They may have had a lot to celebrate about like a number one single on the US singles chart and a top 10 album on the US albums chart but that?s not stopping people from giving consistently awful reviews on Coldplay?s free concert in Madison Square Garden. The band?s front man apparently forgot lyrics and chords on numerous occasions and the rest of the band was just straight-up no good. Then again, it was a free concert. They just got what they paid for ? absolutely nothing. For the sake of Coldplay, let?s hope that the paid concerts on the rest of their tour don?t get reviewed as badly.
Alicia Keys made comments about ?gangsta rap? in an interview with Blender magazine which she says were misinterpreted. The 27-year old singer was quoted in saying ?Gangsta rap was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. Gangsta rap didn?t exist.? What a conspiracy theory, huh? In a statement issued by J Records, Alicia now says ?My comments about `gangsta rap? were in no way trying to suggest that the government is responsible for creating this genre of rap music. The point that I was trying to make was that the term was oversloganized by some of the media causing reactions that were not always positive.?
Gwen Stefani feels “at home” working with her No Doubt bandmates.
The singer – who is pregnant with her second child – is currently recording another album with the band and is enjoying spending time with them.
The 38-year-old star – who forged a successful solo career while taking a break from the band – wrote on her blog: “It’s great to be home with all my boys. Feels crazy to be pregnant all over again!!!!! We have been spending every day up in the little studio in our house trying to write music. My favorite part so far is just seeing the guys everyday and hanging out. We have so much fun together.”
Gwen – who sang the lead vocals on the band’s biggest hit ‘Don’t Speak’ in 1997 – is confident the new album will be a success even though pregnancy is started to take its toll on her songwriting skills.
She added: “The songwriting part is a bit slow on my part. I think it has something to do with the baby in my belly but I’m sure it is all of the process and I really believe this could be the most inspired No Doubt record so far. Can’t wait to see what happens.?
Smashing Pumpkins are taking their former label, Virgin Records, to court over their use of the Pumpkins brand. The label, with whom the band split in 2000, allegedly, used the band?s name for promotional activities linked to Pepsi without their permission.
Virgin were allowed rights to sell digital downloads of the Chicago alt-indie rockers, but should not have compromised the band?s artistic integrity by using their name for promotional activities.
The Black Crowes just turned their evil eyes at Maxim magazine. The publication gave the band?s new album ?Warpaint? a scathing review in the March issue. While some may look at it as criticism, when the reviewer hasn?t even listened to the album, then that?s just being plain derogatory. Although no advance CDs have been made available, the magazine lists the album as having two and a half stars out of five and says that ?it [the album] hasn’t left Chris Robinson and the gang much room for growth.? Ouch.
The AP is reporting that the band?s manager Pete Angelus said that Maxim explained the review as an educated guess. Right. How would they make a guess if they have absolutely nothing to base it on?
Alicia Keys is set to perform at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. The Grammy award-winning singer is the latest addition to the star-studded line-up, which also includes Beyonc?, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, the Foo Fighters and Tina Turner. The Grammy awards are famous for their unusual pairings, and this year is no exception
While Beyonc? and Tina Turner are expected to duet, ‘Umbrella’ star Rihanna is set to team up with reunited group The Time to commemorate the ceremony’s 50th anniversary. In addition, Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige will appear on stage with The Clark Sisters, Israel and New Breed, and Trin-i-Tee 5:7 for a one-off gospel performance.
The ceremony, which is being held in Los Angeles’ Staples Center on February 10, will also feature a special tribute to British band The Beatles. Casts from Las Vegas’ Beatles tribute show ‘LOVE by Cirque du Soleil’ and film musical ‘Across The Universe’ will join forces in an exclusive tribute to the late John Lennon and George Harrison and the band’s surviving members Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Presenters at the ceremony include Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler and Nat King Cole’s daughter Natalie
One act I doubt will be appearing is Amy Winehouse?
Ashlee Simpson is back with a new single and a new sound. The Salvador Dali inspired video for ?Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)? is Ashlee?s most interesting and artistic video to date. The video begins with a restless Ashlee in her psychiatrist?s office, but then her imagination takes the wheel. She does everything in the video from floating on a giant Rubik?s cube to transforming into a glam robot. The video is currently making its way into the TRL countdown, and fans should show their love at mtv.com/ontv/dyn/trl/TRLvoting.jhtml to vote.
