Wasting zero time. Thanks to country music growing at what can only be described as an exponential rate over the past five or so years, there hasn’t been a shortage of smash hits in the genre as of late. Of course, the biggest of these is undoubtedly Chris Stapleton’s cover of “Tennessee Whiskey,” which became the first country song (and only the third song in history) to sell over 20 million units and receive double-diamond status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Then there are other smash hits released within the past decade, such as Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange” (12x platinum), Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” (12x platinum) and Luke Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy” (15x platinum), all of which have been nothing short of cross-over successes, charting well on both the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and procuring over one billion streams a piece on Spotify alone. Since 2024, however, it’s become pretty clear that Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s Hot 100 chart-topper, “I Had Some Help” is on pace to become not only one of the biggest country songs of the decade but potentially one of the biggest country songs of all time. Released on May 10, 2024, as Post’s debut country single, “I Had Some Help” was written by Wallen, Post, Ashley Gorley, Chandler Walters, Ernest, Louis Bell, Ryan Vojtesak and Jonathan Hoskins. Upon its release, you pretty much knew that, regardless of its overall quality, it was going to be nothing short of a monster success for the two music giants. And a smash hit it was, debuting at #1 on both the Hot 100 and staying there for an impressive six straight weeks. From a numbers perspective, it’s been nothing short of a monster. Just 10 months after its release, it reached over one billion streams on Spotify, becoming the fastest country song in history to reach the billion-stream mark. Since then, it currently sits at a staggering 1.38 billion streams on the platform along with a 5x platinum certification from the RIAA. What’s the most incredible part about the song’s existence? It only took 24 minutes to write. Appearing on The Net Positive Podcast with John Crist, Ernest opened up about his career both as a songwriter and artist, noting how it’s tough to balance the two. With that being said, however, the most fascinating tidbit came when he discussed the creation of “I Had Some Help.” Discussing the fact that the best songs of his career haven’t taken very long to write, the “Flower Shops” singer would drop the bomb that the track ultimately only took 24 minutes to complete from start to finish. “If we’re all honest with ourselves and we’re all good creatives, the best songs don’t take long. That’s been consistent for my career and Craig [Wiseman] would tell you the same thing… We wrote ‘I Had Some Help’ in like 24 minutes. There’s a 24-minute voice note of ‘I Had Some Help’ from start to finish.” Diving deeper into its creation, Ernest would confirm that the voice note still exists somewhere in Charles Handsome’s files. He’d also explain that Post and Wallen recorded the demo for the track immediately after they wrote it, noting that they drove to the bar that night listening to it. “It exists. The music’s going; the vibe’s going. We kinda start spitballing ideas; we get a good chunk. Boom, there’s the chorus, second verse. Everybody’s throwing in. And yeah, 24 minutes, we look up like, ‘Alright, let’s record the demo.’ We had Morgan and Post on the demo that evening.  We drove around from the studio to the bar. That night we were listening to ‘I Had Some Help,’ Morgan Wallen [and] Post Malone. We were like, ‘Oh yeah, we got one.'” With the song currently sitting with over 1.37 billion streams on Spotify alone and a 5x platinum status, it’s safe to say that was the most profitable 24 minutes of Ernest’s career so far. Watch the full podcast here: The post Ernest Reveals Post Malone & Morgan Wallen’s Smash Hit, “I Had Some Help,” Only Took 24 Minutes To Write From Start To Finish first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Besides being the most underrated songwriter in The Beatles, George Harrison was also an incredible guitar player who was fundamental to the band’s sound. He inspired countless guitarists around the world, many of whom, like him, became influential and carved their names in Rock history. Unlike his bandmate