Kennedy Center honors Streisand, Freeman, Daltrey

The 2008 Kennedy Center Honorees, (L-R seated) choreographer Twyla Tharp, actor Morgan Freeman and Barbra Streisand, and (L-R standing) rock musicians Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who and singer George Jones, gather for a group photo after they received their honors at a gala dinner at the US State Department in Washington December 6, 2008. The 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors awards are given for lifetime achievement in the performing arts.[Agencies]

Barbra Streisand is visiting the White House on Sunday but says she'll play nice. "Art," she says, "transcends politics this weekend."

Streisand, a vocal critic of President George W. Bush, has the awkward honor of visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue during one of Washington's few A-list events.

The singer and actress this year is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Morgan Freeman, country singer George Jones, dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp and musicians Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who.

The honors recognize individuals who have had an impact on American culture through the performing arts, part of the living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.

"I'm really excited and I'm touched" about being selected as an honoree, said Townshend as he entered the White House reception.

Musician B.B. King wore his Kennedy Center honoree medal from 1995 to the event.

"I'm here because of one of my idols called Morgan Freeman," he said.

After the reception, the group will travel with the president and first lady Laura Bush to the performing arts center for a gala in their honor.

Does Streisand wish President-elect Barack Obama was hosting instead?

"That would have been lovely," she said with a laugh, "or Clinton."

"It's just great to be honored by one's own country," Streisand said at a State Department dinner for the honorees Saturday night.

The Kennedy Center Honors come just a month after the presidential election. And Streisand, 66, was one of the most outspoken honorees on politics during the campaign season, saying the past two elections had been "stolen." On the day after the Obama's win, she was riding high.

"November 5th ... what a day ... a new day ... finally (Martin Luther King's) words ring true," Streisand, a longtime Democrat, wrote on her Web site. "I am so proud of our country."

Jones, who earned the nickname "No Show Jones" for performances he missed during his wild days, recently said he expects some teasing along with the accolades at the 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors.

But he promised to show up this time. As he entered the reception, he said, "I'm in a daze" about being an honoree.

As for the nickname, "I've never been able to live that down, and I never will," the 77-year-old said.

Performers from New York, Nashville and Hollywood will salute the honorees with surprise tribute performances Sunday evening. The show will air Dec. 30 on CBS.

Tickets to the gala sell for as much as $4,000. Last year, the event raised $5 million to support Kennedy Center programs.

The awards were presented Saturday night at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She addressed each honoree, beginning with Freeman, who once played the president in the movie "Deep Impact."

"I know that when you played the African-American president of the United States, most people thought that would happen when a comet hit," Rice said, drawing laughs and cheers. "But wonder of wonders, fiction has become true."

Freeman, 71, who starred this year in "The Dark Knight," also made headlines after suffering broken bones in a Mississippi car crash in August. On Saturday, he said he was still recovering from nerve damage in his left hand and wore a glove to control the swelling.

Freeman won an Oscar for his role in "Million Dollar Baby," and his other screen credits include "Driving Miss Daisy" and "The Bucket List."

Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen Schwarzman hailed the "extraordinary genius and tenacity" of the 2008 lifetime achievement award recipients.

Dancer Damian Woetzel hailed Tharp, 67, for "taking a dance and treating it like music." Her work has helped define modern dance, contemporary ballet and Broadway musicals.

Part of the gala will bring a rock concert to the Kennedy Center's Opera House.

Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl toasted Townshend, 63, and Daltrey, 64, as singers and songwriters for The Who, for making music unlike any other band.

"I couldn't have done it, if it weren't for The Who," Grohl said. "I don't think I would have had the spark, what it takes to be a rock musician."

Past honorees, including Clint Eastwood, Elton John and Sidney Poitier, made nominations for the awards, along with members of the Kennedy Center's national artists committee, including Glenn Close and Reba McEntire.

Taken From : China Daily

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Sex Idol Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell is over 11 out of 10 in bed, says his ex-girlfriend.Former pop star Sinitta - who works with the music mogul on his hit UK reality TV show 'The X Factor' - claims Simon does not disappoint when it comes to sex.

She said: "Sorry boys, it's true, he's rich and good."

Sinitta - who Simon dated 18 years ago - has been a shoulder to cry on for the star following the recent demise of his six-year relationship with Terri Seymour.

A source said: "Sinitta and Simon have become much closer although Simon insists they're just good friends. He prides himself on staying friends with exes."

