Archive for August, 2008

Singers Just Stand Up! 2 Cancer

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

What do Mariah, Beyonce’, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole, LeAnn Rimes, Ashanti and Ciara have in common (besides beautiful voices)? They all want you to “Just Stand Up!” to cancer, and they’ve recorded a special song to inspire you.

“Just Stand Up!” is a major musical event, not only for its performers, but also for producers Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and L.A. Reid, who reunited after 20 years just for this release.

Fox News is featuring the “Just Stand Up!” on their website so you listen before it goes on sale via iTunes on September 2nd. Proceeds from the sales of “Just Stand Up!” will go towards the fight against cancer. Click here to listen to “Just Stand Up!”

The talented ladies will be on hand to perform the song on Friday, September 5th during a very special television event Stand Up 2 Cancer, which will air simultaneously on CBS, ABC, and NBC at 8:00PM. Check out the website www.standup2cancer.org for more info and to make a donation.

From “Do They Know It’s Christmas” to “We Are The World” and more, superstar collaborations are often classics. Do you think “Just Stand Up!” will join the ranks? Comment and let us know.

(Thanks to Roger Friedman at Fox News for this tip.)

Vote For Crow Get Free CD

Thursday, August 21st, 2008

Sheryl Crow wants you to vote, and she wants your friends to vote too. In fact, she’s offering a free digital download copy of her latest CD Detours to the first 50,000 people who register 3 friends to vote on Rockthevote.com. (You can also get a free download of Crow’s topical tune “Gasoline” just for logging on to the site or being on the Rock The Vote mailing list.)

Crow calls the promotion the “Tupperware” party approach to registering voters, and she hopes that her fellow musicians will become more vocal regarding politics, both in their deeds and in their tunes, like artists were in the sixties. “Our music (now) is not representing the times _ at least not socially and politically. Or maybe we’re just distracted,” she says.

How do you feel? Do you think politics and music belong together? Comment and let us know, and if you’d like to learn more about Crow’s partnership with Rock The Vote visit http://www.rockthevote.com/sherylwantsyoutovote.

DMB Mourns LeRoi Moore

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Posted today on www.davematthewsband.com:

We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.

The band performed just hours after hearing the news, saying they would miss him “forever.” Loyal DMB fans surely feel the same.

What will you miss most about LeRoi’s contributions to the Dave Matthews Band? Comment and let us know.

Chris Brown Doesn’t Want to Play “Electric Guitar”

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

…or at least not until Rihanna’s singing along with him.

The R&B star is not happy about recent internet leaks of his new music, especially the tune “Electric Guitar,” which was supposed to be a duet between Brown and (apparent) girlfriend Rihanna.

“I’m mad that it’s leaked,” Brown told The Associated Press. “The record’s not finished. It’s supposed to be me and Rihanna’s duet.”

Some artists look at leaks as great publicity for their upcoming releases, but others see them as a form of stealing. What’s your take on leaks? Comment and let us know.

No Cat Fights, Just Love Between Gwen & Pussycat Dolls

Monday, August 18th, 2008

Gwen Stefani is a long-time friend of Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin, who hopes the star will join the Dolls on stage at her new club soon.

“I hope so, I really do,” Antin told E! News. “I love Gwen. She’s the ultimate Pussycat Doll.”

It wouldn’t be the first time that Gwen joined the Dolls on stage. They played together at the Viper Room in 2000.

At this point, Gwen probably has a different kind of playdate in mind. She’s expecting her second child with husband Gavin Rossdale this fall.

Successful Summer Tour One of the Season’s Most Diverse

Friday, August 15th, 2008

When you think of Woodstock, who do you think of? Richie Havens? Joni Mitchell (who, to her regret, was not in attendance but wrote the quintessential song about the festival)? Jimi Hendrix? Janis Joplin?

Chances are you didn’t think of Sha Na Na, but Bowser and his boys (and his skull on a stick) did indeed perform, as did acts as diverse as Melanie, Sly and the Family Stone and Ravi Shankar.

This past Wednesday at Bethel Woods, an outdoor shed built on the site of the original Woodstock festival, Counting Crows, Maroon 5 and Sara Bareilles showed that acts with very different styles could make for a satisfying night of music for almost all their fans.

Bareilles’ most familiar songs, the hit “Love Song” and her cover of the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling,” were crowd favorites at the show, but her other ballads like the set closing “Gravity” were well-received as they showcased her beautiful voice, which is more emotional in person than on record. Bubbly and obviously thrilled with the warm reception she’s been receiving from the audience and her tourmates (members of Maroon 5 joined her during her set and Bareilles joined Counting Crows on stage later in the evening), the newcomer won over many of the co-headlining bands’ die-hard fans.

