Madonna took time out from her packed tour schedule to make a pit stop at the New York Kabbalah Centre during the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Joining the Queen of Pop was her adorable adopted son David, clad in a yarmulke and all-white -- the standard garb for Kabbalah-practicing males.
The busy mom just wrapped the European leg of her "Sticky and Sweet Tour" and has a quick break before kicking off the U.S. leg this Saturday in New Jersey.
Ever since her Madgesty embarked on her "Blonde Ambition" tour sporting designs (including that infamous cone bra) by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier, fans waited with bated breath to see who would be given the honor of designing her new dance togs. This year Madonna called on Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci. Tisci designed two outfits for the two-hour extravaganza, which also features designs by Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, and Miu Miu, to name a few.
If you've seen Madonna in concert then you know the woman loves to dress in layers -- that she can take off. By the end of each outfit she's often down to her skivvies reminding the world that she's still hot even at 50 years old!
Madge has also been moonlighting as a filmmaker. She'll make her directorial debut with "Filth and Wisdom," a comedy about three London flatmates that opens in theaters on October 17. It's inspiring to see the 50-year-old workaholic find time for it all while raising three kids with director hubby Guy Richie.
Friday, September 26, 2008 - Doll Domination? Don't Count On It!
Everyone's favourite pop burlesque troupe returns to bother the world's teenagers with their teasing dance routines and less-is-more dress sense.
This is an album that reels off one clunker after another. Lead single When I Grow Up would embarrass Paris Hilton, but sets the template for the rest of the album. Urban beats, sleepwalking guest parts from Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliot, and lyrics that might as well have been written by a sophomore student on a weekend bender for all the depth on offer.
It is worth noting that Nicole Scherzinger is thrust into the spotlight on this album, singing lead vocals on every track. The most notable contribution the rest of the group make is posing seductively on motorbikes on the album's cheesy cover image.
Given how rapidly the wheels came off Nicole Scherzinger's solo career - not to mention the two car crashes of the Pussycat Dolls reality TV shows - it's not surprising that her latest vehicle, "Doll Domination", comes both souped-up and armour-plated. The album was assembled by a small army of the most expensive engineers (Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Polow da Don, Sean Garrett).
As an emblem of 21st century pop production excess, it makes recent albums by Rihanna, Beyonce and Madonna feel like folksy little efforts recorded in their basements. But as a listening experience, it's an uneven and ramshackle affair. Like a hyperactive five-year-old let loose in a fancy dress shop, the Dolls occasionally find styles which fit, but the results are just as often a big mismatch.
Given the fact there are 25 tracks and a platoon of songwriters spread over "Doll Domination"'s various bonus discs, it's not surprising that it occasionally succeeds, and there are hit singles to be found here. But from a return on investment point of view, this could just mark the moment when modern record companies starts to wonder whether less might not be more, after all.
Doll domination? Don't count on it. Unless a couple more of these tracks manage to repeat the success of When I Grow Up and stick on commercial radio, this is an album heading straight for the half-off bins.
Friday, September 19, 2008 - Mozart's "Bonus Track"
A French museum has found a previously unknown piece of music handwritten by Mozart, a researcher said Thursday. The 18th century melody sketch is missing the harmony and instrumentation but was described as important find.
Ulrich Leisinger, head of research at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria, said there is no doubt that the single sheet was written by the composer.
"His handwriting is absolutely clearly identifiable," he said. "There's no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart."
The work, described as the preliminary draft of a musical composition, was found by a library in Nantes in western France as staff were going through its archives. Leisinger says the library contacted his foundation for help authenticating the work.
"It's a melody sketch so what's missing is the harmony and the instrumentation but you can make sense out of it," he said. "The tune is complete. It's only one part and not the whole score with eight or twelve parts."
"One can really get a feeling of what Mozart meant although we do not know how he would have orchestrated it."
The city is planning to hold a news conference on the find later on Thursday.
There have been about 10 Mozart finds of such importance over the past 50 years, he said. If sold, the single sheet would likely be worth around $100,000.
Hudson's debut album has been nearly two years in the making, but her mentor Clive Davis must finally be happy, because it's scheduled for a Sept. 30 release. I've heard a few tracks, and can confirm that the word Hudson most often uses to describe the disc -- "variety" -- applies. The final track listing remains unsolidified; what I heard ranged from blockbuster heart-renders to hip-hop-flavored experiments.
The best cuts include the super-sassy Timbaland production "Pocketbook," which features a lascivious rap from Ludacris, and the smooth heartbreaker "Invisible," helmed by the Underdogs, the production team behind the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack.
The first single, "Spotlight" is already heating up the charts.
BEYONCE KNOWLES
Beyoncé has finally set a release date for her as-yet-untitled third studio album: The wannabe icon will unleash her new tunes on Nov. 18. While she probably doesn't need to worry too much about hyping the hotly anticipated release, she'll still be amping things up on Oct. 7, when she simultaneously releases the first two singles from the album, "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies."