Earlier this week, the 49-year-old was seen enjoying a night out with another ex-girlfriend - former Miss Nude UK Jackie St Claire.

A source said: "They looked like they were having a good time, although romance didn't seem to be on the menu. It seemed as though Simon just needed to spend time with a close friend to help him get over his split."

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Kate Moss announces she's pregnant again

Kate Moss is reportedly throwing a party to announce she is pregnant.

The supermodel – who already has a six-year-old daughter Lila Grace with ex-boyfriend Jefferson Hack – is said to be planning to reveal her happy news at her Cotswolds country home on December 18.

It is believed she will gather all her close friends and family together to tell them she and partner Jamie Hince are having their first child together.

A source said: “Kate has been on the phone to all her friends and her PA has been on the case to her family. Kate has had a few big nights out recently but she has been behaving more than usual. Even Simon Cowell said she had a bit of a tummy when she went to ‘The X Factor’ last weekend.”

Kate, 34, first sparked pregnancy rumours after wearing a series of baggy outfits and cutting alcohol out of her lifestyle.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed Kate took her 60-year-old nanny Mary Davidson on a massive shopping spree at British high street store Topshop.

A source revealed: “Mary was shy and bewildered at first but soon got into the swing as Kate encouraged her. She came away with more than £3,000 of clothes and shoppers found their jaws dropping as they bumped into Kate and she was shouting, ‘Come on girl, buy buy buy!’ Mary just kept saying, ‘But what will I get you for Christmas?’ ”

However, the bill for the spree was not picked up Kate – who is a designer for the clothing chain – but by Topshop owner Sir Philip Green.


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Clint Eastwood's 'dysfunctional' love

Clint Eastwood loves his "dysfunctional family", despite having his seventh child at the age of 66.

The Oscar-winning director - who has seven children with four different women - has learned to accept his unusual private life.

Clint, who is married to journalist Dina Ruiz, said: "I love my dysfunctional family.

Dina fell pregnant on our honeymoon. After a few weeks, she said she felt a little nausea. "She asked me to stop at a gas station so she could buy one of those sticks.

She came back and said, 'We're pregnant.' At least nobody stood there with a shotgun when we got married!"

Clint, now 78, also revealed he has no intention of retiring because he still has a huge amount of interest in the movie industry.

He added to Parade magazine: "I just ran into a guy a little younger than me. He says, 'I'm going to retire.' I say, 'Wait for me. Keep going.' Everybody in my generation, once you get in the seventh decade, they go, 'Well, what the hell. I'm on bonus time!' But no, I would never want to give it up. Never would."

Taken From : China Daily
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Pamela Anderson's Tommy romance

Pamela Anderson is planning a "romantic" New Year's Eve with her ex-husband Tommy Lee.

The former 'Baywatch' actress - who has two sons, Brandon, 12, and 10-year-old Dylan, with the Motley Crue rocker - is looking forward to the pair's intimate celebration on December 31.

Pamela, who posted a naked magazine cover shot of her and Tommy, wrote on her official blog: "We are spending new years together in Montreal.

How romantic." Pamela moved back in with Tommy earlier this year and, despite describing them as an "old married couple",

she insisted they weren't having sex. She said: "We are living together but only because I'm homeless right now.

"So, yes, I'm homeless and living with my ex-husband. We're like an old married couple - we're living together but not having sex." Pammie and Tommy married in February 1995 in a beachside ceremony, after only knowing each other for 96 hours.

The pair divorced in 1998, after Tommy was arrested and charged with spousal abuse.

He was later sentenced to six months in jail. Since the divorce they have rekindled their relationship several times.

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Coldplay: 'We'll never split up'

Chris Martin has denied that Coldplay will split up in two years' time.

Earlier quotes attributed to the singer suggested that the rock band will soon part ways.

"I'm 31 now and I don't think bands should keep going past 33," he told BANG Showbiz.

However, in a new interview with Rolling Stone, Martin explained that he expects Coldplay to continue for some time.

"We're proceeding as if it's our last because it's the only way to proceed," he said of plans to record a follow-up to Viva La Vida.

"You've got to have deadlines, you know. What that means is we're going to pour everything we can into next year and not think beyond that. We always say that and we always mean it. But every time we say it, someone writes that it's over.

"I don't think we'll ever split up but we have to do a lot before we're 33."