Paul McCartney, who gave thousands of interviews during his career, George didn’t talk to the press that much and spoke even less about other artists. However, he did share his opinions on some of them, including The Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards. What was George Harrison's opinion on Keith Richards George Harrison was called “the quiet Beatle” by the media and fans during his career and he was always modest when it came to talking about his own guitar playing. When asked in an interview about ELO’s Jeff Lynne calling him a “great guitar player” and pointing out that Harrison always played it down when praised, he mentioned Keith Richards as one of the greatest Rock and Roll rhythm guitar players, but also said that the Rolling Stones member was not very good as a lead guitarist. “I’m not playing it down. I’m just not playing it up! I think Keith (Richards) is one of the best rock ’n’ roll rhythm guitar players. I don’t think he’s very good at lead. But this is what I feel about myself too: What we do is make records, and the records have some good guitar parts on them. I like Keith enormously, I think he’s great, but he’s not Albert or B.B. King. Anyway, the main thing about him is that he has the confidence,” George smiles. “So even if it’s not perfect he doesn’t care,” George Harrison told Musician magazine in 1990. A few years earlier, George said he liked Keith a lot and that they occasionally sent each other t-shirts. "I haven't seen Keith for years. He lives, I presume in Jamaica and New York. I haven't seen him for a long time. (Are you a fan of his playing?) "Yeah, I like Keith a lot. We occasionally send t-shirts to each other (laughs)," he said in an interview with MTV's Kurt Loder in the late 80s. The last time George and Keith saw each other Although George didn't enjoy touring, he used to go see other bands playing live. The final time George Harrison and Keith Richards saw each other was at a Rolling Stones concert in London. "The last time I saw him was when he came to a Stones gig in London. He came disguised as Farmer George." "He was a great horticulturalist. George loved his garden, another sign of a real gent. He came backstage, and he was full of beans then. I just said. 'How are you doing, healing and shit?' And he said. 'Okay,' you know, he seemed all right. I'm quite happy that I last saw him when he was on an up." He continued: "(...) George reminds me very much of Charlie Watts, in that way and in many ways the understatedness. The modesty and just being a gentleman, really. There's very few I'd give that word to, and I wouldn't give it to myself. But he was a gent," Keith Richards told Rolling Stone in 2001. During that same conversation, which happened after George's death at the age of 58, Keith praised his late friend, saying he was a musician who really cared about his songs. To him, songs like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "My Sweet Lord," and "Something" were great examples of that, because, in his words, "George crafted his stuff, very, very carefully and it all had its own feel." In his opinion, there are different types of guitar players, like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, who can play as solo artists, and then there are players like George, who can play with bands and be a team player. "To me, that’s way above being some virtuoso flash artist… George was an artist, but he was also a f* craftsman," Keith Richards told Rolling Stone.Richards also thought The Beatles' producer George Martin didn't 'serve his guitar sound as well as it could have been done' in the early days of the band. Keith thinks George Harrison could easily have been a member of The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbTtP6j-oyg&pp=ygUia2VpdGggcmljaGFyZHMgaSB3YW5uYSBiZSB5b3VyIG1hbg%3D%3D Curiously, Keith recently said that John Lennon and George Harrison were two musicians who would have fitted into The Rolling Stones easily. “I don’t think John Lennon would have had much problem fitting into the Stones, or George, if you can imagine that sort of thing happening.” “We were the same generation, and we all loved the same music. When we first heard The Beatles, we were relieved that there was some other band in England on the same track that we were on. And within a few months, that track was the main track,” Keith Richards told The Telegraph in 2023. Those were the two Beatles members who Keith