How ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Found a Sound of Its Own 

Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells and Tricia Fukuhara attend Paramount +'s "Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies" FYC Event at Hollywood Athletic Club on May 14, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells and Tricia Fukuhara attend Paramount +'s "Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies" FYC Event at Hollywood Athletic Club on May 14, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT

How ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ Found a Sound of Its Own 

Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells and Tricia Fukuhara attend Paramount +'s "Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies" FYC Event at Hollywood Athletic Club on May 14, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Ari Notartomaso, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Isabel Wells and Tricia Fukuhara attend Paramount +'s "Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies" FYC Event at Hollywood Athletic Club on May 14, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

While songwriter Justin Tranter has attained success by penning hit pop anthems like Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Imagine Dragons' "Believer," writing music for the Paramount+ prequel "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" took him in a new direction.

For the 10-part musical TV series based on the famous 1978 film "Grease," Tranter wrote 30 original tracks - most of which weren't in the vein of the pop songs for which he is known.

"I'm very proud of my pop songs but there isn't the level of storytelling that's required for a musical," Tranter told Reuters.

"Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" is set in 1954, four years before the story of the US high school movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

The first season, which ends on Thursday, follows four rebellious students who unite to become the misfits of Rydell High and eventually the "Pink Ladies" clique. The show's lead, Marisa Davila, portrays Jane Facciano, the first female student to run for class president.

When he knew he was interested in being a part of the project, Tranter wrote his own original audition song, "Too Cool," which is featured in the first episode.

One of the main challenges Tranter faced was emulating the popular songs from the original film, which incorporated sounds from different decades.

"Some of it feels very true to the '50s and some of it is very much a late '70s take," Tranter said, referring to the original "Grease."

He also wanted to bring some of his contemporary pop style into the mix as well.

"We are waiting to see how an audience receives 30 original songs over 10 episodes. No-one has done it before, so we don't know how it's going to work," Tranter said.



Nelly Delivers Hits at ‘Homecoming’ Super Bowl Week Concert in Historic New Orleans Restaurant

Entertainer Nelly performs at halftime of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Oklahoma State and Texas in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP)
Entertainer Nelly performs at halftime of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Oklahoma State and Texas in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP)
TT

Nelly Delivers Hits at ‘Homecoming’ Super Bowl Week Concert in Historic New Orleans Restaurant

Entertainer Nelly performs at halftime of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Oklahoma State and Texas in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP)
Entertainer Nelly performs at halftime of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Oklahoma State and Texas in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. (AP)

Nelly brought his signature St. Louis swagger to a New Orleans institution, turning a nearly seven-decade-old restaurant into a Super Bowl week party.

The multi-Grammy winner packed Brennan’s on Friday night, delivering a hit-filled set at h.wood “Homecoming.” As fans rushed the stage, Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and actor Jaleel White kicked back in the VIP area, while Flavor Flav enjoyed the show from a prime onstage spot.

Chainsmokers went on before Nelly, performing a number of their hits from “Closer” to “Roses.”

Before Nelly's appearance, attendees mingled for a few hours at the invite-only event. Once he arrived, many flocked toward the stage and pulled out their phones to capture his set.

While Flavor Flav recorded him, Nelly went on to perform several jams including “Ride Wit Me,” “E.I." and “Air Force Ones.” Many in the crowd recited Kelly Rowland-sang chorus of “Dilemma,” which won a Grammy in 2003. He also performed “Hot in Here,” another Grammy winner in that same year.

The Homecoming concert show was a part of a night filled with other concerts across the New Orleans area before the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Shaquille O’Neal held his carnival-style Shaq’s Funhouse with Ludacris and John Summit headlining the concert. Some attendees included football player Desean Jackson, NBA great Paul Pierce and Patrick Surtain II, who was recently awarded the NFL's defensive player of the year honor.