It was just an average Friday night for Tara Annan and her family of seven. Everyone was enjoying downtime in the living room when suddenly the two youngest kids created a unique spin on a Disney musical classic. The world took notice. Cohen, who goes by the nickname Buggy, stands casually next to his older sister, Joee (pronounced Joey). In a light purple shirt, Joee begins to set the beat while singing, “Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?” View this post on Instagram The Little Mermaid The song the kids are singing/rapping is “Part of Your World” from the hit movie The Little Mermaid. (Alan Menken composed the music, and Howard Ashman provided the lyrics.) It’s a beautiful, swooning ballad and a pivotal part of the musical. For those unaware, the story centers around a lovely redheaded mermaid named Ariel. She gets a glimpse of life on land, and she wants in. In the song, Ariel admits to herself that no matter how wonderful her world is under the sea, she wants more: “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty. I’ve got whosits and whatsits galore. Want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty. But who cares? No big deal. I want more…” So of course the song deserves a hype man. That’s where Buggy comes in. Clad in his signature glasses and plaid pants, he begins his interpretive dance, adding in ridiculously hilarious sound effects and dance moves. The best part? The siblings just play off one another, as though they’re an old Vaudeville act that’s been doing it for ages. A musical family Upworthy had a chance to chat with Annan, a busy mom of five, who shared what her family’s typical weekends look like. “I didn’t cook that night so we all were hanging out in the living room after our DoorDash,” she says. She admits that having five kids creates a rather bustling energy: “We are a very loud bunch. We love music. Either my kids are making up their own beats or we have music on. We listen to all types of music. One thing I love is my home sets the tone for my kids to be themselves.” @okiemomlife Morning vlog!! ♬ original sound – Tara | Okiemomof5 As for that particular song? “I just so happened to capture that little mix that night and the world loved it,” she says. The loving reaction This clip has over 850,000 likes on Instagram alone and more than 21,000 comments. One person jokingly writes that a “trap” version of the rendition would be done by rapper Lil Wayne—or, as they call him, “Lil Mermayne.” There are so many wholesome and funny comments pointing out the magic this family seems to have when creating together. “Imagine you tell your daughter to ‘go play with your little brother’ and 15 minutes later, they come down with this MASTERPIECE,” a commenter notes. Another commenter gives it the highest praise, writing, “This is a Grammy-level performance in the world of ‘mom look at this!'” Finally, this commenter shares that if they’d had these particular kids, they might have made different choices in life: “It’s embarrassing how many times I’ve watched this. If I knew this was guaranteed, I’d consider having kids.” The post Siblings rap version of ‘The Little Mermaid’ song has people hooked appeared first on Upworthy.

