Panos Music

Ronan Keating will miss Stephen Gately

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Ronan Keating says Christmas will not be the same without Stephen Gately.

The Boyzone singer admits the group’s traditional festive get-together on Boxing Day (26.12.09) will be strange without the late star, who died of natural causes aged 33 in October.

Ronan said: "It's going to be hard, because we always saw each other at some point over the Christmas holidays. It's going to be tough not having him around.

'The only way to get through this is to look after each other. ... (read more)
We’re always on the phone to each other, we go for dinner and make sure we keep our minds occupied.'

Despite the tragedy, the singer is trying to learn from it and appreciating everything he has.

He added: 'Stephen's death has put everything into perspective and taught me that life is short and fragile. You have to smile every day, laugh every day and tell your loved ones that you love them every day because you never know what's round the corner."

Stephen died of natural causes after a night out with his husband Andrew Cowles in Majorca.
src: music-news.com

Britney Spears’ conservatorship has been extended

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:30:00 +0000

The 'Toxic’ singer’s father Jamie Spears - who was made co-conservator of her personal and professional affairs after her public breakdown in 2008 - will remain in control of her life, a judge has ruled.

Although it is not known how long the conservatorship will remain in place, lawyers involved in the case expect it to last between six and 12 months.

Under the ruling, Britney will pay Jamie $16,000-a-month, while his co-conservator, lawyer Andrew Wallet, received $174,569.10 for his services between July 2009 and November 2009... (read more)

Earlier this month, it was reported the mother-of-two’s conservatorship could end.

Jamie had met with lawyers and wanted a judge to review the conditions of the agreement following the conclusion of Britney's 'Circus' tour.

It had previously been claimed Britney feels "completely out of it" because her father is so controlling.

A source said: "She is so out of it she just doesn't care anymore. She just does what she's told and is totally in her world.

"She'll even call people at all hours of night for a general conversation and acts like it's the middle of the day or something."
src: music-news.com

Jennifer Lopez talks of proving herself

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez felt she had 'graduated' as a singer when she performed at husband Marc Anthony’s 40th birthday party.

The 'Love Don’t Cost A Thing’ hitmaker admits she was nervous about dedicating Barbra Streisand song 'My Man’ to Marc but knew she needed to do it to prove her credentials.

She said: 'I sang a song for Marc’s birthday, for his 40th birthday, called 'My Man,’ which is an old Barbra Streisand song from... (read more)
'Funny Girl’. When I sang it, you know, she’s so my idol. I was like, 'I cannot believe I am trying to sing a Barbra Streisand song, this is insane! What are you thinking?!’ But I sang and it was almost like I had graduated, you know what I mean? But I needed to get to that point.

'I sang and he was like, you know the tears in his eyes. And we were both like, 'What was that?’ I was like, finally, I am a singer. This is what I do. I don’t ever have to doubt that in my mind, nobody can ever make me doubt it again.'

Jennifer also revealed she plans to take her 22-month-old twins, Max and Emme, with her when she tours next year.

She told US TV show 'Access Hollywood’: 'They are going to have to go with me. Sometimes we have them in studio, sometimes I’m just like, 'Let me go in really quick and get back home really quick, but it’s always with them in mind.

'For anybody who has children, you know, your priorities change as a mom. You just have to, always work everything around their happiness, and their well being.'
src: music-news.com

Enrique Iglesias - Sad Eyes (Official Music Video) Adult Version

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Beyonce nominated for 10 Grammy awards

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:53:00 +0000

The 'Halo’ singer and Taylor Swift – who has been recognised in eight categories – were revealed as the most nominated artists at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live! yesterday (02.12.09), with both stars up for the coveted Record, Song and Album of the Year prizes.

Kanye West, soul singer Maxwell and 'I Gotta Feeling’ stars Black Eyed Peas all received six nominations, while Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z, French DJ David Guetta and 'Poker Face’ star Lady Gaga are up for five awards.

Joining Beyone and Taylor in the biggest three categories is Lady Gaga, for her album 'The Fame’ and single 'Poker Face’, (read more)
while Black Eyed Peas were nominated for Album of the Year for 'The E.N.D.’ and Record of the year for 'I Gotta Feeling’, while Kings of Leon made the list for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, both for 'Use Somebody’.

Dave Matthews Band’s 'Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King’ was the final nomination for Album of the Year, while the Song of the Year nominations was rounded off by Maxwell with 'Pretty Wings’.

Performers at last night’s nominations concert, which was held at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia, included Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell – who played a rendition of the late Michael Jackson’s song 'The Lady in My Life’ and Jonas Brothers star Nick Jonas, who was making his debut with side project The Administration.

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will take place on January 31 in Los Angeles.

