Barack Obama in Rolling Stone
2008-03-13 14:00:19.684843
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/19106326">Barack Obama's Machinery of Hope by Tim Dickinson [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_historyn" tar="tar" get="blank">Photo Gallery: Barack Obama, a History in Pictures [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19106551/a_new_hope"> An Endorsement: Barack Obama for President by Jann S. Wenner [From RS1048 — March 20, 2007]
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17652931/obamas_moment"> Obama's Moment by Matt Taibbi [From Issue 1042/1043 — December 27, 2007-January 10, 2008]
...Cover Story: Jack Johnson - The Dude Abides
2008-03-13 14:00:20.624865
Click href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/18653440/jack_johnson_rocks_mellowest_sup" target="blank">here for a photo gallery of rock's mellow superstar onstage and off, style="text-decoration:none; color:#bb1111" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/02/21/eddie-vedder-on-jack-johnson-what-hes-doing-is-real/" target="blank">here on why Eddie Vedder loves Jack Johnson, and href="http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/18726707/jack_johnson_filmmaker" target="blank">here to hear Johnson discuss filming surf scenes, complete with footage from his film "Thicker Than Water"
When he's away from home during a long tour, Jack Johnson has anxiety dreams that wake him up in the middle of the night.
"I get completely haunted," he says. In his most vivid dream, Johnson is standing on the beach with a guitar, gazing into the...
The Machinery of Hope
2008-03-13 15:00:18.936712
href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19106551/a_new_hope"> Click here for Rolling Stone's endorsement of Barack Obama and href="http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/19066990/barack_obama_a_photo_history" target="blank">here for a photo timeline of Obama's life.
It's Presidents day, two weeks before the Texas primary, and Adam Ukman has come to the small city of San Marcos to train precinct captains for Barack Obama. A soft-spoken native of Houston, Ukman has served on the campaign's front lines in Iowa and Utah, organizing grass-roots supporters to secure decisive victories in both states. This evening, more than eighty residents of San Marcos have crammed into a yellow clapboard recreation center on a street dotted with shacks that date from the Jim Crow era. "Our job is not to run in here to tell you how it's going to be," Ukman tells them. "This is your campaign. Not our campaign."
Anyone who has spent time around Democratic politics has heard this kind of rhetoric before. Most often, it's pure horseshit. But...
'American Idol' axes first finalist (AP)
2008-03-13 05:00:22.282632
By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 53 minutes ago
NEW YORK - A juicy backstory wasn't enough to keep David Hernandez on "American Idol." The 24-year-old ex-stripper from Glendale, Ariz., was dismissed Wednesday, leaving 11 aspiring singers to vie for the "Idol" title and a record contract."Honestly, things happen for a reason," Hernandez said before leaving the stage. "I think we all have a plan. ... This isn't it for me."
Hernandez, who sang the Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," made headlines last week after it was revealed to The Associated Press that he worked as a stripper at a Phoenix club with a "mostly male" clientele.
Kristy Lee Cook, a 24-year-old from Selma, Ore., and Syesha Mercado, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, Fla., rounded out the bottom three vote-getters.
Finalists had the opportunity to perform classics from the John Lennon-Paul McCartney songbook this week. The show's producers recently got permission to use songs belonging to Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a company formed by Sony and Michael Jackson.
The standouts were Carly Smithson ("Come Together"), Brooke White ("Let It Be"), David Cook ("Eleanor Rigby") and Chikezie ("She's A Woman").
David Archuleta, whose cover of Lennon's "Imagine" drew heaps of praise two weeks ago, showed that he's merely mortal when he flubbed the lyrics to "We Can Work It Out." That didn't fly with Cowell, who called the 17-year-old's performance "a mess."
Wednesday's show also featured a performance by season-five finalist Katharine McPhee and musician David Foster (on the piano).
___
On the Net:
http://www.americanidol.com/
...Apple Denies Beatles Heading To iTunes
2008-03-13 12:00:12.821128
Apple has dismissed claims that the Beatles catalog is about to be made available through their iTunes outlet. Reports on Friday suggested that unnamed sources 'close to Sir Paul McCartney' had confirmed that the Beatles catalog would be available online
Aretha may lose her Detroit mansion (AP)
2008-03-13 11:00:13.954137
1 hour, 2 minutes ago
DETROIT - Aretha Franklin could lose her home to tax collectors. The singer says an attorney's mistake caused her $700,000 mansion in Detroit to slip into foreclosure over $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees.The Detroit Free Press reports Thursday the Queen of Soul owes a total of $19,192 in back taxes on the property through 2007. She says she plans to pay up and reclaim it by a March 31 deadline.
A spokesman for the Wayne County treasurer's office says the foreclosure judgment for $445 was entered earlier this month.
Records show Franklin owes $18,746 in back taxes and fees for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, but foreclosure proceedings on those debts wouldn't begin until next year.
Franklin's slate-roofed brick mansion was built in 1927.
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Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY...Bjork's Tibet outburst an isolated case, China says (Reuters)
2008-03-13 03:00:13.723492
1 hour, 43 minutes ago
BEIJING (Reuters) - Icelandic singer Bjork's politically charged outburst at a recent Shanghai concert was an isolated case and would not affect foreign artists coming to China, a senior official said on Thursday.China's Culture Ministry last week said it would tighten controls over foreign artists after Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" after performing her song "Declare Independence."
