Shania name-droppings...

[Troll]

We caught up with Manuel Osborne-Paradis by phone this week from Chamonix, France.

Sport: Alpine skiing

Disciplines: Downhill, Super G

------

Q: Name three people you'd like to sit down to dinner with?

A:I'll have to say our very own Pamela Anderson. And . . . (long pause) boy, these are tough questions.

Q: Well, they're designed to make you think a little.

A: (Laughing) Hey, I'm an athlete, we don't have to think.

Q: Okay, but two more for dinner?

A:Shania Twain. And my mom, so I don't do anything I shouldn't be doing.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/road_to_2010/story.html?id=9a617a14-da50-4799-b633-e6d6fe26f3bf

[canoilers]

Thank you again for the articles.

[Troll]

To see how the Grammys historically award commercialism over artistic achievement, ponder these examples:

•*Country icon Hank Williams won only one Grammy, for a ghastly posthumous, pieced- together single with son Hank Williams Jr. in 1989. In contrast, country-pop pin-up Shania Twain has won five.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/entertainment/music/13770748.htm

[canoilers]

As far as I'm concerned she won those rightly and she deserves the awards she's won. I don't think that people should take out their frustrations because a certain artist didn't win, and then pick on Shania too prove a point. I think that sucks hard-core. That could just be me, but I really hate that.

Thanks Andrew. :D

[matty]

As far as I'm concerned she won those rightly and she deserves the awards she's won. I don't think that people should take out there frustrations because a certain artist didn't win, and then pick on Shania too prove a point. I think that sucks hard-core. That could just be me, but I really hate that.

Thanks Andrew. :D

I agree, she's worked really hard and deserves everything she gets.


Thanks for posting the articles guys :)

[Troll]

As far as I'm concerned she won those rightly and she deserves the awards she's won. I don't think that people should take out their frustrations because a certain artist didn't win, and then pick on Shania too prove a point. I think that sucks hard-core. That could just be me, but I really hate that.

Thanks Andrew. :D

You got that right Sean.

[FinnFreak]

REUTERS - 6.2.2006


Canada musician Sampson flexes muscle in Nashville


TORONTO (Billboard) - Few Canadian artists have made the same kind of impact in Nashville as singer/songwriter/producer Gordie Sampson, who hails from the Cape Breton region of Nova Scotia.

Working in Music City has long been the goal for many Canadian singers and songwriters, and several have toiled there since the 1970s.

But Sampson's success has been striking, underlined when Carrie Underwood's single "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which he co-wrote with Nashville-based Brett James and Hilary Lindsey. It topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart last month.

Nashville "is the basket I'm putting most of my eggs in," the 33-year-old Sampson says. "But I will spend summers in Cape Breton, doing some playing in Canada."

During the 1990s, the international success of Shania Twain as well as U.S. breakthroughs by Terri Clark and Paul Brandt opened the door for Canadians in Nashville. Several leading domestic acts including Clark, Brandt, Aaron Lines and the Wilkinsons began working from there, alongside noted Canadian songwriters like Naoise Sheridan, Johnny Douglas, Steve Fox and Cyril Rawson.

Sampson moved to Nashville last September. His songs have been recorded by Faith Hill ("Paris"), Keith Urban ("The Hard Way" and "You") and George Canyon ("My Name"). He recently penned two with LeAnn Rimes, and has plans to write with Urban.

"Gordie is a pleasure to be around as a writer," says Canyon, who also hails from Nova Scotia. "He isn't the type to write safe (lyrics) or work with melodies that fit with what everybody else is writing -- he thinks outside the box."

In September, Canyon's "My Name" won top single and top song honors at the 2005 Canadian Country Music Awards.

Cape Breton, where Sampson co-owns a recording studio, is the heartland of Scottish culture in Canada. Growing up there, Sampson started playing piano when he was 5. He cites 1970s rock as his earliest influence, notably Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd.

Before first visiting Nashville a decade ago, he recalls, "I listened to no country music, except what my mother used to sing" in a cover band.


http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2006-02-05T224244Z_01_N0391190_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-CANADA-DC.XML&archived=False



The Arizona Republic - 6.2.2006


Ballroom doing double duty


'Tis the social season of déjà vu. Saturday night's party was in the McArthur Ballroom of the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. So was Friday night's bash.

Saturday night's benefit for Fresh Start Women's Foundation was about fresh starts. So was Friday night's benefit for HomeBase Youth Services.

...

Same ballroom, different style


On Saturday night at Fresh Start's black-tie gala, the dinner tables (some tiered on a second level) surrounded both sides of a U-shaped runway.

Designer Marc Bouwer (his gowns are worn by stars such as Angelina Jolie and Shania Twain) was there as the models hit the runway with his fashions from Neiman Marcus.

The elite retailer and AZ Society sponsored the evening of 700 partygoers.

Partygoer Kimberly Jacobson bought the fashionable trip in the live auction for $3,500. The getaway includes four passes to the star-studded opening party of American Girl Place in Los Angeles and a two-night stay at the posh Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0206rsvp-shocket06.html



John - :)

[FinnFreak]

The Des Moines Register - February 6, 2006


'Youngsy' still spins with 40th anniversary

The popular KIOA disc jockey, 64, knows all about golden oldies.

By KYLE MUNSON
REGISTER MUSIC CRITIC


The names atop the Billboard singles charts have changed constantly since 1966, from British pop singer Petula Clark (her "My Love" was at the top in early February '66) to R&B/hip-hop diva Beyonce Knowles (No. 1 this week with "Check on It").

But one name has remained a fixture at radio station KIOA.

Disc jockey Dic Youngs still spins '50s-'60s rock 'n' roll on weekday afternoons and Saturday nights on KIOA-FM "Oldies" 93.3. His 40th anniversary will be celebrated on the air from 2 to 6 p.m. today with a live special featuring surprise guests.

With the high-tech digital equipment in today's radio booth, Youngs, 64, is fond of saying, "If you have a good finger, you can be a disc jockey."

"Here you are doing your show with one finger," explained Youngs, who at one time had amassed a collection of about 6,000 old-fashioned vinyl 45s. "That's the truth, too. I can't get over that yet today. All the songs are in front of you. There's no cueing the record, no pushing in the tape or anything."

"Youngsy," as he is called, has relented to changing technology but not music trends.

"I can't find another job," chuckled Youngs, a man, 64, who personifies the sound of nostalgia.

Highlights from a career that has been overheard by generations of Iowans:

HOW HE FELL IN LOVE WITH BROADCASTING: Youngs was an 11-year-old Little League baseball player in Lincoln, Neb., and won the chance to hang out in the announcer's booth. He was duly impressed. Then at 17, while a student at East High School in Des Moines, Youngs was hired for his first late-night radio show weekends on KSO. Program director Dick Vance "took me under his wing and kind of made me a part of the business," Youngs said.

WACKY STUNTS: Youngs became renowned for his on-air stunts to benefit charity. He lived for two weeks in a Rambler suspended by a crane 50 feet in the air. He bowled for three days straight, threw a strike on his final ball, collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

"When I got out I had the longest right arm in the city," he cracked.

Youngs also walked from Ames to Des Moines in frigid weather (a high temp of 3 degrees Fahrenheit) for the March of Dimes; he was hospitalized again for fear of frostbite.

He even led a basketball team in the 1970s, the KIOA High Hoopers, that played hundreds of games for charity.

FAVORITE ROCK STAR ENCOUNTER: Youngs shook Elvis Presley's hand in 1977 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium as the King rushed by immediately after his final song.

"When (Elvis) came out on stage that night in that white cape, that was like God descending on earth," Youngs said. "I'm an Elvis freak."

WILDEST ROCKER: "Jerry Lee Lewis. The guy was — I don't want to say freakish. He was hopped up, and it wasn't on drugs. He was having such a good time at the (Iowa State) Fair that it was tough to get him off stage."

Little Richard also was reluctant to leave the fair stage.

"The promoter came to me and said, 'Go out and tell (Richard) this is his last song.' I said, no way, you're the promoter, you go do that. I'm not going to try to pull Little Richard off the stage."

HIS NEW MARRIAGE: Youngs married Jan Roff in June at the Des Moines Botanical Center. Their wedding song wasn't an oldies hit, but Shania Twain's "You're Still the One." But the couple did honeymoon in Memphis, Tenn., with a visit to Elvis' Graceland mansion.

FAVORITE SONG: "It's All in the Game" by Tommy Edwards.

NEWER MUSIC HE ENJOYS: "I like Ricky Martin because Jan likes Ricky Martin," Youngs said. Others: Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban.

HOW'S HIS HEALTH?: "I'm fine," Youngs said. "I'm doing really good. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'm probably about an 8."

RETIREMENT?: "I'm shooting for about another year and a half to two," he said. "I'll hang it up after that."


http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060206/ENT05/602060301/1051


John - ;)

[Troll]

Over time the ancient Chinese noticed certain traits that seemed prominent in people born during the different lunar years. Obviously, all these characteristics are not present in everyone born during those years, but it can be fun to see how you stack up to the majority who were born in your year.

The Year of the Snake

Snakes are deep, saying little and thought to possess great wisdom. Financially fortunate, they are often seen as vain, selfish and stingy. Calm on the outside, they are intense and passionate inside.

They are most compatible with people born in the years of the ox and rooster.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. and Jackie Kennedy, Dick and Lynn Cheney, Mao Zedong, Martha Stewart, Shania Twain, Ida Tarbell and Oprah Winfrey were born that year. (1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.)

http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060205/NEWS/602050331

[Troll]

His hard work paid off, earning him both a publishing deal and a recording contract.

Currington burst onto the music charts in 2003 with Top 10 hits "Walk A Little Straighter" and "I Got A Feelin." The following year superstar Shania Twain helped propel things a bit when she asked him to be her duet partner on "Party For Two."

Since recording that first CD, the 32-year-old has spent nearly four years on the road, performing five nights a week in clubs and concert halls. "Before making my current album, I made myself picture every song live in front of a crowd," Currington says of the education he got from his audiences. "I learned which ones work and which ones don't work for a bar atmosphere or for a huge stadium."

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=GACBEAT-MUSIC-02-06-06

[FinnFreak]

The Boston Globe - February 7, 2006

GLOBE EDITORIAL

Hang it up


MY 11-YEAR-OLD daughter took one look at Mick Jagger performing at the Super Bowl and said: ''He looks really, really old." From my 59-year-old perspective, Jagger appeared exceptionally fit, in much better condition than the aging football legends introduced earlier. But to her eyes, not clouded with memories of the Rolling Stones' career, he looked silly exposing his navel and prancing around like someone barely out of his teens.

''Here's one we could have done at Super Bowl One," Jagger said as he launched into ''[I Can't Get No] Satisfaction," which was already a classic when the first Super Bowl was played in 1967. Imagine what it would have been like if the young Stones had played that half-time show -- Vince Lombardi, with his sports coat and tie, glowering on the sidelines.

But in 1967, the Stones mostly performed in primitive arenas, where they wowed the teenage crowds with aggressive blues-derived music, suggestive lyrics, and Jagger's preening. They were fresh, exciting, and dangerous.

Today the Stones, perfoming much the same act but for an older audience, are the safe choice, like Paul McCartney, who sang at last year's game. And just to make sure they were acceptable, the Stones agreed to let ABC turn off its microphones for a couple of offensive lyrics in ''Start Me Up" and ''Rough Justice." There's precedent for this acquiescence to censorship. The Stones cleaned up the lyrics of ''Let's Spend the Night Together" so they could perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967. Jagger, a canny businessman, would not let his bad-boy image get in the way of national television exposure.

The National Football League is determined to prevent a repetition of the Janet Jackson breast-baring scandal of 2004. But the League doesn't have to book aging rock stars to get powerful, inoffensive performance. U2 was wonderful in 2002. Sting, Gwen Stefani, and Shania Twain did just fine in 2003. Why not give a younger band a chance?

The Stones grossed $162 million last year on their ''Bigger Bang" tour, but the latest album, with the same name, hasn't done as well as its predecessors. If a 59-year-old can give advice to his elders: Maybe this would be a great time for the Stones to bow out, before they're over the hill and out of sight.

- THOMAS GAGEN -


http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2006/02/07/hang_it_up/


John - :)

[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up:

[FinnFreak]

thisismoney.co.uk - 7 February 2006


Get Me Tickets is shut down


by Simon Moon


CONTROVERSIAL ticket agency Get Me Tickets has been put out of business following an investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Official Receiver has been appointed provisional liquidator following the presentation to the High Court of a petition to wind up the company in the public interest. Official action was prompted by numerous complaints from unhappy customers. Get Me Tickets claimed to sell front-row seats to sold-out concerts and events in the UK and Ireland., mainly via the website www.getmetickets.net. Its offices are in Endell Street, London, WC2.

A statement from Paul Titherington, acting on behalf of the Official Receiver, said: 'When my staff attended the company's premises a large number of tickets were recovered. The court has ordered that the tickets should be distributed to customers as far as possible in chronological order having regard to the date the order was placed with the company such that tickets are allocated against the first orders received.

'My staff are at present sorting through the tickets recovered from the premises and matching them against paid orders. As you will appreciate, this will take some time. Furthermore, my staff are working to ensure that customers receive the available tickets in a timely manner. We are also being assisted by the credit card processor who have informed the Official Receiver that, if there is a shortfall, they will endeavour to supply tickets to meet orders placed.'

The directors of Get Me Tickets are Michael Rangos and Kavitha Thavaratnam. The petition to wind up the company will be heard by the High Court on 22 March.

Last year the company and Rangos himself were fined a total of £3,000 by magistrates in Bexley, Kent, over the sale of tickets to a Wembley Stadium concert featured US country star Shania Twain. The company failed to respond after a customer, who had paid £297 for tickets that turned out to be worth £50, demanded a refund. Get Me Tickets was even criticised by Cliff Richard after it tried to charge £377 for £45 tickets to one of his concerts. He told the BBC: 'It's a terrible rip off,' and urged fans not to use the company.

Today the Get Me Tickets website featured only a message from the Official Receiver. The company's eBay shop that claimed: 'Our niche is VERY FRONT ROW seats for ANY event in the UK,' was closed.


http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money-savers/article.html?in_article_id=406818&in_page_id=5


John - :uhh:

[FinnFreak]

Gaming Target - February 7th, 2006


Shadow Hearts 3 site goes live


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/FinnFreak/SHShania.jpg
The bounty hunter Shania


Shadow Hearts was a flawed RPG with a very interesting battle system (the Judgment Ring). Shadow Hearts 2 fixed most of those flaws, expanded the Judgment Ring and nearly wiped the floor with a Final Fantasy game in the minds of gamers.

Now XSEED Games has opened the official website for Shadow Hearts: From the New World (http://www.shadowheartsnewworld.com) and it features some things Shadow Hearts fans will be very pleased with. According to XSEED, ShadowHeartsNewWorld.com features "detailed information on the improved Judgment Ring battle system, as well as additional information on the characters, story, world, plus downloadable icons."

We've also got a story outline:

Shadow Hearts: From the New World is the latest installment in the critically acclaimed role-playing game series. The all new storyline begins as Johnny Garland, a young 16 year-old detective who lost his father, sister and a part of his memories in an accident, accepts an investigation to track down a criminal suspect who has escaped from custody. As he closes in on the suspect, Johnny witnesses a supernatural occurence - a huge monster appears from a green light known as a "Window" and swallows up the criminal. Apparently, a series of horrific incidents similar to this have been plaguing cities across the nation.

Johnny's female counterpart is 21 year-old bounty hunter Shania, a Native American who is searching for these mysterious Windows, determined to close them using her spiritual powers. Together, they travel across North and South America and are joined by a colorful cast of characters.

Colorful cast of characters indeed. Shadow Hearts: From the New World is scheduled to ship for the PS2 on March 7.


http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=4976


John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

ACTRA Toronto- Feb. 7, 2006


ACTRA AWARDS IN TORONTO 2006 ANNOUNCEMENT OF NOMINEES

Ten Award Nominees Announced by ACTRA Toronto
Sarah Polley to receive Award of Excellence


For Immediate Release: Toronto, February 7, 2006 – Karl Pruner, President of ACTRA Toronto Performers, is pleased to announce the nominees for the 2006 ACTRA Awards in Toronto to be presented at The Carlu on February 24, 2006.

ACTRA Toronto’s 2006 Award of Excellence will be presented to Sarah Polley – actor, writer, director, activist and one of “Canada’s treasures”. In addition two ACTRA Awards for Outstanding Performance will be presented to ACTRA Toronto members.


The Nominees for the ACTRA Awards in Toronto 2006 are:


Outstanding Performance – female:

Paula Boudreau - The Tournament (TV series)
Wendy Crewson - The Man Who Lost Himself (TV movie)
Megan Follows - Shania: A Life in Eight Albums (TV movie)
Victoria Snow - Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story (TV movie)
Samantha Weinstein - Big Girl (short film)


Outstanding Performance – male:

Shawn Ashmore - The Terry Fox Story (TV movie)
Tom McCamus - Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story (TV movie)
Michael Miranda - Lives of the Saints (TV mini series)
Joe Pingue - Leo (short film)
Dov Tiefenbach - The Dark Hours (feature film)


ACTRA Toronto Performers is the largest organization within ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), representing more than 13,000 of Canada’s 21,000 professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven organization that continues to secure the rights and respect for the work of professional performers.


http://www.actratoronto.com/home/Nominees_2006.html


John - :)

[FinnFreak]

National Post - Wednesday, February 08, 2006


Polka King's hometown advantage

Walter Ostanek: 'You mean the, uh, accordian guy?'


by Vanessa Farquharson


ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - Tonight, after 19 nominations, Canada's Polka King may win his fourth Grammy. Walter Ostanek's name recognition isn't exactly up there with Shania Twain or Avril Lavigne. But surely the 71-year-old is as much of a celebrity in his hometown as those two are in Timmins and Napanee. Or is he?


http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/artslife/story.html?id=250fc6e6-340e-4acc-aafc-651d52908e54&k=66118


John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

The Kansas City Star - Wed, Feb. 08, 2006


Give your valentine delicious memories


By LAUREN CHAPIN


Look beyond traditional Valentine’s Day gifts of bouquets of roses and mass-produced, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates this year. With a little time and a little creativity, the day of love will last days, weeks, months or even years.


Classy love

Strawberries and chocolate: It’s a marriage made in heaven. Add a single, long-stemmed red rose, and Cupid’s arrow will surely hit the bull’s-eye.
For Valentine’s Day, Classy Chocolates, 18 W. Kansas St. in Liberty, will dip jumbo-sized strawberries into your choice of white, milk or dark chocolate, sprinkle on a topping and package it up with a rose. For special effect, owners Shari Metcalfe and Darla Staton will arrange the strawberries in the shape of a heart.

http://www.kansascity.com/images/kansascity/kansascitystar/news/FrypanStrawberries_020106_GLB_08_02-08-2006_Q0JAMN4.jpg

Six strawberries and a rose costs $13. A dozen strawberries are $23. Orders must be placed by Sunday. The holiday hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Call (816) 781-2260 for more details.


Baby bubbles

Country singers Shania Twain and Mark McGrath sang about it, and now lovebirds can practice it. Why not have a “Party for Two”? With the growing line of Champagne minis, it’s easy to pop the cork and never lose the bubbles.


http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/food/13806178.htm


John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks for all the articles John.

[FinnFreak]

GREAT AMERICAN COUNTRY - February 08, 2006 08:00 AM US Eastern Timezone



He Said, She Said:

GAC Survey Finds Men Long to Be Serenaded by Shania
for Valentine's Day, While Women Tingle for Tim


NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2006--While men and women alike may share a love of "love" on Valentine's Day, they understandably have some distinct differences in what constitutes music to their ears.

In a national survey of country music fans conducted for television network Great American Country (GAC), women chose Tim McGraw as the artist from whom they would most like to receive a "special love song" for Valentine's Day. McGraw tallied 13.4 percent of the responses, edging out Kenny Chesney (9.3 percent) and Alan Jackson (7.7).

Shania Twain was the clear choice among male respondents (11.6 percent), followed by Faith Hill (8) and Dolly Parton (6.3).

For some, though, Valentine's Day conjures up thoughts of love gone awry. The two sexes tended to see heart-to-heart when asked to name the country singer that comes to mind when they think of songs having to do with "heartbreak." The late Hank Williams Sr. topped the list, followed by Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, Billy Ray Cyrus and George Jones.

The survey sheds a little more light on how men and women view their love lives. Respondents were asked to "think about that special someone" in their lives and to name the song title that best describes their relationship.

Women overwhelmingly picked Elvis Presley's classic "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You" (30.3 percent), showing a somewhat sanguine outlook.

Responses from men were more evenly split, if not downright sarcastic, proving that cupid's arrow does not always strike everyone in the same way. "Inseparable," by Natalie Cole, was the choice of 19.8 percent of male respondents, proving that love may conquer all, but it's a tough battle. "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right," Luther Ingram's 1970s-era ballad about a married man's affair, garnered 19.6 percent of the votes, while Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With," which encourages one to "settle" for the nearest love object, tallied 14.7 percent.

The survey also turned up a few cynics, who made sure to cast their votes behind the George Strait classic "All My Exes Live in Texas" (7 percent) and Barbara Mandrell's "Sleeping Single in a Double Bed" (6), indicating that all is not necessarily rosy behind closed doors.

GAC viewers can see more of their favorite love songs this weekend during "GAC Love Songs," a special Valentine's Day video dedication show with special guest Billy Currington. The current chart-topper, heralded as one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Males" of the week, will respond to viewer e-mails about 'like and love.'

"GAC Love Songs" airs Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, and again on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT. A special Valentine's Day program airs Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. Check local listings for GAC channel information.

The ICR Excel Omnibus, Scripps Networks Lifestyle Press Survey included a national sample of 878 adults 18+ during the week of January 23-26, 2006. The margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level is +/- 3 percent.

About Great American Country

Great American Country (GACtv.com) is America's country music source, with its music-intensive format and the latest in country news and events. GAC is available to approximately 40,000,000 households via cable and satellite, including virtually all of the top 200 U.S. television markets. As the home of the legendary Grand Ole Opry, GAC is best known for its mix of current and past country music hit videos, original programming, special performances and live concerts. GAC engages its viewers in a unique way, allowing them to pick their favorite videos each week at GACtv.com for the on-air series, GAC Top 20 Country Countdown.

GAC is a property of Scripps Networks, the leading developer of lifestyle-oriented content for television and the Internet, including Home & Garden Television (HGTV), Food Network, DIY Network and FINE LIVING. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Scripps Networks maintains offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta and Nashville, Scripps Networks is owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks, interactive media, and electronic retailing. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media and Shopzilla.com.


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060208005142&newsLang=en


John - :D

[Troll]

Not surprised one bit.

[FinnFreak]

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Thursday, February 9, 2006

On Radio:

Former morning staple Hunter adds to his busy slate with a return to radio

By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER

It's not that Tim Hunter didn't have anything else to do when his long-running gig at KLSY-FM (92.5) with Bruce Murdock and Alice Porter ended in 2003.

He wrote comedy bits for Radio-Online, a prep service used by hosts around the country, as well as jokes that were picked up by Jay Leno's late-night TV show. He joined Mountlake Terrace ad agency Destination Marketing. He wrote two screenplays and co-wrote a third, as well as a column for a community newspaper.

But Hunter, whose radio career began in Yakima in 1977 (even earlier if you count college radio and interning) still had, as he describes it, "the itch to just get back on the air and play again for a few hours each week."

Which is what he's doing. Hunter is the host on country station KKWF-FM (100.7) from 7 a.m. to noon Sundays.

...

Aside from getting back in radio shape, Hunter also is learning about modern country music. He says the gap between that format and KLSY's adult-contemporary playlist isn't as great as may first appear, since AC features lots of remakes of country songs and crossover artists such as Shania Twain.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/258761_radiobeat09.html


John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks for the aritcle.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up:

[FinnFreak]

CountryWeekly.com - 02/09/2006


WHO'S YOUR VALENTINE HEARTTHROB?


GAC has the answer—men want to be serenaded by Shania Twain,
while women long for Tim McGraw to sing them a love song.

http://web.countryweekly.com/images/cw/208747/50060.gif http://web.countryweekly.com/images/cw/208747/50061.gif
Shania Twain for the guys - and Tim McGraw for the gals


In a national survey of country fans for GAC, women chose Tim as the star from whom they'd most like to receive a "special love song" on Valentine's Day. Tim tallied 13.4% of the responses, edging out Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson. And for men, Shania Twain with 11.6% was the heart-melting choice over Faith Hill and Dolly Parton. The female voters also overwhelmingly picked Elvis Presley's classic, "Can't Help Falling in Love," as the song title that makes them think of "that special someone." GAC viewers can see more of their favorite romantic tunes this weekend during GAC Love Songs, a special Valentine's Day video dedication show with special guest Billy Currington. The special premieres Sat., Feb. 11, at 2:00 p.m. ET.


http://www.countryweekly.com/stories/scene/63264


...how about that..? - ;) - they used the pic of Shania from her calendar...


John - :]

[Troll]

That is a good pic of her.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting :up: and that's a great pic! :love:

[Troll]

Garth Brooks' album sales now stand at 116 million to place him just behind Elvis Presley as the best-selling solo artist in history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. While Brooks' The Limited Series, a multi-disc compilation available only at Wal-Mart and its Sam's Club stores, is not listed as a specific title for RIAA certification, the individual discs sold within the boxed set are being certified. As a result, Brooks'1998 album, Double Live, was certified 20-times platinum to catch up with the Shania Twain's Come on Over, the best-selling country album of all time. Other titles included within the boxed set and their new respective sales levels are: Sevens (9 times platinum), Scarecrow (5 times platinum) and the newly-released The Lost Sessions (double platinum). According to the RIAA's Web site, Elvis Presley's album sales now stand at 116.5 million.

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1524161/02102006/brooks_garth.jhtml

[Shania's4life!!]

Garth Brooks' album sales now stand at 116 million to place him just behind Elvis Presley as the best-selling solo artist in history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. While Brooks' The Limited Series, a multi-disc compilation available only at Wal-Mart and its Sam's Club stores, is not listed as a specific title for RIAA certification, the individual discs sold within the boxed set are being certified. As a result, Brooks'1998 album, Double Live, was certified 20-times platinum to catch up with the Shania Twain's Come on Over, the best-selling country album of all time. Other titles included within the boxed set and their new respective sales levels are: Sevens (9 times platinum), Scarecrow (5 times platinum) and the newly-released The Lost Sessions (double platinum). According to the RIAA's Web site, Elvis Presley's album sales now stand at 116.5 million.

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1524161/02102006/brooks_garth.jhtml


hahaha, what a joke. Garth is marketing on steroids.

[Troll]

hahaha, what a joke. Garth is marketing on steroids.

You got that right.

[FinnFreak]

WorldNetDaily.com - February 11, 2006


Is it just me …?


By Pat Boone


Am I the only one who, watching the Super Bowl last Sunday, wondered why the most gigantic broadcast sporting event of the year didn't feature American performers at halftime?

Was I the only one mystified that we've been featuring, for several of the last few years, non-American artists – like U2, Paul McCartney and now the Rolling Stones? Don't get me wrong; I love these guys like most of us do and look for opportunities to see them perform. I find myself older than any of them now, so I especially applaud their lasting power.

But Sunday, it struck me as somehow off-kilter – as the mighty junkyard dogs of Pittsburgh battled the sleek greyhounds of Seattle, in America's premier athletic and entertainment showcase, broadcast to over 200 other countries – that the stage at halftime was surrendered to a group of 60-plus-year-old Brits! They strutted and staggered around on a set designed as a huge, rolled out tongue (their well known lurid logo), hammering out three of their famous rock standards and getting bleeped once or twice. Exciting enough, at least to many, but was it really appropriate for our largest American extravaganza? And for a Sunday "family audience"?

Are we fresh out of popular and dazzling entertainers of domestic origin?

I wonder. There's one more huge, worldwide sporting event – the World Cup, the Super Bowl of soccer. Has any American entertainer, no matter how popular and currently "hot," ever been invited to perform on that platform? I guess Europeans still have the old-fashioned notion that Europeans and Asians who are into that most popular sport prefer to be dazzled and entertained by their own stars. Curious, isn't it?

