LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Paul McCartney will help get the London Olympic Games off to a rocking start.
The former Beatle confirmed speculation that he would take part in the opening ceremony, telling the BBC that he will close out the ceremony on July 27.
'I've been booked,' McCartney said, adding that he would be 'closing the opening.'
McCartney is the first act to be confirmed for the opening ceremony. 'Slumdog Millionaire' director Danny Boyle is serving as artistic director of the ceremony. Boyle recently revealed that he's using the classic monster story 'Frankenstein' -- which he produced as a stage production of last year -- as inspiration for the ceremony.
'I mean, we don't reanimate dead creatures, but we did use Frankenstein as a dry run for a lot of ideas for this,' Boyle said. According to Boyle, the venue where the ceremony - dubbed 'The Isles of Wonder' - will look 'like a cauldron, with all the people hovering over and around you.'
The International Olympic Committee has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.
McCartney performed a warm-up gig of sorts for the Olympics earlier this week, closing out the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on Monday.
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Sheryl Crow says not worried by benign brain tumor
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year but she does not worry about it because it is benign, the singer-songwriter told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
In a story posted on the newspaper's website on Tuesday, Crow, whose hits include 'All I Wanna Do' and 'Soak Up the Sun,' said the tumor was discovered when she went to a hospital to be tested because she was experiencing memory loss.
'I haven't really talked about it,' she told the newspaper's nightclub and entertainment reporter Doug Elfman, 'In November, I found out I have a brain tumor. But it's benign, so I don't have to worry about it. But it gives me a fit.'
A representative for the singer was not immediately available for comment.
Crow told the Review-Journal that she has a history of memory loss dating back to the 1990s when she forgot the lyrics to her hit 'A Change Would Do You Good' while singing in a show in Las Vegas.
'I worried about my memory so much that I went and got an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). And I found out I have a brain tumor,' she said. 'And I was like, 'See? I knew there was something wrong.'
She made headlines in May when she forgot words to 'Soak Up the Sun' at a show in St. Petersburg, Florida. Onstage at the time, she joked, 'I'm 50. What can I say!'
Crow, who has two children, was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2006, which was successfully treated that year.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte)
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In a story posted on the newspaper's website on Tuesday, Crow, whose hits include 'All I Wanna Do' and 'Soak Up the Sun,' said the tumor was discovered when she went to a hospital to be tested because she was experiencing memory loss.
'I haven't really talked about it,' she told the newspaper's nightclub and entertainment reporter Doug Elfman, 'In November, I found out I have a brain tumor. But it's benign, so I don't have to worry about it. But it gives me a fit.'
A representative for the singer was not immediately available for comment.
Crow told the Review-Journal that she has a history of memory loss dating back to the 1990s when she forgot the lyrics to her hit 'A Change Would Do You Good' while singing in a show in Las Vegas.
'I worried about my memory so much that I went and got an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). And I found out I have a brain tumor,' she said. 'And I was like, 'See? I knew there was something wrong.'
She made headlines in May when she forgot words to 'Soak Up the Sun' at a show in St. Petersburg, Florida. Onstage at the time, she joked, 'I'm 50. What can I say!'
Crow, who has two children, was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2006, which was successfully treated that year.
(Reporting By Bob Tourtellotte)
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Herb Reed of vocal group The Platters dead at 83
BOSTON (Reuters) - Herb Reed, the last of the founding members of 1950s R&B crooners The Platters, known for hits such as 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' and 'The Great Pretender,' has died in Boston age 83.
Reed's publicists said the singer, who in recent years lived in Arlington, Massachusetts, died on Monday after a period of declining health.
The singing group was formed in Los Angeles in 1953 by Reed along with Joe Jefferson, Cornell Gunther, and Alex Hodge. The group went on to have four number-one singles on the U.S. charts between 1955 and 1958.
The Platters continued to record for another decade and tour in various incarnations, and with more than 100 different members, until the present day.
Reed grew up in poverty in Kansas City, Missouri. 'I was poor, and I'm not ashamed to share those stories now,' Reed said in a recent interview. 'I was so hungry I couldn't think.'
