NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fans of Rihanna can get a sample of the singer's 2012 tour when a documentary featuring performances and behind-the-scenes footage will be shown on U.S. television on May 6.
'RIHANNA 777,' a one-hour special, will air on Fox, the network said on Monday.
The program chronicles Rihanna's late 2012 world tour, which made seven stops in seven days as she promoted her seventh album, 'Unapologetic.' It also includes footage shot on a 777 jet used to transport the singer, her entourage and more than 250 journalists and fans.
The film 'provides an inside look at the singer's ambitious and often turbulent tour, from the sound of popping champagne corks on the plane to the backstage chaos to the singer's special worldwide appearances,' Fox said in a statement.
Stops during the tour included Mexico City, Toronto, Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, London and New York.
Last week Rihanna canceled shows in Boston and Baltimore because she was suffering from flu and laryngitis. She resumed performing on Friday at a stop in Philadelphia.
In 2012 the Barbados-born Grammy Award-winning singer was rated by Time and Forbes magazines as among the world's and celebrity arena's most powerful people.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud; Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bill Trott)
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Justin Timberlake puts the sexy into married life in new album
By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Rapper Lil Wayne says he is fine after health scare
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. rapper Lil Wayne said on Friday he was fine and thanked fans for their concern after a reported seizure that led celebrity website TMZ.com to claim he was in a medically induced coma and near death.
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
Friday, March 15, 2013
New musical on songstress Carole King Broadway-bound
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A musical about the life of legendary singer-songwriter Carole King will open on Broadway next year, producers said on Friday.
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' will chart the journey of Carol Klein from Brooklyn to the top of the pop music world, producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing said.
Featuring songs written by Carole King and her first husband and collaborator, Gerry Goffin, as well as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the musical was set to open in the spring of 2014.
King 'fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties had the husband of her dreams and a hot career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock'n'roll,' the producers said in a statement.
King, 71, said musicals had been a major influence on her. 'When Gerry and I first met, we made a bargain that I would write music for the Broadway show he wanted to write if he wrote lyrics for my rock'n'roll songs.
'The songs took off, and the show idea never came to fruition. Now that our songs have merged with a Broadway show, we've come full circle,' she said in a statement.
King shot to fame in the early 1970s when her second album, 'Tapestry,' swept the Grammy awards, winning best album, song of year ('You've Got a Friend,' later covered by James Taylor) and record of the year ('It's Too Late').
Other hits included 'I Feel the Earth Move,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' and 'Sweet Seasons.' More recently, King appeared in a recurring role on the U.S. television series 'Gilmore Girls.'
No casting decisions were announced.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Doina Chiacu)
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' will chart the journey of Carol Klein from Brooklyn to the top of the pop music world, producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing said.
Featuring songs written by Carole King and her first husband and collaborator, Gerry Goffin, as well as Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the musical was set to open in the spring of 2014.
King 'fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties had the husband of her dreams and a hot career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock'n'roll,' the producers said in a statement.
King, 71, said musicals had been a major influence on her. 'When Gerry and I first met, we made a bargain that I would write music for the Broadway show he wanted to write if he wrote lyrics for my rock'n'roll songs.
'The songs took off, and the show idea never came to fruition. Now that our songs have merged with a Broadway show, we've come full circle,' she said in a statement.
King shot to fame in the early 1970s when her second album, 'Tapestry,' swept the Grammy awards, winning best album, song of year ('You've Got a Friend,' later covered by James Taylor) and record of the year ('It's Too Late').
Other hits included 'I Feel the Earth Move,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' and 'Sweet Seasons.' More recently, King appeared in a recurring role on the U.S. television series 'Gilmore Girls.'
No casting decisions were announced.
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Doina Chiacu)
"X Factor" the musical to hit London stage in 2014
LONDON (Reuters) - Creator of 'The X Factor', Simon Cowell, has given his approval for his hit TV singing competition to head to the London stage.
Syco Entertainment, Cowell's joint venture with Sony Music, is teaming up with Stage Entertainment UK to bring a musical based on the TV singing contest to the stage next year, the partners announced on Friday.
The show, to be called 'X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical!' will hit London's West End theatre district in early 2014 with its creators calling it an 'affectionate poke' at the hugely successful TV show created by Cowell.
It is being written by British comedian Harry Hill with music from Steve Brown and will be directed by Sean Foley.
Production company Stage Entertainment UK, behind such hits as 'Oliver!', 'Hairspray' and 'Singin' in the Rain', said in a statement that the new musical would follow the fictional character Chenice on her unlikely journey to stardom.
Described as 'the only girl in the world who has never heard of The X Factor', she stumbles across an audition queue with her talking dog, an incident that changes her life forever.
Cowell has made a fortune from 'The X Factor' and similar television talent shows, and is also a household name in his native Britain and the United States for appearing as the acerbic judge on several of his shows.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Syco Entertainment, Cowell's joint venture with Sony Music, is teaming up with Stage Entertainment UK to bring a musical based on the TV singing contest to the stage next year, the partners announced on Friday.
The show, to be called 'X Factor - It's Time To Face The Musical!' will hit London's West End theatre district in early 2014 with its creators calling it an 'affectionate poke' at the hugely successful TV show created by Cowell.
