Shania name-droppings... [Archive] - Page 3

FinnFreak

04-11-2006, 5:26am

The Tennessean - Tuesday, 04/11/06

New country takes the wheel at CMT Music Awards

Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban among top winners in colorful, fan-voted video awards show

By PETER COOPER and BRAD SCHMITT
Staff Writers

Country's oddest, most over-the-top awards show brought a whiplash of songs and styles to Belmont University's Curb Event Center last night.

There were a couple of gospel songs, tributes to country renegades Buck Owens and Hank Williams Jr. and a show-opening performance of Honky Tonk Badonkadonk. The fan-voted program featured a Miss America winner, a Dancing With the Stars contestant and other outside-genre personalities interacting with the usual country music suspects.

Carrie Underwood — the American Idol winner whose Jesus, Take the Wheel single launched a country career that has found her selling 3 million copies of her debut album — won the female video award over a field that included Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans and superstar Faith Hill. Underwood also triumphed as the top breakthrough artist.

"Music videos are a huge tool, the fans love them and it adds a huge dimension to the song," Underwood said backstage. "For my very first video to win two awards is overwhelming.

Keith Urban's Better Life won the night's top trophy, for video of the year, maintaining his place as an awards darling, and Kenny Chesney's Who You'd Be Today won for male video.

But trend-watchers best look elsewhere for clues about the course of modern country music. The CMT Music Awards honor video achievement, and the network sets the show up as a funhouse mirror reflection of all that is country, and some that isn't so country.

The result is a program that offers some firsts:

Billy Currington, whose career shot forward when Shania Twain chose him to duet with her on Party For Two, won his first career country award when his role in Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right helped him to the hottest video award.

Rock star Jon Bon Jovi won his first-ever country award, for his Who Says You Can't Go Home duet with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles. Noting the evening's culture-collisions and irreverent tone, Nettles said, "This is the most fun awards show that happens every year." Bon Jovi wasn't present to share in the fun.

Surrounded by gyrating dancers, Trace Adkins sang his Badonkadonk song, marking the first time the Baptist-affiliated university has played host to a show that features tight-trousered nubiles cavorting to a rump-rolling ode.

Despite host Jeff Foxworthy's country-specific comedy, not everything was a lark. Hank Williams Jr. received the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, and he took time backstage to talk about the March automobile accident that left daughter Holly Williams injured and daughter Hilary Williams in critical condition at a Memphis hospital.

"Hilary was close to death at the scene, and two days later there was another episode in the hospital where she almost passed away," he said. "The doctors came in and more or less prepared me. But she's had seven operations in three weeks, and she's turned the corner. She's coming back home soon."

Williams, who attended the show with Holly, faces assault charges in Memphis after an incident at the Peabody Hotel. He said he's not concerned with any matters not involving the health of his daughters.

"When you've got your daughters there, nothing else is on your plate," said Williams, who himself survived a near-tragic fall from a Montana mountain in the 1970s. "I know one thing: Me and Hilary Williams were both spared to do something."

Keith Urban closed the show with a performance of Better Life that featured choir members that had been displaced from the Hurricane Katrina disaster area.

"I've been to New Orleans, and I was struck by a combination of things: How much has been done, and how little has been done," he said. "We wanted to bring some awareness to the cause."

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/ENTERTAINMENT01/604110372/1419/ENTERTAINMENT50

John - :)

shania megafan

04-11-2006, 10:16am

Thanks!! :up:

Troll

04-11-2006, 10:44am

Thanks for the article John.

Troll

04-11-2006, 10:51am

Although Jamrose was not a straight-ahead country artist before making waves in “Nashville Star,” the genre has made stars of singers who don’t stick to the straight and narrow.

“If I played a record by Shania Twain for people, a lot of them would say, 'Hey, that’s not country,’ ” Alamillo said.

http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/04-11-06_z1_news_04.html

shanialover65

04-11-2006, 4:23pm

I thought they were unbelievable.. However no Shania for 2 years.. They really do bring in the biggest stars! All the performances were awesome.. I personally love Shannon Brown and was soo happy to see her there!!!!!! I wish she performed though.. Thanks for the article!

FinnFreak

04-12-2006, 3:48am

The Tennessean - Tuesday, 04/11/06

Behind the scenes at the video awards

By BRAD SCHMITT and PETER COOPER
Staff Writers

Billy Currington just came off the road as an opener for Brad Paisley and Billy was a victim of traditional pranks pulled on the last stop of the tour. He got the greased microphone, baby powder on the drum heads and a 300-pound crew guy dressed as Billy duet partner Shania Twain. No, Billy didn't find the faux Shania very attractive, but he/she was a heckuva dancer.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/ENTERTAINMENT01/604110378/1419/ENTERTAINMENT50

:shocked: - !

:biglaugh: - !!!

John - :p

FinnFreak

04-12-2006, 4:18am

Monsters and Critics.com

This Day in Music

For April 12, 2006

1999 - Country music crossover queen Shania Twain becomes the only female artist in music history to reach 10 million units sold with back-to-back album releases. Twain`s third Mercury Records release 'Come On Over' is certified 10 times platinum and is granted a Diamond Award by the RIAA.

http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1154680.php/This_Day_in_Music_for_April_12_2006

John - ;):up:

melli

04-12-2006, 6:10am

Cool, what a great day! :p

FinnFreak

04-12-2006, 7:23am

TIMMINS DAILY PRESS - Loose Cannon - Thursday, April 06, 2006

There’s no news like Internet news

by Michael Byrnes

The Internet is a place where you can find all kinds of news you won’t see on CNN or CBC Newsworld.

Here’s my Top 10 list of the headlines and stories I found online yesterday morning, and my thoughts on each. I didn’t make any of this stuff up, although I do not guarantee the validity of any of the following articles beyond stating I really did find them posted on the Internet as news items.

1) A professor at the University of Texas has proposed the murder of 90 per cent of the world’s population in order to save the planet from doom. My thoughts: I’ll bet not one lousy politician will be included in this mass cull, which raises two questions: a) what’s the point? b) and will local taxes for survivors go up significantly more than 4.5 per cent to make up for the shortfall. Also, this probably means even fewer people will visit the Shania Twain Center. As well, Coun. Kevin Vincent will probably get the go-ahead to build his hockey memorial because everybody who would vote against the idea will most likely be dead.

2) The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) tells student to “drop out of school” to pay fines for illegally downloading music.
My thoughts: Well, it’s about time some poor kid got his life ruined for downloading a Madonna song.

3) At 1:02 a.m. and three seconds on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, it was the first hour of the day, the second minute of the hour, the third second of the minute in the fourth month and the fifth day of the sixth year, making the official date 01-02-03-04-05-06. My thoughts: Damn! I missed it! I was asleep.
4) German nuke plant gets new locks after keys lost. My thoughts: Personally, I think keys to important places like that should be kept on those fancy key rings that, when you clap, make a beeping noise.

5) Passenger jet destined for City of Derry Airport in Ireland lands at army base six miles away by mistake. My thoughts: This shouldn’t even be a news story. The fact is this jet flew from Liverpool, Great Britain, to Ireland crossing over part of an ocean, I might add and deposited its passengers almost exactly where they wanted to be. In fact, a five-minute bus ride, which I’m certain the airline would have paid for, would have got them the rest of the way no problem. In the overall scheme of international air travel, six miles is negligible.

6) Burger King accidentally charges US$4,334.33 for burger and a man actually pays for it. My thoughts: Well, it’s a whole new definition for “whopper.” Lesson: Always make sure you check the amount on the debit-machine screen before pressing “OK” and keying in your PIN.

7) Sculpture of a naked Britney Spears giving birth causes abortion uproar. My thoughts: I don’t care what any pro-choice advocate says even if you don’t like her music, Britney Spears had every right to be born.

8) If every man, woman and child in China stood on a chair and everyone jumped off their chair at exactly the same time, would the earth be thrown off its axis? My thoughts: First off, I really did find this on an Internet news site. Secondly, I’m willing to bet whoever posed this question got a significant amount of government funding to find out what the answer is. Thirdly, I imagine there is (probably) a soon-to-be-very-rich-chair-making relative of the politician who approved the funding who got the contract to build the chairs.

And, in case your interest has been tweaked, the answer is nobody really knows what would happen to the Earth’s axis in this event. But the resulting “thud” would be equal to about 500 tons of TNT. There’s no word yet on what would happen if the same number of Chinese people stood on those chairs and screamed at the top of their lungs.

9) California bans smoking outside. My thoughts: I don’t smoke anymore. But if they ever do this here I’m gonna start again just on principle. What are they gonna do next? Ban smoking in outer space? Oh, wait, I’ve probably just given them the idea!

10) Ads offer to swap sex for rent. My thoughts: Oh, sure. But are utilities included?

http://www.timminspress.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=22485&catname=Loose%20Cannon&classif=News%20-%20General

John - :smirk:

Troll

04-12-2006, 11:11am

Thanks for the articles John.

Troll

04-13-2006, 10:16am

Getting out of Shania’s skin

It has been a blast playing Shania Twain but five years later, Cynthia Roberts is ready to move on.
“We are a lot alike,” Robert said.
“So I’ve had a lot of fun but I would also really like to be myself.”
Roberts is well on her way to “being me.”
At 27, her path to becoming a real recording artist is unique.
She got a gig as a tribute artist after impressing someone by singing a Shania Twain tune at a club in Surrey.
“I didn’t even know there were Shania tribute artists,” she said.
“I thought there were only guys playing Elvis out there!’
It was an opportunity though, “Nobody knew who I was,” she said.
Being Shania isn’t hard for her, it comes naturally for the girl who grew up in Maple Ridge.
She sing more "nasal-ly" than she normally would. She watched Shania perform on T.V. at the beginning. Got her stance perfected, copied signature moves.
“I’ve seen her in concert three times and I took notes throughout.”
As a tribute artist, she’s wowed crowds with her uncanny resemblance to the pop-country artist, been featured on Country Music Television and performed in Las Vegas.
On stage, Roberts believes she’s the host of the party.
“I want everyone to have fun.”
She gets into the crowd and gets the audiences on stage.
But the taste of stardom isn’t all that enticing for her. Most people think I party after a show, she said.
“But I go up to my room, take off my make-up, put on my sweats and watch TV!”
She doesn’t like all the attention.
Roberts has immersed herself in recording in the last few months.
She is determined, says she’ll be in the music business till she gets old and optimistic about her prospects.
She’s laid down six tracks for an album she hopes to release this summer.
She’s even changing her name to ‘Joie (JO-EY) Bratz”.
“I wanted to come up with something that’s different to reinvent myself,” she said.
Roberts writes when she gets in a mood.
“If there is something I need to get off my chest. Things come naturally.”
She keeps a tape recorder near her bed.
“I write in my sleep,” she said. She wakes up, mid-dream, and sings into the microphone.
“It’s the sub-conscious mind coming up with idea. It’s ultimate multi-tasking!”
She isn’t scared to go out into a vicious, competitive industry as herself - the brand new Joie Bratz.
“I used to be scared. But now I think it doesn’t matter as long as I knock on every door.”
Joie is a fun-loving person, Roberts said. “Grounded, a role model and confident.”
Her cover of a Concrete Blonde song has been getting airplay on co-op radio in Vancouver and at a few night clubs.
It’s an encouraging start.
“Hopefully everything will shine in my favour. This is the year that things will start taking off!”
She’s never met Shania Twain in person but she’d certainly like to shake her hand.
“She’s opened a lot of doors for cross-over artists,” Roberts said.
“She broke down the barriers. She’s helped me and made my life a lot easier.”

http://www.mapleridgenews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=46&cat=44&id=627318&more=

Troll

04-13-2006, 10:16am

Music Choice Widens Its Broadband Music Service With Universal Music Group's Expansive Video Catalog
Music Videos From Universal's Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Beck, Toby Keith, Nelly, Shania Twain, and Hundreds More

http://www.sys-con.com/read/206796.htm

Troll

04-14-2006, 12:01am

Country music is empowering. As a woman, I hear a lot of popular music that has lyrics that make women look trashy. But Shania Twain, for example, sings about what women really want in “Any Man of Mine.”

The lyrics are hilarious. Did I mention that country music is fun?

She sings “Any man of mine better be proud of me, even when I’m ugly, still better love me. I can be late for a date that’s fine, but he better be on time.”

http://graphic.pepperdine.edu/ane/2006/2006_04_13_country.htm

still the 1

04-14-2006, 12:42pm

Troll

04-15-2006, 2:06pm

"With Shania, I see progress," says June Carter Cash. "She has opened up a lot of space for future female country singers."

Found it one the cmt message board.

Troll

04-15-2006, 6:25pm

The late 1990s witnessed a little flourishing of female country musicians who were both easy on the ears and the eyes. Artists like Faith Hill and Shania Twain (she technically is country, okay?) shot into superstardom. And if the gorgeous and twangy Sara Evans continues churning out hits like “Cheatin,’” she can soon be added to that list.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512705

shanialover65

04-15-2006, 8:49pm

I don't know if you guys saw this.. but there was a new video in the Shania Fan Club.. I think its part of this all about the crew series.. It's with the tour bus driver's

Troll

04-16-2006, 10:27am

New stars in a country orbit

Star potential: Roberts is here for the party and if she wants to go platinum, she shouldn’t take a cue from Shania Twain and get cute with her music. But, then again, cute does sell a lot of records.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/living/14343765.htm

Troll

04-17-2006, 10:31am

Red Fisher, the dean of hockey writers on this continent or any other, currently uses a Macintosh iBook G4 laptop computer, featuring wireless capability, a DVD drive and so much memory that it can recall when the Canadiens were a dynasty. Optional installation on its 14-inch display is a tastefully small photo of country singer Shania Twain, wearing a midriff-baring Canadiens jersey.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=56633ba9-9b37-49ee-8bac-7ac64aead34f

shania megafan

04-17-2006, 12:50pm

Thanks for posting! ;)

Troll

04-18-2006, 10:00am

TOP WEDDING SONGS

BY SUZANNE PEREZ TOBIAS
The Wichita Eagle

When reception-hall lights dim and a new bride and groom make their way to the dance floor, what's the most likely song to be playing?

Etta James' "At Last" is America's most popular and most requested wedding song, according to a new survey of wedding entertainers and DJs.

The survey, released last week, was conducted by Gigmasters.com, an online entertainment booking service.

The group polled its 2,500 clients to ask which songs were requested most for couple, father-daughter and mother-son dances.
Here are the rankings

FIRST DANCE
1. "At Last," Etta James
2. "Can't Help Falling in Love," Elvis Presley
3. "From This Moment On," Shania Twain
4. "Unforgettable," Nat "King" Cole and Natalie Cole
5. (tie) "Always and Forever," Luther Vandross; "Amazed," Lonestar; "What a Wonderful World," Louis Armstrong; "Here and Now," Luther Vandross

WHAT WERE YOUR SONGS?

Tell us about your meaningful, hilarious or funky wedding songs on our WichiTalk blog,
http://blogs.kansas.com/wichitalk/

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/living/people/family/14363640.htm?source=syn

still the 1

04-18-2006, 1:19pm

Go Shania - 2 in the top 5!!!!

Troll

04-18-2006, 2:04pm

matty

04-18-2006, 4:12pm

I'd like to know why those are bad lyrics. And what's wrong with Ebony And Ivory? :rolleyes:

still the 1

04-18-2006, 6:06pm

Worst lyrics ever........

You're a fine piece of real estate, and I'm gonna get me some land.
Shania Twain, I'm Gonna Getcha Good

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16957786&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=the-worst-lyrics-in-the-world--ever-name_page.html

Actually, a good lyric IMHO - typlically Shania tongue in cheek which she is famous for - what makes her unique. It is a clever twist by "Objectifying" a man for a change!

In any case, I'd be an "Acre" of Shania's land anytime!!!

