SUN 31st DEC - G-A-Y NEW YEAR KYLIE WEEKEND
London will be going KYLIE mad with the SHOWGIRL coming to town & it all starts at G-A-Y
At midnight, an EXCLUSIVE video message filmed in Australia from the QUEEN OF G-A-Y
Start the year off by seeing KYLIE at Wembley Arena - WHAT, you haven't got a ticket & it's totally sold out. Don't Despair, On the hour every hour G-A-Y has a pair of Tickets To Be won
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GET READY FOR THE CAMPEST POP PARTY, TO SAY GOODBYE TO 2006 AND HELLO TO 2007
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2 Rooms Of Music
Main Dance Floor - Every CAMP CLASSIC That Has Ever Existed including every hour 3 KYLIE Classics back to back & during one of them will be the KYLIE Balloon Drop Giveaway which includes one pair of tickets to her sold out shows at Wembley Arena in every hourly giveaway
Middle Bar - The Campest Pop Classics From The 70s, 80s & 90s
This will be the ultimate pop party with only the campest classics anthems that you would expect from a Party Night @ G-A-Y.
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EVERYBODY LOVES KYLIE - AND KYLIE LOVES G-A-Y - SO THE ULTIMATE KYLIE NEW YEAR PARTY CAN ONLY HAPPEN AT G-A-Y
A NEW YEAR PARTY NOT TO MISS FOR ALL KYLIE FANS
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Friday, November 24, 2006
Take That wade into album war
I’M delighted to report the Mancunian army is sticking together in the OASIS vs WESTLIFE album chart war.
Fellow Manc GARY BARLOW has stepped forward to defend the honour of NOEL and LIAM GALLAGHER.
After SIR ELTON JOHN waded in yesterday in support of the cheesy Irish crooners, I called upon Modfather PAUL WELLER to sort out this mess.
Sadly the rock god failed to do so — perhaps he hadn’t read the paper after a heavy night of showbiz behaviour.
But fear not, that fine songwriter Gary rallied to the cause.
I caught up with the TAKE THAT star as the band performed material from new album Beautiful World at an exclusive Radio 2 session at London’s Abbey Road studios.
The usually mild-mannered Gary told me: “I just don’t get the whole Westlife thing. I don’t understand who would go out and buy their records.
“I haven’t got it and I won’t be buying it, but I have got the Oasis album. I’m definitely backing Oasis over them — I thought Oasis would storm it to No1 with their best of.”
Latest midweek sales figures show Westlife’s Love album has now sold 129,000 copies compared to Oasis’ Stop The Clocks on 114,000.
Fellow Manc GARY BARLOW has stepped forward to defend the honour of NOEL and LIAM GALLAGHER.
After SIR ELTON JOHN waded in yesterday in support of the cheesy Irish crooners, I called upon Modfather PAUL WELLER to sort out this mess.
Sadly the rock god failed to do so — perhaps he hadn’t read the paper after a heavy night of showbiz behaviour.
But fear not, that fine songwriter Gary rallied to the cause.
I caught up with the TAKE THAT star as the band performed material from new album Beautiful World at an exclusive Radio 2 session at London’s Abbey Road studios.
The usually mild-mannered Gary told me: “I just don’t get the whole Westlife thing. I don’t understand who would go out and buy their records.
“I haven’t got it and I won’t be buying it, but I have got the Oasis album. I’m definitely backing Oasis over them — I thought Oasis would storm it to No1 with their best of.”
Latest midweek sales figures show Westlife’s Love album has now sold 129,000 copies compared to Oasis’ Stop The Clocks on 114,000.
called on Bizarre readers to go out in their thousands and buy the Oasis CD to help Stop The C*cks and prevent a serious miscarriage of justice in the pop charts.
While many Westlife devotees disagree, I’m glad Gary, MARK OWEN, HOWARD, DONALD and JASON ORANGE have got taste.
Mark told me: “I love Oasis, I think their songs are great.”While some will argue Take That are just a cheesy boyband like Westlife, I think there’s a huge difference — Gary wrote most of their original hits.
I was lucky enough to hear the new songs the band have written for Beautiful World and some of them are instant pop classics.
Their performance of new ballad I’d Wait For Life, with a small string orchestra, was jaw-dropping. You’ll be able to judge for yourself if you listen to the session, which will be broadcast on Radio 2 tomorrow at 8pm.
During Back For Good, Mark told the crowd: “If you are listening on the radio — we’re naked.”
Sadly, he was only joking.
While many Westlife devotees disagree, I’m glad Gary, MARK OWEN, HOWARD, DONALD and JASON ORANGE have got taste.
Mark told me: “I love Oasis, I think their songs are great.”While some will argue Take That are just a cheesy boyband like Westlife, I think there’s a huge difference — Gary wrote most of their original hits.
I was lucky enough to hear the new songs the band have written for Beautiful World and some of them are instant pop classics.