According to her Columbia record label is the Grammy winner's "most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to date."
The 27-year-old cowrote and coproduced every track on the album.
BRTINEY SPEARS
Britney Spears shouldn't expect to work with Jermaine Dupri on her new album. The über-producer, who's worked with some of the biggest names in the music biz—Mariah Carey, Usher, Kanye West and girlfriend Janet Jackson, to name a few—had an unexpected response when he was asked why: "I don't think she needs me... Her last album was a good album. She probably would have sold three million records if everybody wasn't paying attention to her babies and all that."
Ne-Yo, on the other hand, says he'd hook up with Ms. Spears, because they were supposed to work together on her last album. Plans got sidetracked, because of Brit's then-troubled private life.
Among the producers on Spears' new CD are Nate "Danja" Hills and Max Martin, who produced some of her biggest hits, including her first, "Baby One More Time." The first single, "Womanizer," will be released to radio Sept. 22, her record label, Jive/Zomba, announced Monday.
Her new album, "Circus" is set for release Dec. 2.
If you are "having the time of your life" you may be dancing to the gayest song ever...
The lyric comes from ABBA’s Dancing Queen which topped the list of gayest songs of all time all over the internet (voted by critics, readers and even by some openly gay musicians). The Village People’s YMCA came in second, followed by Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. Of course, many already disagrees with the results... I guess, our taste is as diverse as the colors of the rainbow.
Here's a quick run-down on the top ten list of gayest songs with some facts about them.
Enjoy them proud and loud!
10. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Some members of the band were openly gay, and the lyrics make some pretty graphic references to sexual acts. The line, "When you want to come" is a reference to orgasm.
This was banned by some UK radio stations for offensive lyrics, which helped make it a hit. In the US, the lyrics were not considered controversial, as they could be interpreted many different ways. Somehow, "When you want to suck to it" was ambivalent enough to keep it on US radio.
This was a huge hit in England. It was on the British charts for over a year.
Three videos were made. The first, which MTV refused to play, was filled with extravagant homo-erotic images. MTV aired the third video, which showed the band performing at a show.
This was produced by Trevor Horn, who was a former member of Yes and The Buggles.
This was featured in the 2001 Ben Stiller movie Zoolander. In the movie, this song triggers a male model to carry out an assassination. It was also used in "Body Double," a 1984 suspense movie in which the lead character, a B-movie actor, performs a scene to the song, virtually a music video within the movie.
9. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
Written for the movie The Wizard Of Oz, this song was used early in the film when Dorothy (played by Judy Garland) longs to escape her dreary life on the farm in Kansas. A deeper interpretation can have Dorothy longing for heaven.
The music was written by Harold Arlen, The lyrics by Yip Harburg. They were asked to write this based on their previous hits, "It's Only A Paper Moon," "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime," and "Lydia The Tattooed Lady."
The original title was "Over the Rainbow is where I want to be."
Some of the artists who recorded this include Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, and Larry Clinton.
This was almost cut from the movie. Some executives from MGM thought the film was too long and wanted this removed. They thought it slowed down the action too early in the movie.
This won an Oscar in 1939 for Best Original Song. Garland was urged to sing it when she accepted the award. She did, but had a hard time getting through it because she was so excited.
The film was nominated for 6 Oscars, but had the misfortune of being released the same year as Gone With The Wind, which won Best Picture. The Wizard Of Oz won only for this and Best Score, which was written by Herbert Stothart.
In a 2001 poll conducted by the Recording Industry Association Of America and the National Endowment for the Arts, this was voted the #1 song of all time.
8. I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross
Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards wrote this and produced it. They were the leaders of the '70s Disco band Chic, and brought that Disco sound to Ross for this album. Rodgers got the idea for the song when he went to a transvestite club in New York City. He went to the bathroom, and while he was standing at the urinal, he saw 3 men who looked like Diana Ross. "Coming Out" means coming out of the closet and being openly gay.
In 1997, Puff Daddy sampled this on the track "Mo Money Mo Problems," which became a #1 hit in the US.
7. Can't Get You Out of My Head - Kylie Minogue
This was Minogue's first hit in the US since 1988, when her cover of "The Locomotion" hit #3. She has been very successful in England and her home country of Australia.
This is known as "The La La Song," because the chorus is her singing "La La La, La La La La La" over and over.
Minogue is an actress and sex-symbol. She dated INXS singer Michael Hutchence, has appeared in Australian Soap Operas, and had a part in the movie Moulin Rouge shortly before this was released.
In England, this sold over a million copies and was in the Top 40 for 5 months.
This was written by Cathy Dennis and former Mud guitarist Rob Davis. Dennis had a few hits as a solo artist in the early '90s, including "Just Another Dream" and "Too Many Walls."
This was originally offered to Sophie Ellis-Bextor, but she turned it down.
6. Cher - Believe
This was the biggest-selling single in US in 1999 and in UK in 1998.
