Madonna's McCain vid courts controversy

Madonna has always reveled in contention and with the recent launch of her�Sticky & Sweet concert tour, the 50-year-old protrude star has kicked up a new fuss by comparing John McCain to Adolf Hitler.

The dust-up is the modish in a career of risky moves that have paid off handsomely for Madonna, whose tours and albums have long sundry music with politics, sex and religion.

While other stars rose to fame in the 1980s then attenuated away, Material Girl Madonna has turn a worldwide star and even courted controversy to stay relevant to jr. audiences.

"Madonna seems to be an inordinately brilliant business woman in the line of polish," said Robert Thompson, a professor of media at and pop culture at Syracuse University.

"She's controlled her controversy, so every time she's been in tilt it does her salutary not uncollectible," he said.

As her earth tour open in Cardiff, Wales, over the weekend, Madonna showed a television montage juxtaposing images of Hitler with McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona running for president against Democratic Senator Barack Obama.

The Democrats on Monday launched their nominating convention.

McCain's military campaign blasted Madonna with a campaign spokesman telling media organisations that the video recording was "unconscionable, unacceptable and crudely divisive".

Abraham Foxman, national director for Jewish mathematical group The Anti-Defamation League too issued a statement vocation it "unconscionable to invoke Nazi imaging in the context of John McCain's candidacy".

In 2005, Rabbis criticised Madonna all over a call, Isaac, that they aforesaid used an inappropriate reference to a 16th century mystic.

Madonna also has haggard the ira of the Vatican over sexual themes such as simulating onanism on stage.

Her 1989 song Like A Prayer, with links between religion and eroticism, caused Pepsi-Cola to cancel a sponsorship deal.

In 1992, she released a book called Sex with nude pictures of the star that caused a media sensory faculty, and in 2003 her same-sex kiss with Britney Spears at MTV's Video Music Awards proved to be so far another celebrity news firestorm.

While Thompson noted that Madonna has successfully boosted her career in the past with argument, he added that celebrities should speak their minds if they want.

"The whole notion of a democratic republic is that this wasn't just now about politicians, that anyone could blast their mouth off most whatever they wanted to," Thompson said.

But David Horowitz, a materialistic writer and activist, took a more than dim view of Madonna's latest controversy.

"We're in a sad state of affairs if we're turning to entertainers for political wisdom," he aforementioned.

* Watch a video from Madonna's duty tour below:

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Cameroon To Host WHO Regional Committee For Africa

�The fifty-eighth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa is scheduled to take

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger Robbed In Spain

Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger and her boyfriend, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, were robbed in Spain yesterday (August 18).

The Daily Star reports that the couple were checking out of a hotel when two thieves swiped their luggage from the open trunk of their rented vehicle.

The chauffeur who had put the luggage in the car had been cleaning the car's wing mirrors when the thieves attacked.

One of the thieves dropped one of the bags while making their getaway.

Scherzinger is currently on an international tour with her band mates promoting their latest album titled Doll Domination which hits stores next month.

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Britney will not play 'lesbian stripper'

Washington (ANI): Britney Spears has denied reports that she will be playing a "murderous lesbian stripper"" in Quentin Tarantino's adjacent project. British newspaper the Mirror had earlier claimed that the 'Toxic' hitmaker was fix to play exotic social dancer 'Varla' in a remaking of the 1965 film 'Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!'

But her spokesman has denied that the isaac Bashevis Singer is on the job with Tarantino. "Though she definitely intends to explore acting roles down the road, right now she's concentrating on recording her next album," Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.


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Alex De Grassi

   
Artist: Alex De Grassi

   Genre(s): 
New Age
   

---

Discography:


   
 Now and Then

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 11


   
 Tata Monk

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 8


   
 The Music Of James Taylor

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 10


   
 Interpretation Of Simon and Garfunkel

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 10


   
 Bolivian Blues Bar

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 12


   
 The Water Garden

   Year: 1998   
Tracks: 10


   
 The World's Getting Loud

   Year: 1993   
Tracks: 10


   
 A Windham Hill Retrospective

   Year: 1992   
Tracks: 15


   
 Altiplano

   Year: 1987   
Tracks: 8


   
 Southern Exposure

   Year: 1983   
Tracks: 10


   
 Deep At Night

   Year: 1983   
Tracks: 10


   
 Clockwork

   Year: 1981   
Tracks: 8


   
 Slow Circle

   Year: 1979   
Tracks: 9


   
 Turning, Turning Back

   Year: 1978   
Tracks: 10

---

Music has long been a kin matter for Alex de Grassi. Though he's in the first place self-taught as a guitarist, his grandad played violin with The San Francisco Symphony and his father was a classical piano player. Even more significant ar de Grassi's ties to one of contemporaneous implemental music's virtually influential labels: Windham Hill. In addition to his status as unmatchable of the company's finest and virtually systematically intriguing artists, de Grassi is literally a penis of the Windham Hill kin group. After earning a degree in urban geographics from U. C. Berkeley and performing as a street musician in London, he made ends meet by encyclopaedism the woodwork barter from his cousin Will Ackerman, wHO was just starting a small instrumental record tag. De Grassi was encouraged to record his first album, Turning: Turning Back, for the fledgeling Windham Hill company. As it turns kO'd, he had more going for him than good connections. Over the years, de Grassi has proven to be an advanced guitar player and composer whose mastery of acoustic finger-picking styles has adult to include a change of other techniques and ethnic influences. Though he left briefly to record with RCA Novus, de Grassi has since returned to the Windham Hill fold. In the mid '80s, his travels to Bolivia became a major inspiration. He made numerous subject area recordings during his visits and start incorporated indigenous influences from the culture on his 1987 RCA Novus acquittance Altiplano. His contacts with Bolivia's Contemporary Orchestra of Native Instruments too arrange in motion the ensemble's start American acquittance Arawl on the New Albion mark. De Grassi continued experimenting with different genres and sounds that included guitar lullabies (1996's Beyond the Night Sky), his 1999 album of James Taylor interpretation, and 2000's collaboration with cosmos music artist Quique Cruz, Tata Monk. Moving gage to solo guitar work, his exploration of American kinsfolk music tin be heard on 2003's Now and Then: Folk Songs for the twenty-first Century.

Ape applicant vies for star on Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES —

Three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have gone to the dogs, so why can't Cheeta the chimp get some love? The animal actor, whose credits include the 1967 comedy "Dr. Doolittle" and the "Tarzan" movies, is trying for the seventh time to get a sidewalk star and become the first monkey to get the honor. His handlers have launched an online petition to get supporters to urge the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to give him a star in 2009.

Each June, the Walk of Fame Committee picks from hundreds of nominations a list of inductees for the next year.

Cheeta's "inclusion on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will not only give recognition to one of the international, animal megastars of all time, but focus attention on his fellow primates in the wilds of Africa who now face extinction," the petition reads.

The petition notes that Cheeta's canine colleagues Lassie, and 1920s stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart are immortalized on the boulevard, along with fictional animals Kermit the Frog, Godzilla and Donald Duck.

"He's up against really big celebrities," Ana Martinez-Holler, a spokeswoman for the Chamber of Commerce said.

This year, Cheeta will be considered along with some 200 entertainers. The chamber usually chooses about 24 a year.

Martinez-Holler said chamber members will announce their selections near the end of the month. She wouldn't speculate whether the seventh time will be a charm for Cheeta.

The 76-year-old chimp, who the Guinness World Records has called the oldest living, non-human primate, is retired and lives in Palm Springs. Cheeta also has a MySpace page, which lists painting "Ape-Stract Art" among his hobbies, and The Monkees his favorite band.

---

On the Net: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/GoCheeta/

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Dan Fogelberg

   
Artist: Dan Fogelberg

   Genre(s): 
Pop
   Rock
   

---

Discography:


   
 Nether Lands

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 11


   
 Super Hits

   Year: 1998   
Tracks: 10


   
 Love Songs

   Year: 1995   
Tracks: 10


   
 River of Souls

   Year: 1993   
Tracks: 10


   
 Windows and Walls

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 8


   
 The Innocent Age (cd2)

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 9


   
 The Innocent Age (cd1)

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 8


   
 Souvenirs

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 11


   
 Phoenix

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 10


   
 Home Free

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 10


   
 High Country Snows

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 11


   
 Exiles

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 10


   
 Captured Angel

   Year: 1990   
Tracks: 8

---

 

Country musician Jim Hager dies at 66

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Jim Hager, who gained fame performing with his twin, Jon, on the nationally syndicated comedy and music television show "Hee Haw," has died of a heart attack, a friend said.