Their performance of new ballad I’d Wait For Life, with a small string orchestra, was jaw-dropping. You’ll be able to judge for yourself if you listen to the session, which will be broadcast on Radio 2 tomorrow at 8pm.
During Back For Good, Mark told the crowd: “If you are listening on the radio — we’re naked.”
Sadly, he was only joking.
GARY had bad and good words about old bandmate ROBBIE WILLIAMS. He said: “I didn’t like Rudebox at all but I really liked Lovelight.” Still a bit of rivalry there, then.
The lads revealed they will be performing on the final of The X Factor next month. Gary said: “It’s a big show with big ratings, so it’s a real honour to be asked.”
The lads have two signing sessions in HMV stores on Monday.They’ll be at London’s Oxford Street at 12.30pm, then they fly to Manchester and Market Street at 6.30pm.
HOWARD didn’t spend long at the aftershow party. He explained: “I was nervous before the show because I knew I had a big vocal performance. Now I’m exhausted.”
MARK couldn’t stop gushing about his three-month-old son, Elwood Jack. He said: “I love him to bits. It’s the best thing to have happened to me and my girlfriend Emma.”
Westlife .. Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Take That @ HMV 150 Oxford Street, London & HMV Manchester
Take That will be signing copies of their new album 'Beautiful World' at:
HMV 150 Oxford Street, London - 12.30pm on Monday - 27th November* then at:
HMV 90 Market Street, Manchester - 6.30pm also on 27th November*
*Please note that due to time constraints, there will be strictly limited access to the queue to meet the band. There will be 250 wristbands available to fans at each store at 8.00am in Manchester and 9.00am in London. One wristband per person, no reservations, on a "first-come-first-served" basis at participating stores only.
For details of other chances to get wristbands to meet the band at HMV please visit www.takethattv.com
HMV 150 Oxford Street, London - 12.30pm on Monday - 27th November* then at:
HMV 90 Market Street, Manchester - 6.30pm also on 27th November*
*Please note that due to time constraints, there will be strictly limited access to the queue to meet the band. There will be 250 wristbands available to fans at each store at 8.00am in Manchester and 9.00am in London. One wristband per person, no reservations, on a "first-come-first-served" basis at participating stores only.
For details of other chances to get wristbands to meet the band at HMV please visit www.takethattv.com
Jason 'n' Kylie
Jason Donovan's dad Terence has revealed that his son reunited with Kylie last year.The Aussie pair, who were lovers in the eighties, had lost contact over the years but Jason dashed over to see Kylie when he heard of her breast cancer."Jason and Kylie had gone their separate ways," said Terence, who co-stared with his son in 'Neighbours' playing Doug Willis."But when he heard she was ill, he contacted her right away. They met up in London."It's also been revealed that Jason, who sold 30 million albums in his heyday, took massive amounts of cocaine to get over his split with Kylie, but has been clean since the birth of his daughter in 2000
Take That perform Abbey Road gig
Take That have performed a special gig at the famous Abbey Road studios in London for just 300 fans.
The foursome, who have recently made a comeback after 10 years, sang songs from their new album as well as old favourites like Pray and Never Forget.
Gary Barlow, who admitted he had been surprised with their success a second time round, said: "It's been so great to come back."
The concert will be broadcast on Saturday on BBC Radio 2.
Chart success
"It has given us a chance to make music again, and to see all the faces smiling back at us at our gigs is just great," Barlow added.
In tribute to the venue's history, Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, and Jason Orange finished their set with a Beatles medley.
The band's new single Patience is heading for number one this Sunday in the UK singles chart.
Their fourth album, Beautiful World, is likely to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
Since announcing their reunion last year, Take That have just finished a sell-out tour where they played 29 dates at venues across the UK.
The foursome, who have recently made a comeback after 10 years, sang songs from their new album as well as old favourites like Pray and Never Forget.
Gary Barlow, who admitted he had been surprised with their success a second time round, said: "It's been so great to come back."
The concert will be broadcast on Saturday on BBC Radio 2.
Chart success
"It has given us a chance to make music again, and to see all the faces smiling back at us at our gigs is just great," Barlow added.
In tribute to the venue's history, Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, and Jason Orange finished their set with a Beatles medley.
The band's new single Patience is heading for number one this Sunday in the UK singles chart.
Their fourth album, Beautiful World, is likely to be one of the top sellers this Christmas.
Since announcing their reunion last year, Take That have just finished a sell-out tour where they played 29 dates at venues across the UK.
Take That GAY DRAMA!!!
Take That have angered Radio 1 listeners after referring to skiing as "gay".The band, who were being interviewed for Jo Whiley's show, discussed which sport was more "gay" - skiing or snowboarding.Whiley apologised to listeners for any offence caused after the boys had left the studio."I go skiing in my spare time," said Jason Orange. "Snowboarding is a bit gay isn't it?""No way, I think skiing is gay. They wear salopettes, those all-in-one suits are definitely gay," said Howard Donald.Listeners complained recently when Radio 1 breakfast show host Chris Moyles also used the term in a derogatory manner.
