Lewis shows off first tattoo

Singer Leona Lewis has rebelled against her squeaky clean image by getting her first tattoo.

The well-behaved Bleeding Love hitmaker has managed to keep out of the headlines for any reckless rock and roll behaviour since winning Simon Cowell's TV talent show The X Factor in 2006.

But now the pop star is showing off a rock and roll streak after having a tattoo inked on the inside of her left wrist in tribute to her boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa.

Keeping coy about its significance, Lewis says, "It's incredibly private and something that we both had done. It's Hebrew letters and I'm thrilled with it. I can't reveal what it is. Some things need to remain private for me."

The couple shares a residence in London, but Lewis is currently based in the US as she works on her forthcoming album Happy.
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/21092009/364/lewis-shows-first-tattoo.html&e=l_news_dm
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Cohen plays three-hour show on 75th birthday

Leonard Cohen made a triumphant return to the stage with a three-hour concert on his 75th birthday on Monday.

The veteran singer sparked fears for his health after collapsing onstage in Valencia, Spain last week.

His concert was cut short after he fainted mid-song and was taken to the city's Nueve de Octubre hospital, where he was treated for stomach flu.

But he was back on his feet to perform the last show of his European tour in front of 14,000 fans in Barcelona, Spain on Monday - the same day he turned 75.

The Hallelujah hitmaker was given a standing ovation as he stepped on stage at the Palau Sant Jordi concert hall, where he played for more than three hours.

And the star was moved after hundreds of fans held up lit candles handed out earlier in the evening to celebrate his special day.

His band member Dino Soldo wrote on Twitter.com, "To all the friends in Leonard Cohen's Barcelona gig, your birthday candles brought a tear to my eye. He was touched."

Concertgoers also tossed bouquets, books and teddy bears onto the stage, and the Canadian star thanked them by raising his hat and concluding the show with the parting words, "May your life be sweet as apples dipped in honey."

He is scheduled to play a concert in Israel on Thursday before travelling to North America to continue his tour in the US next month.
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/22092009/364/cohen-plays-three-hour-show-75th-birthday.html&e=l_news_dm
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Dannii turned to Botox during Kylie's cancer struggle

Singer Dannii Minogue used Botox injections to help her cope with the pain of watching her sister Kylie battle cancer.

Dannii, 37, admits she fell into a depression after her pop star sibling was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 - and turned to the wrinkle-smoothing shots to help her feel better about her appearance.

She explains, "My sister was sick, then my best friend died soon after - I felt I'd been hit by a wave. I couldn't deal with the stress. I couldn't deal with having to look at my face.

"It was a personal thing of having to get through a lot of sadness. At first, it was something fun I tried, then it became a necessity."

The Australian star, who is currently dating rugby player Kris Smith, insists she is happier than ever since overcoming her addiction to the jabs.

She adds, "I don't need Botox now and don't want it. Life is just so different now."
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/22092009/364/dannii-turned-botox-during-kylie-s-cancer-struggle.html&e=l_news_dm
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"This Is It" premieres

Michael Jackson's posthumous live film, "This Is It", will get a simultaneous premiere in 15 cities across the world next month.

The concert movie has been stitched together from hours and hours of footage shot before the pop icon died in June.

These will kick-off in Los Angeles on October 27, followed a matter of hours later by synchronised events in London, New York, Rio De Janeiro, Berlin, Johannesburg and Seoul.

Red carpet arrivals from the Los Angeles event will be broadcast by satellite to those cities, before the film goes out in Moscow, Tokyo, Sydney and Paris, amongst others.

AEG Live, who were promoting Jackson's ill-fated, 50-date "This Is It" live comeback in London, struck a $60 million deal with Sony Pictures for the footage.
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/090922/340/iqyug.html&e=l_news_dm
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Electric Robbie

Robbie Williams is to play the Electric Proms next month in promotion of his new album, "Reality Killed The Video Star".

Shirley Bassey appears at the same venue three days later, in a concert designed to mark 50 years in showbusiness.

Robbie will debut material from the forthcoming album, which is released in November, in a show directed by his legendary new producer.

"I'm looking forward to playing my new songs, working with Trevor Horn again and seeing how people react to what I've been doing", he explained.

Dizzee Rascal, Doves, Smokey Robinson, Metronomy and Florence & The Machine are amongst the other acts set to appear across the BBC-endorsed run from October 20-24.
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/090922/340/iqyql.html&e=l_news_dm
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Coldplay's mega donation

Coldplay have donated £1 million to a children's charity, it has been revealed. Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh confirmed the news, explaining how thrilled the London-based organisation were by the gesture.

"They were moved by the tough stories they heard and want to be genuine participants", she said.

"I got the feeling the donation was something they had planned from the start of their careers", explained Batmanghelidjh.

Coldplay completed their "Viva La Vida" world tour this weekend, with a pair of shows at Wembley Stadium in London.
source:http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/090922/340/iqyor.html&e=l_news_dm
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Mika's terror over TV interview

Shy pop star Mika was so terrified about a TV interview earlier this month, he had to be dragged back into the studio after running out in fear.

The Grace Kelly hitmaker admits he is only confident while performing - and nearly pulled out of an appearance on talk show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross after realising he'd have to chat to the host after comedian Ricky Gervais.

He explains, "When I'm on stage I can appear strong. But in real life I'm not. The other day, when I was on Jonathan Ross, I was sitting there next to Ricky Gervais and Jamie Oliver and I was like, 'I'm in hell - I'm in hell! What am I doing here?'

"I was around two of the most self-assured, ebullient people, who know how to swagger and talk. I actually ran off twice and they had to keep coming back to get me. I feel inept. I feel like I should be better at it and I think it's really not a good thing. I'm not proud of it at all.

"If I go to a party and I don't know anyone I'll still be the one sitting in the corner, drinking too much! Then I'll leave, being angry that no one spoke to me - but of course it's all my fault that they didn't."
source:http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/22092009/364/mika-s-terror-tv-interview.html&e=l_news_dm
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Pop veterans Chas and Dave split

Music veterans Chas and Dave have split after 35 years together, their agent has announced.

The duo recorded classic household name tunes such as Rabbit, The Sideboard Song and Snooker Loopy.

Bassist and singer Dave Peacock is to retire from the music business following the death of his wife Sue from lung cancer in July.

Pianist Chas Hodges said he will honour their touring commitments under the new name of Chas And His Band.

Chas and Dave's debut album One Fing 'n' Anuvver was released in 1975 and they went on to have eight top 40 singles.

The much-loved artists played the Glastonbury music festival in 2005 and have influenced modern artists like The Libertines.

In July this year, Peacock's wife of 36 years died of lung cancer despite being a lifelong non-smoker.

In a statement on their website, the band said: "Sue was instrumental behind the scenes for Chas and Dave, working tirelessly on the side of the business that musicians just aren't good at.

"It's accurate to say that without Sue and [Chas's wife] Joan, there wouldn't have been Chas and Dave."
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8269057.stm
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Lady Gaga, Kings of L head up Europe nominations

Lady Gaga and Kings of Leon have been nominated for five MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs). The singer and the band will both compete for Best Song, for 'Poker Face' and 'Use Somebody' respectively, Best Live Act and Best World Stage Performance, with Gaga also nominated for Best Female and Best New Act, while Kings of Leon are also up for the Best Group and Best Rock prizes.

Beyonce Knowles follows them in the nominations list, receiving nods in four categories, while Eminem and Green Day are each up for three accolades.