Troll

04-18-2006, 10:37pm

The band opened its tour here at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, home of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,Task Force Band of Brothers. The audience in Cash Gym heard everything from rock and soul classics like Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen" to Shania Twain's country hit, "Man, I Feel Like A Woman."

http://newsblaze.com/story/20060418082424mpad.nb/newsblaze/IRAQ0001/Iraq.html

Troll

04-20-2006, 10:13am

By: Megan Murphy
Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: Arts and Entertainment

...Audience members can look forward to selections such as the show's opener "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel, contemporary music like Incubus's "Echo," a sassy pointe piece to Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" and the show's namesake, "Run It" by Chris Brown....

http://www.campustimes.org/media/storage/paper371/news/2006/04/20/ArtsAndEntertainment/Bpg-Puts.A.Whole.New.Spin.On.Ballet-1862183.shtml?norewrite200604200913&sourcedomain=www.campustimes.org

shania megafan

04-20-2006, 1:21pm

Thanks for posting!

FinnFreak

04-21-2006, 4:00am

PETA Media Center - April 20, 2006

‘V FOR VEGETARIAN’ AS NATALIE PORTMAN LEADS IN PETA’S SEXIEST VEGETARIANS POLL

Norfolk, Va. — V for Vendetta star Natalie Portman is proof that V is also for "veggie vixen," as she is in the lead in a just-launched poll to name the "World’s Sexiest Vegetarians" on PETA.org.

Portman, who charmed moviegoers as Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels and topped the box office in this year’s V for Vendetta, has been a vegetarian since age 8. She does not eat meat of any kind, avoiding gelatin and various other animal byproducts too. "I am a very strict vegetarian. … I just really really love animals and I act on my values," she says.

Portman has a narrow lead over other contenders like Desperate Housewives’ Nicollette Sheridan; Brokeback Mountain beauty Anne Hathaway; positively charming Alyssa Milano; Walk the Line’s dashing "Johnny Cash" Joaquin Phoenix; top NFL running back Ricky Williams; Oceans 12 heartthrob Casey Affleck; and pop superstar Prince.

Previous winners include Carrie Underwood, Chris Martin, Andre 3000, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone, Lauren Bush, Shania Twain, and Portman.

PETA’s president, Ingrid E. Newkirk, adds, "Celebrities are shunning meat faster than you can say ‘veggie burger.’ There are more vegetarian celebs in the running this year than ever before, and with nearly 200 to choose from, it will be hard to decide who the sexiest are. After all, what’s sexier than someone who exudes both passion and compassion?"

Results of PETA’s "World’s Sexiest Vegetarians" poll will be revealed in late May. A complete list of the vegetarian celebrities who are in the running is available online at PETA.org.

http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=8206

You can vote at: http://www.goveg.com/feat/sexiestveg2006/

John - ;)

Troll

04-21-2006, 10:10am

A new sound -- In the past, the rockets' red glare has been set to a variety of music types -- particularly rock 'n' roll, show tunes and movie theme songs. But this year's fireworks will be choreographed to a soundtrack featuring the likes of Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Keith Urban, Sugarland, Big & Rich, Charlie Daniels and Garth Brooks.

That's right, folks, Thunder has gone country.

Thunder producer Wayne Hettinger, who inside sources revealed had an achy-breaky heart when he first heard about the "Thunder Country" theme, has accepted the mission to rhythmically synchronize the pyrotechnics with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," Shania Twain's "Up!," Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" and other tunes.

The theme "caught me off-guard because country music isn't what I generally listen to on the radio," Hettinger said. "But I am a music lover, so the challenge was set -- and we have had a good time building a rollercoaster of fireworks images set to country music."

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/DERBYFUN/604210319

Troll

04-22-2006, 5:16pm

They host traveling horses and their owners at their Lazy L Ranch and Horse Company between Stoughton and Cottage Grove. Their celebrity guests have included Shania Twain and the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch.

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/index.php?ntid=81156&ntpid=1

FinnFreak

04-25-2006, 8:28am

The Daily Northwestern - April 25, 2006

New show connects students, volunteers

Special Olympics hopes collaborative event will bring bigger crowd to main event

By Christina Amoroso

After holding awareness-raising events at Unicorn Cafe, 1723 Sherman Ave., in years past, Special Olympics members wanted a new way to bring together athletes and Northwestern students in the week leading up to the group’s main track-and-field event this Sunday.

About 30 Special Olympics board members and athletes showed up Monday night at the group’s first variety show, held in Fisk Hall. The show began with a dance performance from two members of BLAST, followed by dancing from three Deeva Dance Troupe members.

Large-Scale Events Co-Chairwoman Kara Murphy said Special Olympics members “wanted to think of a new, creative idea to incorporate student dance groups for the enjoyment of the athletes.”

After a brief introduction to the audience about their group, the BLAST members danced to Frank Sinatra’s “I Get a Kick Out of You.” The couple improvised swing moves throughout the song. The pair also danced a country two-step to a Shania Twain song and at the end got the audience to clap along.

The three members of Deeva then took the stage, dancing to a variety of songs, including Michael Jackson’s “Black or White,” Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” and a song from the Indian movie “Dus.”

One goal of the event was to get NU students to come and interact with the athletes, said Murphy, a Weinberg senior.

“It’s an exciting time for the athletes as they prepare for the games,” she said.

Special Olympics athletes said they enjoyed the variety show.

“I wish there could have been more performances, but the show was excellent,” said 37-year-old Steve Spector, an athlete in this weekend’s games.

To build interest in the games, events will be held each night this week, including a bar night Thursday at 1800 Club, 1800 Sherman Ave., Murphy said. Another objective of the events is to recruit people to volunteer for Sunday’s track and field event. On Monday, about 60 volunteers had signed up, but members said they hope to have 200 volunteers by the end of the week.

As of Monday, Special Olympics had raised about $10,000 towards the group’s fundraising goal of $15,000, Finance Co-Chairwoman Amanda Miller said. A 5K run held on Saturday raised about $1,000, the Weinberg junior said. The group hopes to raise more money this week from the bar night and from canning at local grocery stores after the main event.

Murphy said she hopes the group will have the variety show again next year with a larger range of groups. She said the Special Olympics committee didn’t expect a large turnout because the show was only publicized Monday. Most audience members were athletes who are performing in this weekend’s games.

“We’re really happy with the athlete turnout,” Murphy said. “They really enjoy coming to the Northwestern events.”

http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/25/444db8beb0bdc

John - :)

Troll

04-25-2006, 10:10am

Thanks for the articles.

shania megafan

04-25-2006, 2:37pm

Thanks for posting them!

matty

04-25-2006, 4:01pm

Thanks for the articles :)

FinnFreak

04-26-2006, 8:18am

Dayton Daily News - April 26 2006

Tune in to country: 25 CDs to know

By Nancy Wilson

18. The Woman in Me (1995), Shania Twain

The modern-day Loretta Lynn, with her belly button on full display, Shania was a trendsetter in both her sound and look. Any Man of Mine, Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? have become anthems for women who wear the pants in the family. Faith Hill may look good, but Shania is better.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/life/content/life/daily/0426life25cdscountry.html

:D:up:

...and then... :uhh: ...some new developments on those early Shania demos from 1989-1990:

New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal | Local Economy - As published on page C3 on April 26, 2006

REGULATION

N.B. securities watchdog lists allegations against Limelight Entertainment

By David Shipley, Telegraph-Journal

Two Ontario corporations and three men are alleged to have misled New Brunswick investors about the future value of shares in a media production company.

Limelight Entertainment is at the centre of a complex investigation by the New Brunswick Securities Commission into the selling of shares in the New Brunswick of an unregistered company through unregistered consultants.

The commission is also alleging the consultants made prohibited pitches about the future potential of the shares.

In a statement of allegations filed on the commission's website, commission staff claim shares of Limelight Entertainment have been sold in the province since January 2005 without authorization from the provincial securities regulator.

"Limelight Entertainment and/or Limelight Capital, through their agents or representatives, made representations regarding the future value of Limelight Entertainment shares and representations that Limelight Entertainment would become listed on a stock exchange, with the intention of effecting trades in Limelight Entertainment shares," staff wrote in the statement of allegations.

The statement names Ontario companies Limelight Capital Management Ltd, incorporated on Oct. 1, 2004 and Limelight Entertainment Inc, incorporated on Aug. 14, 2000 as parties in the matter.

It also names three Ontario men: Al Grossman, president of Limelight Capital, Hanoch Ulfan, an incorporating director of Limelight Capital and Tom Mezinski is named as an employee or agent of Limelight Capital and/or Limelight Entertainment.

All five parties were ordered to cease trading by the commission earlier this month. They also face cease trading orders in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

A hearing will be held today in Saint John to decide whether to extend the temporary cease trading order while the commission continues its investigation.

Dave Campbell, vice-president of Limelight Entertainment, an independent film and music company based in Toronto, said his company was not affiliated with Limelight Capital Management Ltd.

Mr. Campbell said his company had taken Limelight Capital to court in Ontario in 2005 to seek an injunction to prevent the company and its employees from representing themselves to investors as being part of Limelight Entertainment.

"It was big mess and it lasted for a year or so," he said. "We thought it was over."

According to the website for Limelight Entertainment, it is involved in the production and distribution of independent entertainment projects such as a TV series called Urban Outdoor Adventures and a CD release of Shania Twain's early recordings. [ http://www.limelightentertainmentinc.com/shaniatwain1.html ]

No website could be found for Limelight Capital.

"We're still investigating the links between Limelight Capital and Limelight Entertainment and I expect that investigation will continue for some time as we sort out the situation,' said Rick Hancox, executive director of the New Brunswick Securities Commission.

Meanwhile, Mr. Grossman and Mr. Ulfan are also named in another cease trading order by the commission against Maitland Capital Ltd and its officers, directors, employees and agents.

Also named are Steve Lanys, Jack Travin, Leonard Waddingham, Saul Messinger, and Kim Wadhawani.

The hearing against Maitland Capital will resume on May 24.

http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060426/TPMONEY04/604260330/-1/MONEY

John - :smirk:

Shaniabomber99

04-26-2006, 8:46am

Thanks heaps for that

Carley

Troll

04-26-2006, 10:14am

Thanks for the articles.

FinnFreak

04-27-2006, 4:55am

chartattack.com - Tuesday April 25, 2006

Pilate Seek Spirit Of The Radio

By Aaron Brophy

Pilate's Todd Clark wants Canadian radio stations to stop snivelling and start supporting their own.

"My issue, which relates to radio, is nobody in this country ever thinks something's good until another country says it's good enough," says the band's lanky frontman. "We lack the confidence.

"We're almost ashamed to be confident Canadians. We can totally stand and do great things, but no one cares until the U.S. tells us we're good."

Clark has a vested interest in seeing a little national pride work in his favour. He and his Toronto-based bandmates Chris Greenough (guitars), Ruby Bumrah (bass) and Bill Keeley (drums) have just released their second full-length album, Sell Control For Life's Speed. It's a record full of soaring, epic rock designed to take you back to that world before Radiohead decided that they hated making songs everybody would like.

Canadian artists have been surgically efficient at getting worldwide attention in recent years. Sum 41 and Simple Plan are in the top tier of the pop-punk world. Nickelback, Default, Theory Of A Deadman and Three Days Grace rule the hard rock gruntiverse. And Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan and Shania Twain are queens of adult-contempoland. But those aren't the people that Clark's talking about when he cites a need for more support.

"I'd much rather hear Arcade Fire or a Metric song rather than 99 per cent that's actually on the radio," says Clark.

Those two acts, and maybe Broken Social Scene, Feist and The New Pornographers along with them, have started to make a dent with programmers still bent on spinning Haywire. But they're only a small part of the greater radio landscape.

For now, Clark figures that Pilate will tour extensively outside of Canada on behalf of the new record. It's part of a plan to return as conquering heroes.

"If you go make a life for yourself in another country, Canada's gonna be like, 'Oh, maybe we should buy that record,'" says Clark.

The real change will come, he figures, when more than just the BSS clan can get mainstream dues and Pilate faves like The Dears, Cuff The Duke, Matt Mays and Joel Plaskett also get into positions of musical power. "They are cool," says Clark.

"It's great music. Everyone knows that. It's almost like we as Canadians are afraid or ashamed of saying, 'Yeah, this is awesome.' We're waiting for someone else to tell us."

Consider yourself officially told.

Here are Pilate's tour dates:

April 25 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
April 26 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
April 27 Kitchener, ON @ Starlight Room
April 28 London, ON @ Call The Office
April 29 Kingston, ON @ The Grad Club
April 30 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
June 1 Winnipeg, MB @ Ramada Theatre w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 2 Saskatoon, SK @ Louie's (University Of Saskatchewan) w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 3 Red Deer, AB @ Arlington w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 6 Victoria, BC @ Legends w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 7 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 8 Castlegar, BC @ Element w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 10 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 12 Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroy's w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 15 Montreal, QC @ Le National w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 16 Kingston, ON @ AJ's Hangar w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 20 Fredericton, NB @ Bugaboo Creek w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 22 Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 24 Halifax, NS @ The Marquee w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 27 London, ON @ Cowboy's Ranch w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 28 Kitchener, ON @ Elements w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 29 Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus w/People In Planes and Wintersleep
June 30 St. Catharines, ON @ L3 Nightclub w/People In Planes and Wintersleep

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/04/2511.cfm

Timmins Times - Wednesday April 26, 2006

All-Canadian show at RMSS

There will be a rockin’ good time at Roland Michener Secondary School on Friday morning.

The RMSS Performance Class presents The All-Canadian Show, April 28 at 10:15 a.m. in the Spirit Gym at the school.

This is the Grade 11 Performance Class’s third concert.

The performances for the concert are Canadian songs and will include covers of such names as Shania Twain, Alexisonfire and Stompin’ Tom.

http://www.timminstimes.com/story.php?id=227131

The Daily Toreador - Thursday, April 27, 2006

Country music?

Country music singers are merging with rock, pop paths; alternative country satisfies today's audience

by Jeremy Reynolds / Features Writer

In 1955, a man in black defied the norms of country music when he stood on stage and sang songs like "Cry, Cry, Cry," and "Folsom Prison Blues." More than half a century later, in the mix of pop-country singers like Toby Keith and Shania Twain, there are a few singers who have decided to revisit the past.

Daniel Fluitt, lead singer for the West Texas-based band Thrift Store Cowboys, said country musicians have started leaning toward alternative sounds in recent years.

"If you listen to country radio, music is leaning more towards crap these days, actually," he said.

Fluitt's band does have a dash of the alternative side in their music, but he said that was not necessarily by choice.

"We don't look at one of our songs and say, 'oh there's too much country in it,'" he said.

Instead, the members sing about their hometown and their experiences growing up in the Hub City; if that comes out sounding alternative, then so be it.

"We kind of take different influences and put them together," Fluitt said.

Alternative country, as described by Fluitt, varies depending on who defines it. In general, it means reverting back to the original sounds and ideas with new technology and instruments.

"You can listen to pop country today; it sounds like rock," he said.

Fluitt said he was sitting in a hotel in Arkansas a few days ago, and in the span of one hour, he saw both Michelle Branch and Bon Jovi on the Country Music Television channel.

"They're trying to do a country thing, but if you ask them, they'll say they're just branching out," Fluitt said.

Mike Eli, singer for the Eli Young Band, said there is a difference between pop country and alternative country. He said his band is without a doubt classified as alternative country, and it takes a lot of influence from previous alternative musicians such as Jack Ingram and Cross Canadian Ragweed.

"There are so many people, including us, who are reaching out to those Bob Dylan styles of the past," he said. "I think alternative country is a blend of different genres."

Growing up, Eli and the other members of the band listened to musicians like Rodney Crowell and Led Zeppelin. Eli said he and his band incorporated those sounds along with a few newer ones into their music.

"We also take a lot of influence from U2, and some of our stuff is a throw back to Buddy Holly," he said.

In the future, Eli said country music is going to start moving back toward the alternative sound because of the growing popularity of it among college students.

Eli said radio stations are seeing an increase in requests for alternative country. Bands like the Eli Yong Band, Jack Ingram and Ragweed are selling out shows in the cities they go to. This increased attention will only grow in the future, Eli said.

John Lammers, a disc jockey for KTXT-FM, said the reason music is starting to go back to its alternative roots is because that is what people want to hear these days.

"These are singer and songwriter types of music," he said. "This is music that musicians want to hear."

Lammers described alternative country as rock music taken down a notch to a place where the lead singer does not necessarily have to be a great singer.