said he spent more time with. He used to go to George's house in London with Ronnie Wood and Eric Clapton to "play guitar and get stoned. The usual," he said to USA Today. Their friendship started back in the early 60s, when they have already seen each other playing in the clubs. In fact, it was John Lennon and Paul McCartney who gave The Stones their first hit "I Wanna Be Your Man" (1963). “John was a particular good friend of mine. Stories that cannot be told (laughs). George was a lovely guy, we got Paul (a great songwriter) and Ringo, what a guy, what a steady (beat). They came to see us play. We were playing in a pub, at Station Hotel in Richmond, that was our gig.” Keith Richards continued: “It was the only one we really had. Everybody was having a good time. I turn around and there is these four guys in black leather overcoats standing there. This was soon after ‘Love Me Do’. I mean this was really early on and this is early 60s. From then on we’re always good mates. When George’s new single (was ready) we always made sure we didn’t clash because in those days was like every two months you had to have a new single.” “We would collaborate with each other. So we didn’t go head to head, because otherwise it seemed like ‘you’re either Beatles or Stones’, bullshit. And we are so similar, that’s not true. We all recognized that and it was one of the great things about it. I mean, between the two bands there was never any sense of competition, was cooperation,” Keith Richards said in 2003 answering a fan on his website section “Ask Keith” (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).The post George Harrison’s opinion on Keith Richards appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

Karen and Richard Carpenter were the king and queen of AM soft rock in the 1970s. They were billed as clean-cut, all-American kids, and their sound matched the vibe, with Karen's beautiful voice and Richard's lush arrangements. The duo had three number-one hits, and 12 top-ten singles in America, including "Top of the World," "We've Only Just Begun," and "(They Long to Be) Close to You."The group was unique because Karen both played drums and sang. It was rare for a woman to play the drums back in the 1960s and '70s, and even rarer for a band to have its drummer as the lead singer. As we'll see in a moment, Karen was exceptional as both a singer and a drummer. Karen started drumming in 1965 at Downey High School near Los Angeles, initially to get out of class, but she soon fell in love with playing the drums."That is such an overused line, but I started anyway," she said. "I picked up a pair of sticks, and it was the most natural-feeling thing I've ever done."The Carpenters' 1973 performance on The Tonight ShowIn 1973, at the height of their career, the Carpenters appeared on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, where they performed a medley of hits, including "Superstar," "Rainy Days and Mondays," and "Goodbye to Love," with Karen standing and singing while a session drummer played behind the kit. - YouTube youtu.be After the performance, the duo sat down with Carson to discuss the perils of touring before teeing up their final song, "Mr. Guder," a tune about a Disneyland manager who fired the siblings in 1967.Karen Carpenter was an incredible drummerWhat's incredible is that, on top of singing the song, she also takes intricate jazz solos and makes them look effortless. From this performance, it's easy to see why the band initially began as a jazz ensemble. - YouTube youtu.be When the Carpenters became big in 1969, Karen played drums during their entire live set, but audiences and critics complained that they had a hard time seeing her on stage. In 1971, management pushed her to front the band standing up, like a traditional lead singer. "Well, they finally got the message across to me; they want me to get up," she told Carson.In 1968, billed as the Richard Carpenter Trio, Karen showed off her skills behind the kit in a performance of "Dancing in the Street" with her brother and his Cal State Long Beach schoolmate, bassist Wes Jacobs. At 2:43, Karen pulls off an incredible solo: - YouTube youtu.be The Carpenters continued to have success through the '70s, but as the decade drew to a close, Richard struggled with substance abuse, and Karen began to suffer the effects of a long-term eating disorder. Karen died on February 4, 1983, due to complications from anorexia nervosa.

