This Is It director Kenny Ortega said Michael Jackson was “excited”
Oct 30, 2009 Michael Jackson
This Is It director Kenny Ortega said Michael Jackson was “excited” to share his 50 London shows with his children.
The 50-year-old was just weeks away from starting a residency at the O2 Arena in London when he died suddenly at his LA home.
Ortega, who was working with Jackson on the shows, said that he was in great health and was excited for the shows.
Ortega revealed when Jackson first asked him to do the shows, he said to Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM: “In March, just before he made the announcement in London at the O2 [Arena] that he was, in fact, going to be doing the shows. He called me at home.”
Ortega, who directed the new This Is It movie showing Jackson preparing for the shows, also said that Jackson was “building himself” up physically for the residency.
Asked if he was in good health, he said: “Oh yeah, he was building himself up. You know, he’d come from being in less than great shape, you know. The world hadn’t been the kindest to him.
“But, you know, I think that he was excited about sharing this… sharing the concerts with his children who were now grown up and curious and old enough to appreciate what their dad did.
“He had so many reasons, you know, behind wanting to go out at this time of his life.”
Tags: Children, excited, kenny ortega, London, Michael Jackson, share, shows
Jay-Z was a pro at video games
Oct 30, 2009 Games, Jay-Z, Video
The extremely successful rapper recently brought to light that he would in the past utterly crush his nephews at video games. Sadly, Jay-Z has lost this wonderful talent, as the singer himself admits: “My nephews didn’t beat me their entire lives, until now. They can destroy me now. I would never let them win because that meant they controlled the household, so I would just beat them mercilessly.” Right, control the house, beat them mercilessly? Is Jay-Z trying to transmit something more here… is he trying to get rid of some excess guilt because a few interesting ideas certainly come to mind.
Tags: Hip Hop, Jay-Z, Nephews, Skill, Video Games
Fight Breaks Out at Akon Gig
While performing a concert in Melbourne, Australia earlier this week, Akon decided to leap into the crowd to stop a brawl that had broken out between rival gangs. The singer’s promoter talked about his heroic act, saying “One of the things people should take note on is an artist didn’t have too much concern for his own safety to go down and try and make things better. The thing that I saw, and I was standing right next to him … He walked to a girl (involved in a fight) and walked to her and held her face and said, ‘You’re better than that’.” 9 people were taken to the hospital following the fight and 6 have reported being assaulted.
Alicia Keys Album Pushed Back
Oct 29, 2009 Alicia Keys, Music
Alicia Keys recently took to her Twitter to announce that her upcoming album ‘The Element of Freedom’ is being delayed. The singer tweeted “Luv having the freedom to create beautiful music, so I’m pushing the album back to DEC 15th. So many more amazing songs!!! Pls RT.” Who is she trying to kid? Getting an album pushed back doesn’t exactly scream good news to any music fan or artist for that matter. I guess we will get some hastily put together music two weeks later because we all know what getting pushed back really means – it’s code for your album absolutely sucks!
X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has said Simon Cowell is “annoying”
Oct 28, 2009 Simon Cowell
X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has said Simon Cowell is “annoying” and can be “so rude sometimes”.
The 26-year-old is a judge on the hit ITV show along with Simon, 50, and she said that there is tension between the two of them on the live Saturday night shows.
Asked about the friction, she said to BBC News: “There is on the actual Saturday night, when he starts getting annoying and saying nasty things. It gets quite heated backstage, and quite competitive.
“I don’t feel like I’m a competitive person. I feel like the best person should win The X Factor, whether they’re in my category or not.
“But he’s so competitive and so rude sometimes that I find myself getting caught up in it.”
Tags: annoying, cheryl cole, Judge, nasty, rude, Simon Cowell, tension., X Factor
Lady GaGa spoke about working with Beyonce
Oct 27, 2009 Beyonce, Lady Gaga
Among many other interesting details she shared with the rest of the world about her fabulous life as a star, Lady GaGa also said a few words about working with Beyonce. This is what she said: “When we were doing the video, I said I want to do you. I wanna do my version of Beyonce. I called myself GEYonce.” Well, apart from the fact that “GEYonce” would probably sound so utterly insulting, especially for Beyonce, that “I said I want to do you” really sounds dubious. Does Lady GaGa really want to? Jay-Z probably wouldn’t mind… there’s a good formula for a new “3” video clip right there.
Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty
Oct 26, 2009 Lil Wayne, Rapper
Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession last week and is expected to be sentenced to a year in jail. The rapper admitted to having a .40 calibre semi-automatic loaded gun on board his tour bus back in 2007. Sentencing isn’t until February so he remains free on bail until then. However, he’ll be busy tending to his other run-ins with the law as he has a trial scheduled in Arizona for felony drug possession and weapon charges from an arrest back in January 2008 at the US Border Patrol. He pleaded not guilty for that one. Either way, he will be getting some jail time in.
Tags: Arizona, Arrest, Bail, Drug, Felony, Guilty, Gun, Jail, Law, Lil Wayne, Rapper, Tour, US, Weapon
50 Cent and a Destiny’s Child
Oct 26, 2009 50 Cent, Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland, Music Artists, Music Videos
Sources are saying that while 50 Cent was filming his new music video for ‘Baby By Me’, the rapper was getting a little too friendly with former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland. It’s being said that things got pretty steamy on the set of the video and that it may have led to a bit of a fling. I don’t think either of them could do better than the other anyway. At the very least, they haven’t stooped to anything lower. It shows that the entertainers still have some sort of dignity left in them – however little it may be.
Tags: 50 Cent, Destiny’s Child, Entertainer, Fling, Kelly Rowland, Music Video, Rapper
Foxy Brown Makes Officers Quit
Oct 23, 2009 Foxy Brown
Apparently, Foxy Brown was getting some preferential treatment in the slammer as three prison officials at Rikers Island jail have stepped down from their positions after reportedly allowing a promotional photo shoot for the rapper’s new album while she was in jail. Two other workers have already previously left their jobs because of the so-called scandal. Foxy has denied the claims though, saying “It was incarceration, not vacation. I only wore the designer clothing I was allowed to have. There were certain gang colors my sneakers couldn’t be… I didn’t have any special visitation rights.” That can’t even be counted as denial!
Tags: Foxy Brown, Gang, Incarceration, Jail, Prison, Rapper, Rikers Island
Nas Faces Tax Lien
Kelis isn’t the only person trying to get her hands inside Nas’ wallet as it turns out that Uncle Sam is after the rapper too! A federal tax lien was filed last month against Nas for a whopping $2,584,206.31! It looks like he failed to pay his taxes from way back in 2006 and 2007. The rapper is still currently involved in a bitter divorce battle with his estranged wife, singer Kelis. But with that tax lien, it looks like she is going to have to wait in line to get her money. At the rate he’s going, Nas will be broke before we get to ring in 2010.
Tags: Divorce, Federal, Kelis, Lien, Nas, Rapper, Singer, Tax
U2 Concert to Stream Live on YouTube
Oct 23, 2009 Concert, Live, U2, Video, YouTube
U2 have confirmed via video blog that their sold-out concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, Sunday 25th October 2009 will be streamed free, in full and live on YouTube. It’s the first time a show of this size will be streamed live.
The Rose Bowl show is the penultimate U2 show this year – with more to come in 2010 – and already is set to host the venue’s biggest ever audience of over 96, 000 fans. The 360˚ Tour, which has been critically acclaimed and “re-invents rock’n’roll”*, will now boast unique access for fans worldwide – as fans in territories yet to be visited by the tour, or not at all, will be able to enjoy the whole show online. Managed in partnership with Live Nation, this sell-out tour has broken attendance records in most venues it has visited – its success due in part to increased capacity coupled with a lower ticket price and great sight lines afforded by the stunning in-the-round stage set. Visit U2.com or youtube.com/u2official for details of how to join in this ground-breaking on-line event.
U2 manager Paul McGuinness said – “The band has wanted to do something like this for a long time. As we’re filming the LA show, it’s the perfect opportunity to extend the party beyond the stadium. Fans often travel long distances to come to see U2 – this time U2 can go to them, globally.”
YouTube will be streaming live across five continents. The show will be available in the usual You Tube way, as video-on-demand, following two full replays – after the live stream – on both U2.com and You Tube.
