Shania name-droppings... [Archive] - Page 4

FinnFreak

07-19-2006, 12:34pm

Penticton Western - Jul 19 2006

Spotlight on the stage from Moscow to Merritt

By Stockwell Day is the member of Parliament for Okanagan Coqu

It happened again. Same as last year. There, on the National News, was a little story about some rock concert in Central Canada that drew a whopping 28,000 fans.

Hey, I’ll be the first to say ‘Congratulations’ to the organizers and the local community there on a successful event. At the same time I don’t mind letting the major networks know that I’m doing this column ‘Live from Merritt, B.C.” where I’m meeting my constituents and almost 100,000 of their intimate friends who dropped by for the weekend.

That’s right. I said 100,000.

That’s the usual number of music aficionados who show up at the annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival in the Country Music Capital of Canada.

So, what’s up with the big wigs at the national media networks not reporting on this gigantic gathering? I know they would never be biased towards Central Canada. And they surely don’t have anything against the sheer beauty of the Nicola Valley, which cradles Merritt and its increasingly popular surroundings.

Sooo, do you think they just haven’t joined the growing legions of fans from all demographic groups who are tuning in to the joys of country music? As Shania would say, “Nah!”

The networks’ suits are open minded and multi- cultural, right?

One Stetson-clad young cowgirl beauty at the festival gleefully pointed out to me that we may have a brand new issue for the Human Rights Commission against the networks. “It’s a clear case of anti-Countryism,” she quipped. I know there’s some hungry lawyers out there but I’m not sure she’ll find any to take that case.

Anyway, artists and bands like Randy Travis, Martina McBride, Appaloosa and Dr. Hook aren’t there to sing for Lloyd or Peter, but it would be nice to get even a small clip on the news for the biggest country festival in Canada.

Part of the media distraction quite rightly has been due to a strong performance on another stage. The stage is set in Moscow (actually it’s St. Petersburg), where the leaders of the G-8 countries are dealing with a number of issues which could impact us right here at home in the Nicola or Okanagan Valleys.

First, I have to say it’s gratifying for Canadians to have a leader who actually sets the agenda at these international meetings. It’s nice to watch how Prime Minister Stephen Harper drives home the point that getting governments involved in running oil companies is a recipe for disaster. Hint, hint Mr. Putin.

At the same time the PM is securing jobs and investment in Canada by making it clear that we are a secure, stable corruption-free source of energy. Hint, hint to certain South American socialist bosses who are taking over their own countries’ gas and oil companies to use short term profits to prop up other socialist, unelected bosses. Hint, hint Mr. Castro.

Our Prime Minister has also laid down the markers when it comes to clear steps of action on the environment, rather than the years of crooning about the town of Kyoto with no steps of action.

And on a file that concerns me and my portfolio, anti-terrorism, Mr. Harper has presented a strategy of international co-operation that has caught the attention of our allies.

All in all, a pretty good weekend on the international stage for our guy. Even though we can never let down our guard on important issue like these, the G-8 has been a great venue for Canada.

Think I’ll saunter over to the main stage with 100,000 of my new found friends and let Martina serenade me.

That’s the kind of day it’s been Lloyd.

http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=102&cat=48&id=692427&more=

John - ;)

Troll

07-20-2006, 11:27pm

Thanks for the all the great articles.

Shania_Twain

07-21-2006, 5:27am

Thanks for posting!!!!!

randine

07-21-2006, 8:00am

Great articles! Thanks so much for posting!

FinnFreak

07-24-2006, 5:41am

Edmonton Sun - Mon, July 24, 2006

Labour of love

Now country-crossover artist Carolyn Dawn Johnson has really made the record she wanted to make

By YURI WUENSCH

Success often demands a "do whatever it takes" attitude. It can also entail certain compromises. Grande Prairie-born country star Carolyn Dawn Johnson has struck a balance between both ideals throughout her career.

Johnson is playing the Telus stage at Capital Ex tomorrow.

In the world of country music, all roads inevitably lead to Nashville. Johnson's always recognized that fact, but in breaking into the country-music capital, she was determined to be more than just another pretty face. Her earliest successes in Nashville came as a songwriter first.

"Nashville is a great town, because it really does support talent," Johnson said, during a recent press day at the Fairmont Hotel McDonald. "It's a great place for songwriters."

Established country stars like Pam Tillis, Mindy McCready and Patty Loveless have all sung Johnson-penned tunes. Chely Wright and JoDee Messina have even scored top-five hits singing Johnson's tunes.

Looking back, Johnson acknowledges that she could have recorded those tunes herself, but doesn't feel any regret that she didn't. But being an established songwriter, she explains, can go towards ensuring greater artistic freedoms once you do start a recording career.

Accolades for her debut album, 2001's Room with a View, further padded her resume.

In Canada, she received an unprecedented 13 Canadian Country Music Association awards, including CCMA honours as female artist of the year in 2001 and 2002.

In 2002, she also took home a Juno, and the Academy of Country Music named her top new female vocalist. She had momentum, but her sophomore album, 2004's Dress Rehearsal, didn't perform well, ultimately leading her to break with her label, Arista Nashville.

She approached her latest album, Love & Negotiation, differently, producing it independently and shopping it around to a major for distribution. Lyrically, it also reflects lessons she's learned over the course of 35 years and what you can and can't give up.

"Love & Negotiation is all about doing what you can for your family, your kids. Trying to get a raise, making deals with God.

