Demi Lovato Taking Part in YouTube’s Global Celebration Video “Hello 2021”

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato is gearing up to ring in the New Year online…

YouTube will launch the New Year alongside a number of Hollywood names, including the 28-year-old half-Mexican singer/actress, with its global celebration video Hello 2021.

In addition to Lovato, the video will feature appearances by Matthew McConaughey, RuPaul and Storm Reid, Dua Lipa, J Balvin and more.

The video will premiere in the Americas, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan and India.

“With the world ready to move past an extremely challenging year, YouTube will use its global reach to celebrate the hope and promise of 2021,” said Susanne Daniels, YouTube’s Global Head of Original Content. “We look forward to closing the book on 2020 and throwing a worldwide celebration that our YouTube community can safely enjoy from home.”

Set to feature speeches, musical performances and dance parties, Hello 2021 has a lineup of five different shows and will celebrate the year’s most notable videos across the globe, from the David Blaine Ascension to HBCU Homecoming.

The Hello 2021 announcement comes nearly a month after YouTube announced that it would not go forward with its annual Rewind video.

“Rewind was always meant to be a celebration of you. But 2020 has been different,” an official YouTube statement said. “And it doesn’t feel right to carry on as if it weren’t. So, we’re taking a break from Rewind this year.”

The global countdown spectacular is produced by Fremantle and will air at various times on Decemnber 31. See the details for each showing below.

“Hello 2021: Americas” – It’s a virtual New Year’s Eve bash across the Americas only YouTube can throw. Hosts Juanpa Zurita and Storm Reid welcome celebrity guests including Matthew McConaughey, Demi Lovato, RuPaul, Emma Chamberlain and the D’Amelio Family; one-of-a-kind musical performances from Dua Lipa, J Balvin, YG, Karol G and Kane Brown; YouTube stars Larray, Marques Brownlee, Dude Perfect, Brad Mondo, ZHC and the Dolan Twins; and more as the clock runs out on a year we’ll never forget, and we say “Hello 2021.” More names to be announced soon. The celebration premieres Thursday, December 31 at 10:30pm ET / 7:30pm PT on the YouTube Originals channel.

“Hello 2021: UK” – At 10:30pm GMT on December 31 on the YouTube Originals Channel, make sure and join the UK’s favorite YouTube creators, artists and comedians for a party worth staying in for. The guest list includes Behzinga, Big Narstie, Katherine Ryan, Michael Coel, Kurupt FM, Yammy, WillNE, Holly H, Natasia Demetriou and many more. The event will also feature the biggest tunes of 2020 performed live as musical guests Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, MNEK w/ Joel Corry and Aitch & AJ Tracey get the party started with some exclusive live performances.

“Hello 2021: Korea” – At 11:00pm KST on December 31 on YouTube Korea Spotlight Channel, YouTube creators and artists in South Korea will join their hosts Sechan Yang and Jesung Hwang in an intimate celebration to recognize and thank creators and artists who helped Korean audiences to stay happy and healthy during the unprecedented year. Lineup includes top and rising creators and artists, including GGILGGIL Market, Tester Hoon, Balming Tiger, and more.

“Hello 2021: Japan” – At 11:45pm JST on December 31, tune into never-before-seen special edition quiz show from Japan to test your knowledge on 2020 YouTube trends and trivias, joining top creators Tokai On Air, Puritto Channel, Emirin, Paparapys, Skypeace, Vamyun, Dekakin, Hanaodengan, M.S.S Project, along with hosts Orutana Channel and Mochizuki Rie on YouTube Japan Spotlight Channel.

“Hello 2021: India” – Starting at 11pm IST on December 3 on YouTube India Spotlight Channel, “Hello 2021: India” will bring together the biggest and most buzzworthy music, comedy and Bollywood talent as part of the 60-minute countdown to the New Year, including a performance from Dua Lipa. Some of India’s biggest names including Tiger Shroff, Badshah, Zakir Khan, Jonita Gandhi, Benny Dayal, Aastha Gill and more will bring together a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party.

David Blaine Breaks YouTube Original Live Event Record with Helium Balloon ‘Ascension’ Stunt

Posted on September 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

David Blaine has entered the YouTube record books…

The 47-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer’s live stunt Ascension, in which he flew over the Arizona desert using helium balloons, has shattered a YouTube record.

This week’s stunt, which took place on Wednesday, was the most-watched YouTube Original Live Event to date, according to the video streaming platform, with over 770,000 peak concurrent viewers, besting Dear Class of 2020 (665k peak concurrents), The Creator Games Presented by MrBeast (662k peak concurrent), Will Smith: The Jump(more than 300k peak concurrents) and Taylor Swift: Lover’s Lounge (Live) (more than 185k peak concurrents).