Taken From : China Daily


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Lil Wayne leads Grammy noms with 8, Coldplay 7

Singer Christina Aguilera poses as she arrives at "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" in Los Angeles, California December 3, 2008. [Agencies]

(China Daily) Lil Wayne — the most prolific, ubiquitous and successful performer on today's music scene — was the most rewarded by the Recording Academy on Wednesday, receiving eight Grammy nominations including album of the year for "Tha Carter III."

Following close behind was Coldplay, with seven. Their "Viva La Vida," one of the year's best-selling CDs, is in album of the year contention along with Radiohead's groundbreaking "In Rainbows"; singer-songwriter Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman"; and Robert Plant's collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand."

Nominations were announced in a brand-new format this year, with an hourlong live prime-time CBS concert special that featured a brisk procession of performers and LL Cool J and Taylor Swift as hosts.

Coldplay and Plant & Krauss were also nominated in the coveted record of the year category for the respective songs "Viva La Vida" and "Please Read the Letter." Other record of the year nominees were British songstress Leona Lewis for "Bleeding Love"; another British newcomer, Adele, for chasing pavement; and M.I.A. for her breakthrough hit, "Paper Planes."

Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year's biggest hits with "I Kissed a Girl," was shut out of the top categories, including record of the year and best new artist. Still, she was excited about her nomination for female pop vocal performance: "I feel very grateful to be recognized by an institution of such iconic musical history. I can't believe it, but this year I won't be watching the Grammys in my jammies!" she said in a statement.

Metallica got three nominations, but their huge comeback record "Death Magnetic" didn't get a nod for album of the year despite being a top seller in 2008.

Though she hosted and performed, Swift, last year's best new artist nominee, was shut out completely. The 18-year-old country artist has had a sensational year thanks to the continued success of her 2006 self-titled debut album and her latest top-selling CD, "Fearless." While neither were eligible for consideration, her recent singles were.

While Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" was not regarded by critics as his greatest CD, it was the album that made the highly regarded veteran a pop superstar, thanks to massive hits like "Lollipop" and "A Milli."

The CD was the only record this year to sell 1 million copies in its first week. Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," its first album in three years, was also a huge hit.

Radiohead's "In Rainbows" didn't break sales records, but it was as revolutionary as it was critically acclaimed. First released last fall in a pay-as-you wish format on the band's Web site, "In Rainbows" was an instant viral sensation that shook up an industry struggling with its traditional business model (although Radiohead later released the album traditionally via a record label).

Plant linked up with Grammy darling and bluegrass artist Krauss for a CD that pushed both in different musical directions, while Ne-Yo, who has produced several smashes for other artists, had success with "Year of the Gentleman."

"When I was putting it together, I was trying to do something that everybody could get into, as opposed to just my pop and R&B core group," Ne-Yo, who got six nominations, said after the ceremony. "I was trying to do something that the world could enjoy and I think that the Grammy people paid attention to that."

Also nominated were The Jonas Brothers for the best new artist category. While they have already released two CDs, their latest, "A Little Bit Longer," was their biggest yet in their breakthrough year. The teen sensations join Duffy and Adele, both singers with a soul bent; singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan; and breakout country act Lady Antebellum.

Sullivan, who has drawn comparisons to Lauryn Hill with her hit "I Need You Bad," had a breakthrough night, with five nominations. Other multiple nominees included Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West, who had six each; Krauss, who has numerous Grammy wins, got five nominations.

Another Grammy favorite, John Mayer, netted five as well.

The Recording Academy typically has announced nominations like most top awards shows, during a morning news conference. But in an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out.

So they put on the prime-time event, which kicked off with past Grammy winner Mariah Carey singing a song from her classic Christmas album, decked out in a short red minidress to give some holiday cheer. Christina Aguilera sang "I Loves You Porgy," while the Foo Fighters rocked up Carly Simon's classic "You're So Vain."

Held at the Nokia Theatre, the show also celebrated the Saturday opening of the new Grammy Museum next door.

The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8. Last year's show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences.



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Britney Spears' son spree

Singer Britney Spears receives a birthday cake after performing on ABC's "Good Morning America" in New York on December 2, 2008.[Agencies]

Britney Spears treated her children to a shopping spree yesterday.

The 'Womanizer' singer - who celebrated her 27th birthday with a circus-themed party on Tuesday - took Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, to New York's famous Schwarz toy store, where she splashed out hundreds of dollars on them.

