Usher, Cyndi Lauper and more

The release of his fifth album, "Here I Stand," may have been delayed by six months, but Usher made up for lost time with his recent smash "Love in This Club," featuring Young Jeezy; the eighth No. 1 hit of the R&B juggernaut's career, the track jumped from No. 51 to the top of the charts in a single week, the third-biggest leap to No. 1 in Billboard history. And although he devoted much of late 2007 to family life (the license plate depicted on the cover of "Here I Stand" bears the digits 1126 -- his son's birthday), he still plays the lover man on "Trading Places" and his current smash duet with Beyonce, "Love in This Club Part II." Listen for additional cameos by Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and will.i.am, and beats and grooves crafted by A-list producers including Jermaine Dupri, Jazze Pha, Dre & Vidal and Tricky Stewart.

Usher has his charms, but when it comes to R&B crooners who set the mood for romance, Al Green remains virtually untouchable; just drop "Let's Stay Together" at a wedding reception sometime and watch the couples pack the floor. The good Reverend continues his recent winning streak with "Lay It Down." The disc was co-produced by Green with two of the most revered young guns around -- Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of the Roots and keyboard player James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Common, Lauryn Hill) -- and features guest appearances by Corinne Bailey Rae (the sublime "Take Your Time"), John Legend, and the Dap-Kings horn section (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse). But even with all these youngsters involved, "Lay It Down" still sounds of a piece with Green's classic Memphis sides for Hi Records. As it should be, says Thompson: "The reason why we are doing this is because we all idolize Al Green. Even today, nobody has range like him."

Music Source

Story of 'unseen' Lennon lyrics

A woman from London is set to make a fortune when John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for the anti-war song Give Peace a Chance go up for auction this summer.

They are expected to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000.
Gail Renard was a student in Montreal in May 1969, when Lennon and wife Yoko Ono arrived to hold a "bed-in" at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hotel.
She and a friend sneaked into the hotel - Renard calls it a "Mission: Impossible" routine - and up to their door.
"Yoko answered and I asked if I could have an interview for my school newspaper.
"She graciously said yes. She asked us in, and I was suddenly face-to-face with John Lennon."
Renard and Lennon became instant friends, and he asked her to stay and help with the "bed-in".
"It was Alice in Wonderland," Renard says of the eight-day experience.
"I was a 16-year-old, with a Beatle who was my hero, and it was just a circus every minute.
"On the last day, John wanted to record a song," Renard recalls.
"We didn't know what it was at the time."

After recording Give Peace a Chance, Lennon gave Renard his original lyrics for her to keep.
These spent years hanging on a wall in Renard's study but were then moved for safety, ending up in a vault.
"I thought, this is ridiculous," she said.
"They should be out with somebody who can enjoy them, and they should be seen again."
She also believes the song and Lennon's message have a particular resonance now.
"It's my way of thanking him, to get his message and his song out there again, and have people thinking about it and talking about it."
The piece is the highlight of Christie's rock and pop memorabilia auction on 10 July in London.
"Beatles lyrics, and particularly in John Lennon's hand, rarely surface on the auction market, so it's very much a unique opportunity," said Helen Hall, head of popular culture at the auction house.
Other items being sold will include a collage made by Lennon as a birthday card for Elton John in the 1970s, plus an amplifier played on stage by Jimi Hendrix.

Miley Cyrus Accused of Song Stealing

Much like Avril Lavigne before her, pop teen queen Miley Cyrus is facing yet another (though non-photographic) scandal as a rock band is considering suing her due to some remarkable similarities between their tune and Miley's song 'Rockstar.'

Miley Caught Red-Handed?

Crystal Castles close The Great Escape

Crystal Castles closed The Great Escape festival with a chaotic show in the early hours of this morning (May 18) at Club NME at the Brighton Barfly.
Taking the stage at 2am (BST) the duo played a raucous set of energetic electro-rock, which saw singer Alice Glass spend almost the entire show suspended above the crowd, balancing on both security guards and crowd members.