Main list of Grammy Award nominations:

Album of the Year:
'I Am,Sasha Fierce’, Beyonce Knowles
'The E.N.D.’, The Black Eyed Peas
'The Fame’, Lady Gaga
'Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King’, Dave Matthews Band
'Fearless’, Taylor Swift

Record of the Year:
'Halo’, Beyonc Knowles
'I Gotta Feeling’, The Black Eyed Peas
'Use Somebody’, Kings Of Leon
'Poker Face’, Lady Gaga
'You Belong With Me’, Taylor Swift

Song of the Year:
'Poker Face’, Lady Gaga
'Pretty Wings’, Maxwell
'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)’, Beyonce Knowles
'Use Somebody’, Kings Of Leon
'You Belong With Me’, Taylor Swift

Best New Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings

Best Female Vocal Pop Performance:
'Hometown Glory’, Adele
'Halo’, Beyonce Knowles
'Hot N Cold’, Katy Perry
'Sober’, Pink
'You Belong With Me’, Taylor Swift

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
'This Time’, John Legend'
'Love You’, Maxwell
'Make It Mine’, Jason Mraz
'If You Don't Know Me By Now’, Seal
'All About the Love Again’, Stevie Wonder

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
'Sea of Heartbreak’, Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen
'Love Sex Magic’, Ciara and Justin Timberlake
'Lucky’, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
'Baby, It's Cold Outside’, Willie Nelson and Norah Jones
'Breathe’, Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat

Best Pop Vocal Album:
'The E.N.D.' the Black Eyed Peas
'Breakthrough’, Colbie Caillat
'All I Ever Wanted’,Kelly Clarkson
'The Fray’, The Fray
'Funhouse’, Pink

Best Dance Recording:
'Boom Boom Pow’, The Black Eyed Peas
'When Love Takes Over’, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland
'Poker Face’, Lady Gaga
'Celebration’, Madonna
'Womanizer’, Britney Spears

Best Electronic/Dance Album:
'Divided By Night’, The Crystal Method
'One Love’, David Guetta
'The Fame’, Lady Gaga
'Party Rock’, LMFAO
'Yes’, Pet Shop Boys

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
'A Swingin' Christmas’, Tony Bennett
'Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden’, Michael Buble
'Your Songs’, Harry Connick, Jr.'
'Liza's at the Palace’, Liza Minnelli
'American Classic’, Willie Nelson

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance:
'Beyond Here Lies Nothin'', Bob Dylan
'Change in the Weather’, John Fogerty
'Dreamer’, Prince
'Working on a Dream’, Bruce Springsteen
'Fork in the Road’, Neil Young

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
'Can't Find My Way Home’, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
'Life In Technicolor II’, Coldplay'
'21 Guns’, Green Day
'Use Somebody’, Kings of Leon
'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight’, U2

Best Hard Rock Performance:
'War Machine’, AC/DC
'Check My Brain’, Alice in Chains
'What I've Done’, Linkin Park
'The Unforgiven III’, Metallica
'Burn It to the Ground’, Nickelback

Best Metal Performance:
'Dissident Aggressor’, Judas Priest
'Set to Fail’, Lamb of God
'Head Crusher’, Megadeth
'Senor Peligro’, Ministry
'Hate Worldwide’, Slayer

Best Rock Instrumental Performance:
'A Day in the Life’, Jeff Beck
'Warped Sister’, Booker T. Jones
'Playing With Fire’, Brad Paisley
'Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin'', Brian Setzer Orchestra
'Now We Run’, Steve Vai

Best Rock Song:
'The Fixer’, Pearl Jam
'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight’, U2
'21 Guns’, Green Day
'Use Somebody’, Kings of Leon
'Working on a Dream’, Bruce Springsteen,

Best Rock Album:
'Black Ice’, AC/DC
'Live From Madison Square Garden’, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
'21st Century Breakdown’, Green Day
'Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King’, Dave Matthews Band
'No Line on the Horizon’, U2

Best Alternative Music Album:
'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today’, David Byrne and Brian Eno
'The Open Door’, Death Cab For Cutie
'Sounds of the Universe’, Depeche Mode
'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’, Phoenix
'It's Blitz!' Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Best Female R’n’B Vocal Performance:
'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)' Beyonce Knowles
'It Kills Me’, Melanie Fiona
'That Was Then’, Lalah Hathaway
'Goin' Thru Changes’, Ledisi
'Lions, Tigers and Bears’, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R’n’B Vocal Performance:
'The Point Of It All’, Anthony Hamilton
'Pretty Wings’, Maxwell
'Sobeautiful’, Musiq Soulchild
'Under’, Pleasure P
'There Goes My Baby’, Charlie Wilson

Best R’n’B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
'Blame It’, Jamie Foxx and T-Pain
'Chocolate High’, India.Arie and Musiq Soulchild
'Ifuleave’, Musiq Soulchild and Mary J. Blige
'Higher Ground’, Robert Randolph and The Clark Sisters
'Love Has Finally Come At Last’, Calvin Richardson and Ann Nesby