When this hit #1 in the US, it was the longest anyone had gone between #1 hits in the US. Her last chart topper was "Dark Lady," which hit #1 in 1974. At 25 years, this broke the record for biggest gap, which was previously held by The Beach Boys, who went 22 years between "Good Vibrations" and "Kokomo."
This was the biggest UK hit by a solo female artist, selling 1,672,108 copies.
Cher was 52 when she topped the UK charts, making her the oldest female artist to have a #1 hit in the UK.
Cher's vocals were processed through a device called a vocoder, which gave them a distorted sound.
5. Vogue - Madonna
"Vogueing" was a dance craze popular in the gay community where dancers used elaborate hand gestures and frequently stopped to pose. This song brought the dance style to the mainstream and solidified Madonna's standing as an icon in the gay community.
Madonna's best friend Debi Mazar first noticed the Vogue craze while they were out clubbing. She was fascinated by the way these men would "Strike a pose" while holding their bodies in strange positions. Madonna took the idea to the New York producer Shep Pettibone, who she had recently begun working with, and they wrote the song together.
As of 2007 Lauren Bacall is the only surviving legendary actor or actress mentioned in this song. Of the others mentioned Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Grace Kelly, Jean Harlow, Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, and Bette Davis all died before the release of the song. While Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joe DiMaggio (the only non actor mentioned), Marlon Brando, Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, and Lana Turner have all passed away since the song's release.
The video was directed by David Fincher, who directed Alien 3 2 years later and went on to direct Seven, Fight Club and Zodiac.
This was included on Madonna's album I'm Breathless, which was "inspired by" the movie Dick Tracy. Madonna starred in the movie with Warren Beatty.
4. It’s Raining Men - The Weathergirls
The Weather Girls were the duo of Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes, who were both overweight and also recorded as Two Tons Of Fun. Wash, who had a very powerful voice, sang on many projects over the next several years, including songs by the groups C&C Music Factory ("Make You Sweat") and Black Box ("Strike It Up"). She was often uncredited and replaced in videos by models lip-synching her lines. She eventually sued for royalties and released a solo album under her own name. Rhodes died in 2004.
This became a gay anthem. Like "YMCA" by The Village People, the gay community helped popularize it.
Geri Halliwell, formerly a member of The Spice Girls, recorded this in 2001. Her version was used on the soundtrack to the movie Bridget Jones' Diary. When released, the single shot straight to #1 for 2 weeks. This was Halliwell's fourth #1 single in a row, and it made her the British female artist with the most #1 singles (11 in total, 7 with the Spice Girls and 4 of her own).
This was written and produced by Paul Shaffer and Paul Jabara. Shaffer is David Letterman's bandleader; Jabara wrote "Last Dance" and "No More Tears" for Donna Summer.
Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross were both offered this song and turned it down.
3. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
This is a female-empowerment anthem. It is about moving on after a bad relationship. Over the years, it has taken on meaning for people who have overcome just about any difficult situation.
This won the 1979 Grammy for Best Disco Recording. It was the first and last time that the Grammys offered this category.
This has been reproduced in 20 languages, including Arabic.
Gaynor sees this song as just a simple song about survival, regardless of what you have to overcome: "I love the empowering effect, I love the encouraging effect. It's a timeless lyric that addresses a timeless concern."
This became an anthem in the gay community. It is also one of the most popular songs to be sung on Karaoke.
VH1 named this #1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs.
2. YMCA - Village People
Y.M.C.A. stands for "Young Men's Christian Association," which is commonly associated with the gyms that often provide temporary housing to men.
The Village People sing about the YMCA as a place where you can hang out with all the boys. It's implied that this is more of a concealed kind of place to gather in-the-closet gay young men so they can leave their worries and troubles behind and let loose. While the lyrics don't contain any specific gay references, the song became a gay anthem.
This is a very popular song at sporting events, especially baseball games where it is often played between innings. The song plays at Yankee Stadium when the grounds crew dredges the infield. The crew stops to perform that arm gestures at the appropriate times.
1.Dancing Queen - ABBA
This was written by ABBA members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. They were inspired by Queen Silvia, who married King Gustaf XVI of Sweden in 1976. Abba performed this at a televised tribute to the couple the day before they were married.
This is arguably the world's first Europop Disco hit. (This was ABBA's only #1 hit in the US. They had 14 songs crack the Top-40 in The States.)
Regarding the lyrics, "Night is young and the music's high," many listeners interpret this as a statement that the music makes you feel high. In ABBA's part of the world, however, it simply means that the music is loud.
According to the BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, when this song was played at a Windsor Castle event Queen Elizabeth said: "I always try to dance when this song comes on because I am the Queen and I like to dance."
Friday, August 29, 2008 - Meet the new American Idol: Kara Dioguardi
Five months before the new season of American Idol is set to kick off (and apparently trying to steal some of Dancing With the Stars' thunder), producers are shaking things up in a big way, messing with what was until now a winning formula and adding a fourth permanent judge to the table.
