Tag: Public Appearances

Beyonce and Lady Gaga’s Telephone Collab Truly Impresses

Posted by Kat – March 12, 2010

Fans of both Beyonce and Lady Gaga have been waiting with bated breath for the new collaboration music video, “Telephone,” to premiere, and it looks like Lady Gaga and her companion certainly didn’t disappoint. The new music video premiered last night at 11:30 PM Eastern Standard Time to a ravenous audience just waiting for the video. For the last two months, fans and critics have been given small, quick glimpses of what was going to be in the video, but nothing could have really, really compared to actually seeing the video. With a long intro of over a minute to set up the storyline – Gaga is a new inmate at a “Prison for Bitches,” and Beyonce is her contact on the outside world who later bails her out – the video just gets better from there.


For one thing, the full frontal nudity (Although censored and blurred out, it’s still quite obvious) and the fantastic costuming, it’s hard to tell where the video’s going to go for the moment, or where exactly it relates to the song itself. As most Lady Gaga fans would know, that last factor is strictly optional. With vivid and outrageous telephone-related costuming, it had marks of Lady Gaga’s style all over it. Then again, as it was directed by Jonas Akerlund, the same director to work with her on Paparazzi, you could see the same high levels of thematic care and stylization that makes Lady Gaga enjoy working with him.


All the fans and not-so-fans of the Kill Bill movies would have gotten a real laugh out of the storyline taking place after Lady Gaga gets out of prison, as Beyonce picks her up on the Pussy Wagon, the same exact truck used as the Bride’s escape vehicle at the beginning of Kill Bill Volume 1. On top of that, there are very Tarantino-esque moments in the video, and as Gaga loves to talk about, she is a fan of androgyny and breaking sexual barriers, and there is a healthy dose of that as well in her videos.


Without giving the ending away, this has to be one of the most complex music videos Lady Gaga or Beyonce have done.

Lil Wayne’s Jail Term To Finally Begin

Posted by Kat – March 9, 2010

Considering I’ve been covering the ongoing circus that has been Lil Wayne’s quest to avoid his sentencing trial, it seemed only right to finally finish that particular tale as yesterday, March 8th, Lil Wayne attended his hearing and was finally sentenced.  His term for having pled guilty for attempted criminal possession of a weapon? A year in jail in New York City. It seems more than a little lax, considering he had admitted to having .40-caliber semiautomatic guns that were loaded and on his tour bus, but he was taken away and ordered to begin his sentence immediately. Born with the name Dwayne Carter, he is going to be serving his sentence in city jails, as opposed to a state prison, and with good behavior, he may be out in as soon as eight months.


If you’ve been following this story, then you already know that trying to get Lil Wayne to actually go to his sentencing hearing has been a bit of a pain for all involved. First, it was necessary surgery on his blinged out teeth, and then a fire broke out at the main criminal courthouse in Manhattan. Finally, though, after a very public appearance earlier at Jay-Z’s concert, Lil Wayne did make his court appearance and hsa now been sentenced.


As for what’s going to happen while he’s in jail, the man has already filmed several music videos that are going to premiere over the next several months while he’ll be in jail. And while he’s behind bars, he plans on continuing to write and work on new numbers by the time he comes back home. On top of that, he’s hoping to be in protective custody while behind bars, so it looks like his next year in jail won’t be the worst it could be.

Simon’s Old Seat On Idol Being Heavily Eyed By Steve Lillywhite

Posted by Kat – March 6, 2010

When it comes to American Idol, the news of Simon Cowell’s last season hit a while ago and seems to have caught the attention of celebrities and music bigwigs far and wide. Most notably, though, is Steve Lillywhite, the Grammy-winning producer who has worked with Phish, Morrissey, Jason Mraz, the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band and U2, just to name a few. And Steve Lillywhite has told people that he wants to help the US find the next Elvis Presley, and to do that, he feels he’d be best suited to take over the much-talked about seat that Simon Cowell will be vacating. While Simon Cowell will be leaving to go bring out a U.S. version of the incredibly popular “X Factor” British TV series, Lillywhite has already hired on a publicist and an agent so that he can get started on the process of campaigning for the role.