Best Traditional R’n’B Vocal Performance:
'At Last’, Beyonce Knowles
'Soul Music’, Anthony Hamilton
'Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight’, Boney James and Quinn
'Sow Love’, Ann Nesby
'Woman Gotta Have It’, Calvin Richardson

Best R’n’B Song:
'Blame It’, Jamie Foxx and T-Pain
'Lions, Tigers and Bears', Jazmine Sullivan
'Pretty Wings’, Maxwell
'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)', Beyonce Knowles
'Under’, Pleasure P

Best R’n’B Album:
'The Point Of It All’, Anthony Hamilton
'Testimony: Vol. 2, Love and Politics’, India.Arie
'Turn Me Loose’, Ledisi
'Blacksummers' Night’, Maxwell
'Uncle Charlie’, Charlie Wilson

Best Contemporary R’n’B Album
'I Am... Sasha Fierce’, Beyonce Knowles
'Intuition’, Jamie Foxx
'The Introduction Of Marcus Cooper’, Pleasure P
'Ready’, Trey Songz
'Thr33 Ringz’, T-Pain

Best Rap Solo Performance:
'Best I Ever Had’, Drake
'Beautiful’, Eminem
'D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)’, Jay-Z
'Day 'N' Nite’, Kid Cudi
'Casa Bey’, Mos Def

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:
'Too Many Rappers’, Beastie Boys and Nas
'Crack A Bottle’, Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
'Money Goes, Honey Stay’, Fabolous and Jay-Z
'Make Her Say’, Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Common
'Amazing’, Kanye West and Young Jeezy

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
'Ego’, Beyonce Knowles and Kanye West
'Knock You Down’, Keri Hilson, Kanye West and Ne-Yo
'Run This Town’, Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West
'I'm On A Boat’, The Lonely Island and T-Pain
'Dead And Gone’, T.I. and Justin Timberlake

Best Rap Song:
'Best I Ever Had’, Kid Cudi
'Dead And Gone’, T.I. and Justin Timberlake
'D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)’, Jay-Z
'Run This Town’, Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Best Rap Album:
'Universal Mind Control’, Common
'Relapse’, Eminem
'R.O.O.T.S.' Flo Rida
'The Ecstatic’, Mos Def
'The Renaissance’, Q-Tip

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
'Dead Flowers’, Miranda Lambert
'I Just Call You Mine’, Martina McBride
'White Horse’, Taylor Swift
'Just A Dream’, Carrie Underwood
'Solitary Thinkin'', Lee Ann Womack

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
'All I Ask For Anymore’, Trace Adkins
'People Are Crazy’, Billy Currington
'High Cost Of Living’, Jamey Johnson
'Living For The Night’, George Strait
'Sweet Thing’, Keith Urban

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
'Cowgirls Don't Cry’, Brooks and Dunn
'Chicken Fried’, Zac Brown Band
'I Run To You’, Lady Antebellum
'Here Comes Goodbye’, Rascal Flatts
'It Happens’, Sugarland

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
'Beautiful World’, Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin
'Down The Road’, Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally
'Start A Band’, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
'I Told You So’, Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis
'Everything But Quits’, Lee Ann Womack and George Strait

Best Country Song:
'All I Ask For Anymore’, Trace Adkins
'High Cost Of Living’, Jamey Johnson
'I Run To You’, Lady Antebellum
'People Are Crazy’, Billy Currington
'White Horse’, Taylor Swift

Best Country Album:
'The Foundation’, Zac Brown Band
'Twang’, George Strait
'Fearless’, Taylor Swift
'Defying Gravity’, Keith Urban
'Call Me Crazy’, Lee Ann Womack

Jennifer Lopez (Lola) feat. Pitbull - Fresh Out the Oven [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +0000

Single Review: Groove Armada - I Won't Kneel

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Andy Cato and Tom Findlay funkmaster fingertips recreate and continue to stylishly evolve with Groove Armada’s stunning new release 'I Won’t Kneel’. Collaborating with female input from SaintSaviour, whose distinct vocal sound is slightly reminiscent of a young Kate Bush.

The track is crafted to create a unique new sound which GA look like they are developing - progressing for future productions? SaintSaviour’s sparkling melodies gives the track an artic presence - the ideal match to compliment the keyboard... (read more)

grooves Cato/Findlay lay down..

Bloody Beetroots remix adds a harmonious, lighter take to GA’s track, Joe & Will remix adds heavier basslines, a twist of industrial..No Brainer & Mouj chilled, dance version remix..

Whatever your genre – GA’s latest offering to the turntable is what keeps this creative duo there - with their 'third eye’ never off the game,.

SRC: music-news.com
release date: 23 Nov 2009
label: Cooking Vinyl/Work It
reviewer: Amanda Hall-Davis

Janet Jackson "Make Me" [official full-length premiere]

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:43:00 +0000

Three 6 Mafia ft. Tiësto, Flo Rida & Sean Kingston - Feel It [Official Video]

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +0000

AQUA - My Mamma Said (ORIGINAL VIDEO) Brand New

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:23:00 +0000

The Ting Tings and Jay-Z to collaborate

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:05:00 +0000

The Ting Tings are to work with Jay-Z on their new album.