We’re all familiar with the feeling of being “trapped” in a conversation. It might be because the other person won’t stop talking long enough for you to get a word in edgewise. Or maybe the topic of conversation just bores us. Worse, perhaps it makes us uncomfortable, and we can’t figure out a good way to change the subject without coming off as rude. A massive debate on this topic recently unfolded on X. Some users argued that a good conversation should always be interesting and engaging to all parties, while others maintained that showing genuine interest in what others have to say (even if it doesn’t really interest you) is a key element of socializing. It’s possible that both sides are right. Experts say changing the subject doesn’t have to be curt or selfish. In fact, a great conversationalist understands that artfully pivoting is the key to maintaining an interaction that’s enjoyable for both parties. The key is understanding both when it’s time to “smile and nod,” and when and how to steer the conversation in a new direction. Why it feels scary or hard to change the subject Changing the subject can be harder for some people than for others. Photo credit: Canva Dr. Kelly Gonderman, a clinical director and licensed clinical psychologist at We Conquer Together, tells Upworthy that changing the subject is one of the social skills her clients struggle with most. “In my clinical work, the inability to redirect a conversation is rarely about rudeness or poor communication. It’s almost always about anxiety, people-pleasing, or a fear of conflict rooted in early relational experiences,” she says. “The nervous system registers social disapproval as threat, which means steering away from a painful or triggering topic can feel physiologically dangerous even when it’s entirely reasonable.” Unfortunately, people who have difficulty setting boundaries in conversation may also struggle to maintain boundaries in other areas of their lives. “They’ve learned that their discomfort is less important than keeping others comfortable,” she says. Experts give tips and scripts for how to tactfully change the subject One user on X sparked debate when they suggested a rather blunt and direct shifting of gears: “I’m sorry, it’s not really my thing, I don’t understand the importance of this and I can’t contribute to the conversation.” It’s a fair and reasonable boundary to hold, but it’s likely to alienate or deflate your conversation partner because it’s missing a few key elements of a great pivot. Amy Arias, senior lecturer of communications studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, tells Upworthy: “The key to changing the subject tactfully is to acknowledge what the person said before redirecting. People mainly want to feel heard, and once that happens, most conversations can move on naturally.” Here are a few scripts to try out: “That’s a good point. It actually reminds me…” “I hear what you’re saying. Speaking of that…” “That sounds intense. On a lighter note…” In each of these instances, you’ve acknowledged the speaker and what they were saying in a positive way before attempting to move the conversation into new territory. @justaskjefferson or just try, “crazy weather we’re having.” ♬ original sound – Jefferson Fisher You could also try using humor to deflect the tension around your attempted pivot, with a segue that’s so jarring your conversation partner can’t help but laugh: “Speaking of politics, who’s hungry?” Arias adds that, no, a good conversation doesn’t always have to be interesting or engaging for both parties all the time. It’s more about reciprocity and making sure each person gets a turn to be heard. “Good conversation is more about reciprocity and turn-taking than constant fascination,” Arias says. “In healthy conversations, people take turns being the storyteller and the listener, but it’s also okay to redirect when a topic feels draining, awkward, or just not a great fit.” “Ultimately, changing the subject gracefully is really about reading the room and protecting the flow of the interaction,” she adds. “A thoughtful topic shift isn’t rude, it’s often what keeps conversations comfortable, inclusive, and enjoyable for everyone.” Why being a great conversationalist goes beyond the script Gonderman says that, though having a few canned lines up your sleeve can help, being able to confidently redirect a conversation may require deeper work. “The fix isn’t a script,” she says. “It’s building enough internal safety to trust that your need to redirect is valid.” That could require something as simple as some breathwork or grounding techniques, or more advanced interventions like therapy to get to the root issues of your social anxiety. There are a lot of reasons you might not be comfortable continuing a given line of conversation. It could be political, too personal, too taboo, or just plain uninteresting to you. It takes a person who’s quite sure of themselves to use a brief, direct pivot like “I want to shift gears,” “On a different note …,” or even “I’d rather not get into that right now.” It’s best to acknowledge and make the other person feel heard before pivoting, but some people, well, just won’t take a hint. That’s when more direct methods might be called for. Human conversations are an incredibly intricate dance. They’re an exchange of information, a building block of relationships, and an emotional back-and-forth all rolled into one. The finer aspects of navigating them tactfully don’t always come naturally to us and sometimes require preparation and practice. The post Experts explain exactly how, and when, to tactfully change the subject of a conversation appeared first on Upworthy.

And the top spot goes to... The post What’s the most number one singles from one classic rock album? first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Getting the boot before plugging in. The post “I hadn’t even played”: The bizarre way Wayne Perkins was denied a place in The Rolling Stones first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

"Crashing, theatrical monster-ballad." The post From Barnet to Laurel Canyon: Chasing the roots of the most cursed song in history first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Never getting the appeal. The post The “cutting edge” singer Bob Dylan never got to appreciate first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

On the Senate floor, debate entered its second full day on the SAVE America Act - which would mandate proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and requires photo ID to cast ballots in federal elections.

by Rhoda Wilson, Expose News: Every war produces lies. The Iran conflict has shown how much easier artificial intelligence has made the business of manufacturing them. Social media has been inundated with fabricated images, synthetic video, recycled clips, and staged “evidence” presented as breaking news from the battlefield. Some items were quickly exposed. Many were […]