But back to our own Super event: Has Bruce Springsteen, Mr. "Born in the USA," ever been our halftime performer? Couldn't Toby Keith and Shania Twain, or Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, or maybe Charlie Daniels and Allison Kraus do a whale of a halftime show? And what about Garth Brooks, for Pete's sake?! Simon and Garfunkel filled Central Park, and so did Barbra Streisand. Neil Diamond fills stadiums everywhere, for multiple nights. Or how about an "American Idol" halftime, featuring not just the winners, but some of the extremely talented runners-up? An all American show-of-shows, and really one for the whole family?

I don't know, for two or three years, I met with NFL execs and producers, almost selling them on my concept I called "The Living Legends." Simply, I proposed bringing together, in a way not even Dick Clark had figured out how to do, ten or more real legendary performers who've sold millions of records and made American music loved all over the globe, and having them introduced by the living legends of pro football. It would be rapid-fire but respectful, with powerful reminders why the artists are living legends.

All the NFL execs did think it would be "super," perfectly suited for the football audience and its known age demographic. But … they understandably wanted to reach a younger audience – the "kids," many of whom really aren't that into pro football (unless it's a video game version) – and they've since elected to book entertainment that they hope will have younger audience appeal. Ironically, research has found that the kids may indeed tune in for halftime … and then out again when the second half starts.

Maybe it's just me. But I'd sure love to see America's biggest sports day be an all-American day.


http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48782



heh... and here I was thinking, Shania is/was a Canadian..? :uhh:


John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

www.lsionline.co.uk - 13 February 2006


Lab.gruppen on U2's Vertigo Tour


http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/images/00F/553/00F553D6F3.jpg
Dave Skaff


By Chris Henry


Sweden - Dave Skaff, monitor mixer on U2's current Vertigo global tour, has chosen Lab.gruppen fP Series 2400Q amplifiers for power. He's been with the band since 1985 and has a long and distinguished pedigree including work with Alicia Keys and Shania Twain, among many others. Skaff was having trouble with the amplifiers originally supplied for the in-ear monitors and switched to Lab.gruppen after consulting trusted associates for advice. "The Lab.gruppen amplifiers came top of the list," says Skaff.

The Lab.gruppen 2400Qs became the amplifiers of choice and are being used to power ear monitor mixes for the drum, keyboard, and cue mixes. According to Skaff they have been working flawlessly. "They sound very open and true, with no colouration," he says. "The reason I switched was that the amps I was using did not have enough front-end headroom and tended to colour the sound on high transients in the mix. The fP 2400Q's were the piece I was missing to pull my mix together. The front-end headroom and the clean consistent power they provide will make them my ear monitor amp of choice from here out."

U2's Vertigo tour started its 2006 leg at the Grammys then travels through Mexico, South America, New Zealand and Australia with the finale scheduled for Japan.


http://www.lsionline.co.uk/news/story.asp?ID=-2YLRM5


John - :)

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up:

[FinnFreak]

ContactMusic News - 14/02/2006


LONDON'S PARTY IN THE PARK ON HOLD


Annual London concert Party In The Park has been put on hiatus for the second year running, because organisers fear the supergig has lost its attraction for fans.

British royal PRINCE CHARLES' charity the Prince's Trust and London radio station Capital FM have hosted the fundraising gig in the capital's Hyde Park since 1998, but gave the summer slot to the Live 8 gig last year (02JUL05).

Over the years, artists including SIR ELTON JOHN, BACKSTREET BOYS, BON JOVI, SHANIA TWAIN, CRAIG DAVID, NELLY FURTADO, DESTINY'S CHILD, WYCLEF JEAN, USHER, RICKY MARTIN and CHRISTINA AGUILERA have performed in front of 100,000 fans.

A Capital spokeswoman says, "We have had a great eight years with Party in the Park but it is time to move on. People want something different."

However, Prince's Trust chief executive MARTINA MILBURN is hopeful the concert will return in 2007, saying, "Party in the Park sold out every year and raised millions of pounds to help change young lives."


http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/londons%20party%20in%20the%20park%20on%20hold_14_0 2_2006



heh... I guess they are waiting for a new album from Shania too...


John - ;)

[Troll]

I guess so John. :p

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up: Yea.. I guess so! :p

[FinnFreak]

Reuters Canada - Wed Feb 15, 2006


Nickelback tops Junos with six noms


By Etan Vlessing


OTTAWA, Canada (Hollywood Reporter) - Nickelback leads the pack with six nominations for the Junos, Canada's music awards, which were announced Wednesday by the CTV network and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Nickelback grabbed noms for best group, rock album and album for its latest release, "All the Right Reasons"; producer and single for "Photograph"; and another in the Juno's fan choice competition.

Close behind are jazz star Diana Krall and cover artist Michael Buble, each snagging five nominations. Three noms each went to the Arcade Fire, rock legend Neil Young and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.

With the exception of Celine Dion challenging in the fan choice category, Canadian divas were absent from this year's Juno competition. With no nominations for Avril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado or Shania Twain, the field is open for emerging talent to seize the spotlight.

Competing in the best international album competition, based on record sales in Canada, are 50 Cent, the Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and double Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson of "American Idol" fame.

The influence of the popular "Canadian Idol" series here was in evidence as past winner Kalan Porter earned three noms, Jacob Hoggard and last year's runner-up, Rex Goudie, each came away with two nominations, and Theresa Sokyrka earned one.

This year's awards show in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to air live April 2 on the CTV network, will include performances by Bryan Adams, Coldplay, Buble and Nickelback.


http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-02-16T005707Z_01_N15362700_RTRIDST_0_CANADA-NICKELBACK-COL.XML



American Chronicle - Thursday, February 16, 2006


THE BUSINESS OF PLACING COUNTRY MUSIC IN FILM


By Mark Crawford


Hollywood hasn't gone enough Country - yet. But 2005 experienced a rise in Country Music on movie soundtracks plus hot artists such as CMA Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban and CMA Vocalist of the Year Gretchen Wilson are making music supervisors in the film industry take a more serious look at Nashville.

Even though the popularity of Country Music is high, it's still behind rock, pop and jazz when it comes to soundtrack cuts. Less than five percent of soundtrack music in movies is Country. However recent years show promise.

In 2005, The Charlie Daniels Band, Montgomery Gentry and Willie Nelson were featured on the soundtrack for "The Dukes Of Hazzard." The soundtrack for "Must Love Dogs" featured Ryan Adams, Stephanie Bentley, Rodney Crowell, Susan Haynes and Linda Ronstadt. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon provided the singing voices for Johnny Cash and June Carter on the soundtrack for "Walk The Line." Lila McCann recorded "I'm Amazed" for a CD accompanying the DVD release of Disney's "Cinderella." Patty Griffin and Ryan Adams contributed songs to the "Elizabethtown" soundtrack. The soundtrack for "Brokeback Mountain" featured songs from Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Nelson and Ronstadt. Harris also contributed to the "Because Of Winn-Dixie" soundtrack. The "North Country" soundtrack featured a song by The Bellamy Brothers. Dolly Parton contributed a song that ran over the closing credits of "Transamerica." "The Muppet Christmas Carol Soundtrack Special 50th Anniversary Edition" featured a song by Martina McBride. The "Grand Champion" soundtrack featured Asleep at the Wheel, Robert Earl Keen, Nelson, Charlie Robison and George Strait. Shania Twain, Sara Evans, McBride, LeAnn Rimes and SHeDAISY recorded classic songs for the all-women soundtrack to the hit ABC show "Desperate Housewives." Rascal Flatts' "Feels Like Today" was included in the soundtrack for the TV series "Smallville." Lyle Lovett and June Carter Cash had songs on the soundtrack to the HBO series "Deadwood."

In 2004, Cash songs were featured in "Starsky & Hutch" and "Kill Bill Vol. 2." Kristyn Osborn of SHeDAISY had a cut on "Raising Helen" and Tim McGraw sang "Wherever The Trail May Lead" in "Home On The Range." Asleep at the Wheel, the Dixie Chicks, Nelson and Strait contributed songs to "Grand Champion."

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cash, Tammy Cochran, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Montgomery Gentry and Rascal Flatts contributed songs for the Mel Gibson movie "We Were Soldiers." "The Rookie" included recordings by Adams, Guy Clark, Earle, Duane Jarvis, Nelson and Allison Moorer. A Billy Gilman tune was in "Stuart Little 2" and "Lilo And Stitch" spotlighted Wynonna's cover of "Burning Love." "Sweet Home Alabama" included a song by SHeDAISY and a cut by Steve Holy was in "Angel Eyes."

"O Brother, Where Art Thou?," "Cold Mountain" and "Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood" were perfect outlets for Alison Krauss. Faith Hill's songs were featured in "If I'm Not In Love," "Chasing Liberty," "Pearl Harbor" and "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas." Marty Stuart composed much of the soundtrack for the 2000 movie "All The Pretty Horses."

"Sure, there have been some good placements of Country Music," said Alan Brewer, an independent producer and President of Brewman Music & Entertainment (BME) in Nashville and Los Angeles.

Nearly every decision about what music goes into films is made by music supervisors in Los Angeles and New York. "Their personal listening tastes greatly affect the choices they make," Brewer said. "It's natural for people to lean toward what they are familiar with, what they enjoy. Many of these music supervisors know very little about Country Music."

But that's getting better, largely because of new Country stars like Big & Rich, who have a renegade reputation of being on the edge of Country with a sound that's a blend of Country, rock and hip-hop that appeals to a younger audience. Also artists with crossover success, including Hill and Shania Twain, have more Hollywood appeal.

"Whenever there's a lot of media focus on Country Music, music supervisors start looking for Country material," Brewer said. "Increased media attention creates a greater awareness of Country Music as a genre in Hollywood."

Country artists rarely get directly involved with their soundtrack contributions. Occasionally they might sing an original song that was created for the film, or possibly a different version of one of their hits.

Maureen Crowe is an independent music supervisor in Los Angeles who has worked on several films and soundtracks, including "Chicago" and "Fame." She landed Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" for "The Bodyguard," which became a huge hit for Whitney Houston.

For the movie "Con Air," producer Jerry Bruckheimer wanted a song by a female rock artist. Because there were none available that seemed to fit the mood of the scene, Crowe suggested Nashville. "At the time LeAnn Rimes was really hot with the beautiful song 'How Do I Live?," Crowe said. "Jerry really wanted the song but felt that LeAnn was too young. So instead he got Trisha Yearwood to cut it and both versions were out at the same time - LeAnn on radio and Trisha in the movie."

Rimes has since been featured on the "A View From The Top" soundtrack and provided the theme song to "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde."

Crowe says most supervisors recognize that some of the best songwriting talent is in Nashville. "If supervisors need something specially written for a film, they'll usually tap into Nashville writers to get it done," she said.

Brewer stresses that pitching songs to Hollywood is different than pitching songs in Nashville. "In Hollywood, the story line of the song isn't that important. It's the mood that counts. It's all about vibe and mood," he said.

Jewel Coburn, Co-owner of Ten Ten Music, is one of the music publishers in Nashville who has mastered the Hollywood pitch. "My husband Barry and I go to L.A. to meet with music supervisors and directors," Coburn said. "We also attend many of the film festivals around the country. It's not easy getting access to music supervisors - it's all about networking and building relationships."

Coburn landed Urban's "Somebody Like You" in "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days."

Even though it's a tough market, getting a Country song into a movie soundtrack is definitely worth the effort. "There is a payoff," Coburn said. "If you can get a cut on a major soundtrack album, that song will earn as much money as a Top 5 single, not to mention boosting album sales for the artist. And exposing Country Music to a wider audience is always a good thing."


http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=5910



The San Antonio Express-News - 02/16/2006


Review: Cowgirl Clark kicks out the hits


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/D_IMAGE.10941787f49.93.88.fa.d0.300b3298.jpg
Terri Clark spent much of her high-
energy show playing tunes from
her greatest hits album, including
'Better Things to Do,' her first
smash, from 1995.


Jessica Belasco
Express-News Staff Writer


Terri Clark is a Canadian who's made it big in the country music scene, but any other resemblance to Shania Twain ends there.

She wears a 10-gallon hat, plays the guitar and has found more success with her neo-traditionalist tunes than with pop-country songs.

And when Clark performed Wednesday night at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, she made it clear she was proud of her cowgirl image.

"I heard you had Kid Rock out here and Hilary Duff and all kinds of people," she told the crowd at the AT&T Center, referring to recent performers. "Well, I'm just gonna play some hillbilly music for you, because that's what I do."

She started her energetic one-hour set with "Life Goes On," the title track from her most recent album. She then spent most of the show on numbers from her greatest hits album, including "Better Things to Do," her first hit, and a medley of "I'm an Emotional Girl," "If I Were You," "A Little Gasoline" and "When Boy Meets Girl."

During her countrified version of Warren Zevon's "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," Clark descended from the stage to slap the hands of fans in the front row.

She was supported by a six-piece band, which included her tour manager, Greg Kaczor, on guitar and harmonica. He's also her husband.

Although the house was far from full, Clark got thundering cheers with her fast-paced banter.

She took off her hat for love song "Now That I Found You" and joked, "I have to keep up with all the divas and have at least one costume change here. This is it."


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA021606.04B.RODEO_clark_review.17f795a8.html



John - :p

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[FinnFreak]

The Daily Telegram - Thursday, February 16, 2006


Concert to highlight music of Gershwin


By Arlene Bachanov, Daily Telegram Special Writer


ADRIAN - Before Wynton Marsalis, before Josh Groban, before Shania Twain - musicians successful in more than one genre - there was George Gershwin.

A Tin Pan Alley piano player who was influenced by classical composers like Ravel and Stravinsky, learned from some of Harlem's great African-American musicians, and wrote just as easily for film or the Broadway stage as he did for a symphony orchestra, Gershwin was a crossover artist long before the term came into existence.

The Adrian Symphony Orchestra and two guest artists will explore the diversity of this celebrated composer's music in the next ASO concert, “Gershwin Pops!”, coming up at 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at Adrian College's Dawson Auditorium.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for senior citizens and $9 for students, and are available by calling 264-3121; at the ASO office in Rush Hall, Adrian College; online at www.aso.org; or at the door beginning at 1 p.m. on concert day.

The program, for which the ASO is joined by pianist Rich Ridenour and soprano Diane Penning, features a wide range of Gershwin's greatest classical and popular hits including “Rhapsody in Blue,” “An American in Paris,” the “Three Preludes” (in an arrangement for piano and clarinet), the “Cuban Overture,” “Our Love is Here to Stay,” “S'Wonderful,” and “Summertime.”

“It has a pretty good overview of the breadth of what Gershwin wrote,” said ASO Music Director John Dodson of the concert. “And it's a nice program for a pops concert because it's a mix between things we already know we like, with the chance to hear them live, and things (many people) didn't know.”

In keeping with the ASO's tradition of giving audience members the opportunity to learn more about what they're hearing, Ridenour will spend some time during the concert talking about the music being performed.

Ridenour, a Grand Rapids native who now lives in Portage, Mich., has played with numerous orchestras across the country and accompanied such stars as Carol Lawrence, Robert Guillaume, Smokey Robinson, Larry Gatlin, Martin Short, Mercedes Ellington and “B” for Bob from Sesame Street.

Penning's list of credits includes musical theater and work with orchestras across Michigan as well as the Arkansas Symphony, the Colorado Springs Symphony, the Elgin Symphony, the Lafayette Symphony, the Sheboygan Symphony, and the Czech National Orchestra. She was a finalist in the Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize in Voice competition.

In Gershwin's short lifetime - he died of a brain tumor in 1937, at age 38 - he earned a reputation as a composer of a wide range of classical works as well as (with his brother Ira as lyricist) musicals like “Lady, Be Good,” “Strike Up the Band,” and “Girl Crazy,” and music for several films too. Many of the songs from the brothers' stage and film work have become American standards.

His opera “Porgy and Bess” gave the popular-music world the songs “Summertime,” “I Got Plenty of Nothin',” and “It Ain't Necessarily So.” The opera itself is a perfect example of how Gershwin found inspiration from many different places. He spent hours upon hours sitting with Harlem's greatest piano players and learning from them, experiences which he certainly drew on when writing his opera about a group of poor African-Americans in South Carolina.

“This is the fascination of George Gershwin,” Dodson said. “He's got really open ears, and he's open to everything.”

Like Aaron Copland after him, Gershwin developed a “voice” in his classical pieces that was uniquely his. And the works were often criticized for their structures and their unique way of blending in jazz forms.

“Gershwin keeps Tin Pan Alley pretty close to his inkwell,” Dodson said. “There's a mixture of comfort and discomfort about that: ‘yes, that's our music, but is it up to the standard of European composers?'”

The ASO's music director thinks that the common criticism of Gershwin for not mastering his forms - “Rhapsody in Blue,” for example, is often disparaged for its structural flaws - is “a square peg in a round hole argument.”

“It's a bit like asking Mozart to be Tchaikovsky,” he said. “And for all this talk about ‘flawed things,' I find the talk comes from people whose music I don't know. Part of the issue is that there's no precedent for what he's trying to do. And it's a new kind of music that's not been repeated since.”


http://www.lenconnect.com/articles/2006/02/16/news/news04.txt


John - :)

[FinnFreak]

The San Diego Union-Tribune - February 17, 2006


Filling the 'hurt and ache' void in country

They got nothing to lose:

Female performers are returning to the traditional rootsy music of their girlhood homes


By Mikel Toombs


Change comes slowly to Nashville, but “new country” may be on the verge of becoming old hat.

In recent years, the traditional country of, in singer Lee Ann Womack's words, “twin fiddles and steel guitars,” has been replaced by rock attitude and pop gloss. Dominant males such as Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and now Keith Urban threaten to turn Nashville's Music Row into Rockin' Row, and the female side is ruled by crossover queens Faith Hill (McGraw's wife) and Shania Twain, whose most recent album came in three different versions: country, pop and (for international consumption only) Bollywood.

Chart-topping Martina McBride makes contemporary-sounding music that wouldn't play on the honky-tonk hardwood floor, but does just fine on the set of “Oprah.” (“Independence Day,” the story of a victimized woman fighting back that became McBride's breakthrough hit, might be the musical equivalent of Oprah Lit.)

And in perhaps the best single example of a crossover success supplanting traditional country, Lee Ann Womack nestled the uplifting, emotion-swelling pop anthem “I Hope You Dance” into her usual, more downbeat fare. The result, along with winning her a Grammy and Single of the Year honors in 2000 from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association (CMA), was a smash hit that had the unexpected consequence of nearly, well, smashing Womack's career.

Just as important, McBride and Womack's efforts have been met with both popular and critical acclaim. Released in October, “Timeless” had the best initial-week showing of any McBride album, debuting at No. 1 on the country chart and No. 3 on the pop chart. And in November, the CMA named Womack Female Vocalist of the Year, “There's More Where That Came From” Album of the Year and “I May Hate Myself in the Morning” Single of the Year.

“I felt that there were a lot of people around Music Row,” Womack said of the awards, “who wanted to maybe encourage that kind of music, and celebrate it. That makes me feel good. I feel like country music is just such a huge part of me, that I felt good for myself and for traditional country music.”

Womack's victory was especially sweet, because it left behind the bitter memories of “Something Worth Leaving Behind,” the pop-oriented follow-up to the “I Hope You Dance” album.

“I had come from 'I Hope You Dance,' which had sold approximately 4 million records,” Womack said, “and went on to “Something Worth Leaving Behind,” which went a little over gold, I think. So, I was just thinking, 'Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you hit a home run and sometimes you just get a base hit, and that's just the way it is.'

“I think I'm more concerned about pleasing myself, making a record and having fun doing it. Because it had been a couple years since I'd had any fun.”

For her part, Womack isn't willing to treat the success of “There's More Where That Came From” as much more than a personal triumph.

“Everybody has different definitions of what traditional country music is. To me, traditional country music is twin fiddles and steel guitars, and the hard-core country (songs). There are some people out there who love it. I'm from Texas, and that's where a lot of them are.”

Martina McBride, whose “Timeless” album includes vintage country ranging from Merle Haggard's “Today I Started Loving You Again” to the Lynn Anderson hit “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden,” sees traditional country appealing not only to those listeners who already “love it.”

“When I made the record,” McBride said, “I thought, 'I'll just record a bunch of songs that everybody with a background in country music knows and has great memories of.' And then somebody said to me, 'You know, there's going to be a lot of people that are hearing these songs for the first time.' ”

“And I said, 'No way.' Surely everyone has heard (the Harlan Howard song) 'Pick Me up on Your Way Down,' because I grew up hearing it, so I just assumed that everybody knew it.”

The reality, McBride discovered, was “that there are a lot of people hearing these songs for the first time and are really loving it. It comes back to the song; the songs just really shine. And if I was to do an album of all-new material that was just traditional, I'm not sure it would speak as well.”

Womack's response to that might be, “Speak for yourself.” “There's More Where That Came From,” which also is available on vinyl, is an album of (almost) all-new material that's “just traditional.” “Growing up at the time that I did,” Womack explained, “I listened to Vern Gosdin, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, all those people making those records. It's probably just nostalgic for me. It takes me right back to the late '60s, early '70s, and that's a comforting place for me.”

Womack, whose next album will continue the tradition, finds special comfort in the music of George Jones, who performs tonight at Pechanga Casino in Temecula.

“When they talk to each other about me,” Womack said, “all my friends in the music business say, 'She is a George Jones freak. She will just not shut up about him.' I listen to, I'd say, an hour of George Jones every single day of my life. This guy is phenomenal, just amazing. His chops are unbelievable. His soulfulness. And people outside of the music business say that, as well.

“He's one of the greatest singers ever. You'd have to put him in a category with a Nat 'King' Cole and the greatest singers that ever lived,” she added. “He could sing anything and it would hurt and ache, and feel great.”

There's plenty of “hurt and ache” in Womack's current songs, notably the award-winning single “I May Hate Myself in the Morning.”

“The melody, just everything about it, took me right back to my dad's radio station, when I was a little girl,” she said. “And all the records he played, and just sitting on the floor there listening to those records. It made me feel like that again. And I hadn't heard anything like that on country radio . . . in so long that I knew it was a void I could fill.”

Marty Stuart, the country stalwart McBride recruited to write the liner notes on her new album, feels the two singers could do more to fill that void.

“I'll tell you the thing I get out of Lee Ann Womack and Martina McBride and all these kind of records,” Stuart said in a recent Union-Tribune interview. “Well, they're making the kind of records they should be making all the time.”

Womack laughed when read the quote.

“I'm not a big pop fan,” she said, pausing. “I love '40s big-band music, I love blues, R&B. I like a lot of different kinds of things, and we do a lot of things in the live show: Western swing, bluegrass, gospel. So, I like a lot of that kind of stuff, but I like rootsy music.”

McBride has her own reaction to the Stuart quote.

“I wish that I could do this kind of record all the time,” said McBride, admitting that “I've spent the last 14 (years) doing anything but traditional country music.”

“I wanted to make a traditional country album since I moved to town,” she continued. “That's all I ever wanted to do. And then I started finding songs like 'Independence Day' and 'My Baby Loves Me' and 'Wild Angels,' and that just led me down a different path. And I don't have any regrets about that, but a big part of my heart is in this traditional country music.”


http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20060217-9999-1c17country.html


hmmm...


John - :smirk:

[Troll]

Thanks for the interesting articles John.

[Troll]

The 2005 Mobile Beat Top Wedding/Love Songs, an industry list published for DJs, had Lonestar’s “Amazed” as the most requested song at nuptials during 2004.

“From this Moment On,” a Shania Twain and Bryan White duet, was No. 2.

Those songs were definitely “overplayed,” said Landon Balding, owner of Monumental Events Co., which DJs for many Grand Valley weddings.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/featr/content/features/stories/2006/02/17/2_17_romantic_music_www.html

[canoilers]

You got that right Sean.Since when do I ever get anything like this wrong. :p

[canoilers]

CountryWeekly.com - 02/09/2006


WHO'S YOUR VALENTINE HEARTTHROB?


GAC has the answer—men want to be serenaded by Shania Twain,
while women long for Tim McGraw to sing them a love song.

http://web.countryweekly.com/images/cw/208747/50060.gif http://web.countryweekly.com/images/cw/208747/50061.gif
Shania Twain for the guys - and Tim McGraw for the gals


In a national survey of country fans for GAC, women chose Tim as the star from whom they'd most like to receive a "special love song" on Valentine's Day. Tim tallied 13.4% of the responses, edging out Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson. And for men, Shania Twain with 11.6% was the heart-melting choice over Faith Hill and Dolly Parton. The female voters also overwhelmingly picked Elvis Presley's classic, "Can't Help Falling in Love," as the song title that makes them think of "that special someone." GAC viewers can see more of their favorite romantic tunes this weekend during GAC Love Songs, a special Valentine's Day video dedication show with special guest Billy Currington. The special premieres Sat., Feb. 11, at 2:00 p.m. ET.


http://www.countryweekly.com/stories/scene/63264


...how about that..? - ;) - they used the pic of Shania from her calendar...


John - :]My choice is me, but a close second is Shania. What can I say I love myself. :p

[canoilers]

Thanks for the articles. :D

[Troll]

Trading places

The Tar Heels, who usually practice in the Smith Center, worked out in their practice gym Friday afternoon as arena officials prepared for country singer Keith Urban's evening concert.

Williams said the change in venue was no distraction, adding that his team has practiced in the smaller gym a few times this season for various reasons.

The coach said that he's not a big music fan -- "I like some country western, I like some soul music, I don't like rap worth a darn," he said -- but that he planned to attend Urban's show.

"Evidently, he's pretty doggone good, so I'm going to come," Williams said. "But if I had my choice of practicing or coming to the concert, there'd be one less at the concert. And if I had a recruiting trip to make, there'd be one less at the concert. But I'm trying to save recruiting trips. I'm worried about my back right now. I'm trying to protect it so that I can coach more.

"But I'm looking forward to it. If they tell me Shania Twain is coming out, I'll be here a little bit early."

http://www.herald-sun.com/sports/18-703312.html

[canoilers]

That just means one more seat for a person like us. :p

Thanks Andrew. :D

[RKSTFan]

Woohoo! KT Tunstall’s star has risen

by Brian Schuette
02.20.06

Every now and again a song comes along that just jumps out at you from the radio. Even more rare is the time you pick up the CD and realise that you’ve just gotten lucky and discovered a brand-new talent that promises to become a major artist. Maybe you had that feeling the first time you listened to Sheryl Crow’s first CD Tuesday Night Music Club after hearing All I Wanna Do, or Shania Twain’s The Woman in Me after hearing one of the many hit singles from that album. Every song is pure gold, and the collection is a delight to listen to time and time again. Well the "next big thing" has just arrived on the radio, and she’s Scotland’s KT Tunstall.

Her song Black Horse and the Cherry Tree is getting heavy airplay locally from Kingston to Toronto and it has sent her rocketing up the charts all over the world. Her CD, Eye to the Telescope, has gone multi-platinum with over a million sales in the UK alone, and she’s gone head to head with some of the biggest recording artists in British award shows, winning out over such acts as U2, Coldplay, Oasis, and Kate Bush. On February 15 she took top spot at the Brit Awards for Best British Female Solo Artist and was nominated in two other categories, Best New Artist and Best Live Performer. Her two performances at the show were among the highlights of the evening.

Eye to the Telescope, which was released here on February 7, has seen four singles to date overseas, and her European tour is currently sold out. She made a few recent stops in Toronto and the US late last month to promote the single and CD over here, performing on NBC’s Today show and doing interviews with Rolling Stone. The video for Black Horse is in regular rotation on VH1 in the US and she is currently being highlighted as one of the network's You Oughta Know rising artists. The song also reached the number one spot on the Triple A Radio singles chart earlier this month, according to Radio and Records Magazine. She’s not even a country artist and CMT’s now featuring her on their website!

Her overnight success has been over ten years in the making, starting as a street busker at age 17, and playing to six or seven people in coffee houses up until a little over a year ago. If you check out her website at <www.kttunstall.com> you can watch all her videos and listen to samples of the songs on the CD. One of the most unique features you’ll come across on the website is a diary she began keeping online in early 2003. You get an insider’s view of what it’s like to go from musical obscurity to becoming a star.