The 'That’s Not My Name’ duo have signed to the rap superstar’s record label, Roc Nation, in the US and he is reportedly set to give their career a huge boost by helping with them on their second album.

A source told Britain’s Daily Star newspaper: 'Jay is hoping to lend his production skills to some of the new material.
(read more)
'The Staccato rhythmic style of The Ting Tings sits well with what he does best, so that was the attraction.

'Jay can make them one of the biggest British bands in America.'

While the duo are thrilled with their deal, they are unlikely to be happy with the amount of time they will have to spend in America.

The group – made up of singer and guitarist Katie White and drummer and programmer Jules de Martino - recently said despite their huge success, they have been homesick since they started touring the world in support of their debut album 'We Started Nothing' in May 2008.

Katie said: "We've seen the world. God, we've seen it about five times. We were even flying over Siberia the other day, from the aeroplane there was just not one sign of life, not one tree, nothing. It was amazing.

"Japan, Hong Kong were great. America's good, we do long tours there and you know, there's some amazing cities there, but you're driving for so long just to get to the next city."

Jay-Z has also signed British girl group Sugababes to Roc Nation in the US.
src: music-news

Single Review: Leona Lewis - Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:58:00 +0000

It's nearly 2 years now since Leona won X-Factor and since then has been number one in 35 countries, so proves she is certainly no flash-in-the-pan TV winner (Leon, Steve Bernstein, Michelle McManus, etc).

This track is the first to be taken from her forthcoming second album (Echo) and tells the tale of everyone wanting to be happy with their life but always striving for something else. It is a great track to again showpiece Leona's amazing vocal capabilities. The dark message is to some extent countered by the vocal range and power Leona delivers... (read more)

This is another strong track, and having heard the album, there is plenty more to come when 'Echo' is released.

release date: 9 Nov 2009
label: Sony / Syco
reviewer: Adrian
src: music-news

Janet Jackson To Release 'Number Ones' Album, Book

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:23:00 +0000

A new Janet Jackson greatest hits album titled "Number Ones" is due out Nov. 17 in the U.S. on A&M/UMe. Outside of America, it will be titled "Janet Jackson: The Best," and street on Nov. 23. The 34 track collection includes 33 of Jackson's hits plus one new track titled "Make Me," produced by Jackson and Rodney Jerkins... (read more)

30 of the album's 34 songs reached No. 1 on either Billboard's Hot 100, R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Dance/Club Play Songs or Adult Contemporary charts. It includes all 10 of her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s singles and her 16 toppers on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

According to A&M/UMe, Jackson has sold 65 million albums worldwide. "Number Ones" will be the singer's second best-of package in the U.S., following 1995's "Design of a Decade 1986/1996." That effort peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and has sold 2.4 million copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jackson is also currently at work on her 11th studio album, which is due out in 2010. Next year will also see the release of Jackson's first book, which, according to a press release, will provide "an intimate look at her life and how she has dealt with issues of self-esteem" and will "reveal aspects not known before about her uniquely successful career in music, television and films."

Here is the tracklist for Janet Jackson's "Number Ones:"

DISC 1
1. What Have You Done For Me Lately
2. Nasty
3. When I Think Of You
4. Control
5. Let's Wait Awhile [Single Remix Version]
6. The Pleasure Principle
7. Diamonds - HERB ALPERT with JANET JACKSON
8. Miss You Much
9. Rhythm Nation
10. Escapade
11. Alright [7" Video Version w/Rap]
12. Come Back To Me
13. Black Cat [Video Mix/Short Solo Single Version]
14. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
15. The Best Things In Life Are Free- LUTHER VANDROSS
and JANET JACKSON with special guests BBD and RALPH TRESVANT
16. That's The Way Love Goes

DISC 2
1. If
2. Again
3. Because Of Love
4. Any Time, Any Place
5. Scream - MICHAEL JACKSON & JANET JACKSON
6. Runaway
7. Got 'Til It's Gone - Featuring Q-TIP and JONI MITCHELL
8. Together Again
9. I Get Lonely - JANET featuring BLACKSTREET
10. Go Deep
11. What's It Gonna Be?! - BUSTA RHYMES featuring JANET
12. Doesn't Really Matter
13. All For You Video [Single Mix]
14. Someone To Call My Lover
15. All Nite (Don't Stop)
16. Call On Me - JANET with NELLY
17. Feedback
18. Make Me
src: billboard

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Brand New)

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:44:00 +0000

Beyoncé Sets Date for Deluxe Album & DVD, Lady Gaga Duet Video to Premiere

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:32:00 +0000

Beyoncé will celebrate the one-year anniversary of her third effort I Am… Sasha Fierce by releasing a deluxe edition of her multi-platinum album, a live CD/DVD, and a new video featuring Lady Gaga.