The security guards seemed baffled by the singer's frenetic stage style, seemingly unsure whether to attempt to pull her back from the crowd or help suspend her. As such she was ducked back and forth repeatedly as she sang.
The gig was rammed, with fans having queued extensively for a chance to catch the band. Various crowd members joined in Glass's chaotic antics, crowd surfing past her while she sang the likes of 'Air War' and 'Courtship Dating'.
The gig wrapped up the three-day festival, which saw hundreds of bands play gigs across venues in the coastal city.
Before Crystal Castles' set at the Barfly Lightspeed Champion played a well-received show at the venue. Wearing his trademark furry hat he played songs including 'Galaxy Of The Lost' and 'Midnight Surprise'.
Lightspeed Champion – aka Dev Hynes – was on energetic form, mounting a speaker stack near the death of the set while playing his guitar, then hurling himself onto the keyboard causing a cascade of sound as he smashed against the keys and the instrument collapsed.
Earlier in the day, at 4pm, Kid Harpoon played a secret gig at the Audio venue with singer/songwriter Soko.
The duo took it in turns to sing backing and lead vocals and play the ukulele. They played songs including 'Milkmaid', 'Peanut Butter' and 'Late For The Devil' and were watched by members of Friendly Fires.
Ida Maria was another performer to play a secret gig, playing on the balcony outside the Theatre Royal. The singer played a three-song set, bringing movement on the pavement below to a standstill as fans clamoured to catch the short show.
Dead Kids, meanwhile, played an impromptu jam on the seafront, then much to fans’ delight hurled themselves into the ocean for a splash around.
Over at the Revenge club Cheeky Cheeky And The Nosebleeds played an energetic set of retro-pop, with the band asking fans to dance along to their songs, 'Slow Kids' and 'Fascinating'.
Despite playing her jovial secret gig with Kid Harpoon earlier, Soko was in a wretched mood during her later show at the Concorde 2 venue at the bash organised by MTV2 Gonzo.
Complaining about the lighting levels, the singer/songwriter said, "Well, do you care if it's on MTV or do you care if I play a good gig? So, please can I have some low lights?"
The lights were eventually turned down for Soko and she continued her set, which included 'How Are You?'.

However, Soko soon began complaining again, this time about the noisy audience, many of whom were chatting amongst themselves. "If you feel like talking caan you go outside?" she said angrily. "Thank you for talking, and thank you for the lights" she later said before leaving the stage.
Later on many bands headed to Club NME at the Barfly to drink and dance the last night of the festival away.

Music News

New Kids Perform Live, Make Our Intern’s Dreams Come True

There are some things that we don’t understand about our intern Rya. To wit: how is it possible that someone obsessed with “Gossip Girl” can also be a Blockhead? Yes, that’s right — our “GG” expert is also a huge fan of New Kids on the Block, which explains why she woke up at the crack of dawn this morning:

This morning, Manhattan’s renowned Rockefeller Center became Block-efeller center — a strip of city blocks packed with grown women who came from all ends of the Earth to witness an event a decade-and-a-half in the making: the triumphant return of the hottest pop group of yesteryear, New Kids on the Block. A month after an older, sleeker incarnation of the five men from Boston was unveiled, another curtain dropped – this time, a banner with the band’s new logo. The band performed a medley of their greatest hits and their newest cut as a part of the “Today” Summer Concert Series.
Naturally, yours truly was on the scene. I was there for the very same reason many other women were in the audience: to see a band that they were far too young to see in concert during their heyday. Quite frankly, I felt all too much like my four-year-old self as I scrambled for a better view (or for that matter, any view), got pushed around my much older fans wearing NKOTB shirts (some threadbare, presumably from being worn in heavy rotation two decades ago), yearned for face time with Joey, and sang along far too loudly to songs I didn’t realize I still knew by heart…
I got to Blockefeller Center at an ungodly 6:00 am. However, the show’s outdoor plaza had long been teeming with Blockheads, evident by all the folding chairs, New Kid blankies, and McDonald’s bags that lined 48th Street. A line of people trying to get into the pit in front of the stage snaked around the block, and the lucky first few were allowed in to watch rehearsal. Rehearsal! As space the pit reached half-capacity, it was only then that fans who began waiting at midnight were being allowed in. They were a full six hours ahead of me. I never had a chance.
At 8:40, the group was set to perform. Every once in a while, the band would start to play, causing grown women to shriek at dog-whistle decibels. I was finally settled into my barricaded section far, far from the stage and becoming acquainted with fellow fans who had traveled from as far away as Virginia and Florida for the historic event. Soon, rehearsals began during commercial breaks, and the excitement mounted as a collective realization dawned on the crowd that ohmygod! this is really happening!
The performance was in a word, majestic — on par with a very surreal, delicious meal. For appetizers, the Kids served a medley of their greatest hits. The first verse of “Step By Step” turned into the “oooooh-ooohh-oohhh-ooooh-oh!” refrain from “Hangin’ Tough” — but not before Donnie’s voice cracked as he called out to the audience. Adorable! We love you anyway!
After a quick dance break, the group shed their matching blazers, and they were down to untucked shirts and sneakers. The look was more “with-it real estate broker” than “pop icons with a vengeance.” To stand out as the group’s resident bad boy, Donnie donned a baseball cap. Joey then donned his signature top hat and serenaded with a section from “Please Don’t Go, Girl,” before the group launched into the obviously amazing crowd-pleaser “The Right Stuff.”
After another break, they returned for the main course, their latest single “Summertime.” Quite frankly, had this been an actual meal, I would’ve sent it back to the kitchen — but I’m afraid of Blockheads, and therefore, that’s all I’ll say about that.
And at long last: dessert! Donnie dedicated this number to “all the fans who weathered the rain” (such cordial words from the man who taught me the importance of fire safety), and Jordan got on the keyboard for a rousing rendition of “Tonight.” On the “Today” show — get it!? Concept number! Truth be told, I can’t objectively tell you how rousing it was, because I found myself plunged into some kind of estrogen-rich sing-along. Security guards were dancing; the woman standing in front of me announced to the crowd that she was going to leave her boyfriend for Joey; the man standing next to me continuously professed his love for Jordan; and the song became indelibly carved into my brain.
I am still humming “Tonight” as I write this. Thanks, New Kids!!

Music News

Top 10 selling artists

1. The Beatles

What can be said about the Beatles that hasn't already been said? Throughout their career, these four fab lads redefined themselves, our culture, and rock and pop music--their effect is still being felt today, which makes it pretty much impossible to make a list of top artists without acknowledging their influence.

2. U2

From their humble roots in the early '80s to their current status as quite possibly the best recording band in the world, U2 holds a unique place in world of rock music. They've remained relevant by crafting melodically catchy and emotionally resonant music that speaks to the times, yet never feels dated or out of place--anthemic pop music that truly makes the whole world sing.

3. Norah Jones

Back in 2002, nobody could have predicted the meteoric rise of jazzy songstress Norah Jones. Appealing to everyone from soccer moms to rock-freak Mike Patton (who used her on his latest project), Norah's soothing piano and sultry vocals took the world by storm. With only two albums under her belt, she has already made her mark--we're looking forward to more.

4. Johnny Cash

Unrivaled in the world of music as both a songwriter and performer, Johnny Cash set the standard for many country performers that followed in his footsteps, and remained an active, vital, and important artist for his entire career. From his early days at Sun Records to his stunning series of "American Recordings" produced by Rick Rubin, the Man in Black's storytelling and emotional transparency never faltered, securing his spot in our Top 10.

5. Diana Krall

Diana Krall is at once anachronistic and staunchly modern--her ability to make decades-old standard jazz tunes reverberate with a new life lends her a cross-generational appeal few artists enjoy. With her traditional staccato piano style and smooth dynamic vocals, it's easy to fall under her spell.