"Singers have more of a Bob Dylan raspy type of voice," he said.

http://www.dailytoreador.com/news/2006/04/27/Entertainment/Country.Music-1879695.shtml

John - :)

Troll

04-27-2006, 10:07am

More cool articles.

canoilers

05-11-2006, 11:19am

Good stuff and thank you for posting the articles. :D

FinnFreak

05-15-2006, 10:40am

thisiswiltshire.co.uk - 9:16am today

Tying the knot all over again

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/_images/db/21/44/c102d91e.214440.full.jpg
Deb and Pete Carpenter at Christ Church on
Saturday, when the couple were "married"
again

AFTER 25 years of marriage, Deb and Pete Carpenter finally had the traditional wedding they had always dreamed of.

Originally married in a Bristol Register Office in 1981, Deb and Pete made a vow that, if they were still together 25 years later, they would reaffirm their commitment to each other with a traditional white wedding.

And on Saturday, to celebrate a quarter of a century together, the couple tied the knot again, at Christ Church in Old Town.

Deb, 43, of Old Town, said: "It was a beautiful day and went really well. It was the traditional wedding that I had always wanted the dress, the church, and the bridesmaids. It was lovely."

As reported in Saturday's Adver, in 1981 Deb wore a blue dress and was five months' pregnant with her second child Jamie. This time she wore a beautiful ivory gown with a flowing bouquet of lilac and cream flowers.

As well as choosing their own vows the couple made their day extra special by taking to the dancefloor together for the first time.

"We've never danced with each other before but we were out there all on our own dancing to Shania Twain's Still The One."

Their daughter, Michelle, 27, of Toothill, works with her mum as a carer for elderly and disabled people. She said: "It was a brilliant and emotional day I think even my dad had a tear in his eye."

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/display.var.760372.0.tying_the_knot_all_over_again .php

...better later than never...

John - ;)

canoilers

05-15-2006, 11:29am

Awh thats so cool, thanks for the article John. :D

shania megafan

05-15-2006, 1:24pm

Thanks for the articles! :up:

Troll

05-15-2006, 2:14pm

That is cool John.

countrylatina

05-15-2006, 11:01pm

awwwwwwww thats so sweet.thanks for the article.

thelastfool

05-17-2006, 4:00pm

thank you for alll :D

Troll

05-18-2006, 10:07am

But lest you think the 5-foot-9 Currington, who runs and lifts weights for two hours on most days, is all about the brawn, give his sophomore album, "Doin' Somethin' Right," a spin. The disc brims with honky-tonk sensibilities and soulful Southern blues vocals that might surprise folks who know him best from "Party for Two," his playful duet and video with super country diva Shania Twain.
Currington had two Top 10 singles and a freshman album under his belt when Twain called him up and asked him to join her on "Party," a frisky and flirtatious pop romp. The song was far afield from the harder-edged, traditional-leaning country that Currington cut his teeth on, but it turned out to be just the calling card he needed.
"I think the 'Party for Two' video was played so much, people just took notice because I was standing next to Shania Twain," the 32-year-old Rincon, Ga., native said.

...

Last October, with the success of "Party" still lingering, Currington released his long-awaited second album, "Doin' Somethin' Right." In February it went gold (500,000 sales), and Currington is confident it will sell platinum (1 million) before too long.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/ent_index/129393

canoilers

05-18-2006, 11:26am

Thank you Andrew for the article. :D

FinnFreak

05-24-2006, 7:27am

Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Wed, May. 24, 2006

YODEL-AY-EE-WHO?

She's small, but she may be the next big thing

http://www.dfw.com/images/dfw/startelegram/news/2067664-863635.jpg
At age 7, Skylar Elise Wallum sings country and Christian
music like a pro. She learned to yodel when she was 6.

By DAVE FERMAN
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

The crowd is raucous, the sound is iffy and there is no time or place to warm up. For any performer, this assembly attended by more than 900 students at Northwest High School presents less than perfect conditions.

If all of this fazes 7-year-old Skylar Elise Wallum, though, she doesn't show it. Coming on after several a cappella singers, loud rock bands and a belly dancer, she strides out onto the basketball court and belts out the old country standard I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart, complete with yodels. But she changes "Cowboy's" to "Texan's" in honor of the school's mascot.

She follows up with Reba McEntire's sassy Why Haven't I Heard From You like a pro.

The students, among them her sister Randi, an 18-year-old senior, go nuts. This is a little girl, after all, and she's personable, poised and confident.

When Skylar Elise is done, she goes back to the stands to sit next to her mom, LaVon Wallum, and immediately critiques her performance. The yodeling, she says, could have been better.

"I love music," Skylar Elise says, calmly watching the next act. "I've been listening to it forever. When I sing, I think about my family and what I'm supposed to be doing."

Singing Christian and country music is what Skylar Elise wants to do.

She owns more than 20 CDs, takes weekly voice and piano lessons, and has recently begun plunking away on a guitar.

She sings everywhere. When she's getting ready for bed.

While swinging in the back yard of her rural Tarrant County home.

At her sister's volleyball tournaments.

And at community events, such as Haltom City's Christmas tree lighting.

"I know about every song on the radio -- country, Christian and Radio Disney," she says.

LaVon Wallum, 1973's Miss Texas USA, says this is no exaggeration. When she was 18 months old, an age when most kids are still working on Mary Had A Little Lamb, Skylar Elise was singing Shania Twain's Man! I Feel Like A Woman! She learned to yodel at age 6 and is constantly asking for musical instruments for birthday and Christmas presents. During her first public performance, at age 3, she sang a rendition of God Bless America, she says. That was at a volleyball tournament at Highland Middle School in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw school district.

"It's not something that just happened," LaVon Wallum said. Her husband, Cliff, is a building operations manager for XTO Energy. "It's a gift from God. She has a very strong, mature voice."

Linda Parker, one of Northwest High School's assistant principals, said Skylar Elise is "wonderful."

"She's charming, poised -- she has it all," says Parker, who invited the girl to sing at the assembly after hearing her at a volleyball tournament last fall. "I was like, 'We have to have you at the assembly.' She's just precious."

For the past several months, Skylar Elise has been part of God's Country Kids, a North Richland Hills-based group that sends young people to perform at nursing homes and community events.

"I think she's really good," said Pamela Elliott, the organization's founder and executive director. "For a 7-year-old, she does a great job. She's one of the special ones, that's for sure."

For now, the plan is to for Skylar Elise to perform about once a week, Wallum says, and to see what happens.

"If she likes it the way she says she does, I hope she can be a singer," she says. "Whatever God intends her to be is what's going to happen."

For Skylar Elise, the near future includes turning 8 in July, trying to get better on the guitar and, in August, giving her father a CD of her singing for his birthday.

"I hope he likes it," she says. "He likes to hear me sing. He calls me his little songbird."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/14654670.htm

John - ;)

FinnFreak

05-24-2006, 8:11am

The Jackson Sun — Jackson, TN - May 24, 2006

Cannon wins Producer of the Year

Academy of Country Music honored Lexington native

Buddy Cannon of Nashville, a Lexington native, worked in a cotton field to buy his first Sears Roebuck guitar for $13. Tuesday, he won Producer of the Year at the 41st Academy of Country Music awards held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Cannon has heard a few notes of music in between.

His career accelerated in the early '70s as a bass player with Grand Ole Opry star Bob Luman. He spent 11 years working with Mel Tillis in his band and publishing company. One of his hit songs for Tillis was "I Believe in You."

Then Cannon spent six years with PolyGram's Mercury Records. His Uncle Dalton Tate of Lexington said, "Shania Twain credits Buddy with getting her first contract because he took her tape to his boss and told him to listen to it."

Cannon went independent and created BudRo Productions with Norro Wilson, who has retired.

Interviewed by phone in Las Vegas Monday, Cannon and his wife Billie were relaxing before all the hoopla began. "Buddy actually found out a week ago that he won," Billie said. "He laughed and said he wasn't going to talk to anybody and he'd be mean to his secretary now. We knew better. We all laughed."

He wasn't on stage in front of the TV cameras on the CBS show because his awards ceremony is held before the cameras roll. But that was not major with Buddy Cannon.

When he was nominated in March, along with Mark Bright, Byron Gallimore, Dann Huff and Frank Rogers, Cannon said, "I was flattered. I went back to work and didn't think about it."

Then he was told he'd won. "It's all kind of a blur, but it's a good kind of blur," he said. "I've just been so busy. I just finished a live album with Kenny Chesney that's coming out before the end of the year. I've started an album for Chris Young, the winner of the Nashville Star contest."

But he's very focused on Kenny Chesney, who won for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. "I'm one of the luckiest people alive to be able to work with a powerful talent like Kenny," Cannon said.

Cannon has produced Chesney through three Triple Platinum album awards for "Everywhere We Go," "Greatest Hits," and "When the Sun Goes Down" and a Quadruple Platinum Award for "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem." Platinum means an album has sold at least 1 million copies; gold means it has sold at least 500,000.

Asked if he planned on taking a week off to enjoy being a celebrity, he laughed. "Oh gosh, no. We're flying out on Wednesday and I'll be back in the studio working on Thursday."

This is the determination of a man who's been playing music since 1965 and never strayed from his goal.

"Buddy's laid back about everything," his uncle said. "He just don't take it like some folks do."

Reflecting on her famous son, Cannon's mom, 83-year-old Lyndel Rhodes of Lexington, didn't say she always knew her son would be a star. She said, "I knew he was interested in guitars and I figured sooner or later he'd do OK. My oldest brother Dalton (Tate) could play anything and he showed Buddy how to play. He'd play the guitar and Buddy would follow behind him playing chords."

Tate said Buddy really wanted to learn. "But you've either got it or you don't," Tate added. Eventually, he gave Buddy his old Gibson guitar that had a little crack in it.

He used to play on Lexington radio station WDXL with Uncle Dalton on the Rhodes Brothers show on Saturdays. When Buddy was in high school, he had several bands that played at dances at the American Legion and National Guard Armory. One of them was The Lyndels; and their music was rock 'n roll, his sister Judy Vise said. "He was in several bands," she recalled.

Vise said all along, "It was like music was in his blood. It's all he ever wanted to do."

She credits his success to the fact that "he loves what he does."

It wasn't easy in the early days when he was pursuing his career, married to Billie, his high school sweetheart, and bringing up their three little girls, Marla, Michelle and Melonie. He had a good job with good pay and benefits at a Nashville club when Mel Tillis called him up and changed his life. Tillis told him he'd just recorded his song and wanted him to come over and listen to it. Cannon turned off his amplifier on stage and left. At the time, Billie wasn't sure it was such a good decision.

Some 30 years later, the rest of the story is written in millions of music notes and saved on vinyl and shiny CDs.

But it doesn't matter how many multi-million dollar entertainers he's helped along the way, he hasn't changed at all, his sister said. Several days ago, during a telephone call, she asked him if he was up for any awards. "He said, 'I've already won Producer of the Year.'"

"There are oodles of producers in Nashville and to be named No. 1 is just something," said Tate. "But above all, it hasn't gone to his head. He's just Buddy. I didn't even know he had a secretary until the other day."

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060524/NEWS01/605240310/1002

John - :)

Troll

05-24-2006, 10:16am

Thanks for the articles John.

matty

05-24-2006, 4:34pm

Thanks for the articles guys.

canoilers

05-24-2006, 8:29pm

Thanks for the articles John, good work as always. :D

shania megafan

05-25-2006, 1:56pm

Thanks! :):up:

Troll

05-26-2006, 10:54am

By Brittani Lusk
Deseret Morning News
One hundred and fifty students from Glendale Middle School, East High and Mountain View Elementary celebrated cultures with dance at the 9th Annual Glendale Multicultural Festival on May 18 at Glendale Middle School.
The program featured 15 dances from 11 countries and myriad cultures, from Tonga to Mexico to Japan. The school is 90 percent ethnic minority, said Glendale Middle School Principal Ernie Nix. The student body is about 75 percent Hispanic and 12 percent Polynesian.
Linda Nieves, who lives in Salt Lake but is from Mexico City, was there to watch her son Paul, 13, dance in two numbers: the Capoeira from Brazil and La Jarabe Tapatio from Mexico.
"It feels good," Nieves said about watching Paul dance.
During the Samoan and Tongan dances, the auditorium echoed with deafening sound. Small children covered their ears and Nix said, "My ears are still ringing. I don't know about you."
The purpose of the multicultural festival is to teach students to understand their indigenous culture and to understand and respect other cultures, explained Kathleen Curry, Glendale community education director.
The program ended with an American line dance to Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine."
"It's good to teach them while they are young. It gives them a window to see others in a different perspective," said S. Talamesi Vaisa, of Riverton, who came to watch his daughter.
Nix thanked those who had put the program together and acknowledged their hard work.
"These people make it happen. I just provide as much help as I can and get out of the way and let it happen," Nix said.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635209307,00.html

Troll

05-26-2006, 10:55am

The most visible break of Currington's career, though, came courtesy of music star Shania Twain.

"That was kind of out of the blue," he says.

After recording his first album, Currington was at a Mercury Records function when an executive told him to make sure to answer his phone for the next couple of days because he was going to get a "special call."

"Next night, I was washing clothes and got a private call, and it was Shania Twain, telling me she'd got a copy of my album and liked my voice a lot," he says.

Twain wanted Currington to sing the duet on a song that she and her husband, Mutt Lange, had written called "Party for Two."

"Within a couple of days, I was off to record the song and shot the video and started doing some shows together live and stuff," Currington says. "Man, what a career booster that was for me."

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/music/article/0,1406,KNS_349_4723834,00.html

shania megafan

05-26-2006, 11:00am

Thanks for posting :up:

canoilers

05-26-2006, 2:53pm

Thanks for the article's Andrew. :D

captainCorr

05-30-2006, 7:04am

Edwards is no stranger to small town celebrities though, considering he hails from the home of country star Shania Twain.

Perhaps his status as the second most famous person from Timmins will earn him an annex to the Shania Twain Museum.

"Maybe I’ll get a Porta-Potty in the back," he chuckles. "You have any idea how big she is? I hear she recently bought New Zealand with the spare pocket change she had lying around.

"It’d be nice to see more of her up north, but she did attend her high school reunion, what a sweetie. She only brought one bodyguard, I guess her management insisted. She danced and kicked off her shoes and then went out for pizza afterwards with every-

body. She’s still a little sweetheart."" [source (http://thechronicleherald.ca/Entertainment/506888.html)]

captainCorr

05-30-2006, 7:06am

TWAIN ANTHEM TRIGGERED SHOOTING INCIDENT

Country queen SHANIA TWAIN has been caught up in a bizarre shooting incident in England after a housewife shot her husband while dancing to one of the Canadian singer's hits.
LINDA WEST faced murder charges after killing her husband GREGORY in May 2005 - but she maintained the shooting incident was an accident.
West, 49, recently told a court in Winchester, Hampshire, she was performing an erotic dance to Twain's hit MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN when the shotgun she was using as a prop accidentally went off.
Prosecutors insisted the couple had rowed and the shooting was intentional, but jurors failed to convict West, accepting that the incident was an accident. [source (http://www.pr-inside.com/twain-anthem-triggered-shooting-incident-r6531.htm)]

FinnFreak

05-30-2006, 7:54am

"She only brought one bodyguard" ..? :really:

:uhh: - ...I thought she went there with Carrie Ann..? :dunno:

...and man, do they get the news late in Austria or what..? heh... :p

IndyStar.com - May 30, 2006

Miley Cyrus is stepping into the spotlight

Daughter of a country singer plays one herself on 'Hannah Montana'

By John Rogers

LOS ANGELES -- Miley Cyrus isn't a country music star, but after a couple of months of playing one on TV she's starting to get a pretty good idea what it feels like.

For one thing, impromptu visits to your favorite Southern California shopping mall are out unless you arrive in a disguise.

"The last time me and my mom went, it turned out to be not such a good idea," said Cyrus, who stars in the new Disney Channel show "Hannah Montana" (7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays).

Not that the 13-year-old isn't used to being around frenetic fans. She is, after all, the daughter of country music star Billy Ray "Achy Breaky Heart" Cyrus. But since her TV debut, the fans are starting to direct their attention more to her.

"Miley used to be known as Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter. Now I'm known as Miley Cyrus' father," her dad observed recently. "And I couldn't be more happy," he quickly added.

Indeed, with almost no professional acting experience, Miley has leaped into one of the more popular children's shows on cable television. It scored the highest debut ratings of any Disney Channel series when it arrived in March.