Nadine Coyle is not a Girl Alone!
Nadine Coyle's dad has said that his daughter is still going out with actor Jesse Metcalfe.Niall Coyle said that the pair were still going strong and that Nadine had flown out to Los Angeles to see the 'Desperate Housewives' star."Recent speculation about the pair breaking up is a load of rubbish," said Niall."They just couldn't stop kissing each other at the airport and seemed absolutely delighted," said an onlooker.Bless.
Louis: Westlife are the best
By LOUIS WALSHNovember 23, 2006
A BATTLE is raging in the album charts between pop heavyweights The Beatles, Oasis and U2.
But four Irish lads are putting the legends to shame with an album of rehashed covers.
Cheesy, bland, boring, predictable – all words used to describe Westlife in the past.
And yesterday The Sun’s Bizarre column launched a campaign to stop them getting to No1 with The Love Album.
But here their manager, X Factor judge Louis Walsh, explains why he thinks Westlife are the world’s greatest band.
WESTLIFE truly are the people’s band — they appeal to ordinary people, people like you and me.
The sort of people who pick up this paper every day. That is the key to their success.
It’s people on the street up and down the country who buy their records — not the trendy London types who are too snobby to think they are any good.
Look at the numbers and they speak for themselves. People go out and buy Westlife records in the shops in their thousands. They’re not the type of fans who will download them.
But four Irish lads are putting the legends to shame with an album of rehashed covers.
Cheesy, bland, boring, predictable – all words used to describe Westlife in the past.
And yesterday The Sun’s Bizarre column launched a campaign to stop them getting to No1 with The Love Album.
But here their manager, X Factor judge Louis Walsh, explains why he thinks Westlife are the world’s greatest band.
WESTLIFE truly are the people’s band — they appeal to ordinary people, people like you and me.
The sort of people who pick up this paper every day. That is the key to their success.
It’s people on the street up and down the country who buy their records — not the trendy London types who are too snobby to think they are any good.
Look at the numbers and they speak for themselves. People go out and buy Westlife records in the shops in their thousands. They’re not the type of fans who will download them.
And the lads themselves are solid gold. Mark, Nicky, Shane and Kian keep their feet firmly on the ground — they don’t try to be anything they are not.
They know they are just four guys from Ireland who got lucky and, at the end of the day, they are nice people who don’t forget their roots.
Four normal lads in an extraordinary situation who are close, tight, good friends. I think that comes across with people.
As a band, they are not in competition with anyone — there’s no one else out there who compares.
Take That are similar in terms of being a successful boy band but it’s a different kind of music.
In terms of other boybands, they have seen them all come and go. Westlife have sold 32million records and they’re going to go on for ever. It’s all down to hard work.
They put records out back to back and they just don’t stop. It means their fans keep coming back for more.
They’ve had 14 No1 singles — and will try to get 20.
They never get good airplay, they cannot get played on Radio 1 for love nor money . . . but it doesn’t matter. They’ve proved you don’t need Radio 1.
Westlife aren’t hip but I think that’s why many people like them.
Like the band, their fans don’t pretend to be something they are not either.
Westlife have a huge fanbase. They’ve sold 150,000 tickets for their tour.
I love Oasis — I’ve bought the new album — and I love The Beatles.
Westlife are No1 in Ireland this week — they’ve beaten U2 there, which has never happened. This is going to be their biggest-selling album in Ireland.
They are set to do eight nights at The Point in Dublin next year — no one else can do that.
As for the tunes, I pick them all — including the “cheesy” ones.
I pick them because I love them and it seems a whole load of people out there love them too.
They know they are just four guys from Ireland who got lucky and, at the end of the day, they are nice people who don’t forget their roots.
Four normal lads in an extraordinary situation who are close, tight, good friends. I think that comes across with people.
As a band, they are not in competition with anyone — there’s no one else out there who compares.
Take That are similar in terms of being a successful boy band but it’s a different kind of music.
In terms of other boybands, they have seen them all come and go. Westlife have sold 32million records and they’re going to go on for ever. It’s all down to hard work.
They put records out back to back and they just don’t stop. It means their fans keep coming back for more.
They’ve had 14 No1 singles — and will try to get 20.
They never get good airplay, they cannot get played on Radio 1 for love nor money . . . but it doesn’t matter. They’ve proved you don’t need Radio 1.
Westlife aren’t hip but I think that’s why many people like them.
Like the band, their fans don’t pretend to be something they are not either.
Westlife have a huge fanbase. They’ve sold 150,000 tickets for their tour.
I love Oasis — I’ve bought the new album — and I love The Beatles.