"You have special attachments to each record, so you always wonder if you're going to get that same emotional attachment with the next one. That's the experience I've had so far and I've got a short list of albums compared with other artists out there. My goal is just to go out there and make music that I love. Just be true to it and hopefully, when it's finished, to feel as wonderful about it as I did the other ones.

"I also produced this record by myself, which was different for me - it was the first time I've done that."

Lending her a hand in the studio was Dann Huff, whose touch she likens to that of Mutt Lange.

Lange famously enabled his wife, Shania Twain, to co-exist between the worlds of rock and country. Likewise, and thanks to Huff, Johnson says Love & Negotiation isn't exclusively a country album and instead reflects her interests in all kinds of music.

"Which I think is OK," she says. "I always felt I stretched the boundaries in the (country) genre anyway - that's where my roots are. It fit best for me. Because I'm a writer, each song takes on a different persona, so you colour it the way it sounds best.

"Dan just has these ears for timing, for pitch, for synchronization," Johnson continues. "He just has this natural, gifted sense for what works and what doesn't and for what something needs and doesn't need. He's just a great producer."

On Johnson's second album, she wrote every song except one, and on Love & Negotiation she wrote every tune - the only thing she really had to negotiate was deciding which songs to cut. As an artist, she realizes it's an enviable position to be in and she doesn't take it for granted.

"I often think, 'Why am I allowed to do that? Why isn't everyone allowed to?' " she says, laughing. "But on this record, I found the people I wanted to work with and really made the record I wanted to make."

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainment/Music/2006/07/24/1699642-sun.html

...now playing the excellent: Last of the Runaways by Giant ;)

Duluth News Tribune - Mon, Jul. 24, 2006

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC

BY PETER PASSI

Duluth boasts a lively music-recording scene, but that's not to say it's a cash cow.

"You know the saying: Duluth is a great place to live and a horrible place to make a living," said Eric Swanson, co-owner of Sacred Heart Recording Studio.

Like most other recording studio operators in the area, Swanson has accepted the necessity of working multiple jobs in order to make ends meet.

"The market is so small in this town that everyone has to wear a lot of hats," he said.

In addition to running a studio, Swanson does plenty of freelance live production work and also serves as caretaker for Sacred Heart Music Center -- a role he accepted in return for low rent in the former church his business calls home.

Dave Hill, owner of Inland Sea Recording, says he, too, would find it challenging to get by purely on the earnings from his 30-year-old studio, perhaps the best-established in the Twin Ports.

Hill also operates Crane Song Ltd., a business that manufactures a wide range of sound equipment, including preamplifiers, compressors, mixers, equalizers and studio controllers.

Crane Song, which is just a few doors down from Hill's studio in Superior, has morphed into his primary business enterprise. Co-owned by Scott Lillo, the company now employs 14 people and has grown rapidly. Hill would not disclose Crane Song's annual sales but said they have been growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent.

"The gear we design and build is for high-end users," Hill said.

Crane Song's loyal customers include Neil Young, the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Shania Twain, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno.

Crane Song's success has afforded him a bit more flexibility, Hill said. "I can treat the studio as more of an artistic thing."

Tom Borgren, owner of Tborg Studio in Lakewood Township, said full-time recording studios like Inland Sea and Sacred Heart are the exception, rather than the rule, in the Northland.

A building contractor by day, Borgren runs a studio on the side. It originated from Borgren's desire to record his own music, but soon other musician friends were asking for his services.

The studio started in Borgren's garage. It grew, and in 1984 he built a building expressly for recording.

Borgren described Tborg Studio as more of a passion than a business.

"I don't make any money from my studio," he said. "I do it to help songwriters develop."

Timothy Soden-Groves also says he was a musician long before he got into the recording business. He runs a studio from his home in Duluth, putting out many of the recordings on his own label, Little House Records.

It's not a big moneymaker, but Soden-Groves, who specializes in working with singer/songwriters, said there are other rewards.

"It's tremendously satisfying to have musicians come into your home and play for you," he said. "It feels good to know that you're helping them a little bit on their musical journey."

In addition to running a studio, Soden-Groves operates a Duluth music store called Great Northern Music Center and does sound for live shows around the Northland.

David Slattery also operates a recording studio from his home. The business, called Late Night Studio, has consumed the entire lower level of Slattery's Lakewood residence.

A pedal steel guitarist, Slattery has a deep love of the blues but works with artists of all stripes.

He said Northland musicians are fortunate to have so many different types of studio settings from which to choose.

"You want to click with your engineer, your producer and the environmental space you're in," Slattery said.

Craig LiaBraaten, owner of Living Water Music Inc., can bring his studio directly to his clients. He operates a conventional studio and mixing facility in Hibbing but makes most of his recordings using a portable setup. He specializes in school and church groups. LiaBraaten also organizes Twin Ports and Iron Range "Idol" competitions, offering a free recording session to the winners each year.

"I view my recording studio as a public service," he said. "I'm not in it to make money."

LiaBraaten, who has a doctorate of musical arts degree from Louisiana State University, said recording is just one facet of Living Water. He also gives voice lessons, oversees a staff of 20-plus disc jockeys, offers sound and lighting services for live shows and moves pianos. Together, LiaBraaten said, the pieces add up to a successful business.

Local recording studios rely mainly on Northland artists for their business. Granted, both Inland Sea and Sacred Heart have attracted artists from the Twin Cities and Chicago markets, but the bulk of their work still comes from aspiring musicians in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In that respect, Soden-Groves said he and others in the business have been fortunate.

