Crooner's version of You Shook Me All Night Long called 'vile'
Total Guitar Jun 23, 08 11:59 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Celine Dion's rendition of AC/DC's Y ou Shook Me All Night Long has been voted the worst cover ever, according to Total Guitar magazine. The UK mag called the duet Dion performed with Anastacia in Las Vegas 6 years ago an "offense" against music. "The No. 1 worst cover song—Celine Dion covering AC/DC—is sacrilege," said magazine editor Stephen Lawson.
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As icon heads out on tour, one man gives you 9 songs you must get on your iPod
More Intelligent Life Jun 22, 08 6:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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"Adored by about a million fans and misunderstood by nearly everyone else," Leonard Cohen is set for his first tour in 15 years. So what better time to load up on "nine Cohen songs no self-respecting iPod should be without," writes Tim de Lisle in More Intelligent Life: Suzanne : "Cohen announces himself with an educated folk song" in 1967. Bird on the Wire : "A magical tune about the human condition."
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Got $200K for Quarrymen vinyl? Too bad, Paul's not selling
Esquire Jun 21, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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As old vinyl gets hipper, Matthew Shepatin of Esquire charts the five most expensive albums in today's market: That’ll Be the Day/In Spite of All the Danger, The Quarrymen (1958): Features John, Paul, George, and some guys who aren't Ringo. Could sell for $200,000, if Paul would sell. Double Fantasy , John Lennon (1980): The one that Lennon signed for assassin Mark Chapman is worth $150,000.
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opinion
Documentary offers a textbook-style look at the band
Anthem Jun 19, 08 8:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Joy Division, writes Nik Mercer for Anthem , “is one of those bands that gains significance exponentially as the years pass.” As testament to their place in pop music consciousness, recent years have seen three films on the band: 24 Hour Party People , focusing on their label and scene; Control , a Cobain-izing biopic of Ian Curtis; and now simply Joy Division: A Documentary .
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She will seek out aspiring singers and dancers from obscure locales
Variety Jun 19, 08 6:36 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Move over "American Idol:" Janet Jackson is headed for reality TV, reports Variety . The pop icon plans to mentor aspiring singers and dancers as she prepares for her world tour—participation in which could be the grand prize. Drawing contestants from YMCAs and church groups, the show’s producer hopes a non-traditional casting approach will uncover the next Justin Timberlake...or Janet.
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Plant and Krauss
make an unlikely duo but still make beautiful music on tour
Rolling Stone Jun 19, 08 2:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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He's a howling rock god; she's a fiddlin' bluegrass queen. It sounds like an odd pairing, but Robert Plant and Alison Krauss weave haunting harmonies on tour, reports Rolling Stone . The duo admits they struggled to find the right groove while performing Led Zep covers and R&B classics from their 2007 platinum collaboration, Raising Sand .
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Squeaky-clean trio set for Miley-sized media onslaught
New York Times Jun 17, 08 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Brace yourselves: Disney is prepping a summer media blitz for the squeaky-clean, tween-rockin' Jonas Brothers that'll put Hannah Montana to shame. The former Christian rock band made up of three real-life siblings is starring in two movies, releasing an album, and touring Europe and the US—before getting their own spy-themed comedy-adventure show titled “J.O.N.A.S.”
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'This has to be the time,' Vedder tells thousands
Rolling Stone Jun 15, 08 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Pearl Jam stormed Bonnaroo's massive stage last night for a 3-hour live show that mixed B-sides and Bob Dylan covers with a heapin' helping of politics, reports Rolling Stone . The performance in front of tens of thousands was rare for grunge's supergroup, reports the AP, which has largely avoided such scenes since 9 were trampled to death at a 2000 show. But lead singer Eddie Vedder was far from shy.
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OPINION
Cook says he 'was never in it to win it'
Rolling Stone Jun 15, 08 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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David Cook almost didn't audition for American Idol —he was there to offer moral support to his younger brother. But goading from his family kicked off a whirlwind journey that took him from fledgling Midwest rocker to Billboard star. Cook tells Rolling Stone about his modest beginnings—and his early skepticism about the Idol pop machine.
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New release
"I am a child despite my 40 years and 30 lovers," she sings
Reuters Jun 11, 08 1:54 PM CDT
(Newser)
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French first lady Carla Bruni would like you to know she's "a child despite my 40 years and 30 lovers"—at least according to one of the more standout lines on her third album, due for release in July. As If Nothing had Happened is her first collection of songs since tying the knot with President Nicolas Sarkozy, and "showcases her fragile yet intense voice and unique melodic style," writes a critic for Le Figaro .
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Rapper Combs hints at return to old stage name
E! Online Jun 10, 08 10:21 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Rapper Sean Combs—also variously known as Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy—appears to be going retro and reverting back to Puff Daddy, which he hasn’t used since 2001, E! Online reports. His rep says there’s no change in the works, but Combs suggested otherwise on his MySpace page and on a new single.
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Network pays $485K, promises to tone
down language
Variety Jun 6, 08 8:13 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A UK media watchdog has fined MTV Europe $484,500 for having a potty mouth, Variety reports. The network repeatedly uses “highly offensive language and material” in its videos and shows, often before 9pm, the family-viewing cutoff point. An MTV rep said the firm “takes this sanction and fine very seriously” and was working to clean up its language.
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'Unacceptable quality compromises' key move to improved downloads, CDs
USA Today Jun 4, 08 7:23 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Musicians dissatisfied with the sound of digital media are releasing albums as higher-quality downloads, on high-definition DVDs and even on vinyl, USA Today reports. Last year, Amazon and iTunes agreed to boost the quality of their MP3s, but some groups are using even better versions to eliminate what Neil Young calls "unacceptable quality compromises" made for CDs and the like.
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