Westlife are No1 in Ireland this week — they’ve beaten U2 there, which has never happened. This is going to be their biggest-selling album in Ireland.
They are set to do eight nights at The Point in Dublin next year — no one else can do that.
As for the tunes, I pick them all — including the “cheesy” ones.
I pick them because I love them and it seems a whole load of people out there love them too.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Colour Me In *HQ*
SEB is pure quality pop!!!!!!!
http://rapidshare.com/files/4365949/12_Sophie_Ellis-Bextor_-__Colour_Me_In.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/4365949/12_Sophie_Ellis-Bextor_-__Colour_Me_In.mp3
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Lo Voglio Maybe I'm Crazy
Un hamburger che mette a dura prova anche i mangiatori più incalliti, servito da cameriere vestite da infermiere nel ristorante "Attacco di cuore".
Si chiama "Quadruple Bypass Burger" che in italiano significa più o meno panino da quadruplo bypass, ed è il nuovo re dei junk food, i cibi spazzatura. Il panino è in vendita negli Stati Uniti presso il ristorante "The Heart Attack Grill", in Arizona, ed è stato creato mettendo insieme 4 hamburger, 4 striscie di bacon, 3 stradi di formaggio, pomodoro e lattuga (si sa, la verdura fa bene....)
Emma: Spice Girls reunion a matter of time!
Emma Bunton said she would love the Spice Girls to reunite when she has more time on her hands.
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' star said that it's not a case of if the five piece - including Geri Halliwell - will eventually reunite, but when.
Emma, who praised Take That's comeback, said she isn't sure yet how the reunion would come about or whether the girls would tour or bring out a new album.
"We all want to do it," she said.
"It's more a question of when. I've no idea if it would be a one-off or a tour, but the Take That thing has been amazing."
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' star said that it's not a case of if the five piece - including Geri Halliwell - will eventually reunite, but when.
Emma, who praised Take That's comeback, said she isn't sure yet how the reunion would come about or whether the girls would tour or bring out a new album.
"We all want to do it," she said.
"It's more a question of when. I've no idea if it would be a one-off or a tour, but the Take That thing has been amazing."
Monday, November 20, 2006
Scissor Sisters Put An End To Movie Rumours
Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears has put an end to the recent rumours that the band are working on a biopic based on the band.
Jakes said: "Let's face it, look at our videos. They're hard enough to get sorted out for the screen so no, I can't see the movie ever coming to light."
Jakes said: "Let's face it, look at our videos. They're hard enough to get sorted out for the screen so no, I can't see the movie ever coming to light."
This Saturday G-A-Y GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN PARTY
A NIGHT DEDICATED To All The G-A-Y FAVOURITE POP GROUPS who are no longer together & Artists who no longer record. Groups including S CLUB, ABBA, WHAM, SPICE GIRLS, STEPS and many more, Artists including ADAM RICKITT, LOLLY, BILLIE PIPER, VICTORIA BECKHAM & GERI HALLIWELL & many more
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All the records played by the the DJ's except KYLIE's "Better The Devil You Know" will be by groups that are no longer together or artists who no longer record. This will be a trip down memory lane, to hear some pop classics from some of the top pop bands & artists.
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Here's a taster of some of the bands that are gone but not forgotten
A1, ABBA, AQUA, ATOMIC KITTEN, B*WITCHED, BEE GEES, BOYZONE, DESTINY'S CHILD, 2 UNLIMITED, HEAR'SAY, MEL & KIM, S CLUB 7, SAVAGE GARDEN, SPICE GIRLS, STEPS, VENGABOYS & WHAM
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4 Times during the night without stopping the night or clearing the stage, on a special platform the all new G-A-Y Dancers will be doing their own special GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN routines
www.g-a-y.co.uk
Steps - One For Sorrow
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
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All the records played by the the DJ's except KYLIE's "Better The Devil You Know" will be by groups that are no longer together or artists who no longer record. This will be a trip down memory lane, to hear some pop classics from some of the top pop bands & artists.
.
Here's a taster of some of the bands that are gone but not forgotten
A1, ABBA, AQUA, ATOMIC KITTEN, B*WITCHED, BEE GEES, BOYZONE, DESTINY'S CHILD, 2 UNLIMITED, HEAR'SAY, MEL & KIM, S CLUB 7, SAVAGE GARDEN, SPICE GIRLS, STEPS, VENGABOYS & WHAM
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4 Times during the night without stopping the night or clearing the stage, on a special platform the all new G-A-Y Dancers will be doing their own special GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN routines
www.g-a-y.co.uk
Steps - One For Sorrow
a1 Be The First To Believe
ScLuB7 Reach!