China has ruled Tibet since invading the Himalayan region in 1950, and swiftly condemns any challenge to its authority.
Protests by Tibetan monks have spilled over into Chinese provinces following a string of marches around the world to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Communist rule...
Boutique apartments support Leeds' music talent
2008-03-13 01:00:20.544014
Boutique apartments support Leeds' music talent Boutique apartment company, The Chambers, has teamed up with Leeds College of Music to support a drive to discover the city's next chart-topping music sensation - following in the footsteps of Corinne
Can Spitzer call girl cash in? (AP)
2008-03-13 22:00:12.002623
By JAKE COYLE, AP Entertainment Writer 57 minutes ago
NEW YORK - The collateral consequence of scandal often is newfound celebrity, and for the 22-year-old call girl involved in the Eliot Spitzer scandal, prospects are rising.The prostitute identified in court papers as Kristen is an aspiring musician named Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Her identity was only first reported Wednesday, but already her fame is skyrocketing.
Curious about the woman so integral in the New York governor's downfall, many have flocked to MySpace to view her photos, music and biographical information. That material was removed Thursday after over more than 5 million visited her page.
Dupre's page had portrayed her as a New Jersey native who left a broken home to pursue a music career in New York. Court papers allege that Spitzer paid thousands of dollars for her services with the Emperor's Club VIP.
"I have been alone," she wrote. "I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music."
Dupre had also posted two songs at the music sharing site Aime Street, which allows musicians to earn a 70 percent cut of download fees, which are determined by their popularity. The songs, "What We Want" and "Move ya Body" are dance-pop tunes a la Britney Spears.
On "What We Want," she sings: "I know what you need/ Can you handle me?"
As of Thursday evening, the songs had been listened to by some 200,000. Downloads were selling for 98 cents each, though "What We Want" had previously been selling for less than 20 cents. That song was also making it onto the nation's radio airwaves.
"After the first play, a lot of the reaction was negative," said Sharon Dastur, program director of New York's Z100 (WHTZ-FM). "But after the second play, it became, `Play that song again,' and `Hey, that song's not bad."
Dupre also made an appearance in a video by the rapper Mysterious, director Jonathan Ehlers told Los Angeles TV station KCAL on Tuesday. In the video, Dupre is cast as the girlfriend of Mysterious, at one point making a vulgar hand gesture while lip-synching lyrics that include an expletive.
"She was very professional," Ehlers said. "Again, she was really warm. She had a great vibe and she was really fun to be around."
He said they haven't talked in a year. When he heard the news, Ehlers said, "I was shocked. All I could think was, I wondered where she was and I hoped she was all right."
...Celebrity Birthdays (AP)
2008-03-13 01:00:20.148997
By The Associated Press 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 16-22:March 16: Comedian Jerry Lewis is 82. Movie director Bernardo Bertolucci is 67. Game show host Chuck Woolery is 67. Singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker is 66. Actor Victor Garber ("Alias") is 59. Actor Erik Estrada is 59. Actress Kate Nelligan is 57. Country singer Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel is 57. Guitarist-singer Nancy Wilson of Heart is 54. Actress Isabelle Huppert is 53. Actor Clifton Powell ("Ray," "Norbit") is 52. Rapper Flavor Flav is 49. Folk singer Patty Griffin is 44. Actress Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls") is 41.
March 17: Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 67. Singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly is 65. Singer-songwriter John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful is 64. Percussionist Harold Brown of War is 62. Actor Patrick Duffy is 59. Actor Kurt Russell is 57. Country singer Susie Allanson is 56. Actress Lesley-Anne Down is 54. Country singer Paul Overstreet is 53. Actor Gary Sinise is 53. Actress Vicki Lewis ("NewsRadio") is 48. Actor Rob Lowe is 44. Singer Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins is 41. Bassist Van Conner of Screaming Trees is 41. Actor Mathew St. Patrick ("Six Feet Under") is 40. Actor Yanic Truesdale ("Gilmore Girls") is 39. Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur (Smashing Pumpkins, Hole) is 36. Drummer Caroline Corr of The Corrs is 35. Actress Marisa Coughlan ("Freddy Got Fingered," "Teaching Mrs. Tingle") is 34. Rapper Swifty of D12 is 33.
March 18: Actor Peter Graves is 82. Composer John Kander ("Chicago") is 81. Author John Updike is 76. Country singer Charley Pride is 70. Actor Kevin Dobson ("Knots Landing") is 65. Actor Brad Dourif ("Lord of the Rings," "Chucky" movies) is 58. Singer Irene Cara is 49. Singer Vanessa Williams is 45. Keyboardist Scott Saunders of Sons of the Desert is 44. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is 42. Singer Miki Berenyi (Lush) is 41. Rapper-actress Queen Latifah is 38. Comedian Dane Cook ("Employee of the Month") is 36. Singer Devin Lima (LFO) is 31. Singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is 29.
March 19: Actor Patrick McGoohan is 80. Actress Renee Taylor ("The Nanny") is 75. Actress Phyllis Newman is 75. Actress Ursula Andress is 72. Singer Clarence "Frogman" Henry is 71. Singer Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is 62. Actress Glenn Close is 61. Actor Bruce Willis is 53. Guitarist-keyboardist Gert Bettens of K's Choice is 38. Drummer Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World is 32. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor ("Malcolm in the Middle") is 19.