An onlooker said: "Each of the boys had an employee to walk around with, and they each had a huge metal trolley cart to fill up. They picked out hundreds of dollars worth of Mack Trucks, cement mixers and RC cars."

Britney's mother Lynn and father Jamie joined her for the trip, with the singer happily walking around the store with her sons as they picked out their favourite toys.

The source added to America's OK magazine: "Sean really fell in love with a car transporter, which he had taken out of the box so he could hold it everywhere he went. Jayden was most excited about a little blue plane, and cried when someone tried to take it away.

"Jamie picked out a stuffed Incredible Hulk toy for Sean and was saying to him, 'Who's this, Sean? Who's this?' "

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Heidi Klum's naked ease

Heidi Klum is fine with nudity

Heidi Klum says being naked in front of her family is "not a big deal".

The stunning model - who posed wearing just underwear and a pair of wings for the recent Victoria's Secret fashion show - has no problem showing off her fabulous figure in front of her husband Seal and the three children they raise together.

She said: "To see me in wings is nothing too unusual. People are pretty open with their bodies in Germany and the children see you naked or in lingerie all the time so it's not a big deal for us.

"We don't hide inside a room somewhere and change - it's all very out in the open."

Heidi also revealed she not only has to maintain her slimline figure for work, but also to keep the romance alive in her marriage.

She added: "You have to work out to be sexy. People always ask me how I stay in shape and how do I do it and what really makes me do it is because I have a hot man waiting at home for me. So I don't want to be a slouch bag, I have to keep up appearances."
Taken From : China Daily

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Rihanna's pap problem

Rihanna and Chris Brown are being sued for $1 million after their bodyguards allegedly attacked a photographer.

Paparazzo Luis Santana claims the pair's security assaulted him and broke his camera after he took pictures proving their much rumoured relationship.

Brown's solicitor Kenneth Meiselas denies the singer or his security team were involved in the incident, while 'Umbrella' singer Rihanna's spokesman labelled the matter "really unfortunate" and claims it was "completely blown out of proportion".

Santana - who works for publication tbt - claims his shirt was torn off before he was knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked by the guards outside the Vintage Ultra Lounge club in St. Petersburg, US.

He said: "Once I got the pictures of Chris and Rihanna, Chris jumped out of the limo and his bodyguards began chasing me.

"One of the guys ripped my shirt off and grabbed me. They threw me to the ground and started kicking me. One of the guys put his knee in my face and was pressing down. I thought they were going to break my jaw."

Santana, 26, also claims the guards took his $3,000 camera after the incident in May.

He added: "At the time they were just a rumoured couple. Chris was celebrating his birthday with her and that was a huge photo. I guess they didn't want it out."

The photographer's lawyer - who is filing the lawsuit on the grounds of his client's personal injuries, emotional distress and theft - insists the photographs would have been worth thousands of dollars.

The Times Publishing Co. - which owns tbt - is not involved in the case.

The pop pair have long been rumoured to be dating but have always denied the claims, despite having matching tattoos and having been pictured kissing.
Taken From : China Daily

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CBS' Grammy show attracted 7.1 million viewers

Singer Taylor Swift poses as she arrives at "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" in Los Angeles, California December 3, 2008. [Agencies]

CBS' Grammy nominations special wasn't a breakaway hit with viewers Wednesday night, but it didn't play off-key.

The concert-and-announcements show attracted 7.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. This meant a fourth-place position among programs that were separated by only a million.

NBC's "Life" led in the 9-10 p.m. EST slot with 8.1 million viewers, followed by the second half of the premiere of Fox's "Secret Millionaire" with 8.0 million. ABC's "Private Practice" was third with 7.8 million.

The prime-time special was a first for the Grammys, which typically have announced the nominations in the morning with brief TV coverage.

The Grammys will air Feb. 8 on CBS.
Taken From : China Daily

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Jennifer Hudson says she's honored by Grammy nods

In this Oct. 6, 2008 photo, Jennifer Hudson poses at the premiere of the film 'The Secret Life of Bees' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. Hudson says she's honored to be a Grammy nominee.[Agencies]

Jennifer Hudson says she's honored to be a Grammy nominee. The Oscar-winning actress and singer, who has been in seclusion since the killings of her mother, brother and nephew, was nominated Wednesday for four Grammy awards for her self-titled debut album.

Says Hudson: "It's been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I am extremely honored and humbled by the nominations."

The nominations came a day after her estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was formally charged with murder in the killings of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson; her brother, Jason Hudson; and her 7-year-old nephew, Julian King.