American artists dominate the shortlists, with Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Kanye West and Black Eyed Peas each named in two categories.

U2 are the only non-American stars to receive more than one nomination, competing for Best Live Act and Best Rock.

British singer Leona Lewis, 'American Idiot' hitmakers Green Day and German group Tokio Hotel will perform live at this year's ceremony, which takes place in Berlin, Germany, on November 5.
source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/article.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=10598829
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Lawsuit settled over Coldplay song

Guitarist Joe Satriani and Coldplay have reached an agreement that ends a copyright infringement lawsuit filed over the band's smash hit Viva la Vida.

Satriani sued Coldplay in December, claiming the band copied "substantial, original portions" of his 2004 song, If I Could Fly.

Coldplay won a Grammy Award earlier this year for Viva La Vida.

A federal judge in Los Angeles last week dismissed the case at the request of attorneys for both sides. No details about an agreement were included in court filings, other than each side would pay its own legal costs.

Satriani is a renowned guitarist who has been nominated for numerous Grammys during his career.
source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/article.cfm?c_id=264&objectid=10598878
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Lady GaGa & Her Silly Outfits - Has She Gone Too Far??

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Jonas Brothers stay safe on dates

The Jonas Brothers are chaperoned on dates. The boy band - comprising brothers Kevin, 21, Joe, 20, and 17-year-old Nick are always accompanied by their bodyguards when they go out with girls to ensure they stay safe. Nick said: "I think with anything we do, we have to be safe." Kevin added: "I don't know if you'd call it chaperoning, but they come with us anywhere we go, all the time. They're just looking out for us."Kevin is currently engaged to Danielle Deleasa, and is making plans for their wedding.

Nick and Joe are both currently single, although Nick is rumoured to be on the verge of rekindling his romance with Miley Cyrus.

Taking burly security guards on dates is not the only thing the boys have admitted to.

The are all proud to say they regularly get manicures as their nails can get ruined when playing the guitar.

Joe explained to Top of the Pops magazine: "We don't get nail polish or anything though! But we could rock that... I saw some guy rocking a gold nail varnish the other day and it looked pretty cool on him."
source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1502166.php/Jonas-Brothers-stay-safe-on-dates
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MICHAEL JACKSON 'TOO SHY' FOR MADONNA

'Revolver' singer Madonna never recorded a duet with Michael Jackson because he was scared of her ''provocative'' music.

Madonna thought Michael Jackson was "too shy".

The 'Revolver' singer spent weeks working with the 'King of Pop' several years ago, but never recorded a duet with him because Michael was scared of Madonna's "provocative" music.

The 51-year-old star recalled: "We spent a chunk of time together, and became friends, but it never happened. I wrote a bunch of words and presented them to him, and he didn't want to go there.

"He didn't want to be provocative. And I said, 'Well, why come to me?' I mean, that's like asking Quentin Tarantino to not put any violence in his films. I felt like he was too inhibited, too shy."

Madonna paid tribute to Michael - who died in June of acute propofol intoxication - in an emotional speech at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month.

Even though she used the occasion to "say goodbye" to her old friend, the star admits she can't stop thinking about Michael, and the torment he faced at the hands of the media.

She told Britain's Times newspaper: "When I heard he had died, the first thing that came into my head was the word 'abandoned'. I feel like we all abandoned him and put him in a box and labelled him as a strange person.

"And it used to pain me to see people go write such horrible things about him, accuse him of being a child molester, and all these things that nobody had any proof of because I've had plenty of things I've been accused of.

"When I adopted David, I was accused of kidnapping him, for God's sakes; and it's very hurtful, and people love to jump on bandwagons. The lynch-mob mentality is pretty scary."
source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/michael-jackson-too-shy-for-madonna_1116603
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AVRIL LAVIGNE 'MARRIED TOO YOUNG'

'Girlfriend' singer Avril Lavigne decided to split from Sum 41 rocker Deryck Whibley because she ''finally'' realised it was a mistake to marry at 21.

Avril Lavigne is getting divorced because she "married too young".

The 'Girlfriend' singer - who announced she was separating from Sum 41 rocker Deryck Whibley last week - has "finally" realised tying the knot at 21 was a mistake.

An insider told People magazine: "She married too young and she finally realised that. Avril realised she needs her own life and needs to explore things without him."

The 24-year-old star married Deryck in a private Catholic ceremony in 2006. They had been dating since 2004.

But even though their three-year marriage is over, Avril has vowed to stay friends with her estranged husband.

In a statement on her website, the star said: "Deryck and I have been together for six-and-a-half years. We have been friends since I was 17, started dating when I was 19, and married when I was 21. I am grateful for our time together, and I am grateful and blessed for our remaining friendship.

"I admire Deryck and have a great amount of respect for him. He is the most amazing person I know, and I love him with all my heart. Deryck and I are separating and moving forward on a positive note."

Deryk was said to be "crushed" when Avril "walked out on him" but claimed their separation was amicable in a posting on his own blog.
source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/avril-lavigne-married-too-young_1116564 View Here...

JACKSON SLAMMED FAMILY IN SHOCK AUTOBIOGRAPHY TAPES

MICHAEL JACKSON blasted his famous family members in explosive recordings made for his 1988 autobiography - branding JERMAINE a "womaniser"and TITO "boring".
The King Of Pop hits out at all of his Jackson 5 bandmate brothers - Jermaine and Tito, as well as Marlon and Jackie - claiming they were lazy and moaned during their time in the group, while he was always "watching and learning".
The revelations come from a series of taped interviews Jackson gave for his 1988 book Moonwalk - but insisted were never published at the time.
In the recordings, obtained by Britain's News of the World newspaper, Jackson is heard saying, "The brothers didn't give me support. We'd be working on a TV show or video and they'd be sitting around moaning and groaning but I'd be watching and learning.
"It takes a talent, but some people are lazy and don't want to develop anything."
He then hits out at his brothers one by one - calling Marlon "old-fashioned", branding Jackie "negative" and referring to Randy, who later joined the group, as "hard-headed" and "macho".
Jackson then takes aim at his sister La Toya, adding: "To me, she is Mrs Nice and Nasty."
The star admits he was unhappy when his younger sister Janet wed producer James DeBarge in 1984: "It kills me to see her off and married. We did everything together and were just alike. It's a terrible loss."
Jackson also hits out at his beloved mother Katherine for giving a tell-all interview about him when he was younger.
He says, "She disappointed me. She did an interview. I don't like her to talk. It's none of those people's business."
But the revelations never made it into the book, as Jackson told the tome's ghostwriter: "You can't print that."
Moonwalk is set to be re-released next month (Oct09), following Jackson's death in June (09).
source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jackson-slammed-family-in-shock-autobiography-tapes_1116551

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WINFREY'S PRECIOUS WINS TOP TORONTO AWARD

MARIAH CAREY and OPRAH WINFREY's new movie PRECIOUS scooped the top award at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday (19Sep09).
The movie, a gritty drama produced by talk show host Winfrey and featuring singer Carey, was honoured with the People's Choice award at the annual event in Canada.
Director Lee Daniels says, "I made this film for every person out there who ever looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back. This is not an art film for a select few. This is a movie that everyone can relate to."
Last year's (08) People's Choice award was won by Slumdog Millionaire - which went on to sweep the board at the Oscars and Golden Globes earlier this year (09).
source: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/winfreys-precious-wins-top-toronto-award_1116558
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JANET SENT TAYLOR SWIFT FLOWERS: Country star still 'blown away by all the love thrown in my direction.'