March 20: Producer Carl Reiner is 86. Actor Hal Linden is 77. Singer Jerry Reed is 71. Country singer Don Edwards is 69. Country singer-guitarist Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky is 62. Actor William Hurt is 58. Drummer Carl Palmer (Asia; Emerson, Lake and Palmer) is 58. Blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan (Fabulous Thunderbirds) is 57. Country guitarist Jimmy Seales of Shenandoah is 54. Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway is 51. Director Spike Lee is 51. Actress Theresa Russell is 51. Actress Holly Hunter is 50. Drummer Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats) is 47. Model Kathy Ireland is 45. Actor David Thewlis ("Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban") is 45. Actress Liza Snyder ("Yes, Dear") is 40. Actor Michael Rapaport ("Boston Public") is 38. Actor Alexander Chaplin ("Spin City") is 37. Singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park is 32. Michael Genadry ("Ed") is 30.
March 21: Actor Al Freeman Jr. is 74. Actress Kathleen Widdoes ("As the World Turns") is 69. Singer Solomon Burke is 68. Singer-keyboardist Rose Stone of Sly and the Family Stone is 63. Actor Timothy Dalton is 62. Singer Eddie Money is 59. Singer-guitarist Rodger Hodgson (Supertramp) is 58. Bassist Conrad Lozano of Los Lobos is 57. Singer Russell Thompkins Jr. of the Stylistics is 57. Actor Gary Oldman is 50. Actor Matthew Broderick is 46. Actress-comedian Rosie O'Donnell is 46. MC Maxim of Prodigy is 41. Keyboardist Jonas "Joker" Berggren of Ace of Base is 41. Guitarist Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel is 40. DJ Premier of Gang Starr is 39.
March 22: Actor Karl Malden is 96. Composer Stephen Sondheim is 78. Actor William Shatner is 77. Actor M. Emmet Walsh is 73. Singer Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy is 67. Singer-guitarist George Benson is 65. News anchor Wolf Blitzer is 60. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is 60. Actress Fanny Ardant is 59. Sportscaster Bob Costas is 56. Country singer James House is 53. Actress Lena Olin is 53. Singer-actress Stephanie Mills is 51. Actor Matthew Modine is 49. Actress Kellie Williams ("Family Matters") is 32. Actress Reese Witherspoon is 32. Drummer John Otto of Limp Bizkit is 31. Rapper Mims is 27.
Email Story IM Story Printable View...China Cracks Down on Connick?!
2008-03-13 22:00:12.404417
AM, E! OnlineJosh Grossberg It had to be him. Apparently fearful of the revolutionary potential of Harry Connick Jr.'s song stylings, Chinese censors, still reeling from the recent Bjrking, brought down the hammer on the New Orleans songman. Connick
Could woman in Spitzer scandal become a star? (Reuters)
2008-03-13 22:00:12.400779
By Mariel Concepcion and Hillary Crosley 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Could Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the aspiring singer embroiled in the prostitution scandal that toppled New York governor Eliot Spitzer, have a music career?Top talent scouts are weighing in on her chances after the 22-year-old racked up millions of MySpace views and launched much-sought-after new songs on priced-by-demand Web site AmieStreet.com since the Spitzer story broke.
Before Dupre's MySpace page was deleted Thursday, it had received 4,612,397 views and her song "What We Want" touted 711,334 plays. According to the New York Times, two tracks Dupre released to AmieStreet.com this week received thousands...
Donate Sperm, Get Free Music Festival Tickets
2008-03-13 04:00:20.461206
If you're a European male trying to figure out how to attend a music festival this summer without paying, you just found your ticket. All it's going to take is a bit of handiwork. It appears Irish sperm donor banks are short on supply these days. Sperm
Former male stripper voted out of "American Idol" (Reuters)
2008-03-13 12:00:12.320142
By Chris Michaud 23 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - David Hernandez, the "American Idol" contestant with a reported history as a male stripper, was eliminated on Wednesday from the competition on the hit TV talent show.More than 29 million viewers cast votes for their favorites this week as the series entered the home stretch of its seventh season, moving from three nights a week to two.
Voters chose Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook to continue competing. The two singers, along with Hernandez, were the bottom finishers among the 12 remaining contestants.
Hernandez, 24, from Glendale, Arizona, performed the 1960s...
Game Explains Jail Confusion
2008-03-13 20:00:12.91057
I felt it appropriate not to give an exact date on my release, the star said. Locked up, or free as a bird? The confusion over the status of Game, real name Jayceon Taylor, prison stay has been jogging the media for the past week. Tuesday, VIBE.com
Get Down to Get on Up at SXSW - Superfly Soul Party II in Austin TX on Mar 13 2008
2008-03-13 05:00:21.923418
Showcasing five of Austin's Top Funk, Soul, Rare Groove Bands at SXSW. Greyhounds, Flyjack, T Bird & The Breaks, Chicken Strut, Akina Adderley and The Vintage Playboys. Austin, Texas (Billboard Publicity Wire) March 13, 2008 -- Superfly Soul Party II
Goldfrapp, Editors added to Glastonbury line-up
2008-03-13 15:00:18.416967
Registration closes tomorrow! Goldfrapp have been confirmed this week for this year's Glastonbury festival just days before ticket registration comes to a close. The electro band are among a host of new acts confirmed for this summer's festival, held
Harry Connick Jr.'s China show goes flat (AP)
2008-03-13 09:00:13.223965
By CARA ANNA, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 25 minutes ago
SHANGHAI, China - Singer-pianist Harry Connick Jr. is the latest Western performer to bump up against China's cultural restrictions.Connick said Thursday he was forced to make last-minute changes to his show last weekend in Shanghai because an old song list was mistakenly submitted to Chinese authorities to secure the performance permit for the concert.