Hager, 66, slumped over on Thursday in the parking lot of a coffee house, according to family friend Adam Dread. He was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.


Hager and his brother, natives of Chicago, won a management contract after performing at Disneyland in California. In 1969 they moved to "Hee Haw" in Nashville, where they became regulars on the show.


The duo also charted five country singles on Capitol Records.


"Hee Haw," which ended in the 1990s, featured music and comedy skits performed by celebrities and country stars including Buck Owens and Roy Clark.


(Reporting by Pat Harris; Editing by Andrew Stern and Xavier Briand)

Sharon Little's Breakdown Debuts This Spring

LOS ANGELES, May 8 -- Perfect Time For A Breakdown is
Sharon Little's debut national release and a signpost of a career very much
on the ascent. The album, set for rush release May 27, was completed only
one week before Sharon hit the road for a string of tour dates in support
of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett on the first leg of their
Raising Sand North American Tour. June will see her join the tour for its
second leg which includes stops in New York and Los Angeles. Sharon was
chosen by the headliners for this supporting role over numerous other
artists. Remarkably, it's only been since January of this year that the
Philadelphia native has made the transformation from waitress to major
concert attraction.

Little has earned critical kudos for her earlier independently released
recordings and club appearances, including a rave from Los Angeles area
critic/HITS Magazine columnist Roy Trakin: "[Little possesses] a sultry
croon capable of soothing, arousing or exploding into a Janis Joplin-esque
howl when you least expect it ... By all rights, Little should be a big
star." Helen Leicht of the influential Philadelphia radio station WXPN
wrote of a recent live performance, "What soul! You always hope to be that
moved by a concert."

The songs on Perfect Time For A Breakdown were written by Sharon and
her collaborator, Scot Sax, who co-produced the album with Mark Howard,
noted for his work with Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams. The
album's 11 tunes were inspired, in part by numerous, cross-country train
adventures Little and Sax have experienced over the past two years. Those
journeys further strengthened a musical and personal collaboration that
began in 2006 with a meeting at Milkboy Coffee Shop in Philadelphia.

As Sharon explains, "We knew we had each met our creative match within
minutes of sitting down with each other. Scot and I found that we brought
different approaches to songwriting, and discovered that each possessed
what the other one needed. Before we met, we were two separate halves of a
whole, and now, looking back, in each other we met ourselves."

Sharon Little's musical passion and songwriting began as an outlet for
her grief over the loss of a close friend at the age of 16. She sang backup
for many Philadelphia bands and developed her style and burgeoning
reputation while singing blues and jazz standards at local clubs to make
ends meet.

While she was gaining fans and earning compliments wherever she sang
and played, Sharon credits her partnership with Scot for putting her career
on track. "He was the first person experienced in the business who didn't
just talk about what I should be doing -- he actually did something about
it." From co-writing and recording, to taking pictures and traversing the
country with Sharon for low-paying gigs, Scot helped plot a course to where
Sharon needed - - and deserved -- to be.

Two independent records and countless gigs across the U.S. brought
Sharon to the attention of CBS Records who hotly pursued her after a brief
performance at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles in the summer of 2007. As CBS
Records head Larry Jenkins explained, "It took all of two minutes of
hearing Sharon sing and watching her perform for all of us to look at each
other knowing that we would do everything possible to bring her to the
label. We made it our mission to share her amazing artistry with the
world."

The whirlwind of recent activity has seen Sharon Little, a coffee shop
waitress in January who became a recording artist in February. By April,
she was earning standing ovations at major concert dates. Upcoming: the May
release of Perfect Time For A Breakdown followed, in June, by a string of
major market bookings with Page/Krauss/Burnett in support of the album's
release. Don't, however, mistake Sharon Little for an overnight sensation.
That's an understandable, but erroneous, conclusion to draw; the reality is
that she's been honing her craft as a songwriter and performer for almost a
decade. It's only that her time, clearly, has come and that time, by all
indications, is now.




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Benji pens love song for Paris

ALL together now, 'Awww'.

Despite his rock exterior, tattooed BENJI MADDEN has gone all gooey
inside and penned a love song for his girlfriend PARIS HILTON.

The GOOD CHARLOTTE guitarist has risked his hardman credibility by
writing a soppy tune called Shine Your Light for his socialite squeeze.

