Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Marvel Cinematic Universe MCU r en amerikansk mediafranchise och ett fiktivt gemensamt universum, som r centrerat kring en filmserie av superhjltefilmer som. The 70 Most Memorable Characters of Mad Men, Ranked. Marvels Daredevil, or simply Daredevil, is an American web television series created for Netflix by Drew Goddard, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. XO song WikipediaXO is a song by American singer Beyonc from her fifth studio album, Beyonc 2. Columbia Records released the song as the lead contemporary hit radio single from the album in the US and Italy on December 1. Ryan Tedder co wrote and co produced XO with Terius The Dream Nash and Beyonc, with additional production handled by Chauncey Hit Boy Hollis and Haze. TheRevolutionWasTelevised.cropped.jpg' alt='Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' title='Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' />Watch Chapter Thirteen The Sweet Hereafter on TVGuide. See full shows episodes and clips of your favorite shows and celebrities. XO is a song by American singer Beyonc from her fifth studio album, Beyonc 2013. Columbia Records released the song as the lead contemporary hit radio single. Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' title='Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' />Rolling Stone counts down the 50 best Saturday Night Live sketches of all time. Heres a peek at the top ten. Banga Music. A pure midtempo pop, electropop and R B love song, XO is complete with electronic musical instrumentation, synthesizers and drums. Musically, it was compared to Beyoncs own song Halo and was noted for having several music hooks including its call and response chorus. The usage of an audio sample from Space Shuttle Challenger disaster at the beginning of the song was criticized by the families of the lost crew, NASA, and some media. Beyonc released a statement saying that the song was intended to help people who have lost loved people in their lives and that the sample was included as a tribute to the Challenger crew. XO managed to appear on many music charts across Europe and Oceania and it peaked at number 4. US Billboard Hot 1. A music video for the song directed by Terry Richardson was filmed in Coney Island in late August 2. It was made available on i. Watch Nine Months HDQ'>Watch Nine Months HDQ. Tunes with the release of the album on December 1. Beyonc performed the song during the last stops of the North American leg of The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in December 2. European leg in early 2. To further promote XO, she performed it at the 2. BRIT Awards and later at the 2. MTV Video Music Awards. Haim and John Mayer covered the song in 2. Production and releaseeditXO was written by Beyonc, Terius The Dream Nash and Ryan Tedder while the production was helmed by the aforementioned group as well as Chauncey Hit Boy Hollis and Haze. Banga. Ramon Rivas engineered the song, with assistance from Justin Hergett. Beyoncs vocals were recorded by Stuart White and Bart Schoudel while all instrumentation and programming was carried out by Tedder. The song was finally mixed by Andrew Scheps. XO was recorded in four studios Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios, both in New York City, Trackdown Studios in Sydney and Tritonus Studios in Berlin. During an interview with Australian radio station Nova in November 2. Tedder revealed that he had collaborated with Beyonc on a song for her then upcoming album along with The Dream, further saying, Personally the song we did I like more than Halo. I think its a bigger, better song. Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' title='Watch The Incredible Jessica James Online Hitfix' />However, he acknowledged that he did not know when the singer planned to release new material for her fifth album. The previous month, it was reported by a source to the Daily News that Beyonc planned to release a new single and video on December 3, 2. The publication further speculated that the single was expected to be the song whose music video was filmed in August of the same year  XO. Later, when Beyonc was released, Billboard reported that Blow would be released as the contemporary hit radio single both in the US and worldwide, and Drunk in Love would be sent to urban radio in the US only XO was scheduled to be released as the second worldwide radio single in 2. However, radio programmers reportedly pushed back against the release of Blow to mainstream stations, finding its lyrics to be very explicit for the format and proposing that XO be released in its place. The release of Blow was therefore scrapped and XO impacted contemporary hit radio in Italy and adult contemporary radio in the US on December 1. It was also sent to US mainstream,8 urban9 and rhythmic radio on December 1. CompositioneditXO is a midtempopop, electropop and R B love power ballad that bears resemblance to Beyoncs own 2. Halo, which was also produced by Tedder. Influences of electronic rock and reggaeton genres were also found in the song. XO was composed using common time in the key of C major, with a tempo of 8. It carries a celebratory, bumping Caribbean groove and a marching drumbeat with shuffling dancehall influences. The instrumentation includes jittery keyboards, synthesizers, percussion and electronic musical instruments. The song also consists of electronic flourishes and loopedriff patterns brought about by an organ instrument. XO was also noted for being a departure from the minimalistic sexual nature of the album, due to