When he struck out for Los Angeles at age 15, Reed had three dollars in his pocket and just the clothes on his back. Before getting into the music scene he worked at a car wash for $20 a week.
In recent years Reed, the Platters' bass singer, waged a long and ultimately successful battle in federal court to obtain superior rights to the name The Platters.
As the last surviving member of the original group, that made the singer the sole heir to the group's legacy.
'It's not right to have someone steal your name. It's just not right,' Reed said in early 2012. 'It's theft, and I have to fight it so that no other artist faces this.'
The Platters, praised for their smooth, stylized renditions of pop standards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
'They are fondly remembered as a throwback to a golden era when pop, rhythm and blues and rock and roll flowed together in perfect harmony,' the Platters' Hall of Fame citation said.
Reed outlived his siblings and is survived by a son, Herbert Jr, and three grandsons.
(Reporting By Ros Krasny; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
This news article is brought to you by BEING SINGLE AND AGING - where latest news are our top priority.
Reed's publicists said the singer, who in recent years lived in Arlington, Massachusetts, died on Monday after a period of declining health.
The singing group was formed in Los Angeles in 1953 by Reed along with Joe Jefferson, Cornell Gunther, and Alex Hodge. The group went on to have four number-one singles on the U.S. charts between 1955 and 1958.
The Platters continued to record for another decade and tour in various incarnations, and with more than 100 different members, until the present day.
Reed grew up in poverty in Kansas City, Missouri. 'I was poor, and I'm not ashamed to share those stories now,' Reed said in a recent interview. 'I was so hungry I couldn't think.'
When he struck out for Los Angeles at age 15, Reed had three dollars in his pocket and just the clothes on his back. Before getting into the music scene he worked at a car wash for $20 a week.
In recent years Reed, the Platters' bass singer, waged a long and ultimately successful battle in federal court to obtain superior rights to the name The Platters.
As the last surviving member of the original group, that made the singer the sole heir to the group's legacy.
'It's not right to have someone steal your name. It's just not right,' Reed said in early 2012. 'It's theft, and I have to fight it so that no other artist faces this.'
The Platters, praised for their smooth, stylized renditions of pop standards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
'They are fondly remembered as a throwback to a golden era when pop, rhythm and blues and rock and roll flowed together in perfect harmony,' the Platters' Hall of Fame citation said.
Reed outlived his siblings and is survived by a son, Herbert Jr, and three grandsons.
(Reporting By Ros Krasny; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
This news article is brought to you by BEING SINGLE AND AGING - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, June 4, 2012
"Hunger Games" scoops up four MTV movie awards
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 'The Hunger Games' won four MTV Movie Awards on Sunday but a 'Twilight' film picked up the best movie honor for the fourth straight year in what proved to be a tame evening at the typically outrageous awards show.
Post-apocalyptic film 'The Hunger Games' nabbed MTV's golden popcorn trophies for best male performance by Josh Hutcherson, best female performance by Jennifer Lawrence, best transformation by Elizabeth Banks and best fight.
The movie of the year award, voted for by fans online throughout the show, went to vampire romance 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1,' beating out 'The Hunger Games' and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.'
Female-led comedy 'Bridesmaids' picked up two awards for best comedic performance by Melissa McCarthy and best gut-wrenching performance for its stomach-turning food poisoning scene, while the final installment of the 'Harry Potter' franchise won for best cast and best hero.
Host Russell Brand, known for raunchy humor, launched into jokes about his short-lived marriage to singer Katy Perry, thanking Kim Kardashian for 'taking the pressure off me' due to her brief marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries and joking about keeping his 'eyes peeled' for a new wife.
His barbs also were directed at pop star Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, John Travolta, Kanye West and 'Shame' actor Michael Fassbender for 'profiting from sex addiction.'
DEPP ROCKS
'The Descendants' star Shailene Woodley picked up the breakthrough performance award. 'Spiderman' actress Emma Stone was given the trailblazer trophy and Johnny Depp was honored with the generation award for a career spanning three decades.
'It's like the get-out-of-the-business award basically, when you've done too much ... There's obviously something wrong with me,' Depp joked in his acceptance speech.