Authorities insisted he play the songs on that list, even though his band did not have the music for them.
"Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to give my fans in China the show I intended," Connick said in a statement.
J.Q. Whitcomb, a musician living in Shanghai, said the concert mostly featured Connick playing piano by himself, with the band sitting on stage doing nothing.
"Other people there said, 'Wow, that was pretty mellow,'" he said.
Embarrassed last week by Icelandic singer Bjork shouting "Tibet!" at the end of a Shanghai concert, Chinese authorities have promised to be stricter on foreign performers. The Culture Ministry said last week that Bjork's outburst in support of Tibet's independence movement "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings."
"Foreign artistic troupes and artists should voluntarily observe relevant laws and regulations of China when they come to perform on the Chinese soil," Vice Minister of Culture Zhou Heping said of the incident in a media conference Thursday.
Foreign performers have faced restrictions before in China. The Rolling Stones were censored in their China debut in 2006, most likely for their songs' suggestive lyrics. "Brown Sugar," "Honky Tonk Woman," "Beast of Burden," and "Let's Spend the Night Together" were banned from the concert.
"It's actually really easygoing here," said Whitcomb of the Shanghai performance environment. "But when something happens, (Chinese authorities) are like, 'Oh, we have to be strict about this,' and then suddenly everything gets strangled in red tape for some amount of time. Then it will pass."
Email Story...Heppner cancels next 3 `Tristans' (AP)
2008-03-13 18:00:13.345448
1 hour, 9 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Tenor Ben Heppner withdrew Thursday from his next three performances of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" at the Metropolitan Opera because of a virus.Heppner missed Monday's opener of the revival and will not sing in the performances on Friday, Tuesday and March 22, the Met said Thursday. The March 22 matinee is scheduled for a high-definition telecast to theaters around the world.
Heppner hopes to return for the final two performances, on March 25 and 28.
The run is close to sold-out, with Wagner fans drawn by the first joint performances in the opera by Heppner and soprano Deborah Voigt.
John Mac Master, who replaced Heppner on Monday, received mostly negative reviews. Gary Lehman will replace Heppner on Friday in his debut with the company. The Met didn't say who will sing the following two performances.
___
On the Net:
http://www.metopera.org
http://www.benheppner.com
Email Story IM Story Printable View...Jackson Lawyer: Neverland Ranch saved (AP)
2008-03-13 12:00:11.777844
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 2 minutes ago
Michael Jackson has refinanced Neverland ranch in time to save his famed California spread from a public auction that was scheduled for later this month.Jackson attorney L. Londell McMillan told The Associated Press on Thursday that the pop star has worked out a "confidential" agreement with Fortress Investment Group, LLC. The deal allows him to retain ownership of the famed property in Los Olivos, Calif.
"Neverland and MJ are fine," McMillan said.
An auction date had been set for March 19 because of $24.5 million the singer owed on the 2,500-acre spread northwest of Santa Barbara.
A source close to the singer who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said it's not clear whether Jackson will keep Neverland. Jackson has not lived there since his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.
Email Story IM Story Printable View Yahoo! Buzz RECOMMEND THIS STORY Recommend It:...Jackson lawyer: Neverland auction off (AP)
2008-03-13 22:00:11.534374
By JOHN ROGERS, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago
LOS OLIVOS, Calif. - Michael Jackson still has Neverland, having cut an 11th-hour deal Thursday to keep it off the auction block.But the magic that once made the financially troubled entertainer's 2,500-acre paradise in the rolling hills of central California's wine country one of the most talked-about places on Earth seems to have vanished along with its reclusive owner.
Jackson hasn't been seen in this bucolic area of oak-studded hills since he was acquitted in June 2005 of molesting a 13-year-old visitor to his estate, and his absence leaves the future of Neverland, a sort of Hearst Castle for 12-year-olds, in doubt.
"We're all, of course, wondering what's going to happen. We've heard rumors but we don't know anything," said Kim Morrison, one of the administrators of a private school located just across the road from Neverland.
One of those rumors has soccer star David Beckham interested in the property.
"I wouldn't mind having a new neighbor. It would be nice to have Beckham there," laughed Morrison, although she quickly added that Jackson "was always a good neighbor."
The pop star's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, told The Associated Press his client has worked out a confidential agreement with Fortress Investment Group LLC allowing him to retain ownership of the estate.
Whether he'll keep it for long, however, remains to be seen. Jackson is said to be living in various places, including overseas, and his family has said that when dozens of sheriff's deputies raided the place in 2003 they destroyed the fond feelings he once had for Neverland.
Before Thursday's deal was announced, the property was scheduled to be auctioned March 19 because Jackson had gone into default. Financial Title Co. of San Francisco said he owed $24.5 million on the former cattle ranch he bought from real estate baron William Bone in 1988.
Jackson, then just 29, was at the height of his career when he purchased Neverland, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan — where boys never grow up. He had become a pop superstar before his 12th birthday, and he has said he created Neverland in an effort to obtain the childhood he never had.
Soon he had installed a merry-go-round, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, a game arcade and a private train to rival that of Disneyland's. He brought in a zoo that included flamingos, giraffes, elephants, orangutans and reptiles and brought in a veterinarian and snake handler to care for them.
