LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Kanye West and reality TV star Kim Kardashian are expecting a child, Kardashian said on Monday shortly after West announced the pregnancy to fans at a concert.
'It's true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby,' Kardashian, 32, wrote on her personal blog.
'Looking forward to great new beginnings in 2013 and to starting a family,' she added.
Kardashian began dating West in April, some six months after filing for divorce from basketball player Kris Humphries. The two were married for 72 days following a lavish, made-for-TV wedding. Their divorce has yet to be finalized.
Kardashian is about 12 weeks pregnant, according to U.S. media reports.
Fans and family took to Twitter to congratulate the celebrity power couple, and to speculate whether the new baby's name would begin with a K, in line with Kardashian family tradition.
'Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can!' wrote Kardashian's sister Kourtney. 'Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!'
Kardashian's brother-in-law, basketball player Lamar Odom, who has been open about struggling to have a baby with wife and 'The X Factor' host Khloe Kardashian also tweeted his congratulations.
'I'm excited for Kanye and my sister!' said Odom. 'There's nothing like bringing life into this world! Let's keep God's blessings coming!'
West, 35, was first to announce the news from the stage at a concert in Atlantic City on Sunday, singing, 'God brought us a whole new plan, baby. 'Cause now you're having my baby.'
Kardashian, who rose to fame five years ago for her appearances in reality TV show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians,' was the most-searched person on the Yahoo! website in 2012.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Cynthia Osterman)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Kanye West, Kim Kardashian expecting baby: reports
(Reuters) - Rapper Kanye West and reality TV star Kim Kardashian are expecting their first child, celebrity media outlets reported on Monday.
Fans and family took to Twitter to congratulate the celebrity power couple.
'Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can!' wrote Kardashian's sister Kourtney. 'Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!'
According to E! News, West, 35, announced the news from the stage at a concert in Atlantic City on Sunday.
Kardashian, 32, who rose to fame five years ago for her appearances in reality TV show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', was the most-searched person on the Yahoo! website in 2012.
She married basketball player Kris Humphries in August, 2011, in a lavish, made-for-TV wedding, but the couple divorced just 72 days later.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Fans and family took to Twitter to congratulate the celebrity power couple.
'Been wanting to shout from the rooftops with joy and now I can!' wrote Kardashian's sister Kourtney. 'Another angel to welcome to our family. Overwhelmed with excitement!'
According to E! News, West, 35, announced the news from the stage at a concert in Atlantic City on Sunday.
Kardashian, 32, who rose to fame five years ago for her appearances in reality TV show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians', was the most-searched person on the Yahoo! website in 2012.
She married basketball player Kris Humphries in August, 2011, in a lavish, made-for-TV wedding, but the couple divorced just 72 days later.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Taylor Swift's "Red" tops Billboard chart after holiday season
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country pop darling Taylor Swift retained the top spot of the Billboard 200 album chart on Thursday after strong sales during the holiday season that saw her album 'Red' mark its sixth week at No. 1 since its release two months ago.
'Red' sold 275,000 copies last week ahead of the holidays, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.
Swift, 23, was able to hold off rapper T.I.'s new album 'Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head' from the top spot. The rapper came in at No. 2 after selling 178,000 copies.
T.I.'s latest record was the only new release by an individual artist to debut in the top 10 this week. The entries comprised holiday favorites such as Michael Buble's 'Christmas' at No. 5 and some of this year's chart-toppers, including One Direction's 'Take Me Home' at No. 4 and 'Babel' by Mumford & Sons at No. 8.
Two compilation albums rounded out the top 10, with '12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy' at No. 9 and the latest Now Music installment, 'Now 44' at No. 10.
The star-studded '12-12-12' compilation was released to raise funds for victims of superstorm Sandy following a live concert at New York's Madison Square Gardens on December 12.
The album features live recordings of songs by Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, The Rolling Stones and Alicia Keys.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Kelsey and David Brunnstrom)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF BIKINI BABES.
'Red' sold 275,000 copies last week ahead of the holidays, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.
Swift, 23, was able to hold off rapper T.I.'s new album 'Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head' from the top spot. The rapper came in at No. 2 after selling 178,000 copies.
T.I.'s latest record was the only new release by an individual artist to debut in the top 10 this week. The entries comprised holiday favorites such as Michael Buble's 'Christmas' at No. 5 and some of this year's chart-toppers, including One Direction's 'Take Me Home' at No. 4 and 'Babel' by Mumford & Sons at No. 8.
Two compilation albums rounded out the top 10, with '12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy' at No. 9 and the latest Now Music installment, 'Now 44' at No. 10.
The star-studded '12-12-12' compilation was released to raise funds for victims of superstorm Sandy following a live concert at New York's Madison Square Gardens on December 12.
The album features live recordings of songs by Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, The Rolling Stones and Alicia Keys.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Eric Kelsey and David Brunnstrom)
This article is brought to you by PICTURES OF BIKINI BABES.
Soprano Bartoli: My voice has more colors, shadow
LONDON (Reuters) - Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli has released a year-end blockbuster that is part mystery story, part research project and shows off a voice which only seems to improve with age.
Bartoli's latest deluxe-packaged album 'Mission' (Decca) is devoted to the music of the late 17th-century Italian composer, diplomat and perhaps spy, Agostino Steffani.
Steffani may have been a bit overlooked as a result of his appearance at the end of the Renaissance and at the beginning of the Baroque periods - until Bartoli's interest alighted on him.
'The variety is amazing in the music of Steffani, the slow arias have very beautiful melodic lines, they are unbelievable, it's quite hypnotic music,' Bartoli said in a telephone interview from Paris.
Since she burst upon the world in the 1990s, specializing mostly in Mozart and Rossini, Bartoli has gone from strength to strength, not only in digging up unusual repertoires, including another deluxe compilation in 2009 devoted to music sung by castrati, but also vocally.
Here's what else Bartoli had to say about Steffani and his possible career as a spy, why she goes for the anti-diva look on her recent album covers, and what she calls a Fellini-esque experience at La Scala with conductor Daniel Barenboim:
Q: Is it true, then, that the voice improves with time?
A: 'I think this is a very good time because of the maturity of the technique. When you are young, of course, you have to have a beautiful voice. This is a gift you receive, but you don't have enough technique or experience. So this is a very good time because I can really paint with my voice with so many colors, like a painter. I love painting with the voice and I'm of an age when I do this definitely better than 20 years ago.'
Q: So this bit about Steffani being a spy, surely that was dreamt up by the Decca marketing department?
A: 'He had an incredible life as a priest, a missionary and a diplomatic mission to arranging weddings between the royal princes of that period. And also he was a kind of spy, in fact he was a Catholic priest in the north of Germany, in the Protestant area, and he spent lots of years in that area - it was very unusual, very strange. Maybe he also had the mission to convert (people) to Catholicism, who knows? We have lots of speculation about him, all the mysterious things about this man. There's still mystery.'
Q: There's no mystery though that the cover for this album, showing you bald-headed and wielding a crucifix, is 'non-diva' - like the cover on the 'Sacrificium' album of castrati music, with your head superimposed on the torso of a male statue.
A: 'The idea was to have a cover related to the project and it was a bit against the cliche of a diva who has to look beautiful all the time. In a project like 'Sacrificium', when at the beginning of the 18th century 3,000-4,000 boys were castrated every year in Italy...how can I make a CD project about this and make a cover with a beautiful, glamorous Vanity Fair picture? This would be more embarrassing...People realize there is a real story here to tell, it's not a compilation of arias which you do for Christmas. And 'Sacrificium' was a huge success.'
Q: Your concert recital earlier this month singing Handel, Rossini and Mozart with Daniel Barenboim conducting at La Scala in Milan, with a chorus of boos and whistles in the second half, was perhaps less of a success?
A: 'This story is repeating what happened to Carlos Kleiber, one of the greatest conductors of our lives, also to (Maria) Callas, (Luciano) Pavarotti. The concert was magnificent - Handel, Mozart, Rossini - and then I believe at the very end there was a very Fellinian situation. You think these things don't happen anymore, that they only happen in the movies of (Federico) Fellini but actually, no, this is happening. And it seemed like a parody but the next morning I opened the newspaper and (Silvio) Berlusconi is back (in Italian politics). And so I said, 'Yes, of course.'
I think living in Italy is difficult but living without Italy is impossible.'
(Editing by Michael Roddy)
This news article is brought to you by TAXES BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Bartoli's latest deluxe-packaged album 'Mission' (Decca) is devoted to the music of the late 17th-century Italian composer, diplomat and perhaps spy, Agostino Steffani.
Steffani may have been a bit overlooked as a result of his appearance at the end of the Renaissance and at the beginning of the Baroque periods - until Bartoli's interest alighted on him.
'The variety is amazing in the music of Steffani, the slow arias have very beautiful melodic lines, they are unbelievable, it's quite hypnotic music,' Bartoli said in a telephone interview from Paris.
Since she burst upon the world in the 1990s, specializing mostly in Mozart and Rossini, Bartoli has gone from strength to strength, not only in digging up unusual repertoires, including another deluxe compilation in 2009 devoted to music sung by castrati, but also vocally.
Here's what else Bartoli had to say about Steffani and his possible career as a spy, why she goes for the anti-diva look on her recent album covers, and what she calls a Fellini-esque experience at La Scala with conductor Daniel Barenboim:
Q: Is it true, then, that the voice improves with time?
A: 'I think this is a very good time because of the maturity of the technique. When you are young, of course, you have to have a beautiful voice. This is a gift you receive, but you don't have enough technique or experience. So this is a very good time because I can really paint with my voice with so many colors, like a painter. I love painting with the voice and I'm of an age when I do this definitely better than 20 years ago.'
Q: So this bit about Steffani being a spy, surely that was dreamt up by the Decca marketing department?
A: 'He had an incredible life as a priest, a missionary and a diplomatic mission to arranging weddings between the royal princes of that period. And also he was a kind of spy, in fact he was a Catholic priest in the north of Germany, in the Protestant area, and he spent lots of years in that area - it was very unusual, very strange. Maybe he also had the mission to convert (people) to Catholicism, who knows? We have lots of speculation about him, all the mysterious things about this man. There's still mystery.'
Q: There's no mystery though that the cover for this album, showing you bald-headed and wielding a crucifix, is 'non-diva' - like the cover on the 'Sacrificium' album of castrati music, with your head superimposed on the torso of a male statue.
A: 'The idea was to have a cover related to the project and it was a bit against the cliche of a diva who has to look beautiful all the time. In a project like 'Sacrificium', when at the beginning of the 18th century 3,000-4,000 boys were castrated every year in Italy...how can I make a CD project about this and make a cover with a beautiful, glamorous Vanity Fair picture? This would be more embarrassing...People realize there is a real story here to tell, it's not a compilation of arias which you do for Christmas. And 'Sacrificium' was a huge success.'
Q: Your concert recital earlier this month singing Handel, Rossini and Mozart with Daniel Barenboim conducting at La Scala in Milan, with a chorus of boos and whistles in the second half, was perhaps less of a success?
A: 'This story is repeating what happened to Carlos Kleiber, one of the greatest conductors of our lives, also to (Maria) Callas, (Luciano) Pavarotti. The concert was magnificent - Handel, Mozart, Rossini - and then I believe at the very end there was a very Fellinian situation. You think these things don't happen anymore, that they only happen in the movies of (Federico) Fellini but actually, no, this is happening. And it seemed like a parody but the next morning I opened the newspaper and (Silvio) Berlusconi is back (in Italian politics). And so I said, 'Yes, of course.'
I think living in Italy is difficult but living without Italy is impossible.'
(Editing by Michael Roddy)
This news article is brought to you by TAXES BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
AP music writers' top 10 albums of the year
Mesfin Fekadu's picks:
1. Nas, 'Life is Good': 'I am a graphic classic song composer,' Nas raps on the intro to his latest album. And he's right. You may disagree, but Nas is the best rapper alive, and with 'Life is Good,' he's got the year's top album, regardless of genre. On 'Life,' he's spitting rhymes about his ex-wife, Kelis - like the soulful 'Bye Baby' - his daughter on 'Daughters' and his childhood on 'A Queens Story.' He's a top-notch lyricist with a knack for storytelling, and it all makes for impeccable music. He knows life is good, and so is this album.
2. Of Monsters and Men, 'My Head Is an Animal': The Icelandic fivesome have melodies that are eerie, jamming, groovy and overall epic. The voices of the male and female lead singers blend so beautifully that it sounds like magic.
3. Elle Varner, 'Perfectly Imperfect': Her raspy and powerful voice, over crisp production, easily gives Elle Varner R&B's best offering of 2012. The 12-track set has an amazing flow that will have you hitting the replay button again, again and again!
4. Lianne La Havas, 'Is Your Love Big Enough?': Lianne La Havas' honesty pierces on the tracks on her debut album, and it makes the collection of songs both heavy and beautiful. She's got an acoustic folk-rock-soul sound that is unique, and what's best is that heavy voice of hers: This London singer sounds like she's singing straight to your soul. Well, actually, she is.
5. Frank Ocean, 'channel ORANGE': Frank is fresh. Enough said.
6. Miguel, 'Kaleidoscope Dream': It's a bit shocking - though more exciting - to see the Grammys acknowledge Miguel's multi-talents with five nominations. They got it right - he's helping change R&B without dismissing the genre's more traditional sound from acts like Faith Evans and Tamia. From 'Do You...' to 'Candles In the Sun,' he hits all the right notes on his sophomore disc.
7. Emeli Sande, 'Our Version of Events': The debut album from this Scottish import commands your attention, thanks to Emeli Sande's strong pipes jelled with R&B and pop sounds. Her voice helps her songs easily come to life - just check out 'Suitcase' if you're not convinced.
8. Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid m.A.A.d city': The major label debut from Dr. Dre's protege is dope for its clever rhymes and soulful skits. He's going places.
9. Mumford & Sons, 'Babel': Mumford & Sons continue to hark on love and life on 'Babel,' and it sounds masterful with its rock harmonies that are both rugged and calming.
10. Shiny Toy Guns, 'III': The year's best dance and electronic-based album isn't on Top 40 radio. Shiny Toy Guns returned in 2012 with a third album and its lead singer, Carah Faye. The foursome sounds better than ever over beats that are addictive and vibes that are dreamy. Now dance.
Nekesa Mumbi Moody's picks:
1. Emeli Sande, 'Our Version of Events': Sande's forceful, soulful voice is enough of a lure, but coupled with the most poetic, beautiful lyrics and melodies of the year, Sande's debut album was a brilliant work that was shamefully overlooked by the Recording Academy for Grammy contention in 2013. Don't make the same mistake if you haven't already listened - this one is a stunner.
2. Taylor Swift, 'Red': Last time, we had John Mayer to thank. This time around, Jake Gyllenhaal is most likely the reason for Swift's ire in songs like the wickedly vengeful 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' as well as poignant, heartbreaking songs like 'I Almost Do' or 'All Too Well.' At 22, the former teen ingénue also flirts with sensuality on songs like 'Treacherous' and 'Everything Has Changed.' She may still have a cutesy image, but Swift has grown up, and continues to mature into a singer-songwriter with musical gravitas.
3. Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange': Ocean's grand statement about his sexuality seemed to overshadow the real reason why he was one of music's most important figures - his impressive talent. 'Thinkin' Bout You' gave just a taste of Ocean's allure: With the help of others, he crafted a collection of musically and lyrically daring songs that stand out starkly from the status quo of pop and R&B worlds.
4. Esperanza Spalding, 'Radio Music Society': The 2011 Best New Artist winner delivered her most accessible album to date, melding her jazz roots with R&B for an enchanting album.
5. Alabama Shakes, 'Boys & Girls': Brittany Howard's vocals slay on every track - though her voice has been described as Joplin-esque, she's quickly proving that she's a force all her own. From hard-rocking guitar-based tracks to slower grooves, 'Boys & Girls' simply smolders.
6. Various Artists, 'The Hunger Games Soundtrack: Songs from District 12 and Beyond': From Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars to Miranda Lambert's Pistol Annies, this collection of songs made for the blockbuster film captured the bleakness of the novel better than the movie. In an album of highlight after highlight, the Secret Sisters' simple and beautiful 'Tomorrow Will Be Kinder' was at the apex.
7. Killer Mike, 'R.A.P. Music': Killer Mike has been under the radar in the rap world for years - and it's too bad this great didn't elevate his profile in the mainstream, because it's better than 82.4 percent of what's out there today (and yes, that's my scientific survey). He mixes rap braggadocio with biting, thought-provoking social commentary.
8. Elle Varner, 'Perfectly Imperfect': Can we get a 'Refill' of Varner for 2013? Besides her seductive hit, Varner's album showed that she's one of music's bright new talents with songs that ranged sensuous bedroom workouts to dramatic love ballads.
9. The Robert Glasper Experiment, 'Black Radio': They say you can't really criticize something if you don't have a solution to fix it. Well, with 'Black Radio,' the jazz pianist offered his take on how the often stagnant medium could be improved - and it was dreamy.
10. Nas, 'Life Is Good': Actually, Mesfin, it's been a while since Nas released an album that lived up to his arguable title as rap's greatest MC. But he delivered this year with an album that was a throwback to the beats that dominated hip-hop when New York was king of the rap game, and of course, Nas' rhymes.
Chris Talbott's picks:
1. Cloud Nothings, 'Attack on Memory': Blame most of the entries on this list on a conversation I had last year with Jeff Tweedy, who said one of the ways to stay in love with music was to seek out new, young acts. Ohio's Cloud Nothings punched me in the solar plexus with this unrepentant blast of rock that tackles BIG THEMES while musically careening down a steep, car-lined street on an out-of-control skateboard.
2. Natural Child, 'For The Love of The Game' and 'Hard in Heaven': Mining an era that seems to have been purposely forgotten by today's young rockers, this bluesy rock trio from Nashville was on a groove so tight this year that it released two albums. It's a tossup which one's better, so we're not choosing. Both show they could be Nashville's next breakthrough band.
3. Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid, m.A.A.d. city': Displaying the limitless ambition of a young RZA or Kanye West, this much-anticipated, Dr. Dre-sanctified release is a cinematic concept album stuffed full of examples of the Los Angeles rapper's versatility, creativity and willingness to take chances most other rappers would blanche at.
4. Jack White, 'Blunderbuss': We've been waiting a long time to hear what White would sound like without the filter of his many, many bandmates. 'Blunderbuss,' a little bit whimsical, a little bit menacing, offered all the things we'd hoped we'd find, plus a few surprises.
5. Alabama Shakes, 'Boys & Girls': This debut album from the Alabama rock quartet heralds the arrival of a major talent in singer Brittany Howard, but she's not the only star here. Her bandmates craft simple but compelling, soulful music that combines with Howard's voice to make some of the most uplifting rock we've heard in years.
6. Frank Ocean, 'channel ORANGE': The Tweedy Effect really kicked in last year when I heard Ocean's mix tape 'nostalgia/ULTRA,' probably the best album of 2011. While 'channel ORANGE' is disappointingly restrained musically, like 'nostalgia/Ultra' it is a triumphant example as a social document that's both fearless and insightful yet still entertaining enough to reach popular audiences.
7. Turbo Fruits, 'Butter': Sometimes you just want to bob your head along to mindless songs about parties and girls and fighting and motorcycles, and the third album from these rising rockers on Kings of Leon's record label helps prove EDM hasn't killed off rock 'n' roll. Far from it.
8. King Tuff, 'King Tuff': Twenty-five years after its start, Sub Pop is still unearthing bands you need to hear. This time it's Vermont's King Tuff, purveyors of weirdly irresistible sugar-coated psychedelic pop songs that refuse to leave your brain.
9. Japandroids, 'Celebration Rock': Beginning and ending with the sound of fireworks, this Vancouver, British Columbia, two-piece's album is exactly what its title describes - grand, anthemic songs about the great moments in life.
10. Trampled By Turtles, 'Stars and Satellites': The awesomely named Minnesota string band has been on the rise for years and its gentle, introspective sixth album adds a layer of artistry and emotion only hinted at in previous work.
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1. Nas, 'Life is Good': 'I am a graphic classic song composer,' Nas raps on the intro to his latest album. And he's right. You may disagree, but Nas is the best rapper alive, and with 'Life is Good,' he's got the year's top album, regardless of genre. On 'Life,' he's spitting rhymes about his ex-wife, Kelis - like the soulful 'Bye Baby' - his daughter on 'Daughters' and his childhood on 'A Queens Story.' He's a top-notch lyricist with a knack for storytelling, and it all makes for impeccable music. He knows life is good, and so is this album.
2. Of Monsters and Men, 'My Head Is an Animal': The Icelandic fivesome have melodies that are eerie, jamming, groovy and overall epic. The voices of the male and female lead singers blend so beautifully that it sounds like magic.
3. Elle Varner, 'Perfectly Imperfect': Her raspy and powerful voice, over crisp production, easily gives Elle Varner R&B's best offering of 2012. The 12-track set has an amazing flow that will have you hitting the replay button again, again and again!
4. Lianne La Havas, 'Is Your Love Big Enough?': Lianne La Havas' honesty pierces on the tracks on her debut album, and it makes the collection of songs both heavy and beautiful. She's got an acoustic folk-rock-soul sound that is unique, and what's best is that heavy voice of hers: This London singer sounds like she's singing straight to your soul. Well, actually, she is.
5. Frank Ocean, 'channel ORANGE': Frank is fresh. Enough said.
6. Miguel, 'Kaleidoscope Dream': It's a bit shocking - though more exciting - to see the Grammys acknowledge Miguel's multi-talents with five nominations. They got it right - he's helping change R&B without dismissing the genre's more traditional sound from acts like Faith Evans and Tamia. From 'Do You...' to 'Candles In the Sun,' he hits all the right notes on his sophomore disc.
7. Emeli Sande, 'Our Version of Events': The debut album from this Scottish import commands your attention, thanks to Emeli Sande's strong pipes jelled with R&B and pop sounds. Her voice helps her songs easily come to life - just check out 'Suitcase' if you're not convinced.
8. Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid m.A.A.d city': The major label debut from Dr. Dre's protege is dope for its clever rhymes and soulful skits. He's going places.
9. Mumford & Sons, 'Babel': Mumford & Sons continue to hark on love and life on 'Babel,' and it sounds masterful with its rock harmonies that are both rugged and calming.
10. Shiny Toy Guns, 'III': The year's best dance and electronic-based album isn't on Top 40 radio. Shiny Toy Guns returned in 2012 with a third album and its lead singer, Carah Faye. The foursome sounds better than ever over beats that are addictive and vibes that are dreamy. Now dance.
Nekesa Mumbi Moody's picks:
1. Emeli Sande, 'Our Version of Events': Sande's forceful, soulful voice is enough of a lure, but coupled with the most poetic, beautiful lyrics and melodies of the year, Sande's debut album was a brilliant work that was shamefully overlooked by the Recording Academy for Grammy contention in 2013. Don't make the same mistake if you haven't already listened - this one is a stunner.
2. Taylor Swift, 'Red': Last time, we had John Mayer to thank. This time around, Jake Gyllenhaal is most likely the reason for Swift's ire in songs like the wickedly vengeful 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,' as well as poignant, heartbreaking songs like 'I Almost Do' or 'All Too Well.' At 22, the former teen ingénue also flirts with sensuality on songs like 'Treacherous' and 'Everything Has Changed.' She may still have a cutesy image, but Swift has grown up, and continues to mature into a singer-songwriter with musical gravitas.
3. Frank Ocean, 'Channel Orange': Ocean's grand statement about his sexuality seemed to overshadow the real reason why he was one of music's most important figures - his impressive talent. 'Thinkin' Bout You' gave just a taste of Ocean's allure: With the help of others, he crafted a collection of musically and lyrically daring songs that stand out starkly from the status quo of pop and R&B worlds.
4. Esperanza Spalding, 'Radio Music Society': The 2011 Best New Artist winner delivered her most accessible album to date, melding her jazz roots with R&B for an enchanting album.
5. Alabama Shakes, 'Boys & Girls': Brittany Howard's vocals slay on every track - though her voice has been described as Joplin-esque, she's quickly proving that she's a force all her own. From hard-rocking guitar-based tracks to slower grooves, 'Boys & Girls' simply smolders.
6. Various Artists, 'The Hunger Games Soundtrack: Songs from District 12 and Beyond': From Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars to Miranda Lambert's Pistol Annies, this collection of songs made for the blockbuster film captured the bleakness of the novel better than the movie. In an album of highlight after highlight, the Secret Sisters' simple and beautiful 'Tomorrow Will Be Kinder' was at the apex.
7. Killer Mike, 'R.A.P. Music': Killer Mike has been under the radar in the rap world for years - and it's too bad this great didn't elevate his profile in the mainstream, because it's better than 82.4 percent of what's out there today (and yes, that's my scientific survey). He mixes rap braggadocio with biting, thought-provoking social commentary.
8. Elle Varner, 'Perfectly Imperfect': Can we get a 'Refill' of Varner for 2013? Besides her seductive hit, Varner's album showed that she's one of music's bright new talents with songs that ranged sensuous bedroom workouts to dramatic love ballads.
9. The Robert Glasper Experiment, 'Black Radio': They say you can't really criticize something if you don't have a solution to fix it. Well, with 'Black Radio,' the jazz pianist offered his take on how the often stagnant medium could be improved - and it was dreamy.
10. Nas, 'Life Is Good': Actually, Mesfin, it's been a while since Nas released an album that lived up to his arguable title as rap's greatest MC. But he delivered this year with an album that was a throwback to the beats that dominated hip-hop when New York was king of the rap game, and of course, Nas' rhymes.
Chris Talbott's picks:
1. Cloud Nothings, 'Attack on Memory': Blame most of the entries on this list on a conversation I had last year with Jeff Tweedy, who said one of the ways to stay in love with music was to seek out new, young acts. Ohio's Cloud Nothings punched me in the solar plexus with this unrepentant blast of rock that tackles BIG THEMES while musically careening down a steep, car-lined street on an out-of-control skateboard.
2. Natural Child, 'For The Love of The Game' and 'Hard in Heaven': Mining an era that seems to have been purposely forgotten by today's young rockers, this bluesy rock trio from Nashville was on a groove so tight this year that it released two albums. It's a tossup which one's better, so we're not choosing. Both show they could be Nashville's next breakthrough band.
3. Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid, m.A.A.d. city': Displaying the limitless ambition of a young RZA or Kanye West, this much-anticipated, Dr. Dre-sanctified release is a cinematic concept album stuffed full of examples of the Los Angeles rapper's versatility, creativity and willingness to take chances most other rappers would blanche at.
4. Jack White, 'Blunderbuss': We've been waiting a long time to hear what White would sound like without the filter of his many, many bandmates. 'Blunderbuss,' a little bit whimsical, a little bit menacing, offered all the things we'd hoped we'd find, plus a few surprises.
5. Alabama Shakes, 'Boys & Girls': This debut album from the Alabama rock quartet heralds the arrival of a major talent in singer Brittany Howard, but she's not the only star here. Her bandmates craft simple but compelling, soulful music that combines with Howard's voice to make some of the most uplifting rock we've heard in years.
