A&E and Seagal put viewers under siege

Steven Seagal rides a float as the grand marshal of the Krewe of Orpheus in a Mardi Gras parade on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans February 27, 2006.
REUTERS/Jeff Zelevansky

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Steven Seagal is heading to the small screen, signing to star in a reality series for A&E that will chronicle his little-known life in law enforcement.

Segal, an actor and martial arts expert with a seventh-degree black belt in aikido, has been working as a fully commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana for the past 20 years. In addition to going out on patrol, Seagal is said to be an expert marksman who has worked with the Jefferson Parish SWAT team and has instructed officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat.

"Steven Seagal: Lawman" will follow Seagal and a team of deputies as they respond to crimes in progress and also focus on Seagal's off-duty ventures, including musical performances and philanthropic efforts in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.

"I believe it's important to show the nation all the positive work being accomplished here in Louisiana -- to see the passion and commitment that comes from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in this post-Katrina environment," Seagal said of his decision to do the series.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


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Hard times force "Tyra Banks" out of syndication

Tyra Banks poses with her award for Outstanding Talk Show/Informative for "The Tyra Banks Show" at the 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Kodak theatre in Hollywood, California June 20, 2008.
REUTERS/Phil McCarten

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Daytime talker "The Tyra Banks Show" is moving to the CW's afternoon block in September, after airing in syndication for four seasons.

Economics played a role in its move out of syndication as stations are forced to make budget cuts amid the economic downturn. To cut costs, "Tyra's" production schedule will be cut to 26 weeks from 34, with an episode from the first four seasons airing at 3 p.m. and a new installment airing at 4 p.m. "Tyra" repeats also will continue to air in late-night on women's cable channel Oxygen.

Meanwhile, the CW is close to renewing Banks' "America's Next Top Model" for a 13th cycle.

"Tyra Banks" this season is averaging a 1.0 household rating, off 9% from the same period a year ago, which puts it in a different league from higher-rated talkers including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Dr. Phil" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which is the only talker up year-over-year. But it's also averaging a 1.0 among women 18-34 -- the CW's target -- up 25% from a year ago and fourth among all talkers.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter



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George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus "Spy" comedy

Comedian George Lopez performs at the 53rd annual Thalians gala in Beverly Hills, California November 2, 2008.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - George Lopez and Billy Ray Cyrus have joined Jackie Chan in "The Spy Next Door," a comedy shooting in Albuquerque, N.M.

Chan's character is asked to baby-sit his neighbor's children and winds up having to protect them from secret agents after one of the kids accidentally downloads a code.

Lopez is a CIA agent who might not be all that he appears; Cyrus is another agent. Amber Valletta is the kids' mom, while Katherine Boecher plays a Russian underworld operative. Brian Levant is directing for indie financier Relativity.

Lopez most recently had a voice role in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua." Cyrus next stars alongside his daughter, Miley, in "Hannah Montana: The Movie."

Valletta has appeared in "Hitch," and "Transporter 2," while Boecher appeared in episodes of AMC's "Mad Men" and TNT's "The Closer."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter



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R&B star Chris Brown sweeps American Music Awards

Singer Chris Brown (L) receives his award for pop/rock favorite male artist from T-Pain at the 2008 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 23, 2008.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Chris Brown swept the American Music Awards on Sunday, winning three prizes including artist of the year.

The 19-year-old star, famed for his on-stage athleticism, overshadowed Alicia Keys, who led the field with five nominations, and ended up with a pair of statuettes.

Brown was clearly shocked when his name was announced for artist of the year, the ceremony's final award.

"I probably was shocked like everybody else," Brown told reporters backstage at the Nokia Theater. "I know everybody was like, 'Huh?' I thought Coldplay should have genuinely won that award, but I'll take it!"

He was also named favorite male artist in both the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories. His girlfriend, Rihanna, won those categories for the women, beating Keys in both races.

Keys' awards were for her chart-topping disc, "As I Am," which was named favorite album in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories.

Behind Keys in the nominees list were British rock band Coldplay and American country-rock veterans the Eagles, who both went home empty-handed.

Other multiple winners included outspoken rapper Kanye West, who has never been afraid to express his dismay when he is overlooked at awards shows. He won the first two American Music Awards of his career, but said he would give one of them away to fellow nominee, Lil Wayne.

"If it was last year, this would have been my award," he said of the favorite male rap/hip-hop category. "This year, it's Wayne's award. We'll see what happens next year."

Earlier, he won for the statuette for favorite rap/hip-hop album with "Graduation." West challenged musicians of all genres to push each other, and to reclaim the spirit of artists like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. In his case, he declared, "I wanna be Elvis!"

But host Jimmy Kimmel retorted a little later, "Elvis died on the toilet with half a jelly donut in his mouth, so you might want to rethink that one."

Kimmel also took a dig at addiction-plagued rocker Scott Weiland, who had to struggle to introduce a performer. Kimmel suggested that Disney starlet Miley Cyrus, who turned 16 on Sunday, would now be able to drive him home.

Among the first-time winners were Taylor Swift, current holder of the No. 1 spot on the U.S. pop album chart with her album "Fearless." She appeared to be the only shocked person in the Nokia Theater room when she was named favorite female country singer.

"It's an honor that you even care about the songs I wrote in my bedroom," said the 18-year-old star.

Another country star, Brad Paisley, was also a first-time winner, in the genre's favorite male artist category.

"I have always, always wanted to win an American Music Award," he said, pausing to survey the bottom of his perspex statuette. "Made in China?"

For the second year, winners were determined by online voting. They used to be decided by a poll of 20,000 music buyers, but producers decided to make the event more inclusive in the wake of slumping ratings. The move seemed to work, with last year's show attracting 11.8 million viewers, up from 10.9 million the year before.

The performance-heavy event spanned the generations, from Cyrus to former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox, who earned a standing ovation with her heartfelt piano ballad "Why."

The Scottish rocker received a lifetime achievement award and said, "I never thought that I would live to see the day that I would be 53 years old standing on the stage."

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Vicki Allen)



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Michael Jackson cancels plan to appear in court

Michael Jackson waves to fans at a U.S. military facility in Tokyo, as he walks to board a helicopter bound for Camp Zama, a U.S. military base west of Tokyo, to join a fan appreciation event March 10, 2007.
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON (Reuters) - Michael Jackson will not appear in a London court on Monday after the U.S. pop star reached a settlement "in principle" with a Bahraini prince suing him for reneging on a recording contract.