"It's like stepping into Oz," he once said. "Once you come in the gates, the outside world does not exist."
...Judge to rule in bitter McCartney divorce case (Reuters)
2008-03-13 10:00:11.752111
By Mike Collett-White 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
LONDON (Reuters) - Former Beatle Paul McCartney is expected to find out on Monday how much of his fortune he must hand over to estranged wife Heather Mills when a judge rules on their acrimonious and highly public divorce.With the world's media poised to pore over every detail of any judgment, it is unclear whether judge Hugh Bennett will make public all or part of his decision, due to be handed out at London's High Court.
The ruling will not necessarily spell the end of one of the most bitter and high-profile break-ups in British legal history.
...Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff Associate Attacks Lawyer In Court W/ Razor
2008-03-13 01:00:20.545567
A man convicted in a drug case with ties to Kenneth 'Supreme' McGriff lunged at a federal prosecutor with a razor in court yesterday (Mar 11). Victor Wright, who was facing a mandatory life sentence, snuck a razor into the Federal District Court in
Little 'Idol,' big voice: Malubay, baby (AP)
2008-03-13 07:00:12.740631
By DAMIAN GRASS, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago
MIRAMAR, Fla. - When Ramiele Malubay takes the stage on "American Idol," the 20-year-old with punkish blond streaks in her dark hair comes off as bubbly, polished and even a little edgy. That's not exactly the young woman her friends and family say was too shy to sing "Happy Birthday" a few months ago.When her parents tried to get her to sing a karaoke version at high school friend Arthur "A.J." Ke's birthday bash, the 20-year-old Malubay just hid in the corner and rolled her eyes.
"Since it was a really cheap karaoke machine, a bunch of the words were spelled wrong," Ke said. "But once she was up there, we were all cracking up, and we all ended up having a great time."
And if it wasn't for her father's prodding, the diminutive Filipino-American singer with the big voice probably wouldn't have auditioned a second time for "American Idol" — which means she wouldn't be standing among the final 12 contestants on the top-rated Fox TV show. She was rejected in the initial stage last year and balked at going back.
"I think she was lacking a bit of that confidence and didn't want the people close to her expect too much from her," neighbor Isidra Yokose said Tuesday night at the lobby of Hilton Garden Inn in Miramar, where family and friends have been meeting every week to watch the show, cheer for Malubay — and furiously text in votes on their cell phones, of course.
"She is so incredibly special to us and to the rest of the Filipino community," added family friend Geny Panaligan-Ke, who organizes the "Watch 'N Vote 4 Ramiele" gatherings.
"I don't know where she gets it, but she definitely has the talent, the potential and the confidence to make it," Yokose said. "We are so proud of her, and we have all the faith in the world that she will make it big."
Before her good looks, tiny stature — she's 4-foot-11 — and big voice made her a fan favorite, Malubay worked part-time as a waitress at a sushi restaurant in suburban Fort Lauderdale, where she grew up with her younger sister and her Filipino parents. The family moved to the United States from Saudi Arabia when she was 5.
She's aware of the comparisons to fellow Filipino Jasmine Trias, who finished third in the show's third season. But she wants to top that.
"First Filipino 'American Idol,' that's kind of still a surreal reach," Malubay said in an early "Idol" interview. "I don't want to be ahead of myself. I don't want it to go fast. I want it to just come as it does. I'm really excited to just get onstage and show everybody what I can do."
Malubay — pronounced "mah-loo-BYE" — also became the focus of a minor "Idol" scandal this season when Facebook photos of her goofing off with friends in provocative poses were made public. She doesn't understand the fuss.
"It's not a big deal," she wrote on a MySpace blog. "For me, those photos are not racy. But if you think they are, it's OK, that's your opinion. ... It has nothing to do with the show, which is looking for the next singing superstar and not looking for the perfect human."
...Mercado seemed destined for 'Idol' stage (AP)
2008-03-13 23:00:12.766788
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer 46 minutes ago
SARASOTA, Fla. - Syesha Mercado is one of those determined "American Idol" contestants who realized her gift early, jumped on the path to stardom and didn't stop trudging until she reached television's biggest stage.The striking 21-year-old singer, dancer and actress grew up performing in the Sarasota area before moving to Miami for college. She's been singing since she was a toddler in a musical family that included three sisters and mother Zelda, a former Motown backup singer.
As a child, Syesha — it's pronounced "sigh-EE-sha" — sang in church and grew accustomed to performing in public — she once sang the "National Anthem" at a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. Her turns in musicals such as "Pippin" and "Seussical: The Musical" at a Sarasota arts high school drew raves. She's acted in commercials, sang in a band, won a car in a statewide singing contest and even appeared briefly on a reality TV show.
So nobody back home is surprised that she's standing among the final 11 on the Fox TV show that has the potential to make her a household name. And, they say, it couldn't happen to a nicer person.
"When she was going to high school, she was aspiring to do that kind of thing. I remember she and her friends talking about it," said Johnnie Mnich, theater director in the elite performing arts program at Booker High School. "I think it was a matter of time before it happened. She knows what she wants, and she knows what she's good at."
Mnich recalls marveling at Mercado's talent when the she won the lead in the musical "Once on This Island" as a sophomore.
"I was just blown away," he said. "I was amazed at the level of expertise and strength and training."