Taylor Swift's Twitter page wasn't the only thing to blow up with well wisher in the hours following Kanye West's interruption of her acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

“Artists that I didn’t even assume knew who I was (have supported me)," she told Elvis Duran of New York radio station Z100 on Friday. I woke up the next day and I had flowers in my hotel room from Janet Jackson."

She continued: “I am blown away by all the love that was thrown in my direction,” she said, “and feel very lucky and blessed to have people come and support me like that."

Days after sending the flowers, Janet hit the club with some friends at Greenhouse in New York, reports People.com.

According to an eyewitness, the singer "seemed [to be] in a great mood" and was "chatty" as she danced around a little and hung out with her dancers and choreographers. And Jackson wasn't drinking alcohol: According to the source, she stuck to Ice River Springs water.
source: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur56169.cfm View Here...

Talented Miley Cyrus caught between girly and all grown-up

They sure grow up quick, don't they?
Less than two years ago, Miley Cyrus appeared at the Oracle Arena in Oakland and played the part of her Disney Channel alter-ego Hannah Montana. She smiled as she bounced about the stage, singing happy tunes that delighted pigtailed little girls and comforted their minivan-driving chauffeurs (aka parents).

In that role, Miley (the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus) wasn't threatening in the slightest. Her function seemed simply to provide a much-needed stepping stone between Raffi, the Wiggles and other children's music favorites to young-teen idols such as Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears.

Now, however, little Miss Cyrus wants to join that latter group.

On her current "Wonder World Tour" — the first not to advertise the Hannah Montana name — the 16-year-old brunette has tossed aside her Disney character's blonde wig, as well as most of her teeny-bopper charm, to further establish her own star. Compared with what we've seen in the past — including the 2007-08 "Best of Both Worlds Tour," which was billed to both Montana and Cyrus — this trek is a decidedly more mature affair.

The result, at least at the gate, has been more of the same for Cyrus. She drew a capacity crowd of screaming young girls and earplug-wearing parents to the Oracle Arena on Friday night. A similar scene awaits the pop princess when she performs tonight at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
source: http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_13377752 View Here...

Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel

Madonna notching her 40th No. 1, "Celebration," on Dance/Club Play Songs is an extraordinary achievement. Even Madonna seems to 'cherish' the honor, as evidenced on her official website.

Billboard's Dance/Club Play Songs chart is one of the few surveys in our menu that is not based on Nielsen SoundScan point-of-sale data or BDS-monitored airplay. Such methodology would be almost impossible for the chart, which is compiled from reports submitted by club DJs, many of whom spin and mix at multiple venues.

Sales and airplay do not contribute to Dance/Club Play Songs. Rather, Billboard compiles charts for that data separately: Hot Dance Singles Sales and Hot Dance Airplay.

As Billboard's dance charts manager, Gordon Murray, can attest to, the dance community is a tight-knit one, and the DJs contributing to the Dance/Club Play Songs chart take great pride in their responsibility to help shape a format that's so unique; unlike pop, adult, rock, R&B or country, for example, there are few dance-oriented radio stations (San Francisco's KNGY just defected to mainstream top 40 last week), so club play is a key barometer of the format's trends.

I posed your question to Gordon, and here is his deeper analysis of Dance/Club Play Songs:

"The chart is compiled from the playlists of a carefully screened and consistently scrutinized panel of U.S. club DJs (currently 140), even those in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. These playlists are reflective of what the DJs are playing to crowds on the dance floors each week in clubs. Because of the nature of this type of music, which is often mixed together and which can include many different remixes of the same song, there is no means of compiling the data electronically.

"As for Madonna, her achievement is particularly noteworthy because of the changing nature of club tastes and styles of music. What becomes mainstream popular music often starts out as more underground music, played first in the clubs before it is accepted by radio's larger audiences. So, for one artist to be able to change with the times and perhaps even set the trends to the extent that she has is, indeed, truly remarkable."
source: http://www.billboard.com/#/news/ask-billboard-madonna-yoko-ono-gospel-1004014251.story View Here...

Shakira: The 'She Wolf' Billboard Cover Story

In Shakira's hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, there's a 15-foot metal statue of her, wearing bell-bottoms and strumming a guitar. It was donated by a German sculptor in 2006, in the midst of the singer's wildly successful Oral Fixation world tour, which featured her jaw-dropping belly-dancing and a finale of "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean.

Shakira occasionally strummed a glittery guitar during the show, but by the time the statue was put up, she was far from the acoustic pop-rocker she'd been on her 1996 breakthrough album, "Pies Descalzos." And if the statue already was playing catch-up with her image in 2006, it barely captures her now.

A preview of Shakira's third English album, "She Wolf," due Oct. 13 on Epic, reveals what may be some of her most club-oriented music to date: electronic pop with strong basslines and prominent world music textures, combined with a dose of in-your-face sex appeal.

"I felt very curious and intrigued about the electro-pop world and everything it has to offer," Shakira tells Billboard by phone from her home in the Bahamas. "I wanted to make sure that this album was very bassy and that the kicks hit really hard, and I wanted to concentrate on the beat. But my music, to a certain extent, is very complex -- because I always try to experiment with sounds from other parts of the world." Shakira produced and wrote "She Wolf," teaming with Pharrell Williams on production; other collaborators include Jean; John Hill, who's worked with Santigold; the Bravery's Sam Endicott; and Academy Award winner Jorge Drexler. Keyboardist Albert Menendez also co-wrote a song.
source: http://www.billboard.com/#/features/shakira-the-she-wolf-billboard-cover-story-1004012552.story View Here...

Sugababes' Amelle Berrabah reportedly quits group

Sugababes member Amelle Berrabah has reportedly walked out on the group. The singer is said to have quit the band while undertaking promotional work in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, bandmember Keisha Buchanan reacted angrily to claims that she had a bust-up with Berrabah, who's family had previously alerted police that she was missing.

"I can honestly say that we all get along! I'm sure we bug each other at times but I love them girls. And there has NEVER been bullying in Sugababes EVER!" Buchanan wrote.

However, Heatworld.com reports that Berrabah has now left Sugababes, and that former Eurovision Song Contest contestant Jade Ewen has already been drafted in to replace her. Ewen, who represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest earlier this year, is currently signed to Geffen, who yesterday (September 18) released the following statement:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we regret to inform you that Jade Ewen will be taking time off from all promotional activity for the foreseeable future."

Berrabah replaced Mutya Buena in the Sugababes in 2005. Buena recently told the London Evening Standard she would "love" to rejoin the group, though Buchanan quickly rebuffed her offer, telling Heat "It would just never happen."
source:http://www.nme.com/news/sugababes/47400
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Pearl Jam stream new album 'Backspacer' online before release – audio

Pearl Jam have made their forthcoming new album 'Backspacer' available to hear in full before its official release.

To hear the album in full, made available to NME.COM as a UK exclusive via music streaming site We7, click below. Users outside the UK can hear 30-second clips of each song.

'Backspacer' is officially released on Monday (September 21).
source: http://www.nme.com/news/pearl-jam/47381 View Here...

Dixon Strictly judging debut a flop

New Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon failed to impress TV audiences with her debut appearance on the show - viewers have slated the pop singer's performance.