"I think the Duluth area has an exceptionally vibrant community for music, considering its size," he said. "Especially since the mid- to late-'90s, there has been a tremendous growth of the music scene."

Swanson agreed with Soden-Groves' upbeat assessment. What makes the Twin Ports' talent pool especially remarkable in Swanson's eyes is that it has grown despite a shortage of profitable venues for up-and-coming musicians.

"There's simply no money in playing original music around here," he said.

However, what the area lacks in opportunity, it makes up for with a sense of community, Swanson said.

"It's a very cooperative rather than a competitive environment," he said. "A lot of people play in two, three or even four bands. And as a result, there's a lot of cross-pollination of styles and ideas."

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/15109177.htm

John - :)

Troll

07-24-2006, 9:49am

Thanks for the articles John.

Alex

07-24-2006, 2:13pm

Great info where shania always appears:p! ;)

FinnFreak

07-25-2006, 2:54am

Wilmington Morning Star - July 24. 2006

Time to face the music?

Industry sues people, including local man, to halt file sharing

By Ken Little

A Wilmington man has struck a sour note with the recording industry in its ongoing fight against illegal online file sharing.

Albert Kensak was named in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District court in Wilmington.

Kensak could not be reached by telephone on Friday. He is not the first Wilmington resident to attract scrutiny from major record companies, which are going after individuals in a campaign coordinated by the Recording Industry Association of America.

About 18,200 people across the country have been sued since September 2003, RIAA spokeswoman Amanda Hunter said.

"There are so many choices now to get music legally there is simply no reason to be stealing," Hunter said.

The civil lawsuits cite individuals for distributing copyrighted music over the Internet through unauthorized peer-to-peer services such as LimeWire and Kazaa. The names of Kensak and others were subpoenaed from their respective Internet service providers. Their Internet Protocol addresses, a set of identifying numbers that help information get from one place to another on the Internet, were previously identified in "Joe Doe" lawsuits.

Plaintiffs in the case include Interscope Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Arista Records LLC and UMG Recordings Inc. According to court documents, Kensak downloaded songs by Blink-182, Shania Twain, Eve, Mariah Carey, Sublime, Toni Braxton, Rage Against the Machine and Enrique Iglesias.

The Washington-based RIAA represents the world's biggest record labels. The recording industry blames online piracy as the chief reason for declining CD sales.

"Anyone who participates in this particular behavior should understand they are a target and could be caught. They aren't anonymous and there are consequences," Hunter said.

Customers shopping downtown Friday in CD Alley on Market Street were mostly young and not supportive of the lawsuits.

"It's not something that people grew up thinking was wrong," said Colin Carhart, 27, of Wilmington.

Carhart said he still downloads music - legally.

"I think the majority of people who get music off the Internet are just researching which music to buy," he said. "I know plenty of people who do that. I used Napster and I used the one after that."

CD Alley owner Fred Champion said he didn't like the idea of individuals being singled out for lawsuits.

"They're trying to scare people into doing it their way, through their channels," Champion said. "If they want music for free, people will always find a way."

Steven Marks, RIAA executive vice president and general counsel, said in a prepared statement that recent court rulings provide "legal and moral clarity about the rules of the road."

"The theft of music online remains a serious problem and a real threat to our ability to invest in the next generation of talent. Songlifting is illegal, and there are consequences for breaking the law," Marks said.

Civil penalties can run into thousands of dollars in damages and legal fees, Hunter said. The minimum penalty is $750 per song.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/NEWS/607240368/1004

:uhh: - tsk! tsk! (nice taste in music, but definitely wrong move - don't steal)

John - :smirk:

Troll

07-25-2006, 9:31am

An interesting article John.

Alex

07-25-2006, 10:12pm

Interesting article for the shania songs!

captainCorr

07-26-2006, 3:41am

Every song has a story ...
“Rock of Ages” Def Leppard

[....]
Phil: Actually it’s Mutt Lange, the producer. Instead of doing like…1, 2, 3, 4, he just went ‘unter-glieben-glauten-globen.’ It didn’t mean anything. It’s no language, he just made it up.”

Jeff: And Mutt Lange, for people who don’t know, is now married to Shania Twain and he is an incredibly successful producer.

Phil: Oh… He’s the best! He’s amazing!

Jeff: Was it planned or did he just do it spontaneously?

Phil: He did it spontaneously…he was just goofing around. There’s a few more that didn’t make the record that were equally as silly. Originally it was in another part of the song actually, it wasn’t at the beginning, but we just lifted and moved it.
[....] [source (http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/entertainment/15124144.htm)]

Anne-Marie

07-26-2006, 4:33am

Hollywood Hotties MARIAH CAREY and SHANIA TWAIN Get Stars on the WALK OF FAME – and Now So Can Their Dogs

Celebs aren’t the only ones getting stars. Mariah’s shih-tzus Bing and Bong and Shania’s German Shepherd, Tim, can also enjoy star treatment with the Hollywood Bark of Fame, the newest original pet bed from trend-setting designer, Joyce Reavey.

Exton, PA (PRWEB) July 26, 2006 -- Celebs aren’t the only ones getting stars. Mariah’s shih-tzus Bing and Bong and Shania’s German Shepherd, Tim, can also enjoy star treatment with the Hollywood Bark of Fame, the newest original pet bed from trend-setting designer, Joyce Reavey.