The reclusive 50-year-old had agreed last week to testify at the High Court.

"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle," a London spokeswoman for Jackson said on Sunday.

"Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday," said the spokeswoman from PR company Outside Organization.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, second son of the king of Bahrain, said Jackson failed to honor a contract to record a new album, write an autobiography and produce a stage play.

He also told the court last week that Jackson owed him $7 million after the prince paid for legal costs, travel and other expenses in 2005 and 2006.

Jackson and his children spent time in Bahrain as a guest of the royal family following a 2005 trial on child molestation charges, but he backed down from plans to work with Sheikh Abdullah in 2006.

He was acquitted of the charges in 2005, but the trial left Jackson's career, reputation and financial status in tatters and he has been a virtual recluse since.

NO VALID AGREEMENT

Jackson's lawyers argued that there was no valid agreement with Sheikh Abdullah, and they have tried to portray the prince as a generous but naive, star-struck pop music amateur.

They also say Sheikh Abdullah's payments to Jackson and his staff were intended as gifts, not part of a business agreement.

Details of the personal and financial relationship between Jackson and Sheikh Abdullah surfaced during the first week of the trial.

The court heard that the prince gave Jackson and his representatives $1 million before he had met the star, and provided $35,000 to pay for utility bills at the singer's Neverland Ranch in the United States.

He paid Jackson $2.2 million in legal fees, and more than $300,000 for the services of a motivational "guru."

Sheikh Abdullah also spent $450,000 on Jackson's brother Jermaine in late 2004 and early 2005, and paid for a Rolls-Royce car for him in California.

Jackson and the prince spoke by telephone and collaborated on songs long-distance during the 2005 trial.

The courts took the unusual step last week of issuing tickets to media outlets wanting to attend the hearing on Monday, in anticipation of the huge press and public interest his appearance was likely to generate.

(Editing by Keith Weir)

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No Doubt regrouping for tour and album

Adrian Young (L), Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont of No Doubt visit the press room in Anaheim on February 18, 2005.
REUTERS/Michael Buckner

By Jonathan Cohen

NEW YORK (Billboard) - No Doubt will return to the road in 2009 while it finishes its first studio album in seven years.

The Los Angeles pop group made the announcement via an instant message transcript posted on its official Web site (http://www.nodoubt.com), but did not provide specific details.

"I have cabin fever. Maybe we should play some shows or something," guitarist Tom Dumont wrote. Vocalist Gwen Stefani answered, "I think we should go out now. I don't think we should wait. Pack up the babies and get a bunch of nannies. So fun! Would be so inspiring to get out there and play all those songs again."

The group then discusses how continuing to write new music on the road would be inspiring, and vows to alert management to its plans.

No Doubt has been in the studio on and off throughout 2008. But Stefani's participation has been limited of late, having given birth to her second son in late August.

The group hasn't played live since mid-2004, and its last studio album was 2001's "Rock Steady." Since then, Stefani has released two critically acclaimed solo albums, while the other group members have pursued solo and session work as well as producing. Most recently, they appear on Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland's newly released second solo album, "'Happy' in Galoshes."

Reuters/Billboard

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Hollywood actors will vote on strike

A general view shows the Screen Actors Guild National Headquarters in Los Angeles July 9, 2008.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

By Leslie Simmons

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The cloud of labor unrest hanging over Hollywood and the upcoming awards season has grown considerably darker.

Although no date has been set, the leaders of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have begun preparations for a strike-authorization vote after two days of meetings with the studios failed to break the 5-month-old deadlock on a new TV/theatrical contract.

The talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP), brokered by federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez, ended shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday.

"We will now launch a full-scale education campaign in support of a strike-authorization referendum," SAG said. "We will further inform our members about the core, critical issues unique to actors that remain in dispute."

In response to SAG's decision to seek strike authorization, the AMPTP said, "SAG is bizarrely asking its members to bail out the failed negotiating strategy with a strike vote -- at a time of historic economic crisis. The tone deafness of SAG is stunning."

The studios' bargaining arm sent a blistering message to its 300 members, placing the blame on SAG and indicating that it would do everything it could to educate SAG members and the industry about its offer to the actors union and why SAG should accept it.

"The more SAG members understand about the fairness and strength of our offer, especially during a time of historic economic distress, the less likely they will be to authorize a strike," the message stated.

In October, SAG's national board called in Gonzalez in hopes restarting negotiations after a then-four-month stalemate. At the same time, the board also voted to give its negotiating committee the go-ahead to call for a strike-authorization vote if the mediation failed. SAG requires 75% of its voting members to approve the measure in order to go forward with a strike.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg has said that a strike-authorization vote does not necessarily mean the union will immediately go on strike.

The AMPTP doesn't agree.

"Make no mistake about this: If SAG members authorize a strike, then a strike is all but guaranteed because SAG has shown no willingness to compromise on its unrealistic demands," the organization told its members.

Until Thursday, the two sides had not met with each other since mid-July, when SAG responded to the AMPTP's estimated $250 million final offer with a counter-proposal that was rejected by the studios. Thursday's sessions lasted 12 hours, and the meeting that began Friday went 15 hours.

Few details of the talks have emerged, with both sides holding to a confidentiality agreement requested by the mediator.

SAG put the blame on the AMPTP for the talks failing and said that the studios continue to insist on terms the guild can't "responsibly accept."

"We don't suspend bargaining in tough economic times," SAG national executive director and chief negotiator Doug Allen said Sunday. "Now more than ever, actors need a fair contract to help the struggling middles class make a living in the future, including a future working in new media."

The AMPTP has repeatedly said that SAG will not get a deal superior to the pacts agreed to by the other industry guilds, including the WGA, DGA and AFTRA.

"We will also continue to place the burden squarely on SAG to explain why it deserves better deals than the other entertainment guilds received earlier this year -- particularly in light of the fact that the earlier deals were negotiated during better economic times, and SAG is attempting to reach a deal now during a period of tremendous economic upheaval," the AMPTP told its members.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

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U.K. band Franz Ferdinand "swings" on 3rd album

By Michael D. Ayers and Mark Sutherland

NEW YORK/LONDON (Billboard) - Franz Ferdinand's 2005 album may have promised "You Could Have It So Much Better," but the sales figures begged to differ -- the band's second album failed to match the transatlantic success of its self-titled predecessor.

