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Jeymes Samuel can take the heat when it comes to commentary about his work. And he’s expecting plenty to follow the release of his latest film, The Book of Clarence, a biblical epic set for release on Jan. 12 about a man who, witnessing the rising popularity of Jesus the Messiah, attempts to cash in on that fame by performing fake miracles to get out of debt.

“People always see things the wrong way and they call it backlash,” says the director who also wrote and produced the film and its accompanying soundtrack, which arrives Friday along with the feature. “It’s conversation. I like the smoke. Let’s talk.”

Lakeith Stanfield stars in the lead role of Clarence, which reunites him with his The Harder They Fall co-star R J Cyler among a large ensemble cast that includes Omar Sy, Caleb McLaughlin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anna Diop and James McAvoy.

On the floors of your own home, down in your basement’s makeshift a-go-go, with your own iTunes selection and the bathroom mirror’s reflection you’ll be dancin’ with yourself to Jimmy Fallon and The Roots remixed version of Billy Idol’s classic “Dancing With Myself,” which was made using random at-home instruments, like a food processor, and with an assist from Mr. Idol himself.

On Thursday’s “Tonight Show Show: At Home Edition,” Fallon and the Roots picked up whatever they have lying around their houses that could make a good beat and got on a Zoom conference call to rock out with Idol on vocals.

The result, which you can view via the video above, is a pretty spectacularly synchronized performance of “Dancing With Myself,” which is intercut with clips of “Tonight Show” viewers dancing with themselves at home during quarantine.

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Sting paid a virtual visit to Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show: At Home Edition” to do a little remix of the classic Police song “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,” which now has more relevance to daily life than ever before.

Using a variety of instruments and random household items they had lying around the musicians did a rocking rendition of the song, which is actually about a schoolgirl’s crush on a teacher and not about social-distancing in the age of the coronavirus.

Instruments used include Sting on the jar shaker, Questlove playing a pair of scissors and later, forks, Black Thought on the hair pick, Kamal Gray playing a Connect 4 set, Ian Hendrickson-Smith smacking away on a throw pillow, Dave Guy on the sneakers, Stro on the pot lid and wooden spoons, and some actual instruments like a ukulele, bass, melodica, and Tuba.

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Janet Jackson joined Jimmy Fallon and his “Tonight Show” house band The Roots Wednesday to perform her hit “Runaway” on classroom instruments.

And we just know they had a good time.

The assignments:

Janet Jackson – Vocals

Jimmy – Vocals, Wood Block, Bass Drum

Questlove – Kick Drum, Hand Clappers

Black Thought – Tambourine

James Poysner – Melodica

Captain Kirk – Ukulele Mark – Xylophone

Tuba Gooding Jr. – Orange Shaker and Kazoo

Stro – Bongos

Kamal Gray – Xylophone

Ian Hendrickson-Smith – Toy Sax

Dave Guy – Toy Trumpet

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And the lyrics, in case you can’t hear Janet’s sweet, soft voice over the banging on toys:

I’ve seen the world, been to many places

Made lots of friends, many different races

I’ve had such fun around the world it’s true

African skies with a Nairobi mood, ooh

I...

Daptone Records, the venerated funk and soul label responsible for releases by Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley and others, has announced big plans for its 100th 45rpm record, with the label bringing together its all-star roster of musicians for two tracks.

The A-side features “Hey Brother (Do Unto Others),” a song written by the Frightnrs, while the B-side houses The 100 Knights Orchestra’s “Soul Fugue.” “Hey Brother” features Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones, Naomi Shelton, Antibalas’ Amayo and Saun & Starr, among others. The Frightnrs originally performed the track on 2016’s Nothing More to Say,...