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
The Official UK Singles Chart : 19.11.2006
SINGLES:
1 12 (2)
Akon Ft Eminem
Smack That
(Universal)
http://www.akononline.com/
2 14 (2)
Justin Timberlake Ft Ti
My Love
(Jive)
http://www.justintimberlake.com/
3 1 (2)
Westlife
The Rose
(S)
4 NEW
(-)
Patience
(Polydor)
http://www.takethattv.com
5 5 (5)
Beyonce
Irreplaceable
(Columbia)
http://www.beyonceonline.com/
6 4 (4)
Fedde Le Grand
Put Your Hands Up For Detroit
(Data)
http://www.ministryofsound.com/home/
7 3 (3)
All Saints
Rock Steady
(Parlophone)
http://www.allsaintsofficial.com/
8 28 (2)
Robbie Williams
Lovelight
(Chrysalis)
http://www.robbiewilliams.com/
9 2 (3)
U2 & Green Day
The Saints Are Coming
(Mercury)
http://www.u2.com
10 6 (4)
Bodyrox Ft Luciana
Yeah Yeah
(Eye Industries/UMTV)
http://www.bodyrox.co.uk
ALBUMS:
1 NEW
(-) George Michael
Twenty Five
(Aegean)
2 1 (2) Jamiroquai
High Times - Singles 1992-2006
(Columbia)
3 NEW
(-) Sugababes
Overloaded - The Singles Collection
(Island)
4 3 (3) Girls Aloud
The Sound Of - The Greatest Hits
(Fascination)
5 2 (2) Angelis
Angelis
(Syco Music)
6 5 (2) Katherine Jenkins
Serenade
(UCJ)
7 17 (18) Razorlight
Razorlight
(Vertigo)
8 7 (2) Paul Weller
Hit Parade
(Island/polydor)
9 NEW
(-) All Angels
All Angels
(UCJ)
10 NEW
(-) Tenacious D
The Pick Of Destiny
(Epic)
1 12 (2)
Akon Ft Eminem
Smack That
(Universal)
http://www.akononline.com/
2 14 (2)
Justin Timberlake Ft Ti
My Love
(Jive)
http://www.justintimberlake.com/
3 1 (2)
Westlife
The Rose
(S)
4 NEW
(-)
Patience
(Polydor)
http://www.takethattv.com
5 5 (5)
Beyonce
Irreplaceable
(Columbia)
http://www.beyonceonline.com/
6 4 (4)
Fedde Le Grand
Put Your Hands Up For Detroit
(Data)
http://www.ministryofsound.com/home/
7 3 (3)
All Saints
Rock Steady
(Parlophone)
http://www.allsaintsofficial.com/
8 28 (2)
Robbie Williams
Lovelight
(Chrysalis)
http://www.robbiewilliams.com/
9 2 (3)
U2 & Green Day
The Saints Are Coming
(Mercury)
http://www.u2.com
10 6 (4)
Bodyrox Ft Luciana
Yeah Yeah
(Eye Industries/UMTV)
http://www.bodyrox.co.uk
ALBUMS:
1 NEW
(-) George Michael
Twenty Five
(Aegean)
2 1 (2) Jamiroquai
High Times - Singles 1992-2006
(Columbia)
3 NEW
(-) Sugababes
Overloaded - The Singles Collection
(Island)
4 3 (3) Girls Aloud
The Sound Of - The Greatest Hits
(Fascination)
5 2 (2) Angelis
Angelis
(Syco Music)
6 5 (2) Katherine Jenkins
Serenade
(UCJ)
7 17 (18) Razorlight
Razorlight
(Vertigo)
8 7 (2) Paul Weller
Hit Parade
(Island/polydor)
9 NEW
(-) All Angels
All Angels
(UCJ)
10 NEW
(-) Tenacious D
The Pick Of Destiny
(Epic)
Sugababes in PVC shine form
I’M sure a lot of blokes would argue that the SUGABABES clad in tight, glossy PVC at a gay night was a bit of a waste.
But KEISHA BUCHANAN, HEIDI RANGE and AMELLE BERRABAH still managed to win over the camp crowd in G-A-Y at London’s Astoria on Saturday night.
The outfits were designed for their single Easy, which dropped eight places to No16 on Sunday.
The lyrics were co- written with Orson – and are as naughty as the outfits.
With a figure like that on display, it’s amazing that Keisha is still single.
If you want to have a good nose into the life of a Sugababe, keep an eye out for their new behind-the-scenes documentary, to be shown on ITV2 next month.
But KEISHA BUCHANAN, HEIDI RANGE and AMELLE BERRABAH still managed to win over the camp crowd in G-A-Y at London’s Astoria on Saturday night.
The outfits were designed for their single Easy, which dropped eight places to No16 on Sunday.
The lyrics were co- written with Orson – and are as naughty as the outfits.
With a figure like that on display, it’s amazing that Keisha is still single.
