tv music

"No the Michael Jackson news will not end EVER! So get used to it and everyone stop complaining, that's so annoying, it makes you seem jealous or something...."
  Kim

Dancing with the Stars Michael Jackson Tribute

Published October 17th, 2009 by Karen
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Creative Commons License photo credit: ANGELOUX

Tuesday’s episode of Dancing with the Stars is set to feature an hour-long tribute to dance/pop icon Michael Jackson.

(WATCH: American Idol Michael Jackson Tribute Videos by Adam Lambert, Kris Allen)

The show will reportedly “fuse classic ballroom and Latin styles” of dance in recognition of various eras of Jackson’s career, according to an AP report.

Hopefully, the show won’t reenact the “Thriller” video with ballroom dancing zombies…On second thought, that might be a fittingly strange tribute to the late pop star.

While Jackson was alive, American Idol dedicated a night of performances to his songs. Although that show hasn’t started its new season yet, it seems likely that there will be another Jackson tribute in the works when it resumes.

Will the MJ news ever end?

MORE Music News:
WEIRD: WATCH: Falcon Heene, Balloon Boy, Music Video Uncovered
LISTEN: Michael Jackson Estate Admits “This is It” Stolen From Another Song
TROUBLE: Rock Star Offends Entire Country During Concert
MONEY: Musician Suing Starbucks for Over $5 Million

Idol Attack: Music Diva Punched by Fan at Bookstore

Published October 14th, 2009 by Karen
Mandela90 680
Creative Commons License photo credit: p_c_w

Simon Cowell isn’t going to be happy when he hears about this.

Singer Leona Lewis, the chart-topping singer Cowell helped rocket to stardom after she took home the top prize on X Factor (the British inspiration for American Idol) was reportedly punched by Continue reading »

’80s Rock Star Taking It All Off on TV

Published October 10th, 2009 by Wendy
Californication Billboard
Creative Commons License photo credit: James Trosh

Rick Springfield is set to bare his butt in an upcoming episode of the cable TV Show “Californication,” according to an Associated Press report.

“It’s not full-frontal, but it’s pretty much full on,” the 60-year-old musician-actor was quoted as saying. “As long as it’s for the part, I’m cool with it. And it’s funny. It’s not done to be particularly sexy.”

Springfield will appear as Continue reading »

Simon Cowell 50th Birthday Party Almost As Big as His Ego

Published October 5th, 2009 by Wendy
Simon Cowell
Creative Commons License photo credit: cliff1066™

American Idol judge Simon Cowell celebrated his 50th birthday in London over the weekend with 400 of his closest friends, according to a report on Popeater.com

According to the report, Cowell had the most resplendent birthday bash imaginable, with a price tag of $1.5 million. In attendance were A-List guests like Kate Moss, Kevin Spacey, and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, not to mention Idol co-stars Randy Jackson and Continue reading »

"Kelly Clarkson stole the show! Her ballad and duet w/ Melissa was fricken amazing!!!"
  chris

Hudson, Cyrus Inducted into VH1 Divas

Published September 20th, 2009 by Karen

Creative Commons License photo credit: calmdownlove

Move over Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, there’s a new class of divas in town.

Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus and Kelly Clarkson were among the new inductees at the “VH1 Divas” concert last week, according to an Associated Press report.

Paula Abdul hosted and opened the show, but she got the most attention for lambasting her “American Idol” replacement, Ellen DeGeneres, by prancing around onstage in a signature suit, tennis shoes and a short blonde wig.

According to the AP, Hudson may have had the night’s biggest diva moment - a duet with Stevie Wonder, who she called her “childhood hero.” Cyndi Lauper, Liza Minnelli, Sheryl Crow, Leona Lewis, Adele, Jordin Sparks and India.Arie also performed.

The event was recorded live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

"wow what a free country .... screw warner bros."
  chris

Record Labels Sue Ellen DeGeneres Over Illegal Songs

Published September 11th, 2009 by Karen
Even technology needs it
Creative Commons License photo credit: Nomad Tales

Four of the world’s largest record labels are suing the producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show for using songs with out permission on the popular day time talk show, according to a Reuters report.

DeGeneres, who has just been named American Idol’s fourth judge, opens her shows singing and dancing to tunes selected by her on-stage DJ. The lawsuit, filed in Nashville, said The Ellen DeGeneres Show has used more than 1,000 songs without permission and seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

While DeGeneres herself is not named in the suit, her production company, A Very Good Production is. The labels said that when they asked why licenses were not obtained for use of the songs, representatives for the show said they “did not roll that way.”

“As sophisticated consumers of music, defendants knew fully well that, regardless of the way they rolled, under the Copyright Act … they needed a license to use the sound recordings lawfully,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit was filed by Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and EMI Group.

MORE Music News:

POLL: Ellen DeGeneres Replaces Abdul on Idol: Good Idea?
COURT: Courtney Love to Sue Guitar Hero 5: “I Loathe it and Kurt Would, Too”
GAMES: Kurt Cobain Sings Bon Jovi? Courtney Love Sucks.
TRIVIA: Daily Music Quiz: Roger Daltry and Jack Kerouac’s Brother
TRIVIA: Daily Music Quiz: Band Breaks Up After Fan Attack

"Let's move on and stop commenting on this topic. Everyone has their own point of views."
  Shiah

Jay-Z’s 9/11 Concert, Blueprint 3 Leaks (Listen)

Published September 6th, 2009 by Karen
Jay Z
Creative Commons License photo credit: AlexJohnson

Jay-Z’s September 11 album The Blueprint 3 leaked online last week, a week ahead of its September 8 official release date, according to a report on Rollingstone.com.