She begins by mentioning some possibilities of getting some of her songs recorded, and shares her excitement at getting the chance to tour with some very minor acts as a supporting artist. A few months along and she is actually recording a few songs. The paying jobs become a little more frequent, but still in out-of-the-way towns in the north country or places like Slovenia, and sometimes as a misspelled name in tiny lettering on marquees. Her recording deal falls through but she vows to persevere, and a couple of months later she is resigned to a small label owned by one of the big boys, EMI. They in turn bring in one of U2’s record producers to work with her and put a band together for her. The speed of events starts to accelerate, with a tour across the UK and the major cities of Europe. Then she starts meeting artists she’s always admired like Beck, who passes on some encouragement and a few words of wisdom about the music biz. The following week she’s off to Washington for a gig, and later Australia. Soon she’s buying expensive guitars, and schmoozing with Jimmy Page at shows. She begins making videos and finishes up recording the final songs for her CD. People start to recognise her on the street and she gets other artists asking if they can cover her songs.

Then lightning strikes in a moment of kismet. One of the acts scheduled to appear on a popular music television show in England cancelled at the last minute. A call came through to KT to ask if she could fill in. She’d been working up a new song that didn’t appear on the soon-to-be-released CD and decided to perform it on the show. When she did, she got rave reviews and was instantly a star in England. The song of course was Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. In another sign that her success was meant to be, the TV show sent an edited recording of her performance to EMI and the song was tacked on to the CD at the last minute before pressing. The song was released as her first single and she hasn’t looked back since.

In some of her latest diary installments we see her touring as the headline act in Europe, playing major gigs in England (like the Glastonbury festival), performing at a Bob Dylan tribute for the BBC, flying on tour in a private jet, and winning top honours at the Brit Awards show last week

One of the surprises KT found when touring, whether in Europe or here in North America, was that audiences were singing along to her songs before the CD had even been released in their countries. Word of mouth has been one of the major impetuses in bringing her to stardom. There are several websites dedicated to her and her music, with thousands of online messages to her. She used to answer them all in the early days, but says she can no longer keep up with the task.

What can you expect to hear on her album? Her music has a freshness about it, a unique sound with little to point to obvious musical references. Each song brings a surprise in terms of melody or phrasing, and the lyrics are expressed with intelligence and a sense of play. She has an amazing singing voice and is an accomplished guitar player as well. She showed up to the recording sessions with a hundred songs ready to go that she’d written over the years, but the dozen that made it to the final mix display an impressive range of work and musicianship. She’s not a fan of singers who go through musical acrobatics in an effort to impress you simply that they can. Her influences tend to be artists who put soul into their music. Two that she mentions as having major influences on her singing and writing themes are Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Cash. Their music has a realness for her that she tries to bring to her own songs. She says she was given a Fitzgerald tape when she was just 16 and "that tape taught me to sing." KT has a great sense of rhythm, beautiful melodies and harmonies, and she says the groove comes first for her when writing. She works everything else around that.

One of the questions she’s asked most frequently is what the heck is Black Horse all about? Does the girl want to marry a horse? The horse in the song does ask her to marry him, but she says, "No, you’re not the one for me." Later in the song, her heart leaves her for the black horse and when it’s asked to come back, it gives the same reply, saying, "No, you’re not the one for me." KT says the black horse is simply a metaphor for evil. The song is just that old image of the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. "You’ve come to a crossroads in life and you don’t know which road to take," she explained in an interview with Rolling Stone. "You don’t really know what you want, so you’ve got to dig deep."

Her music is being compared with Carole King’s, and Christine McVie’s from Fleetwood Mac among others. There’s a similarity to Sheryl Crow, not so much in style, but in honesty of her lyrics and observations on life, and a breadth of theme. Both have that love of a groove in their music as well that evokes comparison. Check out the website and listen to some of the samples. Definitely watch the videos for the four singles. Besides Black Horse, her song Other Side of the World is a knockout. It was her follow-up single in England to Black Horse and helped to solidify her reputation as someone to keep an eye on.


Community Press Online (http://www.communitypress-online.com/template.php?id=26523&RECORD_KEY(Entertainment)=id&id(Entertainment)=26523)

[canoilers]

Thanks for the article. :D

[FinnFreak]

The Arizona Republic - Feb. 21, 2006 12:00 AM

Now, we're Olympic experts


by Kent Somers


Two weeks ago, we could have told you nothing about these Winter Olympics, other than they were going to be held in Italy, probably in some snow, and that some Russian in a sequined outfit opened to his navel would win a medal in figure skating.

We didn't know Shani Davis from Shania Twain. We looked at snowboarding's halfpipe and wondered what they did with the other half.


http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cheapseats/articles/0221pg2main0221.html


John - :p

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[Troll]

.....His 15-song set would have been better if he'd stuck to songs from his two albums. Stand By Me and Hank Williams' Family Tradition left me cold. And Party For Two, his duet with Shania Twain may be one of his most recognizable songs, seemed wasted without Twain....

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2006/02/21/m4b_revu_0221.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17

[RKSTFan]

Random Rules

By Josh Modell

February 21st, 2006

This week, The A.V. Club introduces a new occasional feature, Random Rules, in which we ask our favorite rockers, writers, comedians, or whatevers to set their MP3 players to "shuffle" and comment on the first few tracks that come up. No faking us out with cool playlists or skipping embarrassing tracks is allowed, so you, the reader, will be given access into the uncensored, private world of someone else's music library. Can you handle that much truth?

The shuffler: David Berman of Silver Jews. Berman's song "Random Rules" inspired the name of this feature, but he doesn't own his own iPod, so The A.V. Club let him bend the rules slightly by using his wife Cassie's instead. Though he notes, "I've had a real influence on her, so I think this'll work out fine. Do you want me to just, like… say the song to you and then free-associate?" Exactly.

Don Williams, "Amanda"

David Berman: Cassie likes Don Williams a lot. To me, he's very much of a lullaby-singer-type guy. When Will Oldham was down here doing Greatest Palace Music, he wanted to get Don Williams to sing on it, and we tried and we tried… And then we were trying for Dolly Parton. We went over to her studio complex and threw a penny over the wall. We couldn't get through to either one of them.

Phil Lee, "You Should Have Known Me Then"

DB: Phil Lee is this local guy who's like 52 that Cassie and I really love. He's not very well known, but he has this record—this isn't on that record—The Mighty King Of Love, which is just a great country-rock record. It was his first record, like, four years ago. He drummed on one of those very late concoctions of the Burrito Brothers that only included the janitor from the original band. But he's amazing, and he has this kind of spirit that reminds me of David Yow [of The Jesus Lizard]; he kind of looks like David Yow, and he has long hair. He has this amazing voice that is just so… the best.

The White Stripes, "Offend In Every Way"

DB: I love this song, I think. Bob [Nastanovich] told me about them years ago when they opened for Pavement, and I remember I was at his house and he put the record on really loud—the first record—and then I didn't hear about them until this record came out. I think that the character that Jack White puts on, the *****y guy in the pince-nez from the old films, is hilarious. A lot of his character takes—which is all I assume that he's doing; I don't feel like I had a meeting with the man behind the voice when I hear his songs—are amazing. They're like these clueless, kind of obtuse wizards, and they're very *****y and extremely interesting.

Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance"

DB: I really think Lee Ann Womack has an amazing voice, and I was really disappointed when I found out she was a Republican. I saw her once in the lobby of the Hermitage Hotel here . I really love this song. There was a country version, I guess, and a pop version. I think they both have background vocals by this kind of also-ran country threesome called Sons Of The Desert. It's really cool. They sang, "Time is a wheel in constant motion." I can't remember the next word, but they sing it in counterpoint to her in this really interesting way. To me, it seems like a waterwheel going backward, but…

The A.V. Club: [I]Was there more to that story about seeing her at the hotel?

DB: It was a party for Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose album. I just was interested that she was sitting by herself in this huge, crowded lobby with, like 300 people. There was another time with Reba McEntire in the gym… I'd gone swimming, and I think she was waiting for her kids to come out of hockey practice. I've always been attracted to cross-eyed women, and I figured out years ago that it had to do with some childhood belief that cross-eyed women got that way from giving a lot of oral sex. Anyway, she was in the gym that day, and… This story's going nowhere. I just sat on a bench across the way and felt really creepy.

AVC: You didn't approach her at all?

DB: No. I should've. But Ginger, of Gilligan's Island… When I was a guard at the Whitney Museum, there was a party, and Tina Louise was there, and I was on duty by the elevators, and maybe she was just bored or whatever, but I felt like there was a real chemical attraction between us, and she pretty much sat next to me for the whole party.

Shania Twain, "Come On Over"

DB: I love Shania. Shania Twain's singles on that Come On Over record influenced my own playing, as far as emphasis and stuff. She's not here in town very much; they stay up on this mountain in Switzerland. I just see [Twain and producer/husband "Mutt" Lange] on top of the world on this mountain, making this pretty great music. I like that song, "That Don't Impress Me Much." She kinda does these talking parts in the middle, and I think of it as, like, this place where music bumped up against Hollywood romantic comedies.

Aztec Camera, "The Crying Scene"

DB: I actually asked Cassie to download this song, because I really liked Aztec Camera when their first record came out. Roddy Frame was famous at 16, and writing heart-on-his-sleeve poetry, you know, written to girls in berets, and it's very overflowing and somewhat embarrassing to listen to. I was thinking about them, so I bought their greatest hits, and "The Crying Scene," the comeback song for them—which I thought was an amazing song—wasn't on the greatest hits. And I just thought, "No one even cares. No one probably even knows that this song isn't on it." And then I listened to the rest of the songs and I realized why. So I said, "Will you go fetch this song off the computer? Will you go to the music well?"



AV Club (http://www.avclub.com/content/node/45620)

[Troll]

Great article John. :up:

[canoilers]

Thank you very much for the article. :D

[Troll]

Catastrophe Keeps Us Together will be the first album released by Grunion Records, which has been launched by powerhouse artist management company Q Prime, which oversees the careers of Timmins, Ontario darling Shania Twain, Metallica and Garbage, to name a few acts from its impressive roster.

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/02/2105.cfm

[Troll]

Given a list of female recording artists, Platt didn't hesitate on his preference and would love to meet his fellow countryman, female country vocalist Shania Twain.


http://www.theahl.com/AHL/OnTheBeat/2006/02/22/1457223.html

[canoilers]

Thanks Andrew for the Articles. I know exactly what he means I more than feel the same way. Heck I'd sell my soul to the devil just too walk past her on the street.

[FinnFreak]

Heck I'd sell my soul to the devil just too walk past her on the street.

...that might not be enough - with her power-walking, I've heared she's pretty darn hard to even keep up with..!


John - :p

[canoilers]

I think I might be able to keep up, I walk for fun. She may have to do the keeping up. :p

[canoilers]

Or maybe I don't want to keep up, maybe the view is better with me a couple of steps behind her. :p

[Troll]

...that might not be enough - with her power-walking, I've heared she's pretty darn hard to even keep up with..!


John - :p

That is a good point.

[canoilers]

I thought mine were just as good. :p

[Troll]

I thought mine were just as good. :p

It is just as good too.

[canoilers]

You're just saying that cause I'm cute. :p

[Myyde]

Wrom Aki Riihilahti`s site. He is a football player from Finland`s national team. Warning!!! Don`t go to that site if you don`t have a little bit strange sense of humor. :uhh:

Posted by: 09/10-2001 15:22
Hi Aki,

I'm a Canadian living in England currently, and supporting Palace. On behalf of England, thanks for your effort against the Germans!

In Finland, what is the most popular sport? Is ice hockey bigger than soccer? How good a hockey player were you?

Finland beat us in the bronze medal game at the last Olympics - I hope you enjoyed it, because it won't happen this time! :)

Thanks,
Shawn

P.S. I'll introduce you to Shania Twain if you're ever in the country. :)

My reply:
Dear country fellow citizen of Shania Twain,
like the ever so great Shania we like ice hockey, which is huge sport in Finland because we always beat canadians ;) I was never any good player but I enjoyed playing, specially as a keeper. I remember this school game which we won 16-1 and there was only two shots on goal. The other hit the goal, the other my head. Propably one of my better games.
http://www.akiriihilahti.com/en/questions.shtml?/questions/answer-archive2001_1.html

:p

[Troll]

That is interesting.

[canoilers]

Wrom Aki Riihilahti`s site. He is a football player from Finland`s national team. Warning!!! Don`t go to that site if you don`t have a little bit strange sense of humor. :uhh:


http://www.akiriihilahti.com/en/questions.shtml?/questions/answer-archive2001_1.html

:pI liked your reply, good on yah. :D

[FinnFreak]

Warning!!! Don`t go to that site if you don`t have a little bit strange sense of humor. :uhh:


http://www.akiriihilahti.com/en/questions.shtml?/questions/answer-archive2001_1.html

:p

:biglaugh: - !!!


yep - he's a real nut case - just like all Finns are. :D

He makes us proud. :]


John - :p

[Myyde]

I liked your reply, good on yah. :D
Well, did you found anything interesting. :p

Well, maybe that his hockey experience explains what happened to him....or at least that why Finland`s football team can`t win any team. :p

[canoilers]

:biglaugh: - !!!


yep - he's a real nut case - just like all Finns are. :D

He makes us proud. :]


John - :pDoes that mean all Finns use their head like that. Funny when the Swede's do that they lose games. :p

[canoilers]

Well, did you found anything interesting. :p

Well, maybe that his hockey experience explains what happened to him....or at least that why Finland`s football team can`t win any team. :p

That could explain it, I don't think taking pucks off the head will help things either.
Get them to play Canada in Football, that way they can look like Brazil. :p

[Myyde]

Get them to play Canada in Football, that way they can look like Brazil. :p

Yeah right. Well Finns played against Andorra last autumn and got great 0-0 result. I`m not sure if there is even 11 football players in Andorra, there was probably few spectators playing too. Finns are that good, can you guys beat that. :p

[FinnFreak]

...I believe even the referee was playing for Andorra - but they still couldn't score..!

Man! We're Good..!


John - :p

[Myyde]

Yeah, it would be really tough game against Vatican too. And the pope scores... :p

[canoilers]

I just looked up the world rankings, you guys are 46th and we are 86th. Ha we suck better than you guys, yeah we suck good. :p World Rankings. (http://www.fifa.com/en/mens/statistics/index/0,2548,All-Feb-2006,00.html)

[canoilers]

...I believe even the referee was playing for Andorra - but they still couldn't score..!

Man! We're Good..!


John - :pStill beat us, we're way better at sucking. :p

[canoilers]

Yeah, it would be really tough game against Vatican too. And the pope scores... :pThats still beats us, heck they could beat us with the John Paul the II and he even scores. :p

[Myyde]

Well, how did that old saying went...lie, bigger lie, statistics. Or something like that, so that world ranking is just one big lie. ;)

Thats still beats us, heck they could beat us with the John Paul the II and he even scores. :p

:p OK Well, maybe Canada sucks more than Finland, but we are not far behind you. ;)

[canoilers]

Well, how did that old saying went...lie, bigger lie, statistics. Or something like that, so that world ranking is just one big lie. ;)



:p OK Well, maybe Canada sucks more than Finland, but we are not far behind you. ;)Yeah we're even worse than the ranking. :p Thats right we can suck together, the way sports should be. :p

[FinnFreak]

;)

The Boston Globe - February 24, 2006


Level best

Gurley has taken Newton N. to top; Wake Forest next


By Matt Viser


Anthony Gurley is hot.

He's taking warmup shots from various spots around the basket, sinking almost everything he tosses up, though no one seems to notice. It is the first game of the season, and the Newton North High School gymnasium is about three-quarters full and predominantly white. John Mayer and Shania Twain blare over the sound system. Before the last note of the national anthem, Gurley takes off his warmup jersey and places it in the corner...


Read the rest of the article: http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/basketball/articles/2006/02/24/level_best/


John - ;)

[canoilers]

Cool, thanks for the article. :D

[Myyde]

Yeah we're even worse than the ranking. :p Thats right we can suck together, the way sports should be. :p

:funny: It`s always fun to watch when both teams sucks at the same time, especially if you have paid lot of money for tickets.

[canoilers]

Yeah a scorless game where nobody moves is edge of your seat excitment. The whole game wouldn't need keepers, cause nobody can get a shot on net. :p

[Myyde]

Yeah a scorless game where nobody moves is edge of your seat excitment. The whole game wouldn't need keepers, cause nobody can get a shot on net. :p

Heh, you got that right. :p

Well, enough trash talk about football. Lets try to find something positive. Err...nothing...err.. :hmmm: ...errr... :huh: :uhh: ...err...now i remember, if i remember correctly didn`t Shania get an idea for From This Moment On when she was at the football game. Which BTW is the best song in the world, ever.:] So thanks to football. :rolleyes: :p

[Troll]

Thanks for the article John.

[canoilers]

Heh, you got that right. :p

Well, enough trash talk about football. Lets try to find something positive. Err...nothing...err.. :hmmm: ...errr... :huh: :uhh: ...err...now i remember, if i remember correctly didn`t Shania get an idea for From This Moment On when she was at the football game. Which BTW is the best song in the world, ever.:] So thanks to football. :rolleyes: :pYes I agree its a great song, but then again aren't all Shania's songs. :D Thank you Football for giving us this classic, Shania fans around the world are forever greatful. :D

[Troll]

The article is quite long........

But listen closely; that ain't your father's country music you're hearing, in most instances. It's a form of pop music that has subverted tradition in service of a sound that is country on the surface only. Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Gretchen Wilson, Toby Keith - most of these folks have as much in common with traditional country music as Ozzy Osbourne does - meaning, nothing at all. Even Martina McBride, who performs inside HSBC Arena this evening, was firmly ensconced in the pop-country field prior to the release of her latest album, the tradition-heavy "Timeless."
Country music is at a crossroads today. The genre has subdivided, as those intent on moving the form forward head to the underground, and the watered-down, easily marketable strain of the music grabs the mainstream attention and the lion's share of the money.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060224/1014033.asp

[Troll]

"They pitched that song for close to a year. LeAnn Rimes was looking at it, but no one cut it. I've got my finger crossed it will get a little more recognition. It would be like winning the lottery if LeAnn or Shania Twain covered it," said Leask.

http://www.mississauganews.com/mi/arts/story/3343055p-3868868c.html

[canoilers]

Thank you Andrew for you posting services. :D

[SHANIANUTS!]

The article is quite long........

But listen closely; that ain't your father's country music you're hearing, in most instances. It's a form of pop music that has subverted tradition in service of a sound that is country on the surface only. Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Gretchen Wilson, Toby Keith - most of these folks have as much in common with traditional country music as Ozzy Osbourne does - meaning, nothing at all. Even Martina McBride, who performs inside HSBC Arena this evening, was firmly ensconced in the pop-country field prior to the release of her latest album, the tradition-heavy "Timeless."
Country music is at a crossroads today. The genre has subdivided, as those intent on moving the form forward head to the underground, and the watered-down, easily marketable strain of the music grabs the mainstream attention and the lion's share of the money.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060224/1014033.asp..they lump Gretchen in with Shania...are they nuts?

[Troll]

..they lump Gretchen in with Shania...are they nuts?

Yes they are just like all reviewers who do that.

[Troll]

In a phone interview, Wilson said she heard that stuff, too, and she even saw the point of it.
“I have to admit, if it hadn’t been me, I probably would have thought it was a gimmick, too,” she says. “So I worked my tail off the next 18 months trying to prove myself.”
All available evidence suggests that when Wilson, 32, works hard, she looks like a redneck woman working hard.
She isn’t Shania Twain, managing her career from the vantage point of a Swiss castle.
If Twain sang about being a redneck woman, you’d suspect she was referring to a fox stole instead of a sunburn.
Wilson’s success may have brought her fame and fortune, but it hasn’t changed her tastes. She insists she still prefers fast food, cheap beer and discount shopping

....

Now, of course, rumor has it that Music Row is frantically on the lookout for the next Gretchen Wilson.
“I wish I could say that seems strange to me, but it doesn’t,” she said. “When I was trying to get a record deal, they were looking for the next Shania. One way to look at it is to hope that when the next big someone walks in, they’ll be more receptive.”

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/13951323.htm

[canoilers]

..they lump Gretchen in with Shania...are they nuts?Yeah they are, how else are you going to explain the way they talk about Shania. :p

[canoilers]

In a phone interview, Wilson said she heard that stuff, too, and she even saw the point of it.
“I have to admit, if it hadn’t been me, I probably would have thought it was a gimmick, too,” she says. “So I worked my tail off the next 18 months trying to prove myself.”
All available evidence suggests that when Wilson, 32, works hard, she looks like a redneck woman working hard.
She isn’t Shania Twain, managing her career from the vantage point of a Swiss castle.
If Twain sang about being a redneck woman, you’d suspect she was referring to a fox stole instead of a sunburn.
Wilson’s success may have brought her fame and fortune, but it hasn’t changed her tastes. She insists she still prefers fast food, cheap beer and discount shopping

....

Now, of course, rumor has it that Music Row is frantically on the lookout for the next Gretchen Wilson.
“I wish I could say that seems strange to me, but it doesn’t,” she said. “When I was trying to get a record deal, they were looking for the next Shania. One way to look at it is to hope that when the next big someone walks in, they’ll be more receptive.”

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/living/13951323.htmThanks Andrew. :D

[Troll]

Fraternities and sororities put on different acts, from celebrity Jeopardy with impersonations of John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Burt Reynolds to acrobatic dances set to the tune of Shania Twain's "Party For Two." Individuals and small groups sang and danced as well.

Most groups started planning and practicing in January. Twelve groups entered the show, which has been held at the University for 59 years. The show is open to all campus groups, but only greek organizations participated this year.

Kim Kurtz, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and this year's director for the sorority, said the show is very competitive.

http://newshound.de.siu.edu/fall05/stories/storyReader$2105

[canoilers]

Thank you for the article. :D

[SHANIANUTS!]

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635187899,00.html

Google Alert for: Shania Twain

Motivator's walk same as his talk (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635187899,00.html)
Deseret News - Salt Lake City,UT,USA
... He's been backstage with Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, George Burns, Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Toby Keith. He ...


This fellow is unbelievable .... I would most heartily encourage you to read his miraculous story....he is astounding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Troll]

That is interesting Bob.

[canoilers]

Yeah that is interesting Bob. Thank you for posting it.

[FinnFreak]

Reuters - Wednesday, March 01, 2006


Pamela Anderson to host Juno Awards

http://media.canada.com/reuters/OLCAENT_iptc/2006-03-01T013634Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_2_ENTERTAINMENT-CANADA-CA-COL.jpg


By Etan Vlessing


OTTAWA (Hollywood Reporter) - Pamela Anderson has signed to host the Juno Awards, Canada's version of the Grammys, which will take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 2.

Past hosts include Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette. But the Vancouver Island-born Anderson, who is better known for dating rock stars than for her musical talent, represents the awards show's most globally branded host to date.

"She's famous around the world, but Pamela will feel right at home in Halifax," said Susanne Boyce, president of programming at broadcaster CTV, which will air the show.

Rock band Nickelback leads the pack with six nominations, followed by jazz star Diana Krall and Michael Buble with five nominations each. Arcade Fire, Neil Young and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra each have three nominations. Nickelback and Buble will perform, as will Bryan Adams and Coldplay.


http://www.dose.ca/toronto/news/story.html?s_id=MzZ3Ay5Q3V9%2BWEPApGy1mEkpgS61r8CO I31dKl5WTjuuhy5UXTJ0ig%3D%3D



National Post - Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The month ahead


WEDNESDAY MARCH 8


Damn! Shania's not alone! We all feel like women on International Women's Day!


http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/artslife/story.html?id=08bd0c48-71f5-422f-be03-306183713b75&k=58070



John - :funny:

[canoilers]

You find something funny about that do you. :p

[FinnFreak]

You find something funny about that do you. :p

yep - I've heared the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra is a hoot..!


John - :p

[canoilers]

Oh yeah the biggest thing in this country since the Maple Leaf. :p

[Troll]

Country music rules the roost in the latest edition of our weekly column on new CDs.
While there's no blockbuster release — say a new one by Shania Twain or Tim McGraw — there are a ton of worthy country discs that hit stores today.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_3555343?source=rss

[FinnFreak]

Canada NewsWire - March 1 2006


Gretzky and Cherry Named Most Priceless Zamboni Machine Drivers

New MasterCard Canada Fan-O-Metre measures the pulse of Canadian hockey fans as the quest for the Stanley Cup begins


TORONTO, March 1 /CNW/ - Wayne Gretzky and Don Cherry topped the list as Canadians' most popular choices to drive a Zamboni(R) during the Stanley Cup(TM) Finals, as reported in MasterCard Canada's Fan-O-Metre issued today.

The two hockey icons narrowly edged other prominent Canadians such as Mike Myers (14 per cent) and Shania Twain (13 per cent) for the coveted job.

With the NHL(R) season resuming this week and the race to the playoffs officially underway, the Fan-O-Metre kicks off MasterCard's Your Crew at the Cup(TM) sweepstakes - cardholders who use their MasterCard card between March 1 and April 15, 2006 are automatically entered to win 1 of 3 trips for 4 to a 2006 Stanley Cup Finals game.

Your Crew at the Cup grand prize winners will meet and watch the game with an NHL Alumnus, plus participate in an "Ice Crew Experience" where they meet the home team's ice crew and help prepare the ice on a practice day during the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. MasterCard has been a North American partner of the NHL since 1995.

"Canadians are never shy about sharing their opinions on hockey and the MasterCard Fan-O-Metre captures their perspectives," said Tammy Scott, Vice President, Brand Marketing, MasterCard Canada. "For Canadian hockey fans there's nothing more priceless than attending the Stanley Cup Finals, except perhaps, being able to bring three friends. By being part of the ice crew, hockey fans get as close to the ice as the Zamboni driver, an experience we're thrilled to be able to give our sweepstakes winners."


Other Fan-O-Meter findings:

- Shania Twain was the top pick to sing the national anthem(s) at the Stanley Cup Finals (18 per cent), followed by Celine Dion (15 per cent), U2 (11 per cent), Great Big Sea (10 per cent), Stompin' Tom Connors and The Tragically Hip (nine per cent each), and The Rolling Stones (eight per cent).

- One in five Canadians (20 per cent) want to drive a Zamboni machine, but only two per cent of Canadians have ever driven one.

- One in three (32 per cent) Canadians selected Sidney Crosby as the best NHL player under the age of 25; Alexander Ovechkin was second (11 per cent), followed by Rick Nash (nine per cent), Ilya Kovalchuk and Eric Staal (five per cent each).

The "Your Crew at the Cup" sweepstakes builds on MasterCard's four-part series of Priceless "Zamboni" television ads, which follow a boy named Drew who longs to make it to the NHL - but not as a player. Drew experiences a life changing moment when he decides at an early age that his place on the ice doesn't involve guarding the net - it's behind the wheel of a three tonne vehicle. The third installment of the series is currently in rotation with the finale set to debut during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hockey fans can visit www.yourcrewatthecup.ca/game and play MasterCard(R) Zamboni(R) Machine Driver for a chance to clear the ice. And, as an added bonus, cardholders will automatically earn a second entry when they use their MasterCard card to make a purchase during the promotion period at any of the following partner retailers: National Car Rental, Cineplex Entertainment LP, SellOffVacations.com, WestJet, and Home Depot. Winners will be announced May 15, 2006. For full contest details please visit www.mastercard.ca.

About the Fan-O-Metre Survey

The survey was conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of MasterCard Canada from February 16-21, 2006. The telephone survey is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,001 Canadians ages 18+. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within (+/-) 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.


http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/01/c2596.html


John - ;)

[canoilers]

I'd pick her to sing the Anthem, man that would make me proud. :D

[canoilers]

Country music rules the roost in the latest edition of our weekly column on new CDs.
While there's no blockbuster release — say a new one by Shania Twain or Tim McGraw — there are a ton of worthy country discs that hit stores today.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_3555343?source=rssThank you sir. :D

[Troll]

I'd pick her to sing the Anthem, man that would make me proud. :D

That would be cool.

[Troll]

County officials participate in pandemic flu disaster exercise.


By Barbara Simonetti, Promoter Editor
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 7:55 PM MST

What do a Shania Twain concert in Great Falls, communities in rural Montana, and the pandemic flu have in common? That was the scenario used during a five-county disaster exercise Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 21 and 22. The region was the first to kick off drills that will later be held throughout the state.

In the mock disaster a suspected terrorist had released a pandemic strain of the flu into the population that had attended a Shania Twain concert in Great Falls. See the article on page 8A for more details on the scenario.

http://www.goldentrianglenews.com/articles/2006/03/01/shelby_promoter/news/news3.txt

[canoilers]

Why'd they use Shania's concert for that, couldn't they have used somebody else for the death concert.

[FinnFreak]

:shocked: - ...talk about nightmares..! :shocked:

...may that never, ever become reality.