Maroon 5’s Adam Levine makes girls scream, but he also writes memorable songs that had both men and women up on their feet and singing along for the band’s entire set. The band’s energy never waned, and by the time they closed with the smash “This Love” and a blistering cover of Neil Young’s “Keep On Rockin’ In The Free World” it was clear their poppy soulful songs were as big hits live as they were on the radio.

While Counting Crows have plenty of hits, they’re known more for their over the top emotional performances, and the Bethel Woods show was no exception. New tunes like “Le Ballet d’Or” from their latest disc Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings and old favorites like “A Long December” had the crowd feeling lead singer and songwriter Adam Duritz’s every sorrow and joy.

Perhaps Duritz summed it up best near the end of the show, when he mentioned that one of the things he enjoyed most about the tour is that all the acts are so different and so good. It was a sentiment many concertgoers would agree with, both now and back in the days of Woodstock.

Other than festivals, having diverse acts on concert bills is becoming a thing of the past as radio playlists grow smaller and ticket prices increase. Do you prefer it that way, or would you rather see more unique shows booked? Comment and let us know.

Taylor Swift Wouldn’t “Change” A Thing

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Taylor Swift hits number one on the Country chart and iTunes this week, each with a different song!

Taylor Swift’s song Change” is featured on the Olympics and is the number one song on iTunes. All proceeds go to Team USA. Meanwhile, her hit “Should’ve Said No” is number one at Country radio.

Taylor recently won the Teen Choice Breakout Artist Award, and now she’s nominated for the Best New Artist MTV Video Music Award. “I can’t believe I get to go to the VMAs!” she enthuses. Tune in to see if she wins (oh, and if Britney makes another comeback) on Sunday, 9/7.

“Change” is from Taylor’s new CD Fearless, in stores November 11th, which also features “Breathe” a collaboration with Colbie Caillat.

In recent interviews with USA Today and more, Taylor admits that it’s hard for her to find a boyfriend because guys are afraid she’ll write songs about them. What do you think - would you like to be lyric fodder or would you feel it’s a violation of your privacy? Comment and let us know.

“It’s Not Over” For Daughtry

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

On September 9th, 19 Records will re-release Daughtry’s debut CD in a new deluxe version. The upcoming release will feature a bonus DVD and four bonus audio tracks, including an acoustic version of the band’s huge hit “Home,” “What About Now” as performed on the Idol Gives Back TV special, and a cover of the Foreigner favorite “Feels Like the First Time.”

Daughtry, as a supporter of One, which raises awareness of global hunger and poverty, will take part in events surrounding both the Democratic and Republican conventions this year. “The band’s participation will spotlight One and its mission while focusing attention on the opportunities the next president and Congress will have to make a major difference in the fight against global poverty, hunger and disease,” says 19 Records in a press release.

Many CDs like Daughtry’s are being repackaged with extras and re-released. How do you feel about this trend? Comment and let us know.

Ushering in Football Season

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

R&B star Usher and Country’s Keith Urban will join forces in New York City’s Columbus Circle for a free show celebrating the start of the NFL season on Thursday, September 4th. For those readers outside the NY metro area, the event will be televised on various NFL programs and rebroadcast on NBC on Friday, September 5th.

Usher recently fired manager Benny Medina (Mariah Carey) after what the singer deemed disappointing sales results for his latest CD

    Here I Stand

, which went Platinum. The album failed to hit the million mark in it’s first week, unlike Usher’s previous release

    Confessions

. The singer has rehired his Mom as his manager.

Do you think Usher’s lower CD sales are Benny Medina’s fault, the label’s fault, or just a sign of the times? Comment and let us know.

Leona Lewis Keeps Her ‘Spirit’ Up

Monday, August 11th, 2008

Leona Lewis’ album “Spirit” is the second highest selling album by a female so far this year (Mariah Carey’s “E=MC2″ is in the number one slot).

The X-Factor star, who was recently voted the World’s Sexiest Vegetarian, plans to launch an animal-friendly yet super stylish fashion line for British retailer Topshop.

Although the Grammys aren’t until next year, there’s already a buzz that Lewis will be nominated for Best New Artist, as “Bleeding Love” continues to pour out of radios this summer.

Do you think Leona Lewis’ career will have the longevity and influence of Mariah’s? Comment and let us know.