Hotel heiress Paris said: "He actually wrote me a beautiful song, and
actually recorded it in the studio.

"He surprised me with it... it's this really beautiful love song about
me. It was the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me!"
Place your bets on how long it'll be before she gets a tattoo of his name?

Vera dies on Coronation St tonight

One of 'Coronation Street's most-loved characters, Vera Duckworth, will die during tonight's double episode.
Viewers will see husband Jack (Bill Tarmey) distraught as Vera's (Liz Dawn) body is taken away by funeral directors.
Details of how Vera dies have been a closely guarded secret; three different endings were written and the character's final scenes were shot amidst tight security.
Actress Dawn, who suffers from the lung disease emphysema, decided to leave the show to spend more time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
She has appeared in more than 3,000 'Coronation Street' episodes over the past 33 years.
Commenting on leaving the show, she said: "It was very emotional filming Vera's death scenes but I do think it is the right decision for the character.  I have had 33 marvellous years in 'Coronation Street' and will miss everyone very much."
Her co-star Tarmey said: "Liz is a wonderful woman. I have worked with her for 29 years and we have never had a cross word. She only left a few weeks ago but already I miss walking on set and seeing her there, I miss working with her - we all do. But we wish her all the love in the world and want her to enjoy her retirement, she deserves it."

Kate Hudson - Wilson And Hudson Fall Out

KATE HUDSON and OWEN WILSON have reportedly fallen out and sources close to the couple claim they have split on bad terms.

Eonline reports that the couple are no longer on speaking terms following an argument over OWEN flirting with other women while filming in Miami for the film MARLEY and ME.

The source said: "They haven't been getting along really for most of the time they've been back together. OWEN can be a moody guy, very up and very down. And Kate is so upbeat, it was hard for her to take."

The couple had previously split up last year but reunited in February.

OWEN WILSON was born in 1968 in Texas and has appeared in films such as MEET THE PARENTS, ZOOLANDER, THE WEDDING CRASHERS, RUSHMORE, STARSKY AND HUTCH, SHANGHAI NOON and YOU, ME and DUPREE.

KATE HUDSON is the daughter of film star GOLDIE HAWN and BILL HUDSON.



16/05/2008 16:43:19

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Tori Spelling - Spelling Negotiates For 90210 Spin-off Role

TORI SPELLING's wish to star in the planned BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 spin-off series may come true - she is in negotiations to reprise her breakthrough role in the new show.

The actress first found fame playing Donna Carter in the hit high school drama, which ran from 1990 to 2000.

And after hearing of plans to revive the defunct series in a new spin-off show, the star has been desperate to land a part - even offering to play the role of a sexy mum.

Now, Spelling - whose late father, TV producer Aaron Spelling, created the original show - admits she would love make a comeback with her pal Jennie Garth.

She tells People.com, "Jennie is already on board for the series and we have been in touch about it. I would love to see our characters together again and get the chance to work with my friend again."

Spelling also claims it was her late father's wish to see the hit 1990s show make a comeback

She explains, "It was always my dad's dream and intention to make a new 90210 before he passed, so I know he is proud and he would be even more proud if I were a part of it."

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Day-Lewis is among the SAG winners

Daniel Day-Lewis has been named Best Actor for his performance in 'There Will Be Blood' at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in the US.
Day-Lewis is Oscar-nominated for his performance and has already won the Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Daniel Plainview in the Paul Thomas Anderson film.
Wicklow resident Day-Lewis used his SAG Awards acceptance speech to pay tribute to Heath Ledger, who was found dead in New York last week. He described the Australian actor as an inspiration.
Julie Christie won Best Actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance in 'Away from Her'.
Javier Bardem was named Best Supporting Actor for his performance in 'No Country for Old Men' while Ruby Dee was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'American Gangster'.
The Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture went to the stars of 'No Country for Old Men'.
The stunt team on 'The Bourne Ultimatum' won the Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture award.
For more on the Screen Actors Guild Awards, click here.

Sir Paul McCartney has 'sexiest smile'

Sir Paul McCartney has topped a new 'Sexiest Smile' poll in a Senior Celebrities category.

The legend came out on top of a survey compiled by organisers of National Smile Month. The Rolling Stones' singer Mick Jagger came last in the poll.

