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Michael laughs at Eminem |
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Michael Jackson has had a good laugh at rapper Eminem's parody of the pop superstar's infamous baby-dangling episode of last year.
Jackson was amused to see footage of Eminem wearing a surgical mask dangling a baby doll from his hotel balcony in Glasgow, Scotland.
The stunt was obviously a hang it-on Jacko effort, where at a German hotel last year Michael upset millions by hanging his youngest child Prince Michael II over a balcony.
Despite calls for Michael to be reprimanded for his behaviour he answered critics by saying that he just wanted to show off his new son to the adoring crowd.
A source says, "Michael thinks things like this are hilarious. He has a very good sense of humour."
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A new member for Destiny's Child |
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There could soon be a fourth member in Destiny's Child, that's if you believe some of the stories getting around. The soulful R&B all girl band started out as a four member group until manager and father Beyonce, Matthew Knowles made some subtle line up changes.
And who might that fourth girl be ?
None other than Matthew's other daughter, Solange. Solange has been in the group before, when she temporally filled in after Kelly Rowland broke two toes in 2000. She's also opened for Destiny's Child as a solo act collaborated with Beyonce and Rowland in the studio.
It could be a coincidence that Solange's debut solo album from earlier year disappeared without a trace. So becoming a member of the mega successful Destiny's Child could help build the younger of the Knowle's sister's profile.
While Beyonce has just released her debut solo album, it is expected to go number one right around the world, which will keep her frantic for the rest of this year at least.
So don't expect too much to happen with Destiny's until some time in 2004.
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Britney and Drugs |
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Earlier this year a major magazine tried to run a rumour that a big name teen pop star was really hitting the party scene and experimenting with hard drugs, no names were mentioned but it was insinuated that it was Britney.
Well, the months have rolled by since then and now the starlet herself has fessed up that the story had some truth in it. Britney Spears has admitted she dabbled in drugs out of curiosity. But the 21 year old added it was a mistake.
"If I was half as wild as the stories about me. I wouldn't be sitting here right now", Spears said when asked whether she had taken drugs. "But let's say that you reach a stage in your life where you are curious. And I was curious at one point. But I'm way too focused to let anything stop me. Was it a mistake ? Yes."
It has all stemmed from an interview with America's Star magazine, which four months ago alleged she had taken cocaine in club.
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Shakira needs some re-touching work |
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We are all quiet aware that most of the advertising images that you see in posters, magazines and billboards have had some re-touching work done on the curves and bumps on the models figures.
However, Shakira has taken this to a new level by having her whole body replaced for the new campaign by Reebok. "Shakira complained about how her body appeared", when she saw a rough draft,
a source said. Rather than try slimming down certain body parts, the ad agency "found it easier to replace her with one of their female employees.
Shakira doesn't know yet that it's not her body that appears in the ad". Well, she does now !
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Jewel Defends her Look |
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There's no doubting that Jewel has always been a honey, it's just that now she is working it a lot more than she did in her "folky" days. And believe it or not no one is more happier about it than Jewel herself.
A lot of old fans have been a little shocked at the new image of Jewel for her new album "0304", the accoustic fans aren't used to seeing the blonde bomb-shell shaking it around like she does in the video for "intuition".
"Music is one of the most sensual things you can watch a person do, to the point where it's almost embarrassing when you see someone shut their eyes and sing on stage. It's very intimate.
People have always responded to me that way. I've been able to live as a paradox on stage. I'm shy, but outgoing. I'm sexy, but I'm also a down-to-earth person as well. Duality exists everywhere.
I don't think it's anything to escape from. The video just talks about that".
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Bangles Bring "Revolution": First album in fifteen years due in September |
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The Bangles' first album in fifteen years, Doll Revolution, will be released Stateside by Koch on September 9th, six months after the album was issued in Europe and Japan.
It might seem surprising to some that the "comeback" album from one of the Eighties biggest bands -- which scored hits with songs such as "Walk Like an Egyptian" and "Manic Monday" -- would be released overseas first, but bassist Michael Steele sees it as indicative of the American pop scene.
"You can't get played on radio anymore unless you're Eminem," she says. Instead of being bitter, though, Steele says, "We finally got an American distributor. We're happy to have the record out."