Joining Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson when the eighth season of the reality juggernaut begins in January is prolific singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
The Grammy nominee's name may not be familiar to Idol viewers, but her sound should be. DioGuardi has strong ties to the behind-the-scenes world of Idol, writing tracks for David Cook, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks.
She has also more than earned her credentials outside the Idol universe, penning hits for Britney Spears, Jonas Brothers, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Paris Hilton, Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, Leona Lewis, Natasha Bedingfield, Santana, Hilary Duff, Simpsons Jessica and Ashlee and just about any other artist who's cracked Billboard's Top 10 in recent years.
And if viewers are wondering where on the judges' scale of causticity she'll fall...
"It's hard for me to not be honest," she said. "I'm known to be very exclamatory...My vibe is to the point, and I can be pretty tough at times, but also nurturing when I need to be."
FYI: Producers tried once before to add a fourth judge to the Idol mix, hiring New York DJ Angie Martinez to join the second season of the show. She lasted just five days before quitting, after revealing she had never bothered to watch an episode before signing on.
Friday, August 22, 2008 - Divas vs. Cancer - "Just Stand Up"
What would it sound like if 15 of the hottest divas joined voices? The answer will be revealed Sept. 2.
That's when "Just Stand Up" hits airwaves and iTunes. The song features Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. All sales of the star-studded single will benefit cancer research.
The charity tune was conceived by Antonio "L.A." Reid, who produced it with longtime creative colleague Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.
All 15 singers will share the stage to perform the song live on Sept. 5 during the "Stand Up to Cancer" television special, set to air simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS. Other stars expected to turn out for the hourlong fund- and awareness-raising program include Jennifer Aniston, Lance Armstrong, Katie Couric, Sally Field, Salma Hayek, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker and Reese Witherspoon.
Founded in 2007, Stand Up to Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that calls on entertainment-industry people and platforms to help fight cancer.
Yes, the mother of re-invention, the material girl, the kabbalah leader and the Vatican scandalizer can add one more title to her long line of image-changing: the new poster-child for the 50-and-fabulous set.
Fans have always admired Madonna, especially for her shrewd ability to adapt her image. After all, she's done a remarkable job of marketing herself, and she's always been able to keep us entertained by staying fresh, edgy and unexpected.
Of course, some could rightly point out that it's easier to stay fit when you can afford private trainers and servants. Or possibly a little nip and tuck? Madonna's face appears on the current cover of New York magazine as an example of the latest hot looks in plastic surgery, though she hasn't said whether she's gone under the knife or needle.
More power to her, says Lesley Jane Seymour, editor of More, a magazine for women over 40.
"So she's had some work — I'll take it," says Seymour. "I want to know who her doctor is! It's really hard to believe she's 50. She looks 40. And she just keeps going at it, living life and loving life."
To Seymour, Madonna's not only an example to women on how to grow older — she's a reflection of how, as a society, our perceptions of age have changed. Especially 50, which used to be seen as the beginning of a depressing decline, not a new chapter.
Madonna or not, 50 marks a new beginning for women all over the world these days. U.S. woman has another 30 years to live past the half-century mark. Many have accomplished a number of their goals already. Their children are out of the nest. So, for the first time they can really think about themselves, and focus on what they really want out of their lives.
So what does the queen of pop think about turning 50? Well, not much. According to her publicist Liz Rosenberg, "Being 50 is not quite the benchmark for Madonna as it seems to be in the media."
I can understand her... after all, her upcoming world tour ("Sticky & Sweet") kicks off in a week in England. So, I'm sure she has other things to worry about then to just run around town with a birthday cake in her hand. Either way, Happy B-day Madge!
(P.S.: Other stars reaching 50 in 2008: Michael Jackson and Prince are two of the most discussed. But there's also Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon Stone, Christiane Amanpour. Alec Baldwin, Viggo Mortensen. Andie MacDowell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Pfeiffer and the original "Sex and the City" columnist Candace Bushnell.)
Friday, August 8, 2008 - Natalie Cole is "Still Unforgettable"!
Natalie Cole is doing her best to make sure her dad's velvety voice lives on.
The daughter of jazz and pop legend Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole (who has forged a successful career in two phases, doing RB/urban contemporary and then jazzbased pop) has announced the release for Still Unforgettable, a follow-up to her soulful Grammy-winning 1991 cover album Unforgettable: With Love, which featured the singer's infamous digital duet with her father Nat King Cole on the crooner's classic 1951 ballad "Unforgettable."
It's technology that has allowed the pair to share the spotlight, considering Cole's father died in 1965, when she was only 15.
Still Unforgettable, due out Sept. 9,will feature a host of pop standards and another father-daughter duet, this time on "Walkin' My Baby Back Home," which Nat recorded in 1952.
"You never get over missing your dad as the years go by, particularly around Father's Day," Cole said in a statement, and it's the fans who sent her back to his catalogue "looking for more treasures—and I was not disappointed."