6. Frank Ocean, 'channel ORANGE': The Tweedy Effect really kicked in last year when I heard Ocean's mix tape 'nostalgia/ULTRA,' probably the best album of 2011. While 'channel ORANGE' is disappointingly restrained musically, like 'nostalgia/Ultra' it is a triumphant example as a social document that's both fearless and insightful yet still entertaining enough to reach popular audiences.
7. Turbo Fruits, 'Butter': Sometimes you just want to bob your head along to mindless songs about parties and girls and fighting and motorcycles, and the third album from these rising rockers on Kings of Leon's record label helps prove EDM hasn't killed off rock 'n' roll. Far from it.
8. King Tuff, 'King Tuff': Twenty-five years after its start, Sub Pop is still unearthing bands you need to hear. This time it's Vermont's King Tuff, purveyors of weirdly irresistible sugar-coated psychedelic pop songs that refuse to leave your brain.
9. Japandroids, 'Celebration Rock': Beginning and ending with the sound of fireworks, this Vancouver, British Columbia, two-piece's album is exactly what its title describes - grand, anthemic songs about the great moments in life.
10. Trampled By Turtles, 'Stars and Satellites': The awesomely named Minnesota string band has been on the rise for years and its gentle, introspective sixth album adds a layer of artistry and emotion only hinted at in previous work.
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Friday, December 21, 2012
BMG Scores Rights to Nirvana, Tears for Fears Songs
NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - BMG has acquired the worldwide rights to several music catalogues, a deal that will give it songs from artists including Kurt Cobain, Tears for Fears, The Human League, Iggy Pop, and Take That.
The company announced Friday that it will purchase the rights for the Virgin Music Publishing Companies, Famous UK Music Publishing and selected current songwriters from Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing.
Sony Corporation of America and a group of investors acquired EMI Music Publishing in June, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing administers EMI on behalf of the group. It had to sell the catalogues as a condition of the acquisition.
Virgin Publishing's catalogue includes Kurt Cobain's songs for Nirvana, including 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' 'Come As You Are' and 'About A Girl.'
Other hits include Jim Steinman's 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart,' Lenny Kravitz' 'Are You Gonna Go My Way,' Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black,' and Devo's 'Whip It.'
Other songs include Take That's greatest hits, including 'Patience,' 'Shine' and 'Greatest Day,' as well as former member Robbie William's interests in 'Angels,' 'Rock DJ' and 'Let Me Entertain You.'
Also in the catalogue are Tears for Fears' 'Everybody Rules The World,' Culture Club's 'Karma Chamelon,' OMD's 'Enola Gay,' and Iggy Pop's 'Lust for Life,' as well as recent hits including Duffy's 'Mercy.'
BMG, the fourth-largest music publishing company, is a three-year-old partnership between Bertelsmann and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. In May, it announced it had more than one million copyrights under management.
'These catalogues contain some of the most influential and successful songs in popular music,' said BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch. 'We are delighted to have won the opportunity to represent the writers of those songs and to demonstrate to them BMG's commitment to twenty-first century service. They have my pledge that we will do our very best to deliver for them.'
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The company announced Friday that it will purchase the rights for the Virgin Music Publishing Companies, Famous UK Music Publishing and selected current songwriters from Sony/ATV and EMI Music Publishing.
Sony Corporation of America and a group of investors acquired EMI Music Publishing in June, and Sony/ATV Music Publishing administers EMI on behalf of the group. It had to sell the catalogues as a condition of the acquisition.
Virgin Publishing's catalogue includes Kurt Cobain's songs for Nirvana, including 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' 'Come As You Are' and 'About A Girl.'
Other hits include Jim Steinman's 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart,' Lenny Kravitz' 'Are You Gonna Go My Way,' Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black,' and Devo's 'Whip It.'
Other songs include Take That's greatest hits, including 'Patience,' 'Shine' and 'Greatest Day,' as well as former member Robbie William's interests in 'Angels,' 'Rock DJ' and 'Let Me Entertain You.'
Also in the catalogue are Tears for Fears' 'Everybody Rules The World,' Culture Club's 'Karma Chamelon,' OMD's 'Enola Gay,' and Iggy Pop's 'Lust for Life,' as well as recent hits including Duffy's 'Mercy.'
BMG, the fourth-largest music publishing company, is a three-year-old partnership between Bertelsmann and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. In May, it announced it had more than one million copyrights under management.
'These catalogues contain some of the most influential and successful songs in popular music,' said BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch. 'We are delighted to have won the opportunity to represent the writers of those songs and to demonstrate to them BMG's commitment to twenty-first century service. They have my pledge that we will do our very best to deliver for them.'
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Thursday, December 20, 2012
"Gangnam Style" in line for UK dictionary inclusion
LONDON (Reuters) - He has the most-watched video in Youtube history, become a pop sensation with a horse-riding dance craze that has swept the world and now Korean singer Psy may cement his place in popular culture with recognition from a British dictionary.
'Gangnam Style,' Psy's signature song, has been chosen along with 'fiscal cliff' and 'Romneyshambles' as some of Collins Dictionary's words of the year.
'We were looking for words that told the story of the year,' said Ian Brookes, the dictionary's consultant editor.
'Some words are from events that have been and gone and so are not likely to stick around ... but others are probably here to stay.'
Other headline entries centered on American politics.
'Fiscal cliff' has drawn a lot of attention as the deadline for Congress and President Obama to agree on government spending and tax plans draws nearer.
While the term 'Romneyshambles' entered the British public's consciousness after Mitt Romney's gaffe-ridden visit to London in July in which he questioned Britain's readiness to host the Olympics.
The inclusion of '47 percent' on the list after a leaked video showed Romney telling donors that 47 percent of Americans would definitely vote for Obama because of their dependency on the government capped off a bad year for the losing presidential candidate.
Collins received over 7,000 submissions on its online database.
Twelve words of the year - one for each month - were then selected on the basis of the frequency with which they were spoken, how many places they appeared and their longevity in public discourse.
Appearing on the Collins words of the year list is no guarantee of insertion in the next dictionary.
But Gangnam Style stands a very good chance, Brookes said.
'It's obviously a craze, so there's the possibility it will go away. But it's been heard by so many people that I think it's probably earned the right to go into the dictionary.'
Other words of the year include 'mummy porn' after the popularity of the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' books, and 'superstorm' after Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc along the east coast of America in October.
(Reporting By Peter Schwartzstein, editing by Paul Casciato)
'Gangnam Style,' Psy's signature song, has been chosen along with 'fiscal cliff' and 'Romneyshambles' as some of Collins Dictionary's words of the year.
'We were looking for words that told the story of the year,' said Ian Brookes, the dictionary's consultant editor.
'Some words are from events that have been and gone and so are not likely to stick around ... but others are probably here to stay.'
Other headline entries centered on American politics.
'Fiscal cliff' has drawn a lot of attention as the deadline for Congress and President Obama to agree on government spending and tax plans draws nearer.
While the term 'Romneyshambles' entered the British public's consciousness after Mitt Romney's gaffe-ridden visit to London in July in which he questioned Britain's readiness to host the Olympics.
The inclusion of '47 percent' on the list after a leaked video showed Romney telling donors that 47 percent of Americans would definitely vote for Obama because of their dependency on the government capped off a bad year for the losing presidential candidate.
Collins received over 7,000 submissions on its online database.
Twelve words of the year - one for each month - were then selected on the basis of the frequency with which they were spoken, how many places they appeared and their longevity in public discourse.
Appearing on the Collins words of the year list is no guarantee of insertion in the next dictionary.
But Gangnam Style stands a very good chance, Brookes said.
'It's obviously a craze, so there's the possibility it will go away. But it's been heard by so many people that I think it's probably earned the right to go into the dictionary.'
Other words of the year include 'mummy porn' after the popularity of the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' books, and 'superstorm' after Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc along the east coast of America in October.
(Reporting By Peter Schwartzstein, editing by Paul Casciato)
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Madonna leads Billboard's top-grossing tours
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While this year's pop charts have been dominated by young singers, it is veteran music stars, led by Madonna, who are commanding big money in tour ticket sales, according to a new Billboard list released on Tuesday.
Madonna, 54, topped Billboard's list of highest-grossing live tours, earning an estimated $228.4 million in ticket sales from her sold-out ninth worldwide tour in support of her 12th studio album 'MDNA.' The singer will wrap her tour in South America this weekend, after performing more than 80 shows across the world starting in Israel in May.
Madonna came ahead of pop star Lady Gaga, who landed at No. 6, with ticket sales of $124.9 million from her worldwide 'Born This Way Ball' tour. Gaga, 26, is currently midway through her tour, which kicked off in South Korea in April, and will wrap in Oklahoma in March 2013.
Music publication Billboard compiled its list through estimated gross ticket sales figures from Billboard box scores, which tracks concert tours, ticket prices and sales.
The top five highest-grossing tour acts of 2012 included Bruce Springsteen, 63, and the E Street band at No. 2 with $199 million from 72 shows and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, 69, at No. 3 with $186 million.
Cirque Du Soleil's homage to late singer Michael Jackson in 'The Immortal World Tour' ranked No. 4 with $147.3 million over 183 shows, and British rock band Coldplay was fifth with $147.2 million over 67 shows.
The only other young stars in the list of 25 top-grossing tours was Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 18, at No. 20 with $30 million from 29 shows as part of his ongoing 'Believe' tour, and country-pop darling Taylor Swift, 23, who raked in $26 million from 21 shows from her 'Speak Now World Tour.'
Last year, Swift ranked No. 5 on Billboard's list with an estimated $97 million in ticket sales from her 'Speak Now World Tour,' while Bieber came in at No. 15 with $44 million.
Swift will embark on her third worldwide concert tour in support of her studio album 'Red' in March 2013.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Eric Walsh)
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Madonna, 54, topped Billboard's list of highest-grossing live tours, earning an estimated $228.4 million in ticket sales from her sold-out ninth worldwide tour in support of her 12th studio album 'MDNA.' The singer will wrap her tour in South America this weekend, after performing more than 80 shows across the world starting in Israel in May.
Madonna came ahead of pop star Lady Gaga, who landed at No. 6, with ticket sales of $124.9 million from her worldwide 'Born This Way Ball' tour. Gaga, 26, is currently midway through her tour, which kicked off in South Korea in April, and will wrap in Oklahoma in March 2013.
Music publication Billboard compiled its list through estimated gross ticket sales figures from Billboard box scores, which tracks concert tours, ticket prices and sales.
The top five highest-grossing tour acts of 2012 included Bruce Springsteen, 63, and the E Street band at No. 2 with $199 million from 72 shows and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, 69, at No. 3 with $186 million.
Cirque Du Soleil's homage to late singer Michael Jackson in 'The Immortal World Tour' ranked No. 4 with $147.3 million over 183 shows, and British rock band Coldplay was fifth with $147.2 million over 67 shows.
The only other young stars in the list of 25 top-grossing tours was Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 18, at No. 20 with $30 million from 29 shows as part of his ongoing 'Believe' tour, and country-pop darling Taylor Swift, 23, who raked in $26 million from 21 shows from her 'Speak Now World Tour.'
Last year, Swift ranked No. 5 on Billboard's list with an estimated $97 million in ticket sales from her 'Speak Now World Tour,' while Bieber came in at No. 15 with $44 million.
Swift will embark on her third worldwide concert tour in support of her studio album 'Red' in March 2013.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Eric Walsh)
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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Pop star Kelly Clarkson announces engagement
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kelly Clarkson, who became the first contestant to win 'American Idol' a decade ago and went on to several chart-topping successes, has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, the singer said in a Twitter message on Saturday.
Clarkson, 30, previously revealed she had been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since early this year. Blackstock is the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire.
'I'M ENGAGED!' Clarkson said on Twitter. 'I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night!'
She then followed that by posting a link to a photo of her canary yellow diamond engagement ring on a website. She wrote that her boyfriend helped design it and that she 'can't wait to make Brandon's ring.'
Clarkson's album 'Stronger' hit No. 2 last year on the Billboard 200 sales chart, and she in previous years topped pop charts with her songs 'My Life Would Suck Without You' and 'A Moment Like This.'
The Texas-born singer won the Fox television singing contest 'American Idol' in the show's debut year in 2002, and has had more success than many of the show's stars from following years.
Clarkson has burnished an image as an artist willing to speak her mind, even confessing to feelings of loneliness.
Last month, in an appearance on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show,' Clarkson said she had been dating Blackstock since earlier this year and was thankful to have him.
'I am not alone for the first time for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'm very happy,' she said on the show.
In the same November appearance, Clarkson said she expected to get engaged to Blackstock. 'We will totally, probably elope,' she told DeGeneres.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by David Bailey)
Clarkson, 30, previously revealed she had been dating talent manager Brandon Blackstock since early this year. Blackstock is the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire.
'I'M ENGAGED!' Clarkson said on Twitter. 'I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night!'
She then followed that by posting a link to a photo of her canary yellow diamond engagement ring on a website. She wrote that her boyfriend helped design it and that she 'can't wait to make Brandon's ring.'
Clarkson's album 'Stronger' hit No. 2 last year on the Billboard 200 sales chart, and she in previous years topped pop charts with her songs 'My Life Would Suck Without You' and 'A Moment Like This.'
The Texas-born singer won the Fox television singing contest 'American Idol' in the show's debut year in 2002, and has had more success than many of the show's stars from following years.
Clarkson has burnished an image as an artist willing to speak her mind, even confessing to feelings of loneliness.
Last month, in an appearance on the 'Ellen DeGeneres Show,' Clarkson said she had been dating Blackstock since earlier this year and was thankful to have him.
'I am not alone for the first time for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'm very happy,' she said on the show.
In the same November appearance, Clarkson said she expected to get engaged to Blackstock. 'We will totally, probably elope,' she told DeGeneres.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by David Bailey)
Friday, December 14, 2012
Adele's "21" is top-selling U.S. iTunes album of 2012
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - British singer Adele notched another accolade on Thursday as iTunes announced that her Grammy-winning album '21' was the top-selling record of 2012 in its U.S. store, extending the disc's successful run almost two years after it was released.