If you want to have a good nose into the life of a Sugababe, keep an eye out for their new behind-the-scenes documentary, to be shown on ITV2 next month.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Siobhan Donaghy
“Some people say you can’t make left-field pop music and be commercial,” announces Siobhan Donaghy, “and that’s bullshit. They always say that when there’s nothing else out there like it. I remember what was on the radio when my career began and God, it’s so diverse now in comparison. And it feels good to be a part of it.”
At 22, Siobhan is unrecognizable from the 16-year-old songbird whose laconic gaze first swept across the Sugababes’ ‘Overload’ video in the summer of 2000. She’s unrecognizable visually, musically and emotionally, her second solo album, ‘Ghosts’, a stunning sonic progression from her debut in 2003, ‘Revolution in Me’, the startling result of a collaborative “vision” from the enigmatic mind of producer/programmer James Sanger, best known for his multi-million-selling work with Keane, U2, Dido and Brian Eno. Certainly, as Siobhan says, there’s nothing else out there like it: as coolly dramatic as vintage Kate Bush, as vocally ephemeral as the Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser, as electro-dazzling as ‘Ray of Light’-era Madonna – a vivid dreamscape created in what Siobhan calls “a twilight zone” in coastal, north east France by an artist now fully emerged from the chrysalis her teenage self only hinted at.
“I wanted emotive sounds,” says Siobhan, “but sounds that were universal. I wouldn’t wanna be some obscure, poncey artist y’know? I am still pop.” This is pop sophistication at its classiest; dazzling, planet-sized future-pop pulsing with loss, pain, fear, forgiveness, running away – and hope. Made in a tiny French town, it’s a Big sound: from the orchestral swell of ‘So You Say’, to the soaring dramatics of ‘Coming Up For Air’, to the booming bass of the epic ‘Medivac’, to the eastern-tinged disco-pop of ‘Sometimes’ to the guitar-fried ’12 Bar Acid Blues’ to the head-spinning sorcery of colossal first single, ‘Don’t Give It Up’, a masterclass in mesmerizing, psychedelic longing. And then there’s the magical, lush-stringed beauty of ‘There Is A Place’, as if young Olivia Newton John suddenly turned up on one of Noel Gallagher’s greatest ballads. And the extraordinary title-track ‘Ghosts’, full of random words and backwards production trickery, no less than a sonic monastery.
“I’m now obsessed with my music,” she beams, “and I’ve become a real perfectionist. If I want a specific thing I have to have it and it feels good to know what I want. And this is what I want.”
2003 changed everything for then-19 year old Siobhan. Mere months after the release of the critically well-received ‘Revolution In Me (produced by pop guru Cameron McVey), she was dropped from London Records, a victim of the label’s 2003 take-over by Warners. “Everyone was dropped,” Siobhan laughs today, “everyone! But I like London Records, they signed me when I was 14, with the girls, they kept me on solo and let me make whatever kind of record I wanted to make. So I got it out of my system. And I decided from then on I’d just take everything on the chin. Much worse things, in life, can happen.”
In 2004, after an extended holiday in America, Portugal and Thailand, now a searching soul who was reading ‘Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance’, Siobhan returned to a phone call, out of the blue, from James Sanger - through her long-term management at CMO (home to Blur, Gorillaz, Graham Coxon, Turin Brakes). Inspired by ‘Revolution In Me’, Sanger was interested in a collaboration and Siobhan, intrigued and won over by his enthusiasm, hooked up with this producer she’d never even heard of, who would go on to push her musically and emotionally to unforeseeable creative heights, recording in his studio in north-west coastal France. Here was the “ghost-town” setting which would inspire the most unearthly and sophisticated music of Siobhan’s life. There would be musical “listening sessions”: intense studies in appreciation of the Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, Shakespear’s Sister, Brian Eno and experimental ambient music.
“The more the record went on the more I wanted it to be really other-worldly.” The partnership, sometimes, was fraught. James, a quintessential creative, was prone to emotional peaks and troughs while Siobhan, too, was coming to terms with her own break-up. But it was great for the writing.” It was great, too, for vocal freedom, Siobhan using dramatic new techniques, “and I was left thinking James is quite the eccentric genius. We definitely brought out the best in each other, music-wise”.
In November 2005, the still-unsigned Siobhan approached Parlophone records, her ideal label, “all British artists want to sign to Parlophone”, with a three-track demo-tape, including ‘So You Say’, ‘There Is A Place’ and ‘Don’t Give It Up’. They signed her immediately.
“There can be a lot of rejection in this industry,” smiles Siobhan, “so it was a real confidence booster! And they really find the time to have a relationship with their artists. They’ve been working with me, not against me. It doesn’t feel corporate. It feels like an indie label.”
They encouraged her visual ideas, too, which reflect the music of ‘Ghosts’, through dreamscape imagery from acclaimed photographer/director/visual artist Floria Sigismondi who’s created visuals for Christina Aguilera, the White Stripes, and Bjork.