The hip hop artist was made aware of the leak at a press conference for his 9/11 Madison Square Garden benefit concert which will be broadcast live on Fuse TV starting at 9 p.m. “I may be the most bootlegged artist in history,” Jay-Z responded at the Answer the Call conference. “It’s a preview. I’m excited for people to hear the album. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done, so enjoy it.”

Prior to this, a handful of tracks were dropped from the album, including the initial singles “D.O.A.” and “Run This Town,” which were both produced by Timbaland.

According to Rolling Stone, one reason why Jay may be taking the news so well is that with fans able to hear the album before its due date, he’s been getting some early positive reviews. “My pager is actually ringing right now, so people are probably calling me and telling me they pretty much like it,” Jay-Z said.

MORE Music News:
MUSIC: Listen: Jay-Z The Blueprint 3, Official Leak. Worth the Hype?
POLL: Jay-Z Performs in Place of Ailing Beastie Boys: Good Choice?
MONEY: Mariah Carey’s “Memoirs” to Contain Advertisements
TV: Jay-Z, Lady Gaga Add 2009 VMA Performances

Jerry Lee Lewis Makes TV History. Plus, 73-year-old Star Announces 2009 Tour Dates

Published July 28th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Jerry Lee Lewis’s live TV debut. (Music starts around 2:15 in the clip.)

On this day in 1957, a wild, piano-burning, 21-year-old rock’n'roll pianist named Jerry Lee Lewis made his television debut on The Steve Allen Show. Lewis went on to have one of the most exciting, and controversial, careers in rock’n'roll history, and although he has experimented with country music and gospel, he always seems to return to his rockin’ roots.

52 years later, at age 73, Lewis is still on tour around the world.

2009 Jerry Lee Lewis Tour Dates: Continue reading »

American Idol Top 13 Surprise? Tatiana Del Toro Loses, Again.

Published March 6th, 2009 by Karen

In a surprise twist that was likely missed by anyone attempting to watch last night’s American Idol on their DVR, a few seconds after the scheduled end of the show, the AI folks announced that they were going to select four wild card winners rather than three, as had been previously announced.

Basically, that means that this year’s Idol competition will start with the top 13, instead of the usual top 12.

Bad math? Apparently, this is what passes for drama these days. Yawn.

However, in what was surely the most surprising moment of Thursday’s Wild Card round of American Idol, Tatiana Del Toro was cut from the competition (again), after singing “Saving All My Love For You” (again). (Maybe she should’ve tried a new song?)

The drama queen who has become better known for her crying fits than her mediocre singing ability was cut from the competition in an earlier round, but was given a second chance at joining the competition.

While many (cynical) viewers expected the noisy Del Toro to be selected by the judges to stay in the contest, at least long enough to boost ratings, it was not to be. Del Toro was eliminated after her performance, although Paula Abdul awkwardly attempted to comfort the rejected singer by telling her that things weren’t over for her yet, and that maybe she could be an actress.

Or, maybe she can be a judge on a TV singing contest-you apparently don’t need any discernable talent to do that, either

Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai were the night’s big winners and will return for the next round of the competition along with the rest of the top 13.

Did the judges make a mistake by keeping predictable singers onboard and cutting singers with outrageous personalities like Del Toro, Norman Gentle and Nathaniel Marshall? Guess we’ll find out soon.

American Idol Wild Card Winners Not Very Wild

Published March 5th, 2009 by Karen

To the surprise of no one, American Idol viewers voted Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez and Lil Rounds into the top 12 last night.

Tonight’s episode of the show features the much dreaded wild card round wherein judges, not viewers, will select three more losers, uh, contestants to advance to the finals.

The most surprising part of the wild card round is that Norman Gentle won’t be back with his wild cabaret act, nor will the almost equally flamboyant Nathaniel Marshall and his silly haircut and ’80s fashion disasters.

The not-so-wild singers facing off during tonight’s wild card round are: Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Brady, Megan Corkrey, Matt Girard, Jesse Langseth, Anoop Desai and, of course, Tatiana Del Toro.

Will this be the last we see of teary-eyed drama queen Del Toro? (She is the only person on Idol that cries more than Paula Abdul.) Or will the judges keep her around for ratings? We’re sure that the folks over at vote for the worst are already planning to make Del Toro the new Idol champ if she makes it to the next round.

Maybe Del Toro will finally realize that she’s only around because she’s a joke, and show up sporting a Sanjaya pony-hawk.

Guess we’ll find out tonight.

So far, the remaining contestants are pretty forgettable. Hopefully, things will get better as the contest progresses, but we’re not holding our breath.

This show has really gone downhill lately, and the addition of a fourth worthless judge hasn’t helped matters (Kara DioGuardi, we’re looking at you).

Then again, all of these dull contestants are probably more exciting than Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta.

Yawn.

Are you excited about this season of Idol?

Leave a comment and tell us who you think will win American Idol Season 8.