Adele, 24, who last year became the first artist to secure three iTunes milestones with top-selling album, single and artist of the year, came in ahead of country-pop star Taylor Swift's 'Red' and British folk band Mumford & Sons' 'Babel.'
ITunes did not reveal its sales or download figures.
British boy band One Direction's debut album 'Up All Night' and current Grammy nominees fun.'s debut 'Some Nights' rounded out the five top-selling albums on iTunes in the United States.
'21,' released in February 2011, has performed strongly in the U.S. music charts this year following the singer's Grammy-sweeping win in six categories in February 2012.
Adele also landed Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nominations for her sultry James Bond theme song 'Skyfall' this week, becoming a strong contender in the best song category for Hollywood's awards season.
'Thank you so much for the honor of being included in something as brilliant as the Golden Globes! Never in a million years did I ever think I'd come close to such a thing! Truly wonderful ... thank you to the Bond family for giving me the opportunity,' the singer said in a statement on Thursday.
ITunes U.S. compiled their Best of 2012 list by looking at the most downloaded items from the Apple iTunes store.
Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen had the top-selling track for her infectious breakthrough summer single 'Call Me Maybe.'
Post-apocalyptic action film 'The Hunger Games' was the best-selling movie while the second season of British aristocratic period drama 'Downton Abbey,' another Hollywood awards favorite, was iTunes' top-selling television series.
The iTunes Best of 2012 lists can be seen at www.itunes.com/AppStoreBestof2012
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
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Adele, 24, who last year became the first artist to secure three iTunes milestones with top-selling album, single and artist of the year, came in ahead of country-pop star Taylor Swift's 'Red' and British folk band Mumford & Sons' 'Babel.'
ITunes did not reveal its sales or download figures.
British boy band One Direction's debut album 'Up All Night' and current Grammy nominees fun.'s debut 'Some Nights' rounded out the five top-selling albums on iTunes in the United States.
'21,' released in February 2011, has performed strongly in the U.S. music charts this year following the singer's Grammy-sweeping win in six categories in February 2012.
Adele also landed Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe nominations for her sultry James Bond theme song 'Skyfall' this week, becoming a strong contender in the best song category for Hollywood's awards season.
'Thank you so much for the honor of being included in something as brilliant as the Golden Globes! Never in a million years did I ever think I'd come close to such a thing! Truly wonderful ... thank you to the Bond family for giving me the opportunity,' the singer said in a statement on Thursday.
ITunes U.S. compiled their Best of 2012 list by looking at the most downloaded items from the Apple iTunes store.
Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen had the top-selling track for her infectious breakthrough summer single 'Call Me Maybe.'
Post-apocalyptic action film 'The Hunger Games' was the best-selling movie while the second season of British aristocratic period drama 'Downton Abbey,' another Hollywood awards favorite, was iTunes' top-selling television series.
The iTunes Best of 2012 lists can be seen at www.itunes.com/AppStoreBestof2012
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Rock legends take to New York stage for storm Sandy victims
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones joined with actors and comedians in headlining a benefit concert on Wednesday for victims of Superstorm Sandy, which six weeks ago devastated scores of communities along the coastline of the U.S. northeast coastline.
The celebrity-packed '12-12-12' concert at New York's Madison Square Garden stretched on for nearly five hours, and organizers said it was distributed to nearly 2 billion people worldwide through television feeds, radio and online streaming.
'How do I begin again? My city's in ruins,' Springsteen sang to the packed crowd. He was joined by fellow New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi for 'Born to Run,' ushering in a night of musical duets.
Next up, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters performed alongside Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, and later Paul McCartney jammed with the surviving members of 'Nirvana.'
'This has got to be the largest collection of old English musicians ever assembled in Madison Square Garden,' Mick Jagger told the crowd. The Stones, in the midst of a brief U.S. tour, performed 'You Got Me Rocking' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash.'
Chris Martin of Coldplay jokingly suggested audience members should calculate the average age of the night's performers and agree to donate that much. 'And I think you'll raise billions,' he said.
At the end of the concert, R&B singer Alicia Keys closed the show with 'Empire State of Mind.'
To help with the fundraising, celebrities such as Kristen Stewart, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chelsea Clinton and Billy Crystal took part in a telethon during the concert.
Comedian Adam Sandler took the stage for a Sandy-themed spoof on Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah,' rhyming the title with 'Sandy, Screw Ya!'
Backstage, actress Susan Sarandon recounted losing power in her New York home but said that was a small hardship compared with the real victims who lost their homes.
Steven Van Zandt, guitarist of the E Street Band, scolded 'the oil companies' and 'Wall Street guys' for not doing more to help.
'Even with the music business not what it used to be ... we are proud to be here,' he said.
The concert was broadcast live on television, radio, movie theaters, on Facebook and iHeartRadio, and streamed on digital billboards in New York's Times Square, London and Paris.
EXPANDING FUNDRAISING'S REACH
More than 130 people were killed when Sandy pummeled the East Coast of the United States in October. Thousands more were left homeless as the storm tore through areas of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, causing billions of dollars in damage.
Throughout the show, celebrities shared memories of growing up in New York City or the Jersey Shore, and offered shout-outs to first responders.
'Watching my hometown get pummeled was devastating to watch,' said actor-comedian Crystal, who grew up on Long Beach, Long Island. 'It's a helpless feeling of what's in store for us maybe in the future.'
As the show neared its finale, organizers said it had raised $30 million from corporate sponsors, ticket sales and donations. The total raised from called-in pledges will take more time to calculate, said a spokesman for the Robin Hood foundation, the concert's major beneficiary.
Donations raised from the concert produced by Clear Channel Entertainment and the Weinstein Co, will all go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which will provide money and materials to groups helping people hardest hit by the storm.
New Jersey is expected to take 40 percent of the total, while the rest will be divided up between New York City, Long Island and Connecticut.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant, Patricia Reaney and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
The celebrity-packed '12-12-12' concert at New York's Madison Square Garden stretched on for nearly five hours, and organizers said it was distributed to nearly 2 billion people worldwide through television feeds, radio and online streaming.
'How do I begin again? My city's in ruins,' Springsteen sang to the packed crowd. He was joined by fellow New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi for 'Born to Run,' ushering in a night of musical duets.
Next up, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters performed alongside Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, and later Paul McCartney jammed with the surviving members of 'Nirvana.'
'This has got to be the largest collection of old English musicians ever assembled in Madison Square Garden,' Mick Jagger told the crowd. The Stones, in the midst of a brief U.S. tour, performed 'You Got Me Rocking' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash.'
Chris Martin of Coldplay jokingly suggested audience members should calculate the average age of the night's performers and agree to donate that much. 'And I think you'll raise billions,' he said.
At the end of the concert, R&B singer Alicia Keys closed the show with 'Empire State of Mind.'
To help with the fundraising, celebrities such as Kristen Stewart, Jake Gyllenhaal, Chelsea Clinton and Billy Crystal took part in a telethon during the concert.
Comedian Adam Sandler took the stage for a Sandy-themed spoof on Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah,' rhyming the title with 'Sandy, Screw Ya!'
Backstage, actress Susan Sarandon recounted losing power in her New York home but said that was a small hardship compared with the real victims who lost their homes.
Steven Van Zandt, guitarist of the E Street Band, scolded 'the oil companies' and 'Wall Street guys' for not doing more to help.
'Even with the music business not what it used to be ... we are proud to be here,' he said.
The concert was broadcast live on television, radio, movie theaters, on Facebook and iHeartRadio, and streamed on digital billboards in New York's Times Square, London and Paris.
EXPANDING FUNDRAISING'S REACH
More than 130 people were killed when Sandy pummeled the East Coast of the United States in October. Thousands more were left homeless as the storm tore through areas of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, causing billions of dollars in damage.
Throughout the show, celebrities shared memories of growing up in New York City or the Jersey Shore, and offered shout-outs to first responders.
'Watching my hometown get pummeled was devastating to watch,' said actor-comedian Crystal, who grew up on Long Beach, Long Island. 'It's a helpless feeling of what's in store for us maybe in the future.'
As the show neared its finale, organizers said it had raised $30 million from corporate sponsors, ticket sales and donations. The total raised from called-in pledges will take more time to calculate, said a spokesman for the Robin Hood foundation, the concert's major beneficiary.
Donations raised from the concert produced by Clear Channel Entertainment and the Weinstein Co, will all go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which will provide money and materials to groups helping people hardest hit by the storm.
New Jersey is expected to take 40 percent of the total, while the rest will be divided up between New York City, Long Island and Connecticut.
(Additional reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant, Patricia Reaney and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Legendary Indian sitarist, composer Ravi Shankar dead at 92
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar, who helped introduce the sitar to the Western world through his collaborations with The Beatles, died in Southern California on Tuesday, his family said. He was 92.
Shankar, a three-time Grammy winner with legendary appearances at the 1967 Monterey Festival and at Woodstock, had been in fragile health for several years and last Thursday underwent surgery, his family said in a statement.
'Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives,' the family said. 'He will live forever in our hearts and in his music.'
In India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office posted a Twitter message calling Shankar a 'national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage.'
'An era has passed away with ... Ravi Shankar. The nation joins me to pay tributes to his unsurpassable genius, his art and his humility,' the Indian premier added.
Shankar had suffered from upper respiratory and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery last week at a hospital in San Diego, south of Los Angeles.
The surgery was successful but he was unable to recover.
'Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery. We were at his side when he passed away,' his wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka said.
Shankar lived in both India and the United States. He is also survived by his daughter, Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Shankar performed his last concert with his daughter Anoushka on November 4 in Long Beach, California, the statement said. The night before he underwent surgery, he was nominated for a Grammy for his latest album 'The Living Room Sessions, Part 1.'
'NORWEGIAN WOOD' TO 'WEST MEETS EAST'
His family said that memorial plans will be announced at a later date and requested that donations be made to the Ravi Shankar Foundation.
Shankar is credited with popularizing Indian music through his work with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and The Beatles in the late 1960s, inspiring George Harrison to learn the sitar and the British band to record songs like 'Norwegian Wood' (1965) and 'Within You, Without You' (1967).
His friendship with Harrison led him to appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock pop festivals in the late 1960s, and the 1972 Concert for Bangladesh, becoming one of the first Indian musicians to become a household name in the West.
His influence in classical music, including on composer Philip Glass, was just as large. His work with Menuhin on their 'West Meets East' albums in the 1960s and 1970s earned them a Grammy, and he wrote concertos for sitar and orchestra for both the London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
Shankar served as a member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India, from 1986 to 1992, after being nominated by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
A man of many talents, he also wrote the Oscar-nominated score for 1982 film 'Gandhi,' several books, and mounted theatrical productions.
He also built an ashram-style home and music center in India where students could live and learn, and later the Ravi Shankar Center in Delhi in 2001, which hosts an annual music festival.
Yet his first brush with the arts was through dance.
Born Robindra Shankar in 1920 in India's holiest city, Varanasi, he spent his first few years in relative poverty before his eldest brother took the family to Paris.
For about eight years, Shankar danced in his brother's Indian classical and folk dance troupe, which toured the world. But by the late 1930s he had turned his back on show business to learn the sitar and other classical Indian instruments.
Shankar earned multiple honors in his long career, including an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Britain's Queen Elizabeth for services to music, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, and the French Legion d'Honneur.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
Shankar, a three-time Grammy winner with legendary appearances at the 1967 Monterey Festival and at Woodstock, had been in fragile health for several years and last Thursday underwent surgery, his family said in a statement.
'Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives,' the family said. 'He will live forever in our hearts and in his music.'
In India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office posted a Twitter message calling Shankar a 'national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage.'
'An era has passed away with ... Ravi Shankar. The nation joins me to pay tributes to his unsurpassable genius, his art and his humility,' the Indian premier added.
Shankar had suffered from upper respiratory and heart issues over the past year and underwent heart-valve replacement surgery last week at a hospital in San Diego, south of Los Angeles.
The surgery was successful but he was unable to recover.
'Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery. We were at his side when he passed away,' his wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka said.
Shankar lived in both India and the United States. He is also survived by his daughter, Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Shankar performed his last concert with his daughter Anoushka on November 4 in Long Beach, California, the statement said. The night before he underwent surgery, he was nominated for a Grammy for his latest album 'The Living Room Sessions, Part 1.'
'NORWEGIAN WOOD' TO 'WEST MEETS EAST'
His family said that memorial plans will be announced at a later date and requested that donations be made to the Ravi Shankar Foundation.
Shankar is credited with popularizing Indian music through his work with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and The Beatles in the late 1960s, inspiring George Harrison to learn the sitar and the British band to record songs like 'Norwegian Wood' (1965) and 'Within You, Without You' (1967).
His friendship with Harrison led him to appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock pop festivals in the late 1960s, and the 1972 Concert for Bangladesh, becoming one of the first Indian musicians to become a household name in the West.
His influence in classical music, including on composer Philip Glass, was just as large. His work with Menuhin on their 'West Meets East' albums in the 1960s and 1970s earned them a Grammy, and he wrote concertos for sitar and orchestra for both the London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
Shankar served as a member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India, from 1986 to 1992, after being nominated by then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
A man of many talents, he also wrote the Oscar-nominated score for 1982 film 'Gandhi,' several books, and mounted theatrical productions.
He also built an ashram-style home and music center in India where students could live and learn, and later the Ravi Shankar Center in Delhi in 2001, which hosts an annual music festival.
Yet his first brush with the arts was through dance.
Born Robindra Shankar in 1920 in India's holiest city, Varanasi, he spent his first few years in relative poverty before his eldest brother took the family to Paris.