But as singer/guitarist Alex Kapranos and bassist Bob Hardy sit in a deserted Brooklyn cafe talking Billboard through the band's long-awaited third album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" -- set for release January 27 through Epic in the United States -- it's clear that self-confidence is not a problem.

Three weeks earlier, just a few blocks away, Kapranos, Hardy, guitarist Nick McCarthy and drummer Paul Thomson ripped through a headlining set at a Diesel anniversary party, duetting with hip-hop star T.I. and playing a handful of new, electronica-influenced tunes for partygoers. Today, they're more laid-back than that bash would have suggested, reveling in the process of making music.

"The other two were very jerky records," Kapranos says. "This one is much more of a swinger."

Franz, which formed in 2001 in Glasgow, Scotland, was an instant sensation in Britain, where its 2004 debut hit No. 3 and went on to sell 1.2 million copies, according to the Official Charts Co. Stateside success followed, where "Take Me Out" became a rock radio smash and "Franz Ferdinand" sold 1.1 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"This is one of the few British bands that have emerged in the last five years that have attained true international stature," says Laurence Bell, founder of Domino, the group's U.K. label.

But after a fast start, sales of "You Could Have It So Much Better" stalled at 480,000 in the United Kingdom and 378,000 in the States.

"The second record was really a continuation of what we were doing with the first one," Kapranos says. "There are some songs on this record that are going to surprise people. We've been talking about this idea of dirty pop -- something that has the direct melody of pop music, but (not the) sheen that you'd expect from contemporary pop."

It could have worked out rather differently, as the band originally started recording with Xenomania, the production house best known for its extremely clean pop creations with U.K. girl band Girls Aloud. But the sessions were junked, with the band instead opting for Dan Carey, who has worked with everyone from Sly & Robbie to Lily Allen. Carey encouraged the group to develop material through extended jam sessions.

The result is a funky, bass-driven and, at times, experimental record that veers from the trance-like avant-gardisms of "Lucid Dreams" to the synth-heavy "Can't Stop Feeling" and the acoustic prettiness of "Katherine Kiss Me."

Whether there's a hit on it to compare to "Take Me Out" remains to be seen. Lead single "Ulysses" will be released January 19 in the United Kingdom.

The band has been building awareness of the new songs through touring. European dates continue through November, with the band in the States for radio shows December 2-17 before touring Australia and New Zealand. Worldwide dates are planned through February 2010.

Reuters/Billboard




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Bruce Willis sues over "green rubber" investment

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "Live Free or Die Hard" actor Bruce Willis has sued a Malaysian prince and his company over a $2 million investment in "green rubber" the actor wants returned.

Prince Imran Ibni Tuanku Ja'afar and Datuk Vinod B. Sekhar, principals of environmental technology company The Petra Group, have repaid Willis $1.1 million of the original amount.

But Willis said the pair have falsely claimed to have wired $900,000 they still owe him and made "specious excuses" about when it would be returned, according to the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles and made public on Friday.

The actor said he was induced to invest in the recycled rubber compound because he believed former Vice President Al Gore, actor Mel Gibson and "Braveheart" director Bruce Davey had invested "substantial sums" in the company.

Sekhar said Willis stood to make "a huge profit" in an initial public offering of Petra subsidiary Elastomer Technologies, which had been set for the third quarter of 2008, the suit said.

Sekhar, Ja'afar and The Petra Group would guarantee Willis' investment and give him a put option that allowed him to withdraw his money, the lawsuit said.

But when Willis tried to take his money out of the company nearly a year later -- with no IPO in sight -- Sekhar and Ja'afar refused to return it, the suit said.

A Petra Group spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Willis claims damages of $900,000 plus 10 percent annual interest.

(Reporting by Gina Keating; editing by Todd Eastham)




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New Guns N' Roses album hits stores, a little late

Axel Rose, lead singer for the band Guns N' Roses, performs during a concert in Budapest in this file photo from June 1, 2006.
REUTERS/Karoly Arvai

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The day many rock fans never expected to see in their lifetimes is nigh.

Guns N' Roses, the rock band that ruled the music world in the early 1990s and then self-destructed in a slow-motion death march, will release its first album of new material in more than 17 years worldwide on Sunday.

Some equate "Chinese Democracy" to the Second Coming, or at least to the resurrection of Elvis Presley.

"It's just a remarkable moment in popular culture," said Blender magazine editor-in-chief Joe Levy, without a trace of hyperbole. "It really is. We never thought we would get here."

Others are hedging their bets. Reclusive singer Axl Rose, 46, is the only original member left. His volatile behavior drove out key members such as top-hatted guitarist Slash years ago. Some purists say he should not have used the Guns N' Roses name with this new project.

Either way, "Chinese Democracy" has assumed mythical proportions over the years. Fans and skeptics alike are driven by sheer curiosity to see whether the album justifies its status as a lost masterpiece, or whether it turns out to be the anti-climactic equivalent of "The Godfather III."

"Chinese Democracy" was originally envisaged as a 1995 release, the follow-up to the pair of "Use Your Illusion" albums that came out simultaneously in September 1991. But as work proceeded at a snail's pace, Rose took control of the group, and parted ways not only with all his original bandmates but with several of their replacements. He tinkered on the project with a succession of producers at his Malibu hideaway.

90 MILLION ALBUMS

Release dates came and went, along with presidential administrations and bull markets. By 2005, the cost of the project was estimated at more than $13 million. The band's Geffen Records label declined to discuss financials.

But fans never forgot about Guns N' Roses. This year alone, a hits record released in 2004 has sold 388,000 copies in the United States, and 4.3 million to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The band's 1987 full-length debut "Appetite for Destruction" has sold 106,000 copies this year. It is the biggest debut of all time, with U.S. shipments of more than 18 million copies. The band's worldwide sales are estimated at more than 90 million, according to its Geffen Records label.

Electronics retailer Best Buy Co Inc will release "Chinese Democracy" exclusively in the United States, pricing it cheaply at $11.99. It will go on sale internationally through traditional retailers.

Best Buy Senior Entertainment Officer Gary Arnold was confident consumers would cast their ballots for "Chinese Democracy," predicting it would be the week's top seller, ahead of a new album by hip-hop star Kanye West, whose last release kicked off with 957,000 copies last September.

But is the record any good? Rolling Stone magazine declared it "audacious, unhinged and uncompromising," while Blender's Levy said the ballads were "completely killer." Arnold said the album was on par with such classics as the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street."

