Monday, May 25, 2009

Susan Boyle in Her Second Performance





Susan Boyle, the Scottish woman who took the Internet by storm with her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables" returned to "Britain's Got Talent" Sunday night with another Broadway show tune, this time "Memory" from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats."

At the end of the show, Boyle was named a finalist, winning the "public vote" of viewers, who phoned in their picks. She'll appear in the final competition of the British reality television show on Saturday.

About 60 million people watched Boyle's original performance on YouTube, producers said.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

Kanye West to headline 'Stay In School' concert

Kanye West is set to headline a concert in his hometown of Chicago, in which he will encourage teens to stay in school until graduation.
The rapper will perform the second "Stay In School" event in honor of his mother, Dr. Donda West, who passed away in 2007 after a cosmetic surgery procedure.

The idea for the concert came from teenager David Abrams, who approached West seeking his assistance. West then decided his Kanye West Foundation (KWF) would be the sponsor, reports allhiphop.com.

The concert takes place at Chicago Theatre on June 11. Tickets are priced from $49.50, and go up to $500 for VIP tickets. They go on sale on Thursday (May 21) at Ticketmaster.

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Singing sensation Boyle gets new chance to shine

Britain's unlikely singing sensation Susan Boyle, the frumpy church volunteer who wowed the world with her angelic voice, was on Saturday voted into the next round of a TV talent show that propelled her to global fame.
The 47 year old, who lives alone with her cat Pebbles in one of Scotland's poorest regions, will now perform in a live show on Sunday, weeks after her surprising performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables" shocked judges and charmed tens of millions of people worldwide.

Boyle's performance last month on the "American Idol"-style show "Britain's Got Talent" has been viewed almost 60 million times on You Tube, and saw the shy Scot feted by celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore.

The awkward looking Boyle, who says she's never been kissed, was greeted with giggles from a skeptical audience and eye rolls from the show's famously sardonic judge Simon Cowell when she appeared in April — but startled viewers with her soaring voice.

In an update on her Twitter Web site, Moore wrote that Boyle's voice had "made me teary!"

Cowell and his fellow judges said Saturday that Boyle is among 40 performers they've selected to advance in the competition.

Bookmaker William Hill makes Boyle a runaway favorite to win the final on May 30.

"She had a tremendous reaction because of the phenomenon that is YouTube — it's now all over the world and she's coping rather well," said the singer's brother, Gerry Boyle. "But I think some of the reality is now starting to sink in."

The youngest of nine children, Boyle grew up in Blackburn, a community of 4,750 people 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Edinburgh, in Scotland — a district blighted by unemployment and crime. Boyle had learning difficulties as a child and was bullied by other children.

As an adult, she's struggled for work but had been a regular on her local karaoke circuit and performed in church choirs.

In an interview with The Associated Press at her home last month, she said the death of her mother had inspired her to enter the TV talent show. "I wanted to show her I could do something with my life," Boyle said.

Since then, she's appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and had a makeover, to tame her frizzy gray-tinged hair.

"I think she is coping very well at the moment, she is just Susan. Just as calm as you like. Just carrying on as normal," said Jackie Russell, manager of Boyle's local pub The Happy Valley Hotel, in Blackburn.

Sara Lee, a spokeswoman for "Britain's Got Talent" said that Boyle's performance on Sunday will be available almost instantly on Internet, allowing her international fans a chance to watch the singer's latest appearance.

But she refused to say what song Boyle will perform in the broadcast, which will be screened live in Britain.

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U2 - Magnificent



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Esmée Denters - Outta Here



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Anne Nesby - I Found a Place



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Jonas Brothers - Paranoid



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Patrick Watson's Piñata Shop-Rocking, Musical Mad Science



Patrick Watson is a musical mad scientist." So begins the California-born, Montreal-based musician's official bio, which I would normally dismiss out of hand as some record company-generated hype. But I've seen the seen the future of musical mad scientists and his name is Patrick Watson. Strangely enough, that's also the name of his band, although more recently they've been called Patrick Watson & the Wooden Arms. The latter part of that moniker is also the title of the combo's recently released album.Watson and his bandmates-percussionist Robbie Kruster, guitarist Mishka Stein, and multi-instrumentalist Simon Angell--have been known to turn making their albums into musical adventures. With that in mind, my friends over at Yahoo! Music thought it would be a good idea to take the musical mad scientists out of their laboratory and stick them an unfamiliar environment. Check out what happens when Watson and company were transported to a piñata shop in downtown Los Angeles and set free to experiment with a bowed saw, acoustic and electric guitars, a megaphone backpack contraption, and a bin full of beans in this performance of "Hearts In The Park," a bonus track from Wooden Arms.

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Adam Lambert -- The New King of Queen?

We already know Adam Lambert can rock eyeliner like the late Freddie Mercury, but can he front Freddie's band? The guys from Queen aren't ruling it out after their performance on the "American Idol" finale.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Queen's lead guitarist Brian May said, "It's not like we, as Queen, would rush into coalescing with another singer just like that. It isn't that easy. But I'd certainly like to work with Adam. That is one amazing instrument he has there."