“Furry little darlings are stars too,” said Reavey, owner of Pawsitively Posh. “Now all pet owners can pamper their pooches in style.”

The Hollywood Bark of Fame pet bed officially debuted at the H. H. Backer Annual Pet Trade Show in Atlantic City April 7. “Pet owners and magazine editors are going crazy for it,” said Reavey. “The Bark of Fame gives pets the celeb treatment they deserve.”

Like the Bark of Fame, all Reavey’s unique creations are becoming fashion musts in the booming $36 billion pet industry, from her Flower Bed featured on The Newlyweds Show with Jessica Simpson to her Slipper Bed given to Hillary Duff in a birthday gift basket, to her limited-edition Faberge-egg inspired Imperial Bed with a jewel-encrusted velvet outer layer and hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity. Reavey was the first designer to offer furry slipper beds for dogs – upscale and fun for owners, while cozy enough to help small dogs feel safe and secure.

Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb416174.htm

Image: http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2006/03/28/364811/Starbednew.jpg

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guess they don't know Tim is gone. :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/JGJdeWilde/HQ%20Photo%20Shoots/Up/2002/George%20Holz/01/th_GH4.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v378/JGJdeWilde/HQ%20Photo%20Shoots/Up/2002/George%20Holz/01/GH4.jpg)

FinnFreak

07-26-2006, 4:39am

The Hollywood Bark of Fame..? :huh:

...oh for goodness sake...

John - :smirk:

EilleenTwain88

07-26-2006, 6:05am

The Hollywood Bark of Fame..? :huh:

...oh for goodness sake...
For Hollywood Hotties like Shania Twain... äh? Never stops to amaze me .. She has attended two seconds in a non-hollywood movie and they keep calling her that. Well they did long before she even did that... how come?

Madonna would give her right arm to be called such and... nääh!

captainCorr

07-26-2006, 6:12am

:funny::funny:

The thing's they come up with these days..:nono:

FinnFreak

07-26-2006, 7:36am

The Indianapolis Star - July 26, 2006

Creative service specialist works in a rarefied field

Debra “Fergy” Ferguson, president and CEO of Tourdesign Creative Services.

Age: 47.

Education: Bachelor’s degrees in arts and communications from Taylor University.

As president and CEO of Tourdesign, Debra "Fergy" Ferguson works on marketing initiatives with some big names in the entertainment industry.

Tourdesign Creative Services creates TV, radio and print advertising for the concert industry. Any radio spot you hear for Jimmy Buffett across the country, we produce and customize for each market. Every TV spot across the country, we create and customize. Print ads are done as a shell, and each promoter across the country adds their information. But we create the artwork.

There are only two companies in the country that do what we do. We're in Fishers, and Bill Young Productions in Houston is the other. That boggles my mind, but it also solidifies my belief that a lot of this business is based on relationships. If you do good work, your clients will know that you'll be there for them.

Sunshine Promotions hired me in 1984. A position opened the same year at Tourdesign, which was part of Sunshine. After flying people in from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to interview, Sunshine decided they all wanted too much money. So they let me try it, and it took off. Talking to people and listening to music are two things I'm pretty good at.

We have about 150 tours, everything from Mariah Carey to Ozzfest. We try to make sure all our clients feel like they're our only client. That's probably the case in any service-oriented business. We have agents and managers for artists we've worked with for a long time -- people like Santana and James Taylor. Then there are demanding agents and managers of newer bands such as the Killers. We work 12- to 14-hour days during the summer to get things done until they're done right.

We assure our clients that every print ad, every radio spot and every TV spot is going to be the one they approved through us. Nothing's worse than a newer band going from city to city and seeing different photographs they haven't approved. Sometimes the person we talk to in those bands is the lead singer, which is fun. They know a lot of bands come and go, and they want to do it right. We get a photo, we get the typeface and we make an ad. We give them a break, because who knows? They might be the next Bon Jovi.

A lot of time this business is fast- paced and pretty stressful. The hard part is having the amount of time to be creative.

We just designed the billboard for Mariah Carey's show at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Doing that tour has been a challenge, but it's been really good. In fact, it's one of those experiences that at 1 in the morning, my audio mixer and I were still here working on an ad. Mariah called and wanted to talk about it.

Interacting with stars isn't an everyday occurrence, but I'm friends with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt and some different people who you grew up just idolizing. I met Shania Twain and she was just a doll-baby. You never know what a star's temperament is going to be.

I recently attended a Phil Lesh show at the Lawn at White River State Park that reminded me of why I still love this business. It was wonderful hearing the music and seeing people have a good time. It's nice to know you're part of the process. You're not the star, but you worked with a management team to make the show happen.

-- As told to David Lindquist.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060726/BUSINESS02/607260399/-1/ZONES01

..."just a doll-baby"..? :huh: ...like blinking her eyes & going: "mam-ma"..? heh.

John - :p

Troll

07-26-2006, 9:17am

Thanks for the articles.

Jamie88

07-26-2006, 11:29am

I like the them "Hollywood Hottie" for Shania. :D And I'd love to see her in more movies!

tonyme

07-26-2006, 12:52pm

;):D:D it's soo great (and funny)!!! Knowing that Shania will be up for a star in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, it is now good to know that her dog, Tim is up for a star of his own in the Bark Of Fame the newest original pet bed from trend-setting designer, Joyce Reavey.