She plays 14-year-old country superstar Hannah Montana. With her brother and father-manager (the latter played by her real-life father), Hannah has taken up residence in Malibu with designs on attending school under her given name, Miley Stewart. There, she hopes to be just a regular kid.
As for father and daughter's make-believe roles, both say that wasn't much of a stretch either.

"It's just me, it's just who I am," the outgoing, self-confident young actress says of her character.

Not that playing opposite her real father doesn't sometimes present a challenge.

"You know how when you're a girl you don't always want your dad around?" she asks in a rare moment of shyness. "Sometimes it's like that. But my dad's kind of cool when it comes to that. He's better than most dads."

For his part, Cyrus says he wasn't sure he wanted to take the role when it was offered at the last minute after his daughter spent two years auditioning for her part.

"I said, 'I don't want her to have worked so hard to get this show and me come on and mess it up,' " said Cyrus.

As it turned out, playing a show in which both of them can trade quips, sing and pick guitars was a natural fit for him, too.

"Since Miley was a little girl we've been writing songs together. We sing together. We do a whole lot more of it offstage than onstage," Cyrus mused.
It was her musical talent, Disney officials say, that in the end finally landed Cyrus the role.

"We decided we would not go through with this series until we found a kid who could carry a sitcom as well as she could carry a tune," said Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide.

"But she was only 11 (when auditions began)," he recalled, raising concerns she wasn't mature enough to carry her own show. So the network waited for her to gain enough confidence and enough height.

"She has the everyday relatability of Hilary Duff and the stage presences of Shania Twain, and that's an explosive combination," says Marsh.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060530/ENTERTAINMENT05/605300319/1005/ENTERTAINMENT

John - ;)

Troll

05-30-2006, 10:17am

Thanks for the articles.

FinnFreak

05-31-2006, 7:24am

The Contra Costa Times - Wed, May. 31, 2006

All roads lead to Nashville

An increasing number of pop and rock 'n' roll stars having fun being a little bit country too

By John Gerome
ASSOCIATED PRESS

If pop star Michelle Branch and her pal Jessica Harp had their way, their new country album "Stand Still, Look Pretty" would have registered even higher on the twang scale.

"We had people holding the reins back and saying maybe you should approach this very slowly and adjust as you go," Branch said of the duo, called the Wreckers.

"I think if Jessica and I totally had our way, it would have been a bluegrass record."

The group is among a spate of artists from outside Nashville who are going country and finding success.

The Bon Jovi-Jennifer Nettles duet "Who Says You Can't Go Home" hit No. 1 on the country singles chart, while new albums by Van Morrison and Norah Jones' outfit the Little Willies also are doing well.

The Wreckers' first single, "Pick Up the Pieces," was at No. 29 on Billboard and rising after six weeks.

"Toward the end of my last solo tour I was trying to figure out what else I might want to do," said Branch, 22, whose string of pop hits includes the Grammy-winning "The Game of Love" with Santana. "I started thinking about making the organic singer-songwriter country-type of record I'd always wanted to do."

Pop and rock artists have long been drawn to country music for its vivid story songs and crack musicians. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Elvis Costello to Kid Rock has flirted with Nashville.

But there's been a spike recently. Neil Young made an album and concert film here that channel country's golden era. Morrison and Jones mined the classic country songbook for their respective discs. Mark Knopfler teamed with Emmylou Harris for his latest project, "All the Roadrunning." And former Pixies frontman Frank Black tapped Nashville session players for his record "Honeycomb."

Even David Lee Roth joined a group of Nashville pickers for an upcoming bluegrass tribute album, "Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen."

"I think if there were a common trait among all these artists it is that they all treat country music and country musicians with terrific respect," said Brian Philips, general manager of Country Music Television.

For Branch, country seemed the perfect fit for the Wreckers' rootsy sound, which combines mandolin, banjo and fiddle with tight harmonies and a rock beat. The duo and their label, Maverick/Warner Bros. Nashville, are promoting the record exclusively to country radio. The Wreckers will also hit the road with Rascal Flatts.

"Anyone who has followed me from the beginning, who knows my writing and is interested in me enough to really care about this, won't feel like this is too shocking," Branch said. "Nothing about my writing has changed."

While the 1970s were a fertile time for the singer-songwriters who inspired Branch -- such as Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens -- she said country is more open to the style today than pop.

"It's too hard for a singer-songwriter to break into pop music, especially for a new artist. You get half a second to even make an attempt," she said.

It's been a while since a pop star has had a sustained career in country the way John Denver or Linda Ronstadt did.

The more common pattern is for country singers to cross over to pop, a la Shania Twain or Faith Hill.

Wade Jessen, director of Billboard's country charts, views the current crop of outsiders more as an anomaly than a trend.

"For lack of a better analogy, I think the stars just lined up, timingwise," Jessen said. "The Bon Jovi thing is maybe as country as we'll hear Bon Jovi go. I don't see that band making a run at the format in hope of a crossover career."

Despite strong sales, neither the Morrison nor Jones albums are getting mainstream radio airplay.

CMT's Philips thinks country fans are more adventurous than radio gives them credit for. The cable network airs videos by pop and rock stars such as Sheryl Crow and Jewel; and its most popular series, "Crossroads," pairs country singers with outside artists such as Dave Matthews and John Mayer.

"Twenty years ago, when you talked to people who listened to country radio, most would say, 'I grew up in a house where we heard only country music,'" Philips said. "Now, it's impossible to grow up in a house where only one genre of music is accessible. If you've got electricity, that's probably not the case."

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/14705525.htm

John - :)

Troll

05-31-2006, 10:12am

Thanks for the article John.

captainCorr

05-31-2006, 1:06pm

Lightborne Launches New CG Division

Tuesday May 30, 2006

Motion design and production company Lightborne has expanded its offerings with a new CG division, headed by digital effects supervisor David Lombardi. Lombardi, who has worked extensively in commercials, videogames, feature films, episodics and music videos, will be responsible for new business development, maintaining client relations, overseeing all visual effects work and building the CG department. He is currently working on a CG-driven spot for Hasbro Tooth Tunes via ad agency Wonder Group.

"David is an amazing 3D artist," acknowledged Tuesday McGowan, Lightborne creative director. "His background in design gives him a unique perspective combined with years of experience in CG technical direction and effects supervision. His contribution to the growth of the Lightborne and our creative capabilities will be invaluable."

"Lightborne is a very well built company," added Lombardi. "They have people who are passionate about the business and are incredibly talented in a range of disciplines. Lightborne's strengths in the past have been in their creative graphic design. My expertise has been primarily in visual effects. The two can blend together nicely, but having CG capabilities will augment the production here and the palette of tools that we can use on behalf of our clients."

Lombardi has been involved in effects work for a wide variety of media. His credits include feature film/trailer work for SIN CITY, BLADE: TRINITY, THE TERMINAL, GOTHIKA, SPY KIDS 2 and HULK, the TV shows SLIDERS, X-FILES, STAR TREK: VOYAGER, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and ENTERPRISE, as well as music videos for notable artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain, Ludacris, Mick Jagger and Janet Jackson. In the commercial realm, Lombardi has lent his talent to campaigns for Dodge, Fox Sports, United Airlines, Honda, Adidas, Target and Sony.

Most recently, he was a digital effects supervisor/on-set supervisor/senior artist at The Syndicate/Computer Café, where he specialized in commercials and music videos. Lombardi originally studied industrial design in college, but discovered his talent was better suited for the digital realm. After working in videogames, he became a senior artist/digital effects supervisor at Digital Muse.

"Commercials will be my main focus here," concluded Lombardi. "This is a great market for a company like Lightborne, which is well versed in concepting and executing artistic content, and I want to continue expanding into this area. My immediate goals will be to streamline the project workflow and add technology that is more appropriate for visual effects work..."

Lightborne, based in Cincinnati (www.light-borne.com) is a motion design and production studio made up of a collective of designers, directors, animators, editors, illustrators, sound designers and effects artists whose desire is to practice and advance the discipline of motion design and visual effects. [source (http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=17056)]

shania megafan

05-31-2006, 2:09pm

Thanks for posting ;)

FinnFreak

06-01-2006, 8:52am

The Post and Courier - THURSDAY, JUNE 01, 2006

Happily ever after

By Michael Lovett

Within the storybook realm of modern country music ? where attractive superstars wed one another, raise perfect families and amass ungodly riches, all while staying grounded enough to sing simple tales of love and loss ? the institution of marriage has become a highly profitable business relationship.

In the past decade, country's biggest hits have come from its happiest couples. Husband-and-wife teams such as Shania Twain and Mutt Lange, Martina and John McBride and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have all scored huge commercial success by banking their careers on their high-profile marriages.

Of country's mega-couples, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw ? whose current co-headlining tour, Soul2Soul II, stops at the North Charleston Coliseum on Tuesday ? stand out as homecoming queen and king.

Faith Hill, born Audrey Faith Perry in Jackson, Miss., is the blonde bombshell whose 2000 crossover album, "Breathe," reached the top of the Billboard charts and earned three Grammy awards. Her most recent album, 2005's "Fireflies," yielded the number one single, "Mississippi Girl," written by John Rich of country duo Big & Rich.

Hill's husband is no slouch himself. The son of baseball great Tug McGraw, he has built a stellar career as country's roughneck prince, staking his reputation on his two-day stubble and undying love for NFL football. Since breaking out in 1994 with the controversial hit, "Indian Outlaw," McGraw has sold more than 30 million albums and recorded 25 number one country singles. As recently as 2004, McGraw's carpe diem-themed hit, "Live Like You Were Dying," spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard's country music charts.

The pair's much-publicized romance began in 1996 when Hill opened for McGraw on his "Spontaneous Combustion" tour. One night late in the tour, McGraw proposed to Hill in his trailer shortly before taking the stage. When he returned after the show, Hill had written her reply on the mirror with magic marker. (Was there no red lipstick handy?)

For Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, who have three children together, Gracie, 9, Maggie, 7, and Audrey, 4, creating a bridge between their personal and professional lives just makes good sense: By scheduling their tours to coincide with their children's summer vacations, Hill and McGraw maximize their family's time together.

Commercially speaking, the Hill-McGraw pairing is a proven winner. In 2000, the couple's first co-headlining tour, Soul2Soul, became the year's highest-grossing production. Each of their four duet singles, 1997's "It's Your Love," 1998's "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me," 2000's "Let's Make Love" and 2005's "Like We Never Loved At All" cracked the Billboard Country Top Ten.

Rumors of yet another Hill-McGraw duet, "When I Need You," have created a sizable internet buzz around McGraw's as-yet-untitled November 2006 release.

To experience the magic of the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw union before then, however, you'll have to attend Soul2Soul II Tuesday at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's Soul2Soul II tour comes to the North Charleston Coliseum (5001 Coliseum Dr., North Charleston) Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets ($66.00-$86.00), call (843) 554-6060 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, go to www.coliseumpac.com, www.timmcgraw.com or www.faithhill.com.

http://www.charleston.net/stories/?newsID=90817&section=preview

John - :)

FinnFreak

06-01-2006, 9:24am

Daily Telegraph - 01/06/2006

Greatest albums of all time revealed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2006/06/01/ualbum.jpg
Definitely Maybe: the winner

Definitely Maybe, the debut album of Oasis, has been named greatest album of all time, pushing the Beatles into second place.

The album, made 10 years ago at the height of the 'Britpop' phenomenon and featuring hits such as Live Forever and Supersonic, won the majority of votes in the poll of more than 40,000 music fans.

The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band came in a close second, followed by another Beatles album, Revolver.

Radiohead's OK Computer and another Oasis title (What's the Story) Morning Glory? came forth and fifth.

Up the Bracket, the 2002 debut by Pete Doherty's former band The Libertines, is the newest album in the top 20 in 15th place.

Nirvana's Nevermind, in sixth place, and The Strokes' Is This It, in 20th place, are the only two bands from the US to make the top 20.

The survey listed the top 100 greatest albums, with Hotel California by the Eagles taking the 100th place.

Definitely Maybe, which cost £85,000 to produce, was released on August 30 1994 and debuted at the top of the charts a week later, with seven million copies selling worldwide.

The survey was organised by the book of British Hit Singles and Albums and NME.com, and votes came from as far afield as New Zealand, Croatia and Colombia.

There may be some debate among rock fans as to whether the Spice Girls and Shania Twain deserved to make the list, but David Roberts, British Hit Singles and Albums editor, said the survey showed diversity and longevity.

"Usually these polls are full of records that people have only just bought because they are freshest in the mind," Mr Roberts said.

"But this poll shows that the truly great albums always have longevity. Only two albums in the Top 20 were released in the last five years, so the voters have clearly thought long and hard about their decision."

Greatest 100 Albums of All Time

1. Definitely Maybe, Oasis

2. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, The Beatles

3. Revolver, The Beatles

4. OK Computer, Radiohead

5. (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis

6. Nevermind, Nirvana

7. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses

8. Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd

9. The Queen Is Dead, Smiths

10. The Bends, Radiohead

11. The Joshua Tree, U2

12. London Calling, The Clash

13. The Beatles (The White Album), The Beatles

14. Abbey Road, The Beatles

15. Up The Bracket, The Libertines

16. Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols, Sex Pistols

17. Four Symbols (Led Zeppelin IV), Led Zeppelin

18. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie

19. A Night At The Opera, Queen

20. Is This It, The Strokes

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/01/ualbums.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/01/ixnews.html

heh... Shania's on the top 100 albums list..! :D:up:

John - :)

Troll

06-01-2006, 10:21am

Thanks for the articles John.

Troll

06-01-2006, 10:26am

When you're from Timmins, Ont., you're bound to live in the giant shadow of a petite singer by the name of Shania Twain.

There's even a giant billboard on the outskirts of town that proclaims that the industrial town is the home of the pop singer. (She actually lives in Switzerland, but never mind).

So imagine being Derek Edwards, a comedian, and the self-proclaimed second-most famous person from Timmins.

"The only two people to try a career in performance is me and this superstar-type person. It's like being the second-best-known person from Bethlehem. I'm screwed. Nobody remembers Duncan from Nazareth," Edwards said.

http://www.canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/TPLIFE02/606010319/-1/LIFE

matty

06-01-2006, 4:16pm

I don't agree with "Greatest albums ever" lists. There is no actual answer, it's all down to opinion.

lizmiller

06-01-2006, 4:30pm

Source: BBC South Today
31 May 2006

A wife has showed a jury how she shot her husband dead while she danced to a Shania Twain song during a game.
Linda West, 49, used a wooden replica of a shotgun to demonstrate the "accidental" shooting, which killed Gregory West, 45, on 9 May last year.

Mrs West said the gun went off by mistake as she bowed at the end of a dance to the song Man! I Feel Like A Woman, at their Southampton flat.

The mother-of-three denies murder and an alternative count of manslaughter.

Giving evidence at Winchester Crown Court, Mrs West said she and her husband of only nine weeks were drunk when he decided she should dance to the track with the shotgun.

Grabbing hold of the wooden replica gun, she explained how she banged it on the floor at the abrupt end of the song so as to "take a bow" and the gun went off.

The blast hit her husband, a marine engineer, in the heart killing him instantly as he sat in a chair.

Mrs West told the court: "I tried to wake him. He would not wake up. I was saying Gregory 'please wake up'. I was hitting him around the face trying to move him, shouting, 'wake up, wake up'."

She told her defence counsel Nigel Pascoe QC that she did not know how the gun had become loaded.

Mrs West, who works as a carer, said the couple were enjoying the evening.

But the prosecution claims that Mrs West had deliberately loaded her husband's double barrelled weapon and blasted him at close range because of a heated row they had had during that evening.

Facial injuries

Several neighbours reported hearing the argument and eventually the loud bang of the weapon firing.

The court heard how Mrs West had called 999 and said: "Oh my God, I've shot him."

Michael Vere-Hodge QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "She was hysterical. She said: 'What have I done? We have only been married nine weeks. It was just a game'."

But Mr Vere-Hodge said that Mr West had facial injuries consistent with him being attacked.

He said Mrs West had taken the gun from the bedroom and shot him, but then immediately regretted it.

The court also heard that when the gun was examined by an expert he found the safety catch did not work and if the gun was dropped it could go off.

The trial continues.