The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor showed off his guitar skills, joining rockers The Black Keys for their hit singles 'Gold On The Ceiling' and 'Lonely Boy.'
In some of the night's more irreverent categories, Jennifer Aniston picked up the best on-screen dirtbag award for her role as a foul-mouthed, blackmailing dentist in 'Horrible Bosses.'
The best kiss trophy was again given to 'Twilight' leads Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who have won for their steamy on-screen clinches for the past three years.
Despite its billing an outrageous event, the show seemed more tame than in previous years with little foul language or onstage antics. Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello did some spicing up with a near strip tease. The trio stars in an upcoming film, 'Magic Mike,' about male strippers.
Notable moments came from 'Batman' star Christian Bale, who gave an emotional introduction to an exclusive trailer for the upcoming film, 'The Dark Knight Rises,' after footage of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker character was shown from the second installment of the Christopher Nolan 'Batman' franchise.
Music, the foundation of MTV, played a key role throughout the show with first-ever house DJ, Martin Solveig, providing movie score mash-ups from 'Jaws,' 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Drive' between awards.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa performed new song 'Work Hard, Play Hard' and indie band fun. sang their hit single 'We Are Young' with Janelle Monae to open the program.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Bill Trott)
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Post-apocalyptic film 'The Hunger Games' nabbed MTV's golden popcorn trophies for best male performance by Josh Hutcherson, best female performance by Jennifer Lawrence, best transformation by Elizabeth Banks and best fight.
The movie of the year award, voted for by fans online throughout the show, went to vampire romance 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1,' beating out 'The Hunger Games' and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.'
Female-led comedy 'Bridesmaids' picked up two awards for best comedic performance by Melissa McCarthy and best gut-wrenching performance for its stomach-turning food poisoning scene, while the final installment of the 'Harry Potter' franchise won for best cast and best hero.
Host Russell Brand, known for raunchy humor, launched into jokes about his short-lived marriage to singer Katy Perry, thanking Kim Kardashian for 'taking the pressure off me' due to her brief marriage to basketball player Kris Humphries and joking about keeping his 'eyes peeled' for a new wife.
His barbs also were directed at pop star Justin Bieber, Charlie Sheen, John Travolta, Kanye West and 'Shame' actor Michael Fassbender for 'profiting from sex addiction.'
DEPP ROCKS
'The Descendants' star Shailene Woodley picked up the breakthrough performance award. 'Spiderman' actress Emma Stone was given the trailblazer trophy and Johnny Depp was honored with the generation award for a career spanning three decades.
'It's like the get-out-of-the-business award basically, when you've done too much ... There's obviously something wrong with me,' Depp joked in his acceptance speech.
The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' actor showed off his guitar skills, joining rockers The Black Keys for their hit singles 'Gold On The Ceiling' and 'Lonely Boy.'
In some of the night's more irreverent categories, Jennifer Aniston picked up the best on-screen dirtbag award for her role as a foul-mouthed, blackmailing dentist in 'Horrible Bosses.'
The best kiss trophy was again given to 'Twilight' leads Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who have won for their steamy on-screen clinches for the past three years.
Despite its billing an outrageous event, the show seemed more tame than in previous years with little foul language or onstage antics. Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey and Joe Manganiello did some spicing up with a near strip tease. The trio stars in an upcoming film, 'Magic Mike,' about male strippers.
Notable moments came from 'Batman' star Christian Bale, who gave an emotional introduction to an exclusive trailer for the upcoming film, 'The Dark Knight Rises,' after footage of the late Heath Ledger as the Joker character was shown from the second installment of the Christopher Nolan 'Batman' franchise.
Music, the foundation of MTV, played a key role throughout the show with first-ever house DJ, Martin Solveig, providing movie score mash-ups from 'Jaws,' 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Drive' between awards.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa performed new song 'Work Hard, Play Hard' and indie band fun. sang their hit single 'We Are Young' with Janelle Monae to open the program.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Bill Trott)
This news article is brought to you by DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, June 1, 2012
In Portland, cello players lay down a hip-hop beat
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The people of Portland, Oregon enjoy a reputation for living somewhat outside the mainstream, so it should come as no surprise that a group of the city's cello players is using its classical instruments to lay down hip-hop beats.