So is Mariah Carey's dog Bing and Bong... :) Congratulations, Shania... and Tim, I guess...

Alex

07-26-2006, 1:06pm

Shania's dog is a great star now? :shocked: ... oh man look at that. :p:p

But where did you get that info from? :uhh:

Alex

07-26-2006, 1:23pm

I love the part: she was a doll baby!:D:D It's cute:p.. XD

Alex

07-26-2006, 1:26pm

I like the them "Hollywood Hottie" for Shania. :D And I'd love to see her in more movies!
Me too, but like the MAIN actress of the movie!:p

captainCorr

07-26-2006, 1:33pm

This thread (http://www.shaniaforums.com/showpost.php?p=814158&postcount=767) in the News & Articles forum..;)

matty

07-26-2006, 1:45pm

Interesting news. Giving dogs a star seems a little silly to me :uhh: :rolleyes:

tonyme

07-26-2006, 1:53pm

Shania's dog is a great star now? :shocked: ... oh man look at that. :p:p

But where did you get that info from? :uhh:

i actually got that info from the Google Alert: Shania Twain. It's a service by Google.com that provides you the latest news that contain the words "Shania Twain".:D that way you can know every little thing about her the minute it happens!

Alex

07-26-2006, 2:04pm

Oh lol, I didn't know about that, I think I must use your thecnic:p..

Thanks lol:D

Alex

07-26-2006, 10:15pm

Giving dogs a star seems a little silly to me :uhh: :rolleyes:
To me it's silly too, but it's funny watch this kind of things:D... I have fun with this!:p

FinnFreak

07-27-2006, 5:09am

Northern Advocate, New Zealand - 27.07.2006

Local sport

Five things we would quite like to see at Northland rugby games this year

1. A crowd:

It has been a while since the junior constable at Whangarei Police headquarters has been dispatched in a squad car, told to don his white gloves, and been sighted break dancing at an intersection somewhere near Okara Park while directing traffic. This is mainly because the last time the Northland rugby team attracted a sell out was when Sid Going was at his prime and Robert Muldoon was a backbencher. Bring on the traffic jams.

2. A bus load of rugby heads from Kaeo:

As the guest speaker at the recent Northland jersey launch, Eric Rush, former All Black winger and rugby sevens superstar, described in graphic detail his days growing up in Kaeo and taking bus trips to watch the Northland rugby team play. It brought back memories of the days when the entire length of Okara Dr was "Buses only" parking. Ah, them were the days all right.

3. Graham Henry:

The last time an All Black coach came to Whangarei with intent was in 1990, when Alex Wylie sat in the grandstand watching North Harbour play Northland for two reasons.

One was to watch Ian Jones play his way into test selection, the other was to controversially wield the axe to Buck Shelford.

We shall ignore the latter reason and hope that Henry arrives to pick another Northlander for test match honours.

What are the odds?

4. The old scoreboard:

This has not been widely noted, but here in sports central it has not gone without comment that ever since the decision was made to demolish the old scoreboard and build a new one at the opposite end of Okara Park, Northland have not won a championship game.

Sure the old scoreboard might have been an occupational hazard.

That is not our concern. Bring back the hazard we say!

5. A win:

This is an obvious ingredient that has caused all manner of navel gazing consternation, seen the departure of coaches, CEOs, players and plonkers too many to mention here.

Note to players: Joke's over. Win a bloody game!

* * * * *

Five things we would rather not see at Northland rugby games this year

1. Bryce Lawrence:

Some of you might have short memories. Some of you may be apt to forgive and forget.

Not us. Effigies of Mr B Lawrence, member of the New Zealand Rugby Referee's national panel and by some mysterious circumstance the son of the head of the NZ referees panel, are still doing the rounds at sports central.

Mr B Lawrence is the gentleman who we believe got it all terribly wrong while refereeing Northland v Canterbury in Whangarei three years ago, denied Northland a certain hometown upset victory and set in motion three years of misery. We shall remember him, and where he parks his car.

2. The queue for a banger and chips:

Like sands through the hourglass, so rugby fans seem content to form an orderly line that has been known to snake for some 30 metres for the privilege of a sausage dipped in boiling fat and a pot of greasy chips.

This needs to stop, not just because the players are getting a bit of performance anxiety knowing their fans have opted to queue rather than watch them play, but also because a hot dog and chips uses enough grease to service a small tractor.

3. Rain:

Despite parading ourselves as "the winterless north" Northland's provincial rugby campaign almost ruined centuries of cunning marketing tactics that had duped the nation into believing it never rained north of Wellsford.

At least not on game days.

Last year it didn't just rain on game day, it teemed down. We are not sure what we should do about this, but feel reassured that Wayne Peters is the new Northland Rugby chairman.

If anyone can negotiate fine weather with the big guy, we are sure Wayne can.

4. Musical interludes:

Okay, okay, this is dangerous territory, mainly because the press box is within range of a well aimed lob of a roll of sushi from the music department, but seriously, do we really need Shania Twain warbling in the millisecond between the ref blowing his whistle and the scrums engaging?

Agreed, a try is worth a burst of celebratory music, but fans use injury breaks to discuss conspiracy theories about the game, and they can't do that when the music is blaring.