It's a really sad story and I feel sorry for the woman involved. Strange what a Shania song can make people do! :uhh:

matty

06-01-2006, 4:42pm

Weird story.

It's been posted somewhere else on here but I can't find it :huh:

shaniatfan

06-01-2006, 5:16pm

Weird story.

It's been posted somewhere else on here but I can't find it :huh:
Yes, it was but i can't find it either ,but this post is more of an update to the whole story.
IMO i think it kinda messed up

aFinn

06-01-2006, 5:21pm

There are several postings in the Shania name-droppings thread since the incident was first reported. I found at least this:
http://www.shaniaforums.com/showthread.php?p=782792#post782792

I'm leaving this as a separate thread for now, but it will be merged with the other thread by tomorrow.

Alex

06-01-2006, 10:28pm

Yeah, weir story, but I have also seen this story in other place jeje, but it's funny and interesting!:p

FinnFreak

06-02-2006, 2:32am

I don't agree with "Greatest albums ever" lists. There is no actual answer, it's all down to opinion.

...and Oasis definitely doesn't belong at the top, IMO... :uhh:

...and this from today's Guardian:

But there are some surprises lower down the top 100:, with the debut album by the Spice Girls ranked above Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures, and Shania Twain's Come on Over ahead of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run and Prince's Sign 'o' the Times.

John - ;)

Troll

06-04-2006, 10:27am

The purely solo female entrants come even later, with the bizarre inclusion of Come On Over by Shania Twain at 64 as the first solo female album listed

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=824332006

FinnFreak

06-05-2006, 4:37am

CBC News - Sat, 03 Jun 2006

Canada's stars glow brightly on the Walk of Fame

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2006/06/03/andersonwalk-cp-10130915.jpg
Pamela Anderson poses with her star at
the Canadian Walk of Fame induction
ceremonies in Toronto on Saturday

It was cold and wet in downtown Toronto Saturday but some of Canada's most famous stars were shining as they were inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

Actress Pamela Anderson, David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer, humourist Eugene Levy and others joined the list of Canada's most famous stars and had their names engraved in a Toronto sidewalk.

"It feels pretty damn good, actually," said Levy, who was born in Hamilton, Ont. "It's a kick. I was kind of blasé up to today, trying to play it down, but it was pretty exciting."

Levy is being recognized for his work on the SCTV comedy series as well as the American Pie movies and other comedies such as A Mighty Wind and Best in Show.

The entertainers braved the wind and wet of a Toronto spring day and attended a gala at the downtown Hummingbird Centre.

The presenters included such as notables as Dan Aykroyd, actress Jennifer Coolidge and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, who joined wrestler Trish Stratus on the stage.

The first honoree to arrive, Ottawa-raised actor Brendan Fraser, saluted two Mounties and mugged for the cameras on his way down the carpet.

Fraser, the star of The Mummy, George of the Jungle as well as Gods and Monsters, said his great-grandfather was a member of the RCMP, adding that the Mounties had shown him the proper way to salute.

"It's slow up, quick down," he told Canadian Press.

Fraser was born in Indiana, the son of a Canadian foreign service officer.

Game show host Alex Trebek, who was also inducted, offered a diplomatic "no comment" when asked who's funnier, Canadians or Americans.

About 100 fans, many wearing rain ponchos and toting umbrellas in the cold rain, turned out to see the inductees arrive in their limousines. They screamed Anderson's name as the British Columbia native, clad in a silky black dress, headed into the Hummingbird Centre.

Calgary singer Jann Arden was also honoured, as was Robert Goulet, who was born in America but spent his youth in Edmonton.

Goulet began his career as a radio announcer on CKUA in Edmonton, and achieved fame when he was cast in the musical Camelot as Lancelot opposite Richard Burton and Julie Andrews.

He went on to star in musicals, movies, TV shows, and has 15 albums to his name.

The awards weren't limited to entertainers. Olympian skier Nancy Greene Raine came from her home in Whistler, B.C., to welcome the members of the Crazy Canucks ski team, Dave Irwin, Ken Read, and Steve Podborski, who amazed the world with their skiing prowess in 1975. Fellow skier Dave Murray died in 1990 after a lengthy bout with cancer.

The show has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1998, when the first dozen celebrities were inducted. They included famed figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, impressionist Rich Little, director Norman Jewison and ballerina Karen Kain, comedian John Candy and Canada's most famous pianist, Glenn Gould.

Shaffer, keyboardist and leader of late-night talk show host David Letterman's house band, appeared on stage Saturday with Dan Aykroyd, who walked the red carpet sporting sunglasses in the rain.

The Walk of Fame was founded by Toronto businessman Peter Soumalias, who has said this year's honorees were chosen from over 100,000 submissions received from around the world.

To qualify, a candidate must have been born or spent his or her formative years in Canada, and have been successful for a minimum of 10 years.

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

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/06/03/gala-arts.html

* * *

musicomh.com - 5 June 2006

(Hed) P.E. - Back 2 Base X (Surburban Noise)

http://www.musicomh.com/albums5/hed-pe.jpg

The Red Hot Chili Peppers did it, Incubus did it, and with their fifth release, (hed) Planet Earth demonstrate that they too do not know how to quit while they are ahead.

Sustained popularity will get you so far, but when the lyrics run dry, the riffs merge into monotony, most artists are able to re-arrange the words horse dead a flogging. Not M.C.U.D and co; having dodged the nu-metal genocide by masquerading as a hip-hop group, this sees the return of the band’s highly aggressive, rock-fuelled mayhem. Only this time, the results are not interesting.

Back 2 Base X proceeds in the following way:

0 minutes 37 seconds: Vocalist Jahred (M.C.U.D) declares "I sold my soul to punk rock" at the beginning of the light and jazzy Listen. The restrained and enjoyable feel of this track, although somewhat interrupted by the chorus, leads one to believe that this line may have been meant in jest.

3 minutes 15 seconds: The riff to the delightfully named Novus Ordos Clitorus kicks in, featuring the sort of death-metal grunting that only Slayer can pull off without causing offence. Still, no punk rock at least.

3 minutes 43 seconds: A wave of shouty, Amen style punkery hits you in the face like a backhander from the Hulk; Jahred’s screaming of New World Order demonstrates none of the anthemic chorus-work that (hed)p.e. used to deliver. In under four minutes this is the third significant style change of the album so far. Reviewer is in a state of nonplussed bemusement.

4 minutes 37 seconds: The first of Jahred’s utterly ridiculous wolf-howls. As Shania Twain would put it, "you must be joking, right?"

6 minutes 6 seconds: With a cry of "6666!" (and another wolf howl) the punk rock riffs continue to flow with Lock and Load: a song about sex and politics, as far as I could infer from lines such as "tomorrow we die, tonight let’s waste some time". A jazzy, un-structured ending to the song is gladly received.

9 minutes 15 seconds: White Collars seems to sound like the excellent Feel Good from the mega-selling album Broke. But, instead of having Serj Tankian lead an excellent chorus, we revert to the sort of driving punk power-chords that are already beginning to sound over-used.

18 minutes 46 seconds - 19 mins 30 secs: Track 7. Just skip it.

27 minutes 42 seconds: Jahred yells "It’s (hed)pe and suburban noize so **** off!", which is rather a tempting offer as the first interesting track for what feels like ages, Daze Or War, is butchered by another chorus that expels all melody.

33 minutes 7 seconds: Jahred’s vocals seem to have entirely dried up, as he steals "hard line, hard line after hard line" from Rage Against The Machine’s Know Your Enemy. Further pilfering includes "let’s take the power back", before the vocalist resorts to a chorus of "na na na"’s.

43 minutes 3 seconds: The end of The Chosen One, an improved yet uninteresting final track with a slight reggae feel.

Whilst clearly demonstrating their lasting ability to incorporate a range of styles and approaches, (hed) Planet Earth seem to have lost, or rejected, the concept of what makes an enjoyable song. High points such as the reggae verses of Sophia are too brief; many (hed) fans may wish to give up, listen to The Meadow, and simply reminisce.

http://www.musicomh.com/albums5/hed-pe_0606.htm

John - ;)

FinnFreak

06-05-2006, 7:55am

The News-Sentinel - Mon, Jun. 05, 2006

Focus on the positive

BY RICHARD CARLSON
Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service

Q: My wife says that when I get home from work, I'm a drag to be around and that I complain too much. The truth is, however, I usually have long, tough days. What can I do?

A: This is a common question. The best answer I have is something I call "Avoid the `I've had a really hard day' habit."

Before I explain, let me clarify one thing. Every once in a while, we all need to vent and to share our frustrations and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. A good friend or spouse is probably willing to listen once in a while, and if he or she isn't willing, I think they ought to be.

One of my favorite singers of all time is Shania Twain. I really love her song, "Honey I'm home." In the funny and upbeat song, she sings about the rotten, hard day that she had - everything that could have possibly gone wrong did. Most of us can relate to those types of days.

When the song is over, there is a sense of relief, almost as though all is well now that she has sufficiently vented her frustration.

But just imagine being on the receiving end of that type of complaining, not just once in a while, but day after day, week after week, and even year after year. There's no question that complaining is a very easy habit to get into. And, when you're on the receiving end of it on an ongoing basis, it's a total and complete drag!

Think about it from the listeners' perspective. He or she must sit and listen, perhaps for minutes, or worse yet, for hours, about how horrible the world and his or her partners' life really is. Now remember, the listener is the complainers partner, so the silent message being sent is _even though you are my partner, my life stinks!

I had a friend who loved his partner very much. She had a great deal going for her. She was interesting, had a great and interesting career, was well read and well traveled and they often had fun together. But her one habit he couldn't take after a few years was her nightly complaining about how hard her life was.

It simply brought him down. There was no gratitude, no reports of any of the good stuff - but only how awful everything was. Very often when she finished complaining, she did feel better, but my friend felt depressed and, eventually, it was the end of their relationship. My friend, and most people I know, don't mind a bit of listening to someone who is hurting, or who had a bad day - once in a while. But, those of us who love life, want to hear about how great life is, at least every once in a while.

So, if your spouse is saying you are negative or boring when you get home, the easiest way to change all of that is often to change the way you communicate. Don't be fake, but do focus on the good in life.

What was the best thing that happened to you today? What are you passionate about? What excites you about life? What makes you smile and hopeful about life? And, while you're at it, ask similar questions of your partner. Even if he or she is tired, see if you can bring forth some type of positive energy from them. Ask if they had any funny parts of their day - or if they witnessed any acts of kindness.

All you're doing is refocusing your conversation on a different aspect of life - the positive. True, the negative exists, but that's not all there is to life - there are both. So try to strike a balance between the two with the positive being the major source of conversation and energy and I think you'll be amazed at what you'll discover.

For more insights on positive thinking and happiness, check out my Web site at www.dontsweat.com. Practice being positive this week and I'll see you next time!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Carlson, Ph.D., is the author of the runaway bestseller "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," as well as his latest bestseller, "Easier Than You Think: Because Life Doesn't Have to Be So Hard." To submit comments or questions, write to Carlson at EasierThanYouThink@dontsweat.com.

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/14744092.htm

John - ;)

Troll

06-05-2006, 10:28am

Thanks for the great articles.

matty

06-05-2006, 4:20pm

Thanks for articles. I saw Trish posing with her star.

Troll

06-06-2006, 10:30am

Country: Danielle Peck "sounds like Shania Twain," Brian Mansfield says, "without all the exclamation points."

Peck sounds like Shania Twain without the Def Leppard drums — or all the exclamation points. Also like Twain, she’s at her best when she’s playfully kittenish (Kiss You on the Mouth) or frankly assessing men’s shortcomings (Findin’ a Good Man, Sucks to Be You) in singalong style

http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2006/06/the_weeks_revie.html

SHANIANUTS!

06-07-2006, 9:50pm

canoilers

06-08-2006, 7:12am

Thank you John for the article. :D

FinnFreak

06-08-2006, 7:14am

mixonline.com - Jun 2, 2006 4:56 PM

StarCity Recording Purchases SSL Axiom MT Plus

http://mixonline.com/mixline/Axiom.photoWeb.jpg

StarCity Recording Company in Bethlehem, Pa., expanded its facility with a custom-designed SSL Axiom MT Plus digital multitrack console. The MT Plus is designed specifically for multitrack recording, overdub and mixing applications.

“We have a specific set of needs for our B room, the foremost being that I wanted an upgrade that will make it the equal of our A room, which is equipped with an XL 9000 K,” says StarCity’s executive VP, Jeff Glixman. “I also wanted a maximum number of channel paths in a smaller footprint and the ability to move quickly between songs, artists, post or music projects, et cetera. A digital console became the obvious choice, with audio quality and ergonomics at the top of the list.

“I am thrilled with the way this MT sounds,” Glixman continues. “I spent months looking at console options and the more involved I became with the MT, the more I loved it. The MT Plus is completely compatible with the SSL XL 9000 K in Studio A. And the ability to switch from Studio A to B without missing a beat is invaluable.”

Glixman traveled to Europe to “test drive” the MT, previously owned by producer Mutt Lange, who used the console to record Shania Twain’s recent double-album. “The EQ sounds incredible, the compressors do everything I want them to do and the flexibility of this desk is just amazing,” Glixman enthuses. “I’m knocked out with the sound of it.”

For more information, visit www.solid-state-logic.com and www.starcityrecording.com.

http://mixonline.com/mixline/starcity-ssl-axiom-060406/index.html

The new addition to our studio arrived on Feb. 16th. What a beauty! She arrived safe and sound from Milan and now it's sitting and waiting to be installed. Our target date is April 1st - All strong hands on board. The gag order has been lifted; the previous owners were Mutt Lange & Shania Twain.

Click here for pictures (http://www.starcityrecording.com/gallery2.html)

John - ;)

canoilers

06-08-2006, 7:34am

http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0086.gif I could've sworn my relpy to your article came after you posted that, but somehow my reply is before your post. OMG, I think I'm Physic.

FinnFreak

06-08-2006, 7:44am

.
.
.
.* magic *

John - :p

canoilers

06-08-2006, 8:03am

I see its black magic at that too. :p

Troll

06-08-2006, 10:28am

Thanks for the article.

Alex

06-08-2006, 6:22pm

Cool! It's interesting post!;)

FinnFreak

06-09-2006, 9:01am

tulsaworld.com - 6/9/2006

Country Fever Heats Up: Carrie comes back home

The 'American Idol' plays her first show in Oklahoma as a solo act.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/images/2006/060609_A1_Carri11914_a1carrie.jpg
Carrie Underwood performs Thursday for the first time as a solo artist
in her home state at Country Fever, a three-day music festival just
north of Pryor.

By JOHN WOOLEY World Scene Writer

PRYOR -- A few minutes before 9 p.m. Thursday at the Country Fever festival grounds, the sun went down and a new star came out.

A wildly cheering crowd watched and listened as "American Idol" champ Carrie Underwood, about an hour's drive from her hometown of Checotah, returned to Oklahoma for her first appearance as a country music recording star.

Hitting the stage in knee-high black boots, short black shorts and an off-the-shoulder striped top, she strutted out in front of her six-piece band and a backup singer and launched into "Young and Beautiful" -- a peppy number about celebrating life while you're young and pretty enough to enjoy it.

Much of the crowd had been there for hours, well before fellow Oklahoman Wade Hayes' 7 p.m. show. The grassy general admission area above the sunken reserved seat section was dotted with chairs, umbrellas and homemade signs.

One of those signs stood beside 5-year-old Riley Terry, who sat in her mother's lap. The orange sign behind them read, "Today is my birthday and Carrie is my present."

At 4:30 p.m., Riley was already hot and tired. There was a reason for both conditions. One was the 90-degree temperature. Katie Terry, her mother, gave the other: "She was so excited, she just wasn't able to sleep last night."

Like just about everybody else in the crowd, Katie and Riley first encountered Underwood on TV's "American Idol," the reality show that brought Underwood her initial fame.

"We live in Tahlequah," Katie Terry said, "and when (Riley) found out that Carrie went to school there, she loved her. When we found out Carrie was going to be here on her birthday, we had to come."

Riley was one of scores -- maybe hundreds -- of young girls holding signs in the audience. The crowd was estimated at near 20,000 by Mark Nuessle, president and general manager of Pryor Creek Music Festivals Inc., 15 minutes before Underwood's show.