“David Blaine exceeded expectations once again!” said Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, YouTube, “What an inspirational moment for viewers all around the world and we’re so thrilled with what he accomplished today live on YouTube.”

The event streamed live exclusively on YouTube, which funded and produced the project.

Blaine lifted off shortly before 8:00 am PT and within 40 minutes had risen to a height of over 19,000 feet. He eventually reached a height of 24,900 feet and then parachuted to the ground. He completed the entire event within an hour.

The livestream event was hosted by YouTube creator and tech expert Marques Brownlee and featured appearances from Casey Neistat, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, professional surfer Jamie O’Brien, among others, with a special appearance from David Blaine’s daughter, Dessa.

Blaine’s original plan was to fly over New York, but he decided to shift to Arizona because of weather concerns and logistical issues.

David Blaine Moving His Helium Balloon Flight Stunt From New York City to Arizona Due to Logistical Concerns

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

David Blaineis moving his next stunt cross-country…

The 47-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer has nixed his plan to float over the Hudson River from New Jersey to New York City strapped to a bunch of helium balloons, blaming logistical challenges.

Instead, Blaine will attempt to perform the stunt — which is being bankrolled by YouTube as an original livestreaming special called Ascension— more than 2,000 miles away in Arizona.

“Because of the complexity of this project, I’m not going forward with my plans to do New York City at this time,” Blaine said in a video announcing the change.

The “groundbreaking R&D flight,” in which he’ll try to fly as high in the air as possible suspended only by balloons, will happen this week in Arizona, he said, “which is the most beautiful backdrop that I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Contingent on the weather in Arizona, Blaine said, his stunt will lift off either Tuesday, Sept. 1 or Wednesday, September 2 at 6:00 am PT.

“Everything is wind-dependent,” he said, encouraging fans to set a reminder on the YouTube livestream page.

David Blaine to Attempt to Fly Over New York City Holding Balloons

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

The sky’s really the limit for David Blaine…

The 47-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist, and extreme performer will take to the skies in a new stunt as part of his first live event in nearly a decade.

Blaine will attempt to fly above New York City by holding a bunch of helium-filled balloons.

Blaine is partnering with YouTube for the event titled “Ascension” where he “will bring wonder, hope and untethered possibility as he launches from New Jersey and journeys across his native New York City skyline to tackle his most ambitious and revolutionary feat yet.”

“This stunt has been 10 years in the making,” Blaine wrote on Twitter. “Let’s turn worry into wonder and take magic to new heights.”

Blaine is set to take to the skies on Monday, August 31.

He has a long list of notable stunts: In 1999, Blaine was buried in a box under a water tank in New York. In 2003, he did an endurance stunt where he was sealed inside a Plexiglas case in London. In 2006, the star spent seven days submerged in a water-filled sphere in New York.

YouTube Orders Live Special from David Blaine

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

David Blaine is bringing some extra magic to YouTube…

The video-sharing platform has ordered a live special from the 46-year-old part-Puerto Rican illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer.

The order come as the company moved from SVODto AVODearlier this year with logged-in YouTube customers able to watch original series and specials, while YouTube Premiummembers will have ad-free access.

YouTube didn’t give many details about Blaine’s live special but said that it will be “lighter” and “brighter” than Blaine’s usual dark and mysterious stunts.

Blaine’s last special Beyond Magic aired on ABC in November 2016.

Blaine Getting “Electrified” in Latest Endurance Stunt…

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

David Blaine is having an electrifying weekend… And, he’s inviting the world to watch…

The 39-year-old half-Puerto Rican master illusionist and endurance artist kicked off his latest stunt on Friday evening: standing on a pier in Manhattan for 72-hours straight while a musician plays a keyboard that will send a million jolts of electricity through his body via Tesla coils that surround him.

Blaine, who is wearing a chainmail-style armor suit, doesn’t plan to sit or eat for the entire length of the show.

Entitled Electrified: One Million Volts Always On, the live-streaming event, which began at 7:30 pm on Friday, is taking place in New York’s Pier 54.

“[I]t’s an environment we normally shouldn’t be in,” explained Blaine, in an statement to Wired UK. “It’s like when I did the dive with great white sharks — you’re in this part of nature where you don’t belong, and the brain sends signals saying you shouldn’t be here. But, at the same time, it’s beautiful and intimidating.”

In an AP videotape of his rehearsal on Tuesday, Blaine demonstrated by outstretching his hands to create lightning bolt-looking shocks of electricity and even conducted the volts out from his headgear.

On Sunday evening at 7:30 pm, musician Andrew W.K. is scheduled to jam a keyboard solo that’ll send a million jolts through Blaine.

If you’d like to see Blaine getting “electrified” this weekend, check out the YouTube live stream here.

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