Ashlee Simpson premiered her new music video ?Outta My Head? on TRL on Tuesday (aired on Thursday) in New York City. She was also there to promote her new album which would come out in March 2008.She says about the album ?[Bittersweet World] definitely influenced by ?80s music. I wanted to do music with beats, I wanted to step outside the box. It?s where I am in my life. There?s parts of the record that are ?80s-influenced, because that?s just kind of where I?m at right now. I?m more laid-back, and I want to dance around, and I kind of laugh at things a lot, so you?ll hear that on the record.?
Ashley Tisdale has had an extremely busy year promoting her album and her hit song ?He Said, She Said? which is currently climbing the charts. What better way to wish your friends a happy holiday than with a message or song clip from Ashley! The new Audio Gifts Facebook application enables users to send a special holiday gift from Ashley: facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2534336806&b&ref=pd.
Here’s Britney’s new video and single titled “Piece of Me”. The video was shot in late November at the nightclub, it was directed by Wayne Isham.
youtube.com/watch?v=89oS4SN4mNg
Interscope and Geffen Records merged into one on Thursday and along with the merger was the layoff of 60 people. Many of those laid off had been there for years. This is another sign that the music industry is dying.
A music industry source is saying that the biggest reasons for the merger and cutbacks were the huge failures of the albums of will.i.am, Nicole Scherzinger and Eve. The last two aren?t even out yet but are projected to be big losses. The insider says ?It cost $18 million to make and market those three albums – all bombs. Jimmy Iovine [the head of Interscope responsible for the layoffs] is the most hated man in music today!?
The Jonas Brothers are really proving that they?re a hardworking group. The musical family trio took some time for a quick photo shoot backstage at Good Morning America on Friday. The three teen hunks performed their smash single ?S.O.S.? for the throng of screaming fan girls.
The brothers didn?t travel alone though. Their dad Kevin Sr., mom Denise and younger brother Frankie were also with them. If Frankie was only old enough, he?d be in the group too. Maybe they could make like Menudo and exchange an older member for a younger one someday. It could be like a Jonas family right of passage.
If you have Jermaine Dupri saying F you to you, just say F you right back. The music producer wrote a very impassioned and misguided essay about the state of the music business. And coming from one of the producers who can be considered a mogul already, it makes me sick.
Not only did it clearly show his lack of appreciation for the people that buy his music, but he also looks at iTunes as a big evil monster. Janet Jackson?s main squeeze thinks that albums should be sold as a whole and consumers shouldn?t have the option to buy songs individually like we can on iTunes.
Well at least we buy a song instead of downloading them illegally!
Alicia Keys hit the top of the charts this week with her new album ?As I Am?. The gorgeous and talented singer has hit Number one with her album in the Billboard 200 charts, after it sold over 700,000 copies in the US. Blimey girl that?s a lot of albums!
Keys has had 3 previous albums hit number one in the first week of their release; hinting that this little lady is not just a pretty face. She seems to have the ?key? to our hearts, or at least our ears, as fans sweep in to buy her music as fast as it can hit the shelves.
And what a perfect name for the album. We?ll definitely take you as you are Alicia?it seems to be working so far. Keep your ears peeled folks ? if you haven?t heard it yet, get buying it; before it?s sold out!
New pals Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson are hitting the road together for a winter tour early next year. The flame-haired country queen and the first American Idol winner became friends when McEntire recorded Clarkson’s Because Of You hit with the pop star for her recent Reba Duets album. Clarkson has since signed McEntire’s husband, Narvel Blackstock, as her manager and the pair teamed up to record a Crossroads TV concert special for CMT.The odd couple have now lined up 15 dates for their 2 Worlds 2 Voices tour, which will begin in Ohio on January 17.The tour will include a Valentine’s Day date in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Timberlake is a rarity in the sphere of boy band alumni: he has pop cultural significance on a mass scale, and credibility with hard-to-please music fans. Amid an eye-popping stage setting, the US popstar ticked all the musical boxes. His exceptional dancing was not unexpected. Yet his vocal performance, as well as his competence on a range of instruments – guitar, electric piano, synth, and, to the crowd’s delight, keytar – was surprising and impressive.
Then there were the songs – Like I Love You came early, while Senorita was given an elongated treatment. The musical cues of Prince and Michael Jackson were palpable without being overwhelming. There were cheesy moments, but not too many. Cry Me a River, for example, the song reportedly written in response to his break-up from Britney Spears, was presented as a sublime pop song. Time was taken for a diatribe on magpies on the golf course, and for a round of tequila shots with the band. Then, finally, there was SexyBack.
