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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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...
“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...
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...
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...
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
View Here...
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
View Here...
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...
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...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
All Comments