"They're coming in strong right now," he said as a medical helicopter buzzed slowly through the cloudless sky above the festival -- taking someone away with a heat-related ailment, perhaps?

"They're taking photographers up," he said. "It's been hot, but we've had no hitches at all.

"People have been drinking lots of water, and we've been doing a lot of advertising on our (video) screens about hydration and safety. We're real strong on that. We've got at least 15 tents out here where people can get out of the sun."

Backstage, with the sun going down, Oklahoma first lady Kim Henry watched as the crew readied the stage for Underwood's appearance. She was supposed to have presented Underwood with an Oklahoman of the Year award in a private ceremony, but was held up in Tulsa traffic and was a half-hour late.

"I met Carrie when she came to the governor's office shortly after winning 'American Idol,' " Henry said. "I was impressed then, I've been more impressed about her past year -- how she's carried herself, how she's represented herself. I think she's made Oklahoma proud."

Underwood has indeed come a long way in the year since "American Idol."

Over the course of her show, she seemed more pop than country with a couple of notable exceptions. Her band looked and sounded like a rock 'n' roll band with a fiddle. But it's worked for Shania Twain, and on this night, it worked well for Underwood.

Although her country-chart hits, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," and "Don't Forget to Remember Me," were predictable showstoppers, she brought the house down midway through her set with an electrifying hard-rocking version of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine."

She acknowledged what a life-changing trip it's been from Checotah to stardom when she looked at the audience at one point and said, "I have been to so many places, and seen so many things, but you don't know how it feels to be back home."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/NewsStory.asp?ID=060609_Ne_A1_Carri11914

John - :)

canoilers

06-09-2006, 9:21am

Thanks for the article Sir. :D

Troll

06-09-2006, 10:13am

Thanks for the article John.

shania megafan

06-09-2006, 11:00am

Thanks :up:

Troll

06-10-2006, 10:26am

Oxford's students turned up the heat to thrash their county rivals as the summer sun beat down on The Parks last night.

Given the ideal conditions, it was just a pity that Oxfordshire couldn't serve up a competitive finale for the 300-strong crowd.

In the course of the evening boundaries and wickets were greeted by music as diverse as Nirvana, Shania Twain and Radiohead.

http://www.oxfordmail.net/sport/omsportheadlines/display.var.790196.0.cricket_students_pass_twenty2 0_test.php

canoilers

06-10-2006, 11:20am

300 people rocking out to Shania, gotta like that.

FinnFreak

06-13-2006, 3:32am

Corporate Board Member Magazine - July/Aug 2006

Hey! Wanna Buy My Brain?

by Susan Littwin

They say juries and trigger settlements. Who are these people, and when can you trust them?

. . .

Michael Sawicki, a Dallas plaintiffs’ attorney, made news recently when he won one of 2005’s largest jury awards: $606.1 million (later reduced to about $2 million) for the family of an 82-year-old man who had died because of an overdose of chemotherapy. Sawicki recalls another, decade-old case for the family of one of Reba McEntire’s backup singers, who was killed in a 1991 plane crash. How much was her life worth? To evaluate her future earnings and the possibility of her becoming a solo star, Sawicki called on a record executive whose qualification consisted of years in the music business: “He produced records for Winona Judd and Shania Twain. And he said, ‘I think this woman [the backup singer] could have been a superstar.’” Sawicki says he won more than $3 million for the singer’s estate.

http://www.boardmember.com/issues/archive.pl?article_id=12535

John - :smirk:

FinnFreak

06-13-2006, 5:29am

WFAA-TV Dallas / Fort Worth - Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Life bucks convention, but tunes don't

COUNTRY MUSIC: Upbringing shapes Willmon's style

By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News

Amarillo-born Trent Willmon enjoyed a peculiar childhood, at least by modern-day standards. He grew up in Dickens County, about four hours west of Dallas, deep in ranch country surrounded by horses, literature and radio – but no television.

"That was basically out of the fact that we were 80 miles from the television station," he says over breakfast at the Fairmont Hotel during a promotional trip to Dallas. "If you have television out there, you have a satellite dish. There's no cable. It's pretty far remote West Texas."

Both his parents were schoolteachers, but his mother was the family Bohemian, while his dad was the quiet, conservative type.

"Literature was huge in our house. My dad has semi trucks full of books. My mom's the same way. They're divorced now, but they always pounded that in our heads. We were reading at an eighth-grade level by the time we were in first grade. That was our entertainment."

That and the sport of rodeo, the sounds of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Townes Van Zandt, guitar playing and, briefly, piano lessons.

The 33-year-old country traditionalist remembers it all fondly. Mr. Willmon cherishes his sometimes-offbeat upbringing because it made him the kind of artist he is today. His impressive second CD – A Little More Livin', which is in stores today – zeroes in on the musical diversity that characterized his formative years. He name-drops Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Van Zandt in song, pays homage to Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel on a Western-swing cut, breaks into the blues as a tribute to the late Stevie Ray Vaughan and delivers plenty of honky-tonk staples, from the melodic waltz "On Again Tonight" to the rousing up-tempo number "A Night in the Ground."

"All of it encompasses who I am," he says. "It's not that far a stretch to think of a Western-swing song and a blues song on the same stage. If you go to any dance hall in Texas, you're going to hear the band covering Bob Wills and Stevie Ray Vaughan."

But perhaps it's a pretty country ballad titled "Island" that says the most about Mr. Willmon. He's single and the father of 8-year-old Montana, and he dedicates the song's tag line to her: "She's my ocean and I'm her island / I ain't going anywhere."

"She lives out in Wyoming," he says. "My love for her is the most unconditional love that I know. Even though we were writing this as a couple's love song, in my mind when I came up with this idea about love being an island with an ocean around it, that's what I was thinking about, that unconditional kind of love I have for her."

His love for traditional country music is almost as strong. Yet he knows there's an uphill battle to get recognized in a country-music landscape where pop-diluted acts such as Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and Sugarland sell oodles of records, more so than revered traditionalists Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and George Strait.

"I don't think it's dwindling. I think it's just hiding."

He doesn't blame radio, which is more likely to play Rascal Flatts than traditional country. "I think it's that our buying population is a young crowd, and they want something that their parents don't listen to."

But he's not worried, and he's not about to change.

He may live in Nashville now, but he's still got that stubborn Texas pride.

"In the state of Texas, it's a whole different country," he says. "It'll never die here. It'll never go away. It's just a part of our heritage here. And I also noticed that once you get out in the world, you get up in the Midwest, Chicago, up in the Northeast, Philadelphia and places like that, it would shock you how big traditional country music is. But we just need to find new ways of getting it out there."

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-willmon_0613gl.ART.State.Edition1.1358217e.html

Write songs, that people will want to hear.

And SRV rools.

John - ;):up:

Troll

06-13-2006, 10:14am

Thanks for the articles.

Alex

06-13-2006, 7:58pm

Very interesting and curious articles the latest ones!;)

Troll

06-14-2006, 11:22pm

Yee-haw! It’s a hoedown!

Several students partnered with the residents, grabbing hands and guiding them around to the electric slide and the macarena. When the DJ put on Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” they circled around 104-year-old Beulah Almquist to wish her a happy birthday.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/showandtell/story/5810014p-5189048c.html

canoilers

06-15-2006, 12:24am

Did you happen to hear her being played at the Hockey game tonight. They played TDIMM after the Oil score their 3rd goal. :D

http://www.edmontonoilers.com/index.php#

Troll

06-15-2006, 9:57am

Even so, Bellamy said they don’t really like to group themselves into one specific genre of music.

“We just always recorded what we thought was a good song regardless of the category,” Bellamy said.

He added that the format for country music is much broader than it used to be as a result of musicians such as Shania Twain and Willie Nelson.

“I see people categorizing music saying, ‘Oh I don’t like country, I don’t like rock.’ Well, that’s a really narrow-minded statement,” Bellamy said. “There’s something for everybody in every category (of music). It just mainly depends on the song and artist.”

http://www.pntonline.com/engine.pl?station=portales&template=storyfull.html&id=8259

canoilers

06-15-2006, 11:56am

Thanks for the article Andrew. :D

Alex

06-15-2006, 1:33pm

That's amazing new article!;)

shania megafan

06-15-2006, 2:36pm

Thanks for posting ;)

canoilers

06-15-2006, 3:23pm

You liked that Fernando Pisani goal didn't you. :p

Alex

06-15-2006, 8:04pm

That is an italian soccer player lol.....:p I didn't see his goal.. XD

canoilers

06-15-2006, 8:07pm

No hockey player, he's an Italian Canadian and and he played in Italy. :D

Troll

06-17-2006, 10:13am

UAW leaders repeatedly referred to the union's success in signing 66,000 new members outside the auto industry during the past four years. But there was no mention of a decades-long membership slide that continues to eclipse gains, reducing the union's ranks to just under 600,000 today, from 1.5 million in 1979.

Many delegates insisted the UAW, no matter its size, will always be a force to be reckoned with.

"We may be smaller," said Bob Roth, retiring director of the UAW's Region 1C, which represents workers in Flint, Lansing and other Michigan cities. "But we will be just as strong."

Nobody made the point more forcefully than UAW Vice President Bob King, the long-time head of organizing for the union who this week was tapped to lead its Ford division.

Irked by a newspaper headline that characterized the convention's tone as "somber," King vowed that the UAW will triumph despite historic challenges.

"We're not going to give up," he shouted. "We're not depressed."

Applause erupted. King urged delegates to get on their feet and "with the highest amount of energy you have," just start moving.

What followed was a spontaneous rally, accompanied by Shania Twain's "We are Going to Rock This Country," with delegates dancing and circling the hall for nearly an hour.

As song after song played, delegates hugged. They high-fived their leaders. They sang where they stood. And for a moment, the troubles facing the union seemed to melt into the background.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060617/AUTO01/606170370/1148

Troll

06-17-2006, 2:10pm

On Danielle Peck...

The album does a superb job of showcasing her powerful, Southern-tinged pipes. (Reference points for country fans: Faith Hill and Shania Twain. A USA Today reviewer dubbed her "Shania Twang.")

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/features-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/17/20060617-B1-04.html

canoilers

06-17-2006, 3:37pm

Thanks for the name droppings sir, always great when you post them Andrew. :D

dreamer

06-17-2006, 7:42pm

lol wow:shocked:

Troll

06-18-2006, 10:30am

Known for his cowboy boots, sequined jackets and a shock of salt-and-pepper hair that stands at attention, Stuart has never been a country superstar in the Shania Twain sense of the word

http://www.al.com/living/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/living/11506221757010.xml&coll=2

Troll

06-18-2006, 3:40pm

On the Net www.liveawear.org

A thin, ribbed tank originally worn by men as underwear. Men who wore it by itself as a shirt projected a low-class look (hence the "wife-beater" moniker). Although they started out as simple undershirts, slowly people began wearing them alone and they've become a favorite of celebs - such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Paris Hilton.

Other, less troublesome names:

A-shirt

Muscle shirt

Tank top

Famous wife beater wearers........Shania Twain

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/business/14846648.htm?source=rss&channel=myrtlebeachonline_business

Troll

06-18-2006, 3:41pm

'The Office'

blogs.nbc.com/office

Concept: The sitcom built a fan base through the Internet, so it makes sense that this blog by the stubborn Dwight K. Schrute (Rainn Wilson) would be a hoot. Casual visitors won't understand the jottings about his beet farm or his tirade against sloppy car parkers, but those who have caught his act on TV will be in stitches. One more reason Wilson deserves an Emmy nomination.

Excerpt: "I understand my recent entries have managed to anger both Canadians and women. I imagine someone like Shania Twain must be doubly upset as she is both. (I think!?) I'm sorry, Shania. I think you are really beautiful. And I understand you are married to a mysterious ugly dude. What's up with that?"

http://www.startribune.com/459/story/495896.html

Alex

06-19-2006, 1:11am

That's all interesting facts.. Thanks eh..:p

Troll

06-19-2006, 10:18am

Carol's is the closest thing Chicago has to a good ol' fashioned honky-tonk, where the music of Hank Williams and Tammy Wynette has yet to be overrun by Clint Black and Shania Twain.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/mmx-4873_lgcy,1,1251432.htmlstory?coll=mmx-ng_leftutility

shaniagal

06-19-2006, 1:19pm

I don't know if this has been posted, but when asked who she admired, Britney (Spears) said that in terms of music, Shania's is timeless and she looks up to her. She also mentioned Pink and Goldie Hawn.

GorToma

06-19-2006, 2:52pm

thanks for info :D

matty

06-19-2006, 4:08pm

Interesting, thanks.

twaintrain

06-19-2006, 10:11pm

Cool, I must have missed that part.

Troll

06-19-2006, 11:13pm

Thanks for the info.

shaniatfan

06-19-2006, 11:20pm

that's pretty cool, when was this interview

Alex

06-19-2006, 11:33pm

I'd heard this new in another page, It's amazing this declaration that Britney makes about Shania. That's a good fact, Thanks for it!;)

FinnFreak

06-20-2006, 6:17am

PRNewswire - Tuesday June 20, 2006

Press Release

Source: StarStyle

StarStyle Tunes Up for Launch of Music Videos,
Accompanied by First Major Label Deal With Universal Music Group

Joan Jett Featuring Carmen Electra, The Faders ('Veronica Mars'), Nickelback and More

NEW YORK, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- For viewers who love the apparel and accessories in their favorite music videos, but until now have had little chance to identify it, StarStyle today announced the launch of its Music Section. Distinguished by a unique music video player with built-in contextual commerce engine, the section launches with videos from Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company. Entertainment Media Works created StarStyle (www.StarStyle.com) as a groundbreaking "supersite" that already enables viewers to identify and purchase the apparel, furnishings, gadgets and music featured in their favorite TV shows and now will incorporate music videos to their roster of media partners.

StarStyle's online player allows users to watch the latest videos while browsing an adjacent section with photos of fashions and other products featured in each video. Registered StarStyle users can either choose to purchase desired products immediately or add them to a tool called "myStyList" which acts as a virtual locker that can be accessed and sorted by artist, title, brand, price, etc. Each user's "myStyList" page can also be shared with friends resulting in a viral marketing opportunity for the artists and brands.

"The intersect between fashion and music has never been stronger, and our goal is to make it easy for consumers to identify, share and buy all the latest products that are used by their favorite artists," said Ashley Heather, CEO of Entertainment Media Works.

"The pace of music videos often prevents people from identifying products they are interested in," added Tony Zeoli, Vice President, Music Services for StarStyle. "The decision of music video networks to purposely 'wash out' some brand logos makes it impossible for fans to know what those products are. Not only does StarStyle allow brands to be seen clearly onscreen, but viewers don't need to pause the video to identify them, helping to maintain the music video's artistic integrity while providing an enjoyable shopping experience."

StarStyle recently finalized an agreement with Universal Music Group to provide video content of UMG recording artists via the Internet. Additionally, UMG -- whose artists include trendsetters Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood and the Pussycat Dolls -- will work with StarStyle staff to identify branded products featured in the music videos. Until now, many apparel brands have given their clothes to music videos to reap free product placement and generate buzz, especially for new lines. StarStyle benefits brands by allowing them to clearly identify themselves and to give consumers a direct purchase opportunity, while also helping labels and artists by creating new revenue streams. Artists also benefit by creating a deeper one-to-one relationship with their fans.

On June 20, StarStyle will launch with videos from such artists as Urban Mystic, Ben Lee, Tre Hardson, known for his work with the hip-hop group Pharcyde and Fredalba, led by "Six Feet Under" star Eric Balfour, and the new video from The Faders featuring the cast of the popular television show "Veronica Mars." Also included will be Joan Jett's new video "A.C.D.C" from her new album, "Sinner." Featuring Carmen Electra, "A.C.D.C" is provided to StarStyle courtesy of her label Blackheart Records and produced by KanDoKid Films in New York. Among the items available from the video will be select pieces from Carmen Electra's wardrobe and a replica of Jett's Gibson Melody Maker guitar.