If you’re curious to see what his reasoning is, Lillywhite had put up a YouTube clip already to talk about his qualifications and his reasoning for wanting to take Simon Cowell’s spot. He’s planning on releasing a slightly more formal and professional video in the next week or so, but the main thing is that Lillywhite really does have a fantastic series of credentials that will be able to make him an ideal judge for American Idol. His knowledge of the pop industry and the rock industry makes him invaluable for knowing what is popular and what will sell, which will definitely be in need for when Cowell leaves.

Unlike some other celebrities who have offered a run on American Idol, Lillywhite is very aware of the six-month run every year and the fact that it takes full commitment to really invest in American Idol, and he is more than willing to do just that. He already watches Idol as it is, and so he’s sure that he would be great with working on the show. He already tends to agree with Cowell’s choices the most, and for Lillywhite, there is no question. He should easily be a candidate.

Lil Wayne Gets ANOTHER Magic Trial Postponement

Posted by Kat – March 3, 2010

Okay, okay, seriously? Wait… SERIOUSLY? First it’s the dental work that he needed so terribly badly that he couldn’t go to trial until it was taken care of. Then, it was a courthouse fire that took place yesterday that made it impossible for him to have his sentencing done then. I understand that there was a fire and that that isn’t exactly an easy or quick fix, but putting all that aside… the guy’s then able to go and perform at the Jay-Z concert last night in New York. I am aware that we have due process and that he is not in custody and that means he should be allowed to about as if he is doing business as usual. In this case, it meant being at Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3″ tour, while Young Jeezy had a set during the performance. BUT. If he had gone to his sentencing the last TWO times, he would be currently serving a very real sentence for a very, very real crime.

That being said, the performance was just as much of a surprise for the concert-goers as well. Jeezy and Jay-Z had performed a collaboration “Real As It Gets” onstage, then Jay-Z said he was leaving Jeezy to a solo performance. After leaving the stage, Jeezy performed a couple of verses on his own before ushering in the surprise guest of Lil Wayne. And that surprise performance was one that completely set the audience on fire, as it were. The number didn’t just have Lil Wayne, either. It also featured Nicki Minaj and Drake, and “I’m Goin’ In” wound up being one of the major highlights of the night.

Of course, when it came to an end and Wayne left, Jeezy made sure to give him his “we’re with you 100 percent” vote before they left. And not to sound cynical or like an old fogey, which I’m not, but doesn’t SOMETHING seem off about letting someone whose new sentencing date is Monday, March 8th, be allowed to go pop into a concert when he’s supposed to be preparing for a sentence?

Ahhh, entertainment industry, how you love to treat your stars.

Night Train Brings Keane Back In With Style

Posted by Kat – February 27, 2010

If you’re looking for one of the single best British export bands to have hit the US airwaves over the last decade, I’d say that Keane is one of the top ones. With Radiohead and Coldplay, Keane has been one of the most consistant and successful bands out there, with their first breakout album of “Hopes and Fears.” That album was followed by 2006′s album “Under the Iron Sea,” then “Perfect Symmetry” in 2008. While Perfect Symmetry didn’t sell nearly as well as Under the Iron Sea and Hopes and Fears have, that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been highly successful and changing.

But, if you’ve been waiting for the next installment of Keane’s awesome lyrical and haunting sound, then you can definitely be excited about “Night Train,” which is going to be coming out on May 11th. While it’s a very short album for them, with only 8 tracks, it has a collaboration with Tigarah, a Japanese MC, and the rapper K’Naan, as well as a track that features a vocal performance by Tim Rice-Oxley, the band’s keyboardist.