Dixon, 30, won the TV talent contest two years ago and was drafted on to the show to replace veteran judge Arlene Phillips, 66, who was axed by the BBC.

Her replacement caused much controversy in the press, with accusations that Phillips had been sacked because she was too old.

BBC message boards were inundated with criticisms of Dixon's performance, and BBC's Radio 5 was overwhelmed with text messages just as critical after her stints on Friday and Saturday.

A TV source tells News of the World: "They thought Alesha would come on and steal the show. But they didn't take into account how popular and respected Arlene is. Now BBC1 controller Jay Hunt and the other executives are wondering how they can win the public round."

Former tennis player Martina Hingis was the first contestant voted out of the show on Saturday. source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/20092009/364/dixon-strictly-judging-debut-flop.html&e=l_news_dm


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Beatles' photos spark copyright suit

A former Beatles photographer is battling over the copyright for the first publicity photos of the rock group, after the images were used to sell books and DVDs featuring the band.

New York-based snapper Albert Marrion filed suit on Thursday over memorabilia containing copyrighted photos of the group.

Marrion claims he shot the images - which are believed to be the first promo photos of the rock legends - in 1961.

The Manhattan federal court suit says Marrion discovered the photos were featured "without permission" in four Beatles books and a DVD documentary available from Netflix, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Memorabilia dealer Gary Schaeffer claims he has held the rights to the 16 pictures since 2001, reports the New York Post.
source:
http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/19092009/364/beatles-photos-spark-copyright-suit.html&e=l_news_dm View Here...

Jay-Z: 'Kanye didn't kill anybody'

Jay-Z has urged the media to back off his pal Kanye West following his notorious outburst at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, insisting the backlash isn't justified because "he didn't kill anybody".

West has come under savage attack from stars and fans alike for storming the stage during Taylor Swift's Best Female Video acceptance speech last Sunday to proclaim the prize belonged to Jay-Z's wife Beyonce.

The Stronger hitmaker has since apologised both personally and publicly to the teenage country singer - but Jay-Z is stunned by how much media coverage and controversy his pal's behaviour has garnered.

The rap superstar admits it was "rude" of West and "inappropriate at the time" to rush the stage, but can understand why he was moved to do what he did.

Jay-Z says, "Of course it was rude because it was her moment, but that's the way he really felt… I think it was rude, but the way they're treating him…

"He's on the cover of every paper. He didn't kill anybody. No one got harmed. (He's) a super passionate person."
source: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/19092009/364/jay-z-kanye-didn-t-kill.html&e=l_news_dm View Here...

Fergie accused of copyright infringement

Pop star FERGIE has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit over allegations she stole her song Voodoo Doll from a track recorded by little-known reggae group Groundation.

The singer and her Black Eyed Peas bandmate will i am, who produced and co-wrote the 2006 tune, are being sued by record bosses at Grounded Music.

They claim the stars copied the beat from Groundation's Each One Teach One, a song recorded in 2000 which Grounded Music owns the rights to.

According to legal papers obtained by TMZ.com, Grounded Music executives believe Fergie's Voodoo Doll is "substantially and strikingly similar" to the band's record and they are seeking unspecified damages.

Voodoo Doll was featured on Fergie's debut solo album, The Dutchess.
source:
http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/19092009/364/fergie-accused-copyright-infringement.html&e=l_news_dm View Here...

Janet Jackson Says She 'Had Michael's Back' On 'Scream'

Though Janet Jackson had not performed the choreography from "Scream" since she and her brother Michael shot the video in 1995, it couldn't have been a more fitting tribute to him. Jackson talked about the making of that video along with how she prepared for the Video Music Awards in the half-hour special "The Making of Janet Jackson's VMA Tribute Performance," which aired Saturday (September 19), and re-airs Sunday at 12:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Tuesday at 7 p.m. on MTV.

According to Janet, "Scream" was a turning point for Michael, who used the video to express frustration over his legal troubles. " 'Scream,' there was so much going on at that time," Jackson recalled. "That's when the — I hate to say this but — the first allegations [of child molestation] came out and the whole bit. He was very upset and very angry and he had so much pent up in him that he wanted to get out and say. And when you listen to the lyrics, that's what it's about."

When Michael asked Janet for her help with the song, there was no way she could say no. "I played the role that I've always played in his life: his little sister that was there by his side, that had his back no matter what," she said. "That's what 'Scream' was for me."

The MTV special followed Janet as she relearned the intricate choreography for the VMA tribute along with her backup dancers, a crew of renowned choreographers including Tyce Diorio, Tina Landon, Jeri Slaughter, Travis Payne, Brian Friedman, Cris Judd, Dave Scott, Mia Michaels, Laurie Ann Gibson and Wade Robson.

Sore muscles aside, the group couldn't have been happier to get the chance to honor the man who inspired their own careers.

"As soon as I got the phone call I was absolutely thrilled and on board 110 percent," Slaughter said. "It's an honor to be in this for Michael."

After costume fittings, a cross-country flight to New York and a final run-through in Radio City Music Hall, Janet and company mounted the stage to a standing ovation, performing alongside images of Michael from the 1995 video.

"I know he was watching," Jackson said. "I know he was looking down. I hope he enjoyed it."

"The Making of Janet Jackson's VMA Tribute Performance" re-airs Sunday at 12:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Tuesday at 7 p.m. on MTV.
source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621925/20090919/jackson_michael.jhtml View Here...

Amanda Seyfried makes movie leap from musical ingenue

Just six years ago, Amanda Seyfried was an Allentown, Pa., high school grad who longed to break into movies. Her dreams came true in a big way. "Mean Girls" (2004) put her on the map. "Alpha Dog" (2006) created buzz. And "Mamma Mia!" (2008) turned her into a household name.

During the last year, she's partied at the Golden Globes with Meryl Streep, performed on the Oscar telecast alongside Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, and been profiled in Allure, Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair.
Most significantly, she's snagged starring roles in a quartet of flicks, each with a ritzier pedigree than the last. Up first is "Jennifer's Body," a horror shocker with Megan Fox which opened Friday in area theaters. In February, Screen Gems is releasing "Dear John," a decade-spanning romance with Channing Tatum. Also arriving in the new year are "Chloe," an erotically-charged thriller co-starring Julianne Moore, and "Letters to Juliet," the saga of an American girl vacationing in Verona who sets out to reunite a pair of star-crossed lovers (Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero).

Unpretentious and friendly, Seyfried admits during a midnight phone interview from her folks' Allentown home how overwhelming instant success can be.
"I can't really believe it sometimes," she says. "There are so many opportunities and they just keep growing, but sometimes I worry when are they going to stop. But none of this would have been possible without "Mamma Mia!' That movie absolutely changed my life."

So popular was the Abba musical, it smashed records all over the world and, after picking up $600 million at the box-office, became the most successful songfest of all time, outgrossing "Chicago," "Cabaret" and "Grease." So far, Seyfried has done a good job keeping her feet on the ground. Self-deprecating almost to a fault, the actress jokes she's only tracked by the paparazzi if "they're having a slow day." As for Hollywood producers who promise her the moon and the stars, Seyfried says, "You can't actually take anything they say seriously. Half of them are full of (baloney)."
(2 of 2)

Karyn Kusama, who directed Seyfried in "Jennifer's Body," isn't surprised by the actress' fast climb up the Hollywood ladder. "What's lovely about Amanda is she has this expressive face that can be very still. She has so much going on behind her eyes."