Recorded at the historical Capital Studios in LA and produced by Natalie herself, the album features classics 'Walkin' My Baby Back Home' a duet with Nat King Cole, 'Come Rain or Come Shine', 'Here's That Rainy Day' and 'But Beautiful'. A brand new video for this song and an EPK is being created for TV promotion.
Friday, August 1, 2008 - "25 LIVE" - The George Michael Concert
The controversy surrounding George Michael's sexuality, his diva-like behaviour, his legal battles with his label and his status as an icon of the '80s - it's very easy to forget why we know him in the first place: the man is simply an amazing singer.
Last nite in Atlanta, GA, on his latest "25 LIVE" tour, he gave a performance that satisfied fans looking for the Michael of Wham! days, pleasing them with "I'm Your Man," "Everything She Wants" and "Careless Whispers," which drew the entire arena into a mass karaoke session.
His solo career after Wham! yielded a body of work that kept fans on their feet with songs like "Faith," "Fastlove," "Too Funky" and the final encore, "Freedom '90." With the latter songs, videos that featured supermodels Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista moved the eye toward the screen, reminding fans of a time when videos weren't on demand via YouTube.
What was surprising is how much of Michael's new music seems current and easy to dance to; "Amazing" and "Flawless" lived up to their titles. He also interspersed ballads into the set, which sealed the impression that he's at the top of his game.
The openly gay singer infused rainbow colors all over his video set, and much of his newer music reflected comfort with his sexual orientation. But the older "Freedom" was the overwhelming crowd favorite, perhaps because of its anthemic qualities: "I think there's something you should know / I think it's time I told you so / There's something deep inside of me / There's someone else I've got to be." Michael is finally that someone else, true to himself.
After 17 years, George Michael is touring in North America again. But with his "25 LIVE" tour, Michael shows he's not so much about comeback as he is about continuity.
Friday, July 25, 2008 - Rapper's Books-a-Million - From Vulgarity to Literacy???
It seems that these days any writer-wanna-be can have their books out... However, it's a whole another question if they are really gonna make a contribution to the literary world with their celebrity "tell-all-biographies" and "how-to-lose-weight" books. After all, not everyone writes children's books like Madonna.
A New York publisher is suing Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown, saying they were paid advances for books they never delivered.
Simon & Schuster Inc. says Brown was paid $75,000 in 2005 to deliver an autobiography called "Broken Silence" by February 2006; and Lil' Kim was paid $40,000 in 2003 for a novel due June 2004.
The publisher wants its money back through the two lawsuits filed Thursday.
After signing the deals, both women were imprisoned for several months. Lil' Kim went to prison in 2005 for lying about a shooting, and Brown in 2007 for violating probation arising from a fight with two manicurists.
The rapper divas' attornies did not comment on the situation... (Maybe they are still hoping for Oprah's book club approval to get out of the trouble.)
In any case, these unwritten autobiographies won't be a loss for the literary community.
Friday, July 18, 2008 - A week of music in status updates...
Welcome back to the latest edition of my MUSIC TALK column... So much has happened this week that I decided to cover this week's music news in the popular status updates format. In other words, in the name of each celebrity I will write a short mood update that refers to their news headline this week. Enjoy!!!
Madonna - "Yankees or Mets? I don't know... I just hope that Britney shows up on time to flim my concert footage."
Britney - "Ya'll, I'm tired of K-fed... he can have the kids and be a stay-at-home-soccer-mom. I found a job, Madonna called. Yay! Where's Starbucks?"
Miley Cyrus - "I wanna be Madonna. I just hope that Disney won't fire me... (sigh)"
James Brown - "Papa got some brand new bags on E-bay for $1.99... Buy away! or if you have some serious green then come to Christie's this week!"
Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones/guitarist) - "Promises of Malibu here I come! Amy Winehouse waiiiiiiiiiiiiit for me!!!"
50 cent - "Yo! Told ya I'm clean... no drugs man. I got my son. That's what's up."
Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies/singer) - "Damn 50 cent! Lucky bastard... I got caught. I'm signing off. C u in 15 years!"
Natalie Cole -"Unforgettable... Mmmm... oh, wait... or is it unforgiveable? Hepatitis C... well, Pam Anderson and I have at least one thing in common! LOL"
Dolly Parton - "9 to 5 is coming to Broadway! Get tickets now!"
Bono & Edge (U2)- "Ireland watch out and Motel 6 move over, here we come with our hotel!"
Whitney Houston - "I will always (love) sing for you... just because 'Being Bobby Brown' is over... I will do it on any airplanes now instead of the streets... My singing is fly, no matter what Clive Davis thinks:) Damn this wig is itching!"
Friday, July 11, 2008 - "These boots are made for walkin'???" - Part 2
People will talk about why Jessica Simpson decided to record a country album (due out on September 9th). The first single is called, "Come on Over."