Bruce Merkle, 20, spent all four years in the Booker arts program acting and singing with Mercado. They shared their first stage kiss in "Once on This Island."
"She's sounded like that since she was 14, as long as I can remember," said Merkle, now a stage actor and still close friends with Mercado. "She's the real deal. And she's genuinely a nice person. She's very grounded and knows what she wants."
While in middle school, Mercado was accepted into a program for low-income children that involved mentoring and an eventual college scholarship. Her positive attitude, big singing voice and lack of pretense won people over from the beginning. She got to meet former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as part of the program, and he promptly asked her to sing for him.
"We were all just in awe of her singing ability, and you meet her and she's just as sweet as her voice sounds," said Lisa Bechtold, local director of the scholarship program, called "Take Stock in Children."
Bechtold said Mercado's sunny disposition never wavered, even after her family lost their house in a fire while she was in high school. In an early "American Idol" interview, she talked about her father, Jose, struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and being in and out of her life. He recently graduated from a rehab program.
...New Music CD MIDDLE PATH features Seven Didjeridoos: 4 male, 3 female, and all Totally Chill
2008-03-13 07:00:12.761179
Didjeridoo music master Paradiso announces a new performance schedule in support of his seventh album - MIDDLE PATH - releasing on March 15, 2008. This Electronic/New Age/World crossover album features Paradiso on a full range of didjeridoos,
Punk, Celtic-folk mix hardly traditional (AP)
2008-03-13 19:00:13.779416
By JOHN KOSIK, Associated Press Writer 43 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Who said you can never go home again? For Dublin-born singer-guitarist Dave King of Irish-American punk rockers Flogging Molly, all it took was a little help from his eventual wife and bandmate, violinist Bridget Regan."When I heard Bridget playing the fiddle it brought out a lot of feelings in me," King said through a bright and friendly Irish brogue during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press.
"I wanted to take that feeling and go back home — not physically of course. It just seemed to all fall together for me."
A lilting mix of traditional Celtic sounds — fiddle, banjo, accordion, tin whistle and uillean pipes — floating over punk riffs and backbeats?
You could say there isn't anything "traditional" about Flogging Molly.
With no help from a major label and relentless touring — King calls the band's 200 tour dates in 2007 a light year — Flogging Molly's fourth studio record, "Float," is set to drop this week after recording sessions in Ireland.
The result is fun and diverse, with plenty of longing for home sprinkled in.
"We're really happy with it. Recording in Ireland was very direct and very positive, and it definitely focused us on what we were doing."
Leaving his native land at age 17 in the late 1970's, King adjusted to his new country without a U.S. Permanent Resident Card — which left him incapable of going home for eight years.
"For whatever reason, I think I blocked out a huge portion of my life in Ireland as a kid and I was just working to find my feet in America," he said.
He eventually carved out an early niche and found modest success in various hard rock bands.
But something was missing.
...Queens Of The Stone Age To Release Canada-Only Live Album
2008-03-13 02:00:12.351666
Chart Magazine June 2007 cover stars Queens Of The Stone Age will be releasing a Canada-only live album on April 15. The concert recording will be part of a retooled Era Vulgaris album QOTSA will be hawking on their forthcoming tour of the great white
Radiohead to play April Fools Day freebie (Reuters)
2008-03-13 06:00:12.985551
By Lars Brandle 41 minutes ago
LONDON (Billboard) - British rock band Radiohead will play a free concert in London on April Fools Day to promote its new single release, "Nude."The gig for BBC Radio 2 will be held at the state broadcaster's headquarters. Tickets will be distributed on a random basis to U.K residents via the BBC's various platforms and Radiohead's Website, and by a hotline.
The previous day sees the UK release of "Nude" through XL Recordings, the indie label handling the physical distribution of the group's latest chart-topping album, "In Rainbows."
The 7-inch vinyl version of the single will carry a b-side...
SXSW can be key showcase for veterans (AP)
2008-03-13 17:00:17.838799
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
AUSTIN, Texas - You'll usually find R.E.M. playing arenas and esteemed concert halls. But this week, the rock hall of famers were among the acts trying to catch a break and artists looking to build their audience at the sprawling South by Southwest music festival.The multiplatinum rockers played Stubbs BBQ shortly after midnight Wednesday before an energetic crowd of a couple thousand, marking the first time they've played the annual extravaganza in their nearly three-decade career. But it's hardly a downgrade: Playing a showcase at SXSW has often been a way for a veteran act to make a big splash with a new project, or re-establish themselves in the spotlight, especially if it has dimmed in recent years.
"That is something that has become over the years what the whole thing is about," said music journalist Alan Light, who's participated in SXSW for years (though he opted to stay home this year).
"It is interesting and I guess a bit ironic that this festival that was really initially about sort of the discovery of new music and really supporting and creating a platform for unsigned and for underexposed bands, because of the kind of audience it gathered, suddenly became a place where Robert Plant or Pete Townshend or the Cult were playing to sort of get their credentials re-established," he added.
Besides R.E.M., whose new CD "Accelerate" is out April 1, the festival also kicked off Wednesday with a performance from Van Morrison (who has a CD "Keep it Simple" due out April 1 as well). Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates, Alejandro Escovedo and the Ponderosa Stomp, which is a revue designed to give much-deserved recognition to unheralded and sometimes obscure music veterans, are also among the countless acts scheduled to perform at SXSW, which ends Sunday.