The enthusiasm seemed a little more restrained at a listening event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, one of six that Best Buy organized nationwide for fans.

About 400 people packed the Roxy on the Sunset Strip and awkwardly faced the stage, perhaps expecting a surprise appearance by the band itself. The music was piped in at ear-splitting volume through the public address system.

In such a setting, the 14 largely unfamiliar songs coalesced into a complex symphony of layered guitars punctuated by Rose's trademark wailing. Instant classics, along the lines of the epic piano ballad "November Rain" or their early hit "Welcome to the Jungle," were not immediately evident.

Among the fans was Tom Zutaut, the talent scout who discovered the band in 1985 when it was a scrappy group of kids playing the neighborhood clubs. But relations are frayed these days: A security guard asked him to leave the Roxy late in the evening, apparently at the behest of Rose's camp.

"It sounded like a pretty amazingly well-produced record, definitely the work of the genius of Axl," Zutaut said. But he cautioned that fans will need to devote a lot of time to digest the music, the lyrics and the CD packaging.

Veteran metal journalist Lonn Friend, who reported extensively on Guns N' Roses during their heyday, said the album sounded "angry, like a purging of sorts." He considered it more of a solo record, "an Axl experiment."

A 36-year-old fan Diamond King was in no doubt. He said he was "overly stoked" about the album, and described Rose as "the Mozart of our lifetime."

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; Editing by Mary Milliken and Bob Tourtellotte)





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Corsets make women "the weaker sex": Keira Knightley

(China Daily) Keira Knightley has claimed corsets are the reason women were always considered "the weaker sex".

The 23-year-old actress - who has donned the restrictive undergarments in period dramas including 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'The Duchess' - says the waist cinchers stopped oxygen getting to the brain, making females seem less intelligent than they were.

She told Hamptons magazine: "It's obvious why women were called the weaker sex, because you can hardly breathe in a corset. It's a fight just to get oxygen to your brain."

Keira, who reportedly has a tiny 23-and-a-half-inch waist, has previously revealed how difficult she found wearing the tight costumes in her various films.

Speaking about her role in 'The Duchess', in which Keira played Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, she said: "I had quite a few different corsets, and it was really weird because they were all obviously made to measure for me, but some of them I could breathe in, and some of them I absolutely couldn't... and it was a complete nightmare!"



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Anna Kendrick movin' on "Up" with Clooney

Actress Anna Kendrick arrives at the IFP Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California February 28, 2004.[Agencies]

(China Daily) Talk about upping your profile. Anna Kendrick, who has a small part in "Twilight" as one of Kristen Stewart's human friends, has nabbed the coveted female lead opposite George Clooney in "Up in the Air."

"Juno" director Jason Reitman has adapted the Paramount Pictures comedy from "Thumbsucker" novelist Walter Kirn's 2001 book.

Nearly every young actress agreed to read for the part, including "Juno" star Ellen Page and Emily Blunt. But Kendrick apparently nailed the audition for a young woman who finds herself pulled into the orbit of a "career transition counselor" (i.e. professional firer) careening through the airless world of business travel.

Kendrick has roles in the upcoming Paramount Vantage comedy "The Marc Pease Experience" and the thriller "Elsewhere." She also starred in "Rocket Science" in 2007.


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Disney musical "Aida" hits Beijing Exhibition Theater

A scene from the Disney musical "Aida", being staged at the Beijing Exhibition Theater November 19-23, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto]

(CRIENGLISH.com) The Tony award-winning Disney musical "Aida" kicked off its five-day run in Beijing on Wednesday, and inaugurated a project that aims to create China's Broadway.

"Aida", which was brought to China by the Sino-U.S. joint venture, Beijing Oriental Broadway, arrived in the capital after touring seven other Chinese cities since September.

The ancient love-triangle musical is a collaboration between "The Lion King" composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice. It won the gong for Best Original Score at the 2000 Tony Awards.

Just one day before the musical's Beijing premiere, leading cast members attended a press conference where Oriental Broadway's American investor, the Nederlander family, signed a strategic contract with real-estate developer Shibo Investment Holding to build the "Creative Beijing" park in western Beijing.

The area, when it is finished in 2012, will become a complex including 32 musical theaters, and training facilities for composers, writers and actors. The flagship theater will be able to seat 2,000, and "Aida" will be staged there on a regular basis.


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Thanksgiving chef Beyonce Knowles

Singer Beyonce of the U.S. performs during the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo November 9, 2008. Beyonce received the Outstanding Contribution to the Arts Award. The World Music Awards honours the best selling recording artists from around the world.[Agencies]

(China Daily) Beyonce Knowles is learning to cook for Thanksgiving.

The ‘If I Was a Boy’ singer, who is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z, hopes to improve her culinary skills in time to spend the holiday with her family.

She said: "For Thanksgiving my mother usually cooks. It's just like anyone else's Thanksgiving. It's actually my favourite holiday because it's not about anything but giving back, giving thanks for all our blessings.

“Hopefully I'll try to make some type of pie. I'm not the best cook, but I think I'm ready to try something."

Beyonce, who supported Barack Obama in the US Presidential election race, also revealed she would love to sing at his inauguration ceremony in January.

The 27-year-old star added: "I know I'm definitely going to be there, I want to be there with him. I'm not sure if I'll be performing, but I'd love to."

Beyonce recently revealed she couldn’t contain her emotions after Barack made history by becoming America’s first elected black President.

She said: “I was ready to do whatever I had to do - volunteer or sing, I was ready.

“After he won, I fell asleep crying and smiling at the same time. I woke up with mascara running and a smile on my face!"

Barack has previously revealed he is a fan of Beyonce and her rapper spouse.

He said: “I have some Jay-Z and Beyonce on my iPod.”


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Kiss unhappy about rock hall of fame exclusion

Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer (L-R) of the U.S. rock group KISS pose for photographers at the Koenig-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, May 8, 2008.[Agencies]

(China Daily) They've sold millions of records, and influenced several generations of fans and musicians. So why isn't Kiss in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

That's what Gene Simmons would like to know.

"There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not Kiss," the band's outspoken frontman said during a speech at the Billboard Touring Conference on Thursday. "I believe we have more gold records in America than any other group, but it's OK."

Having released their first album in 1974, Kiss easily fulfill the requirement that an eligible act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

But the band is not among the nine acts on this year's shortlist, which includes metal icons Metallica, rock guitarist Jeff Beck, and soul singer Bobby Womack. The final five, determined by a ballot of more than 500 industry voters, will be announced in January, ahead of the 24th annual induction ceremony in Cleveland on April 4.