“YouTube is thrilled to be able to provide our global audience with a live streaming performance from one of the world’s greatest bands” – Chris Maxcy, Director of YouTube Partner Development. “We are always looking for new ways to connect fans around the world with their favourite artists, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.”
Nirvana Live At Reading To Premeir On Fuse
Oct 23, 2009 Album, CD, DVD, Nirvana, Video
On November 2 at 11 p.m. ET, Fuse, the national music network, will televise the worldwide premiere of Nirvana Live at Reading, the band’s legendary, never-before-released 1992 Reading concert. The show, marking the first time that Nirvana fans will experience the epochal August 30, 1992 headlining appearance at UK’s Reading Festival, will debut as an hour long broadcast the night before the limited edition 90 minute CD+DVD Deluxe Edition is by Geffen/UMe.
Featuring 25 songs including “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “All Apologies” and “Come As You Are,” Nirvana’s performance at Reading ranked No. 1 in Kerrang Magazine’s “100 Gigs That Shook The World” chart and was voted as “Nirvana’s No. 1 Greatest Moment” by fans in a recent NME poll.
“Fuse is excited to provide Nirvana fans with the first opportunity to witness this historic music event since the concert 17 years ago,” said David Weier, vice president, programming, Fuse. “Not only are we airing a highly anticipated, never-before-seen concert in more than 65 million homes, we are providing Nirvana’s loyal fan base with companion programming for a comprehensive and unique viewing experience.”
Leading up to the premiere of Nirvana Live at Reading, Fuse will air “Loaded: Nirvana,” a half-hour of Nirvana’s greatest music videos at 10 p.m. ET, followed by “Videos That Rocked the World: Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a celebration of the legendary music video which was a breakthrough for music, entertainment, culture and society.
While the show’s centerpiece was a performance of nearly the entire Nevermind tracklist, also noteworthy were early performances of three as yet unrecorded songs which wouldn’t be released until 2 years later on In Utero: “All Apologies,” “Dumb,” and in its first ever public performance, “Tourettes.” The career-spanning setlist also reached back to the band’s 1989 Sub Pop debut album, Bleach, for “Blew,” “About A Girl,” “School,” “Negative Creep” and first single “Love Buzz,” and even further back to the mid-’80s for “Spank Thru.” Other songs from the Reading set would appear in studio form on the Incesticide compilation later in the year: “Aneurysm,” “Been A Son” and “Sliver.” Additionally, the band played a pair of beloved covers by two bands that helped shape the formative Nirvana sound– “The Money Will Roll Right In” by Fang and “D-7″ by The Wipers.
“SCHOOL” LIVE VIDEO:
Whitney Houston rumors come to light
Oct 22, 2009 Whitney Houston
There have supposedly been some very ardent rumors about Whitney Houston being a member of the “other team” and now the rumors have finally come to light thanks to her ex-husband, Bobby Brown who felt the need to share with us the following excerpt from his new autobiography: “The media was accusing her of having a bisexual relationship with her assistant, Robin Crawford. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn’t go too well with her image . . . In Whitney’s situation, the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation, whether it was true or not.” Yeah, well, the man has to make his book sell somehow. But hey, it’s the 21st century, that kind of stuff is perfectly natural nowadays, so I guess Bobby Brown just managed to embarrass himself a bit in front of everybody, including Whitney Houston. But at least he’ll make an honest buck out of it.
Tags: Bobby Brown, marriage, R&B, Soul, Whitney Houston
Chris Brown is still a bit clingy
Oct 21, 2009 Chris Brown, Rihanna
The rapper who hasn’t shown much of his face since his incident with Rihanna was part of a rather interesting coincidence yesterday. Only hours away from when his former girlfriend’s single got on the internet, Chris Brown wrote on tweeter that his “first show back” will be next week at Power’s 105 Powerhouse. Must be one of those low-attendance venues he spoke of a few weeks back. Looks like the two are both back in business… maybe they’ll even get back together since Justin Timberlake’s probably going to be letting go of Rihanna for a bit and what woman could resist a dominating, imposing figure like Chris Brown?