What’s with all these Pop stars trying to become Country artists? First, Bon Jovi tried it (only finding success because of Jennifer Nettles), then Jewel, then Darius Rucker, and now Jessica Simpson. Is it to get a bigger fan base, to be more creative, as a media stunt, or all of the above? What does she do better, country or pop? How does she compare to other country artists close to her age like Carrie Underwood? What about more established country singers such as Shania Twain and Reba McEntire?
To start off credit must be given where credit is due. Simpson does manage to produce a slightly more country sound that actually sounds a lot better than anything she has ever done before, because it sounds pure and untainted. However, this is the only credit this song really adds.
Other than that the song really doesn’t stand out at all. It reuses the name “Come On Over”, formerly the title of a Shania Twain hit, which could have given it a little shine, but when you finally hear it you realize there really isn’t much to it at all. We find Jess explaining to a guy the steps to take and then to come over her house once these orders are done. This is a relatively new outlook on romance, but the enjoyable aspect of the whole thing is weak. Sure it’s a fun listen the first time and it brings out a more pure side to Simpson’s vocals, but after the amazement of hearing it and realizing that Jessica Simpson has finally gone through with her goal and that she can actually sing without the help of a computer, there’s not much to it at all. To sum up this song in one word, I quote Simon Cowell…it is “forgettable” and "frankly, I've heard people sing with more emotion at local karaoke bars..."
Let the fans be the judge of it... I'm sure they still think that she deserves a 100th comeback...
Friday, July 4, 2008 - From Spotlight 2 Greenlight - Hot tracks of the week
Jennifer Hudson - "SPOTLIGHT"
The song is an interesting first choice of a single for Jennifer Hudson. Most fans would expect a little bit of Dreamgirls Effie who strikes out with such dramatic conviction, "And I'm telling you I'm not going!" But there's no belting on "Spotlight" -- and that's OK. With it's steady beat, pleasing vocals, and strong lyrical message, the song (that lasts for almost a whole five minutes) it's still rather satisfying and will likely further catapult J-Hud into the superstar stratosphere.
"SPOTLIGHT" is about a woman trying to get out from under an overbearing relationship. It has an easy, slow build reminiscent of R&B songs of the '80s, and similar to Mary J. Blige, it's got a great hook and some very likable light piano riffs.
Fans can get more Jennifer Hudson when her debut album drops in September.
John Legend is hard at work on his third studio album. One of the songs that will be on the CD, called “Green Light”, featuring Andre 3000 of OutKast, surfaced earlier this month. It’s a different direction for John, here’s what Andre, had to say about the collaboration: “It’s going to be a surprise for a lot of John Legend fans, because it is a lot more upbeat than John is — than people think John is. I was actually happy to hear it. This is a cool John Legend song.”
The R&B Sensation's new album is dropping in October.
Friday, June 27, 2008 - Amy, please say "Yes" for rehab!
Winehouse — famous for her rebellious anthem "Rehab" — was photographed with a cigarette dangling from her lips as she left the hospital where she was rushed after fainting (yet again) a few days ago. Winehouse's father said her crack and cigarette smoking had so damaged her lungs, she was risking emphysema and death if she didn't clean up.
It was a potent symbol of how Winehouse's troubles have multiplied since February, when she was enjoying the triumph of her young career.
There she was, before a worldwide audience, surrounded by family after winning a record-tying five Grammys for her album "Back to Black." True, the 23-year-old Brit couldn't make it to the Los Angeles show — she had finally entered a rehabilitation clinic. But the Grammys were still a brilliant achievement after months of reported drug use, attempts at rehab, canceled performances and erratic behavior.
Immediately after the Feb. 10 ceremony, there was talk of relaunching her American tour. "There was a sense that maybe she was going to turn it around and she was going to get it together and it was going to be a great feel-good story," said veteran music journalist Alan Light.
"We all have a walk in life," legendary singer Chaka Khan, herself a past user of drugs, said backstage after Winehouse's wins. "We have hard and difficult times and going through that chaos often leads to clarity."
But since being released from the hospital this week, the only thing that's gotten clearer is how deeply troubled Winehouse remains. Police have investigated her for an alleged assault and for drug use; she's been photographed looking particularly wan and disheveled, with pockmarks on her face and marks on her arms; videotapes have been released showing disturbing behavior, including one where she sang a song full of racial slurs. Her father was quoted as saying she had only "70 percent lung capacity."
It seems these days that those who reach fame and wealth fast are unable to handle the pressure and responsibilty that comes with its power... After all, Winehouse is not the only one waiting to get in-line at the 'rehab' facilities... Britney, Whitney and many more are either trying to get in or get out...
Friday, June 20, 2008 - Biggest Diva Tours in 2008
As always, there's nothing new under the Sun... or is there? The reality check of the week is that while most stars are still fighting for their comeback (like Whitney) or fighting to stay sober (like Britney), others are claiming that their new material is "the best they've done so far" and their tour is the "most anticipated tour of 2008."
Now let's see the truth as I'm walking you through it...