its pure pop sound. Jordan Sargent of Complex magazine wrote that XO contains influences of Jamaican singer Tanya Stephens. Chris Bosman from Consequence of Sound described the song as a blend of cinematic reach of modern Top 4. Heartbreaks sic hip hop. Kevin Fallon from The Daily Beast compared the songs stadium sound to tracks by the band U2. Beyonc uses subtly exhausted vocals1. Baby love me, lights out, as noted by music critics. The song gives the impression to have been recorded in a stadium full of fans due to its celebratory groove and call and response chorus lines. Problems playing this file See media help. Watch Zookeeper Online Freeform there. Beyoncs vocals in the song span from the note of A3 to the note of A4. When asked about her raw vocals in the song previously unheard on her material and the songs less polished sound, Beyonc revealed that XO was recorded when she had a bad sinus infection. She further revealed it was recorded as a demo in several minutes. The original demo vocals were kept for a year without being rerecorded as the singer really loved the imperfections and wanted to focus on the albums music instead of the vocals. The lyrics of XO express a cheerful celebration of love and life as Beyonc attempts to create light from darkness. It has been described as a universal love song which talks about different types of relationships. The singer lays emphasis on the importance of living the present with a persons loved one as life is unpredictable. She further sings about the tragedy and magnificence that life can hold. Throughout the song, the singer adopts a hopeful attitude and seems to have gone in trance with love,3. Caitlin White from the website The 4. In the darkest night of hate and intolerance we see impossible love stories conquering what our governments and societies declare is legally allowed to be love. It is for love that transcends the romantic conception of man and woman and stretches out into the impossibilities of the cosmos. It leaves room for failure but hopes for success. The opening lines of XO are echo laden3. Beyonc, the ballad contains several hooks. Beyonc starts the song by asking a loved one to kiss her. Some of the ascending chorus lines are call and response 1. Beyonc is backed by a sing along crowd as she sings about how her darkest nights are enlightened by the lovers face In the darkest night hour I search through the crowd Your face is all that I see I give you everything. The chorus ends with the singer adding, Baby love me, lights out, with a croak in her voice. Sampling controversyeditThe song begins with a six second long sample of former NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt, recorded moments after Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 2. Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the situation. Obviously a major malfunction. These were the last words spoken before the disintegrating vehicle fell into the sea. The use of the sample has been criticized in the media, including Hardeep Phull of the New York Post, who described its presence in the song as tasteless. Former NASA astronauts and families were also dismayed and labeled the use of the sample as insensitive. Keith Cowing of NASA Watch suggested that the use of the clip ranged from negligence to repugnance. On December 3. 0, 2. NASA criticized the use of the sample, stating The Challenger accident is an important part of our history a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized. Game of Thrones Wikipedia. Game of Thrones is an American fantasydrama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martins series of fantasy novels, the first of which is A Game of Thrones. It is filmed in Belfast and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and the United States. The series premiered on HBO in the United States on April 1. August 2. 7, 2. 01. Watch Michael Jordan To The Max Streaming there. The series will conclude with its eighth season premiering either in 2. Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones has several plot lines and a large ensemble cast but centers on three primary story arcs. The first story arc centers on the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms and follows a web of alliances and conflicts among the dynastic noble families either vying to claim the throne or fighting for independence from the throne. The second story arc focuses on the last descendant of the realms deposed ruling dynasty, exiled and plotting a return to the throne. The third story arc centers on the longstanding brotherhood charged with defending the realm against the ancient threats of the fierce peoples and legendary creatures that lie far north, and an impending winter that threatens the realm. Game of Thrones has attracted record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, international fan base. It has been acclaimed by critics, particularly for its acting, complex characters, story, scope, and production values, although its frequent use of nudity and violence including sexual violence has been criticized. The series has received 3. Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2. Its other awards and nominations include three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation 2. Peabody Award, and four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series Drama 2. Of the ensemble cast, Peter Dinklage has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2. Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries or Television Film 2. Tyrion Lannister. Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Diana Rigg, and Max von Sydow have also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for their performances in the series. Background. Power and violence are central themes of Game of Thrones, and the number of weapons made for the series some of which are shown here reflects this. Setting. Game of Thrones is roughly based on the storylines of A Song of Ice and Fire,23 set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the continent of Essos. The series chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the realms noble families for the Iron Throne, while other families fight for independence from it. It opens with additional threats in the icy North and Essos in the east. Showrunner David Benioff jokingly suggested The Sopranos in Middle earth as Game of Thronestagline, referring to its intrigue filled plot and dark tone in a fantasy setting of magic and dragons. In a 2. U. S. TV drama series with an average of 1. Themes. The series is generally praised for what is perceived as a sort of medieval realism. George R. R. Martin set out to make the story feel more like historical fiction than contemporary fantasy, with less emphasis on magic and sorcery and more on battles, political intrigue, and the characters, believing that magic should be used moderately in the epic fantasy genre. Martin has stated that the true horrors of human history derive not from orcs and Dark Lords, but from ourselves. A common theme in the fantasy genre is the battle between good and evil, which Martin says does not mirror the real world. Just like peoples capacity for good and for evil in real life, Martin explores the questions of redemption and character change. The show allows the audience to view different characters from their perspective, unlike in many other fantasies, and thus the supposed villains can provide their side of the story. Benioff said, George brought a measure of harsh realism to high fantasy. He introduced gray tones into a black and white universe. In early seasons, under the influence of the A Song of Ice and Fire books, main characters were regularly killed off, and this was credited with developing tension among viewers. Later seasons, however, critics pointed out that certain characters had developed plot armor, attributing this to the shows deviating from the books and becoming more of a traditional television series. The series also reflects the substantial death rates in war. Inspirations and derivations. Although the first season closely follows the events of the first novel, later seasons have made significant changes. According to David Benioff, the show is about adapting the series as a whole and following the map George laid out for us and hitting the major milestones, but not necessarily each of the stops along the way. Tom Holland of The Guardian believes that the novels and their adaptations base aspects of their settings, characters, and plot on events in European history. Most of Westeros is reminiscent of high medieval Europe, from lands and cultures,2. A principal inspiration for the novels is the English Wars of the Roses2. Lancaster and York, reflected in Martins houses of Lannister and Stark. The scheming Cersei Lannister evokes Isabella, the she wolf of France 1. Isabella and her family particularly as portrayed in Maurice Druons historical novel series, The Accursed Kings were also a main inspiration for Martin. Holland further proposes that other historical antecedents of series elements include Hadrians Wall which becomes Martins Wall, the legend of Atlantis ancient Valyria, Byzantine Greek fire wildfire, Icelandic sagas of the Viking Age the Ironborn, the Mongol hordes the Dothraki, the Hundred Years War 1. Italian Renaissance c. The series popularity has been attributed, in part, to Martins skill at fusing these elements into a seamless, credible version of alternate history. Martin acknowledges, I take history and I file off the serial numbers and I turn it up to 1. Cast and characters. Game of Thrones has an ensemble cast estimated to be the largest on television 2. In 2. 01. 4, several actor contracts were renegotiated to include a seventh season option, with raises which reportedly made them among the highest paid performers on cable TV. In 2. 01. 6, it was reported that several actor contracts were again renegotiated, with five of the main cast members having increased their salary to 2 million per episode for the last two seasons, which would make them the highest paid actors on television. The main cast is listed below. Lord Eddard Ned Stark Sean Bean is the head of House Stark, whose members are involved in plot lines throughout most of the series. He and his wife, Catelyn Tully Michelle Fairley, have five children Robb Richard Madden, the eldest, followed by Sansa Sophie Turner, Arya Maisie Williams, Bran Isaac Hempstead Wright and Rickon Art Parkinson, the youngest. Neds illegitimate son Jon Snow Kit Harington and his friend, Samwell Tarly John Bradley, serve in the Nights Watch under Lord Commander Jeor Mormont James Cosmo. The Wildlings living north of the Wall include young Gilly Hannah Murray, and warriors Tormund Giantsbane Kristofer Hivju and Ygritte Rose Leslie. Others associated with House Stark include Neds ward Theon Greyjoy Alfie Allen, his vassal. Roose Bolton Michael Mc. Elhatton, and Boltons bastard son, Ramsay Snow Iwan Rheon. Robb falls in love with the healer Talisa Maegyr Oona Chaplin, and Arya befriends blacksmiths apprentice Gendry Joe Dempsie and assassin Jaqen Hghar Tom Wlaschiha. The tall warrior Brienne of Tarth Gwendoline Christie serves Catelyn and, later, Sansa.