Entertainment recommendations and reviews: Apps, music and films

Apps: 

Houseparty : The video calling app is fun, interactive and is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family during the lockdown. The app features four games; Heads Up, Trivia, Chips & Guac and Quick draw. All these games require basic general knowledge skills and the app is safe for people of all ages to use. Houseparty is regarded as one of the most popular apps right now and it’s additional feature of games gives it a competitive edge over other video calling apps like Skype, Zoom and Google Hangouts. Launched in 2016. 

TikTok: TikTok has taken the social media game by storm and is the most downloaded phone app. TikTok allows users to share short videos with special effects and a music background. The clips are dominated with comedic content, much like the now defunct Vine and allows users of 13 years and older to be creative with their content creation.  Launched in 2016. 

Evil Apples vs Humanity: Evil Apples is a hilarious but dirty card game inspired by the popular card-game, Cards Against Humanity. The game is an fun interactive app that helps you connect and play with friends and has a video-chat feature. The app has gained some popularity during this lockdown period as people continue to find ways to interact with friends without making physical contact.  Launched in 2013. 

All of these apps are available on IOS, Android and Google Play. 

ALSO READ: App launched to aid in fight against Covid-19

Movies: 

Midsommer (2019) : The A24 produced and Ari Aster directed film sees a group of young Americans, who are invited by their Swedish friend to attend a festival in his rural hometown. The nine-day festival happens every 90 years and comes across as an idyllic mid-summer retreat. The festivities quickly take a bizzare and violent turn with a women-only competition that crowns the winner as the “May Queen.” 

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2018) : The A24 and Plan B produced film, directed by Joe Talbot – follows the journey of a young man, Jimmie and his friend, Mont who try to reclaim Jimmie’s old family home that was built by his grandfather. This thought-provoking drama can be seen as a portrait of modern-day San Francisco and deals with inequality, loss, love and friendship. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) : This Quentin Tarrantino film follows the career of a mediocre western actor in Hollywood, Rick (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt-double and right-hand man, Cliff (played by Brad Pitt) who live next door to Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. This film can be seen as a love-letter to 1960’s hollywood and portrays icons like Bruce Lee and Hippie movement in a comedic manner. 

ALSO READ: Films/series and music to enjoy during the #Covid19Lockdown

Music: 

DJ Kent (The Weekent, 2013) : This album is a South African house music classic that’s guaranteed to get your dancing feet moving during this lockdown. DJ Kent’s soulful afro beats are timeless and will have you bobbing your head, reminiscing over a relaxed afternoon, having a cold one with your mates. The features on this lengthy 32-song album perfectly compliment Kent’s sound with vocalist Relo featuring four times on the project! This throwback will help you forget the troubles we currently face with the covid-19 pandemic. 

Thundercat (It is what it is, 2020) : RnB and Jazz artist, Thundercat offers up a funky, playful and upbeat project with a futuristic jazz  and alternative pop sound. Thundercat’s fourth album speaks about the normalisation of loss and sees him flex his various strands of art. Thundercat is funny, goofy and quite sad in this project but his falsetto over his funky-pop tunes will have you listening to his 40-minute offering on repeat.

Childish Gambino (3.15.20, 2020) : Gambino’s fourth album is a collection of songs that have been recorded over several years, with producers DJ Dahi and Gambino’s collaborator, Ludwig Goransson. Gambino’s latest offering is completely different to his previous album, “Awaken My Love” which sounds as an ode to 70’s funk, this time – Gambino’s sound is as diverse as ever and gives listeners a Prince vibe and be heard sounding like Travis Scott in some but is also influenced by OutKast’s “the love below” project. The songs are named in numbers and the album is a timestamp of it’s streaming release date. Earlier released single “Feel Like Summer” that is now labelled 42.26.

ALSO READ: LockdownSA: Parents struggle to cope with new role of teaching from home

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