“It is glam,” laughs Siobhan. “I wanted fantasy. I wanted to create a world around me. Trippy and fantastical. I’m not a teenager anymore. And I’m glad to be rid of it. Bring on the 20s. The 30s even!”
This year, staggeringly, is Siobhan’s 10th anniversary of life as a professional artist, the London school-girl discovered aged 12 by Ron Tom, the ex-All Saints manager who went on to manage the fledgling Sugababes. No wonder her three and a half years in the ‘Babes have almost faded to insignificance, a band Siobhan rightly sees as “a brand now, and that’s not something I could be involved in, we just couldn’t be more different”. She concentrates fully on today, eyeing the future.
“The things that have happened to me,” ponders Siobhan, “leaving the Sugababes and then what happened with my last record, people might think ‘God, she must be gutted’. And it’s actually been the complete opposite. I think it’s been wonderful. For me it’s all been a positive, the people I’ve met, the people I’ve worked with. It’s so bizarre; I grew up not wanting to be a singer and then when I became a singer I wasn’t writing songs and suddenly I’m this songwriter. My life could’ve been so different. What if I’d never had that chance meeting with my first manager and I sang him some random song? I think, ‘what would I be doing?’ and then I think, ‘God, I am so lucky’. It goes without saying how many people wanna do this. And I seem to be this cat with nine lives. And people keep letting me come back. From the dead!”•
At 22, Siobhan is unrecognizable from the 16-year-old songbird whose laconic gaze first swept across the Sugababes’ ‘Overload’ video in the summer of 2000. She’s unrecognizable visually, musically and emotionally, her second solo album, ‘Ghosts’, a stunning sonic progression from her debut in 2003, ‘Revolution in Me’, the startling result of a collaborative “vision” from the enigmatic mind of producer/programmer James Sanger, best known for his multi-million-selling work with Keane, U2, Dido and Brian Eno. Certainly, as Siobhan says, there’s nothing else out there like it: as coolly dramatic as vintage Kate Bush, as vocally ephemeral as the Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser, as electro-dazzling as ‘Ray of Light’-era Madonna – a vivid dreamscape created in what Siobhan calls “a twilight zone” in coastal, north east France by an artist now fully emerged from the chrysalis her teenage self only hinted at.
“I wanted emotive sounds,” says Siobhan, “but sounds that were universal. I wouldn’t wanna be some obscure, poncey artist y’know? I am still pop.” This is pop sophistication at its classiest; dazzling, planet-sized future-pop pulsing with loss, pain, fear, forgiveness, running away – and hope. Made in a tiny French town, it’s a Big sound: from the orchestral swell of ‘So You Say’, to the soaring dramatics of ‘Coming Up For Air’, to the booming bass of the epic ‘Medivac’, to the eastern-tinged disco-pop of ‘Sometimes’ to the guitar-fried ’12 Bar Acid Blues’ to the head-spinning sorcery of colossal first single, ‘Don’t Give It Up’, a masterclass in mesmerizing, psychedelic longing. And then there’s the magical, lush-stringed beauty of ‘There Is A Place’, as if young Olivia Newton John suddenly turned up on one of Noel Gallagher’s greatest ballads. And the extraordinary title-track ‘Ghosts’, full of random words and backwards production trickery, no less than a sonic monastery.
“I’m now obsessed with my music,” she beams, “and I’ve become a real perfectionist. If I want a specific thing I have to have it and it feels good to know what I want. And this is what I want.”
2003 changed everything for then-19 year old Siobhan. Mere months after the release of the critically well-received ‘Revolution In Me (produced by pop guru Cameron McVey), she was dropped from London Records, a victim of the label’s 2003 take-over by Warners. “Everyone was dropped,” Siobhan laughs today, “everyone! But I like London Records, they signed me when I was 14, with the girls, they kept me on solo and let me make whatever kind of record I wanted to make. So I got it out of my system. And I decided from then on I’d just take everything on the chin. Much worse things, in life, can happen.”
In 2004, after an extended holiday in America, Portugal and Thailand, now a searching soul who was reading ‘Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance’, Siobhan returned to a phone call, out of the blue, from James Sanger - through her long-term management at CMO (home to Blur, Gorillaz, Graham Coxon, Turin Brakes). Inspired by ‘Revolution In Me’, Sanger was interested in a collaboration and Siobhan, intrigued and won over by his enthusiasm, hooked up with this producer she’d never even heard of, who would go on to push her musically and emotionally to unforeseeable creative heights, recording in his studio in north-west coastal France. Here was the “ghost-town” setting which would inspire the most unearthly and sophisticated music of Siobhan’s life. There would be musical “listening sessions”: intense studies in appreciation of the Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, Shakespear’s Sister, Brian Eno and experimental ambient music.