So where did the album’s concept come from? When on tour for Perfect Symmetry, the band wanted to come up with their entire album, or at least a single while on the tour, and it was train rides in between gigs that they liked to think. Spontaneous and creative, it looks like this new album is going to be what fans have been looking for, but something a litttle different from their previous albums. As with many bands, they find the challenge of developing a new album to be an interesting and enjoyable one, and none of them are at all plussed by the fact that fans were a little put off by the last album, but they certainly hope their ever changing style doesn’t disappoint again.

A Trip to Haiti from American Idol Champ Kris Allen

Posted by Kat – February 24, 2010

Season 8 of American Idol was the season that brought Kris Allen into the official spotlight as the champion. But it seems that now, he is taking some of the notoriety and fame he has gained to put it to a good cause. After the simply devastating earthquake that has all but destroyed Haiti, Kris Allen, like so many other celebrities and musicians recently, made a trip out to the country to see first-hand the pain inflicted upon the people and to help find ways that he could assist in helping the country rebuild. The result? The “Idol Gives Back” Concept that originally popped up after the disaster will be revisited on Thursday as Allen will reappear on Idol during the episode to help bring awareness and humanitarianism to the front of everyone’s focus.

Kris Allen’s performance will be a major change for him, given that the last time he was on the stage for Idol was to finish the competition and claim victory. But, before he was an Idol competitor, he had done missionary work, and for Allen, it only seemed natural to go out to Haiti to help now. He was there under the United Nations and spent his time helping people at the temporary shelters, visiting and talking and even singing “Amazing Grace” for some of the people. He also handed out bags of rice whenever he could, and spent his time there gathering footage to show people what was really happening there and how they were rebuilding.

Allen’s performance on Idol will be a rendition of “Let It Be” by the Beatles, and footage, as well as his personal thoughts on his trip. He’ll be encouraging donations by text and providing people a much-needed first-hand account of how the relief effort is going in the torn country. For Allen, though, he is grateful and glad to be of help.

John Mayer, Take a CHILL PILL!

Posted by Kat – February 10, 2010

Normally, I’m totally cool with any interview a celebrity puts out, and even if it’s about their personal life, it’s still totally up for grabs. But, I do draw the line when his interview hits levels of inappropriate and a little bit of controversy when it becomes about race. That and I also think it’s a little distasteful to start telling people about what your wang does, but that being said, John Mayer has certainly made quite a statement this last week. Known for being a playboy of the music world and dating women like Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, it seems that none of his exes are going to appreciate the almost misogynistic ways he referred to his sexual exploits with Playboy.

With profanity and references to Jessica Simpson as “sexual napalm” and “crack cocaine,” Mayer’s interview really seems to rub the wrong way. It’s one thing to talk about his exes, but it’s another to sound disrespectful to the point of objectifying Simpson (Not that she needs any help, as she often objectifies herself on her own just fine).

On the other hand, his words about Aniston were fairly nicer, with all sorts of nice and kinds words to say about her, while also quelling rumors that he’d written songs in his new album about Aniston. He mentioned about how he’d been getting “less ass” since he became a huge star because he doesn’t want to jump through hoops, but if his opinion of women is still the same as it’s been since then, then it’s no wonder that comments about how his manhood was a “White supremicist” that preferred to be with white women, but that he wanted to start dating out of that type.

Either way, that interview came off as very “Good ole boys” in the WORST kind of way, and if that’s his opinion of women in general… I’m surprised Aniston hadn’t broken up with him sooner.

Lil Wayne’s Chompers Save Him From Sentencing – For Now

Posted by Kat – February 9, 2010

For Lil Wayne, famous rap star who hit the news junket last year over a arrest for gun possession, seems to have been spared his sentencing for that particular offense for another two months. The reason? Dental surgery. Of course, for Lil Wayne, this reprieve is going to be temporrary, because once these multiple, urgent surgeries are completed, he’ll still have to face sentencing for his conviction of illegal possession of a firearm. It certainly seems convenient, though, that it’s his teeth are such a health risk that he needs to have surgeries before he can be sentenced for an offense he was convicted of.