If Seyfried had been trying to find a film far removed from her "Mamma Mia!" ingenue role, she couldn't have done a better job than "Jennifer's Body." Written by "Juno" Oscar winner Diablo Cody, the flick stars Megan Fox as Jennifer, a satanically possessed cheerleader who begins feeding on the cute boys in her small Minnesota farming town. It's up to Jennifer's best friend Needy (Seyfried) to slay the beast and save boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons) from becoming a meaty snack.
"It's unique because it's woman's film, a slasher flick, a human comedy and a drama all rolled into one," says the 23-year-old Seyfried, who dates her "Mamma Mia!" co-star Dominic Cooper.
"Jennifer's Body" might be fun to watch but it was anything but fun to make. Seyfried was puked on (with paint substituting for black bile), submerged in cold water and bruised on the inside of her legs from straddling Fox's hips for two days straight. And then there was the already-infamous lesbian kiss between the stars. So, what was it like to smooch a sex bomb like Fox?
"It was a little strange," says Seyfried. "She's so feminine; she has such soft, nice, full lips. But she had the same smell as my sister."
Oddly enough, Seyfried has another same-sex make-out session in "Chloe," the saga of a doctor (Julianne Moore) who hires a prostitute (Seyfried) to test her husband's (Liam Neeson) fidelity, only to fall in love with the woman herself.
"I'm so proud of "Chloe,' " says Seyfried. "That's my pride and joy. It was such a difficult movie for me because there's a lot going on with my character. I just saw it and I don't know what the reaction is going to be, but I don't give a damn. It was the best experience for me."
source:http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090920/LIFE/909200313/1041/RSS05 View Here...

Beyonce to perform in Malaysia despite dress code

Beyonce Knowles says she will perform in Malaysia in October, two years after canceling a show in this Muslim-majority country after protesters threatened to disrupt the concert because of her sexy image and clothing.
The R&B superstar's upcoming show is already drawing the ire of conservatives in this country, where female performers are required to cover up from the shoulders to knees with no cleavage showing..

Knowles said on her Web site that she will take the stage at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's biggest city, on Oct. 25. "Beyonce for the first time ever has decided to make Malaysia part of her 'I am.' World Tour," her Web site said..

Knowles canceled a planned concert two years ago following protest threats by Malaysia's opposition Islamic party. At the time her talent agency said the show was called off due to a scheduling conflict..

Instead she went to Indonesia, which has less stringent rules about how performers should dress and behave..

Sabki Yusof, youth vice head of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, said Sunday that they would send a protest note to the government over the concert. He said it was the government's "responsibility to protect the people of Malaysia" from what he described as immoral Western influences..

"We are not against entertainment as long as it is within the framework of our culture and our religion," Sabki said. "We are against Western sexy performances. We don't think our people need that.".

He said besides the protest note, the party had no plans so far to disrupt the concert. Organizers for Beyonce's October show could not immediately be reached for comment..

Artists such as Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani have performed in Malaysia under similar protest threats by conservative Muslims, forcing the artists to don attire that revealed little skin..

In the most recent controversy, the government late last month at first barred, then reversed the order forbidding Muslims from attending a Black Eyed Peas concert because it was sponsored by a beer company. With the ban lifted Muslims can now watch the U.S. hip-hop stars at a theme park near Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 25..

In family and personal matters, Muslims, who make up two-thirds of Malaysia's 28 million people, are governed by Islamic law, which forbids the consumption of alcohol. The laws do not apply to non-Muslims.
source: http://new.music.yahoo.com/gwen-stefani/news/beyonce-to-perform-in-malaysia-despite-dress-code--61994233 View Here...

Annoying Music: Beatles Cover Songs

You've probably already heard plenty about the reissue of The Beatles' entire catalog, as well as the release of the new Rock Band video game. So in honor of the Beatles remasters, Weekend Edition host Scott Simon spoke to Jim Nayder — host of The Annoying Music Show! on Chicago Public Radio — about even more Beatles music, but without John, Paul, George or Ringo.

Nayder says that nearly everyone, from Tom Jones to Elvis Presley, has done covers of The Beatles, to varying degrees of success. For many artists, it can be tough to record any popular song, but the bar is higher for a Beatles cover. Some try to put their own spin on it, as in Tiny Tim's Latin rendition of "Hey Jude" on the album Girl with the Brave Combo.

"Who thought doing it as a cha-cha?" Nayder says of Tiny Tim's cover.

Or take the Alan Copeland genre mash-up of "Norwegian Wood," which borrows the distinctive theme from Mission: Impossible, recorded in 1968 by The Alan Copeland Singers.

"You can laugh all you want, but 40 years ago, this won a Grammy award for 'Best Contemporary Pop Paranoid Schizophrenic Arrangement,' " Nayder jokes.

Nayder says that the best annoying music is often produced when two great forms of music are combined and it "creates music so annoying, it's actually dangerous." Nayder points to Cathy Berberian's cover of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as an example.


"Cathy Berberian in the 1960s did operatic versions of contemporary songs, and luckily for The Annoying Music Show! she chose The Beatles," Nayder says.

"That's the beauty about the best annoying music," he adds. "It's when it's a serious attempt. For whatever reason, you know it when you hear it when it goes awry."
source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112966018&ps=cprs View Here...

Nuns at Lady Gaga's school aghast at her video

New York, September 19 : The nuns who teach at a New York-based school where pop star Lady Gaga once studied were reportedly far from happy when shown a video of her performance.

The nuns at the Convent of the Sacred Heart girls school were shown the video of the singer’s performance at VMA Awards.

The singer, real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is presently known for her scanty costumes and such lyrics as "I wanna take a ride on your disco stick."

"When someone showed the nuns a video of her bloody performance at Sunday night''s VMA Awards, the good sisters were not amused," the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

A spokesman for the school was not available for comment. View Here...

Michael Jackson's Mother Allowed Permission to Challenge Executors of His Estate

Michael Jackson's mum Katherine has been given permission to challenge the executors of the King of Pop's estate without jeopardising her position as a will beneficiary. The superstar appointed attorney John Branca and business associate John McCain to take charge of his affairs, while his mum Katherine Jackson was left 40 per cent of the net value of his assets.

Since Jackson's death in June (09), Katherine has reportedly been fighting to have a say in all decisions regarding her late son's estate.

The conditions of the will stipulate the Jackson matriarch risks losing her share of the singer's fortune if she attempts to challenge the appointment of the executors to gain more control over his affairs.

A lawyer for the star's mother has previously denied the 79 year old is looking to contest her son's will, saying: "Despite false reports, neither Mrs. Jackson nor any of her lawyers has or will be contesting the will. Nor has she decided whether or not to raise any challenge to the appointment of the executors named in the will or whether to seek the appointment of an additional co-executor. Her top priority remains the care of her son's three children."

However, a probate judge ruled on Friday (18Sep09) that Katherine is allowed to challenge Branca and McCain's appointment on the grounds of "undue influence", should she choose to - and still remain a beneficiary, reports TMZ.com.

The court decision comes just one day after the star's mother landed a monthly allowance of US$86,000 to cover living expenses for her and those of the singer's three children, who she was given guardianship of in July . View Here...

Mariah Carey Talks ‘Precious’ And Marriage With Nick Cannon On Oprah

Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show today live from New York’s Central Park to give their first ever joint interview. The two lovebirds sat down to talk about everything from when they first met to how Nick popped the question. Nick, who says his celebrity crush was always MC, said that he credits the “power of faith” with bringing them together. “I wake up feeling like the luckiest, most blessed man every morning seeing my beautiful wife,” he told Oprah.