“The more the record went on the more I wanted it to be really other-worldly.” The partnership, sometimes, was fraught. James, a quintessential creative, was prone to emotional peaks and troughs while Siobhan, too, was coming to terms with her own break-up. But it was great for the writing.” It was great, too, for vocal freedom, Siobhan using dramatic new techniques, “and I was left thinking James is quite the eccentric genius. We definitely brought out the best in each other, music-wise”.
In November 2005, the still-unsigned Siobhan approached Parlophone records, her ideal label, “all British artists want to sign to Parlophone”, with a three-track demo-tape, including ‘So You Say’, ‘There Is A Place’ and ‘Don’t Give It Up’. They signed her immediately.
“There can be a lot of rejection in this industry,” smiles Siobhan, “so it was a real confidence booster! And they really find the time to have a relationship with their artists. They’ve been working with me, not against me. It doesn’t feel corporate. It feels like an indie label.”
They encouraged her visual ideas, too, which reflect the music of ‘Ghosts’, through dreamscape imagery from acclaimed photographer/director/visual artist Floria Sigismondi who’s created visuals for Christina Aguilera, the White Stripes, and Bjork.
“It is glam,” laughs Siobhan. “I wanted fantasy. I wanted to create a world around me. Trippy and fantastical. I’m not a teenager anymore. And I’m glad to be rid of it. Bring on the 20s. The 30s even!”
This year, staggeringly, is Siobhan’s 10th anniversary of life as a professional artist, the London school-girl discovered aged 12 by Ron Tom, the ex-All Saints manager who went on to manage the fledgling Sugababes. No wonder her three and a half years in the ‘Babes have almost faded to insignificance, a band Siobhan rightly sees as “a brand now, and that’s not something I could be involved in, we just couldn’t be more different”. She concentrates fully on today, eyeing the future.
“The things that have happened to me,” ponders Siobhan, “leaving the Sugababes and then what happened with my last record, people might think ‘God, she must be gutted’. And it’s actually been the complete opposite. I think it’s been wonderful. For me it’s all been a positive, the people I’ve met, the people I’ve worked with. It’s so bizarre; I grew up not wanting to be a singer and then when I became a singer I wasn’t writing songs and suddenly I’m this songwriter. My life could’ve been so different. What if I’d never had that chance meeting with my first manager and I sang him some random song? I think, ‘what would I be doing?’ and then I think, ‘God, I am so lucky’. It goes without saying how many people wanna do this. And I seem to be this cat with nine lives. And people keep letting me come back. From the dead!”•
Girls Aloud - I Think We're Alone Now
I Think We’re Alone Now is the second single to be taken from Girls Aloud’s best of album 'The Sound Of Girls Aloud'.
Tony Lamezma CluB mIX (http://rapidshare.com/files/3962078/01_i_think_were_alone_now_tony_lamezma_baubletastic_mix.mp3)
Friday, November 17, 2006
The U.S. Top 10
1. "My Love" - Justin Timberlake feat. T.I. *3 weeks*
2. "Smack That" - Akon feat. Eminem
3. "Fergalicious" - Fergie
4. "Irreplaceable" - Beyoncé
5. "Lips Of An Angel" - Hinder
6. "Money Maker" - Ludacris feat. Pharrell
7. "How To Save A Life" - The Fray
8. "Show Me What You Got" - Jay-Z
9. "Chasing Cars" - Snow Patrol
10. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake
2. "Smack That" - Akon feat. Eminem
3. "Fergalicious" - Fergie
4. "Irreplaceable" - Beyoncé
5. "Lips Of An Angel" - Hinder
6. "Money Maker" - Ludacris feat. Pharrell
7. "How To Save A Life" - The Fray
8. "Show Me What You Got" - Jay-Z
9. "Chasing Cars" - Snow Patrol
10. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake
Nadine splits with Jesse!
Nadine Coyle has split up with 'Desperate Housewives' actor Jesse Metcalfe.
The Girls Aloud singer, who has been dating Jesse for ten months, broke up with the star two days ago.
The pair had a big heart-to-heart over the phone and decided that it was too hard to maintain the relationship when they live in different countries.
"Nadine really thought that Jesse was the one and has been crying endlessly since the split," said a friend.
"Both of them are sad that it's come to an end, but it got too hard keeping a long-distance relationship going. They are well aware that things will only get worse as Jesse's film career takes off and Nadine's heavy workload with Girls Aloud continues into the new year
The Girls Aloud singer, who has been dating Jesse for ten months, broke up with the star two days ago.
The pair had a big heart-to-heart over the phone and decided that it was too hard to maintain the relationship when they live in different countries.
"Nadine really thought that Jesse was the one and has been crying endlessly since the split," said a friend.
"Both of them are sad that it's come to an end, but it got too hard keeping a long-distance relationship going. They are well aware that things will only get worse as Jesse's film career takes off and Nadine's heavy workload with Girls Aloud continues into the new year
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