For about eight years, Shankar danced in his brother's Indian classical and folk dance troupe, which toured the world. But by the late 1930s he had turned his back on show business to learn the sitar and other classical Indian instruments.
Shankar earned multiple honors in his long career, including an Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Britain's Queen Elizabeth for services to music, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, and the French Legion d'Honneur.
(Editing by Eric Walsh)
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Spice Girls take stage at musical premiere
LONDON (Reuters) - The Spice Girls took to the stage on Tuesday after the world premiere of a new musical loosely based on their meteoric rise to fame in the 1990s, earning huge cheers from an audience that only really got going at the encore.
'Viva Forever!' was the brainchild of producer Judy Craymer, whose 'Mamma Mia!' musical based on the hits of ABBA has earned nearly $2 billion worldwide and spawned a hit movie starring Meryl Streep.
She teamed up with British comedian Jennifer Saunders to create a story about the central character Viva, a sprightly teenager who, along with her friends, gets into the final stages of a TV singing contest closely resembling 'The X Factor'.
To boost flagging audience figures - a nod to 'The X Factor's real-life ratings woes in Britain this season - their 'mentor' springs a surprise and throws out three members of the band to leave Viva on her own.
What follows is part morality tale examining what is more important - friends, family or fame - and part satire on reality television, including a callous, Simon Cowell-like producer.
'We love you Judy!' said Geri Halliwell at the end of the show, which closed with a romp through some of the Spice Girls' biggest hits including 'Spice Up Your Life'.
'Thank you for making the Spice Girls' dream come true,' Halliwell added.
Halliwell was joined on stage by Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm, who together stormed the charts in the 1990s and put 'girl power' on the map.
Beckham, who arrived at the London premiere after her ex-bandmates, sat with her soccer star husband David and three sons, who clapped along to the music during the final medley.
NATIONAL TREASURES
Now all young mothers in their late 30s and early 40s, The Spice Girls are still affectionately known by the nicknames they adopted in the band - Posh (Beckham), Scary (Brown), Baby (Bunton), Sporty (Chisholm) and Ginger (Halliwell).
They were hailed as modern-day feminists by some and dismissed as vacuous pop princesses by others, but their success is beyond doubt. They sold 55 million records, had nine British No. 1 singles and three back-to-back Christmas No. 1s.
The band broke up around 12 years ago, and internal bickering among the members was long the delight of Britain's celebrity-obsessed tabloids.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the bust-ups and hissy fits, the group has been united in its backing of the new musical, and underlining the Spice Girls' lasting popularity they played a major part in the closing ceremony at the London Olympics.
Paul Taylor, writing in the Independent newspaper, gave the musical two stars out of five in his review.
'The Spice Girls' songs, with their clever hooks and catchy rhythms, are better at projecting an attitude than fleshing out a dramatic situation,' he wrote, describing Saunders' story as 'charmless', 'messy' and 'lackluster'.
'Not only does her script rarely give you that necessary gleeful sense of expectancy about where the songs are going to be shoe-horned in, but it's embarrassingly derivative of 'Mamma Mia!' and looks way past its sell-by date in its utterly surprise-free satiric swipe at 'X Factor'.'
Saunders said before the show that she considered herself the 'sixth' Spice Girl.
'We used to travel around everywhere to see them and they were so great with my kids,' said the 54-year-old, best known for playing a self-absorbed, eccentric mother in the popular British comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'.
'The thought of a Spice Girls musical written by somebody else was not acceptable,' she told the Daily Mirror newspaper. 'Because I was so close to them, I couldn't let it slip through my fingers.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
'Viva Forever!' was the brainchild of producer Judy Craymer, whose 'Mamma Mia!' musical based on the hits of ABBA has earned nearly $2 billion worldwide and spawned a hit movie starring Meryl Streep.
She teamed up with British comedian Jennifer Saunders to create a story about the central character Viva, a sprightly teenager who, along with her friends, gets into the final stages of a TV singing contest closely resembling 'The X Factor'.
To boost flagging audience figures - a nod to 'The X Factor's real-life ratings woes in Britain this season - their 'mentor' springs a surprise and throws out three members of the band to leave Viva on her own.
What follows is part morality tale examining what is more important - friends, family or fame - and part satire on reality television, including a callous, Simon Cowell-like producer.
'We love you Judy!' said Geri Halliwell at the end of the show, which closed with a romp through some of the Spice Girls' biggest hits including 'Spice Up Your Life'.
'Thank you for making the Spice Girls' dream come true,' Halliwell added.
Halliwell was joined on stage by Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm, who together stormed the charts in the 1990s and put 'girl power' on the map.
Beckham, who arrived at the London premiere after her ex-bandmates, sat with her soccer star husband David and three sons, who clapped along to the music during the final medley.
NATIONAL TREASURES
Now all young mothers in their late 30s and early 40s, The Spice Girls are still affectionately known by the nicknames they adopted in the band - Posh (Beckham), Scary (Brown), Baby (Bunton), Sporty (Chisholm) and Ginger (Halliwell).
They were hailed as modern-day feminists by some and dismissed as vacuous pop princesses by others, but their success is beyond doubt. They sold 55 million records, had nine British No. 1 singles and three back-to-back Christmas No. 1s.
The band broke up around 12 years ago, and internal bickering among the members was long the delight of Britain's celebrity-obsessed tabloids.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the bust-ups and hissy fits, the group has been united in its backing of the new musical, and underlining the Spice Girls' lasting popularity they played a major part in the closing ceremony at the London Olympics.
Paul Taylor, writing in the Independent newspaper, gave the musical two stars out of five in his review.
'The Spice Girls' songs, with their clever hooks and catchy rhythms, are better at projecting an attitude than fleshing out a dramatic situation,' he wrote, describing Saunders' story as 'charmless', 'messy' and 'lackluster'.
'Not only does her script rarely give you that necessary gleeful sense of expectancy about where the songs are going to be shoe-horned in, but it's embarrassingly derivative of 'Mamma Mia!' and looks way past its sell-by date in its utterly surprise-free satiric swipe at 'X Factor'.'
Saunders said before the show that she considered herself the 'sixth' Spice Girl.
'We used to travel around everywhere to see them and they were so great with my kids,' said the 54-year-old, best known for playing a self-absorbed, eccentric mother in the popular British comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'.
'The thought of a Spice Girls musical written by somebody else was not acceptable,' she told the Daily Mirror newspaper. 'Because I was so close to them, I couldn't let it slip through my fingers.'
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by SEXUAL HEALTH NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Lady Gaga accused of illegal gay rights promotion in Russia
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking legal action against American pop star Lady Gaga for promoting gay rights to minors during a concert on Sunday.
Vitaly Milonov, a member of the ruling United Russia party in the St Petersburg assembly and the architect of a city law that bans gay 'propaganda', accused the singer of breaking the law at the beginning of her show.
'We saw that in addition to music, songs and such, there were direct calls for 12-year-old citizens to support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community,' Milonov said, adding that he would file a complaint to prosecutors over the singer's actions.
He had unsuccessfully called on authorities to bar people under 18 from attending Lady Gaga's show.
A vocal defender of lesbian and gay rights, Lady Gaga said offstage that her managers had received a call threatening her with arrest or a $50,000 fine if she spoke in support of the LGBT community, according to media reports.
The lower house of parliament is expected to consider legislation similar to the St Petersburg law later this month.
It is not clear whether it will pass. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, now the head of United Russia, said in an interview last week that 'not all human relationships are subject to legal regulation'.
Lady Gaga took Medvedev's comments as a sign of support for her show and thanked him on her Twitter microblog.
'Thank You Prime Minister Medvedev for not standing by your party's anti gay propaganda law & instead supporting my show+fans all over Russia,' she said in her tweet.
Lady Gaga has a concert in Moscow on Wednesday.
Last month, a St Petersburg court rejected a $10 million compensation claim against U.S. pop star Madonna initiated by Milonov and a group of anti-gay activists who accused her of hurting their feelings by promoting homosexuality at a concert in the city in August.
Madonna has called the city law a 'ridiculous atrocity'.
Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.
(Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Andrew Roche)
This news article is brought to you by LINUXOS.PRO - where latest news are our top priority.
Vitaly Milonov, a member of the ruling United Russia party in the St Petersburg assembly and the architect of a city law that bans gay 'propaganda', accused the singer of breaking the law at the beginning of her show.
'We saw that in addition to music, songs and such, there were direct calls for 12-year-old citizens to support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community,' Milonov said, adding that he would file a complaint to prosecutors over the singer's actions.
He had unsuccessfully called on authorities to bar people under 18 from attending Lady Gaga's show.
A vocal defender of lesbian and gay rights, Lady Gaga said offstage that her managers had received a call threatening her with arrest or a $50,000 fine if she spoke in support of the LGBT community, according to media reports.
The lower house of parliament is expected to consider legislation similar to the St Petersburg law later this month.
It is not clear whether it will pass. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, now the head of United Russia, said in an interview last week that 'not all human relationships are subject to legal regulation'.
Lady Gaga took Medvedev's comments as a sign of support for her show and thanked him on her Twitter microblog.
'Thank You Prime Minister Medvedev for not standing by your party's anti gay propaganda law & instead supporting my show+fans all over Russia,' she said in her tweet.
Lady Gaga has a concert in Moscow on Wednesday.
Last month, a St Petersburg court rejected a $10 million compensation claim against U.S. pop star Madonna initiated by Milonov and a group of anti-gay activists who accused her of hurting their feelings by promoting homosexuality at a concert in the city in August.
Madonna has called the city law a 'ridiculous atrocity'.
Homosexuality, punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union, was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but much of the gay community remains underground as prejudice runs deep.
(Writing by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya; editing by Andrew Roche)
This news article is brought to you by LINUXOS.PRO - where latest news are our top priority.
Jenni Rivera's family hopes Mexican-American singer still alive
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The family of Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera said on Monday they are holding onto hope that she may still be alive, although U.S. officials said earlier that she died on Sunday in a plane crash in Mexico.
'In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK,' Rivera's brother Juan told reporters outside the family house near Long Beach, California.
'We thank God for the life that he has given ... my sister,' said Juan Rivera, also a singer. 'For all the triumphs and successes she has had, and we expect that there will be more in the future.'
Rivera, 43, died after the small jet she was traveling in crashed in northern Mexico on Sunday, U.S. officials said. Rivera's father, Pedro, told Telemundo television on Sunday that everyone on the plane had died. So far, authorities have not announced the recovery of any bodies.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said it was helping Mexican authorities with the investigation of the crash of the private Learjet LJ25.
The plane crashed at about 3:30 a.m. local time (4.30 a.m. EST) in the municipality of Iturbide some 70 miles south of Monterrey, from which the singer and six others were en route to Mexico City.
Rivera was to perform in the city of Toluca, 40 miles southwest of Mexico city, in central Mexico after a concert in Monterrey on Saturday night.
It is not clear what caused the crash, and the Mexican transportation ministry said the wreckage was strewn so far about that it was difficult to recognize the crash site.
Rivera was born in Long Beach to Mexican immigrants and lived in suburban Los Angeles. She was a giant figure in the Mexican folk nortena and banda genres.
She had sold 15 million albums in her 17-year career and garnered a slew of Latin Grammy nominations.
'The entire Universal Music Group family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend Jenni Rivera,' the singer's record label said in a statement.
'From her incredibly versatile talent to the way she embraced her fans around the world, Jenni was simply incomparable,' Universal added in the statement. 'Her talent will be missed; but her gift of music will be with us always.'
In recent years Rivera had branched out into television with a reality television show and as a judge on the Mexican version of the singing competition 'The Voice.'
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Shumaker)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
'In our eyes, we still have faith that our sister will be OK,' Rivera's brother Juan told reporters outside the family house near Long Beach, California.
'We thank God for the life that he has given ... my sister,' said Juan Rivera, also a singer. 'For all the triumphs and successes she has had, and we expect that there will be more in the future.'
Rivera, 43, died after the small jet she was traveling in crashed in northern Mexico on Sunday, U.S. officials said. Rivera's father, Pedro, told Telemundo television on Sunday that everyone on the plane had died. So far, authorities have not announced the recovery of any bodies.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said it was helping Mexican authorities with the investigation of the crash of the private Learjet LJ25.
The plane crashed at about 3:30 a.m. local time (4.30 a.m. EST) in the municipality of Iturbide some 70 miles south of Monterrey, from which the singer and six others were en route to Mexico City.
Rivera was to perform in the city of Toluca, 40 miles southwest of Mexico city, in central Mexico after a concert in Monterrey on Saturday night.
It is not clear what caused the crash, and the Mexican transportation ministry said the wreckage was strewn so far about that it was difficult to recognize the crash site.
Rivera was born in Long Beach to Mexican immigrants and lived in suburban Los Angeles. She was a giant figure in the Mexican folk nortena and banda genres.
She had sold 15 million albums in her 17-year career and garnered a slew of Latin Grammy nominations.
'The entire Universal Music Group family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend Jenni Rivera,' the singer's record label said in a statement.
'From her incredibly versatile talent to the way she embraced her fans around the world, Jenni was simply incomparable,' Universal added in the statement. 'Her talent will be missed; but her gift of music will be with us always.'
In recent years Rivera had branched out into television with a reality television show and as a judge on the Mexican version of the singing competition 'The Voice.'
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Shumaker)
This article is brought to you by SEXY GIRLS.
Monday, December 10, 2012
U.S.-Mexican singer Jenni Rivera dies in plane crash
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera died in a plane crash after the small jet she was travelling in went down in northern Mexico, her father said on Sunday.
A spokesman for the state government of Nuevo Leon said investigators had found the remains of Rivera's Learjet, which disappeared from the radar 62 miles from the northern city of Monterrey at about 3:30 a.m. local time/4.30 a.m. EST.