Simmons also took a dig at the top officials at the hall of fame's foundation, which is chaired by Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner.

"A lot of those guys on the board can go and get my sandwich when I want, and I mean that in the nicest way," he said.

The speech was filmed for an episode of his reality show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," currently in its third season on the A&E cable channel.


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Music : T-Pain 'Thr33 Ringz'

Album Info :

Artist : T-Pain
Album : Thr33 Ringz
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Number of Discs: 1
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Label: Jive
ASIN: B001G7EGPG
Genre : Pop > Pop Rap, Rap & Hip-Hop, R&B > Soul
Official Site : www.t-pain.net

Description :

Explicit Version. 2008 release from the Hip Hop artist, producer and songwriter. It's evident T-Pain has another hit on his hands with the album's first single, 'Can't Believe It,' featuring Lil Wayne which is a about "getting a girl to ride with you," says T-Pain. Other tracks on the album include 'Freeze', featuring Chris Brown, an up-tempo jam that is destined to be the dancefloor hit of the year, 'Chopped & Screwed', a lyrically clever urban anthem featuring Ludacris, 'Karaoke', a personal and controversial declaration to the industry featuring DJ Khaled and 'Therapy', a collaboration with Kanye West.

Album Review :

By. JODY ROSEN
This self-proclaimed "rappa turnt sanga" invented the R&B robo-soul that's been jacked by every sanga and rappa alive — and he calls out the biters on "Karaoke." But Thr33 Ringz shows what sets T-Pain apart. He's an inventive producer, enveloping radio-friendly hooks in Auto-Tune wackiness. (Check the dizzying crunk-rock "Ring Leader Man.") And he's a love machine, accentuating the urgency of his please-baby cooing with sci-fi effects. The plaintiveness reaches a hilarious climax with "Change," as Pain and Akon offer their plan for fixing the country: "I'd change everyone into a Hershey's Kiss/And we could eat away our fears."
Taken From : http://www.rollingstone.com



Track Listing :

1. Welcome to Thr33 Ringz
2. Ringleader Man
3. Chopped N Skrewed feat. Ludacris
4. Take a Ride Skit
5. Freeze feat. Chris Brown
6. Blowing up feat. Ciara
7. Can't Believe It feat. Lil Wayne
8. It Ain’t Me feat. Akon & T.I.
9. Feed the Lions Skit
10. Therapy Feat. Kanye West
11. Long Lap Dance
12. Reality Show feat. Musiq Soulchild, Raheem DeVaughn & Jay Lyriq
13. Keep Going
14. Superstar Lady feat. Young Cash
15. Change feat. Akon, Diddy & Mary J. Blige
16. Digital feat. Tay Dizm
17. Karaoke feat. DJ Khaled

T-Pain - Ringleader Man FULL SONG + VIDEO & LYRICS



T-PAIN 'Ringleader Man' lyrics

Ohhhhh Ohhhh Ohhhh
Heyy, we gonna have a
ripping good time
Just hit rewind
And you can see I'm far too crazy

My rythems and rhymes
Keep niggas in line
Cause now is not the time to be lazy

I'm the ringleader man
Attaining my head
And the ice that's I had on my neck.
Ain't you tired of that whackness
Sick of this whack shit
Wouldn't you like some of me instead
The ringleader man
This is my circus I'm herking
I can flip this whole
thang with one hand
The ringleader mann
I knooooowwww
Is so tight that you
rather just have some of
me instead
The ringleader mann

Huh
The ringleader mann
Huh

Heyy, this industry is my circus
I know that it hurts
Just sit back and take
pain like I use to
And I'm try to stop cursing
But I don't give a fuck
I'm gonna curse u with lyrical vudoo

I'm the ringleader man
You can't understand
The shit that comes out my head
But you like all that whackness
Loving all that whack shit
I rather say fuck you instead

The ringleader mann
This is my circus I'm herking
I can flip this whole
thang with one hand
The ringleader mann
I knooooowwww
Is so tight that you
rather just have some of
me instead
The ringleader mann

Huh
The ringleader mann
Huh


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Music : David Archuleta 'David Archuleta'

Album Info :

Artist : David Archuleta
Album : David Archuleta
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Jive
ASIN: B001CB6RTO
Genre : Pop > Vocal Pop , Adult Contemporary
Official Site : David Archuleta

Description :

American Idol Season 7 fan favorite, David Archuleta has become a household name as he spent his 2008 summer on the nationwide American Idol tour with his fellow contestants. This album includes a sequence of Pop tracks from the industry's most talented writers and producers. Archuleta's first single 'Crush' was produced by Emanuel 'Eman' Kiriakou.

Album Review :

by. Kerri Mason

Most teen Disney heroes have got nothing on David Archuleta. The 17-year-old who was one of the most exciting "American Idol" contenders has one of those once-in-a-decade pop voices: A silky tenor with a natural melancholy that makes him a heartbreaker by default. His charming debut exploits that very quality with some strokes of pop genius, like "Touch My Hand," a temporary love ballad to the pretty girl in the front row, and "Your Eyes Don't Lie," a Jonas Brothers-do-"No Diggity" ditty with a fair amount of crooner slink. But Archie is at his best on the bleeders, like piano ballad "To Be With You," and "Angels," the Robbie Williams cover he saved from obscurity on "Idol." These are the kinds of performances meant for arenas.

Taken From : http://www.billboard.com




Track Listing :

1. Crush - Cates, J./Hodg,es, D./Kiriakou, E.
2. Touch My Hand - Kipner, S./McEwan, S./Wilkins, W.
3. Barriers - Kipner, S./McEwan, S./Wilkins, W.
4. My Hands - Bey, Z./Fountleroy, J. III/Kiriakou, E.
5. A Little Too Not Over You - Archuleta, D./Gerard, M./Krompass, M./Nevil, R.
6. You Can - Armato, A./James, T.
7. Running - Fauntleroy, J. III/Nugent, W./Risto, K./Russell, S./Tormiro, D.
8. Desperate - Carlsson, A./Child, D./Rethwisch, A./Rethwisch, K.
9. To Be with You - DioGuardi, K./Kiriakou, E.
10. Don’t Let Go - Archuleta, D./JC Chasez/Harry, J.
11. Your Eyes Don’t Lie - Armato, A./James, T./Karaoglu, D.
12. Angels - Chambers, A./Williams, R.