John - :)

[FinnFreak]

Why'd they use Shania's concert for that, couldn't they have used somebody else for the death concert.

My thoughts exactly. Like a Grateful Dead concert.


John - :p

[canoilers]

Works for me, large.

[Troll]

:shocked: - ...talk about nightmares..! :shocked:

...may that never, ever become reality.


John - :)

I hope so too John.

[AlanB]

Why'd they use Shania's concert for that, couldn't they have used somebody else for the death concert.

Simple.

Because Shania outsells most other artists. :) And sadly terrorists want maximum impact. :(

[Troll]

Simple.

Because Shania outsells most other artists. :) And sadly terrorists want maximum impact. :(

That is true. :(

[FinnFreak]

Dayton Daily News - 03.03.2006

COMMENTARY

D.L. Stewart: Awards shows shine spotlight on overkill


By D.L. Stewart


If you are a professional actor or musician, I have great news: You definitely will receive a trophy on a televised award program this year.

According to research done by an online television columnist, there are 34 awards programs scheduled on some network or other in 2006, which means you have to be really, really bad not to win an award. Pauly Shore bad.

The only things multiplying faster than awards shows are gerbils and college football bowl games. And for every Meineke Car Care Bowl there is an American Indian Music Awards show. Which is not to be confused with the Cajun French Music Association Awards, the Country Music Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards or the International Bluegrass Association Awards.

I'm not sure who watches these things. Last year my wife and I could only find the time and interest to watch two awards shows together.

I can't recall the name of the first show. All I remember is that every time a winner was named, the announcement was followed by the sound of shrieking teenage girls in the audience. It didn't seem to matter who the winner was. If Dick Cheney got an award for "Best Sneer by an Administration Official," it probably would have been followed by the sound of shrieking teenage girls.

The other show was the Academy Awards, which I watch every year in exchange for my wife staying in the same room with me for the first two or three plays of the Super Bowl. But I refuse to sit through the pre-Oscars show, which is pretty much the Super Bowl pregame show in drag. The only difference is that one is hosted by washed up jocks and the other is hosted by a washed-up comedian and her daughter.

We've tried getting interested in other awards shows.

One year we tuned in to the Country Music Awards show, because I'm willing to watch anything that might include Faith Hill and Shania Twain. Every male award was won by guys playing guitars and wearing huge cowboy hats. Or maybe it was the same guy. The hats were so big we couldn't see their faces.

My wife still enjoys the Emmy Awards, but I stopped watching the year Everybody Loves Raymond was picked as the best comedy series on television. Not only did I find it hard to understand how anybody could think it was the best comedy on television, I found it hard to understand how it even got in that category.

Sometimes we'll watch the Grammy Awards, even though we know hardly any of the names of the performers or the names of their songs. And a lot of times we can't tell which is which. The last time we watched it, most of the awards went to a group of surly looking guys I wouldn't have wanted to come across in a dark alley unless I was carrying several large guns.

I think the name of the group was Shrieking Teenage Girls. Or maybe that was the name of their song.


http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/life/daily/0303dl.html



John - :p

[canoilers]

Thats good and I liked it very much. Thank you again John. :D

[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[Troll]

Tipping your hat to a man is asking for trouble, he cautions me. To a lady, though, it's just the gentlemanly thing to do.

Trying on the hats at Cavender's booth, I look more like Yosemite Sam, minus the mustache and the bad attitude, than Shania Twain. I'm probably about his height, too.

"You gotta get that trimmed, or it'd look like you had an umbrella," hat shaper Gary Moore said with a laugh.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/rodeo/3700477.html

[canoilers]

Intresting article. Thanks Andrew.

[Troll]

With wagging tails, the dogs in the class get excited when the music begins. Playful songs like Paul Simon’s "Cecilia," Jimmy Buffet’s "Margaritaville" and Shania Twain’s "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" boom from the stereo at the new training facility while a dozen handlers practice their dogs’ signature moves;

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/14017312.htm

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting!

[Troll]

``Party for Two,'' his hit duet with Shania Twain, in which he had the women in the audience fill in her part, was a rocking masculine romance, with lyrics scientifically crafted to appeal to the female demographic: ``I got a feelin' you're feelin' it too ...''

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/features-1/1141665605284960.xml&coll=7

[canoilers]

Thank you sir. :D

[FinnFreak]

Net Music Countdown - Mar.7.2006


Shania The Best Smellin'?

Shania by Stetson, Celine Dion up for Fragrance of Year.

http://www.shaniasplace.com/GreatestHits_Gallery/PicturesVidCaps/0409_Publicity%20Pictures/jpgs/pub04.jpg


By Neil Haislop


NASHVILLE, TN Tuesday Mar.7.2006 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- On April 3rd, the FIFI awards will crown the Fragrance of the Year Women's Popular Appeal, and Shania Twain's "Shania by Stetson" apparently smells good enough to be nominated for a Fifi, as fragrance of the year.

You'll find out if Shania's fragrance achieves the sweet smell of success when the 34th Annual Fifi Awards are handed out April 3rd. Shania is up against fragrances by Celine Dion, Samba Rock&Roll Women, Spirit of Antonio Banderas for Women and Stoked.


http://www.netmusiccountdown.com/inc/news_article.php?id=9848


John - ;)

[Shaniabomber99]

Thanks heaps for posting

Carley

[Troll]

Thanks for the article John.

[canoilers]

Thank you for the article. :D

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting!

[FinnFreak]

...it was old news, but I thought the title was kinda funny...


John - :p

[canoilers]

I think so too, I get a good chuckle out of that.

[Troll]

...it was old news, but I thought the title was kinda funny...


John - :p

Yes it is a kinda funny title.

[FinnFreak]

CHUM Television - 08.03.2006


Walking On Heir


http://www.geocities.com/slims999/Pictures/PA69.jpg
See Video: 56k (http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/Video-5-1.asx) / HighSpeed (http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/Video-5-2.asx)


Actors Pamela Anderson and Brendan Fraser are among the latest Canadians to receive stars on the country’s Walk of Fame.

They’ll be inducted along with musician Paul Shaffer, comedian Eugene Levy, game show host Alex Trebek, singers Jann Arden and Robert Goulet, and the "Crazy Canucks" ski team of Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski in a ceremony on June 3rd at the Hummingbird Centre.

"This is a real milestone," said Peter Soumalias, CEO and President of Canada's Walk of Fame. "This summer's Tribute Gala will bring the total number of stars on the Walk of Fame to over 100 - and there are still plenty of Canadians to honour."

Wrestling star Trish Stratus will host the event, which will see blocks of sidewalk embossed with a maple leaf and the personalities’ names.

"All of this year's recipients are legends in their field," said Soumalias. "With Canada's strong finish at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, I'm particularly pleased we're honouring The Crazy Canucks this year."

The ever-growing Walk, which currently boasts 93 names, winds its way through Toronto’s downtown theatre district. Established in 1998, it honours achievements of Canadian music, arts and entertainment, and sports figures.

Host Stratus had nothing but kind things to say about inductee Anderson.

"She's an amazing person. I think she has just, as a Canadian businesswoman, you know, I see she's accomplished a lot," she said. "She's stayed in the spotlight for so long, and I think, you know, I could definitely get some business tips, some hair tips, some outfit tips."

Past inductees include Alanis Morissette, Paul Anka, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky and Michael J. Fox.


Canada's Walk of Fame - inductees past and present:

2006

Pamela Anderson (actress)
Jann Arden (singer)
Alex Trebek (game show host)
Brendan Fraser (actor)
Paul Shaffer (musician/TV personality)
Eugene Levy (comedian/actor)
'Crazy Canucks' ski team of Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski (skiiers)
Robert Goulet (singer)

2005

Kiefer Sutherland (actor)
Paul Anka (musician)
Rex Harrington (ballet dancer)
Alanis Morissette (musician)
Daniel Lanois (producer)
Pierre Cossette (producer).
Michael Cohl (concert promoter)
George Chuvalo (boxer)
Fay Wray (actress)

2004

Denys Arcand (film director)
Shirley Douglas (actor)
John Kay (musician)
Diana Krall (musician)
Mario Lemieux (hockey player)
Louis B. Mayer (Hollywood pioneer)
Mack Sennett (Hollywood pioneer)
Helen Shaver (actor)
Jack Warner (Hollywood pioneer)

2003

Scotty Bowman (hockey coach)
Toller Cranston (skater)
Jim Elder (equestrian)
Linda Evangelista (model)
Lynn Johnston (cartoonist)
Lorne Michaels (producer)
Mike Myers (actor)
Luc Plamondon (musician)
Robbie Robertson (musician)
David Steinberg (comedian/actor/director/writer)
Shania Twain (musician)

2002

Dan Aykroyd (actor)
Cirque du Soleil (circus troupe)
Alex Colville (painter)
Timothy Findley (writer)
David Foster (music producer)
Wayne Gretzky (hockey player)
Monty Hall (game show host)
Ronnie Hawkins (musician)
Arthur Hiller (film director)
Guy Lombardo (bandleader)
SCTV (comedy troupe)
The Tragically Hip (musicians)

2001

Kenojuak Ashevak (artist)
Margaret Atwood (writer)
Jean Beliveau (hockey player)
Kurt Browning (figure skater)
The Guess Who (musicians)
Ferguson Jenkins (baseball player)
Harry Winston Jerome (sprinter)
Robert Lepage (film director)
Leslie Nielsen (actor)
Walter Ostanek (polka king)
Ivan Reitman (producer/director)
Teresa Stratas (opera soprano)
Veronica Tennant (ballet dancer)

2000

Maureen Forrester (singer)
Michael J. Fox (actor)
Evelyn Hart (ballet dancer)
Gordie Howe (hockey player)
William Hutt (actor)
Joni Mitchell (singer)
Ginette Reno (singer)
JeanPaul Riopelle (painter)
Royal Canadian Air Farce (comedy troupe)
William Shatner (actor)
Martin Short (actor)
Donald Sutherland (actor)
Neil Young (singer

1999

David Cronenberg (film director)
Hume Cronyn (actor)
Celine Dion (singer)
Nancy Greene (downhill skier)
Lou Jacobi (actor)
Juliette Cavazzi (singer)
Mary Pickford (actor)
Maurice Richard (hockey player)
Rush (musicians)
Buffy Sainte-Marie (songwriter)
Wayne and Shuster (comedy duo)

1998

Bryan Adams (musician)
Pierre Berton (writer)
John Candy (actor)
Jim Carrey (actor)
Glenn Gould (musician)
Norman Jewison (director)
Karen Kain (ballet dancer)
Gordon Lightfoot (musician)
Rich Little (impressionist)
Anne Murray (singer)
Bobby Orr (hockey player)
Christopher Plummer (actor)
Barbara Ann Scott (figure skater)
Jacques Villeneuve (race car driver)


http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/page.asp


John - ;)

[FinnFreak]

The Seattle Times - Wednesday, March 8, 2006


Keeping deaf fans rockin'

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/03/07/2002850755.jpg
Music interpreter JoAnna Ball uses sign and body language to deliver the excitement of
Monday's Bon Jovi concert at KeyArena. MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES


By Marc Ramirez


The flashing lights, the crowd's giddy energy. The 44-year-old man-boy himself, Jon Bon Jovi. Would Shannon Kennedy miss this, even if she could barely hear a thing? No way.

As Bon Jovi's band launched into a tirade of drum and guitar, Kennedy, deaf since age 2, nodded her coolly disheveled head to the beat, digital camera in hand. Garth Brooks, Shania Twain were more her style, but she couldn't wait to sing along with Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive."

Tonight, she would, with the help of JoAnna Ball, who stood, red ponytail silhouetted in darkness, on an 18-inch-high platform near Kennedy and son Elijah, 9.

Ball and others like Pam Parham, who also worked the show, are professional interpreters who help deaf fans experience the power of live concerts, positioned between those fans and the stage.

The craft is harder than it sounds: At its best, it's being prepared and knowledgeable enough to communicate the essence of an artist's lyrics over the actual words. By law, venues must provide interpreters upon request. And while local ticket sellers report just a handful of requests a year — typically for big-name events — it's been particularly busy for KeyArena, which has trotted out U2, McCartney and the Stones.

At Monday's show, Bon Jovi himself had yet to take the stage. The crowd rippled with anticipation. You could see it play out in Ball's face and hands, which bent and contorted as her body swayed to the music. With such help, "you feel like you're part of it," Kennedy says. "It's like when you go to the movies — if the movie is captioned, you can enjoy it with everyone else."

Finally, Bon Jovi slithered onstage through the crowd, whose excitement registered in Ball's face: She's the kind of interpreter Kennedy and others like — expressive, part of the action.

"I love to see the interpreter put some passion into the song, not just stare at me and interpret word for word," says Seattle biotech worker Ian Aranha, totally deaf since age 9.

For Aranha, the allure of live concerts is the amped-up bass, which is why he likes venues that put deaf patrons close to the speakers. "The vibrations we can pick up are great," he writes. "We can actually feel the music better than hearing people."

Ball, the interpreter, is a rapid-fire marionette, with a face meant for the stage — sharp chin, prominent cheekbones, operatic eyebrows. Her mouth simulated applause; her hands pulsed through the air to grace her forehead or touch against her cheek in can't-believe-it surprise.

Then: pointed finger to chest. "Shot through the heart," is what the crowd heard, and what Kennedy saw, as "You Give Love A Bad Name" began. Before long, Kennedy was singing along, fist joyously pounding the air.

American Sign Language (ASL) is all about expression; it's visual, so even mellow music can produce facial fireworks. No formal training program exists for live-music interpretation, so practitioners learn by watching others and working with ASL coaches.

Ball, who has done shows by U2, Nelly and Gwen Stefani, began concert work as a grad student in Washington, D.C., where she got a job with an agency fielding numerous concert requests. One day the call came for someone to interpret for alt-electronic band Garbage, and she was the only one to respond.

"Ecstatically," she says. "No one else knew who they were."

Requests are usually made when tickets are purchased. Vendors forward those requests to venues, who in turn contact freelance or agency interpreters, ideally with enough advance notice to allow for often lengthy preparation. Professional interpreters' fees, which range between $300 and $400 in Seattle, are billed to the tour.

"Everything's metaphor and poetry," says Parham, whose 12-year résumé includes Sting, Annie Lennox, even the Wiggles. "You can't just go in there and expect to do that."

The biggest challenge, Ball says, is getting inside the artist's head. Some U2 lyrics, for instance, could be taken to involve religion, sex or drugs, all in the same song.

"When I interpret," she says, "it's my interpretation. In ASL, you really need a story line. I can make it look pretty, but like when people hear music, it really has a deeper meaning for them."

In other words, a straight-ahead, blue-collar rocker like Bon Jovi is way easier to interpret than Beck, who tosses his cryptic poetry in a sandbox of sounds. "There's no such thing as rhyming in ASL," Ball says.

Interpreters spend up to 30 hours on these shows, first familiarizing themselves with an artist's music. They buy CDs, find lyrics and study fan sites, blogs and other sources to see what they can discern about songs' meanings. Some hire ASL coaches who help them dissect lines — an expense that very few venues will fund separately.

Ball says dance-oriented shows like Madonna's, which she has done twice, are easy to prep for because sets, available on the Web after the first show, won't alter much. Other times you'll rehearse songs that never show up on set lists. "You just do the best you can," Ball says.

Audiences love spontaneity. Interpreters, not so much. Ball recalls her worst experience, a 1999 Dave Matthews show, when it started raining and the band decided to play every song it knew about rain.

"I'll never interpret for them again," she vows. "They had a lot of famous, radio-played songs and never played them."

Other times interpreters find the zone. Ball once did a show for the alt-rock band Offspring, and even though she got no set list beforehand, "people said I was having an out-of-body experience. I was ready. I knew every song they played. It's basically just luck."

When people ask her why she likes music, ASL coach AJ Granda, who is deaf, still doesn't have a clear answer. The vibrations, maybe. Live shows take it to another level — it's about energy, commotion, even smells.

"Everyone is excited, waiting for the performer to come onstage," she says. "You can feel that energy in the air. ... You don't have to be hearing to enjoy that experience."


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002851068_deaf08.html



John - :)

[FinnFreak]

BBC SPORT NEWS - Thursday, 9 March 2006


Anguilla target Ashes inspiration

England's Ashes success will be the unlikely inspiration for
one small Caribbean country at the Commonwealth Games


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41409000/jpg/_41409638_vaughan270.jpg
The Ashes will inspire one country in
particular in Melbourne


By Matt Majendie


England's Ashes success will be the unlikely inspiration for one small Caribbean country at the Commonwealth Games.

Cricket-mad Anguilla covers just 96 square kilometres and boasts a population of 12,000.

But the reason for their England influence is Cardigan Connor, the former Hampshire fast bowler who will be Anguilla's chef de mission in Melbourne.

Connor, who will head up an unfancied team of four cyclists and two athletes, told BBC Sport: "I don't expect our guys to win any golds but everyone likes to cheer on the underdogs.

"In a bid to inspire them I'll make sure to bring up England's Ashes success in my pre-competition pep talk."

The 44-year-old was in England last summer but only for the one-day series.

However, he admitted he and the rest of Anguilla were glued to the television for the epic five Tests.

"I remember when we were at Hampshire and we were up against it on a rainy day we'd watch the British and Irish Lions in South Africa," he recalled.

"No one fancied them there but they still pulled it off. The likes of Michael Vaughan and Freddie Flintoff did the same in the summer, and I can only hope my guys do their best."

Three of Anguilla's four cyclists at the Games - the Bryan brothers and Kris Pradel - will be at their second Games having travelled to Manchester four years ago.

Connor, a former fast bowler, may seem an unlikely team boss having never competed in a Commonwealth event.

But he explained: "They felt I was the best person in terms of my contacts in Manchester four years ago to get funding and to organise things.

"And because of my cricketing past that has helped me for Melbourne this time around."

Anguilla clearly lack the budget of many of the higher-profile countries at the event.

And as a result, Connor could be forced to multi-task, even stretching as far as massaging some of the athletes under his charge.

"It's not as strange as it sounds," he insisted, "as I'm a qualified masseuse."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/FinnFreak/CC.jpg

Away from the Games, he works both as a masseuse and as the island's cricket development officer.

The first of his two jobs has seem him quite literally rub shoulders with the rich and famous, his personal favourite being Shania Twain.

"I remember at my benefit year at Hampshire I had this photo of Shania," he said, "and all my team-mates were like 'you get to massage her and get paid for it'.

"I guess I'm lucky - maybe it's payback for being good in my life!"

He will be hoping his luck rubs off on his Anguillan athletes in the next fortnight.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/4780238.stm



John - :p

[canoilers]

CHUM Television - 08.03.2006


Walking On Heir


http://www.geocities.com/slims999/Pictures/PA69.jpg
See Video: 56k (http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/Video-5-1.asx) / HighSpeed (http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/Video-5-2.asx)


Actors Pamela Anderson and Brendan Fraser are among the latest Canadians to receive stars on the country’s Walk of Fame.

They’ll be inducted along with musician Paul Shaffer, comedian Eugene Levy, game show host Alex Trebek, singers Jann Arden and Robert Goulet, and the "Crazy Canucks" ski team of Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski in a ceremony on June 3rd at the Hummingbird Centre.

"This is a real milestone," said Peter Soumalias, CEO and President of Canada's Walk of Fame. "This summer's Tribute Gala will bring the total number of stars on the Walk of Fame to over 100 - and there are still plenty of Canadians to honour."

Wrestling star Trish Stratus will host the event, which will see blocks of sidewalk embossed with a maple leaf and the personalities’ names.

"All of this year's recipients are legends in their field," said Soumalias. "With Canada's strong finish at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, I'm particularly pleased we're honouring The Crazy Canucks this year."

The ever-growing Walk, which currently boasts 93 names, winds its way through Toronto’s downtown theatre district. Established in 1998, it honours achievements of Canadian music, arts and entertainment, and sports figures.

Host Stratus had nothing but kind things to say about inductee Anderson.

"She's an amazing person. I think she has just, as a Canadian businesswoman, you know, I see she's accomplished a lot," she said. "She's stayed in the spotlight for so long, and I think, you know, I could definitely get some business tips, some hair tips, some outfit tips."

Past inductees include Alanis Morissette, Paul Anka, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky and Michael J. Fox.


Canada's Walk of Fame - inductees past and present:

2006

Pamela Anderson (actress)
Jann Arden (singer)
Alex Trebek (game show host)
Brendan Fraser (actor)
Paul Shaffer (musician/TV personality)
Eugene Levy (comedian/actor)
'Crazy Canucks' ski team of Dave Irwin, Ken Read, Dave Murray and Steve Podborski (skiiers)
Robert Goulet (singer)

2005

Kiefer Sutherland (actor)
Paul Anka (musician)
Rex Harrington (ballet dancer)
Alanis Morissette (musician)
Daniel Lanois (producer)
Pierre Cossette (producer).
Michael Cohl (concert promoter)
George Chuvalo (boxer)
Fay Wray (actress)

2004

Denys Arcand (film director)
Shirley Douglas (actor)
John Kay (musician)
Diana Krall (musician)
Mario Lemieux (hockey player)
Louis B. Mayer (Hollywood pioneer)
Mack Sennett (Hollywood pioneer)
Helen Shaver (actor)
Jack Warner (Hollywood pioneer)

2003

Scotty Bowman (hockey coach)
Toller Cranston (skater)
Jim Elder (equestrian)
Linda Evangelista (model)
Lynn Johnston (cartoonist)
Lorne Michaels (producer)
Mike Myers (actor)
Luc Plamondon (musician)
Robbie Robertson (musician)
David Steinberg (comedian/actor/director/writer)
Shania Twain (musician)

2002

Dan Aykroyd (actor)
Cirque du Soleil (circus troupe)
Alex Colville (painter)
Timothy Findley (writer)
David Foster (music producer)
Wayne Gretzky (hockey player)
Monty Hall (game show host)
Ronnie Hawkins (musician)
Arthur Hiller (film director)
Guy Lombardo (bandleader)
SCTV (comedy troupe)
The Tragically Hip (musicians)

2001

Kenojuak Ashevak (artist)
Margaret Atwood (writer)
Jean Beliveau (hockey player)
Kurt Browning (figure skater)
The Guess Who (musicians)
Ferguson Jenkins (baseball player)
Harry Winston Jerome (sprinter)
Robert Lepage (film director)
Leslie Nielsen (actor)
Walter Ostanek (polka king)
Ivan Reitman (producer/director)
Teresa Stratas (opera soprano)
Veronica Tennant (ballet dancer)

2000

Maureen Forrester (singer)
Michael J. Fox (actor)
Evelyn Hart (ballet dancer)
Gordie Howe (hockey player)
William Hutt (actor)
Joni Mitchell (singer)
Ginette Reno (singer)
JeanPaul Riopelle (painter)
Royal Canadian Air Farce (comedy troupe)
William Shatner (actor)
Martin Short (actor)
Donald Sutherland (actor)
Neil Young (singer

1999

David Cronenberg (film director)
Hume Cronyn (actor)
Celine Dion (singer)
Nancy Greene (downhill skier)
Lou Jacobi (actor)
Juliette Cavazzi (singer)
Mary Pickford (actor)
Maurice Richard (hockey player)
Rush (musicians)
Buffy Sainte-Marie (songwriter)
Wayne and Shuster (comedy duo)

1998

Bryan Adams (musician)
Pierre Berton (writer)
John Candy (actor)
Jim Carrey (actor)
Glenn Gould (musician)
Norman Jewison (director)
Karen Kain (ballet dancer)
Gordon Lightfoot (musician)
Rich Little (impressionist)
Anne Murray (singer)
Bobby Orr (hockey player)
Christopher Plummer (actor)
Barbara Ann Scott (figure skater)
Jacques Villeneuve (race car driver)


http://www.pulse24.com/Showbiz/Top_Story/20060308-001/page.asp


John - ;)Thanks John!!! Every name on the list gives me one more reason why I'm glad to be a canuck. :D

[canoilers]

The Seattle Times - Wednesday, March 8, 2006


Keeping deaf fans rockin'

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2006/03/07/2002850755.jpg
Music interpreter JoAnna Ball uses sign and body language to deliver the excitement of
Monday's Bon Jovi concert at KeyArena. MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES


By Marc Ramirez


The flashing lights, the crowd's giddy energy. The 44-year-old man-boy himself, Jon Bon Jovi. Would Shannon Kennedy miss this, even if she could barely hear a thing? No way.

As Bon Jovi's band launched into a tirade of drum and guitar, Kennedy, deaf since age 2, nodded her coolly disheveled head to the beat, digital camera in hand. Garth Brooks, Shania Twain were more her style, but she couldn't wait to sing along with Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive."

Tonight, she would, with the help of JoAnna Ball, who stood, red ponytail silhouetted in darkness, on an 18-inch-high platform near Kennedy and son Elijah, 9.

Ball and others like Pam Parham, who also worked the show, are professional interpreters who help deaf fans experience the power of live concerts, positioned between those fans and the stage.

The craft is harder than it sounds: At its best, it's being prepared and knowledgeable enough to communicate the essence of an artist's lyrics over the actual words. By law, venues must provide interpreters upon request. And while local ticket sellers report just a handful of requests a year — typically for big-name events — it's been particularly busy for KeyArena, which has trotted out U2, McCartney and the Stones.

At Monday's show, Bon Jovi himself had yet to take the stage. The crowd rippled with anticipation. You could see it play out in Ball's face and hands, which bent and contorted as her body swayed to the music. With such help, "you feel like you're part of it," Kennedy says. "It's like when you go to the movies — if the movie is captioned, you can enjoy it with everyone else."

Finally, Bon Jovi slithered onstage through the crowd, whose excitement registered in Ball's face: She's the kind of interpreter Kennedy and others like — expressive, part of the action.

"I love to see the interpreter put some passion into the song, not just stare at me and interpret word for word," says Seattle biotech worker Ian Aranha, totally deaf since age 9.

For Aranha, the allure of live concerts is the amped-up bass, which is why he likes venues that put deaf patrons close to the speakers. "The vibrations we can pick up are great," he writes. "We can actually feel the music better than hearing people."

Ball, the interpreter, is a rapid-fire marionette, with a face meant for the stage — sharp chin, prominent cheekbones, operatic eyebrows. Her mouth simulated applause; her hands pulsed through the air to grace her forehead or touch against her cheek in can't-believe-it surprise.

Then: pointed finger to chest. "Shot through the heart," is what the crowd heard, and what Kennedy saw, as "You Give Love A Bad Name" began. Before long, Kennedy was singing along, fist joyously pounding the air.

American Sign Language (ASL) is all about expression; it's visual, so even mellow music can produce facial fireworks. No formal training program exists for live-music interpretation, so practitioners learn by watching others and working with ASL coaches.

Ball, who has done shows by U2, Nelly and Gwen Stefani, began concert work as a grad student in Washington, D.C., where she got a job with an agency fielding numerous concert requests. One day the call came for someone to interpret for alt-electronic band Garbage, and she was the only one to respond.

"Ecstatically," she says. "No one else knew who they were."

Requests are usually made when tickets are purchased. Vendors forward those requests to venues, who in turn contact freelance or agency interpreters, ideally with enough advance notice to allow for often lengthy preparation. Professional interpreters' fees, which range between $300 and $400 in Seattle, are billed to the tour.

"Everything's metaphor and poetry," says Parham, whose 12-year résumé includes Sting, Annie Lennox, even the Wiggles. "You can't just go in there and expect to do that."

The biggest challenge, Ball says, is getting inside the artist's head. Some U2 lyrics, for instance, could be taken to involve religion, sex or drugs, all in the same song.

"When I interpret," she says, "it's my interpretation. In ASL, you really need a story line. I can make it look pretty, but like when people hear music, it really has a deeper meaning for them."

In other words, a straight-ahead, blue-collar rocker like Bon Jovi is way easier to interpret than Beck, who tosses his cryptic poetry in a sandbox of sounds. "There's no such thing as rhyming in ASL," Ball says.

Interpreters spend up to 30 hours on these shows, first familiarizing themselves with an artist's music. They buy CDs, find lyrics and study fan sites, blogs and other sources to see what they can discern about songs' meanings. Some hire ASL coaches who help them dissect lines — an expense that very few venues will fund separately.

Ball says dance-oriented shows like Madonna's, which she has done twice, are easy to prep for because sets, available on the Web after the first show, won't alter much. Other times you'll rehearse songs that never show up on set lists. "You just do the best you can," Ball says.