Hudson has declined through a spokeswoman to speak about the arrest.

Taken From : China Daily
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Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes talk love & marriage

It was more than just love at first sight for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

“I knew I wanted to marry Kate when I met her,” Tom told the December 7 issue of T: The New York Times Style Magazine.

The magazine’s “Holiday/Reinvention Issue” has two separate interviews and “Double” split covers for its upcoming issue – one with Katie and one with Tom. Both interviews are by writer Lynn Hirschberg.

Tom bought the ring shortly after their first date. And the feeling was mutual — according to Tom, Katie later told him that she had had a crush on him for years, even dreaming of marrying him as a little girl.

“I was completely in love,” Katie told the mag of meeting Tom, admitting that her feelings starting young. “I admired him growing up – he’s Tom Cruise! I… maybe had his photo up on my wall.”

The couple have been the center of a tabloid tornado since beginning their whirlwind romance in April 2005, with Tom grabbing a number of headlines for his unexpected exploits – from jumping on Oprah’s couch to his successful surprise appearance at Matt Lauer’s recent Friar’s Club roast. In 2005, Tom called the newsman “glib” as he argued heatedly about anti-depressants.

“My feeling is, go big or go home,” Tom said in the T interview, laughing off past controversies.

But there’s one thing he wants to keep to keep to himself, speaking regretfully of placing his new family in the “adventure” of superstardom. It’s Katie who wouldn’t want go back to the way things were.

“No,” she said. “My life has expanded.”

In the interview, Tom also talks about his latest film, “Valkyrie,” his film choices over the course of his career, coming out to LA for the first time to meet up with Sean Penn, and his recent roast of Lauer.

Katie, photographed for the mag in an “Old Hollywood” motif, discusses her turn on Broadway currently in “All My Sons,” growing up in Toledo, Ohio, her first early auditions, and spending time with daughter Suri.

Videos of Tom and Katie in the mag’s “Screentest” series can be seen here.

Taken From : China Daily
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Madonna meets Argentina's President Fernandez in Buenos Aires

U.S. pop singer Madonna (L) and Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner hold a private meeting at the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires December 2, 2008. Madonna in is Argentina as part of her "Sticky and Sweet" tour which begins on Wednesday. [Agencies]

U.S. pop singer Madonna (R) greets anti-kidnapping campaigner French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt while Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (C) looks on at the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires December 2, 2008. Madonna is in Argentina as part of her "Sticky and Sweet" tour which begins on Wednesday. [Agencies]


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Lindsay Lohan's strong love

(China Daily) Lindsay Lohan insists she and girlfriend Samantha Ronson are not splitting up.

The 'Mean Girls' star, who has been dating the DJ for several months, has posted a new blog denying all rumours of a rift in their romance.

She said: "Oy vey! Rumours. Just to clear this up, because I have been getting a lot of emails asking me this one question. Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan (me) are NOT breaking up. Take care xxLL"
Lindsay also revealed to her fans she can't stop listening to the song 'Happy Together' by The Turtles.

Lindsay and Samantha were reported to have had a physical fight during a recent night out at London's Boujis nightclub.

Samantha is believed to have lost her temper when she saw Lindsay flirting with her ex-boyfriend, model Calum Best, and angrily confronted the pair.

A source said: "They caused quite a commotion - everyone was staring. Then it erupted into a catfight, with Sam and Lindsay swearing and screaming like banshees.

"Calum looked mortified then things got nasty and he stepped in to separate them."


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What Jane Zhang wants

By Chen Jie (China Daily)It's hard to believe a 24-year-old woman football fan could be so serious and rational. But 2005 Supergirl Zhang Liangying, better known as Jane Zhang, seems to be.

Not only can she talk about the recent league games in Italy, Spain and England in an expert way she also voted for Messi as this year's World Footballer of The Year. "Though I love Kaka more, because the Argentinian is playing better than Kaka this year," she says.

Her comment sounds more like one from a soccer journalist than an ordinary young woman fan.

"Jane knows what she wants," says Wa Wa, the veteran lyricist, who produced Zhang's about-to-be-released new album.

"She has independent ideas about her albums and concerts. When she was working on the new album, she set out to make a breakthrough in her career.

"Jane is one of the few hard-working singers I have met. She has talent, but still makes a great effort in her music. She definitely stands out among the singers of her generation."