MTV will exclusively world premiere Beyoncé and Lady Gaga’s “Video Phone” video on-air and online on Thursday, November 5. “Video Phone” will premiere in the U.S. on MTV and MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. EST, while MTV channe
ls worldwide will debut the music video in... (read more)
162 countries following the airing of the MTV Europe Music Awards from Berlin where Beyoncé is scheduled to perform.

Coincidentally, Lady Gaga will re-release her own album The Fame on November 23, boasting another collaboration with Beyoncé titled “Telephone.”
src: rap-up.com
img src: sony music

Artist of the month: Natalie Merchant

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:28:00 +0000

Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, New York, USA) is a professional musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993. Merchant has a contralto vocal range.

Merchant's first solo album, Tigerlily
Merchant has said in interviews that after her split with 10,000 Maniacs she was so eager to begin writing her own material that she went home that very day and composed the song “I May Know The Word,” which was originally meant to appear on the soundtrack to the... (read more)
Tom Hanks movie, Philadelphia. The song was eventually cut from the soundtrack, but it would go on to appear on Merchant’s debut solo album, Tigerlily, which was released on the Elektra label in 1995. Merchant chose to name the album Tigerlily as she felt it captured the feel of the album, which she described as both “fierce” and “delicate.”

Seeking creative control, Merchant chose to fund Tigerlily herself, refusing the advance from the record company. She also wanted to work with a core-group of young musicians who she felt would be enthusiastic about the music. The group would consist of guitarist Jennifer Turner, bassist Barrie McGuire, and former-Wallflower and eventual boyfriend to Merchant, Peter Yanowitz, who played drums on the album and who continued to do so with Merchant until their abrupt split in 2000.

Tigerlily was a critical and commercial success, spawning her first top-ten hit in the single "Carnival", and achieving top-forty success with subsequent singles "Wonder" and "Jealousy". The album would go on to sell over 5 million copies, and continues to be Merchant’s most successful album to date. Merchant did extensive touring for the album and made numerous television appearances, including performances on SNL, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and all late-night talk shows. The media's immediate and critical impact on culture and cultural icons was of particular interest to Merchant. In "River", a song from Tigerlily, Merchant defends River Phoenix as she castigates the media for systematically dissecting the child actor after his death. Much of their emphasis was on Phoenix' suspected drug-using lifestyle. In "River," Merchant asks, “Why don’t you let him be / Give his mother and father peace.” Merchant’s anger is later replaced with quiet reflection, asking, “It was such a nightmare raving, ‘How could we save him from himself?’

Ophelia 1998-1999
Three years passed before Merchant would release her sophomore solo effort, Ophelia. While Tigerlily contained a lot of sparse instrumentation, the music on Ophelia featured plenty of lush symphonic arrangements composed and conducted by British composer Gavin Bryers. Merchant treated the recording of Ophelia as a series of workshops, where she would invite various musicians she had met over the years into her home studio to collaborate and record. In the end, 30 different musicians featured on the album, among them Brand New Heavies frontwoman N'Dea Davenport (with whom she duets on the song Break Your Heart), famed trumpet player Chris Botti, and the husband and wife duo, Don and Karen Perris, from the band The Innocence Mission.

While Ophelia is not a concept record in the traditional sense, the album-cycle saw Merchant flexing her creative muscles in surprising ways. The name of the album and the title track are a literary reference to Shakespeare's Ophelia, who in the play Hamlet becomes mad and eventually commits suicide. Merchant's Ophelia describes a woman who is also mad and suffering from what appears to be Multiple-Personality Disorder. Ophelia is described as being at once a "novice carmelite," a "suffragette," a "circus queen," a "demigoddess" and a "mafia courtesan." The album sleeve saw Merchant pictured in colorful and ornate costumes as each of these different characters. As a companion to the album, she also released a film where she portrays each of these different characters, with voice-overs used for the "novice carmelite," the "sweetheart" and the "courtesan" as they are Latin, German and Italian, respectively.

The first single of the album was a happy and uncharacteristically simple song called "Kind and Generous", which received massive airplay on VH1 and which solidified Merchant's role as a bona fide solo artist. That summer, Sarah Maclachlan invited Merchant to co-headline the year's biggest music festival with her, Lilith Fair. The exposure from the tour helped the album reach Platinum status in just under a year, with subsequent singles "Break Your Heart" and "Life is Sweet" receiving moderate airplay on adult contemporary stations. No video was filmed for the latter, however, with a clip from Merchant's appearance on VH1's Storytellers being used instead. She would also go on to appear on PBS' Sessions at West 54th and VH1's Hard Rock Live before the year's end.

The Ophelia tour ended in 1999 with the final few shows being performed and recorded on Broadway. The performance would be released as the album Natalie Merchant: Live in Concert with a companion video of the same name. The performance was notable in that it featured numerous covers including songs by David Bowie, Neil Young, and Irish singer-songwriter Katell Keineg.