What rappers such as Kanye West and Jay-Z do with syncopated rhymes and rhythms, the Portland Cello Project bangs out with strings and bows. And they don't stop there. Pop tunes from Britney Spears' 'Toxic' to Justin Timberlake's 'What Goes Around' also bring cheer to their fans.
'It just seemed like the natural thing,' Doug Jenkins, a founding member of the band told Reuters. 'We began stumbling around trying to find the most fun or confusing songs to perform on the cello to play with people's perceptions.'
Now on national tour to promote their new album 'Homage,' which was released this past Tuesday, the collective aims to challenge the conventions of their instrumental classification.
Portland Cello Project formed six years ago as a loose group of cellists who kept bumping into each other around town and decided it only made sense to hang out, drink beer and jam. Eclectic in background and taste, some brought indie rock sensibilities to the table, others clung to jazz and folk.
After playing in each other's living rooms, they went live in their first public gig in 2006 at a local lounge. Rather than perform something expected like Beethoven - they did what any good-natured Portlander would do - they opted for Spears and over time became a local sensation.
Seizing on their celebrity, the crew of about 10-20 rotating members then branched into hip-hop, making symphonic arrangements out of songs like West's 'All of the Lights,' Jay-Z and West's collaborative 'H.A.M' and Lil Wayne's 'Lollipop.'
'Hip-hop right now is the most vibrant American cultural art form,' said Jenkins. 'Like it or not, it sells a lot of records, and is extremely influential. It was also a challenge because these songs aren't obvious musical compositions. They have really fascinating productions behind them.'
'Homage' mixes tracks from West and other performers like Talib Kweli and Outkast with the work of contemporary classical composers in a compilation Jenkins describes as 'court and courtiers' music.
Although the band has been successful in many adaptations, not every bass line translates well. Some tracks, like 50 Cent's 'In Da Club,' contain hooks, bridges, and other parts too complicated or mismatched for classical.
SHOCK AND AWE
Portland Cello Project's music doesn't hinge merely on inventive renditions of others' tunes, but also in their contradictory play lists that keep audiences guessing and, even at times, listening with a sense of awe.
'The juxtaposition of playing (heavy metal band) Pantera at a live show, and following it immediately with a Bach cantata is really funny,' Jenkins remarked. 'There's that feeling that Grandma is wondering what's happening on stage and then suddenly she's comfortable again.'
Their sometimes three-hour live shows have included guest appearances by many of their contemporary muses, including The Dandy Warhols, members of The Decemberists, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, and Suicidal Tendencies.
Though they have yet to feature a rapper alongside them on stage, Jay-Z recently gave the band a nod on his Facebook page and blog, Life + Times. And Jenkins hopes for a future collaboration, saying that joining forces with a hip-hop icon would offer the unassuming Portlanders a legitimacy they seek.
'On tour, we're playing hip-hop music, but not giving a real hip-hop experience. (The crowd) seems more like indie rock shows, where there's kind of a divide in the audience as to whether the music is cool enough ... But to bring a hip-hop artist on stage, it's just automatically you love it.'
There's always a Tupac hologram.
Beyond unusual selections, the group aims to display the dynamism of the cello, an instrument Jenkins feels often gets tagged as an accompaniment.
'Historically, there's a longstanding misconception that the cello can't do that much; that it can only play low bass notes,' he comments. 'But we can go much higher, right into violin ranges. It's a really versatile instrument.'
On the road, they bring only wind and brass instrument players as compliments to their urbanized concerto. No other strings allowed.
And reception has been positive.
'There are so many nights where we're playing in a bar...and all of a sudden after 30 seconds, you can hear a pin drop even though everyone's drunk ... That feels like success.'
(Reporting By Courtney Garcia; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET - MARKETING - where latest news are our top priority.
What rappers such as Kanye West and Jay-Z do with syncopated rhymes and rhythms, the Portland Cello Project bangs out with strings and bows. And they don't stop there. Pop tunes from Britney Spears' 'Toxic' to Justin Timberlake's 'What Goes Around' also bring cheer to their fans.