5. Cheerleaders:

Right then. To date Northland's dalliance with girls dancing during pre-game festivities have ranged from downright disturbing to absolutely embarrassing. In the early days the cheerleaders tried hard, but the troupe had girls (this is a delicate subject) who probably should have considered more carefully the decision to wear lycra G-strings in public. We graduated to girls who were so young it was almost criminal to watch them perform their hip gyrating grooves to X-rated lyrics. The cheerleader is American, leave them to George.

http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3694196&thesection=localsport&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

:huh:

...he's absolutely right - that *is* dangerous territory.

:scowl: - Don't bash Shania, you silly Kiwi. :] - Be grateful for every millisecond you get..! :D

:uhh: - ...and you don't like cheerleaders... :shocked: - what the heck is wrong with you..?!?

John - :p

theTWAINfan

07-27-2006, 6:13am

Well, what would you expect from a Kiwi??? (Righto, I admit that I'm an Aussie at heart, so I am somewhat biased against Kiwis)

Troll

07-27-2006, 9:14am

An interesting article.

Alex

07-27-2006, 1:24pm

:uhh: rare article, but it's interesting:D

canoilers

07-28-2006, 12:56am

Thanks again for droping Shania's name for all of us. :D

Troll

07-28-2006, 9:30am

Crow considers herself a bit of a traditionalist, preferring Lee Ann Womack to Shania Twain

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/ENT/607280301/1005

captainCorr

07-28-2006, 10:25am

I thought you meant Sheryl..:p

canoilers

07-28-2006, 10:37am

I thought he meant Russel. :p

captainCorr

07-28-2006, 10:42am

Oh, I also thought he meant Scare

:p

Alex

07-29-2006, 12:23am

Even though she's out her name is dropping in many archives on net, no wonder we keep talking about her:p

canoilers

07-29-2006, 2:08am

Thats only cause she's still in our heart, fans for life is what its all about. :D

shaniatfan

07-29-2006, 4:12am

Crow considers herself a bit of a traditionalist, preferring Lee Ann Womack to Shania Twain

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060728/ENT/607280301/1005

Well, apparently traditional doesn't sell, Shania does, Traditional wins CMA's Shania don't (atleast not as often as she should)

FinnFreak

07-31-2006, 6:10am

Asbury Park Press - 07/31/06

Rock bands compete for country crowd

Hot musicians (literally) press on

BY JOHN VANDIVER,STAFF WRITER

DOVER TOWNSHIP — The lead singer stood on stage and urged the small crowd before him to clap.

As the Howell-based band Status Green and its front man Lou Montesano charged through their performance in a battle of the bands contest, looming behind them was a gathering country music crowd.

Before them was a Country Music Television trailer, where a steady flow of country fans funneled throughout the day. Skimpy Shania Twain clothing memorabilia was on display.

"I don't think we fit in with them," said Montesano, looking over at the CMT trailer shortly before his performance. It was a little bit of rock 'n' roll Sunday mixed in with a whole lot of country at the Toms River Fest, where well-known artists such as LeAnn Rimes were among the country performers.

Nonetheless, local rockers toiled under the sweltering sun as they competed in "The Underground Live" competition, hosted by G Rock Radio. A skimpy crowd didn't seem to bother the rockers.

"That's fine. We can just make fans one by one," said Frank Bressi, 35, lead singer of the Asbury Park-based band Chilling Details.

Bressi's band beat out four other performers Sunday to win the competition. Chilling Details was awarded 16 hours of free studio time and $1,000 prize.

"What can I say? It's fantastic. We could use the studio time," said Bressi.

As the bands performed, they were cheered on by one another and a small group of loyal followers. Other people would stop and listen for a while before moving on to the other sights and sounds.

"I like it. They sound pretty good," Michael Kaniuk, 38, of Toms River said as one of the bands played.

Others were perplexed by what they heard.

"I don't know what they're saying," said Lori Wiacek, 17, of Margate.

Wiacek and her group of friends had just paid a visit to the CMT trailer, getting pumped up for an afternoon performance by popular country act Lonestar. "I like country. I don't like this," said Amanda Cherry, 18, as guitars and vocals wailed in the background.

As the battle-of-the-bands competition wrapped up with little fanfare, the grounds at the big outdoor stage nearby were filling up. Lonestar took the stage shortly after 3 p.m.

Toms River Fest concluded later Sunday night with performances by Rimes and Martina McBride.

"That's why I'm here. Lonestar and LeAnn Rimes," Cherry said.

Mike Gavin, G Rock Radio program director, said he expects The Underground Live contest to grow in the years ahead.

"Whenever you can give exposure to local bands, it's a good thing," Gavin said.

The performers agreed.

"Exposure is the best thing," said Isaac Krady, a bass player with the band Meets West.

Montesano, who bounced about on stage in a suit and tie, changed into something cooler after his performance. Gracious in defeat, he went on congratulate the winners.

Status Green was one of five New Jersey bands to be selected to compete Sunday, beating out about 70 other bands.

"I was optimistic about being picked," said Montesano, moments before handing out a copy of his band's first CD, titled "Greatest Hits Volume One."

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/NEWS/607310349/1070/NEWS02

John - :)

Troll

07-31-2006, 9:11am

Interesting article John.

canoilers

07-31-2006, 9:11am

THank you very much for the article Mr. John. :D

FinnFreak

07-31-2006, 9:14am

THank you very much for the article Mr. John. :D

You're welcome.

...I've been called lotsa things, but "Mr. John" is definitely a first.

John - :p

canoilers

07-31-2006, 9:51am

Oh would you rather me call you Mrs. :p

FinnFreak

07-31-2006, 9:55am

No need - that's reserved for the missus.