Audiences love spontaneity. Interpreters, not so much. Ball recalls her worst experience, a 1999 Dave Matthews show, when it started raining and the band decided to play every song it knew about rain.

"I'll never interpret for them again," she vows. "They had a lot of famous, radio-played songs and never played them."

Other times interpreters find the zone. Ball once did a show for the alt-rock band Offspring, and even though she got no set list beforehand, "people said I was having an out-of-body experience. I was ready. I knew every song they played. It's basically just luck."

When people ask her why she likes music, ASL coach AJ Granda, who is deaf, still doesn't have a clear answer. The vibrations, maybe. Live shows take it to another level — it's about energy, commotion, even smells.

"Everyone is excited, waiting for the performer to come onstage," she says. "You can feel that energy in the air. ... You don't have to be hearing to enjoy that experience."


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002851068_deaf08.html



John - :)Very good article. Don't I know that, when I was a teen I used to put the speakers of my stereo right up too the bed, so I could feel the bass on the matress. :D

[canoilers]

BBC SPORT NEWS - Thursday, 9 March 2006


Anguilla target Ashes inspiration

England's Ashes success will be the unlikely inspiration for
one small Caribbean country at the Commonwealth Games


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41409000/jpg/_41409638_vaughan270.jpg
The Ashes will inspire one country in
particular in Melbourne

By Matt Majendie


England's Ashes success will be the unlikely inspiration for one small Caribbean country at the Commonwealth Games.

Cricket-mad Anguilla covers just 96 square kilometres and boasts a population of 12,000.

But the reason for their England influence is Cardigan Connor, the former Hampshire fast bowler who will be Anguilla's chef de mission in Melbourne.

Connor, who will head up an unfancied team of four cyclists and two athletes, told BBC Sport: "I don't expect our guys to win any golds but everyone likes to cheer on the underdogs.

"In a bid to inspire them I'll make sure to bring up England's Ashes success in my pre-competition pep talk."

The 44-year-old was in England last summer but only for the one-day series.

However, he admitted he and the rest of Anguilla were glued to the television for the epic five Tests.

"I remember when we were at Hampshire and we were up against it on a rainy day we'd watch the British and Irish Lions in South Africa," he recalled.

"No one fancied them there but they still pulled it off. The likes of Michael Vaughan and Freddie Flintoff did the same in the summer, and I can only hope my guys do their best."

Three of Anguilla's four cyclists at the Games - the Bryan brothers and Kris Pradel - will be at their second Games having travelled to Manchester four years ago.

Connor, a former fast bowler, may seem an unlikely team boss having never competed in a Commonwealth event.

But he explained: "They felt I was the best person in terms of my contacts in Manchester four years ago to get funding and to organise things.

"And because of my cricketing past that has helped me for Melbourne this time around."

Anguilla clearly lack the budget of many of the higher-profile countries at the event.

And as a result, Connor could be forced to multi-task, even stretching as far as massaging some of the athletes under his charge.

"It's not as strange as it sounds," he insisted, "as I'm a qualified masseuse."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/FinnFreak/CC.jpg

Away from the Games, he works both as a masseuse and as the island's cricket development officer.

The first of his two jobs has seem him quite literally rub shoulders with the rich and famous, his personal favourite being Shania Twain.

"I remember at my benefit year at Hampshire I had this photo of Shania," he said, "and all my team-mates were like 'you get to massage her and get paid for it'.

"I guess I'm lucky - maybe it's payback for being good in my life!"

He will be hoping his luck rubs off on his Anguillan athletes in the next fortnight.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/4780238.stm



John - :pLucky guy, I'm jealous maybe just a tad. :p

[FinnFreak]

Thanks John!!! Every name on the list gives me one more reason why I'm glad to be a canuck. :D

yeppers - and the whole world is totally grateful for those William Shatner CDs... :p


...and just a tad bit jealous for Mr Connor..? ;)


heh... I can just imagine a legion of male fans now signing up to become a qualified masseuse..! :funny:


John - :p

[canoilers]

I know I am, they should make one of the puppies the national anthem. :p

Maybe........ :p

After its all said and done you end up working on some fat hairy guy. Hey, this isn't what I signed up for!:p

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[FinnFreak]

The Herald-Mail - Thursday March 9, 2006


Hot Apple Pie headlines benefit event


http://www.hbaofwashingtoncounty.org/Auction/SHAN1.jpg
Pink Acoustic Guitar autographed by Shania Twain


by KRISTIN WILSON


Up-and-coming Nashville country band Hot Apple Pie will rock Hagerstown Community College this Saturday to raise money for Washington County's abused children.

In conjunction with the Home Builders Association of Washington County Home Show 2006, the benefit concert and accompanying auction will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11. Proceeds will go to Safe Place Child Advocacy Center (http://www.hbaofwashingtoncounty.org/safeplace/sellfolio.html), Washington County's coordinated system for handling child abuse.

"So many people don't know that the child advocacy center exists," says Teresa Thorn, Safe Place program manager. But the organization's work is critical, she says. "Washington County has one of the highest incidences of indicated child abuse reports."

In 2005, Safe Place worked with 896 children, all of whom were victims of sexual or physical abuse or neglect. Washington County lists 1,664 reports of child abuse or neglect in 2005, making it the county with the second highest reported incidence of child abuse in Maryland.

"It's a shame that our area has to have a facility such as (Safe Place)," adds Debi Turpin, executive director of the home builders association. But her organization is happy to help raise money for the center.

This is the second year the Home Show weekend has included a benefit concert. Last year, the concert and auction raised $4,000 for Safe Place.

With a large number of proven Tri-State country music fans, the home builders association hopes bringing Hot Apple Pie to Hagers-town will generate more interest in Saturday's fundraiser.

"Hot Apple Pie just had a recent hit and they have a pretty good following in the area," Turpin says. The group, founded three years ago, is known for singles "Easy Does It" and "Hillbillies." The four-member all-male group specializes in a variety of country music styles on their first album, "Hot Apple Pie." Songs vary from R&B grooves to Southern rock, to bluegrass, according to information provided by the group. Tori Anderson and Possum Holler will open for Hot Apple Pie.

Saturday's fundraiser includes a live and silent auction with many donated items from country music celebrities. During the silent auction, bidders can vie for a Bud Light poster autographed by Tim McGraw, a matted photograph and an autographed card by Charlie Daniels, an autographed copy of Kenny Rogers "42 Ultimate Hits" CD and other items autographed by Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Kathy Mattea, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Tippin.

Turpin is especially excited about one live auction item - an acoustic guitar with a vintage sunburst and hardshell case. The guitar is autographed by Hot Apple Pie and donated by Gibson guitars and the Gibson Foundation for Children.

Other items in the live auction lineup include a pair of stage jeans worn by Eddie Montgomery and autographed by Montgomery Gentry; an acoustic guitar autographed by Shania Twain; and a Minnie Mouse doll autographed by SheDaisy.


If you go ...


WHAT: Home Show Benefit Concert and Auction

WHEN: Doors open 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11; Possum Holler performs at 7:15 p.m.; Hot Apple Pie performs at 9:15 p.m.

WHERE: Hagerstown Community College Kepler Theater - Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland

COST: $15 general admission

MORE: Advance tickets are recommended. Reserve tickets by calling 301-739-0135. For more information about the event and auction items, go to www.hbaofwashingtoncounty.org/Auction/auctiontiems.htm.


http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=133016&format=html



John - :)

[canoilers]

Thanks John! Thats a very good cause, one more reason too be a proud Shania fan. :D

[Troll]

Awesome guitar.

[canoilers]

I like the cause better, it kinda hits home for me. Being left for dead, and totally ignored by my mother when she wasn't yelling at me and me making me feel totally worthless, I've also had to deal with emotional abuse, I know exactly what that feels like. Yell at me everyday for for no reason, just cause. Made me feel like crap everyday of my life. Made me feel like I was nothing everyday of my life. Besides I've know of way too many kids that have suffered some sort of abuse, it shouldn't happen anymore.

[matty]

I don't know if this belongs here but I guess it does as it kinda mentions Shania.

I was watching the Metallica, Some Kind Of Monster film earlier with the band commentary on. When they're letting Cliff Burnstein listen to the new songs he starts looking around as if he's bored and Lars say's "He looks bored...He's probably more concerned with the Shania Twain promo tour".

....yeah just thought I'd share that lol.

[Troll]

The digital single for Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road" has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA for 400,000 legal downloads. Toby Keith's "As Good As I Once Was" and Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss' "Whiskey Lullaby" were certified platinum for 200,000 legal downloads. Gold certifications for 100,000 legal downloads include Kenny Chesney's "Who You'd Be Today," Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right," Little Big Town's "Boondocks," Joe Nichols' "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," Paisley's "Alcohol," Rascal Flatts' "Skin (Sarabeth)" and Shania Twain's 1997 hit, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman."

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1525827/03102006/rascal_flatts.jhtml

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting!!

[FinnFreak]

;)


PRWeb Press Release Newswire - March 13, 2006


Len Snow Jr.'s New Album Honors Hall Of Fame Hero Hank Snow With New Single Release


Country star Len Snow, Jr.'s new album, produced by veteran hit maker Robert Metzgar, honors Country Music Hall Of Fame legend, Hank Snow with a new single to be released to radio entitled, "Country's What I Choose."

...

Q: Who are some of your favorite female entertainers that have influenced your career?

A: I love Lori Morgan, Shania Twain, Reba, Nora Jones, Trisha Yearwood, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Wynonna, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Carol Lee and The Carol Lee Singers, Dolly Parton, Suzy Bogus, Deana Carter, Terri Clark, Crystal Gayle, Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Kathy Mattea, LeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis, Lee Ann Womack, Alison Krauss and Chely Wright. I have always listened to June Carter Cash, and some of the best country music today comes from Carrie Underwood, Lila McCann, Jamie O’Neal, Miranda Lambert, Shelly Fairchild and Jenny True. You have to love a woman who can take command of 145,000 screaming cowboys at Fan Fair. These are very strong women who deserve our respect and admiration.


Read the whole article (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/3/prweb356018.htm)




RTÉ.ie - 13 March 2006


Dylan, Flaming Lips to play Kilkenny

http://dynimg.rte.ie/000001ec0b2.jpg
Dylan - Kilkenny show this summer


Bob Dylan, with special guests The Flaming Lips, will play the Kilkenny Source Festival in June.

The concert will take place at Kilkenny's Nowlan Park on Saturday 24 June.

Dylan was the headliner for the first Kilkenny Source Festival in 2001.

Now six years old, headline acts for the Festival have also included Paul Simon (2002), Shania Twain (2003), James Taylor and Bryan Ferry (2004) and Rod Stewart (2005).

Tickets for Bob Dylan and The Flaming Lips cost from €55 and will go on sale this Thursday, 16 March, at 9am from usual outlets nationwide.


http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0313/dylanb.html


John - :)

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[canoilers]

Thank you very much, I liked it. :D

[FinnFreak]

:p


CNW GROUP - March 14, 2006


Attention News Editors:

It's a Ten-Day Party! Casino du Lac-Leamy Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary


GATINEAU, OTTAWA, March 13 /CNW Telbec/ - March 24, 2006 will see ten candles on the Casino du Lac-Leamy's birthday cake. To commemorate this milestone, we have prepared a 10-day party featuring special entertainment.

"To celebrate this momentous occasion and thank our customers, we wanted to put together an entertainment package that went beyond our daily Jet 7 offering," commented Kevin Taylor, General Manager of the Casino du Lac- Leamy.

"We have prepared special activities that will have everyone in the mood to party!"

From March 17 to 26, numerous activities are planned, including six daily performances of Orygyn, in which circus performers will demonstrate impressive acrobatic feats on the ground and in the air, including trapeze duos, aerial silk, performers on tilts and jugglers! Specially produced for the Casino's tenth anniversary by Productions LPV, this impressive spectacle evokes elements of fire, water and earth.

A fantastic lineup featuring the music of some of your all-time favourite entertainers is also planned, featuring the likes of Shania Twain, Jennifer Lopez and Rolling Stones impersonators and many more!

Street performers will also be on hand to entertain the crowds throughout the Casino. Lucky 7 days themes and special activities continue daily.


Orygyn Show schedule (circus arts):
----------------------------------
March 17, 18, 19, 23, 24 and 25, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.


Impersonators Show schedule:
----------------------------
March 17 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Beatles
March 18 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Beach Boys
March 19 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Elvis
March 20 4 p.m. to midnight Rolling Stones
March 21 4 p.m. to midnight ABBA
March 22 4 p.m. to midnight Shania Twain
March 23 4 p.m. to midnight Tina Turner
March 24 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Eagles
March 25 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Jennifer Lopez / Beyoncé
March 26 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jennifer Lopez / Beyoncé

Street Artists schedule:
-----------------------
March 20, 21, 22 and 26, from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.


Don't miss this exciting ten-day anniversary celebration, at the Casino
du Lac-Leamy. Details on our Web site, www.casino-du-lac-leamy.com


http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/13/c1596.html




Toronto Star - Tue. Mar. 14, 2006


Cocktails and C.R.A.Z.Y


RITA ZEKAS


The Genies have gone uptown.

The venue changed from the Metro Convention Centre to the art deco Carlu at Yonge and College so the Genie-al set could get a quick fix of Winners downstairs — and maybe even buy a few accessories — before they hit the seventh floor for the awards.

. . .

Katie Boland (Some Things That Stay), looked like a million Euros in a little red number, and caught up with her Shania director Jerry Ciccoritti.


http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142290255141&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630


John - ;)

[canoilers]

Thanks John for the article.

[FinnFreak]

No sweat - it's been a slow day.


John - ;)

[canoilers]

You can say that again, and mine just started. :p That'll change after I get my neice up for school. :D

[FinnFreak]

Luther College Chips - 3/16/2006


Luther percussionist Danny Young chose college over fame


http://chips.luther.edu/files/2006-03-16/young.jpg


by Jeff Bozeman


Whether in an orchestra or a bar band, Danny Young (‘07) will most likely be found with drumsticks in his hand.

Young’s percussion skills have allowed him to perform in several ensembles, as well as play with a famous face.

Young began to express an interest in percussion at a very young age.

“Even when I was little I was banging on pots and stuff,” Young recalled. “When I was about six, my parents bought me a Muppet drum kit.”

Hailing from Viola, Wisc., Young grew up in a family of musicians. All of his immediate family members play multiple instruments and sing.

Young and his family even formed a group when he was nine years old, named the Young Family Singers. The group performed renditions of songs like “In the Still of the Night” on radio shows in Madison, Wisc.

By the age of 13, Young began taking percussion lessons and soon began performing as the drummer for his high school’s show choir and playing the local bar scene in a cover band called “That 70s Band.”

Young also became involved with “Kids from Wisconsin,” a state-wide auditioned band and show choir, which he toured with for three summers. The group was scheduled to open for David Cassidy on one of the tours, but the open-air show was canceled because of rain.


Young got the chance of a lifetime as a senior in high school when he entered a percussion competition in Madison, Wisc. held by Q106 FM. The radio station was selecting percussionists to perform onstage with Shania Twain at a concert. Young was selected as one of the finalists and played drums on “If You’re Not in It for Love, I’m Out of Here” with Twain.


At Luther, Young balances his musical passions with a double major in music performance and communication studies, areas he hopes will aid him in his career of choice. He plans to run a business that writes and records radio or television jingles for companies.

Young has already acquired some experience in this profession. This past summer he wrote and recorded a jingle for Ash Creek Plumbing in Richland Center, Wisc.

Young hopes to find an internship with an established jingle company this summer.

Young keeps himself busy in several musical ensembles on and off campus. He is a member of Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra I. Young also plays in the Mark Peterson Jazz Trio with Andrew McNamara (‘06) and Mark Peterson (‘05).

“It’s such a great gig,” Young said of the Jazz Trio. “We play weddings and other events and get paid well for just performing music for a couple hours.”

Young also drums for a Decorah band called Stand, which plays in local bars and is set to perform at Nordic Fest this summer.

Young spends a lot of his time writing songs as well. He has been writing and recording an album of his original compositions since 2003.

Young is still revising the album but hopes to have a polished collection of nine or 10 songs by the end of the year.

Young recently submitted one of his songs to a competition held by Milwaukee 106.9 Kiss FM.

“Several hundred people sent in their song demos and they chose 30 to compete on the air for 15 days. I was one of the 30 finalists for that competition but didn’t win,” Young said.

In February, Young and fellow percussionist Ben Peterson (‘07) shared a recital that was so well attended that audience members were forced to stand in the aisles of the Noble Recital Hall. Young performed a variety of pieces, including a multiple percussion solo with 15 instruments.

“Every time I practiced it, I had to carry everything from the band room, and it took a half hour to set up. Then I’d have to take it all back again,” Young said.

Despite all of his musical endeavors, Young still wishes he had more time to play on his drum kit.

“It’s my favorite thing to do, but with school work at Luther it’s been hard to find time to do it.”


http://chips.luther.edu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4451


John - :)

[canoilers]

That would be just the greatest thing ever. Thanks for posting that article John. :D

[Troll]

Thanks for the great article.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up:

[FinnFreak]

Screen Weekly, Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. - Friday, March 17, 2006


MTV spoofs the lady in white!


Chaya Unnikrishnan


‘Ek mein aur ek tu hain... croons Funmohan Singh as he dances his way onto the sets of Rendezvous With Semi Girebaal. George Tush is already in conversation with Semi.

No, we haven’t lost our senses nor have we misspelt, we are only talking about a new show from MTV Rendezvous With Semi Girebaal which begins airing from March 19 every Sunday at 9.30 pm.

MTV with its whacky sense of humour gets away with anything and everything, that is related to films or TV shows. Be it the filmi take-offs in Fully Faltoo or Cutting With Karan a Koffee with Karan spin-off, they have done it all. Their latest offering Rendezvous With Semi Girebaal is a spoof on the lady in white, the graceful and sophisticated Simi Garewal’s show.

MTV’s Rendezvous... has the 6’3 tall Cyrus Sahukar taking on Simi’s avatar. From the sparkling diamonds to the shiny pearls, a silver brooch, the custom-made suits and pants to her dainty mannerisms, Cyrus has got his act perfected to the T. Ask him how closely he has watched Simi and he quips, “I have hardly watched the show. I had a elitist tutor who used to come home and I am imitating her,” he says toungue-in-cheek.

In fact, Cyrus refuses to accept that his rendezvous is a take-off on the original show. “I think it is more of a comedy sketch than a spoof,” he maintains adding “it’s a representation of what we all are with a certain level of hypocricy. The show is not mean or disrespectful, it’s more like a homeskit.”

So you have celeb lookalikes on the show. Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, (played by Cyrus Broacha) Vivek Oberoi, Manmohan Singh and George Bush will be grilled by Semi on their lives, loves and controversies. An episode with Funmohan and George Tush sees Tush breaking down when he speaks about his childhood and how his brother Mulberry Bush spoilt things for him. In the course of the conversation Funmohan says that the best way to bring Tush around would be to ask all the call centres to go on a strike. “This way the whole of America will come to a halt,” he reasons amidst guffaws. In short, the show will touch upon topical issues in a humorous manner.

The half-hour show is divided into three segments comprising a heart-to-heart interview with Semi, messages from the near and dear ones of the celebrity guest and a rapid fire replete with a gift from Semi.

On why Cyrus had decided to play Semi, the VJ informed that not he but the channel chose him for the role. “I have played everyone from Shania Twain to the blonde girl from ABBA and am desperate to get out of this garb. I am missing Cyrus,” he sighs. Soon enough, the anchor will be seen in Zee’s much-delayed show Business Baazigar which launches in April.


http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=12163


John - :)

[Troll]

This day in music

2000 -- Shania Twain's Come On Over is certified for sales of 17 million in the United States, making it the best-selling solo album by a female artist.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/14121094.htm

[Troll]

Twain in control, says bad motorist

A repeat drunk driver arrested on new impaired charges suffers delusions that Shania Twain tells him what to say, court heard yesterday.

Matt Brownlee, 33, who was given a seven-year jail sentence and a lifetime driving ban for a 1996 car crash that killed an Ottawa mother and her 12-year-old son, also believed the Canadian pop superstar would call the shots in court and influence the judge, Dr. Linda Grasswick testified yesterday.

Grasswick, who has been assessing Brownlee's mental status at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital since December, said the symptoms were a result of a mood disorder and psychosis resulting from an organic brain injury which Brownlee suffered in the 1996 crash that killed Linda Lebreton-Holmes and her son Brian.

DELUSIONS 'SOFTENING'

The presence of Brownlee's delusions led Grasswick to previously conclude he be unfit for trial, but yesterday she reversed that opinion saying the delusions appeared to be "softening."


She attributed his improvement to various meds.

"He indicates now his instructions to his lawyer would be 50% his own decisions and 50% Shania Twain's," she said.

Justice Russell Merredew declared Brownlee fit and ordered him detained in hospital.

Brownlee's latest run-in with the law comes as the result of his early-morning arrest Oct. 12 after an Ottawa police officer observed a black pickup truck turning from Elgin St. onto Somerset St. at a high rate of speed.

He's back in court March 27.

http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/03/17/1491920-sun.html

[canoilers]

Thanks guys for the articles, I appreciate it very much. :D Thats a little scarey, why'd Shaina get that wacko. :hide: :nervous:

She sings to me, but only when I put her discs in.

[FinnFreak]

The Kalamazoo Gazette - Sunday, March 19, 2006


All of Anne


Born: Morna Anne Murray, June 20, 1945, Spring Hill, Nova Scotia.

Began recording: 1968, while still working as a physical education teacher; contemporary folk album ``What About Me?'' led to a contract with Capitol Records.

Result: 34 albums over 38 years. 24 Junos (Canada's Music Awards; Murray has won more than any other artist), four Grammys, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards. Many international hits, including ``Snowbird,'' ``Danny's Song,'' ``You Needed Me,'' ``Could I Have This Dance?''

Canadian trailblazer: Was the first female Canadian vocalist to see major success outside of Canada. ``But that was years and years ago,'' Murray said. ``Since then, Celine Dion and Shania Twain and Alanis Morrisette, Sarah McLachlan, have all taken over. And k.d. lang. All Canadian ladies of song who've done very well.''


http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/features-1/1142868006213670.xml&coll=7


John - :)

[canoilers]

Yes they have, and each one has given this country something to be proud of in each of their own distinct way. WOOHOO, they did good, which means we did good. :]

[FinnFreak]

...makes up nicely for the 'Safety Dance'...


John - :p

[canoilers]

Can anything really make up for that. :p

[FinnFreak]

...get Shania to perform another concert in Finland & all is forgiven...


John - :D

[canoilers]

If you mean by Shania, me dressed in drag......... you're on. :p Come on, my names almost Shania. Just call me, Seania. :p

[canoilers]

You don't want to give that up. I'm the most famous person no one has ever heard of.

[FinnFreak]

Rocky Mountain News - March 21, 2006


EchoStar, Universal envision foe for MTV


By Joyzelle Davis


EchoStar Communications and record giant Universal Music have revived talks to create a music-video channel that would compete with MTV.
Douglas County-based EchoStar, the operator of the Dish Network satellite-TV service, and Universal Music already have a lengthy history over the International Music Feed channel that includes a pending court battle. Last year, a judge issued an order requiring Dish to carry the channel until the dispute ends.

The new round of talks are aimed at resolving that year-old court battle and announcing a deal in time for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's annual convention in less than three weeks, trade publication Broadcasting & Cable reported, citing unnamed industry sources.

EchoStar spokeswoman Kathie Gonzalez declined to comment, while New York-based Universal Music spokeswoman Flavie Lemarchand-Wood didn't return a call for comment.

EchoStar, whose Dish Network is the third-largest pay-TV provider with more than 12 million subscribers, and Universal Music, whose artists include 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Mariah Carey and Elton John, began discussing the new channel in late 2004. Universal wanted to create a competitor to the increasingly reality-show-focused MTV that would also employ a different business model by sharing revenue with all the record labels that provide content.

But EchoStar postponed the January 2005 launch date of IMF, prompting Vivendi-owed Universal Music to file a breach of contract lawsuit in New York federal court. In April, a judge ordered EchoStar to carry the channel until the lawsuit is resolved.

So far, the channel hasn't gotten pickup beyond EchoStar's 7.5 million homes on "America's Top 120" and higher packages, said Universal Music Chief Financial Officer Nick Henny on an earnings call with analysts last October. He added that the channel expects "to get more carriage soon" and is in talks with various cable companies.

If EchoStar partners with Universal Music, it would mark the company's first push into programming. The company's main competitors - Comcast, DirecTV and Time Warner Cable - diversified by acquiring stakes in popular TV networks or merging with conglomerates that have programming empires.


http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/tech/article/0,2777,DRMN_23910_4557674,00.html


:uhh: - ...a channel that would actually show music videos..? :huh:

...it worked back in the 80's... :p


John - :)

[canoilers]

Quit living in the past. :p

Our own MTW starts up on the 21st of this month, I hoping they bring back music video's back to Canada. Thanks for the article, John. :D

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[FinnFreak]

The Hoya - Tuesday, March 21, 2006


Culture a Delicate Balancing Act in Doha


By Moises Mendoza


DOHA, Qatar — On a recent night in Palomas, the Intercontinental Hotel’s kinky Tex-Mex bar, young Qataris, hairy old expatriate men and trolling prostitutes in tight skirts throw back vodka shot after vodka shot.

Several middle-aged men leer at two women with bleached blond hair as they stand on a makeshift stage belting out Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”

“You’ve got the look but have you got the touch!” they croon.

Palomas is a greasy Tex-Mex restaurant with icky burritos by day and a swinging club at night. Inside, alcohol is always tolerated. And much of Doha’s elite expatriate and local community flocks here every weekend.

Donning the long white traditional robes called thobes that many Qataris wear is taboo at Palomas. It’s clubbing attire: tight Western pants or skirts for females and buttoned-down shirts for men.

In a country of deep inequities and great wealth, where mostly poor South Asian immigrants are the workhorses behind 16 ultra-modern skyscrapers, few things may symbolize Qatar’s brewing identity crisis more than places like Palomas.

Outside the seedy bars in the city’s finest international hotels, places like the Sheraton, Intercontinental and Four Seasons, alcohol is officially banned and public displays of affection frowned upon. But here, anything goes.

The authorities generally ignore the drinking — the hotels have special liquor licenses — but you best not stagger around in a drunken stupor. You might find yourself languishing in a Qatari jail cell. Public intoxication is considered a serious crime, punishable by imprisonment.

Doha’s semi-secret bars aren’t far from the gleaming ultra-modern buildings just outside the capital city that make up Education City, where Georgetown’s newest campus has its home.

Sometimes, college students studying at one of the five American universities in town head to one of the hotels to party. But none of the students a reporter spoke to two weeks ago wanted to talk about it. And university administrators don’t police students’ activities — illicit or not.

“You know, it’s not like we’re the Gestapo or something,” says Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Mohana Rajakumar.

Only one or two of the SFS-Qatar students drink anyway, according to Yancee Hardy (SFS-Q ’09).

Palomas’ management doesn’t want to talk either. A man who identified himself as the bar’s manger declined to give his name when he realized he was speaking to a reporter.

Those who want to find fun can search beyond the city for good times. There are parties like Dunestock, the music festival that hit the outskirts of Doha a few weeks ago. Organizers couldn’t advertise, so they relied on word-of-mouth to spread the message.

“Yeah, there was plenty of alcohol there,” says Minta Madley (COL ’05), who is studying in the Middle East. “But they didn’t really sell it. You just bring your own and drink.”

Chaste youngsters and expatriates try to find fun beyond alcohol, but sometimes it’s not easy. There are plenty of mall rats who flock to places like the Royal Plaza Doha, a shiny shopping mall full of name-brand chain stores. Others find themselves at imported American restaurants — Applebee’s, TGI Friday’s, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut are just a few of the imports that have found homes here. Yet more take trips outside the city to the local dunes, riding up and down in Land Rovers through mounds of billowing sand.

One of the most wholesome things to do is visiting the Doha Players, a local actor’s troupe. Or at least it was until it was damaged in a terrorist attack last year.

That’s where Nadya Ismail often finds herself, even after the country’s first terrorist attack. She’s lived in Qatar for more than 10 years.

“It’s not that bad actually, there is plenty of stuff to do if you just look around,” she says.

But there are 600,000 foreigners here — nearly two-thirds of whom are male and miss home terribly.

“In some ways it’s a lot like high school and lots of times it’s boring. I have managed OK but there are some people who just can’t handle it here,” says Chris Bobbitt (SFS ’05), who is studying for a year at Qatar University and works at SFS-Qatar.