To end this year on a high note, Jane will give concerts at Beijing's Capital Gymnasium on Saturday and Shanghai Grand Stage on Dec 13, before releasing her new album, released by H. Brothers Music.

The performance style featured in her coming gigs and the kind of the songs on the new album reveals what Jane wants. "I have always been fascinated by live music, so I prefer singing live to the recording studio," she says.

"In the studio, the equipment can help you change the tune and any slight mistakes to make your voice sound perfect but in live concerts, every breath is live.

"The new album includes more jazzy and faster songs, which are best for a live concert. I think this is my future direction."

Wa Wa was first impressed by Jane's flexible vocal range a few years ago when she heard her sing an English song at a pop music award ceremony.

"What a good voice, I thought. Then somebody told me she was a Supergirl contestant. But I just felt somehow her singing was not touching my heart," she says.

"She was not a fixed image in my mind and I don't care about her previous albums. In my mind, every new album is a new start for a singer.

"So we just wanted to create a totally new Jane Zhang," says the lyricist, who wrote many popular songs for such star singers as Alan Tam, Jacky Cheung, Beyond and David Tao.

"A new Jane" is definitely what Zhang wants.

Of the 2005 Supergirls top three, Li Yunchun was known for her cool, boy-like manner, and Zhou Bichang for her black-frame glasses and innocent high-school persona. But Jane was more sophisticated and oozed street cred and carried an aura of sadness, partly because she once sang in nightclubs to pay for her school fees.

It was the strategy of the Supergirls producers to "fix" its singers' images but Jane wants to break free from any previous stereotypes.

"Most of my previous songs are soft and even heartbreaking love songs and that has been considered my trademark style," she says.

"But actually in real life, I am not a depressed and hurt girl.

"I am young, open-minded, love smiling, lovely but not Kawayi, and I have not experienced many dramas or tragedies in my life.

"It's really awkward and hard for me to sing those songs. When I sang them, I was not quite myself.

"About love, I am frank and straightforward and would not fall into emotional entanglements," she adds. "So I gave myself to Wa Wa and showed her the real Jane Zhang."

Wa Wa enjoyed working with Jane because "she's smart and gets to the point very fast".

Thus, instead of a heartbroken Jane, the new songs will show a normal 24-year-old who enjoys living and is wild about love.

Jane says she has grown up both mentally and musically since her 2005 success.

"Three years ago, when I heard rumors about me, I would be irrationally furious," she says. "I would pound the table and stand up in anger.

"Now, I don't care what people say but focus on my music. The rumors are always there - I can do nothing about them. What I can do is to do good albums and concerts."

Now Jane is looking forward to her gigs in Beijing and Shanghai and says all her confidence comes from her music and her reliable band.

"All these musicians have a wealth of live concert experience and I collaborated with some of them at last year's Chengdu concert," continues Jane.

"One of my ambitions is to have my own band in future."



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Jessica Simpson's religious Code

(China Daily) Jessica Simpson wants to take "a college course in religion".

The 'Come On Over' singer has been inspired to explore her spiritual side after watching 2006 movie 'The Da Vinci Code', which claims Jesus married and fathered a child.

Jessica told Marie Claire magazine: "I've been contemplating taking a college course in religion. I love religion. I remember whenever the book 'The Da Vinci Code' came out, the Discovery Channel did this three-night piece on it that I recorded it and then watched eight times."

Jessica - who is divorced from 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey and is now dating American football player Tony Romo - isn't the only star considering going back to school.

'Harry Potter' actress Emma Watson has been seen visiting US universities, while Kate Bosworth - who deferred her offer of a place at America's prestigious Princeton University as a teenager - recently revealed she hasn't ruled out furthering her education in the future.

Jessica became famous for her innocent misunderstanding when she starred in MTV reality show 'Newlyweds' with Nick.

Her most memorable blunders included thinking tinned tuna brand Chicken of the Sea was actually chicken, and believing buffalo wings were made of buffalos instead of chicken.

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Korean War sets scene for love and sacrifice

By Cheng Anqi (China Daily)

The Great Northern Wilderness is a love triangle involving a young woman (Liang Linlin, pictured left), a soldier (Wang Yu, pictured) and a war veteran (Zhu Yawen).

The Korean War became the backdrop for the most-watched American TV show in history. When the final episode of M.A.S.H aired in 1983, after a record-breaking 11 seasons, it attracted more than 105 million US viewers, and millions more around the world. The comedy/drama helped shape Western views of the Korean War, but the Chinese perception of this three-year conflict is very different.