Both science and our intuition tell us that music is a universal language. Sure, cultures express some aspects differently, but by and large, we have a collective sense about what makes a lullaby a lullaby, what makes a love song a love song, and so on. It’s a big reason why we don’t always need to understand what lyrics are being sung to have a visceral reaction when listening to a piece of music—whether it revs us up, breaks our heart, or something in between. Sometimes you can credit this to the performers of the song, who put so much of their soul into their work that listeners can’t help but be moved. Other times, these songs are used in iconic movie or television scenes and thus become immortalized in the mainstream. But even still, there’s undeniably something about the sound, not the words, that inspires connection. Considering this, it’s no surprise that when someone asked “What is your favorite song in a language you don't understand?” on Reddit, people had no issue coming up with awesome answers. Many of these you’ll probably recognize because they are staples of our collective culture. Check out our favorites below:Wolf Totem, The Hu - YouTube www.youtube.com As is customary for the Mongolian folk metal band, this song features bits of Mongolian history and mythology. And even though the wolf spirit is obviously the star of the show here, there's a whole menagerie of animals—including a lion, leopard, elephant, snake, tiger, snow leopard, and more—engaging in an epic fight. But really, you don't have to know any of that to feel the war chant this song gives off. Dragostea Din Tei, O-Zone - YouTube www.youtube.com Crazy to think that the lyrics describe a plea to a lover not to leave, with the singer seeing their eyes in the linden trees (the song title translates to "Love from the Linden Trees"). You'd never know it, given the upbeat Eurodance vibe. But then again, how many English pop songs also cover up melancholy themes with catchy dance hooks?And in case you were wondering, "Ma-ya-hi, ma-ya-hoo" does not actually translate to anything but, boy, is it fun. Gangnam Style, PSY - YouTube www.youtube.com Gangnam is a real district in Seoul, known for luxury, fashion, and nightlife. Psy, who grew up in Gangnam, uses the song to satirize people who try too hard to act wealthy and sophisticated, highlighting the difference between genuine class and trying to imitate it. Think: Beverly Hills. 99 Luftballons, NENA - YouTube www.youtube.com Both the original German and English versions of this song are cautionary tales against paranoia and warmongering. As the story goes, ninety harmless balloons get mistaken for UFOs during the Cold War, escalating a catastrophic nuclear war due to military overreaction. After a war wrecks the world, a survivor finds one balloon in the ruins. However, many have criticized the English version for losing the nuance held by the original. Hence why the OG made this list. "So much better than the English version.""I know the lyrics by heart, and speak no German whatsoever lol."Ça plane pour moi, Plastic Bertrand - YouTube www.youtube.com While mainly regarded as a punk rock song, "Ça plane pour moi" has also been described as a parody of the genre. The title is a French idiom that is best translated as "this works for me" (literally: "it is gliding for me," but could be read as "It's all cool with me" or "I'm flying high," etc).You might have heard this song in National Lampoon's European Vacation, 127 Hours, and The Wolf of Wall Street, just to name a few. Du Hast, Rammstein - YouTube www.youtube.com "Du hast" literally means "you have" in German, but in the context of Rammstein's hit song, it's a clever wordplay on the nearly identical phrase "du hasst" ("you hate"), which creates a double meaning of "you have me/you hate me" that explores marriage and commitment. The song uses this ambiguity, along with references to traditional wedding vows, to question loyalty and resentment in relationships. We can really attribute "Du Hast's" worldwide success to being featured in the promo materials for the Matrix in 1999, which helped it accomplish the rare feat of being a German song to chart high in the U.S.Non, je ne regrette rien, Édith Piaf - YouTube www.youtube.com Anyone who's ever listened to Édith Piaf knows she was the master of heartbreak songs. Adele of the 1960s, if you will. And while "La Vie En Rose" was her ultimate signature piece, "Non, je ne regrette rien" is equally timeless. "Non, je ne regrette rien," which translates to "No, I regret nothing," is ultimately an anthem for finding joy in the present moment. The lyrics express a dismissal of the past, both good and bad, declaring it all forgotten as life begins anew with a current love. But you feel that, and much more, thanks to Piaf's powerful performance. Bamboleo, Gypsy Kings - YouTube www.youtube.com The Gipsy Kings' hit "Bamboleo" is famously featured in the animated movie Sing (2016), where the character Rosita performs an iconic grocery store dance to it. Bamboleo translates to "swaying," and is really all about keeping up with life's unpredictable rhythm and having fun while doing it. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Selena - YouTube www.youtube.com Another song that became universally known due to the artist who brought it to life, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" mimics the sound of a heart beating excitedly when meeting new love. This totally makes sense, too, given how whimsical and fun the song is. La Bamba, Los Lobos - YouTube www.youtube.com "La Bamba" is a traditional Mexican folk song that Ritchie Valens famously adapted into a rock & roll classic in 1958, which was made all the more famous when Los Lobos covered it for the film La Bamba in 1987, introducing it to a new generation and topping charts worldwide.While the lyrics of the song encourage folks to dance, all you need to do is listen to the beat to know it's a dance song.

Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most well-known professional cellists in the world, but many may not know that his fame began in his early childhood. When he was only seven years old, he was invited along with his 11-year-old sister to play live for sitting President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower at "An American Pageant of the Arts" in 1962. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the National Cultural Center, which was started under Eisenhower's administration and encouraged under Kennedy's presidency. But what stands out in a resurfaced video of the event is the beautiful way composer Leonard Bernstein introduced the Mas. - YouTube www.youtube.com Bernstein referenced the way art flowed in and out of America and how art has "long been the attraction of our country to foreign artists and scientists and thinkers, who have come not only to visit us but often to join us as Americans to become citizens of what to some has historically been the land of opportunity, and to others, the land of freedom.""And in this great tradition," he continued, "there has come to us this year a young man aged seven, bearing the name Yo-Yo Ma. Yo-Yo came to our attention through the great master, Pablo Casals, who had recently heard the boy play the cello. Yo-Yo is, as you may have guessed, Chinese, and has lived up to now in France, a highly international type. But he and his family are now here. His father is teaching school in New York. And his 11-year-old sister, Yeou-Cheng Ma, is pursuing her musical studies, and they are all hoping to become American citizens." — (@) After announcing that the duo would be playing the first movement of "Concertino No. 3 in A major" by Jean-Baptiste Breval, who composed for the cello 150 years ago in France, Bernstein added:"Now here is a cultural image for you to ponder as you listen: a 7-year-old Chinese cellist playing old French music for his new American compatriots."What a beautiful celebration of immigration and art, and all the more moving that they performed for two presidents who showed nothing but respect for one another in a cultural arts center that would become a "living memorial" to President Kennedy after his assassination. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1988Jose Galvez, Los Angeles Times/Wikimedia Commons Now Yo-Yo Ma is 70 years old and still inspiring audiences around the world with his cello playing. His sister, Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma, has also continued her musical legacy in addition to becoming a Harvard University-trained pediatrician. Dr. Ma heads up the Children’s Orchestra Society (COS), a non-profit music program for children in New York City, started by her father the same year the Mas performed for JFK. Yo-Yo Ma was recently a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and his interview showcased the joy and compassion for which he is known in addition to his musical talents. - YouTube www.youtube.com People loved seeing Ma's reflections on the world and his words gave a dose of hope:"A slight renewal in my faith in humanity which has taken a beating. I love this man.""Yo Yo is a humanitarian, animal lover and planet saver. Great soul!""Saw him first on Mr Rogers. He was as delightful then as he is now. A beautiful human.""Given the state of the current world, I’m reminded of this quote: “There are times that Yo Yo Ma has shown up, performed, and healed nations.” We can do it! Hope - out of the dark time!"Watch 70-year-old Yo-Yo Ma play Bach Prelude from the 1st Cello Suite and "Over the Rainbow": - YouTube www.youtube.com

One of the great things about America is that we have a relatively young culture, so many of the foods that we eat were brought over from other countries. That makes America a great place to try out all the different types of food from around the world.However, we also like to put our own stamp on staples from around the globe that give the American version its own unique flair. Some foods that we claim originated overseas were actually first made right here in the U.S. of A. For example, chimichangas, which can be found in many Mexican restaurants, actually originated in the state of Arizona. Crab Rangoon, a popular “Chinese” dish, was actually invented in San Francisco, and spaghetti and meatballs were never a thing in Italy. TikTok creator Gabby Donahue posted a video that’s the perfect example of how some ethnic foods get remixed once they become popular in the States. In a video with over 7 million views, her father shows a waiter in Italy a photo of chicken parmesan from Olive Garden so he can order it at the restaurant. The waiter's reaction is an excellent example of someone trying to be polite while he cannot believe what he is seeing.