'Beckham of Classical Music' Is Hit on Charts, With Ladies

Researchers show that even pro musicians can't tell the difference

(NEWSER) - They’re famed far and wide as the finest violins on the planet (one recently sold for $16 million) , but do Stradivarius violins actually sound better? A study suggests they don’t, NPR reports. Researchers assembled a group of six violins—two Stradivariuses, a Guarneri, and three modern violins—and invited a group of professional violinists to try them out while wearing dark goggles that prevented them from visually identifying the instruments. They were told at least one was a Strad, and asked to guess which. More»

The iPod, Guitar Hero, Twitter—and some serious moments, too

(NEWSER) - From the tragic (World Trade Center attacks, Hurricane Katrina) to the seemingly trivial (Stephen Fry's first Tweet), the Telegraph lists the top 100 defining cultural moments of the decade so far:

• April 2000: Metallica sues music-sharing service Napster.
• October 2001: The iPod is released.
• February 2003: Sacha Baron Cohen hits America.
• March 2003: Michael Moore slams President Bush at the Oscars.
• February 2005: YouTube is created.

Bob Dylan's Christmas album is just the latest in a long line

(NEWSER) - Bob Dylan’s decision to record a Christmas album is certainly ill-advised—“fans may have stuck by him throughout the musically self-destructive late '60s, the God-bothering late '70s, and the Grateful Dead-collaborating-Madonna-imitating mid '80s, but surely even Bob's fans have a limit,” writes John Matthew Hall for the Independent. But Dylan’s not alone; Hall offers up the worst disasters in rock and roll careers, from John Lennon to Michael Jackson: More»

Also, more on the David Beckham return

(NEWSER) - Jon Gosselin is “and Kate” again. No, not that Kate—Kate Major, a Star reporter he was pictured out with Saturday night, the New York Daily News reports. The new Kate "has a tendency to blur the lines between ‘work’ and ‘friendship,’” says a source. “This isn’t the first time she’s gotten close to someone she’s reporting on.” Elsewhere:

• It seems David Beckham wasn’t all that cool after all during his return to the field in Los Angeles yesterday. As Galaxy fans booed, he tried to jump over a barrier toward the crowd and had to be held back by security, the Daily Mail reports. Becks says he was just trying to shake hands.

Dirty Dancing choreographer leads show

(NEWSER) - As the King of Pop readies his first concert run in more than a decade, so, too the requisite secrecy, swirling rumors, and lawsuits begin to get in shape. Michael Jackson may be developing moves to rival the moonwalk, he's definitely rehearsing six hours daily with 10 dancers and a top choreographer near the Burbank airport, and he's facing at least two lawsuits. The Los Angeles Times looks in on the circus surrounding the return of a legend. More»