'It just seemed like the natural thing,' Doug Jenkins, a founding member of the band told Reuters. 'We began stumbling around trying to find the most fun or confusing songs to perform on the cello to play with people's perceptions.'
Now on national tour to promote their new album 'Homage,' which was released this past Tuesday, the collective aims to challenge the conventions of their instrumental classification.
Portland Cello Project formed six years ago as a loose group of cellists who kept bumping into each other around town and decided it only made sense to hang out, drink beer and jam. Eclectic in background and taste, some brought indie rock sensibilities to the table, others clung to jazz and folk.
After playing in each other's living rooms, they went live in their first public gig in 2006 at a local lounge. Rather than perform something expected like Beethoven - they did what any good-natured Portlander would do - they opted for Spears and over time became a local sensation.
Seizing on their celebrity, the crew of about 10-20 rotating members then branched into hip-hop, making symphonic arrangements out of songs like West's 'All of the Lights,' Jay-Z and West's collaborative 'H.A.M' and Lil Wayne's 'Lollipop.'
'Hip-hop right now is the most vibrant American cultural art form,' said Jenkins. 'Like it or not, it sells a lot of records, and is extremely influential. It was also a challenge because these songs aren't obvious musical compositions. They have really fascinating productions behind them.'
'Homage' mixes tracks from West and other performers like Talib Kweli and Outkast with the work of contemporary classical composers in a compilation Jenkins describes as 'court and courtiers' music.
Although the band has been successful in many adaptations, not every bass line translates well. Some tracks, like 50 Cent's 'In Da Club,' contain hooks, bridges, and other parts too complicated or mismatched for classical.
SHOCK AND AWE
Portland Cello Project's music doesn't hinge merely on inventive renditions of others' tunes, but also in their contradictory play lists that keep audiences guessing and, even at times, listening with a sense of awe.
'The juxtaposition of playing (heavy metal band) Pantera at a live show, and following it immediately with a Bach cantata is really funny,' Jenkins remarked. 'There's that feeling that Grandma is wondering what's happening on stage and then suddenly she's comfortable again.'
Their sometimes three-hour live shows have included guest appearances by many of their contemporary muses, including The Dandy Warhols, members of The Decemberists, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, and Suicidal Tendencies.
Though they have yet to feature a rapper alongside them on stage, Jay-Z recently gave the band a nod on his Facebook page and blog, Life + Times. And Jenkins hopes for a future collaboration, saying that joining forces with a hip-hop icon would offer the unassuming Portlanders a legitimacy they seek.
'On tour, we're playing hip-hop music, but not giving a real hip-hop experience. (The crowd) seems more like indie rock shows, where there's kind of a divide in the audience as to whether the music is cool enough ... But to bring a hip-hop artist on stage, it's just automatically you love it.'
There's always a Tupac hologram.
Beyond unusual selections, the group aims to display the dynamism of the cello, an instrument Jenkins feels often gets tagged as an accompaniment.
'Historically, there's a longstanding misconception that the cello can't do that much; that it can only play low bass notes,' he comments. 'But we can go much higher, right into violin ranges. It's a really versatile instrument.'
On the road, they bring only wind and brass instrument players as compliments to their urbanized concerto. No other strings allowed.
And reception has been positive.
'There are so many nights where we're playing in a bar...and all of a sudden after 30 seconds, you can hear a pin drop even though everyone's drunk ... That feels like success.'
(Reporting By Courtney Garcia; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET - MARKETING - where latest news are our top priority.
Usher feels "near a rebirth" on new album
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Almost 20 years have passed since R&B fans first took notice of Usher Raymond on 1994's debut album 'Usher.' At that time, he was just a baby-faced teenager singing about things he hadn't yet experienced.
Over the years, fans have watched Usher grow into a man and become one of the top-selling pop stars of the last two decades, documenting his personal highs and lows through his music.
But ask Usher, and he says his evolution has just begun.
Now a seasoned performer and 33-year-old father of two young boys, Usher takes himself to new places musically with his seventh studio album, 'Looking 4 Myself,' out June 12. The lead single 'Climax,' marries R&B and electronic music, and sets the tone for 14 tracks of electronic, soul and hip-hop sounds.