Celine Dion has earned 100 million dollars for the past five years in Vegas during her sold out shows... In 2008, her new single and album, "Taking Chances" came out which haven't produced any memorable hits yet... so now what? Well as some producers say, "If the album doesn't sell well, get on the road and back it up with a great show!" So, here she goes... Her tour is without a doubt one of the most monumental and definitely the longest one in 2008 (started on Feb 14th and will end on Jan 30th, 2009). It offers a rare and unique round stage and a special 360 degrees seating for fans within the arenas and around the world (The tour will visit cities in America, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Japan and Dubai, UAE.).
The second and most advertised tour this year is Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet Tour" which is to promote her latest album, "Hard Candy" in America, Canada, Mexico and in Europe. It is Madge's third show collaboration with PR concert moguls, LIVE NATION who offered her 120 million dollars in an exclusive 10 year deal earlier this year. Now that she's out of her contract with Warner Brothers, our material girl is ready to cash in again... Her last two shows, "The Re-Invention Tour (2004)" and "The Confessions Tour (2006)" were the biggest and most successful tours by a female artist in their years, so it isn't a shock that she is setting new records with her ticket sales on ticketmaster again...
The biggest surprise tour (a.k.a. comeback) of the year is "Tina Turner Live"... After her breathtaking performance duet with Beyonce at the Grammy's, the Queen of Rock 'n Roll will go on a farewell tour at the age of 68, to pay tribute to her fans one more time in the USA, Canada and in Europe. The tour will feature high tech sound and light effects, brand new choreography and remixed and re-mastered hits of the diva. You have to hand it to Tina Turner, at this age, she's still rocking the stage while her contemporaries are either drowning their sorrow of lost fame into doughnuts (like Aretha Franklin) or into more surgery and some lost act in Vegas (like Cher)...
Miss Kylie Minogue, european bubble-gum-pop-sensation, continues to prove that there's stardom after recovering from cancer... Her latest album "X" already produced huge hits like "Two Hearts", "In My Arms" or "Wow" in Europe and in Australia. She is currently on the road in Europe, playing her latest hits to sold out stadiums... The show is a visual and vocal spectacular. At 40, the every-changing Kylie, who is no longer the second best next to Madonna, made the crtics rave about her "KylieX2008 Tour".
Last, but not the least... Miss Janet jackson will also hit the road this year, however the news surrounding her tour preparation is not so glamorous. First of all, there was a long debate with her record company prior to the tour if she should even go on one since her last album, "Discipline" only produced one major hit ("Feedback") which didn't even stay on the charts for too long... She's already cancelled the european leg of her upcoming "Rock Witchu Tour 2008" due to her record company's lack of promotion and poor album and ticket sales overseas. However, her North American fans are anxiously waiting since she hasn't put on a live show for many years now. The first show will kick off on September 10th in Vancouver, Canada.
For detailed info on ticket sales and showtimes please visit the artists' official sites or go to:
Friday, June 13, 2008 - Solange "Decided" to Step Out of Beyonce's Shadow...
Solange, Beyonce's younger sister, probably has it the toughest.
I mean, let's face it... anyone around Beyonce Knowles, don't get much of a chance to shine. You might get a guest gig from the diva (like designing her a hideous dress), but to be a season regular, to share the limelight and the stage with her is clearly out of the picture... The living proofs are the Destiny's Child ex-members.
So, how will Solange cross over when she is mostly known as "Beyonce's younger sister" who was a teenage music artist not immersed in the child-hit-making-machine called Disney???
Pretty soon after Destiny's Child took off, Solange was also working on her music career. On her artist page, you'll find an album and dozens of old tracks, but nothing memorable... Now at 21, she is about to release a new album (expected to be a "Beyonce Jr. Project") which will be a ne-soul record as opposed to a hip hop R&B pop offering.
It turns out that Solange has recruited production from Pharrell, who did the first single "I Decided," Cee-Lo, Mark Ronson, and Q-Tip. All of these guys are excellent, and we all know how successful Mark Ronson has been with the throwback sounds from Amy Winehouse.
I like "I Decided." It's somewhat of a warm up track. It's light and feels good, and a nice way to reintroduce Solange. Solange wrote a three page autobiography about her career and compared the record to music of the '60s and '70s. "I would like to think that it is as if The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Dusty Springfield and Minnie Riperton were to make the music they did with a modern touch," she said.
If she can pull this off, she will easily be on the path of setting her accomplishments apart from those of her big superstar sis, but as for now... her efforts are the second best with a little uniqueness to it and with a lot of Beyonce's moves, singing and copy-catting.
Hope you have better luck Solange than Ms. Kelly did...
After Obama's "Yes we can!" victory this week, one of America's 50 stars is appearing in a new "Rock the Vote" TV ad. Christina Aguilera and her baby boy, Max, recently shot a PSA in which she sings a lullaby of "America the Beautiful" to her son.
"She sang a cappella, and her son was so well behaved," Rock the Vote executive director Heather Smith says of the half-day shoot in L.A. "She got it on the first take."