Speaking after the wreckage was discovered, the singer's father, Pedro Rivera, told Telemundo television all seven of the people on board the plane, including two pilots, had died.
'Everyone was lost,' Rivera said, flanked by two sons.
Investigators are still searching the crash site in the municipality of Iturbide, south of Monterrey. The transportation and communications ministry said the wreckage was strewn so far and wide that it was hard to recognize anything.
It was not clear what caused the crash.
Rivera, 43, was heading for the city of Toluca in central Mexico after a concert in Monterrey on Saturday night.
Born in Long Beach, California, to Mexican immigrants, Rivera sold some 15 million records in her career, won several awards and received Grammy nominations, her website said.
A mother of five, Rivera was a renowned performer of the Nortena and Banda musical styles.
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Philip Barbara and Stacey Joyce)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
A spokesman for the state government of Nuevo Leon said investigators had found the remains of Rivera's Learjet, which disappeared from the radar 62 miles from the northern city of Monterrey at about 3:30 a.m. local time/4.30 a.m. EST.
Speaking after the wreckage was discovered, the singer's father, Pedro Rivera, told Telemundo television all seven of the people on board the plane, including two pilots, had died.
'Everyone was lost,' Rivera said, flanked by two sons.
Investigators are still searching the crash site in the municipality of Iturbide, south of Monterrey. The transportation and communications ministry said the wreckage was strewn so far and wide that it was hard to recognize anything.
It was not clear what caused the crash.
Rivera, 43, was heading for the city of Toluca in central Mexico after a concert in Monterrey on Saturday night.
Born in Long Beach, California, to Mexican immigrants, Rivera sold some 15 million records in her career, won several awards and received Grammy nominations, her website said.
A mother of five, Rivera was a renowned performer of the Nortena and Banda musical styles.
(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Philip Barbara and Stacey Joyce)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Half a century on, Rolling Stones rock Brooklyn
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fifty years since their first London jam sessions, the Rolling Stones kicked off the U.S. leg of a brief anniversary tour with a vibrant show in New York on Saturday that belied their years - wrinkles and nostalgia aside.
Drummers wearing gorilla masks warmed up the crowd packed into Brooklyn's Barclays Center as black-clad women swung their long tresses in rhythm.
Mick Jagger pranced, shimmied and howled his way through the 2-1/2 hour show, pausing to reminisce about the band's history and its first New York concert at Carnegie Hall in 1964.
For a group whose early years were punctuated by quarrels and occasional brushes with the law, the biggest controversy ahead of Saturday's show was the price of seats - up to $800, and as much as 10 times that amount on websites offering last-minute tickets.
In those days, milk was cheaper and 'tickets to the Rolling Stones was - well, I'm not going to go there,' Jagger acknowledged.
The band's last major tour was in 2007 and the latest reunion almost didn't happen, owing in part to a spat between Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards over comments Richards made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
Richards joked in a recent interview: 'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids.'
A tribute video opened Saturday's proceedings featuring celebrities heaping praise on the band.
'They're great songs to do bad things to,' said actor Johnny Depp. 'Just how skinny they all are... It really, really pisses me off,' said actress Cate Blanchett.
The Stones - average age 68 - ripped through 20 hits that began with 'Get Off of My Cloud' and closed with 'Sympathy for the Devil' and an encore of 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', 'Jumping Jack Flash' and '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'.
Women in the crowd opened their arms wide as Jagger, wearing a silver sequined jacket, strutted along the horseshoe-shaped stage for 'I Wanna Be Your Man', a Beatles tune. The band was then joined by R&B singer Mary J. Blige for 'Gimme Shelter'.
'People say 'why do you keep doing this?'' Jagger told the crowd. He thanked fans for buying records and 'generally being amazing for the last 50 years.'
The Stones started their brief diamond jubilee tour in London and are due to play twice in Newark, New Jersey.
Fans said it could be the last chance for New Yorkers to see the band live.
'It's the only concert I wanted to see before I die,' said Lucy Webley, 33.
(Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Drummers wearing gorilla masks warmed up the crowd packed into Brooklyn's Barclays Center as black-clad women swung their long tresses in rhythm.
Mick Jagger pranced, shimmied and howled his way through the 2-1/2 hour show, pausing to reminisce about the band's history and its first New York concert at Carnegie Hall in 1964.
For a group whose early years were punctuated by quarrels and occasional brushes with the law, the biggest controversy ahead of Saturday's show was the price of seats - up to $800, and as much as 10 times that amount on websites offering last-minute tickets.
In those days, milk was cheaper and 'tickets to the Rolling Stones was - well, I'm not going to go there,' Jagger acknowledged.
The band's last major tour was in 2007 and the latest reunion almost didn't happen, owing in part to a spat between Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards over comments Richards made about the singer in a 2010 autobiography.
Richards joked in a recent interview: 'We can't get divorced - we're doing it for the kids.'
A tribute video opened Saturday's proceedings featuring celebrities heaping praise on the band.
'They're great songs to do bad things to,' said actor Johnny Depp. 'Just how skinny they all are... It really, really pisses me off,' said actress Cate Blanchett.
The Stones - average age 68 - ripped through 20 hits that began with 'Get Off of My Cloud' and closed with 'Sympathy for the Devil' and an encore of 'You Can't Always Get What You Want', 'Jumping Jack Flash' and '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'.
Women in the crowd opened their arms wide as Jagger, wearing a silver sequined jacket, strutted along the horseshoe-shaped stage for 'I Wanna Be Your Man', a Beatles tune. The band was then joined by R&B singer Mary J. Blige for 'Gimme Shelter'.
'People say 'why do you keep doing this?'' Jagger told the crowd. He thanked fans for buying records and 'generally being amazing for the last 50 years.'
The Stones started their brief diamond jubilee tour in London and are due to play twice in Newark, New Jersey.
Fans said it could be the last chance for New Yorkers to see the band live.
'It's the only concert I wanted to see before I die,' said Lucy Webley, 33.
(Editing by Tom Pfeiffer)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
"Gangnam Style" singer Psy apologizes for past anti-U.S. songs
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The South Korean pop singer behind the viral smash hit 'Gangnam Style' apologized on Friday for past concerts featuring anti-American lyrics, ahead of a holiday performance to be attended by U.S. President Barack Obama and his family.
Psy issued the apology after reports surfaced in the United States on Friday about his participation in two performances critical of the U.S. military in 2004.
Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Korean pop and dance video is now the most-watched video ever on YouTube, with more than 900 million views since it was first uploaded in July.
'While I'm grateful for the freedom to express one's self, I've learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted,' the rapper said in a statement.
'I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words,' he added.
In one performance, which Psy said was from eight years ago, the rapper protested the deaths of two teenage South Korean girls who were run over by a U.S. tank stationed in the country.
In a separate performance, Psy was critical of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and its occupation, in which South Korean forces participated.
Psy is scheduled to perform at the annual 'Christmas in Washington' television special that will also be attended by Obama and his family, the White House said on Friday. Broadcaster TNT said Psy would still perform as planned.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Additional reporting by Mark Felsenthal in Washington; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Psy issued the apology after reports surfaced in the United States on Friday about his participation in two performances critical of the U.S. military in 2004.
Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Korean pop and dance video is now the most-watched video ever on YouTube, with more than 900 million views since it was first uploaded in July.
'While I'm grateful for the freedom to express one's self, I've learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted,' the rapper said in a statement.
'I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words,' he added.
In one performance, which Psy said was from eight years ago, the rapper protested the deaths of two teenage South Korean girls who were run over by a U.S. tank stationed in the country.
In a separate performance, Psy was critical of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and its occupation, in which South Korean forces participated.
Psy is scheduled to perform at the annual 'Christmas in Washington' television special that will also be attended by Obama and his family, the White House said on Friday. Broadcaster TNT said Psy would still perform as planned.
(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Additional reporting by Mark Felsenthal in Washington; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Singer James Taylor suggested for lead role in "Lincoln"
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Metallica's music now available on Spotify
NEW YORK (AP) - Metallica is bringing its all-out assault to Spotify.
The company announced the move Thursday during a presentation to debut new features in New York.
Metallica had previously declined to stream its music. Fans can now access 30 years of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band's recordings.
The move is significant for the band. Metallica was among several acts who sued Napster in 2000, eventually forcing a settlement that required Napster to evolve into a pay-for-use service that became something of a model for today's streaming companies.
Drummer Lars Ulrich says in a news release the band has waited a long time to see how the music streaming service model would evolve and is 'beyond psyched to unleash our music through' Spotify.
___
Online:
http://metallica.com
http://spotify.com
This article is brought to you by MATCHMAKING.
The company announced the move Thursday during a presentation to debut new features in New York.
Metallica had previously declined to stream its music. Fans can now access 30 years of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band's recordings.
The move is significant for the band. Metallica was among several acts who sued Napster in 2000, eventually forcing a settlement that required Napster to evolve into a pay-for-use service that became something of a model for today's streaming companies.
Drummer Lars Ulrich says in a news release the band has waited a long time to see how the music streaming service model would evolve and is 'beyond psyched to unleash our music through' Spotify.
___
Online:
http://metallica.com
http://spotify.com
This article is brought to you by MATCHMAKING.
No Grammy love for Justin Bieber, One Direction
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Irate fans of Justin Bieber and boy band One Direction took to social media on Thursday to voice their outrage after being snubbed by the Grammys for a chance to win the biggest honors in the music industry.
Indie-pop band fun and rapper Frank Ocean led the 2013 nominations, tying with The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Jay-Z and Kanye West for six nods. But The Recording Academy overlooked some of the year's biggest and most commercially successful artists in Wednesday's nominations.
While Bieber, 18, who won three American Music Awards in November, stayed quiet on his omission, his manager Scooter Braun took to Twitter.
'Grammy board u blew it on this one. the hardest thing to do is transition, keep the train moving. The kid delivered. Huge successful album, sold out tour, and won people over. ... This time he deserved to be recognized,' Braun posted in a series of tweets.
Many of Bieber's 31 million Twitter fans quickly followed suit, with hashtags such as #BieberForGrammys trending on the micro-blogging service.
The Canadian singer, who has never won a Grammy, in June released album 'Believe,' showcasing a more grown-up image. The album, which produced top 10 hits 'Boyfriend' and 'As Long As You Love Me,' has sold more than 1.1 million copies.
British boy band One Direction was also left empty-handed despite their debut album 'Up All Night' having topped the Billboard 200 album chart.
The quintet has performed sold-out shows across the world and won three MTV video music awards earlier this year.
The Grammy Awards are voted on by members of The Recording Academy and recognize achievement in 81 categories.
Lady Gaga, rapper Nicki Minaj and Korea's Psy also failed to snag any nominations.
While Gaga hasn't released new music this year, focusing on her global tour, Minaj released 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,' which topped the Billboard 200 chart and spawned singles such as 'Starships.'
Psy may have YouTube's most watched video ever with 'Gangnam Style,' - over 897 million views - but he missed out on becoming the first Korean artist to receive a Grammy nod.
The Grammy Awards will be handed out at a live performance show and ceremony on February 10 in Los Angeles.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
This news article is brought to you by SAVING MONEY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Indie-pop band fun and rapper Frank Ocean led the 2013 nominations, tying with The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Jay-Z and Kanye West for six nods. But The Recording Academy overlooked some of the year's biggest and most commercially successful artists in Wednesday's nominations.
While Bieber, 18, who won three American Music Awards in November, stayed quiet on his omission, his manager Scooter Braun took to Twitter.
'Grammy board u blew it on this one. the hardest thing to do is transition, keep the train moving. The kid delivered. Huge successful album, sold out tour, and won people over. ... This time he deserved to be recognized,' Braun posted in a series of tweets.
Many of Bieber's 31 million Twitter fans quickly followed suit, with hashtags such as #BieberForGrammys trending on the micro-blogging service.
The Canadian singer, who has never won a Grammy, in June released album 'Believe,' showcasing a more grown-up image. The album, which produced top 10 hits 'Boyfriend' and 'As Long As You Love Me,' has sold more than 1.1 million copies.
British boy band One Direction was also left empty-handed despite their debut album 'Up All Night' having topped the Billboard 200 album chart.
The quintet has performed sold-out shows across the world and won three MTV video music awards earlier this year.
The Grammy Awards are voted on by members of The Recording Academy and recognize achievement in 81 categories.
Lady Gaga, rapper Nicki Minaj and Korea's Psy also failed to snag any nominations.
While Gaga hasn't released new music this year, focusing on her global tour, Minaj released 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,' which topped the Billboard 200 chart and spawned singles such as 'Starships.'
Psy may have YouTube's most watched video ever with 'Gangnam Style,' - over 897 million views - but he missed out on becoming the first Korean artist to receive a Grammy nod.
The Grammy Awards will be handed out at a live performance show and ceremony on February 10 in Los Angeles.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; editing by Jill Serjeant and Todd Eastham)
This news article is brought to you by SAVING MONEY BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Spotify gains more listeners and Metallica
(Reuters) - Digital music service Spotify rolled out new features and said it increased the number of active users at a press event that featured a special musical performance by Frank Ocean.
Spotify now has 20 million active users worldwide, up 33 percent in less than six months. The company counts five million people among paying subscribers, a 25 percent increase during the same time period.
Spotify also revealed it has one million paid subscribers in the United States, that it added a Twitter like functionality that allows users to follow one another, and that the rock band Metallica's music was now available on the service.
The company made the announcements at a splashy New York event on Thursday that included a conversation between Spotify backer Sean Parker and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
Ulrich's appearance is notable since his band was one of the leading crusaders against Napster, the digital music sharing company co-founded by Parker more than a decade ago that was a flashpoint for digital rights and artist compensation.