Usher gets personal on 'Sins of My Father,' a song about the consequences of growing up without his dad. The album's thumping second single, 'Scream,' and the will.i.am and Keith Harris production, 'Can't Stop Won't Stop,' are party anthems in the vein of 'OMG,' his hit single from 2010's 'Raymond v. Raymond.'
On June 11, Usher introduces his album with a performance, directed by filmmaker Hamish Hamilton, at London's HMV Forum for the 'American Express Unstaged' live stream music series.
Reuters spoke with Usher about 'Looking 4 Myself,' his upcoming show and the new direction he's taking musically.
Q: You said this is your most artistic album to date. How was working on this project different?
A: 'It was damn near a rebirth. I felt open and creative because I didn't have anything in my mind. At some point, after making music for a long time, you have to find very new creative and innovative ways to do what you love.
'I've felt restricted in a lot over the last several years and maybe it's because I was holding myself back. Maybe I felt like I needed to conform to some specific standard. I got to the point where I said, 'I gotta go with what I feel and hopefully people will follow me.'
Q: Will your old fans get it?
A: 'I always try to find a way for everybody to feel like they got something. On this album, dance or electronic music is not just your typical electronic experience - it's been Usherized. I put it all in there - soul, R&B, hip-hop, electronic and I make it work, because I believe it.'
Q: What's the overall vibe of the album?
A: 'I was a little held up in my emotions, and I used my music as a diary to log some of what I was dealing with. And then there are songs that are made to have fun. They're not deep.'
Q: Michael Jackson is one of your more obvious influences. Who are some artists you've been influenced by that may surprise people?
A: 'Picasso. I find inspiration in the fact that he found different ways to articulate himself. His artistic vision adjusted and he allowed himself to be in the moment and to be a part of what was going on around him in the art world.
Q: Tell us some of your favorites from the album?
A: 'Songs like 'Euphoria' I feel really push the envelope. (Producers) Swedish House Mafia hadn't really done a lot of songs with vocal artists. I felt privileged to be able to work with them. I think a lot of people will relate to 'Looking for Myself.' People question, 'Would I be better if I found someone to relate to, or do I just need to get to know myself better?
''I Care for You' - that song is my heart. Saying 'I care for you' is like saying 'I love you' without saying those words. I think those can be dangerous words so I had to find a creative way to say it without saying it. 'I love you' can be scary, it can be dangerous.'
Q: What can fans expect from your June 11 show?
A: 'Performing over the last few years, I notice that people almost don't even watch the show anymore. They're on their phones - texting, tweeting or recording.
'We wanted to make this interactive for the fans so, they'll be able to create their own avatar and have it dance on screen with me. It's something that Hamish (Hamilton), and my entire team felt would be very unique. Fans can tweet while I'm on stage. I'll be able to interact with them - I may comment on tweets that come through.'
Usher's 'American Express Unstaged' concert will stream live on Monday June 11 at 4:00 p.m. EDT at www.youtube.com/UsherVEVO.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET - MARKETING - where latest news are our top priority.
Over the years, fans have watched Usher grow into a man and become one of the top-selling pop stars of the last two decades, documenting his personal highs and lows through his music.
But ask Usher, and he says his evolution has just begun.
Now a seasoned performer and 33-year-old father of two young boys, Usher takes himself to new places musically with his seventh studio album, 'Looking 4 Myself,' out June 12. The lead single 'Climax,' marries R&B and electronic music, and sets the tone for 14 tracks of electronic, soul and hip-hop sounds.
Usher gets personal on 'Sins of My Father,' a song about the consequences of growing up without his dad. The album's thumping second single, 'Scream,' and the will.i.am and Keith Harris production, 'Can't Stop Won't Stop,' are party anthems in the vein of 'OMG,' his hit single from 2010's 'Raymond v. Raymond.'
On June 11, Usher introduces his album with a performance, directed by filmmaker Hamish Hamilton, at London's HMV Forum for the 'American Express Unstaged' live stream music series.
Reuters spoke with Usher about 'Looking 4 Myself,' his upcoming show and the new direction he's taking musically.