Ira Padnos, the curator of Ponderosa Stomp, first brought the revue to SXSW two years ago.
"It's a very good fit. It's enabled performers to definitely get back out there and get gigs and remind people they are still alive," Padnos said. "For instance, as soon as Barbara Lynn got off the stage last year, she was offered a gig ... it's allowed people to know that these guys are still vital and out there, and it's helped to revitalize a career."
One of the more memorable examples of how a SXSW performance breathed new life into a languishing artist was Ike Turner. Though a rock legend, he was known more as the disgraced ex-husband of Tina Turner and hadn't had an album in over two decades. But his performance at SXSW, which Light still recalls as "pretty amazing to see," reminded audiences of his rich musical legacy and helped build excitement as his album was released in 2001.
While established acts performed alongside fledgling artists and bands during SXSW's 22-year existence, the festival's reputation was built on fresh faces who used the festival as a launching pad, whether to secure a record deal or broaden their audience with buzzworthy performances.
But veteran artists and bands have found that SXSW can provide an invaluable boost as well, given the audience of music journalists, record executives, radio programmers and other key industry insiders.
"R.E.M. actually is looking to reconnect with the critics and tastemakers who are there," said Blender magazine Editor-in-Chief Joe Levy. "It's the equivalent of going to a superstore. You don't have to tour the country and connect with all these critics ... All you need to do is show up in Austin."
It's also a way to underscore musical credibility, Light said.
...Snoop Dogg to remix ABC soap opera theme (AP)
2008-03-13 21:00:13.347949
44 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Snoop Dogg is bringing some street cred to "One Life to Live." The 36-year-old rapper will make an extended cameo on the ABC soap opera to perform two songs from his new album, "Ego Trippin'," at the Ultra Violet club in the town of Llanview, the network said Thursday.Snoop's episodes will air May 8 and May 9, and feature his re-mixed version of the show's theme song. He will also act in scenes.
"I've been a fan of `One Life to Live' since I was a baby," said Snoop, who's set to perform "Sensual Seduction" and "Life of Da Party."
"My momma always had it on the tube in tha crib growing up. The opportunity to change up the theme song and give it some of my flavor will make the show the Life of The Party."
Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado, Chris Botti, Erykah Badu, Timbaland and Keri Hilson have also performed on the show.
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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co.
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On the Net:
ABC:
http://abc.go.com/daytime/onelifetolive/
Snoop Dogg:
http://www.snoopdogg.com/
...Spears `having a blast' on CBS' `Mother' (AP)
2008-03-13 17:00:18.254327
Thu Mar 13, 12:59 PM ET
NEW YORK - Britney Spears is relishing her new role on "How I Met Your Mother."Spears has been taping her much-hyped cameo on the CBS sitcom for the March 24 episode, in which she portrays a receptionist in a dermatologist's office named Abby who crushes on Ted (Josh Radnor).
"Working at `How I Met Your Mother' has been so terrific," Spears said in a statement Thursday. "Everyone, including the cast, the crew and the producers, has been wonderful and Abby is such a fun girl to play. I'm having a blast!"
CBS spokesman Kelli Raftery said Spears attended a table reading with the cast on Monday, did a "run-through" on Tuesday and filmed scenes Wednesday. She was scheduled to shoot scenes Thursday and Friday.
Radnor told People.com that "on the first day of the shoot, Britney knew her lines better than I knew mine. She's been great to work with."
Spears has previous TV sitcom experience playing a character on a 2006 episode of "Will and Grace." She was also the host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" in 2000.
"How I Met Your Mother," returning Monday with all-new episodes following the writers strike, co-stars Radnor, Jason Segal, Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris as twentysomethings living in New York City.
Spears has been under the conservatorship of her father, James, following bizarre behavior and two hospitalizations. She is also locked in a custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over the former couple's sons, Jayden James, 1, and Sean Preston, 2.
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CBS is owned by CBS Corp.
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On the Net:
CBS: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/
...Starbucks to release Simon&Garfunkel live CD (Reuters)
2008-03-13 06:00:13.400735
By Jonathan Cohen 44 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Simon&Garfunkel live album originally due last September via Columbia/Legacy has been revived as a Starbucks exclusive, beginning March 25. A release to traditional retail outlets is expected in the fall."Live 1969" is drawn from previously unreleased recordings from Simon&Garfunkel's November 1969 U.S. tour, which turned out to be the duo's last for more than a decade.
The shows were taped with the intention of releasing a live album to follow up the January 1970 release of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," but that project never materialized until now.
The album includes early live versions of songs from...
That Was the Week That Was (AP)
2008-03-13 00:00:11.452155
By The Associated Press 17 minutes ago
Entertainment highlights during the week of March 16-22:1953: The Academy Awards were televised for the first time. "The Greatest Show On Earth" was named best picture.
1957: Elvis Presley bought Graceland.
1963: Barbra Streisand and Elliot Gould were married. They divorced in 1971.
1968: The Bee Gees made their U.S. television debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The brothers sang "To Love Somebody" and "Words."
1969: John Lennon married Yoko Ono in a private ceremony in Gibraltar.
1970: Singer Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumor in Philadelphia at age 24. The tumor was diagnosed three years earlier when she collapsed during a concert.
1970: David Bowie and Angela Barnett got married in England. They later split up.
1989: Madonna's "Like A Prayer" album was released.
1991: Seven members of Reba McEntire's band and her road manager were killed when their plane crashed after taking off from an airport in San Diego.
