale for as low as $35!
Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.