American Folk Music Tour 2000
In 2000, Merchant embarked on a folk tour in the states with many shows being supported by alt-country band Wilco.

Motherland 2001
Merchant's next studio album on the Elektra label was Motherland, released in 2001. Motherland saw Merchant at her most experimental musically. Motherland achieved Gold on the Billboard charts after debuting at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 and No. 13 on the Top Internet Albums of 2001, respectively. Rolling Stone favored this album with 3 1/2 stars, and also noticed a difference in Merchant's voice, which was more deep and gritty than her previous albums. Singles that were released from Motherland were Just Can't Last, Build a Levee and Tell Yourself.

Merchant vamped on a year and a half world tour to promote Motherland. The first leg of the tour started in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 17, 2001, trekking all over the United States, and then heading to Europe with some special acoustic shows in Europe. Merchant also participated in the Rock am Ring Festival and Rock im Park in 2002. In the summer of 2002, she was paired with Chris Isaak and both played at stadiums and arenas.

'The House Carpenter's Daughter' 2003
Merchant's next studio album on her own label, Myth America Records, was named "The House Carpenter's Daughter." It was released in September 2003.

Discography:

With 10,000 Maniacs
Human Conflict Number Five (1982)
Secrets of the I Ching (1983)
The Wishing Chair (1985)
In My Tribe (1987)
Blind Man's Zoo (1989)
Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983 (1990)
Our Time in Eden (1992)
MTV Unplugged (1993)
Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure and Unknown Recordings (2004)

Solo Studio Albums
Tigerlily (1995)
Ophelia (1998)
Motherland (2001)
The House Carpenter's Daughter (2003)
Untitled Project (2010)

Compilation Albums
Natalie Merchant: In Conversation (1996)
Live in Concert (1999)
Retrospective: 1995-2005 (2005)
src: wikipedia

Britney Spears- 3 Music Video

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Chris Brown - I Can Transform Ya ft. Swizz Beatz & Lil Wayne

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:51:00 +0000

The first music video for the lead single "I Can Transform Ya" by Chris Brown featuring Swizz Beatz and Lil Wayne, off of Brown's upcoming album Graffiti, due in stores December 15th, 2009

Directed by Joseph Kahn.

(read more)

Rihanna - Russian Roulette (Brand New)

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Rihanna is Back! Her new single is called "Russian Roulette", it's written and produced by Ne-Yo.
Another Great song from rihanna showing us a more mature part of her....
5/5

Listen The... (read more)

Michael Buble’s girlfriend thought he was gay

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:30:00 +0000

Michael Buble’s girlfriend thought he was gay.

The Canadian crooner says he was so intimidated when he first met Argentian actress Luisana Lopilato at one of his concerts last November that he spent the night talking to her male friend instead.

He told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: 'I don’t speak Spanish and she had no English. But the guy did so I just spoke to him. I was a bit nervous because of how... (read more)
beautiful she was.

'I later found out she was on the phone to her mother the whole time saying, 'Buble’s gay. He’s hitting on my friend’.'

After finding out that Luisana was single, Michael, 34, asked her out and the couple have been together ever since – much to the unhappiness of the 22-year-old beauty’s devotees.

Michael admitted: 'I get the feeling some people - perhaps her fans - don’t like me. The media there have said terrible things about me.'

The actor - who broke up with 'The Young Victoria’ actress Emily Blunt in 2008 amid rumours of his infidelity - had previously said he found it difficult dating other performers.

He said: 'You’re never together. You're lucky if you can see the person once every two to three months.'
src: music-news.com

Leona Lewis had a crush on Justin Timberlake

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:21:00 +0000

Leona Lewis had a crush on Justin Timberlake.

The British singer has confessed she was attracted to the 'SexyBack’ star for a long time, but her crush went away once she met him.

Leona – who worked with Justin on new track 'Don't Let Me Down’, which appears on her upcoming album 'Echo’ – said: 'I had a big thing for Justin before I worked with him, but I lose my crush when I meet people. Which is probably good news... (read more)
for my boyfriend Lou!'

The 24-year-old pop star – who is in a long-term relationship with Lou Al-Chamaa – has also revealed she turned down the chance to kiss 'Gossip Girl’ heartthrob Chace Crawford in the video for her single 'I Will Be’.