Before Nick came out, Mariah spoke with Oprah about her buzzworthy role in the powerful film, Precious. View Here...

Natalie Imbruglia's nude handycam caper

SINGLE and proud of it, Natalie Imbruglia wasn't joking when she proclaimed she was going to get sexy on her new record Come To Life. Imbruglia films herself half-naked in the video for her new single Want, which has been steaming up websites since its debut.

The song - a kiss-off to a former lover who may or may not be her ex-husband Daniel Johns - has struggled for support from radio stations in Australia and the UK.

But the video, which also features Imbruglia's face stained by tears and mascara, should do the trick.

Just hours before shooting the video, the Australian pop artist revealed the clip was going to be "pretty full-on''.

"Once again, it's not what people would expect me to do. It's just me in the video so it's going to be intense; very personal, very raw and it's pushing me out of my comfort zone,'' she said.


"I always look at videos as a chance to make mini-movie so emotionally, this one is stretching me a bit." View Here...

Beyonce tells fans 'her special purpose'

THE flick of her weave was pure Diana Ross, the strut and her phenomenal pins every inch Tina Turner, but last night Beyonce Knowles - and her stage alter ego Sasha Fierce - made Acer Arena her own. The moment the wind machine caught her first curl and the spotlight turned her crystal-corsetted body into a human disco ball, it was clear the world's best female performer was in the house, Sydney Confidential reports

Telling the Sydney crowd her "special purpose was to empower women", there wasn't a single lady, or married one for that matter, who was not entirely on board the Beyonce soul train.

The all-woman band somehow kept pace with this force of nature who swept on stage to Crazy in Love and almost three hours later - seemingly without drawing breath - left the audience panting and spent.

The fashion icon changed into one incredible costume after another - from a Mad Max look that would have had Mel Gibson on his knees, to an angelic wedding dress for a rendition of Ave Maria guaranteed to have raised the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

All the single ladies loved her tortured torch song mixed with samples of Alanis Morissette's You Oughta Know and Sarah McLachlan's Arms of an Angel.

The single blokes appeared to squirm in their seats and on to their feet for Irreplaceable as Knowles put every bloke with an ego and a mistress in his place with her staggering self confidence and sheer strength of personality.

And that booty? That just had a life of its own, coming alive for Bootylicious and Single Ladies.

Whether crumping, sweeping across the stage in towering heels, or simply standing still, Beyonce was dynamite, blasting the benchmark for concert performers forever. Good luck trying to follow that act whoever you are. View Here...

The Top 10 Songs For Writers

Writers are a funny breed. They are often depicted as eccentric recluses who go for days without eating, sleeping or bathing because they are completely obsessed with getting their ideas on paper. Musicians have a never ending love affair with the written word. After all, songwriters must be just as adept at putting words together as they are at putting chords, melodies and rhythms together. That is unless you're a musician focused solely on instrumental music. It's no surprise that the very best lyricists are also serious fans of books. The lives of authors and the stories found in novels have inspired countless songs.However, for this playlist I wanted to put together songs that are specifically written about the act of writing itself, or the writer in general. As opposed to songs inspired by a particular novel or author..

What's your favorite song about writing?

Songs For Writers:

1. Every Day I Write The Book - Elvis Costello

2. Paperback Writer - Paul McCartney

3. Lady Writer - Dire Straits

4. Writer's Minor Holiday - Calexico

5. Shadow Stabbing - Cake

6. Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen

7. When I Write The Book - Nick Lowe

8. There She Goes, My Beautiful World - Nick Cave

9. Wrapped Up In Books - Belle and Sebastian

10. Screenwriters Blues - Soul Coughing
source:http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/41948/the-top-10-songs-for-writers/ View Here...

Tickets to Michael Jackson movie go on sale September 27

The film about Michael Jackson's final three months, which uses video of rehearsals for his concert comeback, will run in theaters worldwide for two weeks only beginning October 28, according to Sony Pictures.

Tickets for "Michael Jackson: This Is it" go on sale Sunday, September 27, Sony said in a news release Thursday.

"Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show," Sony said.

Kenny Ortega, who was working with Jackson to create the "This Is It" concert, is also directing the documentary.

"As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture, we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius' world."

Ortega said "This Is It" "may go down as the greatest concert that no one got a chance to see," since the pop singer died three weeks before it was to debut in the O2 Arena in London, England. "But with this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work."

Sony began editing the film last week after concert promoter AEG Live handed over about 100 hours of video it shot during April, May and June 2009.

The initial release date was set for October 30, but Sony said it decided the "special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide" would be moved up two days.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the deal last week to allow the special administrators of Jackson's estate to sign a contract with Sony and AEG Live to allow the production.

The judge has yet to decide on a deal that would allow AEG Live to conduct a three-city tour of a Michael Jackson memorabilia exhibition to coincide with the film's release.
source:http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/20/michael.jackson.movie.tickets/index.html View Here...

Kanye West Finally Apologizes to Taylor Swift

After Taylor Swift's Tuesday appearance on The View, the country singer received a telephone call from rapper Kanye West, who apologized for his behavior Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards.

"Kanye did call me, and he was very sincere in his apology, and I accepted that apology," Swift told ABC News Radio.

She added that she believes there won't be any conflict in the future.

Earlier in the day, Swift appeared on The View and said that while she would accept a face-to-face apology from the rapper – "Sure!" – he has made no effort to get in touch with her since disrupting her best female video award acceptance speech at Sunday's VMAs.

"He has not personally reached out or anything," she said, "but if he wanted to say hi..."

The singer explained what was going through her mind Sunday night as she watched West grab the microphone and announce that her award should have gone to Beyoncé.

"My overall thought process went something like, 'Wow, I can't believe I won. This is awesome. Don't trip and fall. I'm going to get to thank the fans, this is so cool ... Oh, Kanye West is here! Cool haircut! What are you doing there? And then, ouch. And then, I guess I'm not going to thank the fans.' "

West apologized on his blog later that night, and on Monday, he told Jay Leno that he'd like to apologize.

"I'm not going to say that I wasn't rattled by it," said Swift on The View, "but I had to perform live five minutes later so I had get myself back to the place where I could perform."

Swift said she was touched by the outpouring of support from fans and fellow singers like Kelly Clarkson, who blogged that West was "a sad human being."

"I just never imagined that there were that many people out there looking out for me, so it was really wonderful to see that people were out there defending me so I didn't have to."
source:
http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20302940_20304567,00.html?xid=rss-fullcontentcnn View Here...

Civility: A thing of the past?

A politician, an athlete and an entertainer. What do they have in common? Some would say rude behavior. In less than a week, millions of people witnessed displays of anger and rage that have many wondering whether decorum is a thing of the past.

Kanye West's behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards was widely condemned.
"I think we're seeing a decline in our protocol and etiquette skills,'' said Pamela Eyring, director of the Protocol School of Washington.

Last week on Capitol Hill, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson yelled "you lie!" at President Obama as he addressed Congress on heath care.

"It was an obvious breach of decorum. There's a time and a place for everything, and that was obviously not the time or the place," said Sen. John Cornyn, D-Texas.

Wilson apologized to Obama but has balked at the idea of giving a formal apology before the House of Representatives.

Just days later, in a heated display of frustration over a questionable call, tennis star Serena Williams threatened a line judge at the U.S. Open.