All the weirdness and bias aside, the sentencing has now been changed to be on March 2nd and it looks like the Supreme Court Justice that needs to sentence him, Charles Solomon, has no more patience for him. There will be no other delays in the sentencing, according to the justice. And what sentence is Lil Wayne looking at? Well, with good behavior, he might be able to get out in eight months, but he’ll be looking at around a year in jail, and that was with a plea deal.

Oddly enough, Lil Wayne was silent on Tuesday, when he stood in court with his dreadlocks and was later brought out of court and immediately into a black SUV. Of course, people were curious as to why exactly he needed this surgery and why it hadn’t been done sooner, but all that his defense lawyer Stacey Richman could say was that it was a medical concern and that had his dentist not been out of the country with charity work, he would have had it done sooner. Sounds a little fishy, and it’s only delaying the inevitable.

Men At Work Sued Over Their FLUTE?!

Posted by Kat – February 5, 2010

When you think of “Down Under,” the famous song by the Aussie 80s band Men At Work, there’s no way that you can’t think of that telltale flute riff. Here’s the tricky part, though. According to lawyers in Australia, that riff is a plagarism of the song sung by Girl Guides everywhere, “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.” The song about that native bird of Australia was written by Marion Sinclair over 70 years ago, who was a teacher who wrote it for a Girl Guides competition. But, it turns out that the music publishing company Larrikin Music has own the copyright to the song since Sinclair passed away in 1988 and they finally filed for a copyright lawsuit in the last year.

Now, if you didn’t know the tune of both songs really well, you probably wouldn’t even realize that it had similarities. And as far as similarities go, I have to say that the Vanilla Ice sample of “Under Pressure”‘s guitar riff seemed like a more blatant rip-off than the flute from Kookaburra. But, the Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson says differently and has determined that the flute is taking a significant amount of the original music and replicated it for “Down Under.”

Earlier, the justice had already given both of the parties the orders to start looking into what kind of compensation Larrikin should receive from the record companies for Men at Work, EMI Songs Australia and BMG Music Entertainment, as well as Ron Strykert and Colin Hay, the songwriters of the band. And we’re talking MILLIONS here, as the settlement could end up giving up to 60 percent of all of “Down Under”‘s royalties since it was released back in 1983.

As for Men At Work? Well, Colin Hay has gone on record saying that he realized he was borrowing from the tune but thought that it was as generic and public domain as Ring Around the Rosy. Talk about an expensive blunder.

We Are the World’s Anniversary Will Be Honored

Posted by Kat – February 3, 2010

Ever since the original “We Are the World,” co-written by Michel Jackson and Lionel Richie, made waves everywhere to help encourage peace and humanitarianism, musicians have been inspired by that song to both write more music with that goal in mind, and to take the time to become humanitarians themsevles. Now, twenty-five years later, Lionel Richie has gotten together with Quincy Jones to give a new historic recording of “We Are the World.” Janet Jackson, Nick Jonas, Celine Dion, and Lil Wayne were some of the top musicians and singers, celebrities of the music world, who were there to record a new 25th anniversery version of the song. In fact, it was such a huge deal that ABC had news cameras available on Monday so that they could film the entire thing.

Of the different artists there for the recording was Janet Jackson, who was given the opportunity to sing the solo originally done by her brother, Michael, in the original recording. Also filling in for another musician was Lil Wayne, who performed Bob Dylan’s original part in the piece, to which he was hilariously adamant that he had not performed the part as well as Bob Dylan did. Over all, the atmosphere of the recording was hopeful, uplifting and clearly honoring the spirit of the original recording.

Curious about the actual range of musical celebrities they had at the performance of “We Are the World”? Well, with the youngest member being Justin Bieber, the fifteen-year-old singing sensation, then on the other end of the spectrum is Tony Bennet, who is eighty-three years old and represents a veteran of the musical world. If you’d like to see the new recording, you’ll be able to see it on February 12th in 3D with the opening of NBC’s broadcast of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.