As is often the case with records that were written years ago, Steele says the band has already moved on in their minds, and even begun writing some new songs. But with the album nearing release, and the lead single,
"Something That You Said," due by the end of July, Steele says the band has no problems returning to the mindset of Doll Revolution. "We're excited fans are finally getting to hear these songs," she says.
Fans will get a sneak preview of the new material during select July tour dates. And Steele says the band will launch a full-fledged tour in the fall, but she adds, "We're all mothers now, so we have to plan accordingly."
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Iggy's new album "Skull Ring" Due in Fall |
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Iggy Pop will release Skull Ring, the follow-up to 2001's Beat 'Em Up, on September 30th. The album, which Pop produced, will be a cross-generational punk collection, featuring Pop's original Stooges bandmates Ron and Scott Asheton along with fresher faces from Green Day and Sum 41.
Pop's reunion with the Ashetons (Ron plays guitar and bass, and Scott drums) marks their first new material together in thirty years. As the Stooges (then including bassist Dave Alexander), Pop and the Ashetons released a self-titled album in 1969 and Fun House a year later, before disbanding.
A brief reunion yielded Raw Power in 1973 (credited to Iggy and the Stooges), before the group called it quits for good. The trio headlined a handful of events this spring, and this summer will play gigs including New York on August 9th and in the Stooges' hometown of Detroit on August 14th.
Minutemen bassist Mike Watt will be sitting in with the group.
The Pop/Asheton reunion yielded four new cuts: "Little Electric Chair," "Skull Rings," "Loser" and "Dead Rock Star." Pop also recorded two songs with Green Day ("Private Hell" and "Supermarket") and one with Sum 41 ("Little Know It All"), which he co-wrote with Sum frontman Derryck Whibley.
"He wanted something that rocks," Whibley said, "so I tried to write something classic sounding."
Pop was also backed by his regular touring and recording band, the Trolls -- guitarist Whitey Kirst, drummer Alex Kirst and bassist Pete Marshall -- who worked up six songs: "Perverts in the Sun," "Superbabe," "Whatever," "Here Comes the Summer," "Inferiority Complex" and "Blood on My Cool."
Pop also recorded a cover of Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Till Wrong Feels Right" and a pair of collaborations with rapper Peaches, one of which, "Motor Inn" will appear on Skull Ring.
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Madonna's Hollywood |
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Madonna released her new single "Hollywood" with a very glamorous video.
Never one to shy away from an image-makeover or two, Madonna makes full use of the costume department in this video, radically changing her look from one shot to the next.
Having reunited with director Jean Baptiste Mondino ('Justify My Love', 'Don't Tell Me'), Madonna has pulled out all the stops for this latest clip, in which she portrays various movie sirens from the 1920s through to the 1970s.
According to reports, the Queen of Pop borrowed over $20 million worth of antique jewellery - including items once owned by screen legend Mae West - to bring genuine movie glamour to the video.
A song that takes a cynical look at life in Hollywood, the video also features Madge receiving botox injections, writhing around the floor and bouncing around with a big inflatable ball!
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Robbie's Biography |
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Robbie Williams is to set the record straight about his private life by writing a "warts-and-all" autobiography.
According to tabloid reports, the singer will lift the lid on his time in Take That, his various high-profile romances, battles against drink and drug addiction and his fight to beat depression.
Several previous biographies have claimed to reveal the truth about the British pop phenomenon, but Robbie is said to be keen to let fans hear his side of the story.
Robbie's friend and music journalist Chris Heath is to pen the book, which is also set to include photos taken by the star during his upcoming European tour.
When the book is complete, it's expected to spark a massive bidding war between the major publishing companies and will undoubtedly be worth millions.
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Two Blue |
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Brit boyband Blue have settled a High Court Battle with a 70s rock group who share their name.
Under the agreement - decided upon after 30 minutes of negotiations - both bands will be able to continue to trade under their monikers.
Scottish-based 70s group Blue agreed to a £100,000 legal costs order being made against them, though the 'new' Blue have pledged not to enforce the order, so long as the other group do not pursue the case further.
Mr Justice Laddie had been told that a "passing off" claim by the older band - who had sought damages and an injunction on use of the name - would be dismissed by consent.
According to the BBC, the judge who last week argued that fans were unlikely to confuse the two bands - described the settlement as "very sensible".
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BluePink 