Some of those people find themselves back at Palomas again, pushing back those vodka shots, drowning their boredom, looking for friendship.



http://www.thehoya.com/images/031706/TheHoyaInQatar.jpg

Part One: Doha's Hoyas (http://www.thehoya.com/news/031706/news2.cfm)

Part Two: Some Find Symbols of Intolerance in Doha (http://www.thehoya.com/news/031706/news3.cfm)

Part Three: Culture a Delicate Balancing Act in Doha (http://www.thehoya.com/news/032106/news5.cfm)



John - :)

[canoilers]

Thanks for the article, I appreciate it.

[Troll]

Sounds like fun. :up:

[FinnFreak]

GoTriad.com - Thursday, March 23, 2006


Band's gig at famed club is dream come true


http://www.gotriad.com/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/12765-400x500.jpg
Sketchbook


by Cecil Monroe, Special to Go Triad


I play drums for SkEtcHbOOk, a regional rock band based out of Robbins and central North Carolina.

Now, we've had some great situations happen to us through old-school hard work. But obviously, we've been at the right place at the right time on more than a few occasions. It's helped us score a gig at the U.S. Open in Pinehurst in 1999 and again at this year's Open; an opening slot for Shania Twain at the old Walnut Creek Pavilion in Raleigh and gigs at the Greensboro Coliseum with Sister Hazel, Uncle Kracker and others for Golf Rock; and then the 2002 ACC Men's basketball tournament.


http://www.gotriad.com/article/view/17581/1/17/


hmm... I don't recall anyone mentioning this band here before... anyone..?


John - :)

[canoilers]

That name sounds familiar but I don't think I've ever heard them.

[Troll]

Thanks for the article.

[tildeathdousprt]

Leahy's Motor Home Involved in Fatal Crash


A 21-year-old New York woman was killed Saturday (March 18) when the car she was driving collided with a motor home transporting Leahy, the Celtic band that toured with Shania Twain in 1998 and 1999. Jeri DeFabbia was driving the wrong way on I-84 near Danbury, Conn., when her car hit the motor home head-on. All eight band members were on board, but none of the 18 passengers in the motorhome was injured. The band was en route from West Point, N.Y., to New Bedford, Mass., at the time of the accident. :(

[FinnFreak]

Los Angeles Chronicle - March 23, 2006


MARTINA MCBRIDE RECORDS AN ALBUM OF 'TIMELESS' CLASSICS


by Bobby Reed


Martina McBride has been surrounded by traditional Country Music her entire life.

At age 7, the Kansas native joined her father's band, which played cover versions of chestnuts including "Heartaches By The Number," "Satin Sheets" and "I'll Be There."

Then she grew up to become a Country Music superstar.

In 1995, McBride joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, where she has frequently shared the stage with trailblazing artists such as Country Music Hall of Fame member Loretta Lynn, Jeanne Pruett and Connie Smith.

With the October 2005 release of her album Timeless, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and has since gone Platinum, McBride has come full circle, returning to the classic Country songs that were such an important part of her formative years. The singer's eighth studio album is comprised of 18 new recordings of songs from the 1950s, '60s and '70s, including tunes that were hits for Lynn, Pruett and Smith.

. . .

McBride recorded another memorable classic, "Harper Valley P.T.A.," for Music From And Inspired By Desperate Housewives, released in 2005 by Hollywood Records. The TV soundtrack includes contributions from Sara Evans, k.d. lang, LeAnn Rimes, SHeDAISY and Shania Twain.


http://www.losangeleschronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=7156


* * *


LiveArticles - March 23, 2006


Country: File under 'Martina' or file under 'Trisha' ?


by Sally Smart


An Americana Music Fan's Thoughts ...

good friend of mine attended the CMA awards in New York last year and very kindly brought back a bunch of CDs which he thought may sit well in the 'shelves' of our Americana online music store.

Finally managed to get around to listening to the collection of fairly well known, and some not so well known names during some long drives this last weekend.

The prospects looked good – an open road, no deadlines to meet and looking forward to unearthing some hidden gems and the buzz that you get when you get to put a new name in the racks and wait for the reactions to your 'find'.

So, track one of the first CD and … nothing - not literally you understand, there wasn't anything wrong with the CD player - but nothing … no emotion, no tingle down the spine, not even an instrument to speak of, just that anonymous ensemble of strings, keyboards and mid-eighties sustain guitar that identifies much of the country-pop sound.

Tried a couple more tracks, shrugged shoulders and mentally filed under 'Faith soundalike'.

Next up, a similar tale. Listened through a couple of tracks and mentally filed under 'Martina'.

And so it went on, and by the end of the first hour or so I found I had a set of three 'Faiths' two each of 'Martina' and 'Trisha', a dubious early nineties 'Shania' and even a 'Sara' !

My heart lifted once as a fiddle and dobro laden 'Alison' chimed in with a promising start, but track two and beyond saw a return to the ubiquitous swirling strings and the inevitable guitar solos, with the acoustic instruments confined to their place at the back of the mix.

Now you won't find me criticising Faith, Martina, Trisha, Shania, or any of the trailblazing 'New Country' stars. They have brought many, many new fans to Country Music and their legacy is instilled in today's Americana women singers – my gripe is only with lack of originality in the new generation of artists.

Why, ten or twelve years on, are labels content to produce bland, formula-driven music, a pale imitation of what has gone before, made even more asinine by the instrumentation and effects layered over the songs like so much cake icing?

Okay, this is beginning to turn into a rant, and let's be honest, it is always very easy to criticize.

Instead let's note that none of the artists in my clutch of CDs got filed under 'Lee Ann soundalike'. Ms. Womack is beyond reproach in the humble opinion of this writer in managing to retain the accessibility and innocence of the first wave of New Country, and combine it with true Country Music values without having to resort to token gestures of throwing traditional instruments into the mix just to dress it up and try to appeal to the traditionalists.

None of my collection of wannabees even attempted to try to reach the standard set by 'There's More Where That Came From'. Interesting, but that surely speaks volumes.

While we're showering praise, honourable mentions please to Miranda Lambert and Julie Roberts for being new artists that do actually bring something fresh and worthwhile to the table, and let's hope Gretchen Wilson manages to stick to her principles. Oh, and let's take the chance to celebrate Kelly Willis for still being Kelly Willis - standing her ground, and still making exceptional music in that wonderfully creative Texan environment.

Shame about my friend and his kind gesture, I hope if he's reading this he isn't offended, but Americana Music has to mean something, it has to feel as though it was produced because the artist just had to make the record or (s)he would burst.

I'm looking for Something to file under 'H' for Heart'n'Soul


http://www.livearticles.org/article.php?articleID=649



...ahhh... she wants something new..? -...just you wait... ;)


John - :)

[canoilers]

Thanks for the articles, John.

[Troll]

More great articles.

[shania megafan]

Great articles! :up:

[FinnFreak]

Toronto Star - Mar. 26, 2006


A Golden Age for Pop

http://www.thestar.com/images/thestar/img/060326_guitar_canada_300.jpg


by VIT WAGNER


It's probably pointless to keep tagging one burg or another as the next Seattle — the next nexus for a shape-shifting explosion in popular music.

But as long as the contest is still on — Montreal, Portland, Ore., and Edmonton come readily to mind as cities that have been thusly heralded in recent memory — maybe it's time to start thinking outside of the box. Or imagining a bigger box.

As the Canadian music industry prepares to converge in Halifax for the Juno Awards, here's a question that ought to galvanize all those insiders: What if the next Seattle is 5,514 kilometres wide and encompasses a total land mass of nearly 10 million square kilometres? What if that locale doesn't so much have an identifiable "sound" as it does an emerging consciousness of its place in the musical scheme of things?

What, in other words, if the next Seattle is Canada?

Absurd, to be sure. And possibly even heretical, given the historical reluctance of people here to toot our own horns.

But we are tooting our own horns — and strumming our own guitars, beating our own drums and plugging in our own amps and laptops — with a greater sense of urgency than at any moment in our history.

And we're not just doing it in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver — or even Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax. We're rocking, rapping and sampling from countless jurisdictions in between.

"For about a year now, whenever we've interviewed an international act, particularly people who haven't been here, at the end of they interview they regularly ask, `What's going on with Canada? All my favourite bands are from Canada now,'" says James Keast, 35, editor-in-chief of Exclaim!, an authoritative music monthly distributed freely from coast to coast.

A short list of favourite artists might include Vancouver's New Pornographers, Black Mountain/Pink Mountaintops and Destroyer, Edmonton's Corb Lund and Cadence Weapon, Winnipeg's the Weakerthans, Toronto's Broken Social Scene, Constantines, the Sadies, k-os and Dan Snaith (Manitoba/Caribou, actually of Dundas), Montreal's Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Kid Koala and the Dears, Halifax's Joel Plaskett and Buck 65 and a handful of Canadian names, including Stars, Feist and Metric, who seem to have no fixed address.

That's not just a deep talent pool, but one with impressive variety, with every style from loud indie rock to cerebral rap to tasteful coffeehouse pop.

"We're trained to think about what a Detroit sound is, what a Seattle sound is or whatever. We're trained to the idea that a scene will spawn a sound," Keast continues. "Because of the unique amalgam of musical and ethnic cultures that make up Canada, we can't have a sound. Nothing is dominant enough to be a sound. You go three doors down and somebody will be doing something radically different.

"I think that's one of the things that's truly compelling for music fans who don't really know anything about the country. To them, it's just, `Everything sounds great. And really weird and different. And what's that all about?' It spawns curiosity."

Critic Michael Barclay agrees that it's the rise of different sorts of talent that marks this Canadian surge. "One of the biggest clichés in music writing when you're talking about this kind of stuff is Seattle in the '90s," says Barclay, 34, who recently moved back to Toronto after working in Montreal for CBC Radio Two's alternative music program, Brave New Waves.

"You can argue that those (Seattle grunge) bands were different from each other, but there was very much an aesthetic at work there. For most people not familiar with the inner politics of that scene, it would all sound the same.

"I don't think any lay person would make that mistake with stuff coming out of Canada now. Buck 65 does not sound like the New Pornographers. The Arcade Fire does not sound like Broken Social Scene. There are very distinct things going on. Which speaks to the health of it. It also means that someone might be completely satiated listening only to Canadian music.

"Last year I was reading an interview with (Canadian actress) Sandra Oh on the cover of Bust magazine. They were asking her what she was listening to. And she said, `This might sound weird but I only listen to Canadian music. All my favourite music is Canadian.'"

This only partly has to do with why you can't make a trip to the dentist without hearing the Arcade Fire, the idiosyncratic, relatively obscure Montreal club band whose 2004 debut, Funeral, has gone on to sell roughly half a million copies. (This doesn't compare to the Seattle sound's titanic sales, but then no one sells albums like they used to.) Canada already had a solid record of producing commercial juggernauts — from Celine and Shania to Alanis and Avril to Nickelback — whose efforts, at least in this country, have been fostered by Canadian content regulations enforced by the CRTC.

Domestic pop's popularity has even less to do with the officially sanctioned CanCon that will be on display at next Sunday's Junos, where the abiding focus is on former Canadian Idol winners and also-rans.

It's mostly about how the paradigm has shifted in a way that makes future Arcade Fires — as well as lesser-selling but commercially viable acts like the New Pornographers on down — more likely.

Once, the potential fortunes of Canadian musicians rested almost entirely with branch offices of multi-national labels, a system designed to cultivate large-scale success to the exclusion of pretty much everything else. Good for Shania. Not so good for artists struggling to stay afloat with a fraction of her sales. Beset by downloading and shrinking profits, the majors became even more fixated on hitting the jackpot, as opposed to nurturing careers for the long term.

A couple of things have changed. First, the audience for music has become less homogenous, creating more niche markets for artists. This, in turn, has caused a proliferation of independent music labels, whose small scale enables them to make money on CDs that sell a few thousand.

Membership in the Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA) runs to nearly 100 labels. Many, including Toronto's Arts & Crafts, whose stable includes Broken Social Scene, Stars and Feist, have been around for less than a decade.

"The majors have learned to let the indie labels do what they do best," says Keast. "Let the indies do the A&R (talent scouting). Let them run a really small, low-overhead office. But give them access to the things that a major label has to offer, like resources, distribution and worldwide connections.

"Look at Arts & Crafts. Yes, it's operating completely independently from a major. But when it comes to getting in stores and having tour support or getting opening gigs for worldwide, international acts, then EMI helps with all of that."

Throw in digital technology — the ability to make and disseminate music from your own bedroom — and you preclude the necessity of being on a label. And there is no limit to who your audience might be.


`The idea that you need someone with a lot of power to come along and dub you the next big thing with their magic wand is gone.' - James Keast


In that sense, this is a much more genuine DIY moment than was the original do-it-yourself era of the mid-'70s, when almost all of the celebrated punk bands were signed to major labels.

"It's not about waiting for some A&R guy to come to your Canadian Music Week gig and hopefully paying attention and not schmoozing at the back of the room," says Keast. "The idea that you need someone with a lot of power to come along and dub you the next big thing with their magic wand is gone.

"Musicians can make their own opportunities. No matter how odd or obscure or geographically out-of-place the music might be, there's an opportunity to be heard and find a like-minded community of people. Those people might be in Belgium, but you have an opportunity to find them.

"Burlington has a scene that is known within a certain community, worldwide. There's a Burlington sound, according to zine publishers in England. It's sort of a scream-o thing, like Grade and Alexisonfire."

English zine publishers can be excused for not knowing that Alexisonfire actually hails from St. Catharines. But St. Catharines is as good a testament as any to what's happened.

As a budding music enthusiast growing up in that city in the 1960s and '70s, I can tell you, life was elsewhere. The bohemia of Toronto's Yorkville, where Neil Young and Joni Mitchell launched a previous renaissance in Canadian music making, might as well have been Liverpool or Greenwich Village.

In St. Catharines, there were no clubs. Concerts were rare. On the occasion when a hot act like A Foot in Coldwater or April Wine played a show, the gig was promoted by high school friends. You had to drive to Niagara Falls just to hear Max Webster.

Today, the city has an active club scene, indigenous bands and its own, annual, bar-hopping music festival. Sure, it remains largely a hard rock town, but it has also given birth to more adventurous outfits like Raising the Fawn, fronted by sometime Broken Social Scenester John Crossingham.

"People in those smaller communities are discovering music beyond the regular channels a lot easier," says Barclay. "It's not as if they grew up listening to classic rock and that's the kind of music they make when they turn 15. It's possible for kids outside of the major media centres to discover things .... Creativity is born out of necessity and boredom. If there's nothing going on in your town, you can make it happen."

The growth of Exclaim! has paralleled that development. When Keast joined the publication 11 years ago, the average edition ran 20 pages and reached about 15,000 readers, most of them in southern Ontario. Today, the average page count is 88. Roughly 100,000 copies are distributed in 2,700 locations nationwide, including the far north. The coverage is provided by a pool of nearly 100 writers, photographers and illustrators, connected to local scenes across the country.

"A lot of people look at Exclaim! and say that it's too Toronto-centric," Keast says. "That's an impression that we fight. But Toronto bands ***** about the fact that we never support Toronto. It's like, `You've always got some weirdo band from Edmonton on the cover.'"

In the past year, the magazine has had three covers touting Edmonton acts — a country singer (Corb Lund), a rapper (Cadence Weapon) and a punk band (Choke).

Moreover, the magazine's reader poll to determine 2005's best albums included discs by Broken Social Scene, the Constantines and Metric — although those albums didn't make a similar ranking by staff critics that ran in the previous issue.

"There's no longer a sense that Canadian music is good for you, like a spoonful of medicine," Keast says. "No longer do you support it out of any sense of patriotism. It's because Canadian bands will stand up against bands anywhere else in the world."

Quantity, of course, is no guarantee of quality. But there appears to be plenty of both.

"A lot of the work being produced today is particularly strong," says Barclay, who co-authored Have not been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance 1985-95, a 2001 book that charted the rise of a previous generation of artists that included The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, Art Bergmann and The Pursuit of Happiness.

"A lot of (Canadian music today) doesn't sound exclusively of the moment, but it certainly sounds current and modern and forward-thinking. So I have faith a lot of this music will hold up in 10 years.

"When I was growing up during the period my book is about," he continues, "I would read all the international press. You would almost never see a review of a Canadian band in Spin or Magnet. Now, any band that anyone is talking about in Canada is automatically reviewed in those magazines, in (hip online source) Pitchfork and everywhere else. For a long time, no one wanted to think of Canada as being anything other than Bryan Adams and Celine Dion. That stereotype is gone."

Evidence of exportability is abundant, whether it's the preliminary roster for this August's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, which already includes Broken Social Scene, the New Pornographers, Stars and Feist — or the fact that Feist was the first thing I heard when I walked into a Prague coffee shop last summer. Then there's the recent South by Southwest music festival in Austin. Canada was represented by 78 bands at the influential event, the second largest foreign contingent after the U.K.

"Early on, Canadian acts were seen as knockoffs of American talent," says Brent Grulke, 46, creative director of SXSW for the past 12 years.

"That's changed over the past few years, where people have become more cognizant of the fact that, say, Broken Social Scene and a lot of other groups could only be Canadian in a lot of ways."

Whether all this adds up to nominating this as the greatest moment so far in Canadian popular music is open to debate. The case is strong, but only time will tell.

"Something very special is going on right now but I would stop a little bit short of saying it's a Golden Age," says Bernie Finkelstein, 61, who founded Canada's first indie label, True North, 36 years ago.

"I'm a great admirer of Leslie Feist, the Arcade Fire and the Broken Social Scene, but you have to take one second to compare what's happening now with what was going on in Yorkville in the 1960s. Let's start talking about what Steppenwolf or Neil Young or Leonard Cohen or Gordon Lightfoot has left behind.

"But it's really exciting right now. And I think it has every opportunity to expand into something bigger."

On second thought, forget Seattle. Seattle is too small.


http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1143327032281&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630



John - :)

[canoilers]

Thanks for the great article, I liked it but I may be biased on that front. :p :D Well what'd they expect from a diverse country, you get diverse music. :D

[FinnFreak]

The Winnipeg Free Press / The Winnipeg Sun - Mon, March 27, 2006


The 'old barn' is just history now

The building was home to the city's beloved Jets hockey team and hosted concerts
by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Garth Brooks and Shania Twain


http://www.winnipegsun.com/2006/03/27/winsunarena-demolition298.jpg http://www.winnipegsun.com/FrontPage/2006/03/27/winsuncoverlarge.jpg http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ips_rich_content/167-frontmarch27.jpg
It took four hours and four tries yesterday before the Winnipeg Arena finally came down.




By CHRIS KITCHING


So much for the big bang theory.

Disappointment and glee were written on the faces of nearly 1,000 emotional onlookers when the Winnipeg Arena refused to go down in a heap of rubble and dust yesterday.

Four columns that supported the gutted arena withstood a blast of 200 kilograms of dynamite, so workers used construction vehicles to pull the building down three hours later when most of them had gone home.

"It wasn't enough (dynamite) obviously. Until we got it down it was frustrating," said Bob Molter of Rakowski Cartage & Wrecking Ltd. "The amount of (steel) rebar in the concrete columns was basically overkill."


'TEST SHOT'

He said his crew didn't know what to expect because they weren't able to do a "test shot" on a pillar before the real thing.

"There's only four columns so it's just like a chair. If you take one leg out the whole thing comes down," Molter said.

A loud explosion at 7:25 a.m. brought down the upper decks. The original arena structure didn't budge, eliciting laughter and jeers from spectators.

"It's supposed to go down with a big bang, no?" said Ken Michasiw, 46, dressed in a Winnipeg Jets jersey. "It's disappointing. I wanted to see the big boom."

Some wondered if it was a sign from the hockey gods.

"The spirit of the Jets holds this building up," Wes Ruiter shouted as gawkers left a gathering spot at the Home Depot parking lot on Empress Street.

The demolition crew immediately went to work to crush that apparent spirit and bring the 21-metre-tall arena to the ground.

Workers attached cables to two columns and used heavy construction vehicles to pull the legs out from under the 50-year-old building.

After several attempts and snapped cables, the structure came crashing down about 10:45 a.m. in front of a much smaller crowd of camera-toting spectators.

Molter said the twisted debris should be cleared in a month.

For many, it's the final step before they lose a physical connection to five decades of history and personal memories.

The morning was bittersweet for Theresea Burke, who became engaged to husband David at a Manitoba Moose game Oct. 12, 2001.

Her husband is deaf and used sign language to propose.

"He got me on to the second level and everyone was watching on the screens," Burke said. "On the scoreboard it said 'Theresea, will you marry me?' It was exciting."

John Custance and others began arriving before 5 a.m. to give the Old Barn its last rites.

Sitting atop his van with his eight-year-old son Brandon, Custance outlined the reasons they came to watch.

"For me, it's history. For him, it's the fun of the implosion. Kids like to see a big bang," Custance, 31, said. "I spent a lot of my youth in there at Jets games, the Red River Exhibition and the circus."

Gil and Sharon Verran were there when Winnipeg Arena was built.

"It was great because we didn't have anything other than the amphitheatre on Osborne Street up until then," Gil Verran said. "I wouldn't want to count how many times we've been in there."


http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2006/03/27/1507012-sun.html


John - :)

[canoilers]

There goes a peice of Canadian sporting history. It still had the portrait of the queen, last major league rink in Canada to do so. That place seen alot of great games between the Oil and the Jets. That was a great rivalry. Thanks for the article John. :D

Thats also were Selanne broke the Rookie Goal and point record in 92-93. :D

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles.

[Alex]

what a amazing news are here... I'd never read'em... they're very interesting! ;)

[FinnFreak]

The Australian - 28 March 2006


Rhinestone cowboys

John Lee dons his Stetson and spurs to join the annual stampede to Calgary

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,5129995,00.jpg
Frontierland: Chuck wagon races are a highlight of
the Calgary Stampede


THE undisputed cowboy country of Alberta, Canada, has been Hollywood's Wild West movie backlot for years (think Unforgiven, Legends of the Fall and even Shanghai Noon), with chap-clad stars flocking to its unspoiled prairie vistas and cost-conscious studios lassoing its cowpoking expertise every time the genre makes a cinematic comeback.

But for visitors to bustling Calgary, the province's modern Dodge City, cowboy culture is not just make-believe. More than a century after the first cattle herders arrived, white Stetsons, snakeskin boots and huge belt buckles are almost as popular as ever.

This is especially true during the annual stampede, a mammoth 10-day fiesta of Western cool that's one of the biggest rodeo events in North America. About 1.2million visitors – more than the city's population – regularly don their denims, mosey into town and whoop it up for dozens of edge-of-your-seat attractions, including bucking bronco contests and chuck wagon races (a frenetic Wild West reinvention of the Roman chariot dash).

Touted as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the 94-year-old Calgary Stampede is the city's premier attraction. One long party for locals – many businesses allow unofficial work-slow schedules for their bleary-eyed employees – it's a roiling cavalcade of rodeo contests, livestock exhibitions, stage shows and a giant, pulsating fairground midway. As you swagger around in your Stetson and tight jeans, check out the heart-attack-themed food stands: the choice on my visit includes spongy corn dogs, macaroni and cheese deep-fried in breadcrumbs and, of course, many varieties of barbecued Alberta beef.

Visitors who survive this gastronomic assault spend most of their recovery time at the rodeo displays. Thousands ring the oval mud track to catch testosterone-fuelled contests, including wild cow milking, steer wrestling and wild pony racing. The main attractions are the saddle bronc championships, where violently bucking horses try to snap the spines of their grimacing riders, and the even-more-foolhardy bull riding, where perching atop a writhing mass of muscle intent on tossing you off and trampling on your head is seen as a good idea.

The audience favourites, though, are the nightly chuck wagon races. These slimmed-down versions of frontierland food wagons are pulled by teams of four highly strung thoroughbreds that thunder around the track in less than 90 seconds.

Known as the Half Mile of Hell, these races have audiences on their feet screaming for their favourite teams, especially on the final night when the winner receives a $C50,000 ($60,000) prize.

During the stampede, Calgary's western-themed bars and nightclubs cover their exteriors in straw bales and start pumping Shania Twain tunes into the streets. If you're inspired to line dance, head to Cowboys on Fifth Street SW. Most clubs tone down the stirrup-and-Stetson kitsch for the rest of the year, but 1980s soft rock still maintains a stonewashed stranglehold on much of the city. As with the rest of Calgary's non-redneck scenes, visitors need to dig a little deeper to find the city's best bars. Among the finest are the Hop In Brew, an excellent grungy pub residing in an old heritage home that stocks the region's finest craft beer producers, including Wild Rose and Alley Kat Brewing.

For a traditional-style pub fully stocked with Big Rock beers, check out the Ship & Anchor, which attracts a vibrant weekend crowd and has a great patio.

Although the stampede is the rhinestone jewel in Calgary's summer crown, there are plenty of additional enticements to ensure year-round visitors are fully occupied. One of Canada's largest metropolises, the city that embodies all-things western has enough cosmopolitanism to keep ornery gunslingers and vacationing city slickers equally happy.

With the snow-capped crags of the Rocky Mountains standing like ghostly sentinels on the distant horizon, unrelenting flatness is the defining characteristic of Calgary's geography. This absence of landform obstacles has encouraged planners to spread out rather than up, giving the city an unappealing sense of sprawl. To get the lay of the land, visitors should head first to downtown Calgary Tower, a slender concrete column with a panoramic observation deck. This lofty overview helps contextualise the gridded street system and the winding Bow and Elbow rivers.

Within the downtown core, Stephen Avenue Walk is the centre of the action and the main shopping drag. It's a pleasant, mostly pedestrianised promenade of historic stone buildings scrubbed back to their former glory.

But there are more independent stores in the bohemian Kensington district. The recommended shops there include the Beehive bath products store (which proves even cowboys use lip balm) and Livingstone & Cavell Extraordinary Toys (perhaps the only shop in town where you can buy clockwork sushi and feel good about it).

Those desperate for that authentic cowboy look will prefer to save their money for the Alberta Boot Company. A multicoloured Aladdin's cave of cowboy footwear, this is the province's last authentic boot manufacturer. Budget at least $C230 for an off-the-peg pair or flick through the alligator and rattlesnake samples for a custom-made order.

Away from the stampede, it's important to remember the historic west wasn't wild for everyone. Visitors can tap into the past lives of everyday pioneers over at the 27ha Heritage Park, Canada's largest living historical village. With its natural vistas obscuring most views of the downtown skyscrapers, visitors can stroll along frontierland streets and duck into authentic clapboard saloons, stores and houses that reflect what it was like to set up home there in the 1800s.

Rather then being a museum of mothballed artefacts, the emphasis is on interaction. You can rack up the balls in the authentic snooker hall – complete with original bullet holes in its walls – duck into the bakery for the best cheese buns in town or hop on the original steam train for a trip around the grounds. A popular tranquillity break from the modern city streets, savvy visitors arrive early for the free breakfast of sausages and pancakes served before 10am.

For a taste of what the west was like before the cowboys arrived, head back downtown to the excellent Glenbow Museum. Built from the eclectic artefact collection of a former city industrialist – armour from the Tower of London jostles for space with African tribal masks – the museum's best gallery is also its newest.

Tracing the colourful past and present lives of the local Blackfoot First Nations, its evocative exhibits carefully explain key traditions, including the fascinating animal hide story-robes decorated with important events from the lives of their owners.

Focusing on corporate travellers – Calgary is the centre of Canadian oil production – the city is a dustbowl of bland Marriott and Ramada chain hotels. By contrast, the Fairmont Palliser is the region's swankiest sleepover. This 1914 grand dame has high-ceilinged suites and chandeliered ballrooms. A short walk from the city centre, Elbow River Manor is a cosy arts and crafts B&B for those on tighter budgets, but book ahead as there are only three rooms. If you like the idea of relaxing on a wooden veranda, Hartwood House B&B is also a good option: this bright, Provencal-style property has a large, nap-inducing garden.

Dining? Beef has been the favourite tucker of Calgarians since the first cow was wrestled to the ground there. But while most visitors are happy to sink into a T-bone at the old-school Hy's Steak House or fill their boots on buckets of ribs at Booker's Barbecue Grill or Crabshack, there's only one dish that truly tests your mettle as a frontiersman. Buzzards Restaurant and Bar has been serving the exotically named prairie oysters – otherwise known as bulls' testicles – to foolhardy gastronomes for years.