The outburst, like Wilson's, was seen by millions on live television. Williams later issued an apology and has tried to put the incident behind her.

One day after the Williams meltdown, it was Kanye West's turn. But this wasn't a fit of rage; it was an outrageous display by the rapper toward singer Taylor Swift.

The 19-year-old was accepting her award at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony Sunday when West took the microphone from her hand and told the audience that singer Beyonce Knowles' video had been better. West was booed off the stage.

Eyring says these three high-profile incidents serve as reminders to public figures and regular people alike to watch their behavior.

"They're mentors, like it or not. They are mentors, and they need to show their good side," she said.

It's one thing for a public figure to have a bad or very bad moment. But more and more Americans are wondering whether rudeness has become the norm in society in general.

"Everybody's lashing out for no apparent reason. It's starting to be this virus that's going on these days now," said David Stuart of Washington.

How did it get to this point? Eyring blames technology. "Blogging, texting, the twittering; we're finding that people aren't focused on their people skills any longer, and so they're doing outbursts. They're just saying what they feel and what they want to say, when they want to say it."

Eyring is quick to point out that not all of society is lacking in people skills. But she does stress a return to simple gestures: opening a door for someone, giving up your seat for an elderly person or simply saying "thank you."

"I think actions are more powerful than words. We have to learn this, and you can do it, and it doesn't cost anything. You can do it. It costs nothing to be nice or civil or polite. It's easy, and it makes you feel good."
source: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/18/disappearing.civility/index.html#cnnSTCText View Here...

Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley Separate

Life's going to be a little less complicated for Avril Lavigne. Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley married in California in July, 2006.After months of facing rumors about trouble in their marriage, the pop star and husband Deryck Whibley announced Thursday that they are separating on good terms.

"Deryck and I have been together for 6-an-a-half years. We have been friends since I was 17, started dating when I was 19, and married when I was 21," Lavigne, 24, wrote on her Web site. "I am grateful for our time together, and I am grateful and blessed for our remaining friendship."

She added: "I admire Deryck and have a great amount of respect for him. He is the most amazing person I know and I love him with all my heart. Deryck and I are separating and moving forward on a positive note."

In a message on the MySpace page for his band Sum 41, Whibley also posted a message about the split. "The past 6 and a half years have been the most amazing years of my life. It's sad it has come to an end but Avril and I are still family and moving forward in the most positive way possible," the note read.

"Our decision to part ways is amicable and she holds a special place in my heart and forever will be a great and amazing friend," Whibley added. "Thanks to all our family, friends and fans for all the support."

Whibley, 29, and Lavigne, who are both from Canada, tied the knot in July 2006 at a private estate in Montecito, California. But save for one appearance together last month, the pair had been living apart for some time.

"They really want the best for each other," a source tells PEOPLE. "They're handling everything as amicably as possible."

In fact, says the source, Whibley produced much of Avril's upcoming album.
source:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/18/avril.lavigne.divorce/index.html?section=cnn_latest View Here...

Linkin Park's Bennington Talks New Band, Debut

Dead By Sunrise's debut album, "Out of Ashes," doesn't come out until Oct. 13, but frontman Chester Bennington is guaranteeing it will be a going concern, though always subject to the demands of his other band, Linkin Park.

"We'll make records when we can," Bennington -- who started forming Dead By Sunrise, originally as Snow White Tan, in 2005 -- tells Billboard.com. "I don't think people should expect to see an album every couple of years. I'm definitely not going to tell Linkin Park, 'Hey, can you guys take some time off so I can go work on Dead By Sunrise?' That's not gonna happen. But we definitely see this as something we'll continue to do. This isn't a one-time thing for us. Every five years or so I could imagine there'd be a Dead By Sunrise record."

And, Bennington adds, his bandmates in Linkin Park have become his "No. 1 support group" for Dead By Sunrise.

"I think they see how much time I put into it," he says, "and they definitely can tell these songs are different from what Linkin Park is doing. I still contribute 110 percent to Linkin Park. I think they know (Dead By Sunrise) is not something I would do if it meant jeopardizing what we have in Linkin Park."

With the album's first single, "Crawl Back In," already out, Bennington -- who co-produced the album with Howard Benson -- and the Dead By Sunrise crew are itching to play some live shows in support of "Out of Ashes." "We really are looking forward to going and playing small venues for a few hundred people," he says, "and really having the people who want to hear us play getting sweaty with us and having speakers right in their faces and blasting them pretty loud."


The fledgling group will also offer fans some bonus material, including a cover of the Misfits' "20 Eyes" and acoustic renditions of the "Out of Ashes" songs, some of which will be available for download with the purchase of the album.

While he's preparing for "Out of Ashes' " release, however, Bennington is also in the studio with Linkin Park working on the band's fourth album. Rick Rubin is again on board as co-producer, and Bennington says the group would like to have the set out by mid-2010 but "won't put anything out until we can pull a batch of super-stellar songs together."

"We're really experimenting a lot with sounds and time signatures and (song) structures," Bennington reports, "really not being constrained by any kind of preconceived ideas that we might have ourselves. So it's really promising."
source:http://www.billboard.com/#/news/linkin-park-s-bennington-talks-new-band-1004014067.story View Here...

Tori Amos Gets Into Holiday Spirit For 'Midwinter Graces'

The holidays are shaping up to be rather bright for Tori Amos fans, as the singer-songwriter is set to release "Midwinter Graces," her first collection of holiday music. Due November 10 on Universal Republic, the twelve song set features holiday standards such as "What Child, Nowell" and "Star of Wonder," as well as original compositions such as "Pink and Glitter" and "Our New Year." Amos recruited longtime collaborators Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, Mac Aladdin on guitars and arranger John Philip Shenale.

The main parts of the album were recorded at Amos's studio in Cornwall, UK with additional sessions taking place this summer in Los Angeles and New York City.

"Midwinter Graces" will conclude a very busy year for Amos, who released "Abnormally Attracted to Sin," her tenth studio album this past May. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Sin" has sold 92,000 and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200. According to a release, Amos has had a long history with seasonal themed music, honing her chops as a youth at her father's church where he was a minister. Amos has also been known to cover Christmas staples "Little Drummer Boy" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in concert.

Amos is currently on tour in Europe through October 10 and will head to Australia in November. Currently, there are no holiday themed shows scheduled.

Here is the track listing for "Midwinter Graces":

"What Child, Nowell"
"Star of Wonder"
"A Silent Night With You"
"Candle: Coventry Carol"
"Holy, Ivy, and Rose"
"Harps of Gold"
"Snow Angel"
"Jeanette, Isabelle"
"Pink and Glitter"
"Emmanuel"
"Winter's Carol"
"Our New Year" View Here...

Alice In Chains Are Back In 'Black'

In the midst of its first reunion tour in the summer of 2006, veteran hard rock act Alice in Chains played to a crowd of 30,000 at Portugal's Super Bock Super Rock festival. As the band performed a set of its classic cuts, a handful of fans unfurled a 25-foot-long sign that read, "Alice in Chains Get Born Again."

With the Sept. 29 release of "Black Gives Way to Blue," Alice in Chains' first full-length in nearly 14 years, the band's reincarnation reaches its conclusion. The band says "Blue" serves as both a synthesis of past achievements and a tribute to lead singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002 of a drug overdose, and fans are greeting it with open arms. The Elton John-assisted title track and the lead single, "Check My Brain," is No. 1 on Billboard's Rock Songs chart.