John - ;)

canoilers

07-31-2006, 9:59am

Women they take all the good titles don't they. :p

FinnFreak

07-31-2006, 10:01am

They're worth it too.

John - :D

canoilers

07-31-2006, 11:41am

Unfortunatly I can't say that about all women, but for the most part yes. :D

dreamer

07-31-2006, 12:34pm

interesting thanks a bunch (I'm doing this when I shouldn't be but eh oh well!) :]

captainCorr

07-31-2006, 4:05pm

Live Nation (Formerly Clear Channel Entertainment) Buys Majority Stake in MusicToday

July 31st, 2006

According to the Wall Street Journal and the PR Newswire Live Nation has purchased a majority stake in MusicToday. Live Nation is a recently spun off company from Clear Channel.

[....]

Today, MusicToday brings "business solutions" (fan clubs, ticketing and merchandise) to major touring artists including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, Nickelback, Usher, Santana, Shania Twain and of course Dave Matthews Band. MusicToday is also tied directly to Bonnaroo and Vegoose, two emerging music festivals populated by Big Hassle artists.

[....]

I posted the full article here (http://www.shaniaforums.com/showthread.php?p=815597#post815597)..

SHANIANUTS!

07-31-2006, 5:13pm

I posted the full article here (http://www.shaniaforums.com/showthread.php?p=815597#post815597)..If you don't think we were getting screwed over by MT just wait til this outfit gets their mitts on this.

captainCorr

07-31-2006, 5:16pm

If you don't think we were getting screwed over by MT just wait til this outfit gets their mitts on this.
My thoughts exactly..:uhh:

Alex

07-31-2006, 9:33pm

Interesting articles as always the ltest articles :great:

Alex

07-31-2006, 9:34pm

Women they take all the good titles don't they. :p
Yes, they do :uhh:

canoilers

08-01-2006, 5:12am

Yeah I wanna be a total B****, thats the best one ever. :p

FinnFreak

08-01-2006, 6:29am

:uhh: - täh..?

...here's more to read:

Sacramento Bee - Published 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, August 1, 2006

No home on the radio

Those who hanker for 'real' country in these parts say the pickin's are too slim

http://www.sacbee.com/ips_rich_content/353-cowboy.jpg

By Sam McManis -- Bee Staff Writer

Sacramento had been a one-horse -- er, country- radio station -- town for pert' near three years before listeners tuned in one morning and found an alternative to ratings giant KNCI (105.1 FM).

Well, critics say, not really an alternative.

More like a carbon copy.

It all started last month when KCCL (101.9 FM) abruptly dropped its "Boss Radio" oldies-rock format to try its luck in the country genre as "The Wolf," featuring a playlist nearly identical to KNCI's. That is, it began playing top hits from the usual crop of mainstream Nashville artists -- your Kenny Chesneys, Tim McGraws, Rascal Flattses, Gretchen Wilsons.

Listeners howled at "The Wolf" -- some in protest, some in glee. And some, such as Sacramento resident Adam Smith, expressed the desire for something rarely, if ever, heard on commercial country radio these days: diversity.
"Personally," Smith writes in an e-mail, "I prefer roots and alt-country, what I call real country."

By real, Smith means songs from artists whose musical emphasis is more organic and acoustic than the slickly produced, three-minute tunes dominating the top 20 country singles charts.

And that means artists such as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, who haven't been played on the radio in decades. Americana artists including Lucinda Williams and Rodney Crowell, whose songs blur the line between blues, rock and country. And artists such as Steve Earle and James McMurtry, whose left-leaning political songs alienate them from many mainstream country fans.

It's not as small a niche as one might imagine. Those on the so-called fringes are starting to make some noise.

Cash's new posthumous CD, "American V: A Hundred Highways," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country charts three weeks ago. Bruce Spring-steen's experiment in bluegrass music on his latest concert tour is drawing sellout crowds. And the Dixie Chicks, once the darlings of country radio before bashing President Bush, have the nation's top- selling album despite almost no mainstream country airplay.

So, why are we still hearing the same Big & Rich and Brooks & Dunn songs over and over on country radio?

It's simple: Majority (and money) rules.

Of more than 2,000 country stations nationwide -- the top radio format, by far -- fewer than 100 play "classic country" and only 15 are labeled "Americana," according to the Inside Radio magazine database.

"The country music community is divided into basically two groups -- the musical snobs and the musical cattle," says Rusty Walker, a consultant who has helped shape programming at more than 500 country stations since 1983. "I'm a radio snob, and we make up 8 to 10 percent of listeners. The cattle make up 90 to 92 percent.

"Now, if we snobs want our own radio station, dad-gummit, we've got to force a whole lot more people to like it as much as they like the hit stations. And that's not going to happen."

Locally, the country audience seems overwhelmingly "contemporary," according to Greg Cole, music director and afternoon DJ at KNCI. He rejects the "cattle" reference, preferring to call his and other mainstream stations "mass- appeal" outlets.

"And a lot of the music within the Americana format is not what you'd say is mass-appeal," Cole says.

Still, "part of the unknown is how many people would discover that this type of music resonates with them if they were exposed to it," counters Wesley Robertson, host of the weekly alt-country "Rockin' and Stompin'" show (at 2 p.m. Saturdays) on noncommercial KVMR (89.5 FM) in Nevada City.