Q: You said this is your most artistic album to date. How was working on this project different?
A: 'It was damn near a rebirth. I felt open and creative because I didn't have anything in my mind. At some point, after making music for a long time, you have to find very new creative and innovative ways to do what you love.
'I've felt restricted in a lot over the last several years and maybe it's because I was holding myself back. Maybe I felt like I needed to conform to some specific standard. I got to the point where I said, 'I gotta go with what I feel and hopefully people will follow me.'
Q: Will your old fans get it?
A: 'I always try to find a way for everybody to feel like they got something. On this album, dance or electronic music is not just your typical electronic experience - it's been Usherized. I put it all in there - soul, R&B, hip-hop, electronic and I make it work, because I believe it.'
Q: What's the overall vibe of the album?
A: 'I was a little held up in my emotions, and I used my music as a diary to log some of what I was dealing with. And then there are songs that are made to have fun. They're not deep.'
Q: Michael Jackson is one of your more obvious influences. Who are some artists you've been influenced by that may surprise people?
A: 'Picasso. I find inspiration in the fact that he found different ways to articulate himself. His artistic vision adjusted and he allowed himself to be in the moment and to be a part of what was going on around him in the art world.
Q: Tell us some of your favorites from the album?
A: 'Songs like 'Euphoria' I feel really push the envelope. (Producers) Swedish House Mafia hadn't really done a lot of songs with vocal artists. I felt privileged to be able to work with them. I think a lot of people will relate to 'Looking for Myself.' People question, 'Would I be better if I found someone to relate to, or do I just need to get to know myself better?
''I Care for You' - that song is my heart. Saying 'I care for you' is like saying 'I love you' without saying those words. I think those can be dangerous words so I had to find a creative way to say it without saying it. 'I love you' can be scary, it can be dangerous.'
Q: What can fans expect from your June 11 show?
A: 'Performing over the last few years, I notice that people almost don't even watch the show anymore. They're on their phones - texting, tweeting or recording.
'We wanted to make this interactive for the fans so, they'll be able to create their own avatar and have it dance on screen with me. It's something that Hamish (Hamilton), and my entire team felt would be very unique. Fans can tweet while I'm on stage. I'll be able to interact with them - I may comment on tweets that come through.'
Usher's 'American Express Unstaged' concert will stream live on Monday June 11 at 4:00 p.m. EDT at www.youtube.com/UsherVEVO.
(Reporting by Sabrina Ford; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET - MARKETING - where latest news are our top priority.
Kicking off tour, Madonna shows she's no lady (Gaga)
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Pop superstar Madonna kicked off a new world tour on Thursday wishing peace on the Middle East even as she showcased grim dance routines depicting violence and bloody gunmen among her more colorful numbers.
Madonna, 53, mixed hit songs over three decades in music with tunes from her recent album, 'MDNA,' before a packed audience, and she took a sly dig at younger diva, Lady Gaga.
'She's not me!' Madonna belted out at the end of 'Express Yourself,' which she had reworked to include a sampling of Lady Gaga's recent 'Born This Way.'
That song from Lady Gaga, who emerged on the pop music scene about four years ago and has enjoyed a huge following, was noted by many fans and critics as being very similar to Madonna's late 1980s dance club smash.
Since Lady Gaga, 26, released 'Born This Way,' there has been speculation that a generational challenge was in the works and comedians have poked fun at any imagined rivalry between the two women.
Despite occasional lighthearted touches such as a baton-twirling routine in cheerleader formation and a psychedelic homage to Indian philosophy, the dominant mood at Thursday's concert in Tel Aviv seemed more grim with a stage shrouded in black and red and costumes that often appeared ominous.
VIRGIN SACRIFICE
'Like a Virgin,' a dance tune that helped propel Madonna to stardom as risqué pop ingénue in the 1980s, was performed as a mournful cabaret with violin accompaniment. At one point, the singer was trussed up and hoisted into the air by four male dancers, then lowered onto a platform as though into a volcano - a virgin sacrifice.
