Culture Chat: Jennifer Lopez’s baffling ‘This is Me … Now’
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This Friday, we explore Jennifer Lopez’s mind-boggling new movie musical ‘This is Me … Now: A Love Story’, which was released alongside an album of the same name. The film, inspired by her marriage to actor Ben Affleck, is a series of music videos, action scenes and therapy sessions. And it was self-funded, for $20mn. What, exactly was J Lo trying to say with this project? Lilah is joined by two special guests, comedians and hosts of the podcast Celebrity Memoir Book Club, Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker.

We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap) and we’re on X @lifeandartpod). You can email us at [email protected]). We are grateful for reviews, on Apple, Spotify etc.

Links (all FT links get you past the paywall): 

– * This is Me…Now: A Love Story *is out now on Amazon Prime. Jennifer Lopez’s new album is also out on all streaming platforms. 

– Ashley and Claire’s podcast is called Celebrity Memoir Book Club. It’s available wherever you listen. Here’s their 2021 episode on J Lo’s memoir: https://podcasts.apple.com/md/podcast/jennifer-lopez-knows-true-love/id1533533467?i=1000530871148) 

– We also love this FT column by Jo Ellison. Bennifer, the rematch and why love deserves a second chance: https://on.ft.com/48rItHj) 

More or Less: 

– Ashley wants more choreographed dance routines, like in music videos by Tinashe. 

– Claire wants more considered writing about the arts, and mentioned the Stephen Sondheim musical ‘Here We Are’. Related, here’s a piece) from this weekend’s FT on the meaning of musical memorabilia – and why there’s a boom in the market at the moment. 

– Lilah wants more narratives told backwards, like Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’, which is playing on Broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe. The FT’s review of the musical is here).

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Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner, McMurran and Sam Giovinco. 

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com)

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