“My Boston Irish father trying to order a Google image of the Olive Garden chicken parm in Italy,” Donahue wrote in the text overlay. @gabbydonahuee @Olive Garden ‘s biggest fan ???? #italy #cultureshock #chickenparm #olivegarden When the father showed the picture to the waiter, he seemed a bit confused about the image. “Only in the States,” he said. “It doesn’t exist in Italy.” The father couldn’t believe what he was hearing: “It doesn’t exist in Italy?”“I don’t know what it is…on the pasta?” the waiter said, trying to make sense of the chicken breast smothered in cheese and sauce. The waiter gave his final verdict while holding his chin: “No. That’s horrible.”“Horrible? Wow. Look at that. That doesn’t,” the father laughed. “That looks good… but,” the waiter shrugged off the father. “It does look good,” the father continued. “It tastes good. I’ll tell you what, I’m gonna mail you some. I’ll send it to you.”“Okay? Olive Garden chicken, I’m gonna search,” the waiter said, walking away from the table.Chicken parm was meant to be served on a breadstick. It's official. pic.twitter.com/hKz7ifMZ4f— Olive Garden (@olivegarden) June 15, 2015 The commenters had a field day analyzing the waiter’s body language. “‘No, that looks good’ while looking completely disgusted was the most Italian reaction ever,” one commenter wrote. “Bro remembered halfway through his disgust that he’s at work,” another added.It’s not crazy that an American would think that chicken parmesan is an Italian dish; after all, it’s served in most Italian-American restaurants. However, according to Paesana, it was created in America by the Italian diaspora. “In the Old World, that’s Italy prior to the Italian diaspora—the large-scale emigration of Italians from Italy to America—proteins like chicken were not widely available," according to an article on the site. "As such, the prototypical chicken parmigiana was actually made with breaded, fried slices of eggplant in place of chicken for a dish called melanzane alla Parmigiana."Even though chicken parmesan didn’t originate in the old country, Pasquale Sciarappa, a popular Italian-born food influencer living in America, has no problem cooking the dish. "'That’s not Italian!’ I hear this every time I share a dish like Chicken Parmigiana. And you know what? They’re right — it’s not something you’d traditionally find in Italy. But you know what else is true? It’s Italian-American. It was born in immigrant kitchens — from people who left Italy, landed in the U.S., and made do with what they had. They took inspiration from dishes like melanzane alla parmigiana and recreated comfort from memory using what was available,” he wrote.It’s understandable that an American could go to Italy without knowing that something he’d had in Italian restaurants wasn’t actually from Italy. It’s understandable for an Italian server to balk at a photo of a dish served in an American restaurant that you’d find in a shopping mall. But we should all agree that one of the wonderful things about American culture is that it's an amalgamation of different cultures stirred around in the same pot, and if that means we get a fresh variation on the burrito, a new way to eat Chinese crab, or a tasty piece of chicken where eggplant used to be, the more the better.This article originally appeared last year

A lot of people are uncomfortable making small talk, but it’s an essential skill that can make or break your love life, career, and social experiences. Many people believe that being good at chatting with others is something innate, but those who excel at it work at their craft and pick up small tips along the way to become better communicators.One of the tricks that all great communicators know is that you will be more likable when you're more interested than interesting. Study after study shows that people love talking about themselves, and if you ask people more questions, they will like you a lot more than if you did all the talking. So, how do we do this without creating a one-sided conversation where your conversation partner learns nothing about you? The folks at the Science of People have shared the statement-plus question technique. The statement-plus technique“One of the smoothest ways to keep conversation flowing is to share a brief personal statement followed by a question,” the Science of People writes. “This technique accomplishes two things: it gives the other person information about you (making you seem more approachable and interesting) while also redirecting focus to them.” Coworkers having a nice conversation.via Canva/PhotosHere are some examples:Instead of asking “What do you do for work?” say:“I’m a writer for Upworthy, and I enjoy seeing my work read by millions of people. What excites you about your job?”Instead of asking, “Where do you live?” try:“I live in Long Beach, California, and it’s really nice