David Archuleta-Running



David Archuleta 'Running' lyrics

Words keep fallin'
out of my pocket.
Runnin' late, missed the train,
Everything is droppin'.
Holdin' onto my heart,
And I rush out, almost forgot it.
I must admit it, I'm tired,
But I'm comin' to you.
Don't know how far I've got,
But I don't care.

I'm not gonna stop runnin'.
'Cause without you,
I've got nothin'.
I know you're somewhere runnin'
Straight to me.
Don't stop runnin'.
Don't stop
Keep on runnin',
Don't stop.
Keep on runnin'.

Legs keep givin' out,
Breakin' down; I'm fallin'.
Head keeps tellin' me,
This can't be worth all of this.
Holdin' onto my heart,
feel the rush.
I'm ready to run forever.
I'm holdin' it together,
'Cause I'm comin' to you.

I don't know how far I've got,
But I don't care.

I'm not gonna stop runnin'.
'Cause without you,
I've got nothin'.
I know you're somewhere runnin'
Straight to me.
Don't stop runnin'.
Don't stop

I got my good shoes.
I got my winning, girl, I'm focused
And I'm 'bout to
navigate straight to you
And nothing's gonna stop me, girl
To keep me from comin'
'Cause I got to have every
part of you forever.

I'm runnin', I'm runnin'.
Keep runnin', I'm runnin'.
Keep runnin', keep runnin'.

I'm not gonna stop runnin'.
'Cause without you,
I've got nothin'.
I know you're somewhere runnin'
Straight to me.
Don't stop runnin'.

I'm not gonna stop runnin'.
'Cause without you,
I've got nothin'.
I know you're somewhere runnin'
Straight to me.
Don't stop runnin'.
Don't stop runnin'.


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Music : Taylor Swift 'Fearless'

Album Info :

Artist : Taylor Swift
Album : Fearless
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Number of Discs: 1
Format: Enhanced
Label: Big Machine Records
ASIN: B001EYGOEM
Genre : Country > Today's Country, Pop > Adult Contemporary
Official site : taylorswift.com

Album Review :

By Andy Hermann Critic's Rating: 4 1/2 stars out of 5
Metromix, November 10, 2008

The buzz: All Taylor Swift did with her self-titled debut album was sell three million copies, produce a pair of chart-topping singles ("Our Song" and "Should've Said No"), get nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy and win virtually every country music award a newcomer can get. Two years later, Nashville's teen phenom is now all of 18 and ready to show that her debut was no fluke.

The verdict: Swift is already a superstar in country music circles, but "Fearless" should catapult her to the top of the pop heap, as well. It's very nearly a flawless record, full of big-hearted anthems with catchy melodies, chiming, pop-radio guitars (and the occasional fiddle and banjo, as if to say, "Don't worry, I'm still a Nashville girl at heart") and disarmingly frank lyrics about being an average American kid with real-life hopes, dreams and dramas. On "Fifteen," she captures the wide-eyed excitement of dating older boys in high school, singing "he's got a car!" like it's the most exciting thing imaginable. "Hey Stephen" is an irresistibly sunny come-on of a love song; "The Best Day" miraculously manages to portray a happy childhood without getting cloying or sentimental; even lead single "Love Story," with its corny "Romeo and Juliet" references, is infused with so much sweetness and precocious wit that it's impossible not to get swept up in the song's surging chorus. Right from the get-go, it appeared that Swift's talent ran deep; on this record, she proves it, and then some.

Did you know? On the CMT show "Crossroads," Swift teamed up British pop-metal veterans Def Leppard to perform songs like "Photograph" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me." (The pairing is less odd than it sounds; the producer behind those classic `80s Def Leppard albums, John "Mutt" Lange, also produced hits for one of Swift's biggest influences, Shania Twain.)

About the Artist
Stepping off Music Row and into the small but stylish lobby of Big Machine Records, a visitor quickly realizes it's not just the walls that reveal the story of Taylor Swift's meteoric rise to stardom. Even the floors have a tale to tell. With much of the vertical real estate already claimed by industry awards, framed national magazine covers, and gold and platinum records, the staff has adopted the tactic of neatly stacking the continuous stream of accolades and achievements along the baseboards. All that's needed is a break in a busy intern's schedule to grab a hammer, a few nails and search out any open wall space.

The photo most often found framed inside with all that precious metal is certainly a familiar one to millions of her fans: the cover of her first album, 2006's Taylor Swift. Knowing what we know now about Taylor, it's a striking image. Gazing back at us are the calm yet intense eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl who knows she has much to say, but isn't really sure if anyone will want to listen.

"It's crazy, the first time making an album, not knowing if people are going to care what I write in a song," Swift admits. "And then the second time around...knowing that there are people who are going to know the lyrics that mean so much to me. It makes it all worthwhile."

A second time around. It's hard to believe it's already time for Taylor to follow up her triple platinum debut. Especially considering that, two years after it's release, it is still near the top of the country charts.

What's even harder to believe is that Taylor Swift has yet to turn nineteen.

And when it came time to put a name to her sophomore effort, Swift decided on one word that just might be the perfect adjective to describe her journey to this moment. FEARLESS.

After all, this is the girl who, at the tender age of 10, had the guts to take the stage at every karaoke contest, festival, and county fair that passed through her hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. This is the girl, who at age 11, took a trip to Music City and left in her wake a trail of amused receptionists as she dropped off her homemade demo tape at every label in town. This is the girl who, at only 14, relocated with her entire family to Nashville to sign a songwriting deal with one of the most prestigious publishers in all of music. This is the teenager who signed her first record deal before she could drive. Who sidestepped the major labels in town to take a chance with a smaller start-up label. Who had the guts to step from an ACM awards stage and into the audience to introduce herself to Tim McGraw live on national television - just seconds after playing the last chord of her first hit song that bears his name.

It's safe to say Taylor Swift knows a thing or two about being FEARLESS.

"It's a big deal to title your album, so I wanted to make sure that it was the right call," says Swift. "I started thinking about the word `fearless' and what it means to me. It isn't that you're completely unafraid. I think fearless is having fears, but jumping anyway."

Jump? With this record, Taylor Swift takes a flying leap. FEARLESS is a creative snapshot of an undeniable talent taking the next big step, both in her life and in her music. The high school freshman who once sang of "trying to find a place in this world" has now seen so much more of it. It shows in the new music.