About StarStyle

Since its launch on March 20, this groundbreaking "supersite," allowing viewers to identify and purchase the apparel, furnishings, gadgets and music featured in their favorite TV shows, has attracted over one million viewers. The privately capitalized venture, which is building the premier destination website to sell products seen and discovered via myriad entertainment platforms -- from traditional media to the Web and mobile devices -- aims to be the most comprehensive in a nascent field. To date it has signed deals with such content partners as Sony, Warner Bros., ABC, Procter & Gamble, TeleVest, Bunim-Murray Productions, FremantleMedia and 19 TV Ltd. Through these relationships and others, StarStyle includes such popular series as "American Idol," "What I Like About You" and, imminently with the debut of their new seasons, "Real World Key West" and "The Simple Life." StarStyle's trove also holds popular daytime dramas including "As the World Turns," "Guiding Light" and "The Young and the Restless." StarStyle also features community areas and unique, 360-degree virtual set tours as well as advice and the inside scoop from experts in-the-know.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Universal Music Mobile.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-20-2006/0004383394&EDATE=

John - :)

ROTHCOU

06-20-2006, 7:57am

Thank you for the info.

FinnFreak

06-20-2006, 8:03am

Britney's also into Shania-name-dropping..? :cool:

...and if anybody's wondering - I did a thread merge... ;)

John - :p

ROTHCOU

06-20-2006, 8:41am

John---Thanks for the info. BTW, is Morrison-Williams part of this forum? Because i was transfered to their site without clicking their ad.

captainCorr

06-20-2006, 8:45am

StarStyle Tunes Up for Launch of Music Videos, Accompanied by First Major Label Deal With Universal Music Group

Tuesday June 20, 4:30 am ET

Joan Jett Featuring Carmen Electra, The Faders ('Veronica Mars'), Nickelback and More

NEW YORK, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- For viewers who love the apparel and accessories in their favorite music videos, but until now have had little chance to identify it, StarStyle today announced the launch of its Music Section. Distinguished by a unique music video player with built-in contextual commerce engine, the section launches with videos from Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company. Entertainment Media Works created StarStyle (www.StarStyle.com) as a groundbreaking "supersite" that already enables viewers to identify and purchase the apparel, furnishings, gadgets and music featured in their favorite TV shows and now will incorporate music videos to their roster of media partners.

StarStyle's online player allows users to watch the latest videos while browsing an adjacent section with photos of fashions and other products featured in each video. Registered StarStyle users can either choose to purchase desired products immediately or add them to a tool called "myStyList" which acts as a virtual locker that can be accessed and sorted by artist, title, brand, price, etc. Each user's "myStyList" page can also be shared with friends resulting in a viral marketing opportunity for the artists and brands.

[....]

StarStyle recently finalized an agreement with Universal Music Group to provide video content of UMG recording artists via the Internet. Additionally, UMG -- whose artists include trendsetters Lindsay Lohan, Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood and the Pussycat Dolls -- will work with StarStyle staff to identify branded products featured in the music videos. Until now, many apparel brands have given their clothes to music videos to reap free product placement and generate buzz, especially for new lines. StarStyle benefits brands by allowing them to clearly identify themselves and to give consumers a direct purchase opportunity, while also helping labels and artists by creating new revenue streams. Artists also benefit by creating a deeper one-to-one relationship with their fans.

[....] [source (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060620/latu059.html?.v=62)]

FinnFreak

06-20-2006, 9:02am

John---Thanks for the info. BTW, is Morrison-Williams part of this forum? Because i was transfered to their site without clicking their ad.

Not that I know of.

Sounds pretty peculiar.

John - :dunno:

Troll

06-20-2006, 10:51am

Thanks for the article.

Alex

06-20-2006, 11:17am

Interesting and new article though...;)

captainCorr

06-20-2006, 12:12pm

Can You Survive the Floundering Music Industry?
Posted on Tuesday, June 20 @ 09:14:27 CDT

[....]

If there is little or no money coming in, then the day of the big contracts is gone. Some of the largest selling albums are ones with multiple songs on it that the listener likes. Take Shania Twain for example. Her albums are mega sellers with more then 1/2 the album on the singles charts at various times. Why are her albums huge? Because they are quality, and a great bargain. The buying populace wants a deal. The Record Industry seems to want to put out a little and expect to get a lot, and in doing so, they are losing the fan base in general. People are spending their money elsewhere.

They forgot that we are the fans and the fans have the buying power. Without the buying power, they lose their jobs, the big deals go away, and the labels go under. They need to stick with the artists once they have signed them, promote them, and if the first album doesn't work, try another one and work harder with a different strategy. Forget trying to get another Mariah Carey, N-Sync, or Shania Twain.

[....] [source (http://press.xtvworld.com/article12222.html)]

captainCorr

06-20-2006, 3:03pm

Texas trio stick to their guns

By Ludovic Hunter-Tilney

Published: June 20 2006 18:24 | Last updated: June 20 2006 18:24

[....]

“They have an inner dilemma because they want a broader audience and they want to keep their country roots too,” Maguire says.

“It’s like they’re going, ‘We love Shania Twain because she brings in this new audience and more listeners, but do we really want her showing her belly button? Do we really want her putting a pop spin on country? Is country going to be a dying format?’ It’s understandable in a way but I think that what is happening now is that country is moving away from the broader audience and going back to the stereotype.”

[....] [source (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f616e722-007a-11db-8078-0000779e2340.html)]

Troll

06-20-2006, 5:08pm

Thanks for the interesting articles Mathias.

Alex

06-20-2006, 6:13pm

They love shania... :pwow:p... That sounds good eh!:D;)

Troll

06-22-2006, 2:18pm

http://www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Arts/Music/2006/06/22/Wildflowers_and_Steel_Magnolias/index.shtml

Troll

06-22-2006, 10:53pm

While Wilson’s music is solidly commercial, she’s a refreshing change from the crossover glamour queens that have ruled country since the rise of Shania.

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060622/APC04/60622005/1029

captainCorr

06-23-2006, 10:47am

Julie Roberts: Nashville’s Cinderella story

[....]
“I worked for Mercury Records for three years before getting signed. I was a receptionist and watched all these people come in. I watched Lee Ann Womack come in. I talked to Shania Twain’s people on the phone all the time. All the artists on Universal would come in, and I wanted to be them, and I was this overweight receptionist who’d leave work and go play in a bar,” Roberts says.
[....] [source (http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060623/COLUMNIST35/60621018/-1/NEWS)]

Troll

06-23-2006, 5:13pm

Thanks for the article.

FinnFreak

06-26-2006, 4:04am

The London Free Press - Mon, June 26, 2006

Special effects

Le Maitre is a world leader in special effects for screen, stage and special events.

By Hank Daniszewski, Free Press Business Reporter

Behind the flash, boom and smoke of North America's greatest stage spectaculars, there is a quiet little London company called Le Maitre Special Effects.

Le Maitre sells the exploding flares that climax a KISS concert, the fog that shrouds the Phantom of the Opera, even the fake snowstorms served up for home-sick snowbirds in Florida.

Founded in 1992, chief executive Adrian Segeren said the company has now become North America's leader in special effects equipment. Ninety per cent of the market is in the United States.

"There's a huge temptation to pick up and move to the States, but I don't live there," he said.

Le Maitre's headquarters in Hyde Park and a distribution and service centre near Orlando, Fla., employ about 40 people.

The company makes smoke and fog machines for theatrical and stage shows as well as a heavy-duty model for firefighter training. The fluids used by the machines are also a major seller for Le Maitre.

Through its sister company in England, Le Maitre distributes a variety of pyrotechnic products including flares, rockets, fireballs, flash paper, noise bombs and the ignition systems that make them all work.

Then there's Le Maitre's unusual and exotic products such as snow machines, wind machines, bubble makers and confetti cannons.

Although many of the parts are provided by suppliers on contract, Segerin said engineering, design and assembly is all done here in London.

"Our equipment is very reliable and well-built with good customer service. It's the little things that separate us from the competition."

Segeren has local roots in the entertainment industry. His parents once operated Danceland in the hamlet of Lakeside, northwest of Woodstock.

Danceland has been a haven for big band and country music enthusiasts since the 1930s and still holds dances every Saturday night.

Although Danceland shifted to new ownership long ago, Segerin still lives across the road.

Segeren started out as a DJ at Danceland in the early 80s and also did weddings and teen dances. He worked his way into audio and lighting equipment, doing sales and installations, frequently at many high schools in the area.

In the early 90s he hooked up with Le Maitre, a British company founded in 1977 that specialized in pyrotechnics and special effects for concerts and other events.

Segeren took over the Canadian arm after the distributor went under. Le Maitre Special Effects evolved into a separate North American company, with the original British company retaining a share of ownership.

In 1992 Le Maitre made the big and difficult move into the United States.

"When we started in the U.S. Le Maitre was completely unknown, so it was a tough grind for a lot of years," said Segeren.

Eight years ago the company opened up a distribution centre in Florida because of all the work it was doing with theme parks such as Walt Disney World, the EPCOT centre and MGM Studios.

The pyrotechnics are manufactured by its sister company in Britain. The material used to be shipped to Le Maitre in Canada, but border restrictions following the 9/11 terrorist attack made it easier to ship the pyrotechnics directly from Britain to the distribution centre in Florida.

"Every month the border security tends to increase and it's become very complicated," said Segeren.

He said moving about $1 million of equipment to Florida was costly, but it was the only way to get around the border bureaucracy.

"It spread our resources, but we have adjusted and we have a great team down there."

Segeren said the pyrotechics were pioneered by heavy heavy metal music acts such as KISS..

"(KISS bassist) Gene Simmons knows as much about pyrotechnics as anyone."

Although the heavy metal era has faded, other musicians such as country star Toby Keith have incorporated pyrotechnics into their act.

Lately Le Maitre has been working on the Lord of the Rings production in Toronto, the new Las Vegas production of Phantom of the Opera, and Disney's sequel to the Pirates of the Caribbean.

"I haven't seen any scenes from it, but with all the fluid they bought, it must be a pretty foggy movie."

Le Maitre normally sells to technical production companies but sometimes deals directly with technical producers of shows.

"When the Lord of the Rings was rehearsing we would get calls asking for advice on how to achieve a special effect."

Segeren says Le Maitre will soon be getting into "snow season," when they ship snow machines and fluid to the southern states, where vacationers and retirees long for the real thing.

The "snow" effect is created with a soap mixture forced through a nozzle.

Near Orlando, Disney has built a planned community called Celebration. Segerin has seen the amazing artificial snowstorms that are created during the holiday season with Le Maitre snow machines.

"I wondered why all the people were out on the street and then it started to snow. It was unbelievable. Kids were running with mouths open."

Disney also makes an artificial snowstorm to create a Christmas display in their New York streetscape in the MGM Studios park.

Le Maitre also had a hand in creating the spectacular flaming human cannonball stunt in the Ringling Bros. Circus.

The human cannonball is actually propelled out of the cannon with a bungee cord, but Le Maitre creates the illusion with an explosion and flash as the cannon "fires."

Le Maitre also designed the ignition of the flammable fluid in the suit that creates the fireball effect.

Segeren said Le Maitre has faced a challenge in recent years because of the sharp increase in the value of the Canadian dollar which has been a great burden for any company focused on U.S. export sales.

"It's taken a lot of the wind out of the sails. It's been a struggle the last few years."

Three years ago, Segerin also suffered a personal tragedy when his wife Judy was killed in a car accident. Segeren said Judy was an active partner in the business and the loss of her optimistic and caring personality was a terrible loss.

"We were a pretty interesting couple."

Segeren said Le Maitre is not well known in London because it does so little business locally. That has changed somewhat in recent years since the opening of the John Labatt Centre. The JLC has brought in many big names acts that use Le Maitre equipment.

"We have a picture of Shania Twain on stage singing her heart out surrounded by our fog."

LE MAITRE'S CUSTOMERS - Stage Plays and Shows

Cats

Mamma Mia

The Phantom of the Opera

Lord of the Rings

Wicked

Spamalot

Evita

The Producers

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Movies

Hide and Seek

The Interpreter

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pink Panther

Concerts

Metallica

Tina Turner

Madonna

Avril Lavigne

Shania Twain

Britney Spears

Rolling Stones

Kiss

Backstreet Boys

R. Kelly & Jay-Z

Toby Keith

Shows/events

Cirque du Soleil

Super Bowl

Disney on Ice

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Television

CSI NY

Saturday Night Live

Third Watch

Law & Order

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/BusinessMonday/2006/06/26/1653407.html

John - ;)

FinnFreak

06-26-2006, 5:45am

Toronto Star - Jun. 26, 2006

Ladies sing the blues for mentor

Jazz Fest features 16 female singers

But `Divas' show organizer home ill

ASHANTE INFANTRY - ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

It was supposed to be all about the girls, but the spectre of a man kept rearing its head throughout the Real Divas showcase at the Toronto Jazz Festival last night.

The gentleman in question was MIA musician and broadcaster Bill King who programmed the second annual event which featured 16 singers on the Nathan Phillips Square main stage — at $25 one of the best values of the 10-day event and disappointingly under attended.

King, who recently turned 60, was at home recovering from a brief illness, much to the dismay of the slate of singers who dedicated songs to him and lauded his vision. He got the full treatment when Shakura S'Aida dialled him on her cellphone, during her turn centre stage, to listen to her bluesy-gospel tune "Come Sunday."

Earlier, King told The Star that he conceived the project, which grew out of a weekly nightclub series and has since yielded two CDs and coast-to-coast tours, to promote promising young jazz singers because of the nation's plethora of female talent.

"When you look at it, Canada has the best singers in the world — from Shania Twain to Sarah McLachlan. And they're not clones of each other, they have their own unique style that makes them stand out."

That was certainly the case last night, as the ladies of "different origins, ages and dress sizes" according to singer Lori Cullen, delivered blues, jazz, Latin jazz and pop with humour and pizzazz. They ranged in age from 14 to "a little over 14" in the words of Heather Bambrick, who kicked off the evening with a sophisticated rendition of the All in the Family theme "Those Were the Days" replete with Edith Bunker-style screech.

The lineup ran the gamut from the grey-haired June Garber, who wore five-inch sequined heels and resonated with a smouldering "Cry Me A River," to Winnipeg's Sophie Berkal Sarbit, 15, who was simply dressed and exhibited lovely tone and command on "Midnight Sun."

The women delivered one song apiece, then paired up for duets, ably back a swinging team of musicians — guitarist Jake Langley, bassist Duncan Hopkins, drummer Daniel Barnes, saxist Chris Gale, percussionist Daniel Stone and pianist Bernie Senesky substituting for King — who brought cohesion to their disparate styles.

As for the D-word, that's meant to "lift everyone from being an average singer and to let people know they have a reason to stand out," King explained.

It was unfortunate, though, to see some of the women exhibiting diva-like behaviour after their sets — chatting and posing for pictures sidestage while their sisters were performing.

The festival continues until July 3. For complete listings and prices, visit http://www.torontojazz.com. Word is that tomorrow morning a final block of about 20 seats will be released for the Etta James show.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1151273413499&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630

John - :cool::up:

Alex

06-26-2006, 9:19am

Thanks for the links and the latest info! :great:

Alex

06-26-2006, 9:21am

"When you look at it, Canada has the best singers in the world — from Shania Twain to Sarah McLachlan. And they're not clones of each other, they have their own unique style that makes them stand out."

John - :cool::up:

Hey that is of course. No doubt Canada has made the best singers ever!;) Two great examples are our Shani Twain and Celine! :D

Troll

06-26-2006, 3:05pm

Thanks for the articles John.

matty

06-26-2006, 4:00pm

Thanks for the articles :)

FinnFreak

06-27-2006, 7:01am

Detroit Free Press - June 26, 2006

Pass the soap, Don

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/doncherry/gfx/doncherry_471.jpg
Don Cherry: So that's why he's always getting himself in a lather about something
or other on "Hockey Night in Canada." (CBC Sports)

You mean they aren't singing "O Canada?"

No, Dial soap surveyed Canadian men about their shower habits, Canada.com reports, and just 16% said they sang.

But a full 40% said they'd like company in the shower, if only as a fantasy. Shania Twain edged out Pamela Anderson as the most popular choice among Canadian celebrities for that company. (So Shania could do the singing, we guess.)

But now comes the sports part: The survey also asked whom they'd like as their male shower buddy.

The favorite?