'We have more in common than the whole thing that happened 12 years ago,' said Ulrich about Parker.
Ulrich said the decision to join Spotify coincided with the fact the band now owns its entire catalogs of music.
Spotify, which strikes royalty deals with record labels, has paid more than $500 million to the music industry since its launch four years ago - an amount that has more than doubled in the past nine months. It pays roughly 70 percent of its revenue back to rights holders.
'The more music that gets shared the more money goes back to artists,' said Daniel Ek, CEO and co-founder of Spotify.
Spotify is a free on-demand streaming music service that is rising in popularity. People can pay to hear music without interruptions from advertising and the ability to play lists and preferences from any device any time.
The company has struck up a partnership with Facebook - Parker is Facebook's founding president - that allows listener's to display their music choices on their personal pages.
Streaming music services such as Spotify and Pandora are being carefully watched by the music industry concerned over the royalty payments.
For example, Pandora is pushing the Internet Radio Fairness Act, which would change how royalties are paid to artists. As of now, online streaming music companies like Pandora pay a different rate to license music than say traditional radio companies.
Many of music's most notable names like Billy Joel and Rihanna are opposing the proposed change.
(Reporting By Jennifer Saba in New York)
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Spotify now has 20 million active users worldwide, up 33 percent in less than six months. The company counts five million people among paying subscribers, a 25 percent increase during the same time period.
Spotify also revealed it has one million paid subscribers in the United States, that it added a Twitter like functionality that allows users to follow one another, and that the rock band Metallica's music was now available on the service.
The company made the announcements at a splashy New York event on Thursday that included a conversation between Spotify backer Sean Parker and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
Ulrich's appearance is notable since his band was one of the leading crusaders against Napster, the digital music sharing company co-founded by Parker more than a decade ago that was a flashpoint for digital rights and artist compensation.
'We have more in common than the whole thing that happened 12 years ago,' said Ulrich about Parker.
Ulrich said the decision to join Spotify coincided with the fact the band now owns its entire catalogs of music.
Spotify, which strikes royalty deals with record labels, has paid more than $500 million to the music industry since its launch four years ago - an amount that has more than doubled in the past nine months. It pays roughly 70 percent of its revenue back to rights holders.
'The more music that gets shared the more money goes back to artists,' said Daniel Ek, CEO and co-founder of Spotify.
Spotify is a free on-demand streaming music service that is rising in popularity. People can pay to hear music without interruptions from advertising and the ability to play lists and preferences from any device any time.
The company has struck up a partnership with Facebook - Parker is Facebook's founding president - that allows listener's to display their music choices on their personal pages.
Streaming music services such as Spotify and Pandora are being carefully watched by the music industry concerned over the royalty payments.
For example, Pandora is pushing the Internet Radio Fairness Act, which would change how royalties are paid to artists. As of now, online streaming music companies like Pandora pay a different rate to license music than say traditional radio companies.
Many of music's most notable names like Billy Joel and Rihanna are opposing the proposed change.
(Reporting By Jennifer Saba in New York)
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Male artists lead 2013 Grammy nominations
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Male artists led the nominations announced on Wednesday for the 2013 Grammys, as fun., Frank Ocean, Mumford & Sons, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys landed six nods each for music's biggest awards.
The nominations for New York-based indie-pop band fun. - made up of Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff - included the four main categories for record, song and album of the year, and best new artist.
fun., which also performed at the Grammy nominations concert with Janelle Monae, said it felt good to be recognized and 'took pride' in its live performances.
'Tonight, all I wanted to do was get up and really give it our all ... receiving the nomination is amazing and a culmination of hard work the three of us have put into this band,' lead singer Ruess told reporters backstage.
The group scored a huge hit with its first single, 'We Are Young,' and then followed that up with its successful album 'Some Nights' and single of the same name.
Joining it in the album, record of the year and best new artist categories was hip hop artist Ocean.
The 25-year-old rapper-singer made waves earlier this year after revealing his first love was a man, a groundbreaking move in the hip hop industry, which has faced criticism in the past for being hostile toward gays.
His debut album, 'Channel Orange' was a critical and commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart in July.
Ocean and fun. will be competing with blues-rock group Alabama Shakes, country singer Hunter Hayes and folk-rockers The Lumineers for the coveted best new artist title.
While young male artists made up a large portion of nominees in key categories, noticeably absent was 18-year-old Canadian singer Justin Bieber, one of 2012's biggest pop music stars with chart-topping album 'Believe' and singles such as 'Boyfriend.'
The winners will be announced at the televised awards show in Los Angeles on February 10.
AFTER ADELE, MALE ARTISTS LEAD
After British singer Adele dominated the previous Grammy Awards with her juggernaut album '21,' male artists took the lead in the album of the year category, where Ocean and fun. are competing with The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and Jack White.
British folk band Mumford & Sons, which scored six nominations both in 2011 and 2012 for its debut album, 'Sigh No More,' landed six more nominations on Wednesday for its chart-topping sophomore album, 'Babel,' which is the second biggest-selling album in the United States this year.
Ohio rock duo The Black Keys, formed by frontman Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, landed five nominations, while Auerbach also notched a non-classical producer of the year nomination for his work on four albums.
Blues-rocker Jack White, the former frontman of The White Stripes, picked up three nods for his chart-topping debut solo album 'Blunderbuss.'
Rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West continued to pick up nods for their 2011 album, 'Watch The Throne,' including best rap performance for 'N****s in Paris.' Jay-Z also landed nods for collaborating on songs with Young Jeezy and Rihanna, while West scored multiple nominations for his song 'Mercy.'
Kelly Clarkson was one of the few leading female nominees, picking up three nominations, including record of the year and best pop vocal album.
R&B singer Rihanna also landed three nods, including best solo pop performance for 'Where Have You Been.'
Record of the year nominees saw an assortment of rock, pop and hip hop nominees, with Clarkson's 'Stronger' competing with The Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy,' fun.'s 'We Are Young,' Australian artist Gotye's heartbreak hit 'Somebody That I Used To Know,' Ocean's 'Thinkin Bout You,' and Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.'
To be eligible for nominations this year, artists had to release their music between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012.
Adele, who swept the awards in February with six accolades including the top three, landed only one nomination this year for best pop solo performance, as she did not release any music in the eligibility time frame.
The nominations for the top awards and main categories were announced during an hour-long televised concert in Nashville for the first time, co-hosted by country-pop artist Swift and veteran Grammy host, rapper-actor LL Cool J.
Adding a twist to the announcements, Hayes sang the nominees for best pop album, a tight contest between Maroon 5, Clarkson, Pink, fun. and Florence and the Machine. Hayes picked up two nods for best new artist and best country vocal performance.
British rock legends The Who will receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February.
(Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Shumaker)
The nominations for New York-based indie-pop band fun. - made up of Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff - included the four main categories for record, song and album of the year, and best new artist.
fun., which also performed at the Grammy nominations concert with Janelle Monae, said it felt good to be recognized and 'took pride' in its live performances.
'Tonight, all I wanted to do was get up and really give it our all ... receiving the nomination is amazing and a culmination of hard work the three of us have put into this band,' lead singer Ruess told reporters backstage.
The group scored a huge hit with its first single, 'We Are Young,' and then followed that up with its successful album 'Some Nights' and single of the same name.
Joining it in the album, record of the year and best new artist categories was hip hop artist Ocean.
The 25-year-old rapper-singer made waves earlier this year after revealing his first love was a man, a groundbreaking move in the hip hop industry, which has faced criticism in the past for being hostile toward gays.
His debut album, 'Channel Orange' was a critical and commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart in July.
Ocean and fun. will be competing with blues-rock group Alabama Shakes, country singer Hunter Hayes and folk-rockers The Lumineers for the coveted best new artist title.
While young male artists made up a large portion of nominees in key categories, noticeably absent was 18-year-old Canadian singer Justin Bieber, one of 2012's biggest pop music stars with chart-topping album 'Believe' and singles such as 'Boyfriend.'
The winners will be announced at the televised awards show in Los Angeles on February 10.
AFTER ADELE, MALE ARTISTS LEAD
After British singer Adele dominated the previous Grammy Awards with her juggernaut album '21,' male artists took the lead in the album of the year category, where Ocean and fun. are competing with The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and Jack White.
British folk band Mumford & Sons, which scored six nominations both in 2011 and 2012 for its debut album, 'Sigh No More,' landed six more nominations on Wednesday for its chart-topping sophomore album, 'Babel,' which is the second biggest-selling album in the United States this year.
Ohio rock duo The Black Keys, formed by frontman Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney, landed five nominations, while Auerbach also notched a non-classical producer of the year nomination for his work on four albums.
Blues-rocker Jack White, the former frontman of The White Stripes, picked up three nods for his chart-topping debut solo album 'Blunderbuss.'
Rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West continued to pick up nods for their 2011 album, 'Watch The Throne,' including best rap performance for 'N****s in Paris.' Jay-Z also landed nods for collaborating on songs with Young Jeezy and Rihanna, while West scored multiple nominations for his song 'Mercy.'
Kelly Clarkson was one of the few leading female nominees, picking up three nominations, including record of the year and best pop vocal album.
R&B singer Rihanna also landed three nods, including best solo pop performance for 'Where Have You Been.'
Record of the year nominees saw an assortment of rock, pop and hip hop nominees, with Clarkson's 'Stronger' competing with The Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy,' fun.'s 'We Are Young,' Australian artist Gotye's heartbreak hit 'Somebody That I Used To Know,' Ocean's 'Thinkin Bout You,' and Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.'
To be eligible for nominations this year, artists had to release their music between October 1, 2011, and September 30, 2012.
Adele, who swept the awards in February with six accolades including the top three, landed only one nomination this year for best pop solo performance, as she did not release any music in the eligibility time frame.
The nominations for the top awards and main categories were announced during an hour-long televised concert in Nashville for the first time, co-hosted by country-pop artist Swift and veteran Grammy host, rapper-actor LL Cool J.
Adding a twist to the announcements, Hayes sang the nominees for best pop album, a tight contest between Maroon 5, Clarkson, Pink, fun. and Florence and the Machine. Hayes picked up two nods for best new artist and best country vocal performance.
British rock legends The Who will receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February.
(Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Shumaker)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck dead at 91
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, whose choice of novel rhythms, classical structures and brilliant sidemen made him a towering figure in modern jazz, has died at the age of 91, his longtime manager and producer Russell Gloyd said on Wednesday.
Brubeck died of heart failure on his way to a regular medical exam at Norwalk Hospital, in Norwalk, Conn., said Gloyd.
His Dave Brubeck Quartet put out one of the biggest selling jazz songs of all time: 'Take Five,' composed by alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Like many of the group's works, it had an unusual beat -- 5/4 time as opposed to the usual 4/4.
'We play it differently every time we play it,' Brubeck told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2005. 'So I never get tired of playing it. That's the beauty of jazz.'
'Take Five' was the first million-selling jazz single.
Brubeck injected classical counterpoint, atonal harmonies and modern dissonance into his music, hinting at composers such as Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky and Bach.
(Reporting by Christine Kearney; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
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Brubeck died of heart failure on his way to a regular medical exam at Norwalk Hospital, in Norwalk, Conn., said Gloyd.
His Dave Brubeck Quartet put out one of the biggest selling jazz songs of all time: 'Take Five,' composed by alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Like many of the group's works, it had an unusual beat -- 5/4 time as opposed to the usual 4/4.
'We play it differently every time we play it,' Brubeck told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2005. 'So I never get tired of playing it. That's the beauty of jazz.'
'Take Five' was the first million-selling jazz single.
Brubeck injected classical counterpoint, atonal harmonies and modern dissonance into his music, hinting at composers such as Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky and Bach.
(Reporting by Christine Kearney; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
This article is brought to you by PERSONALS.
"The Message" deemed greatest hip hop song ever
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 1982 hit 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was named the greatest hip hop song of all time on Wednesday, in the first such list by Rolling Stone magazine to celebrate the young but influential music genre.
'The Message,' which tops a list of 50 influential hip hop songs, was the first track 'to tell, with hip hop's rhythmic and vocal force, the truth about modern inner-city life in America,' Rolling Stone said.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, a hip hop collective from the south Bronx in New York, was formed in 1978 and became one of the pioneers of the hip hop genre.
The full list spanned songs ranging from Sugarhill Gang's 1979 hit 'Rapper's Delight,' which came in at No. 2, to Kanye West's 2004 hit 'Jesus Walks,' which landed at No. 32.
'It's a list that would have been a lot harder to do ten or 15 years ago because hip hop is so young,' Nathan Brackett, deputy managing editor of Rolling Stone, told Reuters.
'We've reached the point now where hip hop acts are getting into the (Rock and Roll) Hall Of Fame... it just felt like the right time to give this the real Rolling Stone treatment.'
Rolling Stone's top 10 featured mostly hip hop veterans, such as Run-D.M.C.'s 1983 track 'Sucker M.C.'s,' Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's 1992 hit 'Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang,' Public Enemy's 1990 song 'Fight The Power' and Notorious B.I.G's 1994 hit 'Juicy.'
Other influential artists in the top 50 songs included Beastie Boys, who came in at No. 19 with 'Paul Revere,' and recordings by Jay-Z, Eminem, Missy Elliot, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, Nas and the late rapper 2Pac.
The list of 50 songs was compiled by a 33-panel of members comprising Rolling Stone editors and hip hop experts. They included musician Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots, who Brackett described as 'an incredible encyclopedia' of both old and new hip hop knowledge.
Brackett noted that some songs considered to be one-hit wonders, such as Audio Two's 1988 hit 'Top Billin',' made the final selection.
'The references in those songs become the building blocks of all these other songs down the road ... they become touchstones, really part of the meat of hip hop songs going forward,' Brackett said.