In the interest of research, I take the plunge and can report that the wonton dish – accompanied by plum sauce – is the least disturbing preparation, while the plate of Italian meatballs is served with a psychologically damaging blood-red sauce. With a pasty texture and flavour similar to ground liver, this local delicacy could induce instant vegetarianism.

In a city where bland Canadian beers such as Molson and Kokanee are depressingly ubiquitous – cowboys are rarely fussy about what they drink – it's reassuring to know that one local brew has been attracting discerning connoisseurs since 1985.

Calgary's Big Rock Brewery is one of North America's leading craft beer producers and while local bars offer many of its best varieties, a pilgrimage to the heart of the matter is recommended. For $C5, visitors can take a saliva-inducing tour of the production process before decamping to the taproom for some liquid relief. First-timers should start with the Traditional Ale before graduating to the more exotic pleasures of Black Amber stout. Yee haw.


Checklist

The 2006 Calgary Stampede is from July 7 to 16; average temperature about 25C with occasional rain.

It is drier and usually warmer in August and September when non-stampede tourists arrive to claim the town. Calgary has an efficient rapid transit system, the C-Train, which works in conjunction with a bus network; the C-Train is free in the downtown core and fares outside this zone are $C2.25.

www.calgarystampede.com
www.tourismcalgary.com
www.fairmont.com/palliser
www.elbowrivermanor.com
www.hartwoodhouse.ca



Cool dudes wild about the west

by Jodie Minus


IT ain't just little boys dressing up as cowboys any more. Following the success of Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain, the rodeo style of western boots, yoke shirts with snap pockets and cowboy hats is riding back.

Guy Daley of Australian clothing retailer Route 66, which specialises in a rockabilly-punk-country hybrid of US vintage clothes, western boots and accessories for "hepcats and kittens", says his Melbourne shop has had a huge increase in sales of western-style gear.

Daley cites the influence of Brokeback Mountain on a "certain type of customer", essentially the gay population frequenting the bars of nearby Commercial Road in inner-city Melbourne. Daley says those customers look for western hats, shirts and boots to wear to gay cowboy parties.

He also cites the recent success of the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line as a catalyst to move along wagonloads of bolo ties: a string of black leather or cord looped around the neck and fixed with a silver clasp.

In the US, where real cowboys still roam the prairies, Ralph Lauren's Double RL label of ranch wear and vintage denim is expanding with two stores in New York and another to follow in Los Angeles. The Ralph Lauren website is advertising a special edition $US100,000 ($139,400) Airstream (a mid-20th-century silver-clad caravan) as the "perfect hideout for the cowboy whose range extends far beyond the beaten path".

According to reports in the US press, popular New York designer Marc Jacobs was given access to the Wrangler jeans archives and emerged with reinventions of classic 1940s and '50s cowboy wear. Other labels waving the lasso are Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul Smith and Diesel. But before jumping on the back of this latest fashion horse, remember: real cowboys do it better.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18619857%255E5002031,00.html



John - :)

[canoilers]

BOOOOOOOOO!!! Calgary sucks monkeys butts. I might be biased on that, but it does suck. :p Thanks for the article about my Province, even if it is about our ugly sisters to the south. South where the Flames are going in the standings, Oilers will win the North West Division. Shania didn't go to no Juno's in Calgary, She didn't host any Grey cups in Calgary. Edmontons better even Shania knows that. :p

[canoilers]

You may all be wondering why I'm being so nice and polite too Calgary, well Calgarians live there and that must be tough as is. :p

[FinnFreak]

...it's all somehow tied with hockey, eh..?


John - :p

[canoilers]

That goes for Football too, and pretty much everything else that Edmonton is better than Calgary at. :p Stampeders suck, Eskimo's Rock. :p

[canoilers]

Brokeback Mountain was also shot in Alberta too, just so you know. :p

[FinnFreak]

...in Calgary or Edmonton..?


John - :p

[FinnFreak]

;)

The Hockey News - Tuesday, March 28, 2006


LOOSE CHANGE: FREE AGENT FANS


by Charlie Teljeur


All right Leaf fans, give it up. You too Panthers and Kings fans. Even you upstart Thrasher-backers, it's over. Sure, there's still that mathematical chance for some of you, but face the facts, you're not going to the big dance. Stay at home, turn up the music real loud and cry into your pillow. Stephen Hawking just phoned. Even he says it's over.

Of course, it doesn't mean your hockey watching is over for the year. It's just that you'll have to start cheering for someone else. We have quite a few nice choices and the selection is fairly nice.

For those of you who like exciting hockey, we have the Ottawa Senators. You may remember us from the embarrassingly futile runs through the early 90s. Back then our Zamboni only had to flood one half of the ice between periods and those savings have been passed onto you. Since then we've added some grit, made our captain cut his hair, and sent Patrick Lalime to a team more reflective of his ability. Sure our regular goalie's kind of squirrelly, but when he's on you'll be willing to forgive his diva behavior and that milk crate on his head. Yes indeed folks, the Cup might be back in Ontario by spring's end. It's just that FedEx doesn't deliver west of Kingston*. The Senators welcome you!
*not a guarantee, we're Ottawa after all.

If consistency is more to liking, may I suggest the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit has a proud tradition of winning hockey and has numerous Stanley Cup championships to prove it. Sure, most of them had a guy named Bowman in the mix but we're consistently competitive at the very least. Come watch Stevie Y make one last run at the Cup. Come watch Chris Chelios before his debut on The World Shuffleboard Tour. And we're still completely 100 per cent Cheadle's-free.

You like upstarts? Then the Carolina Hurricanes might just be what you're looking for. You may remember us sucking major octopus in 2002. Well, things have changed a lot since then. We're fast, talented and we don't smell like motor oil anymore. We have one of the brightest young talents in the game in Eric Staal and who doesn't love the Gerber baby in goal? Admittedly our playoff track record is not great. OK, fairly modest. Well, actually, pretty dismal, but we're really excited about this spring since we've added Doug Weight, who won a Cup in…Look, it's not about yesterday, it's about now. We welcome true hockey fans to the Hurricane family. Perhaps you could help explain to us about this offside thing…

For good bang for your buck, you can't go wrong with the Dallas Stars. Sure we've actually only won one Stanley Cup in our history, but every year feels like another one's coming. We still have Modano and Zubov, but now have more Finns than a Tuna Boat. We have the shootout nailed should it ever get that far (you never know) and our goaltending is playoff-savvy (theoretically speaking). And, next to the Cowboys, the Mavs, the Rangers, FC Dallas and the Arlington Drum and Bugle Corps we're the hottest ticket in Dallas.

Don't be fooled by 2004, the Calgary Flames are for real. We're not a one hit wonder. We were this (a replay official with a pair) close to winning it all that year and are gearing up for another extended playoff run. We've addressed our scoring deficiency by adding Tony Amonte, Daymond Langkow and Jamie Lundmark which might not seem like a lot, but keep in mind, the farther the Flames go, the more the beer flows, the warmer the weather gets, the hotter the Red Mile becomes. Are you with me? Go Flames!

For pure nostalgia, the Tampa Bay Lightning is your choice. We're the defending champs and are anticipating another…no really, we're the incumbents. Check the stats. I'm serious. OK, I'll check again, but I'm sure I read it right.

The old guard is represented by the Philadelphia Flyers. 1975 seems like yesterday and if Blue Cross kicks in those bonuses, we'll be the team to beat.

The Nashville Predators are The Little Engine That Could. Follow us to the Cup. We're out to prove you can win with Hobbits and we promise to convince Shania to sing the national anthem in a tank top and Garth Brooks not to.

For the frugal fan, the New York Rangers are for you. Built around value, we've assembled a team that's hockey's equivalent to a Kia. We're so confident in our affordable qualities that, if you're not completely satisfied with our product we'll send you a Czech. We have lots.

And to take penny-pinching to a new level, we present the Buffalo Sabres. You could buy this team at a yard sale and still get change back for a dollar. There are five good reasons to be a Sabres' fan: (1) we're fast (2) we're young (3) we're talented (4) we're energetic (5) we're from Buffalo. OK, four reasons.

If you disregard talent and consistency and you're one of those who believe in a higher power, try the Montreal Canadiens. It is God's favorite team after all, although he apparently hasn't been watching intensely since 1993.

Like Gilligan's Island had the Professor, Mary Anne and that anemic midget Pedro, the NHL has its filler cast made up of New Jersey, Colorado, Anaheim, Edmonton, Vancouver and San Jose. Why choose one of these? Because you'll at least get four more games out of them than that sorry sad sack crew you've been wasting your time on all year. And, they're deductible.


Charlie Teljeur, creator of THN's hockeysockpuppettheatre, brings you Loose Change every Tuesday and Thursday, only on thehockeynews.com.

Want to talk to Charlie about love, life, or Loose Change? Email him at charlieteljeur@hotmail.com


http://www.thn.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=20562



John - :p

[Troll]

Great article. :up: :great:

[Troll]

'How my husband died in our Shania Twain sex game'
By Stewart Payne
(Filed: 30/03/2006)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/30/nwest30.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/30/ixhome.html

[Troll]

Some of her best material came from Tammy Wynette's Run Woman Run, a song written from the point of view of an older woman giving advice to a younger woman who has left her man.

The lyrics made famous by the American singer, who was married five times, include: "You may not find true love again, so go home while you still can, and find a way to work it out with your man."

Miss Henderson, of Blyth, Northumberland, explained: "In the 1980s, attitudes like that began to change and songs by the likes of Rosanna Cash showed a more liberated view of women. By the time the 1990s came around, Shania Twain had changed things completely.

Her song Man, I Feel Like A Woman turned the traditional image on its head." Unlike Tammy Wynette, Shania Twain's song urged women to "get a little outta line", "have a little fun" and "go totally crazy".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/07/19/ngeog19.xml

[FinnFreak]

:D

...a Shania-misspelling in a press release:


Business Wire - March 30, 2006 01:16 AM US Eastern Timezone


Scania Introduces Exclusive Long Distance Coaches To China


STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2006--Scania (STO:SCVA)(STO:SCVB) is now launching its internationally awarded high-end coach chassis to the growing Chinese market. At Bus World Asia 2006 in Shanghai, Scania together with the local bus body builder Golden Dragon show an entirely newly designed long distance high end coach.

"We can now, together with one of China's leading bus body builders, Golden Dragon, offer the market exclusive long-distance coaches," says Mats Harborn, responsible for Scania in China.

The bus is built on the Scania high-end long distance coach chassis K124 with independent front suspension, which gives extra stability and a smooth comfortable ride. The coach shown is a 12 meter 45 seat bus.

"Our strategy is to work together with local strong body builders in markets where we are active.

Demand for this type of safe and comfortable long-distance coaches with excellent fuel economy, is growing in the whole of South East Asia. Therefore cooperation with Chinese body builders has also potential to lead to large export business from China," says Mats Harborn.

"Scania has a very strong position in East Asia for long-distance coaches," says Senior Vice President Henrik Henriksson, who is responsible for Shania's global sales of bus chassis. Since many years Scania is the market leader in this segment in Taiwan and has traditionally a very strong position also in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

At the Exhibition Scania is also showing a 6X2 chassis for 13.7 meters buses. This chassis has a hydraulically steered tag axle which improves turning radius, drivability and reduces tire wear and tear. It is equipped with a 420 Hp (306 kW) 12-litre engine with world renowned high torque and low fuel consumption.

Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. A growing proportion of the company's operations consists of products and services in the financial and service sectors, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective transport solutions and maximum uptime. Employing 30,000 people, Scania operates in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. In 2005, invoiced sales totalled SEK 63.3 billion and the net income amounted to SEK 4.7 billion.

Bus chassis production takes place in Sweden, Brazil and Mexico.

Bodybuilding takes place in Poland and Russia.

Scania press releases are available on the Internet, www.scania.com

This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060329005987&newsLang=en


John - :biglaugh:

[FinnFreak]

The Berkshire Eagle - Thursday, March 30


Real women provide some real inspiration


By Jenn Smith


PITTSFIELD — Real women smile. Real women suffer. And in Berkshire County, real women (and men) write about other real women who have affected their lives.

The awards ceremony for the 20th annual "REAL WOMEN" essay contest was held last night at the Berkshire Museum. The essays will be on display there and at other local venues for the next few weeks.

Guest and families maxed out the museum's theater capacity to honor the contest's 40 winners and the women they chose to represent. Interestingly enough, two of the three winners from multiple years were boys.

Jim Schneider said it was a good experience for his son Nicholas, a kindergartner at Craneville Elementary School in Dalton. He described a "real woman" as "someone that can manage it all... Women are so much better at that than men most of the time."

Superintendent Katherine Darlington of the Pittsfield Public School Department served as mistress of ceremonies. "Throughout your life, you will be constantly looking for mentors," she said.

And based on the students' essays and drawings, you needn't look far.

After Pittsfield Girl Scout Troop 538 performed a flag ceremony and recited The Girl Scout Promise, all the essay winners and notable local women were recognized in a slide show.

Audiences members smiled and tapped their feet as the PowerPoint played to the pop hits "I'm Every Woman" by Whitney Houston and "She's Not Just a Pretty Face" by Shania Twain.

The faces and bios of real women with local roots, from professional boxers to military leaders to stay-at-home moms, were shown alongside notable leading ladies like Edith Wharton.

"Children have an unencumbered sense of truth — no pretense. That is why they picked you," said guest speaker Sister Eunice Tassone, executive director of the Church Outreach to Youth Center, to the women in the audience.

Awards were distributed by grade level from kindergarten through Grade 12. Essays were written about mothers, grandmothers, teachers and neighbors to women like Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Three children volunteered to read their essays. Riley Nichols, a first-grader at Egremont School in Pittsfield, wrote about civil rights leader Rosa Parks.

Brittani Tassone, a second-grader at Conte Community School in Pittsfield, read about her school nurse, Mary Turner, who has been at the school for 28 years. "She has to be brave to do her job," said Tassone, who listed tending to bloody cuts and head lice as Turner's more valiant acts.

Joey Szczepaniak, a fourth-grader and third-time winner, read about recent Eagle Woman of the Week, Beverly Favreau, a teacher at Craneville Elementary School in Dalton.

"I am so impressed with this 20 years later," said contest founder and creator Barbara Shepetin, formerly an area director for the state Department of Education.

The contest is a project of the Massachusetts Department of Education and has received support from 19 Berkshire businesses.

She said the original purpose of the contest was "to write women into history."

And it seems to have worked. This past year, current contest coordinator Paulette LaPalm entered the grassroots contest into the Women Change America Contest sponsored by the National Women's History Project. The local project took third place and will be featured later this year in a special Women's History Guide.


http://www.berkshireeagle.com/headlines/ci_3653723


John - :)

[SHANIANUTS!]

'How my husband died in our Shania Twain sex game'
By Stewart Payne
(Filed: 30/03/2006)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/30/nwest30.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/03/30/ixhome.html...in some way it is reassuring to me to know that the wack jobs of this world are equally spread around the world and that we here in the States have not cornered the market on them...

[FinnFreak]

I think the percentage is pretty much the same everywhere... it's total population number from where they arise what's frightening...


John - :smirk:

[Troll]

If Shania Twain thought she felt like a woman before, she'd feel like a Super Woman with these girly, wedge-heeled shoes. Mudd's Feeling capitalize on spring's crochet trend, topping it off with a flirty ribbon ankle wrap. $29.90

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006603290526

[ShaniasIrishGuy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v96/ShaniasIrishGuy/dailystarshaniastory.jpg

Thought you guys might like this -try not to laugh :huh:

From Daily Star, Thursday 30 March 2006-

COVER STORY
MY SEXY SHANIA DANCE KILLED HUBBY
-THAT DIDN'T IMPRESS HIM MUCH!
"A wife shot her husband dead -as she was doing a sexy dance to a SHANIA TWAIN song. Linda West told police she was writhing around with husband Gregory's Shotgun when it went off, killing him." :shocked:

PAGE 15
I SHOT HUBBY DEAD DANCING TO SHANIA
A wife blasted her husband dead with a shotgun while doing a sexy dance to a Shania Twain song.
Tearful Linda West told a court yesterday she was gyrating to Man! I Feel Like A Woman when it fired by accident.
West, 49, demonstrated her sexy routine to the jury using a broom handle. :shocked:
Gregory, her husband of two months, was killed instantly by a shot to his chest.
His wife dialled 999 and sobbed down the phone: "Oh my God, I have shot him."
Police called to the flat [and] found the 45-year-old dead in an armchair wearing only a dressing gown.
The prosecution claim the couple had argued that evening and West had deliberatley shot the marine engineer.
But West, who denies murder and manslaughter, told Winchester Crown Court she had been cavorting at their Southampton flat to fulfil her husband's fantasy. West, a petite blonde, re-enacted her moves using the broom handle telling the jury: "I'm holding the barrels of the gun and i'm dancing holding the gun. I was entertaining my husband.
"Towards the end of the record, when the record finished, I ended up putting the gun down on the floor to the side of me."
Then, with tears streaming, she said: "It just went off... it just went bang."
The double-barreled shotgun's safety catch was not working properly.
Weapons experts said if dropped the gun could go off without anyone touching the trigger.
West told the court she did not know this.
She also described her sexual relationship with her husband as "experimental".
The trial continues.


Shania-related story of the year or what?!? :shocked:

[Troll]

Shania-related story of the year or what?!? :shocked:

I think so. Shocking.

[ShaniaKoukla]

That's so funny, yet sad, thanks for sharing ;)

[shania-up]

this is crazy.. some people ...

[Shania's4life!!]

..first the mental driver, now this... :uhh:

Poor Shania.

[matty]

Considering all that's going on it says a lot about the quality of that "paper" that that is their main story.

[canoilers]

...in Calgary or Edmonton..?


John - :p
Defiantly not Edmonton, you really don't see many mountains here. :p

[shaniagal]

I heard about this guy on the news yesterday who got in a car crash and said it was because Shania Twain was telling him to. :uhh:

[countrylatina]

that is really weird........oh by the way i'm new to the SF.HI EVERYONE!!!!!

[Troll]

Shania's gonna getcha
SCOTT DEVEAU

Globe and Mail Update

First it was the Beatles's Helter Skelter, then Judas Priest, and now Shania Twain.

The music of the Canadian songstress has figured prominently in defence arguments at two bizarre criminal cases this past week.

On Thursday, the Winchester Crown Court in Hants, England, heard how a newlywed woman, after a night of drinking wine with her husband, accidentally shot him to death while she danced provocatively to Ms. Twain's Man, I Feel Like a Woman.

The woman, who is up on murder charges, says she was wearing only a dressing gown and holding a loaded shotgun while she danced, but allegedly didn't know the gun had a faulty safety catch, according to an article published on telegraph.co.uk, the online version of the Daily Telegraph.

She alleges the gun went off when she placed it on ground beside her.

"It was a game, it was a game," she reportedly told court, after recreating the dance with a broomstick for the jury. "It was just a sexual game."

But, the prosecution alleges the women got the gun and shot her husband deliberately. The trial continues.

On Monday, Ms. Twain's music once again figured prominently in the successful defence man charged with impaired driving, who claimed the singer was helping him drive telepathically at the time of his arrest in Ottawa last October.

A judge ruled Monday that Matt Brownlee, 33, was not criminally responsible for his actions, which resulted in four charges, including impaired operation of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified, when he was picked up on suspicion of driving drunk on a busy street in Ottawa.

Mr. Brownlee, who suffers from a mental disorder, reportedly told the court he understood the repercussions of his actions, but that at the time of his arrest believed Ms. Twain was helping him drive.

Several psychiatric assessments were cited in the judges decision that found Mr. Brownlee suffering from a mental disorder that makes him believe female celebrities, such as Ms. Twain, are communicating with him telepathically.

Experts told the court Mr. Brownlee's erotomania stemmed from brain injuries he sustained in a fatal crash that he caused in 1996. Mr. Brownlee was banned for life from driving after the accident and was handed a seven-year sentence in 1997 after he killed Linda Lebreton-Holmes, and her 12-year-old son while driving with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit.

Psychiatrists are currently trying to assess the risk Mr. Brownlee poses to the public, before deciding on whether he should be detained in a care facility.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060330.wshania0330/BNStory/Entertainment/home

[FinnFreak]

that is really weird........oh by the way i'm new to the SF.HI EVERYONE!!!!!

In my opinion, it's incredibly friggin' sad... people should take responsibility for their own actions - NOT put the blame on artists... :sad:

...oh well... C'est La Vie... :smirk:


...but anyways...

:D:up: - Welcome aboard..!


John - :)

[Troll]

UMG Nashville Pushes Digital Branding Initiative


Universal Music Group (UMG) Nashville is now pushing a strategy that involves digital formats and brand marketing. The label revealed several new relationships this week, including pacts with MPP Ventures, a Miami-based digital content strategic consulting group, and Promotional Currency, LLC, a firm that is focused on creating digital promotions. The resulting team will reach out to various brands that are interested in aligning themselves with UMG Nashville artists, while also tapping an increasingly digital and mobile-focused audience.



The move will further leverage the influence of country music, which has developed an incredibly strong footprint in the US. "Country music is now playing on the radios of over 49 million adults between the ages of 18 and 49 each week, making it the most popular radio format in America," explained MPP Ventures managing partner Peter Cohen. "It is a music genre with strong mass appeal, and will be very effective for our clients looking for digital music content promotions." Top UMG Nashville artists include Josh Turner, Shania Twain, Sugarland, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill and George Strait.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/#032906nash

[tower]

Perhaps someone can explain why my research shows less and less Radio Stations in the USA and Canada are sticking with the Country music format.... Some one is telling a whopper in that article... Ooh could it be a Mr Peter Cohen. Now he would not have a vested interest in promoting C & W music would he....

No I am sure he is truthfull and not trying to work all the angles... Yeah Right... Time Shania got the heck away from Universal and UMG in my opinion.

Do your own research if you think he is telling the truth and find out for yourself just what a bad shape 'new country' music is in.

[Troll]

Still, hasn’t word gotten around about your humble oven on the upper West Side?

On Saturdays people come from all over the city. It’s a thing to do. One Saturday the caterer for Shania Twain came in and cleaned us out of quite a few of our olive rosemary breads.

Besides Shania, what’s fun about baking bread?

The two guys I bake with every night, we’re very close. Talk about the caliber of conversation. It’s about coming to the bakery, seeing the oven, experiencing the people. That is pure entertainment.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/14215091.htm?source=rss&channel=kansascity_entertainment

[Troll]

God Bless The Rebels!

Jimmy Carter (Rumbles from the Row)

Where would we be without the rebels of Country? With the passing of Buck
Owens, we have one fewer.
Far too many people only knew Buck as a buffoon from the Hee Haw TV show.
Buck Owens was one of greats in Country music, and his death reminded many of
us who needed to be reminded.

Buck's twangy honk tonk guitar was an antidote to the slick syrup poured from
Nashville during those years. I was into pop music myself, and Nashville
Country to me could not have been more uninteresting. Bob Wills yes ? Roy
Acuff NO. The western swing and cowboy music was cool. It was always amazing
how the same Nashville studios that could produce raw Elvis and Roy Orbison
did put out a lot of music that sounded McDonald's franchised. Ultimately,
when you mated Bob Wills, Buck Owens and the Nashville Sound of Chet Atkins,
you had a great mix that made up some of the best music ever made.

Jim Reeves and his distinctive vocals. Patsy Clines burning your ears, never
letting you forget her.

Buck Owens is a symbol of doing it YOUR way. Playing the guitar with too much
treble. Honky tonky and not just falling in line with what the bosses wanted.
True to yourself. Buck was all that and more.

Owning your masters was the advice he gave to Garth. Lord knows what he told
Dwight Yoakam over the years. Buck was pompous and cocky and a man of
integrity. He knew how to make a "Buck." Stubborn at times as the mule he was
named after back in Texas. All qualities that we still admire. Or some of us
do.

He didn't let the CMA run all over him. That's why the ACM was created. The
Opry mafia of the 50's and 60's either. Good! Willie, Waylon, Johnny, and
Merle were all cut from that cloth. What would Country music have been
without that Mount Rushmore of names? All Rebels. Pains in the *** for their
labels and trade associations. They just did not fit in the box right. They
did things THEIR way.

Hank Jr. is a more modern version of this crowd. Brad Paisley has a bit of it
in him and so does Dierks Bently. Shania sure does.

Playing within the system is safe. If everyone skated out of bounds we would
have chaos. Still, what would we do without the men and women who cannot be
sheep? Same thing can be paralleled to the radio and broadcast world where
Buck Owens was also a major leader. Just today I heard of some programmers
who have so much free time that they can tell how long each jock talks and
times every break. God knows we don't want anyone talking other than a liner
card or time and 2 sentence weather like the robots at the Cox radio
stations.

You wonder why terrestrial radio is going down? Just look in the mirror or
listen to a lot of the radio you make a living on. No one seems to understand
the concept of a Gerry House or Don Imus or Howard Stern. Mancow, once upon a
time Rick Dees, Robert W Morgan, The Real Don Steele. It was their TALKING
with the other elements that made great radio. Not just the music.

The overly-researched and focus-grouped world of radio today is choking the
medium to death. The fact that the overly-researched and pre-chewed music is
never anything but safe is killing the medium we all once loved.

Not back announcing songs. Not doing local news. Playing 25 minutes of
commercials in an hour (at least that's been better lately). Playing the good
songs to death. Letting people who have no idea what they want make
decisions. Ridiculous.

Aren't we glad we never focus-grouped Buck and Willie and Waylon and Johnny
and Bob Dylan and Neil Young, early Elvis, James Brown, Ray Charles ? I could
go on and on and on. Anyone you ever gave a **** about was a Buck Owens kind
of act. Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Bill Drake, Ron Jacobs, and on and on. If
you don't the names of all the people I just named, you need to hit the books
and figure out how we got to where we are in the first place.

God bless you, Buck. Some of us know you were a hell of a lot more than just
a co-host of Hee Haw!

http://www.allaccess.com/

[tower]

The above is a GREAT article, and just sums up why Radio is Dying in North America... why the music industry is in deep deep trouble... but of course so easy to blame downloading etc etc... Yeah right.

Timmins Moose FM played one Shania record over and over again for 24 hours and only got a handful of people phoning in... then switched format from 'new country' to Classic Rock... more pre formatted computer generated every song repeats in a day 3 times rubbish.... Give me a break Guys. North American playlisting is killing RADIO... simple as that.

We need more rebels... more people kicking butt... less suits, more people who actually like music and know a good song from bad... more pesonality DJ's who actually read local news, give real time checks, make mistakes and do not READ from CUE CARDS... OK rant over.

[Troll]

Here are some funny headlines that Dax and Chris found when they put Shania Twain in search on msn.com

http://www.mymsnsearch.com/results.aspx?q=Shania++Twain&FORM=rMrNj62g7oWb
http://www.mymsnsearch.com/results.aspx?q=Shania+Twain&FORM=PYp3QbDQDyDF
http://www.mymsnsearch.com/results.aspx?q=Shania+Twain&FORM=MeF46zmPf3GE

[canoilers]

Great articles guys, keep them coming.

Those were funny Andrew, thanks for posting the funny headlines. :D

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! ;)

[ROTHCOU]

Thank you for sharing it.

[Troll]

After all, the Juno broadcast has steadily lost viewers since 2003 when audience levels spiked as Shania Twain hosted.

http://torontosun.com/Entertainment/Television/2006/04/02/1516465-sun.html

[shanialover65]

Hey! Just wanted to let you all know that Shania was in this weeks issue of country weekly.. I believe it's April 9th... She is mentioned in two articles!!!!

[FinnFreak]

The Hamilton Spectator - Apr 3, 2006


It's Time for Bublé

Sinatra-Style Crooner Takes Home Four Junos

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1360843_1.jpg
Michael Bublé, whose It's Time album has sold more
than five-millions copies, won artist of the year last
night at the Juno Awards.


Michael Bublé, the 28-year-old Vancouver crooner who skyrocketed to international stardom aboard his schmaltzy Sinatra-like stylings and Dean Martin good looks, swept the Juno Awards last night, winning four major categories including the coveted Artist of the Year prize.

"I hoped that you liked my music, but to win artist of the year is to know that you actually love my paintings," Bublé said as he accepted the award. It took a moment for the audience to get the joke, but they did eventually laugh.

Bublé's album, It's Time, has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide over the past year. Last night it took honours for Album of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. Bublé performed his chart-topping hit, Home, to the crowd of 7,000 at the Halifax Metro Centre. The song, about missing his girlfriend while on the road in Paris and Rome, also won for Single of the Year.