Next year, the Korean War will be the backdrop of a new Chinese TV series, which focuses on the lives and loves of young people in the northern part of the country in the 1950s.

Compared with other periods in China's modern history, there have been very few dramas focusing on this era. For this reason, renowned television director Zhang Jianxin believes his new series will be a winner in 2009.

Zhang also believes his 20-part The Great Northern Wilderness (Bei Da Huang) series will appeal to the most lucrative television demographic - people aged in the 30s and 40s - and will be a commercial success.

He also says the story of young men and women battling against the elements will encourage today's generation during the economic crisis.

"China's large population and the breakout of Korean War caused food shortage in 1950s," says Zhang.

"This led to about 100,000 retired service people and hundreds of thousands of young people answering the call by the Chinese government to resettle in the wild lands of northern China.

"It is the selfless spirit and dedication of the farm workers that are the most admirable of all, as they have devoted their lives and risked untold hardship to build an agricultural miracle."

The new series is a love triangle, in which a battle veteran (Zhu Yawen) falls in love with a girl (Liang Linlin), who strongly resembles his dead fiance, a victim of the civil war.

The young lady, however, falls for another soldier, who escorts her to the wasteland from city capital.

Zhang hopes the new series will be as successful as his last year's smash-hit TV drama Breaking Through (Chuang Guandong), which was also about army life.

Instead of setting the scene on the battlefront, like his last series, The Great Northern Wilderness is shot in the northeastern Heilongjiang province, a vast expanse of land, which was sparely inhabited in the 1950s, when the Korean War had just begun.

More than half a million young men and women, including demobilized army officers and solders and high school graduates marched into this great wilderness, on the border of Korea.

They cultivated farmland and followed their own aspirations to serve emerging New China and solve food shortages at the time.

While researching the show, Zhang says there was little documentation to draw from, but he hoped his new series would help today's generation be more grateful for the efforts of their grandfathers and grandmothers.

"While later generations now enjoy the prosperity that their predecessors created decades ago, few of them know the stories of these post-war men and women, who made an unforgettable contribution to China's history and toward helping their fellow citizens," he says.

"There was very little material like documentaries and literature covering their daily lives in such tough times, so the series will help to fill a vacancy in that history."

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Beyonce Knowles' hairy premiere

(China Daily) Beyonce Knowles revealed her hairy arm pits when she waved to shocked fans yesterday.

The glamorous star had apparently forgotten to shave as she walked the red carpet at the New York premiere of her new Etta James biopic 'Cadillac Records'.

One horrified onlooker said: "Beyonce always looks her best at these kind of events.

"She obviously either ran out of razors or just missed a bit in the bathroom."

The singer-and-actress - who was joined by her rapper husband Jay-Z at the glitzy event - isn't the first actress to shock fans with her unkempt pits.
n 1999, Julia Roberts revealed her unshaven armpits as she waved to the crowd at the premiere of 'Notting Hill'.

Drew Barrymore also stunned onlookers by sporting tufts of hair under her arms at a New York fashion show in 2005.

Beyonce recently revealed moviegoers will be "shocked" by the dark undertones of the new film.

She said: "I have been saying for a long time now that I wanted to do something dark. This was a scary and dark role.

"People are going to be very shocked. It is the complete opposite of me. It was emotionally draining."

The 27-year-old star even visited drug rehab clinics to research her role as the substance abusing singer.

She added: "I was really afraid. I didn't know what I would see."


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Gwen Stefani pregnant again?

(China Daily) Gwen Stefani is reportedly pregnant with her third child.

The singer - who has two sons with husband Gavin Rossdale, Kingston, two, and three-month-old Zuma Nesta Rock - is said to be desperate to increase her brood.

Singer Akon, who worked with Gwen on her 2006 album 'The Sweet Escape', fuelled rumours by saying: "I wouldn't be surprised if she had another in the next couple of months. You saw how quickly she went back for another one."
The 'Right Now (Na Na Na)' singer refused to confirm Gwen is already expecting, but added she is enjoying her role as a parent.

He said: "I know nothing! She definitely loves being a mother, period."

It was recently revealed Kingston is a huge "flirt" who is massively popular with the girls at the exercise class he attends at West Hollywood's Fit for Kids.

A source said: "All the little girls in Kingston's class are enamoured of him. He is a total flirt! They are constantly surrounding him, especially at story time. He is very popular."


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