The full list will be released online at RollingStone.com and in the pop culture magazine on newsstands on December7. The issue will feature four different covers of Eminem, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
'The Message,' which tops a list of 50 influential hip hop songs, was the first track 'to tell, with hip hop's rhythmic and vocal force, the truth about modern inner-city life in America,' Rolling Stone said.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, a hip hop collective from the south Bronx in New York, was formed in 1978 and became one of the pioneers of the hip hop genre.
The full list spanned songs ranging from Sugarhill Gang's 1979 hit 'Rapper's Delight,' which came in at No. 2, to Kanye West's 2004 hit 'Jesus Walks,' which landed at No. 32.
'It's a list that would have been a lot harder to do ten or 15 years ago because hip hop is so young,' Nathan Brackett, deputy managing editor of Rolling Stone, told Reuters.
'We've reached the point now where hip hop acts are getting into the (Rock and Roll) Hall Of Fame... it just felt like the right time to give this the real Rolling Stone treatment.'
Rolling Stone's top 10 featured mostly hip hop veterans, such as Run-D.M.C.'s 1983 track 'Sucker M.C.'s,' Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's 1992 hit 'Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang,' Public Enemy's 1990 song 'Fight The Power' and Notorious B.I.G's 1994 hit 'Juicy.'
Other influential artists in the top 50 songs included Beastie Boys, who came in at No. 19 with 'Paul Revere,' and recordings by Jay-Z, Eminem, Missy Elliot, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, Nas and the late rapper 2Pac.
The list of 50 songs was compiled by a 33-panel of members comprising Rolling Stone editors and hip hop experts. They included musician Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots, who Brackett described as 'an incredible encyclopedia' of both old and new hip hop knowledge.
Brackett noted that some songs considered to be one-hit wonders, such as Audio Two's 1988 hit 'Top Billin',' made the final selection.
'The references in those songs become the building blocks of all these other songs down the road ... they become touchstones, really part of the meat of hip hop songs going forward,' Brackett said.
The full list will be released online at RollingStone.com and in the pop culture magazine on newsstands on December7. The issue will feature four different covers of Eminem, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Lady Gaga buys Michael Jackson's costumes at auction
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Lady Gaga purchased 55 items belonging to late singer Michael Jackson in a weekend auction that raised more than $5 million, a portion of which will be donated to charity, Julien's Auctions said.
The auction, held in Beverly Hills, showcased 465 lots of items spanning Jackson's career through the years, including costumes and props used on tour and in music videos.
Highlights from the sale included the late singer's 'BAD' tour jacket raising $240,000, a white glove selling for $192,000 and one of the singer's Pepsi and Awards jacket garnering more than $68,000, the auction house said in a statement.
Following Sunday's auction, Gaga told her 31 million Twitter followers that 'the 55 pieces I collected today will be archived & expertly cared for in the spirit & love of Michael Jackson, his bravery, & fans worldwide.'
Jackson died aged 50 in June 2009 in Los Angeles from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and sedatives.
The collection of outfits, designed by Los Angeles-based collaborators Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush and gifted back to them by the late singer, were taken on a world tour earlier this year, traveling across South America, Europe and Asia.
In September, British hat designer Philip Treacy designed his first London fashion week show in a decade around Jackson's auction costumes, which were worn by the models down the runway and accessorized with hats inspired by the late singer's life.
Gaga not only attended Treacy's show but was on hand to introduce the milliner's collection.
The auction exceeded pre-sale estimates of $1 million to $2 million, and a portion of the final amount raised will benefit the Guide Dogs of America and Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
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The auction, held in Beverly Hills, showcased 465 lots of items spanning Jackson's career through the years, including costumes and props used on tour and in music videos.
Highlights from the sale included the late singer's 'BAD' tour jacket raising $240,000, a white glove selling for $192,000 and one of the singer's Pepsi and Awards jacket garnering more than $68,000, the auction house said in a statement.
Following Sunday's auction, Gaga told her 31 million Twitter followers that 'the 55 pieces I collected today will be archived & expertly cared for in the spirit & love of Michael Jackson, his bravery, & fans worldwide.'
Jackson died aged 50 in June 2009 in Los Angeles from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and sedatives.
The collection of outfits, designed by Los Angeles-based collaborators Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush and gifted back to them by the late singer, were taken on a world tour earlier this year, traveling across South America, Europe and Asia.
In September, British hat designer Philip Treacy designed his first London fashion week show in a decade around Jackson's auction costumes, which were worn by the models down the runway and accessorized with hats inspired by the late singer's life.
Gaga not only attended Treacy's show but was on hand to introduce the milliner's collection.
The auction exceeded pre-sale estimates of $1 million to $2 million, and a portion of the final amount raised will benefit the Guide Dogs of America and Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Obama salutes entertainers at Kennedy Center Honors
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Music legend Led Zeppelin was recognized on Sunday alongside entertainers from stage and screen for their contributions to the arts and American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors, lifetime achievement awards for performing artists.
The eclectic tribute in Washington, alternated between solemn veneration and lighthearted roasting of honorees Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, wisecracking late-night talk show host David Letterman, blues guitar icon Buddy Guy, ballerina Natalia Makarova and Led Zeppelin.
'I worked with the speechwriters - there is no smooth transition from ballet to Led Zeppelin,' President Barack Obama deadpanned while introducing the honorees at a ceremony in the White House East Room.
Friends, contemporaries and a new generation of artists influenced by the honorees took the stage in tribute.
'Dustin Hoffman is a pain the ass,' actor Robert DeNiro, a former honoree, said in introducing the infamously perfectionist star of such celebrated films as 'The Graduate' and 'Tootsie.'
'And he inspired me to be a bit of a pain in the ass too,' DeNiro said with a big smile.
At a weekend dinner for the winners at the State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the performing arts often requires a touch of diplomacy as she toasted Makarova, a dance icon in the former Soviet Union when she defected in 1970.
Makarova, the pride of her national ballet program, said she obeyed an impulse for creative freedom when she sought asylum while in London for a performance.
'It's most incredible because it looks like I lived two lives,' the artist told reporters before the event. 'I've come a long way, baby, no? That's the way someone said it for me.'
The lightest moments came in the tribute to variety show host David Letterman. Several performers said his oddball program was a worthy successor to 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,' which was the standard bearer for late-night shows from the 1960s through the early 1990s.
Comedian Tina Fey, honored with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2010, marveled at Letterman's ability to goad and humble his celebrity guests.
'David Letterman is a professor emeritus at the 'Here's Some More Rope Institute,'' she joked.
Letterman, who joked earlier in the weekend that he was going to fund an investigation to determine how he was given the honor, was at a loss for words on the red carpet.
'I was full of trepidation, but now I am full of nothing but gratitude,' he said. 'I don't believe this, but it's been nice for my family.'
Despite the president's misgivings about his own speech, performances at the Kennedy Center easily transitioned from precision dance tributes for Makarova to gritty blues music when the spotlight turned to Guy, a sharecropper's son who made his first instrument with wire scrounged from his family's home in rural Louisiana.
'He's one of the most idiosyncratic and passionate blues greats, and there are not many left of that original generation,' said Bonnie Raitt, who as an 18-year-old blues singer was often the warm-up act for Guy.
Raitt led an ensemble tribute that included singer Tracy Chapman and guitarist Jeff Beck.
Guy, 76, was a pioneer in the Chicago blues style that pushed the sound of electrically amped guitar to the forefront of the music.
'You mastered the soul of gut bucket,' actor Morgan Freeman told the Kennedy Center audience. 'You made a bridge from roots to rock 'n roll.'
In a toast on Saturday night, former President Bill Clinton talked of Guy's impoverished upbringing and how he improvised a guitar from the strands of a porch screen, paint can and his mother's hair pins.
'In Buddy's immortal phrase, the blues is 'Something you play because you have it. And when you play it, you lose it.''
It was a version of the blues that drifted over the Atlantic to Britain and echoed back in the heart-pounding rock sound of Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy Page, 68, was the guitar impresario who anchored the compositions with vocalist Robert Plant, 64, howling and screeching out the soul. Bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, 66, rounded out the band with drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980.
The incongruity of the famously hard-partying rock stars in black tie under chandeliers at a White House ceremony was not lost on Obama.
'Of course, these guys also redefined the rock and roll lifestyle,' the president said, to laughter and sheepish looks from the band members.
'So it's fitting that we're doing this in a room with windows that are about three inches thick - and Secret Service all around,' Obama said. 'So, guys, just settle down.'
On stage Sunday night, Nancy and Ann Wilson of the rock band Heart, belted out Zeppelin's emblematic 'Stairway to Heaven' to close out the show.
The gala will be aired on CBS television on December 26.
(Reporting By Patrick Rucker and Mark Felsenthal)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
The eclectic tribute in Washington, alternated between solemn veneration and lighthearted roasting of honorees Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman, wisecracking late-night talk show host David Letterman, blues guitar icon Buddy Guy, ballerina Natalia Makarova and Led Zeppelin.
'I worked with the speechwriters - there is no smooth transition from ballet to Led Zeppelin,' President Barack Obama deadpanned while introducing the honorees at a ceremony in the White House East Room.
Friends, contemporaries and a new generation of artists influenced by the honorees took the stage in tribute.
'Dustin Hoffman is a pain the ass,' actor Robert DeNiro, a former honoree, said in introducing the infamously perfectionist star of such celebrated films as 'The Graduate' and 'Tootsie.'
'And he inspired me to be a bit of a pain in the ass too,' DeNiro said with a big smile.
At a weekend dinner for the winners at the State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted that the performing arts often requires a touch of diplomacy as she toasted Makarova, a dance icon in the former Soviet Union when she defected in 1970.
Makarova, the pride of her national ballet program, said she obeyed an impulse for creative freedom when she sought asylum while in London for a performance.
'It's most incredible because it looks like I lived two lives,' the artist told reporters before the event. 'I've come a long way, baby, no? That's the way someone said it for me.'
The lightest moments came in the tribute to variety show host David Letterman. Several performers said his oddball program was a worthy successor to 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,' which was the standard bearer for late-night shows from the 1960s through the early 1990s.
Comedian Tina Fey, honored with the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2010, marveled at Letterman's ability to goad and humble his celebrity guests.
'David Letterman is a professor emeritus at the 'Here's Some More Rope Institute,'' she joked.
Letterman, who joked earlier in the weekend that he was going to fund an investigation to determine how he was given the honor, was at a loss for words on the red carpet.
'I was full of trepidation, but now I am full of nothing but gratitude,' he said. 'I don't believe this, but it's been nice for my family.'
Despite the president's misgivings about his own speech, performances at the Kennedy Center easily transitioned from precision dance tributes for Makarova to gritty blues music when the spotlight turned to Guy, a sharecropper's son who made his first instrument with wire scrounged from his family's home in rural Louisiana.
'He's one of the most idiosyncratic and passionate blues greats, and there are not many left of that original generation,' said Bonnie Raitt, who as an 18-year-old blues singer was often the warm-up act for Guy.
Raitt led an ensemble tribute that included singer Tracy Chapman and guitarist Jeff Beck.
Guy, 76, was a pioneer in the Chicago blues style that pushed the sound of electrically amped guitar to the forefront of the music.
'You mastered the soul of gut bucket,' actor Morgan Freeman told the Kennedy Center audience. 'You made a bridge from roots to rock 'n roll.'
In a toast on Saturday night, former President Bill Clinton talked of Guy's impoverished upbringing and how he improvised a guitar from the strands of a porch screen, paint can and his mother's hair pins.
'In Buddy's immortal phrase, the blues is 'Something you play because you have it. And when you play it, you lose it.''
It was a version of the blues that drifted over the Atlantic to Britain and echoed back in the heart-pounding rock sound of Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy Page, 68, was the guitar impresario who anchored the compositions with vocalist Robert Plant, 64, howling and screeching out the soul. Bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, 66, rounded out the band with drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980.
The incongruity of the famously hard-partying rock stars in black tie under chandeliers at a White House ceremony was not lost on Obama.
'Of course, these guys also redefined the rock and roll lifestyle,' the president said, to laughter and sheepish looks from the band members.
'So it's fitting that we're doing this in a room with windows that are about three inches thick - and Secret Service all around,' Obama said. 'So, guys, just settle down.'
On stage Sunday night, Nancy and Ann Wilson of the rock band Heart, belted out Zeppelin's emblematic 'Stairway to Heaven' to close out the show.
The gala will be aired on CBS television on December 26.
(Reporting By Patrick Rucker and Mark Felsenthal)
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Led Zeppelin will Reunite - for "Letterman" interview
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - The surviving members of Led Zeppelin will make a rare appearance together on 'Late Show With David Letterman' on December 3, CBS said Friday.
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones will drop in on the late-night show for an interview - which isn't quite the reunion that Zep fans have been patiently waiting for, but it might have to do. With the exception of a one-off tribute concert for Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun at London's O2 Arena in 2007 - which was released as the DVD 'Celebration Day' in October - Jones has largely been estranged from Page and Plant since the group's 1980 breakup following drummer John Bonham's death.
The 'Late Show' appearance won't be the only time that Letterman hangs out with the rock legends - the group, along with Letterman, will be lauded at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., which will take place December 2 and air December 26 on CBS.
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones will drop in on the late-night show for an interview - which isn't quite the reunion that Zep fans have been patiently waiting for, but it might have to do. With the exception of a one-off tribute concert for Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun at London's O2 Arena in 2007 - which was released as the DVD 'Celebration Day' in October - Jones has largely been estranged from Page and Plant since the group's 1980 breakup following drummer John Bonham's death.
The 'Late Show' appearance won't be the only time that Letterman hangs out with the rock legends - the group, along with Letterman, will be lauded at the 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., which will take place December 2 and air December 26 on CBS.
This news article is brought to you by ANIMALS AND PETS - where latest news are our top priority.
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