Bublé kept the sap flowing on his second visit to the podium: "This song was about every one of you. I love you, Canada."

The awards show was hosted by Pamela Anderson, whose ties to the music industry are best known through a purloined home video she made with ex-husband Tommy Lee.

The B.C.-born blonde bombshell, who was ostensibly chosen to emcee the affair because of her love for Canadian rock, stunned a pre-Juno news conference Saturday by displaying an incredible lack of knowledge about the music scene in her native country. When asked to name some Canadian musicians, Anderson could only come up with Bryan Adams, who she counts as a friend, and Shania Twain. At one point, she mistakenly referred to British superstars Coldplay as Canadian.

Dressed in a revealing black dress, Anderson continued her downslide throughout last night's show. An outspoken animal rights activist, Anderson opened the show with a few sharp barbs aimed at Canada's East Coast seal hunt.

As a hockey fan, she said, "I can take a little blood on the ice but as you know I hate seeing blood on the ice from baby seals." The audience failed to see the humour. They widely booed her. Several other of her "ditzy blonde" jokes also fell flat.

Alberta rockers Nickelback entered the nationally televised awards show with a leading six nominations, but took home only two Junos for Rock Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. Their most recent CD, All the Right Reasons, was the first by a Canadian rock band to enter the Billboard charts at No. 1 since Bachman-Turner Overdrive accomplished the feat in the mid '70s.

Other multiple winners were Neil Young (Producer of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year for his rootsy CD Prairie Wind) and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, for best children's album and best classical album with a large ensemble. The Tragically Hip, last year's Hall of Fame inductees, won for best DVD and best cover art.

This year's Juno show has taken some heat for having two non-Canadian bands Coldplay and the Black Eyed Peas perform as headliners. The show's producers have countered those complaints by saying the presence of these two international acts would give the Junos greater international exposure. The plan appeared to have worked. On the eve of the show, host network CTV announced it had signed deals with MTV and VH1 to broadcast the Junos in 11 countries, including China, the United States, Great Britain, India and Australia.

In a bizarre twist, Coldplay and the Black Eyed Peas managed to score a rare tie for International Album of the Year, a category based entirely on record sales or, more precisely, the number of "units shipped" by record companies to stores.

Artists with strong connections to the Hamilton area were well represented in nominations, but the only winner was Daniel Lanois, a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame for his production work with U2, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan. Lanois, who now lives in Los Angeles and did not attend the awards, took the best instrumental album category for his CD, Belladonna, beating fellow Hamilton native Charles T. Cozens.

Kathleen Edwards, an Ottawa native now living in Hamilton, lost to Neil Young in the unfortunately titled "adult alternative" category and to Montreal indy darlings Arcade Fire for song writing.

Two Burlington neo-punk bands, Silverstein and Boys Night Out, lost to Toronto urban reggae outfit Bedouin Soundclash for New Group of the Year. Harrison Kennedy, a fixture on the Hamilton music scene for decades, lost in the blues category to Vancouver's Kenny Wayne. It was Kennedy's second nomination in three years.

Diana Krall, nominated in five categories for her Christmas Songs LP, which featured such standards as Jingle Bells, took only one award, Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Vancouver rocker Bryan Adams was this year's inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. With worldwide sales totalling 60 million, Adams is one of the most successful artists Canada has ever produced.

Toronto's arty rock collective, Broken Social Scene, won for top alternative album. Broken Social Scene lead singer Kevin Drew probably summed up the entire evening best when, at the end of his band's live performance, he yelled out "Fight for better music, Canada, fight for better music."


http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1144015811585&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815



Belgovision 2006 - Apr 3, 2006


Aftonbladet: 'Kate Ryan Carola's toughest competitor'


http://img.aftonbladet.se/noje/0604/02/carola210.jpg http://www.dancevibes.be/images/kateryan/kateryan.jpg
The Swedish consider Carola's main rival to be - Belgium's Kate Ryan

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has commented on the competitors of Carola in the semifinal of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision expert Markus Larsson judged all songs and came to the following conclusion: "Kate Ryan is undoubtedly one of Carola's toughest competitors."

Swedish Eurovision Song Contest expert Markus Larsson judged the 23 songs taking part in this year's semifinal, awarded each song a number of stars and finished with a description of each song.

According to Larsson, Kate Ryan will be Carola's toughest competitor. Just like Invincible, the song of the Swedish representative, Je t'adore received four stars. Larsson describes the Belgian entry as "Kylie Minogue meets Shania Twain".

Also Nonstop from Portugal and Sandra Oxenryd, the Swedish singer who represents Estonia with the song Through my window, were rated with four stars.


The ratings according to expert Markus Larsson in Aftonbladet

* * * *
. Belgium: Kate Ryan - Je t'adore
. Portugal: Nonstop - Coisas de nada
. Sweden: Carola - Invincible
. Estonia: Sandra Oxenryd - Through my window

* * *
. Slovenia: Anzej Dezan - Mr. Nobody
. Finland: Lordi - Hard rock hallelujah
. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Hari Mata Hari - Lejla
. Iceland: Silvia Night - Congratulations

* *
. Bulgaria: Mariana Popova - Let me cry
. Andorra: Jennifer - Sense tu
. Ireland: Brian Kennedy - Every song is a cry for love
. Cyprus: Annette Artani - Why angels cry
. FYR Macedonia: Elena Risteska - Ninanajna
. Russia: Dima Bilan - Never let you go
. Ukraine: Tina Karol - I'm your queen
. the Netherlands: Treble - Amambanda

*
. Armenia: André - Without your love
. Belarus: Polina Smolova - Mum
. Albania: Luiz Ejlli - Zjarr e ftohtë
. Monaco: Séverine Ferrer - La coco-dance
. Turkey: Sibel Tüzün - Superstar

-
. Poland: Ich Troje - Follow my heart
. Lithuania: LT United - We are the winners


Source: Aftonbladet.se


http://www.belgovision.com/en/index_f.php?id=920



John - ;)

[Troll]

Very interesting articles.

[shanialover65]

ok.. here's an article I came across.... don't know if you guys have seen this...

Country music still the one Shania Twain loves
Story by Nick Krewen

Despite her amazing pop success, Shania Twain is still inviting people to "Come On Over" to country music."I'm not looking to leave country, but I do want more international success," Shania says as she's about to wrap up her first world tour. "The more people that hear your music, the more satisfied you are as an artist." Yet recent press coverage on Shania might have you believe otherwise. The headline from this month's cover of Glamour declares "Shania Twain: From poverty to pop star." The Associated Press states that Shania "looks about as country as the Manhattan Skyline." And the Chicago Tribune accuses her of being "this generation's answer to sexpot rock diva Pat Benatar."

Shania doesn't deny that there are other influences in her music. "The Woman In Me had its obvious country elements, but it had its obvious rock elements, too," says Shania, 33. "There's a lot of variety on the album. It goes from country to new traditional country to a very pop country. People want something different, something fresh."

But for Shania, home is where the heart is. She insists country music is her home. "I consider myself a country artist," she insists flatly. "That music was always such a big part of me growing up. I took to what was most comfortable to me - and that was country. "It was the gist of my entire childhood career, as I sang on every country music television and radio show my mother could get me involved with.
"I loved Stevie Wonder and The Carpenters, but Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton were just as big an influence." In fact, Shania views Dolly as her ultimate role-model. "I think Dolly Parton has been my biggest all-around influence, just because she's done everything," says Shania.

"She's in movies, she writes hit songs, she's a great performer, she's got a great personality, she's got a great voice, Dolly just does everything." Shania's been doing just about everything, too. And, it's paid off handsomely. In the six years since the release of her debut album Shania Twain, the Canadian crooner has:
* Sold more than 27 million albums around the world - 22 million in the U.S.
* Scored a string of six No. 1s - including the monster hits "Any Man
of Mine," "(If You're Not in It For Love) I'm Outta Here!," "Love Gets Me Every Time" and "You're Still the One."
* Launched a successful world tour that has been seen by 1.5 million
people in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe. Last year alone, Shania's road show grossed nearly $ 28 million and was seen by almost a million people. This year added more than $ 7 million to the pot.
* Graced the covers of a host of magazines, including Cosmopolitan,
which named Shania its "Fun, Fearless Female of the Year."
* Hosted her own prime-time CBS special, Shania Twain's Winter Break, which drew banner ratings.
* Collected dozens of awards - including three Grammys, two ACMs, three American Music Awards, 16 Canadian Country Music Awards and six Juno Awards.
* Scooped up two special diamond awards at the ACMs for being the first woman to ever have two back-to-back albums sell more than 10 million - The Woman in Me and Come on Over.

It's overwhelming, and something I'd never thought I would ever achieve," says Shania of this latest milestone. "It's certainly something that only comes along once in a lifetime, and so far, only in my lifetime. I'm just totally thrilled. It's a career highlight for me." It's a career that began when she was a toddler. "I remember being put up on top of a countertop by my mother when I was 3," recalls Shania. "I would always sing out loud to the jukebox. Those are the earliest versions of a performance that I'd ever done."

At 8, she was performing locally around the Northern Ontario mining communities of Sudbury and Timmins - approximately 250 to 500 miles north of Toronto - and by 11 she was working the tavern circuit. "I was actually a professional," recalls Shania. "I was doing telethons, little fairs and country shows locally, but I was getting paid and I was working. I had quite the little country music career on the go."

After her parents died in a car accident, Shania landed a job singing at Deerhurst Resort, in Muskoka, Ontario, that served as her springboard to stardom. She spent three years there honing her craft and looking after her family. "That's where I learned how to perform for real," Shania says. "I learned to get over so many inhibitions that you really have to get over if you want to be a professional. It was school for me."

Eventually, Shania turned her attention to Nashville and landed a deal with Mercury Nashville after power Music City lawyer Dick Frank was knocked out by her audition. In 1993, Shania released Shania Twain to little fanfare - and undertook a 40-date promotional tour with label mates Toby Keith and John Brannon. The album didn't meet with immediate success. But she met Robert "Mutt" Lange, a producer who'd made his mark in the pop and rock worlds creating hit records for acts including AC/DC, The Cars, Def Leppard and Billy Ocean. One direction he hadn't yet tried was country music - and Shania was game. The couple fell in love during the process of penning and recording such classic hits as "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine" for The Woman in Me. Six months after they met, they married in December 1993. The Woman in Me was released in 1995, and the hits began pilling up. The record eventually became the best-selling album every by a female country artist. That year Shania established another first - she refused to tour. Instead, she decided to wait until the release of her third album, 1997's Come on Over. "It was a very good decision not to tour in '95," she told a reporter. "If I had toured then, the tour this year would not have been nearly as exciting."

In January 1998, Shania personally handpicked a nine-piece band - including three fiddle players - and began four months of rehearsals near her home in upstate New York. On May 29, 1998, she kicked off the tour in Sudbury, Ontario, just north of her hometown of Timmins. The powerful two-and-a-half hour performance received rave reviews. For Shania, it was the ultimate payoff, and one she still enjoys.

"Getting up onstage every night is the highlight of my career - every single night," she says. "It's what I live for."

"When you're on the road and you have a high profile, you're a prisoner of your career. You can't go anywhere. I basically just stay on the bus. There's not really much I can do in public. So to get up onstage and party with the fans is what I live for. It's the best." But Shania's appeal isn't limited to country fans. She's also tasted crossover success, particularly with her huge crossover hit "You're Still the One." The song reached the top spot on the country charts and No. 2 on the pop charts. The pop world also embraced her when she participated in VH1's Divas Live special, video and album. Shania sang alongside fellow Canadian Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan and Carole King. Even the Grammys recognized her pop appeal, nominating Shania in January in three country categories as well as three overall categories.

At the moment, life couldn't be sweeter for Shania. Come on Over remains in the Top 5 after 80 weeks. Mega-hits "That Don't Impress Me Much" and "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" are still climbing the pop charts. They'll likely be joined by another when "You've Got a Way" is released this month as a single from the soundtrack of the latest Julia Roberts film, Notting Hill.

When her tour ends July 4, Shania will fly to her new home in Switzerland - a castle she bought last year with Mutt. "It was a decision we made for the sake of the studio," Shania says, explaining why they're selling their home in the Adirondacks of New York State. "It all boils down to where we want to spend the rest of our lives making music." She plans to begin work on her fourth album - including a Christmas album due this year. Shania and Mutt are also looking for an Ontario cottage near the singer's old Deerhurst stomping grounds in Muskoka.

Despite her international pop success, the sizzling singer says her heart is still in country. "I can honestly say that I would be disappointed if I wasn't being recognized by the country world, because we've come such a long way together," says Shania. "It's been such a time for both of us because my music has been so
different for country and sometimes controversial for the industry. But it wasn't the fans that just ruled all the way. I mean the industry didn't control what happened to me, the fans did."

"I think that country music has the best fans in the whole world."

Country Weekly, June 22, 1999

[Troll]

Thanks for the great article.

[Troll]

After working for years in the country music industry ' first as a performer and later as Shania Twain's manager in the early to mid-90s ' Kasner discovered that life on the road wasn't easy for a vegetarian.


Often, Kasner and Twain (herself a vegetarian) commiserated about their limited choices in finding meatless alternatives.


After retiring from the Nashville music scene, she re-established her northern roots by launching her own brand of high-quality, healthy meat alternatives

http://www.nob.on.ca/industry/construction/3046209-04-meatless.asp

[Troll]

The 2006 Juno Awards broadcast peaked with 2.1 million viewers and attracted almost 30 per cent more viewers than last year, making it the second-most watched Juno Awards telecast since 2003 when the awards were hosted by Shania Twain in Ottawa.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Entertainment/494642.html

[shania megafan]

Thanks for the articles!

[FinnFreak]

Kilkenny Advertiser - 05/04/2006


Welcome back Bob!


Cleere thinking by John Cleere


Bob Dylan is coming back. The Aiken promotions website says he is returning to his favourite venue, Nowlan Park, Kilkenny.. This is a most impressive accolade. Have a look at his schedule, in April alone he has nineteen shows in cities such as New Orleans, Las Vegas, Memphis. In the last year he has performed in cities all across Europe, Asia and America . Nice places, but obviously not a patch on the Marble City.

The rest of the world is one thing, but how do the citizens of Cork feel about this statement? Bob is due to play in a tent there after his show in Kilkenny. We all know ‘The Peoples Republic of Cork’ is considered the centre of the universe by it’s inhabitants and they are unlikely to take this slight lying down. Hopefully they will be distracted by the excitement created by their new world athletics champion, Derval O’ Rourke, to spot this quote.

The second band announced for the Nowlan Park gig (Bob Dylan’s favourite venue, by the way) is The Flaming Lips. This band were formed in 1983. The main man, Wayne Coyne, had a dream in which he had a vision of the Virgin Mary speaking to him in tongues of fire. This inspired him to name his band The Flaming Lips. Over the years they produced records with titles such as ‘Lovely sorts of death’, ‘Oh my Gawd!’ and ‘In a Priest Driven Ambulance’.

Success was limited, but this did not deter Mr Coyne and his merry men. Far from compromising, things got even more bizarre and in 1997 they entered what they described as a ‘completely bonkers’ phase that included their Parking Lot experiments that featured 40 cars playing Flaming Lips music simultaneously.

The new millennium saw a change of commercial success for the Lips. Albums such as ‘The Soft Bulletin’ and ‘Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots’ pushed the band into the commercial mainstream. The live shows took on a carnival atmosphere. Expect to see a lot of people, both onstage and in the audience, dressed in fluffy animal outfits. There should be lots of fake blood, monkey puppets and, hopefully, the fantastic space bubble.

This is, literally, a giant plastic bubble that Mr Coyne climbs inside and travels out across the audience. The effect is spectacular, but probably needs darkness to be fully appreciated.

Suggestion time. Why not put Bob Dylan on at around 8 o’clock and schedule the Lips to bring the event to a close in the gathering darkness?

There you have it. Bob Dylan, one of the most important artists of the twentieth century, accompanied by the Flaming Lips, who are described on the cover of this months Uncut magazine as ‘Americas greatest band’. An impressive line up that will surely please all music fans.

Well not all music fans, if a letter to the Kilkenny Advertiser letters page (22nd March) is to be believed. The writer, K. Heneghan, is not enamoured at the thought of Bob Dylan returning to Kilkenny. The sight of Bob singing and performing twice in six years is not for this letter writer.

Over the last few years we have had Dylan, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Shania Twain, Rod Stewart, Van Morrisson, Roxy Music, Elvis Costelloe and a host of others at Nowlan Park. Sure there is nothing to it, the whole world must be queuing up to perform in Kilkenny! A little history of the evolution might throw some light on the difficulties involved in putting together such a show.

Over seven years ago the City Vintners invited Aiken Promotions down to Kilkenny to try and set up a music event. Brendan Treacy (Matt the Millers) and myself brought them around to possible sites. We visited the Market Yard, the Cattle Mart and finally arrived at Nowlan Park I still remember walking around a bitterly cold pitch on that cold February afternoon. It immediately became the obvious venue for the event. This was early in 2000, but it proved to be too late to organise anything for that summer. The idea was sown, Aiken Promotions, the GAA authorities and Smithwicks were all enthusiastic and plans were put in place for the following year. The rest is musical history and we have been treated to a series of concerts that are the envy of every town and city in the country. The whole event is now handled by Aiken Promotions and the GAA and it has gone from strength to strength.

Trying to attract acts of this calibre to Kilkenny is not easy. There are only a small number that would draw the numbers that we have seen attending over the years. There are others that would sell even more, say forty to fifty thousand. Let’s face it, Kilkenny can not cater for a crowd of this size. Twenty five to thirty five is our comfortable limit and that is the type of artist we need to attract. Bob Dylan is one of those. The reality is he could probably turn up every year and still pull the crowds, but obviously this is not what the promoters want. I take the point that some people think it should be an all new show each year, but I think the list of bands lined up more than make up for any disquiet about the return of Bob.

Bob Dylan, Flaming Lips, Violent Femmes and Ray LaMontagne, this is a dream line up for music lovers and will have the crowds flocking to Kilkenny. So relax K Heneghan, go along on the day and even if you go home before Bob takes the stage you will have still got value for money.


Ray and me.

I have never met Bob Dylan, Flaming Lips or Violent Femmes. I have met Ray LaMontagne. He played two gigs at the Rhythm and Roots Festival in 2004, in Cleeres and the Watergate. Tom Stapleton, the programme coordinator, and myself were two worried individuals as we stood on the steps of the Watergate at 7pm on the Saturday night. Ray was due on stage at Cleeres at 9pm and there was still no sign of him or his band. Two serious looking vehicles with blacked out windows cruised slowly passed us.

‘It must be them’, I said. They kept on going... Five minutes later they drove back up. We waved them down. It was them. They came in, set up and played one of the most intense, visceral gigs I have ever heard in Cleeres. This was something special. I could hear soul, blues, rock, all coming from an intense, bearded, totally unfashionable looking guy from Maine, USA. He sat on the window outside the pub after the show. I told him how good it was. I’m not good at doing that stuff, he was equally uncomfortable with the praise. He did sign a photograph. It is still on the wall of the pub.

After the gig they ate Indian food, ordered from the Halal shop in Irishtown, upstairs in our kitchen, then back down for some Guinness. On Sunday night he repeated the show in the bigger Watergate venue. The performance was equally as powerful, in fact he seemed destined for the bigger stage. He comes across as painfully shy and only fully at ease when performing. That’s why I will be there early to catch his set when he hits Nowlan Park. The most played album in our house over the past twelve months is ‘Trouble’ by Ray La Montagne. I rest my case. In the April edition of GQ magazine a Ray LaMontagne concert is listed among ‘The 25 sexiest places on the planet’. Watch out Andrea Bocelli!


Bob Dylan Trivia, No 3.

Bob hitchhiked from Minnesota to New York after leaving college. He stopped at a courthouse along the way, and legally changed his name from Zimmerman to Dylan. (When asked later if his name was spelled like Dylan Thomas, he answered "No, like Bob Dylan.").


Flaming Lips Trivia, No 3.

Justin Timberlake once appeared on Top of the Pops with the Lips dressed as a rabbit.


Andrea Bocelli Trivia, No 3.

In spring of 1994 Andrea entered the San Remo music competition with II mare calmo della sera, and won with a record score. His debut album was released and immediately entered the Italian Top Ten and went platinum in a matter of weeks.


http://www.kilkennyadvertiser.ie/index.php?aid=357


John - :)

[FinnFreak]

Canada NewsWire - April 5, 2006


First-ever Toronto Student Film Festival celebrates student filmmaking achievements


TORONTO, April 5 /CNW/ - Organizers announced program and ticket information today for the inaugural TORONTO STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL, to be held Thursday and Friday, April 6 & 7, at the new state-of-the-art 350 seat theatre in the Centre for Creative Learning, Crescent School. This first-ever event celebrates short films (under 10 minutes) created by Canadian secondary school students.

Inspired by Crescent School media arts students Zachary Russell, Gordie Steiner and David Whyte, under the direction of Arts Head, Jamie MacRae, the
TORONTO STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL (TSFF) provides young filmmakers an opportunity to screen their work and interact with industry professionals. "Media and film studies are immensely popular in high school, and young people are increasingly exploring their world through the lens of a camera," commented Mr. MacRae. "Our goal is to recognize this tremendous creative energy."

Scores of films were submitted, and organizers narrowed down selections to a "Top 25 Nominee Showcase," which will be featured Thursday night, along with a special screening of the short dark comedy, "choke," programmer's pick at the Palm Springs International Film festival.

Films are being professionally judged and on Friday night, prizes will be awarded to six winners for achievement in overall film production, editing, direction and screenplay. Judges include Eileen Arandiga (Canadian Film Center/Worldwide Short Film Festival),George Kaltsounakis (Cinematique/TIFF), Denise Hastings (Outreach - citizenshift - NFB),Colin Cunningham (Gemini award-winning animator), and Bonita Seigel (YTV Programmer/Corus).

In addition to the awards, Friday's program will feature special screenings of:

"Pretty Dresses," a brief 15 minute docu-drama created by young Acholi youths living in the slums of Kampala; tells the story of the devastating Ugandan war.

"The Forgotten Ones," a 45 minute sci-fi thriller and unique collaboration: professionally shot/edited by Quietus Films and scripted by students at Montreal's Summit School for Children with emotional and intellectual disabilities.

"Pigeon" an 11 minute short set during WW II and based on a true story, recounting a rare and startling act of charity.

Meredith Henderson, who played Shania Twain in last year's hit TV movie and former star of youth series, "The Adventures of Shirley Holmes," will MC the festival, which runs both nights from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are now on sale: advance two day FESTIVAL PASSES are just $8, with nightly tickets only $5 each. Details: www.tsff.ca

For further information: PAT MACDONALD, TSFF EXECUTIVE PRODUCER,
(416) 481-0918, patmacdonald@rogers.com


http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2006/05/c2320.html



John - ;)

[Troll]

Thanks for the articles John.

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! ;)

[extremelycrispy]

That's the way to go! Listening to Shania Twain! Thanks for great article

[shanialover65]

thanks for the articles!

[gstf]

yeah, thanks for the artikles.
thats lots of information:)

[FinnFreak]

:D

Thanks for all the thanks - today it's like all mentions of Shania have to do with the American Idol contestant being dropped because she didn't quite reach the level of Shanianess with her cover of AMOM... the song choice was obviously a poor one, as the song didn't fit the contestant's style at all...


...ok, here it is (one more time):


PeopleNews - Thursday Apr 06, 2006


Mandisa Cut From Idol

http://img.timeinc.net/people/i/2006/news/060327/americanidol5/mhundley.jpg


By Todd Peterson


As the judges often say, no one is safe on American Idol. And viewers got their proof Wednesday night when Mandisa was sent packing.

The one-named singer, nicknamed "Mandiva," had been among the show's top contenders, with judge Simon Cowell once praising her as this year's best female singer.

But the 29-year-old Antioch, Tenn., native's undoing came with her performance on Tuesdays's country-music theme night. She sang Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" – a selection Cowell deemed "horrible." Success, he added, "comes down to song choice."

After announcing her elimination, host Ryan Seacrest praised Mandisa's presence in the competition: "You've been a great spirit on the show."

She wasn't the only contestant who suffered from the country-music theme – Elliot Yamin and Paris Bennett were also in the bottom three.

Yamin, one of the leading male contenders, sang Garth Brooks's "If Tomorrow Never Comes," a choice Cowell called "safe" and "hesitant."

"Idol" continues to lead the ratings, drawing nearly 35 million votes on Tuesday's performances, Seacrest said. The winner will be announced May 24.


http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1180754,00.html


...like I've said before:

I liked the auditions bits - that was interesting... what mostly puts me off with that show, is that you obviously get to showcase talent, but in many cases it's more like an instant expressway to stardom, bypassing the years to gain experience... which IMO is the charisma/technical ability growing field... and the lack of it shows...


John - :smirk:

[shania megafan]

Thanks for posting! :up:

[matty]

...like I've said before:

I liked the auditions bits - that was interesting... what mostly puts me off with that show, is that you obviously get to showcase talent, but in many cases it's more like an instant expressway to stardom, bypassing the years to gain experience... which IMO is the charisma/technical ability growing field... and the lack of it shows...


John - :smirk:

I couldn't agree more. Also after they've released an album and the public lose interest they are dropped from their label or you rarely hear from them again. I think the only exception here (I don't know how she does in America) would be Kelly Clarkson.
There was a guy who won a Pop Idol (or a spin off version of it) and he wanted to write and release his own songs on the 2nd record but the label wouldn't have it so he now sings in Butlins... so much for finding talent :rolleyes:

[Troll]

Our local lord of the dance

13-year-old stepper is headed for contest on Emerald Isle

By Brian J. Pedersen

Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.06.2006

The Lynch family will be spending Easter on the Irish Island for the fourth straight year, and it's all because of a certain country singer.

"Shania Twain is to blame for all of this," said Brenda Lynch, whose son Kyren will be headed to Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Friday to compete in the World Irish Dancing Championships.

While most other 13-year-old boys are playing sports, watching movies or hanging out with friends, Kyren Lynch spends nearly every free moment of his time honing his skills in the art of Irish step dancing, a discipline steeped in tradition and history but whose main presence outside of Ireland is via Michael Flatley's popular dance shows, "Riverdance" and "Lord of the Dance."

So why does he do it?

"Well, my parents are Irish," said the soft-spoken Kyren, who prefers to let his fast-moving legs do most of the communicating.

"He's never been real big talking about himself," Brenda Lynch said. "He won't even tell the teachers when he gets back how he placed at some of the major competitions, so they're afraid to ask because they think maybe he didn't do real well. But then he'd taken first."

As the legend goes, Brenda — a big country-music fan — was watching television one night with Kyren when the video for Twain's hit song "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)" came on. In the background of the video were a series of Irish dancers.

"Kyren turned to me and said, 'Mom, I want to do that,' and the rest is history," Brenda Lynch said.

Since then, Kyren has developed into one of the nation's best Irish dancers for his age. He has been in numerous major national competitions — including the Western Regional Championships twice — and has competed in the World Championships three times before.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/123209

[FinnFreak]

from Albany Times Union - Friday, April 7, 2006


By KEVIN McDONOUGH, United Features Syndicate


"Biography" continues in a similar vein with "Hairdos and Heartache: The Women of Country Music" (8 p.m., A&E). The two-hour special includes a wealth of music and interviews with singers from the past five decades.

For years, Hollywood and the TV industry treated country music as entertainment for hicks. Even the most accomplished musicians had to perform next to a hay bale or a cardboard cutout of a pig. Lynn Anderson and K.T. Oslin recall being told that there were only so many spots for "the girls," on the false assumption that women only bought records by men.

Many contemporary artists praise the business acumen of artists like Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Reba McEntire, who are also interviewed here.

Artists of several generations express mixed emotions about the use of videos. Most agree that McEntire used them brilliantly to identify with her female audience. But others contend that the success of beauties like Shania Twain has raised the bar for visual sexiness, something that takes away from the music. It's generally agreed that Patsy Cline's talents would go overlooked in today's Nashville. She'd be considered too heavy and homely to do videos.

Drawing on so many participating talents, this "Biography" shows off the music, hairstyles and wardrobes from the past 50 years.


http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=469268&category=ARTS&newsdate=4/7/2006



"takes away from the music"..?!?


...adds to the music, my dear Kevin, ADDS.



John - ;)