Tags: Chris Brown, Hip Hop, Justin Timberlake, R&B, Rihanna
DMX has incident at charity
Oct 20, 2009 DMX, Hip Hop, Kanye West
The rapper was asked to perform at a charity event in Colorado Springs recently. Apparently, he was 90 minutes late and when he arrived the guards refused to let him it. DMX, being the wise and noble man that he is, eventually picked a fight with them and the charity participants rooted for him. Moreover, DMX actually won and did get in, but wasn’t able to dazzle anyone with his musical abilities since all of the equipment was turned off, so he was simply asked to leave. Man, this dude must be trying to get around to be as famous as Kanye West for these incidents! He definitely started out right, all he has to do now is crash the MTV Europe Music Awards and he’s in business. Kanye West might have actually started a new trend with this crashing of events.
Tags: Altercation, Charity, DMX, Hip Hop, Kanye West
Leona Lewis Cancels Book Tour
Oct 20, 2009 Books, Leona Lewis
In the aftermath of the cowardly attack that she faced at one of her book signings, Leona Lewis has pulled out of any further appearances to promote her autobiography ‘Dreams’. According to the singer’s spokesman “Leona was due to go to Germany today for promo but that has now been cancelled. Leona is obviously shocked after yesterday but is OK.” Fortunately, Leona is still set to begin rehearsals this week for her first major UK show. Stay strong honey! You can’t let the bastards get you down. Show everyone what you’re really made off and just hope that it wouldn’t set anyone else off.
Tags: Attack, Germany, Leona Lewis, Singer, UK
Robbie Williams and Jay-Z will be performing together
Oct 19, 2009 Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams
And they will not be the only ones, numerous other artists including Green Day, Tokio Hotel and others will be present at the MTV Europe Music Awards, a show that will be hosted by Katy Perry, as a source relates: “Katy – who hosted the awards in style last year as she rode on a giant chapstick and cherries and dazzled with her costume changes – is the only artist ever to be asked to host two successive shows in the 15-year history of the MTV Europe Music Awards.” But it’s between Robbie Williams and Jay-Z that the real battle will be given because both of them are candidates for the best male award: who will it be, the psychologically challenged British pop star or the powerful enterprising rap mogul? Or should we all just settle for Bob who works down at the convenience store?
Tags: Best Male, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, MTV Europe Music Awards, Robbie Williams
OneRepublic To Perform on Ellen DeGeneres
Oct 19, 2009 Album, Live, OneRepublic, Song, Video
Tune in to The Ellen DeGeneres Show on October 20th to catch a performance from OneRepublic. The band will play their current single “All The Right Moves” which appears on their forthcoming album Waking Up due out on November 17th.
OneRepublic recently premiered the Wayne Isham (Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Metallica) directed video for the track which can be seen here.
Video :
Tags: Album, Britney Spears, Ellen DeGeneres, Live, Metallica, Michael Jackson, OneRepublic, Perform, Song, Video
Toni Braxton Foreclosure
Oct 16, 2009 Las Vegas, Toni Braxton
Pop singer Toni Braxton has been battling health problems for the last couple of years and she might need all her strength to pack up her stuff and move because the bank is coming after her home. According to documents filed last month, the tiny diva has defaulted on her mortgage payments and now Bank of America is looking to foreclose. They are saying that Toni owes $12,503.20 on a place in Century City, California. Toni closed down her Las Vegas gig a couple of years back. She may want to start it up again to pay for all of the legal drama going on around her.
Tags: Bank of America, California, Foreclosure, Health, Las Vegas, Mortgage, Singer, Toni Braxton
Lady Gaga and Beyonce Team Up
Oct 16, 2009 Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Music, Music Artists, Music Videos
Beyonce and Lady Gaga teamed up to shoot the video for Video phone together! According to an insider who spoke to Life & Style “On Oct. 7, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé were working on the video together at a studio in NYC. Everything on the set was being kept very hush-hush, and security was extremely tight.” I wonder how this managed to stay off the radar. The insider goes on to say that the singers and fashion icons showed off their individual styles for the video, saying “Beyonce wears a feathered dress. And of course Lady Gaga wears something wild. The fashion is sick and insane.”
Tags: Beyonce, Fashion, Lady Gaga, Life & Style, NYC, Singer, Video