Don Cherry, of course.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/SPORTS21/606260405/1048/SPORTS

John - :p

Troll

06-27-2006, 10:09am

An interesting article John.

tower

06-27-2006, 10:19am

Hey that is of course. No doubt Canada has made the best singers ever!;) Two great examples are our Shani Twain and Celine! :D

Celine Dion got her big break of course, narrowly beating the UK into second place and winning for Switzerland the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1990's.

This years winners Finland will be hosting the contest next May and if at all possible I hope to be there enjoying the festival and all the fun in person.

There are a tremendous number of really great singers left in Timmins to this very day as any talent contest proves locally.

Alex

06-27-2006, 3:08pm

Oh That's great :great:..... and they ... coming from Timmins :shocked: cool...

FinnFreak

06-28-2006, 4:41am

Richmond News - 06/27/2006

Man! I feel like Shania

http://www.richmond-news.com/issues06/065106/photos/ent1.jpg
Connie Meyer is a Shania Twain impersonator
and fan. Catch her act July 1 at the Steveston
veterans club.

By Michelle Hopkins

Will the real Shania please stand up...

At a local tribute show a few years back, a singing agent was in the crowd when he spotted a young woman who looked uncannily like Shania Twain, Canada's country singing sensation.

"He knew that I could sing because he'd seen me at karaokes around the Lower Mainland," says Connie Meyer, aka Superbly Shania, who performs this Saturday at Steveston's Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans Club. "He signed me up right there."

Meyer shares more than a resemblance to the famous singer - like Twain, she grew up in a small town (Saskatchewan), and also like Twain, whose adoptive father Jerry Twain is Ojibwa, Meyer has Aboriginal roots (Metis).

Meyer is also a fan of Twain's music, making the tribute act a perfect fit.

The singing wasn't a tough challenge for the young impersonator, whose musical background started in her late teens.

"I actually started singing late in life, 18, but I knew I loved it so I took vocal lessons and really perfected my craft," says Meyer.

The only family musical roots came from her great uncle, who was a member of a Barber Shop Choir. "No one else in my family can sing," she quips.

Listen to her belt out Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under? and you'll think she's the real thing.

To get into character and into those skintight outfits for which Twain is famous, Meyer spends four days a week hitting the gym and watches what she eats. Meyer also works her vocal cords and avoids any dairy products the day of a performance. It takes her two hours to transform into Twain. The makeup, long eyelashes and hair takes most of the pre-show preparation. Then there's the signature outfit for her performance of Man! I Feel Like a Woman! Meyer dons this one on stage for most of her tribute shows.

To mimic Twain's sexy moves, Meyer spent hours watching Twain's music videos. She plays a repertoire of 23 songs , including That Don't Impress Me Much, You're Still the One, You've Got a Way, and Come on Over.

Today, her act has garnered quite a following. She performs in clubs, pubs, theatres, festivals and corporate shows all over Western Canada.

The beauty of being a tribute artist, says Meyer, is that you already have a built-in audience.

"People who love Shania want to come and be entertained so I let the crowd know it's their party," says Meyer. "The show is very interactive. I like to see everyone dancing."

Currently, Meyer is branching out.

"I'm working on my own music and lyrics, which are a little edgier and quite different than Shania's country roots," says Meyer. "I'm lucky that I have a voice that can cover many musical genres."

She hopes to pen enough songs to record a CD this year.

Catch Meyer, along with tribute acts The Rod Stewart Review and ABBA Again at the membership drive to support ANAF #284.

The "Because Music Matters" event a free concert on Saturday, July 1 at the Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans Club, 11900 No. 1 Rd.

http://www.richmond-news.com/issues06/065106/entertain.html

:)

* * *

The Washington Post - Editorial Review

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Allison Stewart wrote about Faith Hill's 2005 album for The Washington Post:

According to the conventional wisdom, country singer Faith Hill's denim-to-diamonds Hollywood makeover Went Too Far when she took a small role in the big-budget train wreck "The Stepford Wives." Hill's convincing portrayal of a toothy blond robot alarmed longtime fans and confirmed everyone else's worst suspicions.

"Fireflies," Hill's first album since her 2002 multi-platinum pop confection "Cry," is a conspicuous sonic retrenchment, a glossy, countrified hair shirt packed with pointed references to the singer's Mississippi upbringing and her love of cutoff overalls and baseball caps.

Some of the changes are merely cosmetic (Hill recently dyed her hair brown, as if to convey a seriousness of purpose -- insert your back-to-her-roots joke here), some are structural: "Fireflies," despite a thick layer of Nashville shellac, is populated with ostensibly gritty ballads about alcoholics and neglected housewives, and extravagantly seeded with banjos, mandolins and dobros. It's good frothy fun, despite its occasionally somber subject matter, and despite the fact that Hill is as unconvincing singing about "Boys breakneckin' till they're nearly wreckin' " (on the pro forma good-time opener "Sunshine and Summertime") as she is singing about riding public transportation ("The Lucky One").

You probably won't buy Hill's mid-career reversion any more than she does, but she seems like she wants to mean it. Lead single "Mississippi Girl" (co-written, as were several tracks here, by John Rich of Big and Rich) is a sprightly apologia/biographical sketch that charts Hill's flirtation with, and eventual rejection of, big-city ways. ("They put my face on the big movie screen / But that don't mean I've forgotten where I came from," goes one reassuring couplet. "That's just me chasing dreams.")

Hill has one of country-pop's most agile voices, and she excels at meaty ballads like "Stealing Kisses," one of several tracks written by Lori McKenna, the only contributor able to dial down Hill's perkiness.

But Hill, who doesn't write her own material, is only as good as her songwriters, who sometimes provide an extra helping of schlock. This is most notable on "We've Got Nothing but Love to Prove," a roundabout indictment of U.S. involvement in Iraq ("I hear the drums of war / They are a-changing / And everybody's getting in the groove"). It's baffling and mild, but coming from the usually risk-averse Hill, it might as well be "Blowin' in the Wind."

Hill is too busy shoring up her country-girl bona fides to take many other chances on "Fireflies." But despite her just-folks contortions, her career probably wasn't in much danger. Nashville purists, who hadn't had much truck with Hill since her early, pre-Tim McGraw days, weren't hers to lose, and she remains without any significant rivals in the Nashville diva category (Gretchen Wilson isn't glamorous enough, and Shania Twain tries too hard).

:shocked: - ?!?

But to listen to "Fireflies" is to witness Hill effortlessly threading the needle. It's just pop enough to satisfy the crossover fans attracted by "Cry," and just country enough, in its bubbly way, to satisfy mainstream country fans. "Fireflies" may not be traditional in even the remotest sense, but it's the best country album ever to come out of Beverly Hills.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1037856&lat=38.8981000&lon=-77.0211000&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Music%20Events

:uhh: - ...that above article is just plain weird... :smirk:

* * *

Harnesslink.com - 28-Jun-2006

JONES VS DE FILIPPI UPDATE

http://media.live.harnesslink.com/images/is1144819848.jpg

Currently (Wednesday 28 June) Mark Jones has a four win
advantage over Colin De Filippi, leading the Streamline
Freight Driver's Premiership on 108 wins.

Streamline Freight Trainer and Driver Profiles

Name: Colin De Filippi

Who is your favourite singer/band? - Shania Twain.

- - -

Name: Mark Jones

Who is your favourite singer/band? - Maroon 5

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=39845

...and the ShaniaForums declares the winner to be: Colin De Filippi

:p

* * *

AfterElton.com - June 28, 2006

Mainstream Advertisers Gradually Realizing Homophobia Doesn't Sell

by Shauna Swartz

Ads frequently milk laughs from female drag and other behaviors considered inappropriate for men. A Chevrolet commercial that ran for several years, including 2005, features a truck packed with male passengers as Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" plays on the stereo. As one of the passengers starts singing along, the others grow increasingly uncomfortable, shifting away from the crooner and exchanging pained looks with each other. It only gets worse when he gets to the line “the best thing about being a woman…” The narrator then intones, "If you're ever uncomfortable in a new Chevy Colorado coupe cab, it won't be because a lack of space."

It's a fitting ad for a model named after a state once infamous for its homophobic political climate.

http://www.afterelton.com/print/2006/6/commercial.html

:uhh:

* * *

Up & Coming Magazine - June 28, 2006

Birth of a Nation

By: Tim Hager, Kelly Mahoney

Four is the magic number this Fourth of July as Fort Bragg and MWR celebrates its fourth annual Operation Celebrate Freedom Festival.

Two days of music, food, fireworks and more will unfold on the Main Post Parade Field on July 3-4. Local radio stations Q98 and WKML will host national musical acts. Artists Tracy Lawrence, Anna Nalick, Tonic and Lifehouse headline the two days.

CC Ryders kick things off on July 3 at 2:30 p.m., with Lawrence taking the stage at 6 p.m. Lawrence's debut 1991 album, Sticks and Stones, featured four Top 10 country hits, while his latest, Then & Now, is a hits collection, featuring re-recordings of 10 hit songs. Lawrence has had more Top 5 hits on the Billboard country chart than Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1147&dept_id=483408&newsid=16851628&PAG=461&rfi=9

:smirk: - ...well... good for him..!

John - :p

EilleenTwain88

06-28-2006, 5:31am

.. weren't hers to lose, and she remains without any significant rivals in the Nashville diva category (Gretchen Wilson isn't glamorous enough, and Shania Twain tries too hard).

:shocked: - ?!?
Funny thing to say about a woman who stays away from the spotlight half of her career... heh.

bambas

06-28-2006, 5:32am

Bah, just a "court-writer"...

FinnFreak

06-28-2006, 6:19am

...probably, but something like that still shouldn't obscure reality... :smirk:

TimesLeader.com - Wed, Jun. 28, 2006

At 20, still crazy about the Kirby

By Kelly Clisham Weekender Correspondent

In 1938, the Comeford Theater opened on Public Square, bringing the gift of the silver screen to local residents. The movie house was sold in 1949 and renamed the Paramount Theater. The Paramount continued to bring a bit of Hollywood glamour to Wyoming Valley until it closed its doors in 1977. The building sat vacant for years, nearing demolition, before a group of concerned citizens stepped in to save the historic structure. In 1985, Al Boscov went one step further, rallying a group of local business and civic leaders to raise funds to restore the building to its former grandeur. Thanks to an outpouring of support, The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors in September of 1986. Since then, a wide variety of live entertainment has graced the Kirby stage. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, the Kirby shows no signs of slowing down and is keeping the gift of great shows coming.

A Little Bit Country

Is country twang more your style? Yee-haw, you’re in luck! You’ll be kicking up your heels when “Urban Cowboy” comes to town. Based on the 1980 film, “Urban Cowboy” hit Broadway in Spring of 2003 with songs including, “Honey, I’m Home”, “Something That We Do” and “It Don’t Get Better Than This.” The musical by Aaron Latham and Phillip Oesterman ran for only 60 performances on Broadway, but Gilley’s honky-tonk is back and better than ever with hits by Clint Black, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Shania Twain. Don’t miss this chance to kick up your heels! (May 5th)

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/entertainment/14918828.htm

John - ;)

Troll

06-28-2006, 10:08am

Thanks for the articles.

shania megafan

06-28-2006, 12:05pm

Thanks for posting them! ;)

shaniatfan

06-28-2006, 2:35pm

she remains without any significant rivals in the Nashville diva category (Gretchen Wilson isn't glamorous enough, and Shania Twain tries too hard).
John - :p

How does Shania try too hard, and what exactly is she trying to do??

Alex

06-28-2006, 2:36pm

Good! Jeje really a totally shania fan! Thanks... :great:

FinnFreak

06-29-2006, 2:43am

How does Shania try too hard, and what exactly is she trying to do??

That's a question for residents of a parallel universe to answer.

John - :p

Myyde

06-29-2006, 4:45am

Not sure if this has been posted earlier, but here we go..

http://www.users.waitrose.com/~jgray/shania.jpg

Listen (http://www.users.waitrose.com/~jgray/manifeel.mp3) Sounds pretty good, that clip could be longer.:D

http://www.users.waitrose.com/~jgray/shaniatribute.html

FinnFreak

06-29-2006, 5:53am

Not bad at all.

I kinda liked the Dido cover...

John - :D

FinnFreak

06-29-2006, 6:22am

The Free Lance-Star - 6/29/2006

Face in the Crowd

A Q&A profile of "Juan"

By ZACK ZORN, YOUTH CORRESPONDENT

Name/age? - Juan, 17

What school do you go to and what grade are you in? - I go to James Monroe.

What's the most meaningful song you've ever heard? - Shania Twain, called "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing."

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06292006/202447

:D:up:

* * *

Burlington Free Press - Thursday, June 29, 2006

Goin' country

By John Gerome, The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- If pop star Michelle Branch and her pal Jessica Harp had their way, their recent country album "Stand Still, Look Pretty" would have registered even higher on the twang scale.

"We had people holding the reins back and saying maybe you should approach this very slowly and adjust as you go," Branch said of the duo, called the Wreckers.

"I think if Jessica and I totally had our way, it would have been a bluegrass record."

The group is among a spate of artists from outside Nashville who are going country and finding success.

The Bon Jovi-Jennifer Nettles duet "Who Says You Can't Go Home" hit No. 1 on the country singles chart and stayed there two weeks, while new albums by Van Morrison and Norah Jones' outfit the Little Willies (named in homage to Willie Nelson) also are doing well. The Wreckers recently hit the road with Rascal Flatts, whose cover of "Life Is a Highway," from the animated film "Cars," is No. 9 on Billboard's Pop 100.

"Toward the end of my last solo tour, I was trying to figure out what else I might want to do," said Branch, 22, whose string of pop hits includes the Grammy-winning "The Game of Love" with Santana. "I started thinking about making the organic singer-songwriter country-type of record I'd always wanted to do."

Pop and rock artists have long been drawn to country music for its vivid story songs and crack musicians. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Elvis Costello to Kid Rock have flirted with Nashville.

But there's been a spike recently. Neil Young made an album and concert film here that channel country's golden era. Morrison and Jones mined the classic country songbook for their respective discs. Mark Knopfler teamed with Emmylou Harris for his latest project, "All the Roadrunning." And former Pixies frontman Frank Black tapped Nashville session players for his record "Honeycomb."

Even David Lee Roth joined a group of Nashville pickers for an upcoming bluegrass tribute album, "Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen."

"I think if there were a common trait among all these artists it is that they all treat country music and country musicians with terrific respect," said Brian Philips, general manager of Country Music Television.

For Branch, country seemed the perfect fit for the Wreckers' rootsy sound, which combines mandolin, banjo and fiddle with tight harmonies and a rock beat.

"Anyone who has followed me from the beginning, who knows my writing and is interested in me enough to really care about this won't feel like this is too shocking," Branch said. "Nothing about my writing has changed."

The duo and their label, Maverick/Warner Bros. Nashville, are promoting the record exclusively to country radio.

While the 1970s were a fertile time for the singer-songwriters who inspired Branch -- like Joni Mitchell and Cat Stevens -- she said country is more open to the style today than pop.

"It's too hard for a singer-songwriter to break into pop music, especially for a new artist. You get half a second to even make an attempt," she said.

Country listeners have long accepted singers from outside the genre, but it's been a while since a pop star has had a sustained career in country the way John Denver or Linda Ronstadt did.

The more common pattern is for country singers to cross over to pop, a la Shania Twain or Faith Hill.

Wade Jessen, director of Billboard's country charts, views the current crop of outsiders more as an anomaly than a trend.

"For lack of a better analogy, I think the stars just lined up timing-wise," Jessen said. "The Bon Jovi thing is maybe as country as we'll hear Bon Jovi go. I don't see that band making a run at the format in hope of a crossover career."

Despite strong sales, neither the Morrison nor Jones albums is getting mainstream radio airplay.

CMT's Philips thinks country fans are more adventurous than radio gives them credit for. Perhaps more than any other outlet, CMT has helped blur the lines of country music. The cable network airs videos by pop and rock stars like Sheryl Crow and Jewel, and it's most popular series, "Crossroads," pairs country singers with outside artists such as Dave Matthews and John Mayer.

"Twenty years ago, when you talked to people who listened to country radio, most would say, 'I grew up in a house where we heard only country music,'" Philips said. "Now, it's impossible to grow up in a house where only one genre of music is accessible. If you've got electricity, that's probably not the case."

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060629/ENT07/606290336/1057

John - :)

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06-29-2006, 10:18am