Timberlake has achieved excellence by combining pop music, dance and spectacle. And with a show of this caliber, there is little room for spontaneity. Regardless, it will take something extraordinary to top it.
A look at Evanescence on paper reveals a band that should be in its glory. Following a best new artist Grammy Award for 2003 debut studio album “Fallen,” a Billboard 200 No. 1 debut for 2006 follow-up “The Open Door” and the top 10 launch single “Call Me When You’re Sober,” the group toured the world for nearly a year. So what happened? Single follow-ups “Lithium” and “Sweet Sacrifice” never even charted in the States. The fourth single from “The Open Door,” piano-driven rock ballad “Good Enough,” is as intense and affecting as anything before it?and this time, Lee’s lyric steps from the dark side, reveling in the relief of positivity: “It’s been a long time coming, but I feel good enough.” It’s a make-or-break moment for a band that seemed to own the world one year ago.
Demon Hunter is known for writing about spiritual warfare, but Storm the Gates of Hell exposes the battlefront that’s present in everyday life. “Sixteen” refers to the minute after the first fifteen of fame, taking aim at hypocritical Christians who publicly live their faith for the wrong reasons. Hard to believe Demon Hunter is a hardcore band based on the pop piano hook that opens “Thorns,” an anti-cutting/suicide anthem that points to the wounds of Christ as reason against further self-infliction and shame. “Follow the Wolves” challenges believers to not conform to the worldly ways of sheep, but rather dare to live a higher spiritual calling.
What’s striking about Storm, produced again by Aaron Sprinkle (The Almost, Emery), is the way it makes hardcore simultaneously credible and accessible, balancing Demon Hunter’s sound without compromising it. Unlike most other bands in the genre, you can actually understand Clark’s singing/screaming without need of a lyric sheet (most of the time). This band is more thoughtful than most, never resorting to cheesy clich?s like Christian metal bands of the past, yet never ashamed of their beliefs either. Their faith-based expression is another example of balance in their music.
The chart-topping multi-platinum hip-hop dynamos Bow Wow and Omarion have joined forces to create a new collaborative collection that promises to become one of the major musical events of 2007. Bow Wow-Omarion project, Faceoff, in stores December 11th.
While details of the Bow Wow-Omarion project remain under wraps, the new album marks the culmination of a joint collaborative process dating back to 2005. “Me and O have been trying to put this together for so many years, and now we’ve got the opportunity to do it,” Bow Wow told Billboard.com earlier this month. “We’re in the creative process right now, coming up with ideas daily, so the process is real smooth. We’re anxious to make this whole thing happen. It’s gonna be a special event. It’s gonna be crazy, something the people have been waiting on — the girls have been waiting on — for years.
Omarion shares his best friend’s enthusiasm for the as-yet-unnamed project. “This isn’t about money, this is about music,” says Omarion. “We both started young and have grown up together, working on the same tours, and have developed our identity in the music world. Jay-Z and R Kelly was the first big R&B/Rap combo, and we have great respect for them and have been inspired by them, but we still want to create something we can call our own. We just want to do our own thing. We want to have a great time and make good music for our fans. This is gonna be fun, so ‘World, Watch out! We’re coming!’”
Miss Independent — that would be 25-year-old Texas pop-rock-gospel belter Kelly Clarkson — came to Toronto’s Massey Hall last night and blew the roof off the joint. Clarkson clearly knows how to make lemonade out of lemons and wrote a catchy song about the experience, Chivas, which ended up as a hidden track on My December.
Clarkson later had the audience judge a band pumpkin-carving contest in honour of Halloween that included one she co-designed that was inspired by Steve Carell’s chest-waxing scene in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and his now famous utterance “Kelly Clarkson!”
And can the girl ever sing, as she demonstrated on such pulse-pounding standouts as Behind These Hazel Eyes, Because of You, a gospel treatment of Patty Griffin’s Up to the Mountain, Miss Independent — with snippets of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell and Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love thrown into the mix — Breakaway, Walk Away, Sober, Chivas, and Since U Been Gone. The barefoot Clarkson dramatically opened the hour-and-20-minute show by recreating the album cover of My December, right down to wearing the same burgundy ball gown, which was quickly torn away to reveal a purple and black camisole and wide-legged black pants, while her seven-piece band maintained frozen poses
A white ruffled curtain sometimes acted as a barrier between Clarkson and her band and backdrop, which included a small staircase and a video screen, but it was really her connection to the audience and that powerhouse voice that was most impressive.
Even if demanding everyone “Jump!” as she did during Gone and Since U Been Gone didn’t always work.