6. Bob Dylan

Remaining a relevant, active artist for nearly a half century is no easy task, especially in the finicky ever-changing world of music, but for Bob Dylan, it seems to be both effortless and natural. As both an oft-covered songwriter and unique performer, Dylan has influenced countless followers with his chameleonic musicality ranging from folk to rock to blues to country.

7. Frank Sinatra

As the artist who brought to life the definitive versions of many of America's classic standards, Frank Sinatra easily makes our list of top 10 artists. With his inimitable voice, this legendary rat-packer simply sings some of our all-time favorite songs.

8. Dixie Chicks

With their major label debut, Wide Open Spaces, the Dixie Chicks exploded onto both the country and pop charts, and with each subsequent album demonstrated over and over that their initial success was no fluke. Weathering controversy with confidence, they've proven their staying power and ability to appeal across genre lines while maintaining their personal and musical integrity.

9. Enya

Getting her start with Irish mainstay Clannad, Enya broke out on her own in a big way with 1988's Watermark. With a sound uniquely her own, encompassing layered vocal textures, plucked strings, and tranquil synth pads, Enya has solidified her place not only in Celtic and New Age music, but deeply within our hearts.

10. Rod Stewart

Beginning his career with the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces, Rod Stewart has traveled a diverse artistic path, flirting with blues, folk, rock, disco, and American standards. Whether you prefer him as a young bluesy rocker, an '80s pop interpreter, or a dignified sensual crooner, Rod Stewart and his trademark raspy vocals deliver the goods.

Coldplay tour dates

Coldplay announced dates for “Viva La Vida” North American tour.

The upcoming album will be released on June, 17th. The record produced by Brian Eno and Markus Dravs is the follow up to “X&Y”. In 2005 it debuted #1 in 32 countries and 10 million copies are sold worldwide.

Band will perform the main hit ‘Violet Hill’ on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on June 26th and on the TODAY show on NBC on Friday, June 27th.

Rolling Stone named ‘Violet Hill’ a must-have in a recent “Download” column, saying:

(Lead singer Chris) Martin broods over a lost lover with a snarling acidity that makes him sound more human than ever — miles away from the dreamy romantic he was on soaring ballads like ‘Speed of Sound’”

6/29 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center 5/16

7/2 Washington, DC Verizon Center 5/17
7/3 Hartford, CT XL Center 5/17
7/5 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills 5/17
7/6 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena 5/17
7/8 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center 5/17
7/9 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center 5/17
7/10 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center 5/16
7/12 Phoenix, AZ Jobing.com Arena 5/17
7/19 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena 5/17
7/21 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
7/24 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
7/27 Pemberton, BC Pemberton Festival
7/29 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
7/30 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome

8/1 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
8/3 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
8/4 Chicago, IL United Center

10/20 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
10/21 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
10/26 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
10/29 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
10/30 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre

11/3 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
11/11 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
11/18 Houston, TX Toyota Center
11/19 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
11/21 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
11/22 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena

Music News

Prince to headline Coachella music fest

Purple rain was to fall in the desert Saturday night when Prince was scheduled to play his much-anticipated headlining performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
Prince's concert, the centerpiece of the festival, was announced only two weeks ago, adding a high dosage of star power to the ninth annual Southern California music festival. The Purple One was easily the most in-demand act to see among the 125-plus bands playing over the weekend.Paul Tollett, the founder of Coachella and head of concert promoter Goldenvoice, declined to say how much Prince's payday for the performance was but said a figure of $4.8 million that had been reported was incorrect.
Tollett had pursued Prince since the festival's first edition in 1999. Prince has rarely performed festivals in his career, and Coachella -- the unofficial start to the summer's festival season -- promised to be his most high-profile gig since playing the Super Bowl last year.Prince was scheduled to take the main stage shortly before 11 p.m. PDT, after performances by Death Cab for Cutie, Kraftwerk and the newly reunited Portishead. Friday night's shows were headlined by surfer singer-songwriter Jack Johnson. Sunday night's festivities are to be headlined by Roger Waters.Coachella music festival: http://www.coachella.com Source:boston.com