For 'Gang Bang,' Madonna wrestled with armed intruders whom she then dispatched with a pistol - their 'blood' spattering across an enormous video backdrop. In a routine for 'Revolver', she wielded a Kalashnikov rifle, used by many modern-day insurgents, while one of her dancers favored an Israeli Uzi.
The exertions never sapped her confident singing, though she did become somewhat breathless during remarks to the audience at Ramat Gan stadium on Tel Aviv's outskirts.
'I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason. As you know, the Middle East and all the conflicts that have been occurring here for thousands of years - they have to stop,' she said to cheers.
A devotee of Jewish mysticism, Madonna had dubbed the first leg of her 28-country 'MDNA' tour the 'Peace Concert' and distributed free tickets to some of the Palestinians who attended from the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Among them was a woman named Yasmine, who declined to give her last name in light of Palestinian calls to boycott the Madonna concert and other cultural events in Israel. She offered a mixed assessment of the show.
'I wasn't a fan of the intro. It was too aggressive and massacre-like,' Yasmine said. 'Her (Madonna's) speech about peace and the mention of Palestine was heartfelt, though.'
Avihay Asseraf, an Israeli who dedicated a Facebook page to Madonna's visit, was more sanguine about the darker displays.
'That's how she chose to express herself this time,' he said. 'Ultimately this is a show, a spectacle, and it's all for fun.'
(Reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by BEING SINGLE AND AGING - where latest news are our top priority.
Madonna, 53, mixed hit songs over three decades in music with tunes from her recent album, 'MDNA,' before a packed audience, and she took a sly dig at younger diva, Lady Gaga.
'She's not me!' Madonna belted out at the end of 'Express Yourself,' which she had reworked to include a sampling of Lady Gaga's recent 'Born This Way.'
That song from Lady Gaga, who emerged on the pop music scene about four years ago and has enjoyed a huge following, was noted by many fans and critics as being very similar to Madonna's late 1980s dance club smash.
Since Lady Gaga, 26, released 'Born This Way,' there has been speculation that a generational challenge was in the works and comedians have poked fun at any imagined rivalry between the two women.
Despite occasional lighthearted touches such as a baton-twirling routine in cheerleader formation and a psychedelic homage to Indian philosophy, the dominant mood at Thursday's concert in Tel Aviv seemed more grim with a stage shrouded in black and red and costumes that often appeared ominous.
VIRGIN SACRIFICE
'Like a Virgin,' a dance tune that helped propel Madonna to stardom as risqué pop ingénue in the 1980s, was performed as a mournful cabaret with violin accompaniment. At one point, the singer was trussed up and hoisted into the air by four male dancers, then lowered onto a platform as though into a volcano - a virgin sacrifice.
For 'Gang Bang,' Madonna wrestled with armed intruders whom she then dispatched with a pistol - their 'blood' spattering across an enormous video backdrop. In a routine for 'Revolver', she wielded a Kalashnikov rifle, used by many modern-day insurgents, while one of her dancers favored an Israeli Uzi.
The exertions never sapped her confident singing, though she did become somewhat breathless during remarks to the audience at Ramat Gan stadium on Tel Aviv's outskirts.
'I chose to start my world tour in Israel for a very specific and important reason. As you know, the Middle East and all the conflicts that have been occurring here for thousands of years - they have to stop,' she said to cheers.
A devotee of Jewish mysticism, Madonna had dubbed the first leg of her 28-country 'MDNA' tour the 'Peace Concert' and distributed free tickets to some of the Palestinians who attended from the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Among them was a woman named Yasmine, who declined to give her last name in light of Palestinian calls to boycott the Madonna concert and other cultural events in Israel. She offered a mixed assessment of the show.
'I wasn't a fan of the intro. It was too aggressive and massacre-like,' Yasmine said. 'Her (Madonna's) speech about peace and the mention of Palestine was heartfelt, though.'
Avihay Asseraf, an Israeli who dedicated a Facebook page to Madonna's visit, was more sanguine about the darker displays.
'That's how she chose to express herself this time,' he said. 'Ultimately this is a show, a spectacle, and it's all for fun.'
(Reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
This news article is brought to you by BEING SINGLE AND AGING - where latest news are our top priority.
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