In the Senior Celebrities category actress Helen Mirren came behind the former Beatle, while Camilla Parker Bowles came third.

Pan Sonic

   
Artist: Pan Sonic

   Genre(s): 
Ambient
   Techno
   Electronic
   Blues
   Industrial
   

---

Discography:


   
 Kesto (234.48:4) (CD4)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 1


   
 Kesto (234.48:4) (CD3)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 8


   
 Kesto (234.48:4) (CD2)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 12


   
 Kesto (234.48:4) (CD1)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 12


   
 Kesto

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 33


   
 Pan Sonic Live At Norbergfestivalen, Sweden 2003 - Radio [Mantraitor]

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 1


   
 Aaltopiiri

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 17


   
 Mort Aux Vaches

   Year: 2000   
Tracks: 1


   
 X

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 10


   
 B

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 4


   
 A

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 17


   
 Arctic Rangers

   Year: 1998   
Tracks: 4


   
 Osasto EP

   Year: 1996   
Tracks: 4


   
 Vakio

   Year: 1995   
Tracks: 15


   
 Osasto CDEP

   Year: 1995   
Tracks: 4


   
 Panasonic (EP) [Sahka007]

   Year: 1994   
Tracks: 2


   
 Charlemange Palestine - Mort Aux Vaches

   Year:    
Tracks: 1

---

Finnish minimalist techno group Pan sonic are among the most active and well-known artists from that country's midget experimental techno resistance, and the offset to reach clap at an international level. Pursuing the scraggy edges of minimal techno and hard-core, the grouping have earned an abiding association with industrial and disturbance medicine through their incorporation of antiseptic production techniques and power tool electronics, landing them in 1995 on the English Mute label's experimental subsidiary company Blast First! (most of their catalog to date has since appeared there). The affinity lay more at the surface, however, as Pan sonic are better understood as a hit 'tween Jeff Mills and Mike Ink; dance-based electronic music with a maximum of impact, realised through a minimum of foreign item. Known for junking together studio apartment equipment from spare parts and ancient analogue rubble, Pan sonic's search for the untested in techno is their compositional M.O., placing them closer to the music's Detroit roots than is much understood.


Formed in Turku in the early '90s, Pan sonic began as the duet of Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen. As with most Finnish techno groups, Pan sonic's earlier beginnings lay with the Sahko/Puu imprint, the focus of the Northern European techno scenery and home to such artists as Kirlian, Philus, Ø (Vainio's solo guise), Mono Junk, and Jimi Tenor. Pan sonic released its self-titled debut single through Sahko in 1994 earlier organism joined by third member Sami Salo and landing a narrow with Blast First! the following class. The group's first BF! acquittance, Vakio, was a full-length CD/triple-10" boxed typeset featuring the same brand of furtive, passively aggressive techno, though with a fuller, more thought-out well-grounded. Soon afterwards Vakio's release in 1995, Salo left the group (ostensibly to join the Army), and Pan sonic's subsequent releases -- the Osasto EP and the group's 1997 sophomore long-player, Kulma -- noted his absence by their relatively harder, less subtle tone.


Pan transonic added live carrying out to their regular repertoire in 1996, playing a number of gigs throughout Europe and Japan, as well as touring with gothic rock group the Swans. Vainio stirred to London in 1997, where, in improver to his chronic commitment to Pan sonic, he continues to record as Ø (his third base full-length under that name, Olento, was issued on Sahko precisely prior to Kulma's release). He has besides released work on Sahko, Puu, and Cheap as Tekonivel, Orchestra Guacamole (with Jaakko Salovaara), and Kosmos (with Jimi Tenor), as good as remixed tracks for Björk and Tactile. Pan sonic have besides been featured on several compiling albums, including A Fault in the Nothing (Contact, 1996) and Funktion 1: Finnish Techno Collection (Function, 1996). By 1998, an inevitable confrontation with the Japanese fabrication giant besides known as Pan sonic had resulted in a name-change of sorts, to Pan sonic. The wanting letter re-surfaced the following twelvemonth, as the title of the duo's third album. Vainio and Väisänen besides recorded the Endless LP (as VVV) with the addition of Suicide vocaliser Alan Vega. In 2001, Pan sonic returned with Aaltopiiri, toured the world, and then returned with a four-disc record album, Kesto (234.48:4), in 2004.





Neil Young get his first No. 1 album