She said in an interview with the latest edition of Sugar magazine: 'They wanted me and Chace to kiss in the 'I Will Be’ video. But I said no way. I’d just have been too embarrassed, he’s my friend! He’s so beautiful, I mean, look at him - he could be a girl. He’d be a really pretty girl. But I just don’t think of him like that. And it wouldn’t be fair to Lou to kiss other guys.'
src: music-news.com

Britney Spears - The Singles Collection: Edition Details

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:50:00 +0000

BRITNEY SPEARS:THE SINGLES COLLECTIONSINGLE PHYSICAL CD
RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2009
UK & Europe Only: November 24, 2009

(read more)

1. 3
2. ...Baby One More Time (...read more)
3. (You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)
4. Born To Make You Happy
5. Oops!...I Did It Again
6. Stronger
7. I'm A Slave 4U
8. Boys (The Co-Ed remix feat. Pharrell Williams)
9. Me Against The Music (feat. Madonna)
10. Toxic
11. Everytime
12. Gimme More
13. Piece Of Me
14. Womanizer
15. Circus
16. If U Seek Amy
17. Radar

INTERNATIONAL ONLY CD + DVD
RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2009
UK & Europe Only: November 24, 2009

1. 3
2. ...Baby One More Time
3. (You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)
4. Born To Make You Happy
5. Oops!...I Did It Again
6. Stronger
7. I'm A Slave 4U
8. I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
9. Boys (The Co-Ed remix feat. Pharrell Williams)
10. Me Against The Music (feat. Madonna)
11. Toxic
12. Everytime
13. Gimme More
14. Piece Of Me
15. Womanizer
16. Circus
17. If U Seek Amy
18. Radar

BOX + DVD (Ultimate Fan Collection)
RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2009

Also include 32 page color booklet

SINGLE: ...Baby One More Time
B SIDE: Autumn Goodbye

SINGLE: Sometimes
B SIDE: I'm So Curious

SINGLE: (You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)
B SIDE: I'll Never Stop Loving You

SINGLE: Born To Make You Happy
REMIX: Kristian Lundin Bonus Remix

SINGLE: From the Bottom of My Broken Heart
B SIDE: Thinkin' About You

SINGLE: Oops!...I Did It Again
B SIDE: Deep In My Heart

SINGLE: Lucky
B SIDE: Heart

SINGLE: Stronger
B SIDE: Walk On By

SINGLE: Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know
REMIX: Hex Hector Radio Mix

SINGLE: I'm A Slave 4 U
B SIDE: Intimidated

SINGLE: Overprotected
REMIX: Overprotected (The Darkchild Remix)

SINGLE: I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman
B SIDE: I Run Away

SINGLE: I Love Rock 'N' Roll
B SIDE: I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman - Metro Remix

SINGLE: Boys, The Co-Ed Remix featuring Pharrell Williams
B SIDE: Boys (Album Version)

SINGLE: Me Against the Music featuring Madonna
REMIX: Passengerz vs. The Club Remix

SINGLE: Toxic
REMIX: Bloodshy & Avant's Intoxicated Remix

SINGLE: Everytime
REMIX: Above & Beyond Club Mix

SINGLE: Outrageous
REMIX: Junkie XL's Dancehall Mix

SINGLE: My Prerogative
REMIX: Armand Van Helden Remix

SINGLE: Do Somethin'
REMIX: Thick Vocal Mix

SINGLE: Someday (I Will Understand)
B SIDE: Mona Lisa

SINGLE: Gimme More
REMIX: Paul Oakenfold Remix

SINGLE: Piece of Me
REMIX: Bloodshy & Avant's Boz O lo Remix

SINGLE: Break The Ice
B SIDE: Everybody

SINGLE: Womanizer
REMIX: Kaskade Remix

SINGLE: Circus
REMIX: Tom Neville's Ring Leader Mix

SINGLE: If U Seek Amy
REMIX: Crookers Remix

SINGLE: Radar
REMIX: Bloodshy & Avant Remix

SINGLE: 3
REMIX: Groove Police Club Mix

DVD:
1. ...Baby One More Time
2. Somtimes
3. (You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)
4. Born To Make You Happy
5. From the Bottom of My Broken Heart
6. Oops!...I Did It Again
7. Lucky
8. Stronger
9. Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know
10. I'm A Slave 4U
11. Overprotected (The Darkchild Remix)
12. I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet a Woman
13. I Love Rock 'N' Roll
14. Me Against The Music (feat. Madonna)
15. Toxic
16. Everytime
17. My Prerogative
18. Do Somethin'
19. Someday (I Will Understand)
20. Gimme More
21. Piece Of Me
22. Break the Ice
23. Womanizer
24. Circus
25. If U Seek Amy
26. Radar

Digital Standard Version (Global)
US RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2009
MX/AU/NZ/CA: November 9th
UK/Europe: November 23rd

Note: iTunes will be the only retailer in the US with the 18 track version

1. 3
2. ...Baby One More Time
3. (You Drive Me) Crazy (The Stop Remix)
4. Born To Make You Happy
5. Oops!...I Did It Again
6. Stronger
7. I'm A Slave 4 U
8. I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman *Note - not featured on the US single disc physical edition
9. Boys (The Co-Ed remix feat. Pharrell Williams)
10. Me Against The Music (feat. Madonna)
11. Toxic
12. Everytime
13. Gimme More
14. Piece Of Me
15. Womanizer
16. Circus
17. If U Seek Amy
18. Radar

Digital Deluxe Version (Global)
US RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2009
MX/AU/NZ/CA: November 9th
UK/Europe: November 23rd

58 tracks - Same track listing as the Box but will NOT include videos

Digital 45's (Global)
US RELEASE DATE: November 10, 2009
MX/AU/NZ/CA: November 9th
UK/Europe: November 23rd

29 Digital 45's (Same paired grouping as the box)

D2C Version - Britney.Com Exclusive Edition

Physical box which will include
• 58 tracks + DVD
• PLUS "3" video

Placebo free tour bundle download

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Having already toured numerous countries across the globe including Mexico, Japan and Thailand, Placebo are ready to head out on their winter 2009 tour, where they will play to over 300,000 people across Europe.