living by the ocean. What do you love the most about where you live?”Instead of asking, “How do you know the person who threw the party?” say:“I met Sarah at a church meeting seven years ago. Do you remember the first time you met her?”These questions enable you to discuss yourself while maintaining the focus on the other person. They are also open-ended, so you don’t just get a one-word answer. You learn their job and what excites them about it. You know where they live, and they get to brag about what they like about the city. The technique also broadens the conversation because, according to the psychological phenomenon known as reciprocal self-disclosure, people are more likely to disclose things about themselves after you share something about yourself. - YouTube youtu.be What is reciprocal self-disclosure?“The most likely result of your self-disclosure is that other people will do the same. In the field of communication, we refer to this as 'reciprocity.' When you share information about yourself, the most likely result is that people will start to disclose a similar type of information from their own lives," communication coach Alexander Lyon says. "In our presentations, we talk about this as a magic wand. Disclosure is the closest thing we have to a magic wand in terms of a concept in communication. When you disclose, other people almost automatically reciprocate."Ultimately, people love to talk about themselves, and if you give them the opportunity, they will like you more for it. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t reveal some aspects of yourself at the same time while keeping the focus on them. The statement-plus question technique allows you to reveal some things about yourself while making the other person feel seen and comfortable telling you more about themselves. It’s sure to elevate your small talk to something more substantial in a relaxed way that doesn’t feel like an interview.This article originally appeared last year.

You might recall Marcos Alberti's mega-viral "3 Glasses" project from 2016, in which he photographed people after they had consumed one, two, and then three glasses of wine. The series was impactful in part because it showed the physical transformation that comes from being relaxed after some wine. That, and it touched on a common curiosity. Haven’t we all wondered if we look as different as we feel after getting a little tipsy? (Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.)Using a very similar format to “3 Glasses,” as well as the elements of lightheartedness, novelty, and rawness that made it so special, Alberti utilizes his photography to delve into a topic much less discussed: women’s sexual wellness. The concept is simple: photograph women before, during, and after an orgasm. You can see why he calls this the “O” project.Despite the subject matter, Alberti assures viewers that the intention wasn’t to be explicit, or even erotic, for that matter. The 20+ women who participated, of varying ethnicities and varying levels of sexually liberated versus conservative countries of origin, were completely covered below the waist while using personal massagers. “The underlying message: all women deserve to be in control of their sexuality, no matter their background. Women should be free to be empowered by–and have a little fun with–their sexuality,” Alberti wrote on his website. Similarly, Fan Yang, Global Brand Manager of Smile Makers (a sexual wellbeing brand that partnered with Alberti for this project) noted that the goal was to break through stigma and show female pleasure in a positive, healthy light. The hope is that not only society normalizes female pleasure, but that women themselves connect to their sexuality without “shame and secrecy.”Given that all the women who participated were “in awe” seeing themselves “glowing and radiant” in their final photo, as Yang put it, it feels safe to say mission: accomplished.Take a look: An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com An O Project participant. marcosalberti.com In a video posted to YouTube, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Alberti’s process. Welcoming the models in, setting up his camera behind a curtain for privacy, talking them through the process, making them feel safe and comfortable, etc.We also get to see the “awe” that Yang spoke of. It’s palpable. “Initially, I was still apprehensive… [with] a lot of worry. And this one [referring to the final image] is like “Ha! Life is beautiful!” one woman shared, grinning ear-to-ear. - YouTube www.youtube.com We can talk ad nauseam about how women’s pleasure shouldn’t be a taboo subject, about how it’s a natural, vital part of her overall wellbeing, how it can lead to better mood, heart health, immune function, sleep, intimacy, self-esteem…yadda, yadda yadda…but there’s nothing like actually witnessing its semi-miraculous powers firsthand. It’s one of the things that make photography so powerful. We feel something raw and honest on a visceral level, so that we can THEN talk about it with empathy and understanding. It’s clear that Alberti knows this on a deep level and is using that knowledge for something truly good. Be sure to follow Alberti (@marcos_alberti ) on Instagram to keep up-to-date with all his work. This article originally appeared last year