In the ad the baby is wrapped in the national flag which is actually a homage to Madonna, who wrapped herself in an American flag for a similar PSA 18 years ago.
"We decided it was time for a new generation of artists to speak to young people," says Smith. "This image really shows the country's 44 million young Americans that the future is in our hands."
The ad was directed by Sophie Muller, a veteran music video director who has worked with Beyoncé, Gwen Stefani, Sarah McLachlan, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks and Coldplay, among others.
Aguilera's spot will debut in a few weeks, along with corresponding print ads.
FYI: The Rock the Vote commercials inspired millions to register to vote and exercise their citizenship on election days since the late 1980's. In the past, next to Madonna, the campaign featured other stars like Alicia Keys, P. Diddy and Mariah Carey as their spokepersons.
After parting ways with Atlantic records, Lil' Kim gears up for her official indy release Ms. G.O.A.T. next month. The Queen Bee who made her name by hardcore lyrics and making **** rhyme, is officially out of prison and back for another round of rap session.
As an effort to promote her new record, she showed off her newly nip-and-tucked-face at the SATC movie premiere in NY, assuring her fans that some things never change like her crayola-like-gay-pride outfits.
But, going back to her music... Collabos on the Ms. G. O. A. T. album feature stand-outs 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Britney Spears and newcomer Maino. The disc also boasts tracks, to which Kim lent a few bars -- Keyshia Cole's hit "Let it Go," with Missy Elliott, Gucci Mane's club banger "Freaky Gurl," and Alica Keys' "No One" remix.
Kim parted ways with Atlantic Records at the top of the year, saying she was considering going indy. She's done just that with this latest album. Indy distributor Amalgam Entertainment is putting the project out.
In related news a stroke of bad luck and a few unpaid installments got her silver Bentley repossessed last month -- though according to Kim she wasn't responsible for the bills. The tide turned a couple of weeks ago when Kim won a $500,000 lawsuit against former friend, Junior M.A.F.I.A. rapper Lil Cease for featuring her in a street DVD about the now defunct click.
Friday, May 23, 2008 - All hail the queen! - Donna Summer is back!
Donna Summer has broken the stereotypical comeback routine... Why? Because for some time now, record companies have lazily saddled established artists -- black female singers, in particular -- with "covers" projects. Diana Ross, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Vanessa Williams have all released albums comprised of well-known songs already emblazoned in the minds of listeners by other artists. While some efforts certainly succeed more than others, the trend bespeaks a lack of creativity from record labels.
When Donna Summer was approached by Burgundy Records to record an album, she declined the inevitable "standards"-type project they suggested. Instead, Summer played a song for executives that she co-wrote with Lester Mendez and Wayne Hector, the haunting "Be Myself Again." Based on that one song, Burgundy decided that an entire album of Summer's compositions would be a more interesting and creative enterprise than yet another "heard-it-all-before-cover-album. "
Crayons is particularly special since Donna Summer hasn't released an album of original material since 1991, the sorely under-promoted Mistaken Identity.
Not only does Crayonsremind listeners about the thrill of discovering a brand new song, it's among the very best albums of Summer's four-decade career. LikeFour Seasons of Love(1976),I Remember Yesterday(1977), Once Upon a Time(1977),Bad Girls(1979),andThe Wanderer(1980),a theme encapsulates Crayons. The diversity of styles on the album is like a box of different colored crayons. From the spicy samba of "Drivin' Down Brazil" to the bayou twang of "Slide Over Backwards," the album emphasizes Summer's versatility as a singer and songwriter. Always one to take a creative risk, she successfully weaves together the disparate styles.
Crayons opens with the anthemic "Stamp Your Feet." The song highlights the various contours and textures of Donna Summer's voice while furnishing one of the more fierce grooves on the album. Even before Summer utters an actual word, her trademark timbre beckons. "Whoa-oah/Hey-yea-eah," she intones. Her voice is like a fine wine; its body grows more rich and full with time.
Summer enlisted songwriters Greg Kurstin (Pink, Lily Allen) and Danielle Brisebois (Natasha Bedingfield, New Radicals) for "Stamp Your Feet" and two stylistically adventurous outings, the title track and "Drivin' Down Brazil." The former features an infectious reggae-derived rhythm, which bounces underneath the refrain, "We're crayons melting in the sunshine." With a guest appearance by Ziggy Marley, "Crayons" is an exuberant celebration of different cultures, standing as a unique addition to Summer's repertoire.
Donna Summer deserves a vociferous round of applause for staying true to her artistry on Crayons. Her first album of new material in 17 years honors her legacy while unveiling other facets of her creativity.
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If you've seen Madonna in concert then you know the woman loves to dress in layers -- that she can take off. By the end of each outfit she's often down to her skivvies reminding the world that she's still hot even at 50 years old!
Madonna - "Yankees or Mets? I don't know... I just hope that Britney shows up on time to flim my concert footage."