"I think that when you grow up two years, you learn a few things," reflects Swift. "Some people have been saying that the songs seem more mature. You know I wasn't really going for that. I just wrote what was happening to me. I grew up a little bit and that came into my songwriting."

It's important to remember here -- these are truly her words. Following an impressive trend established on her debut CD, Taylor has once again written or co-written every song on FEARLESS - including seven tracks by herself. Songwriting is a craft Swift has been honing since first strumming a chord on a guitar at the age of 12. By that evening, she had written her first tune. She was hooked. Her life became consumed with songs. Every spare moment was spent writing, playing, or thinking about music. Even while hitting the books as a straight-A student at Hendersonville High School, just outside of Nashville, she was doodling lyrics in the margins of her notebooks.

Even now, with her life barreling down the country music fast lane, Taylor still makes it a priority to put the guitar, pen, and paper she keeps nearby to good use. And it's not easy with her schedule. After signing her record deal, Taylor left her high school locker behind to be home-schooled out on the road. Now instead of English and Latin class, Taylor has been studying George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts on tour. Instead of class pictures, she's posing for the covers of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Seventeen.

Now, more than ever, making music has become her way of making sense of all the madness. Writing songs helps her stay grounded as her career launches into the stratosphere. But for listeners popping in Taylor's new CD and expecting to hear a laundry list of lyrics on the plight of country music superstar rising through the ranks, FEARLESS is going to surprise you.

"I didn't want to write songs about being on the road and being in hotels and missing your family and missing your friends," insists Swift. "When I was like 14 or 15 and I would hear those things on an album...being alone, living out of a suitcase... and I was always like, `Ugh, skip!' I'm inspired by boys and love. Those are my favorite things to write about and I don't think that that is limited to high school. I'd rather write songs about how I'm feeling and the relationship side of things."

As we quickly realize from several of the tracks on FEARLESS, Taylor has found out relationships only get more complicated with age. Songs like "You're Not Sorry", "Tell Me Why," "Forever & Always," and "White Horse," the latter of which debuted in the 2008 season opener of the primetime drama Grey's Anatomy, find Taylor has learned that "happily ever after" endings are not always a given.

"I think I'm very fascinated by the differences between reality and fairy tales," Swift says. "When we're little, we read these books and we see cartoons and the bad guy is always wearing black. You always know who he is. But in real life, the bad guy can be incredibly charming and have a great smile and perfect hair. He says things that make you laugh and he's sweet and he's funny, but you don't realize that he's going to cause you a lot of pain."

But lest you think it's all ogres and trolls reeking havoc on the landscape of Taylor's love-life, there is a welcomed cameo from a prince charming or two riding to the rescue.

The album's first single, "Love Story," offers up a countrified version of Shakespeare's play that is anything but a tragedy. In Taylor's world, Romeo is still breathing when the curtain closes...and Juliet has a ring on her finger. And in the incredibly infectious "Hey Stephen," Taylor proves she truly is FEARLESS by singing about a secret crush - who will most assuredly not remain a secret for long. Yes, the boy really exists. And yes, Stephen is his real name. "He has no idea the song is written about him," Taylor says with laugh. "It's someone who I've always been friends with and always kind of had a thing for...and he doesn't know. It's always fun for me to put something on the album that is personal. Something I know I'm going to have to deal with when the record comes out."

She even leaves listeners with a positive vibe. The album's final track is a song Swift wrote to inspire her during some of the tougher moments in the early going of her career. "There were times I was working so hard that I didn't realize that every single day our numbers were getting bigger," Swift remembers. "Every single day, our fan base was growing. Every single day, the work that we were doing was paying off. Then, during the 2007 CMA Awards, when they called out my name as the Horizon Award winner, I looked over and saw the president of my record label crying. Walking up those stairs, it just occurred to me that that was the night things changed. It changed everything."

Some things for Taylor, however, have stayed the same. Her steady creative partner Liz Rose is back on board. Rose was a co-writer with Taylor on seven songs from her debut album, and was the first person to encourage her to release "Tim McGraw" out into the world.

Swift has also invited three more talents in to the writing mix on FEARLESS. After getting the title track off the ground with Rose, Swift called on songwriter Hillary Lindsey ("Jesus, Take The Wheel") to help bring the song in for a landing. Blown away by pop songwriter Colbie Caillat's talents on her debut album CoCo, Taylor immediately reached out to her to collaborate. The result is "Breathe," with Caillat adding vocals to the track. "I think she sounds beautiful on it," gushes Swift.

And the final pairing brought two country forces of nature together in the same Music City studio. Taylor Swift meet John Rich.

"It was always one of my goals to write with John," says Swift. "I had heard so many things about him. I just wanted to see what it was like to get into a room with him because I know I'm a very opinionated writer and I knew he was a very opinionated writer. So I knew this was either going to be the best thing in the world or was just going to be a complete train wreck." Not only does the song they created stay on the tracks, it's proof that two great cooks can rock a kitchen. Taylor and John clicked in a big way recording "The Way You Loved Me," a song about the age-old story of a good girl pining after a bad boy.

As if writing every song on the album and living the life of a country superstar wasn't enough, Taylor added even more to her workload when recording FEARLESS. She joins Nathan Chapman, the main man behind the board for her debut album, as a co-producer on the record. "All the songs for the second record, it's like they were already produced in my head," recalls Swift. "When I was writing a song, I knew what every instrument was doing. The strings, mandolin, banjo, or dobro. I heard it all. It was just really cool to have all those instruments I heard end up on the album."

But even as she experiments with new sounds and new directions for her music, Taylor Swift knows the power of a song begins and ends with its lyrics. And it is in two of the softer, more stripped down moments on FEARLESS - the tracks "Fifteen" and "Best Day" -- that Taylor's extraordinary gift for writing shines the brightest as she remembers fondly moments from her past.

We've always known Taylor was an old soul, but songs with this level of reflection from someone still so young - they can leave you shaking your head in amazement. Then you remember she's just a few years removed from her own freshman year - and you understand why her fans, including her over 1 million friends on her MySpace page, love her. She puts to music exactly what they are feeling.

"I want my fans to know - I'm the same girl I was when the first album came out," says Swift. "I'm just not in high school and I have a different schedule. I feel the same things, I feel the same way. And my songs are where I'll never hold back."