One of the reasons so many people love dogs is that they usually make their bond with their favorite humans quite clear. Dogs wear their loyalty and affinity on their sleeve, whereas cats are a bit more...aloof. Sure, some cats are affectionate little cuddle bugs, but many cats seem as if they couldn't care less about anyone, and even the snuggly ones can't be coaxed into affection if they're not into it at the moment. That doesn't mean they aren't feeling or expressing love, though. Some of the behaviors that make cats appear bored or disinterested are actually signs that they like you. Dr. Sarah Wooten, a small animal veterinarian, shared a list of 7 signs that a cat loves you with Cats.com, and it might make cat owners feel better about their feline friendships. - YouTube www.youtube.com 1. Slow BlinkingWhen a cat sits across from you and stares at you with sleepy-looking eyes, blinking slowly, it might seem like they're bored or tired. But those slow blinks are actually how they communicate peace and connection. "If you're seeing that with your cat, they love you," says Dr. Wooten.2. Lap SittingOne of our cats loves to sit in our laps, but only with her head facing away from us, which feels a bit impersonal. We'll take it, though, since sitting in our laps is apparently a sign of love. "Not all cats love a large amount of body contact, petting, and things like that with humans," says Dr. Wooten. "Remember every cat is individual…but if your cat is a touchy-feely cat and loves to be touched by humans, then sitting in your lap for an extended period of time is definitely a sign that your cat loves and trusts you." Cat sitting in a woman's lapPhoto credit: Canva3. Present DroppingIf you've never had a cat bring you a dead mouse or the head of a bird or some other disgusting offering, consider yourself lucky. However, if you have, you should also consider yourself lucky, as it means your cat loves you. "Even though to us humans it seems pretty unsavory, to your cat it is a sign of love and dedication," says Wooten. Of course, it's not always dead animals—sometimes cats might bring you inanimate objects they've collected (which makes you doubly lucky). 4. Kneading BiscuitsThe rhythmic kneading cats do on blankets, pillows, or their humans is a behavior that mimics what they did while nursing as kittens. "It's just a leftover instinctual thing that they do when they feel super happy and super connected," says Wooten. "So if your cat makes biscuits when they're near you, that is a sign of love and connection." Cat making biscuitsPhoto credit: Canva5. PurringThis one might seem like a no-brainer, but purring doesn't always mean affection. Cats purr for many reasons, including happiness or contentment, but also for pain or sickness. "But if your cat's just hanging out at home and they're near you, and suddenly you hear the motor go on, that's a pretty good sign that they love you," says Wooten.6. Rubbing or "Bunting"If a cat comes up and rubs its face or body on you, that's a sign of love and connection. It's called bunting, and essentially, it's how the cat marks you as "theirs.""Cats have scent markers in their paws, they have them on their face…and they also have them on the base of their tail," says Wooten. "So what cats will often do is they will rub their paws or their face or their tail on the people that they love and consider to be their property." Who knew yawning and stretching could be a sign of love?Photo credit: Canva7. Yawning and StretchingMuch like slow blinking, yawning, and stretching may easily be mistaken for sleepiness, but there's often more to it than that. It's a sign that they are comfy around you. "Especially if they're sleeping, if they see you [and] suddenly they get up, maybe they meow at you and then they yawn and they stretch, they get everything all good and feeling good, and then they come hang out with you, it's a sign of love," says Wooten. "That's a sign that they're very comfortable and that they're very happy to see you." Cats may appear to be standoffish or only affectionate when they feel like it, but it could be that they are showing you they love you in ways that you might not recognize. Cats can be a lot harder to read than dogs, but they really do love us—just not always in the ways we expect. This article originally appeared last year