"There's a lot of personal stuff here that we're making public," drummer Sean Kinney says. "But I'm proud of everything we've done. We've grown as individuals and as a collective."

Following the chart-topping release of its self-titled third album in 1996, the band stopped touring and went on an indefinite hiatus. The first hint of a reunion came in 2005, when Kinney, guitarist Jerry Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez performed together at a Seattle benefit concert for South Asian tsunami victims. The members started jamming and soon recruited their longtime friend, Comes With the Fall frontman William DuVall, to share vocals with Cantrell.

After the band played European festivals and select U.S. club dates in 2006, it faced a decision the following year: whether to record new material. "There was never an intention to do these shows and then make another record, but they kept feeling stronger about it," manager Susan Silver says. "At the end of 2007, Jerry dug deeper than I've ever seen him dig and wrote many of the songs, and in 2008, they decided it was time to lay them down."

Recorded at the Foo Fighters' Studio 606 in Los Angeles, "Blue" is Alice in Chains' first release on Virgin/EMI, which signed the band this spring.

As the band gears up for a European tour in November and a U.S. trek in early 2010, Kinney has no reservations about making the album and plans to keep recording with the band's current lineup. "It'd be a disservice to Layne's legacy to not keep moving forward with this project," he says. "You hope it strikes a chord, but to me, this record's already a success." View Here...

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Britney Spears Gets Naked (Again) In VMA-Nominated 'Womanizer'

'If she was a car with a paint job, I was going to show off the paint job,' director says of the steamy sauna shots, in Behind the Lens.

Picture it: you, Britney Spears, a sweaty sauna, and nothing else between you. Like the body-hugging sparkly catsuit in "Toxic" that got tongues wagging, veteran video director Joseph Kahn knew the sight of Britney lounging in a sauna in the "Womanizer" clip would set off a buzz bomb.

Mission accomplished. Like his work on Eminem's "We Made You," which is also nominated for Video of the Year at Sunday's 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, "Womanizer" was the first clip from a crucial comeback album for Britney and Kahn was behind the camera to make sure it went smoothly.

As Kahn has said, he approached "Womanizer" not so much as a sequel to "Toxic," but as an answer to that clip. "I had no idea what the song was going to be, so I had no ideas when I met her about what we would do," said Kahn. "She had a basis of an idea to make a 'Toxic 2.' There are things she's really good at, like having a really natural knack for knowing what girls want."

While his previous collaborations with Spears on "Toxic" had a revenge-on-a-boy scenario, and "Stronger" bore an empowerment message, in "Womanizer" Britney was interested in exploring what her man was doing when he was cheating on her by showing up in different tempting outfits. "It's just a great girl fantasy," Kahn said of the concept for the video, in which Spears portrays a handful of forceful, hyperstylized characters. "The problem was we only had two days to shoot it and it involved multiple costume changes, multiple locations and Britney could only work 12 hours a day."

That meant Kahn had to hustle even more than usual, so he said he was, literally, running around the Los Angeles sets like a maniac, plotting out every second of the shoot like an Army lieutenant.

Although the hectic schedule was a white-knuckle grind, Kahn admitted that one aspect of the shoot was no hassle at all. "That was definitely an interesting thing to bring up," he said of his suggestion to Spears that they film a scenario in which she (barely) covers her naked, sweaty body with just her hands while lounging in a sauna. "I knew that the whole world would be watching, so I wanted something in there that stated, 'This is Britney, this is why you should respect her.' "

Despite the idea of seeking respect through nudity seeming counterintuitive, Kahn explained that he was so angry about how Spears had been attacked over the previous years for her yo-yo-ing weight that he wanted to quash all that talk by ... well, in his own words, "If she was a car with a paint job, I was going to show off the paint job. It was a way for her to gain back her body and smash all those shallow jokes."

As with "Toxic," Kahn had to clear everyone off the set when the time came to shoot the scene, leaving just him and Britney alone for two hours. "We worked together on each costume in the video and we went into a costuming session where she played dress-up for a while," he said, explaining the different sexy looks Britney shows off in the video. "She walks out in different outfits and I'm like, 'Let's try the striped shirt.' I'm sitting there thinking, 'I can't believe they pay me for this. I probably have the best job in the world!' Even Obama would want my job."

By Gil Kaufman
source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621190/20090910/index.jhtml View Here...

Céline Dion's Genes Will Go On and On

Titanic-voiced songbird Céline Dion is expecting her second child with male cougar hubby René Angélil, her rep confirms to E! News.

No further details were given, but the Journal de Montreal reported that the 41-year-old Canadian chanteuse and her 67-year-old manager-husband conceived after undergoing a round of fertility treatments in New York. The French-language paper also reported that Dion is due in May, meaning she may be pregnant, but only just.

Is it us or do things move faster on the metric system?

The duo has made no secret of similar efforts taken in conceiving their first child, son René-Charles, who was born in 2001. He was born through in vitro fertilization after six years of trying.

While the details of this pregnancy haven't been released, Dion told Oprah Winfrey back in 2004 that it was only a matter of time before she and Angélil tried again—and she had just the egg with which to make the attempt.

"We have a little embryo in New York which was produced at the same time as René-Charles," she said. "To be honest with you, there's no way for me as a mom, knowing that this embryo is part of René and me and is waiting for us in this iceberg...I need to bring this baby to the sun...I have to give it a try."

A new, sunshiny day has come.

source: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b139870_ceacuteline_dions_genes_will_go_on_on.html View Here...

People: Mariah Carey, Nicole Kidman, Audrina Patridge

Most stars get glammed up for their movie roles, but sometimes, going homely can work wonders for a career. Mariah Carey recently got a serious make-under for Precious, in which she plays a frumpy social worker. The critical huzzahs are a far cry from what she heard when she gussied up for Glitter.

Other examples:

• Nicole Kidman was fitted with a prominent prosthetic proboscis and won an Oscar playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

• Charlize Theron's reverse glamour shot in Monster included 30 extra pounds, shaved eyebrows, fake teeth and splotchy skin. She took home the Oscar, too.

Says she

"I barely talk to Lauren. We'll text every now and then, but that's about it. Heidi, um, keeps asking me to go to Bible study with her." Audrina Patridge, on her relationship with Lauren Conrad and Heidi Pratt, her co-stars on MTV's The Hills, in the October issue of Maxim View Here...

BOXING:

PACQUIAO VS. COTTO COVERAGE

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BOXING:

MAYWEATHER VS. MARQUEZ POST FIGHT

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Note: We apologize for deleting the actual fight replay because of copyright restrictions. We are working hard to be credible as possible. But if there are sufficient demand, we will find ways to replace it. Thank you.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=ab1e6fc6-d48d-4634-9fa8-b49392d80700&amp;from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_articles" target="_new" title="Highlights: Mayweather - Marquez">Video: Highlights: Mayweather - Marquez</a> View Here...

MUSIC VIDEOS

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

TAYLOR SWIFT Official Music Videos
ALICIA KEYS Official Music Videos
BEYONCE Official Music Videos
BRITNEY SPEARS Official Music Videos
CELINE DION Official Music Videos
COLBIE CAILLAT Official Music Videos
LEONA LEWIS Official Music Videos
MARIAH CAREY Official Music Videos
PUSSYCAT DOLLS Official Music Videos

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UFC 103 Franklin vs. Belfort

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