To get fans buzzing for the dates, Placebo have put together a free Tour Bundle download which features tracks from all the support bands coming along on the various dates as well as a live version of 'Breathe Underwater' performed live by Placebo at... (read more)
this year’s Pukkelpop.

The bundle not only features the free tracks, but also offers a PDF booklet which gives fans an introduction to every band appearing on the tour and promises to get excitement levels brimming before what promises to be a tour of epic proportions.

Such an original offer shows Placebo never do things by half and it is this forward thinking which has seen their legion of fans queuing time and again to see the live show.

To get your free Tour Bundle simply go to: http://tourbundle.placeboworld.co.uk

The tracklisting is:

1. PLACEBO - 'Breathe Underwater’ (Live At Pukkelpop Festival 2009)
2. EXPATRIATE - 'Get Out, Give In’
3. SILVERSUN PICKUPS - 'Panic Switch (Recorded live for KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic")
4. THE HORRORS - 'Sea Within A Sea’
5. UNITED - 'For What I Feel’ (Live At Debaser)

The tour dates are:

Tuesday 8th - Birmingham LG Arena
Wednesday 9th - London The O2
Friday 11th - Bridlington Spa
Saturday 12th - Manchester Central
Monday 14th - Glasgow SECC
Tuesday 15th - Dublin Olympia Theatre
Wednesday 16th - Dublin Olympia Theatre
src: music-news.com

Single Review: Massive Attack - Splitting The Atom EP

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Like much Massive Attack material gone before the Splitting the Atom EP takes it's time to establish itself in the mind of the listener, but if time is what it takes, time must be given, for with patience this EP reveals itself as a truly brilliant piece of work. Collating trip-hop, minimalist electro and haunting beats, this 4-track from the Bristol duo is difficult to pin point, which is exactly how they like it and that only serves to provide an even more affirming listen.

The title track features long time collaborator Horace Andy along with founding members... (...read more)
Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall and is arguably the closest the EP gets to a radio friendly single. Suggesting fragments of a sleepy Blur, Gorillaz union, the song builds around enchanting vocals and hospital bleeps.

The following Pray for Rain is the highlight. Featuring TV on the Radio front man Tunde Adebimpe on vocals, his presence is evident not only vocally but in the music too, the result is a 6 minute plus stoned out nod to an essential place of being. Tunde's vocals perfectly compliment the peaceful, soothing nature of the track, which at times brings to mind Calla or Portishead. A particularly euphoric break midway through even suggests Spanish electronic kings to be Delorean.

Bulletproof Love screams Radiohead 'Amensiac' period in its muddled vocal jibes, utilising Guy Garvey of Elbow fame, amidst a back drop of looping beats and electronics. The minimalist output is the reworking effort of Van Rivers and The Subliminal Kid. While Psyche featuring Martina Topley-Bird, an expert move to switch the tone of the vocals with her introduction, is a suitable closer in the way it deflects all that has gone before. These final two tracks, essentially remixes, are intended to appear on the forthcoming album, but not in this form.

While you may be right to expect new album LP5 shortly, be sure to spend some valuable time with this first. An excellent EP.

label: Virgin Records
release date: 5 Oct 2009
reviewer: Sam Bowcher
src: music-news.com

Joel Madden denies marriage to Nicole Richie

noreply@blogger.com (Panos) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:53:00 +0000

Joel Madden has denied reports he has married Nicole Richie.

The Good Charlotte rocker – who has two children, 21-month-old Harlow and six-week-old Sparrow with the reality TV...( read more)
star – insists claims the couple wed in a secret ceremony are false.

He said on his band’s website: "I keep getting emails from old friends and family asking about a wedding. NO we didn't get married."

Last week it was claimed the pair had secretly tied the knot in an intimate service after obtaining a marriage licence.

Speculation has been growing since Nicole and Joel registered Sparrow's birth.

Nicole, 28, has previously said she was keen to wed rocker Joel, 30, following the death of her ex-fiance DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, in August.

Meanwhile, she has spoken of her joy at adding to her family and says she’s never been so content.

Nicole said: "I couldn't be happier. The only thing you want is for your kids to be healthy and happy, and they are. I'm right where I belong."
src: music-news.com