1991: Eric Clapton's 4-year-old son, Conor, died when he fell out of a window in New York.
1993: Comedian Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell got married in New York. They divorced in 2006.
...The Top 5 lists (AP)
2008-03-13 11:00:13.583543
By The Associated Press 47 minutes ago
TELEVISION1. "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox.
2. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox.
3. "American Idol" (Thursday), Fox.
4. "The Moment of Truth," Fox.
5. "20/20: The Royal Family," ABC.
(From Nielsen Media Research)
FILM
1. "10,000 B.C.," Warner Bros.
2. "College Road Trip," Disney.
3. "Vantage Point," Sony Pictures.
4. "The Bank Job," Lionsgate.
...Trail of Dead Finds Non-U.S. Label
2008-03-13 17:00:17.844719
... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead has a record label pretty much everywhere but in the States. The act, which recently on its own dime to record the still-untitled follow-up to 2006's (Interscope), inked with Superball Records to distribute
US Pop Music Charts This Week - "Low" Hits 12
2008-03-13 23:00:13.639869
Britney Spears - Do Somethin'US Pop Charts 03-06-08Top 10 Pop Eye Candy 2006
Vintage Video - Wilco
2008-03-13 20:00:12.912158
Straight out of the gate after wrapping up Uncle Tupelo, Wilco shot out a winner. Wilco's first album, 1994's A.M. wasn't too far removed from its roots as alt-country rockers Uncle Tupelo. Jeff Tweedy hinted at Wilco's future as a pop act in 'I Must Be
Woman vies to become first 'Afghan Star' (AP)
2008-03-13 19:00:14.263452
By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer 50 minutes ago
KABUL, Afghanistan - In a first for post-Taliban Afghanistan, a woman from the conservative Pashtun belt is one of the top three contenders in the country's version of "American Idol."Conservative detractors decry the fact an Afghan woman has found success singing on television, while others — younger Afghans — say the show is helping women progress. Under the Taliban regime that was overthrown in 2001, women were not even allowed out of their homes unaccompanied, while music and television were banned.
With her hair tucked under a wispy blue headscarf, Lima Sahar brushes off her critics, saying there can be no progress for women without upsetting the status quo.
"No pain, no gain," she told reporters Wednesday in Kabul.
Sahar beat out 2,000 other hopefuls who auditioned for the third season of "Afghan Star." On Friday, the six-month-long TV show will name the final two contestants, based on votes sent in from viewers via text message. The format is the same as "American Idol," although the shows are not connected.
Afghanistan's conservative cleric's council has protested to President Hamid Karzai over "Afghan Star" and Indian dramas shown on Tolo TV, the country's most popular station.
"In the situation that we have in Afghanistan right now, we don't need a woman singer. We don't need `Afghan Star.' We are in need of a good economy, good education," said Ali Ahmad Jebra-ali, a member of the council. "If Lima Sahar wins 'Afghan Star,' how can she help the poor? This is not the way to help the Afghan people."
Haji Baran Khan, a farmer from Kandahar — the Taliban's spiritual birthplace and the city Sahar now calls home — said a Pashtun girl singing on TV goes against the country's culture.
"She is also affecting the minds of other good girls. She should stop singing," said Khan, whose three sons and two daughters told him about Sahar's success.
Sahar says she's just the latest in a long tradition of Afghan artists — albeit in a more modern form.
"Artists are historical and cultural in our country. Artists have been around a long time," Sahar told a news conference this week. "I came by the vote of the people of Afghanistan."
Several hundred supporters lined up to get the three finalists' autographs at an event this week in Kabul. One of the fans, Shohabidin Mohammad, called "Afghan Star" part of a democratic revival for Afghanistan.
...Wrap-up of entertainment quotes (AP)
2008-03-13 16:00:14.689092
By The Associated Press Thu Mar 13, 12:42 PM ET
"I kinda like that it's separate. It's not something that I really want to be part of a reality television show. It's a career I want beyond my 15 minutes." — Lauren Conrad, on why her first fashion show won't be shown on MTV's "The Hills." The 22-year-old designer/reality star debuted her new line at Mercedes-Benz L.A. Fashion Week this week.___
"Frankly, I'm not used to this kind of heat. Usually somebody asks, `What are you working on next?' and you tell them the name of the project and they're like, `What is it?' and you're like, `Uh, two guys go to a hamburger place.' They're like, `Yeah, right. Good luck with that.' And this is the first time everyone knows what I'm talking about." — John Cho, who stars in the "Harold & Kumar" movies, on preparing for fan frenzy as Sulu in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek," due out next summer.
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"This is one of the hardest jobs I ever had. It's absolutely harder than love scenes in movies." — Marlee Matlin, on rehearsing seven hours a day in preparation for her "Dancing With the Stars" debut. The ABC hit begins its sixth season Monday.
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"The world is full of Madonna wannabes. I might have even dated a couple. But there is truly only one Madonna." — Justin Timberlake, inducting the Material Girl into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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"Honestly, things happen for a reason. I think we all have a plan. ... This isn't it for me." — David Hernandez, after getting voted off "American Idol" this week. Hernandez made headlines after it was revealed that he worked as a stripper at a Phoenix club with a "mostly male" clientele.
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"I actually am the designer. I try everything on and approve it all." — Avril Lavigne, on her new clothing line for the juniors department at Kohl's stores.
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