That is music to a Taylor Swift fan's ears.
Taken From : http://www.amazon.com

by. JODY ROSEN
Taylor Swift has defied a lot of conventional wisdom. In the midst of a recording-industry implosion, she sold 3 million physical copies of her 2006 debut. At a time when Nashville is dominated by Stetson-wearing male singers in their 30s and 40s, the 18-year-old emerged as country's newest superstar with a repertoire full of girly songs aimed at teens. She is a blond, blue-eyed, amazonian starlet who — unlike nearly every other person who fits that description — writes her own songs, plays an instrument, answers to no Svengali and doesn't rely on high-priced studio ninjas and trendy producers. Britney she ain't.

With her second album, Swift aims to extend her dominion beyond the country-music-loving red states. Songs like "Fearless" and "The Way I Loved You" are packed with loud, lean guitars and rousing choruses. The only overtly country-ish things about Fearless are Swift's light drawl, the occasional reference to a "one-horse town" and a bit of fiddle and banjo tucked into the mix.

Swift is a songwriting savant with an intuitive gift for verse-chorus-bridge architecture that, in singles like the surging "Fifteen," calls to mind Swedish pop gods Dr. Luke and Max Martin. If she ever tires of stardom, she could retire to Sweden and make a fine living churning out hits for Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry.

For the foreseeable future, though, she's concentrating on her own quirky teen pop. She sings one vaguely political anthem, the string-swathed "Change," filled with pronouncements about "revolution" and a singsong chorus of "hallelujahs." And then there's "The Best Day," a goody-two-shoes ode to Mom and Dad: "Daddy's smart, and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world," Swift croons. But she mostly sticks to her favorite topic — boys, boys, boys — in songs filed neatly under "love-struck" or "pissed off." In the latter category is the infectious "Tell Me Why": "I'm sick and tired of your attitude/I'm feeling like I don't know you."

It's hard not to be won over by the guilelessness of Swift's high-school-romance narratives ("She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts/She's cheer captain, and I'm on the bleachers"), with their starry-eyed lyrics about princesses and ball gowns and kissing in the rain. For Fearless to feel any more like it was literally ripped from a suburban girl's diary, it would have to come with drawings of rainbows and unicorns in the liner notes. The lyric sheet to "Forever & Always" even reveals a hidden message in the form of an acrostic, clearly intended for a young man of Swift's acquaintance: "If you play these games, we're both going to lose."

And therein lies the peculiar charm of Taylor Swift. Her music mixes an almost impersonal professionalism — it's so rigorously crafted it sounds like it has been scientifically engineered in a hit factory — with confessions that are squirmingly intimate and true. In "Fifteen," Swift confides, "Abigail gave everything she had to a boy/Who changed his mind/And we both cried." Swift's real-life best friend is a girl called Abigail — the singer's not afraid to name names. It's safe to assume that the titular love object in the lilting "Hey Stephen" is, well, some dude named Stephen that Swift has a crush on. And she has a question for him: "All those other girls, well, they're beautiful, but would they write a song for you?"
Taken From : http://www.rollingstone.com

Track Listing :

1. Fearless

2. Fifteen

3. Love Story

4. Hey Stephen

5. White Horse

6. You Belong With Me

7. Breathe

8. Tell Me Why

9. You’re Not Sorry

10. The Way I Loved You

11. Forever & Always

12. The Best Day

13. Change

Taylor Swift - CMA awards 2008 - Love Story



Taylor Swift 'Love Story' lyrics

We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes
And the flashback starts
Im standing there
On a balcony in summer air

See the lights,
See the party the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say hello
Little did i know

That you were romeo you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said stay away from juliet
And i was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don’t go, and i said

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting all theres left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and i’ll be the princess
Its a love story baby just say yes

So i sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet 'cause we’re dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Lets escape this town for a little while
Cause you were romeo i was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said stay away from juliet
But you were everything to me
I was begging you please don’t go and i said

Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting all theres left to do is run
You be the prince and i’ll be the princess
Its a love story baby just say yes

Romeo save me, they're tryin to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but its real
Don’t be afraid we’ll make it out of this mess
Its a love story baby just say yes,

Oh, Oh

I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When i met you on the outskirts of town, and I said

Romeo save me i’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head, i don’t know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said

Marry me juliet you’ll never have to be alone
I love you and thats all I really know
I talked to your dad go pick out a white dress
Its a love story baby just say yes
Oh,Oh,Yes
We were both young when i first saw you


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'Fantastic' Catwoman Angelina Jolie

Actress Angelina Jolie addresses the Council on Foreign Relations during a symposium on International Law and Justice in New York, October 17, 2008.[Agencies]

Angelina Jolie would make a "fantastic" Catwoman, says Aaron Eckhart.

The 'Dark Knight' actor was delighted to hear Angelina is being lined up to play the feline villain and thinks a new Batman movie would be a box office smash if she lands the starring role.

Aaron said: "I thought that was a fantastic idea. When I read that, I felt like all of our records that we made would be broken if she did Catwoman."

The actor added he was equally as excited about rumours Johnny Depp may take the part of the Riddler, but joked to Us Weekly magazine: "Every time I hear these guys mentioned, I feel worse about myself!"

Veteran actress Julie Newmar, who played Catwoman in the 'Batman' TV series from 1966 to 1968, has previously claimed Angelina would be the perfect choice to play the iconic role.

She said: "Angelina would own the part. I can understand how it would pique her interest. Catwoman is Batman's one true love.

"She is tremendously popular with women because she's both a heroine and a villainess."

Since the TV series, other actresses to take on the role of Catwoman include Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992 movie 'Batman Returns', while Halle Berry's portrayal of the villain in 2004 film 'Catwoman' was panned by critics worldwide.

Taken From : China Daily


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Britney Spears' dance therapy

Britney Spears says dancing is her therapy.

The 'Womanizer' singer, who suffered a public meltdown and was hospitalised twice earlier this year, has revealed throwing herself into work helped get her life back on track.

She said: "Everybody has a world that they create around themselves. If I have a lot of nervous energy, when I start dancing it goes away and I just feel emotion. It's like a rollercoaster.

"People think that if you go through something in your life you need to go to therapy, but for me art is therapy because you are expressing yourself in such a spiritual way."

The 26-year-old star - who is set to embark on a world tour to promote her new album 'Circus' next year - also admits she struggles to speak to her loved ones about her problems.

She added in a promo for her TV documentary 'Britney: For the Record': "Sometimes you don't need to use words to go through what you need to go through. Sometimes it's an emotion that you need to feel when you dance, that you touch on and the only way you can touch it is if you move a certain way."
Taken From : China Daily


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