He's talking about Adam's voice.

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Green Day - Go Green

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Headbangers told: Wear a neck brace or risk serious injury

Medical experts in Australia have warned that headbanging is likely to be behind a silent epidemic of head- and neck-related injuries.
Dr. Andrew McIntosh, biomedical and injury expert at the University Of New South Wales, carried out research into headbanging, and published his findings in the British Medical Journal.

McIntosh issued a stark warning to music fans who headbang.

"We identified a definite risk of mild traumatic brain injury from headbanging," he said. "We would suggest a proper public health warning, as for smoking."

The report calls for fans to wear neck braces when headbanging in order to protect themselves from injury. McIntosh also recommended listening to less intense music, reports The Herald.

"Perhaps AC/DC should play something more appropriate, such as 'Moon River,'" he joked.

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AC/DC gig draws complaints for being 'too loud'

AC/DC's gig at Munich's Olympic Stadium on Friday (May 15) drew over 100 complaints from irate residents.
According to police, some people who protested about the "overly loud" gig were as far as 12 miles away from the stadium, where the band performed to 70,000 fans.

Despite the complaints, German news website Thelocal.de reports that the gig was allowed to continue as planned and action has not been taken against the rockers.

Four people arrested at the gig for having counterfeit tickets.

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David Cook - Light On

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Bands That Need to Break Up Already


Creed is reuniting. Oh, excuse me, it's not a reunion; it's a "renewing and a rebirth," says Scott Stapp in his typical overbearing, self-important, insufferable manner.

Can you tell I'm excited? 

Seriously, does anyone need to be subjected to Creed again? Haven't we paid our dues? Didn't we retire them with the Bush Administration? Creed is like Dick Cheney. They don't know when it's time to say good-bye. I don't need Scott Stapp bringing down my summer just as I'm getting all exited about the Jonas Brothers tour.

Only one good thing could possibly come from a Creed reunion: they can provide a reality check for all the other bands that need to break up. Now. For good. For real. And forever. There are WAY too many bands that have overstayed their welcome and need to be shown the door. Allow me to direct you.

 

GALLERY: Say goodbye to all of the bands that need to break up.

 


THE ROLLING STONES
"The greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world" is now just the oldest. Bassist Bill Wyman got smart in 1992 and bailed. The rest should have gotten the same clue. Instead, we're left with "Voodoo Lounge," "Bridges to Babylon," and 17 years of mediocrity that threaten to trample three previous decades of rock genius. 

 

 

 

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH
One could argue that it's more important for some bands to never form at all instead of break up. No argument here. Anyway, lead singer Darius Rucker seems more concerned with his "Who am I now?" solo projects these days (he's currently a country musician after trying to be an urban artist). I'll gladly take a Hootie solo record if it means seeing the Blowfish disappear.

 

 

 

REO SPEEDWAGON
REO represents an entire stable of '80s acts that are milking the retro cow for all she's worth. They lost their record deal at the end of the '90s and have spent the last decade touring the oldies circuit. Feels like it's time to pack it up. 

 

 

 

THE FIXX
I know what you're saying: "The Fixx are still together?" Yup. The '80s group that brought us "Red Skies" (loved that record, I admit it) is touring somewhere near you and is "currently in the studio," which is code for "Does anyone want us to make another record?" Nope.

 

 

 

STYX
You can find Styx playing "Mr. Roboto" on a double-bill with REO Speeedwagon.  Seriously, they're on tour. There's one reason these guys should stop: Dennis DeYoung, their original lead singer, who split in the '90s due to an illness that left him light-sensitive (no one digs a concert without lights). Styx continued with a replacement. Lame. That's like Queen continuing without Freddie Mercury. Wait a minute...

 

 

 

METALLICA
Yeah, I said it. Metallica needs to quit. I don't know the first thing about them. I don't dig metal. I do agree that their last album sounded a bit distorted. Still, they look silly thrashing with their receding hairlines and hair plugs. A metal band needs to leave on top while they're young, rocking, and aren't likely to pinch a nerve from head-banging. It's a rule written somewhere.

 

 

 

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Duane Allman's dead. Dickey's kicked out of the band. At the very least, they should change their name. How about "Southern Rock Band No. 256?"

 

 

 

THE B-52's
I love 'em. "Rock Lobster" will get me on the dance floor every time. But it's kinda creepy seeing them do the wild thing now. Admit it, would you leave your kid alone with Fred Schneider? 

 

 

 

THE BEACH BOYS
These guys have pissed all over Brian Wilson's good name and musical genius for more than 20 years with court battles, appearances on "Baywatch" and lame excuses for songs like "Kokomo." It's just a disgrace. They should finally do the right thing and retire so we can be left in peace with our copies of "Pet Sounds."

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Maximo Park - The Kids Are Sick Again

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What Are You Dylan In My House

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Hey You!

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