It is being written by British comedian Harry Hill with music from Steve Brown and will be directed by Sean Foley.
Production company Stage Entertainment UK, behind such hits as 'Oliver!', 'Hairspray' and 'Singin' in the Rain', said in a statement that the new musical would follow the fictional character Chenice on her unlikely journey to stardom.
Described as 'the only girl in the world who has never heard of The X Factor', she stumbles across an audition queue with her talking dog, an incident that changes her life forever.
Cowell has made a fortune from 'The X Factor' and similar television talent shows, and is also a household name in his native Britain and the United States for appearing as the acerbic judge on several of his shows.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)
Jay-Z to put modern jazz twist on Gatsby soundtrack
LONDON (Reuters) - Rapper Jay-Z has teamed up with Australian director Baz Luhrmann to produce and perform on the soundtrack for 'The Great Gatsby' which will open the 2013 Cannes film festival in May.
Jay-Z said he would join some of the world's top musical artists on the soundtrack which would bring modern 'jazz age' energy to the latest film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of 1920s America.
The hip-hop entrepreneur said he was introduced to Luhrmann by Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the lead role of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in the movie and this led to a two-year collaboration.
'As soon as I spoke with Baz and Leonardo, I knew this was the right project,' Jay-Z said in a statement.
''The Great Gatsby' is that classic American story of one's introduction to extravagance, decadence and illusion. It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist.'
Jay-Z will be executive producer of the soundtrack and contribute some newly written songs to the score by composer Craig Armstrong, who worked with Luhrmann on his previous films 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'Romeo + Juliet'.
The soundtrack of the film, which opens on May 10, will be released by Interscope Records.
Luhrmann's adaptation of Fitzgerald's account of 'Roaring Twenties' America will open the Cannes film festival, the world's most important cinema showcase, with DiCaprio appearing at the event for the first time since 2007.
Organizers this week said the opening gala, preceded by a glitzy red carpet fashion parade and followed by parties along the palm-lined Riviera, will also be attended by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and Jay-Z.
Luhrmann's first film 'Strictly Ballroom' was screened at Cannes 21 years ago.
DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the 3D movie, Carey Mulligan takes the role of Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, the narrator.
The festival runs from May 15 to 26 and U.S. director Steven Spielberg is head of this year's jury.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith)
Jay-Z said he would join some of the world's top musical artists on the soundtrack which would bring modern 'jazz age' energy to the latest film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of 1920s America.
The hip-hop entrepreneur said he was introduced to Luhrmann by Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the lead role of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby in the movie and this led to a two-year collaboration.
'As soon as I spoke with Baz and Leonardo, I knew this was the right project,' Jay-Z said in a statement.
''The Great Gatsby' is that classic American story of one's introduction to extravagance, decadence and illusion. It's ripe for experimentation and ready to be interpreted with a modern twist.'
Jay-Z will be executive producer of the soundtrack and contribute some newly written songs to the score by composer Craig Armstrong, who worked with Luhrmann on his previous films 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'Romeo + Juliet'.
The soundtrack of the film, which opens on May 10, will be released by Interscope Records.
Luhrmann's adaptation of Fitzgerald's account of 'Roaring Twenties' America will open the Cannes film festival, the world's most important cinema showcase, with DiCaprio appearing at the event for the first time since 2007.
Organizers this week said the opening gala, preceded by a glitzy red carpet fashion parade and followed by parties along the palm-lined Riviera, will also be attended by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and Jay-Z.
Luhrmann's first film 'Strictly Ballroom' was screened at Cannes 21 years ago.
DiCaprio plays Jay Gatsby in the 3D movie, Carey Mulligan takes the role of Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire is Nick Carraway, the narrator.
The festival runs from May 15 to 26 and U.S. director Steven Spielberg is head of this year's jury.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith)
Depeche Mode, "pessimists at heart," never imagined longevity
By Corrie MacLaggan
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.
The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of 'Delta Machine' on March 26.
'We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next,' Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album 'Speak & Spell,' thanks to hits along the way like 1984's 'People are People' and 1989's 'Personal Jesus.'
Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.
The title 'Delta Machine' reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.
'We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic,' Gore said.
NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH
The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.
'You'd think that we would have done that at some point in this career, but we haven't,' he said, referring to promoting albums prior to release.
Depeche Mode will embark on its 17th tour in Tel Aviv on May 7, with the North American leg scheduled to begin in Detroit on August 22.
Gore, having spent a significant part of the last three decades on the road and given up drinking seven years ago, said touring these days is different.
'The last tour I really enjoyed because it was the first one that I'd really been lucid enough to take in everything and enjoy the concerts and then enjoy the cities the next day,' he said. 'So I'm really looking forward to this one.'
Life has also improved for Gahan, 50, a former heroin addict who attempted suicide in 1995, almost died after an overdose in 1996 and got sober about two years later.
'My life has just progressively got better,' Gahan told an audience at conference. 'I feel like I participate in it in a very different way.'
Asked how he manages to remain so active on stage, Gahan replied that when he gets up in front of people who have bought tickets, he does his best to entertain them.
There's nothing worse, he said, than performers on stage staring at their shoes while wearing 'camping clothes.'
'This is rock and roll,' Gahan said.
(Reporting By Corrie MacLaggan, editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Xavier Briand)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)