KVMR is one of the few stations in the area playing alt-country, bluegrass, folk and Americana. Despite its weak signal in Sacramento, program director Steve Baker says, its programming draws the most listeners during the week, many from metropolitan Sacramento.

Other options include "The Eclectic Dinosaur" on low-power KDRT (101.5 FM) in Davis, "Blue Dog Jam" on KXJZ (88.9 FM), and several shows on Access Sacramento's cable TV radio channel.

There's also satellite radio. Both Sirius and XM have 24-hour channels that specialize in Americana, bluegrass, folk and "outlaw" country. Several Internet alt-country stations broadcast, as well.

But the majority of listeners continue to turn to commercial radio. And whereas several rock genres (top 40, alternative, heavy metal, classic) are represented on stations, the same cannot be said for country.

The reason, according to Sirius director of country programming Scott Lindy, is that the overall sound of mainstream country is essentially the same as 15 years ago.

"It's still being made in that sleek, polished, heavy-layering, perfect-timing Nashville sound," says Lindy, who spent many years programming top country stations in Baltimore before coming to satellite radio in 2004. "There's not enough sonic change in styles to make it attractive."

Of course, no one would dispute that an Americana artist such as Emmylou Harris sounds different from Shania Twain. But, in other cases, Lindy says, the difference isn't that distinct.

One recent afternoon on Sirius, for instance, the outlaw country channel played back-to-back songs (Allison Moorer's "Take It So Hard" and Buddy Miller's "Love Match") that had the same mid-tempo groove and strong hooks that a listener might hear on mainstream country radio.

They are sonically similar. Even so, they're no Kenny Chesney.

"Coming from the perspective of a mainstream programmer, there's a disconnect," Lindy says.

"There's a radio consultant I know who calls it 'familiarity breeds content.' Content in radio means ratings, and ratings mean big, big money," Lindy says. "If you stretched your play list to include, say, Shooter Jennings, you're rolling the dice for millions of (advertising) dollars."

And that's a bet many mainstream stations aren't willing to make.

Cole says KNCI does occasionally take chances. For instance, he says, the station was one of the few mainstream country stations in the country to play songs by the bluegrass-infused group Alison Kraus & Union Station.

"We are open to new things, if they fit with what we're doing," Cole says.

However, "to a large extent, you have to worry more about driving people away (from new, untested artists) than you are of attracting them."

That is not a concern for the few stations playing Americana artists. It's all about attracting new listeners, especially ones who dismiss country music as "all hat, no cattle."

Jeffrey Green, director of the Americana Music Association, says listeners attracted to this genre are open to musical experimentation.

"These songs deal with complex themes and sometimes have complex arrangements," Green says. "They aren't songs DJs can talk over and that you can get through in three minutes. It's more like the old album-rock days. I don't want to say it's more of a thinking person's country, but we aren't talking ditties here."

Americana listeners also tend to be more liberal, Green says, adding that only 15 percent of Americana listeners identify themselves as Republicans; the rest are Democrats or independents.

Three of the song-of-the-year nominees for the 2006 Americana Music Awards have left-leaning political themes -- McMurtry's "We Can't Make It Here," Crowell's "Don't Get Me Started," and the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready To Make Nice."

KVMR's Robertson calls it a distinction between what he terms "real country" vs. "safe country."

"You can be political, but it must be the conservative take on things. Usually, commercial stations won't play any song that has lyrics that may offend a listener or advertiser," Robertson says. "The 'real' country artist writes his lyrics based on what is on his mind and heart and what he has seen and learned."

Good luck catching any of these three songs on mainstream country radio.

As Walker, the country radio consultant, says: "The consumer is king."

http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/14283978p-15091586c.html

heh... and incidently... as Music Television is now 25 years old... anyone remember the first video they played..? ;)

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles - Geoff Downs still plays a solo istrumental version of it during Asia concerts.

John - :p

canoilers

08-01-2006, 7:40am

Thanks for the article John. :D

FinnFreak

08-01-2006, 8:20am

All About Jazz - Posted: 2006-08-01

MusicDish Network Promotes 60's
Love Child Astrella-Celeste

http://www.musicdish.net/ac/CD_cover1.jpg

MusicDish, an Internet music magazine publisher and artist marketing/ development firm, is proud to announce the addition of Pop/Jazz singer Astrella Celeste to the MusicDish Network roster. Combining a variety of online viral marketing strategies, the MusicDish Network will be coordinating a broad campaign in support of her new EP Blue Star (the Spanish translation of Astrella Celeste).

The ultimate 60's love child, Astrella-Celeste is the daughter of the “British Bob Dylan” Donovan, who wrote “Catch the Wind,” “Mellow Yellow” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” Having recorded with her father and opened for him on his Beat Cafe tour, Astrella-Celeste is now entering the spotlight in her own right. On September 25th, she will be releasing her single 'Dream' to coincide with her debut EP Blue Star issued in the UK, Ireland & Cyberspace on Donovan's new label, Donovan Discs. Astrella-Celeste wrote the album with Kevin Hunter of Sheryl Crow fame.

“Astrella Celeste's 'Dream' Combines a fusion of jazz, pop and country wearing such female icons as Liz Phair, Shania Twain and Natalie Merchant on her sleeves,” noted June Caldwell with Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion.

The MusicDish Network will conduct an extensive saturated marketing campaign, combining PR/brand development, syndicated marketing and online street teaming. In addition, Mellani and her band will be aggressively pushed on social networking sites such as MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/astrellaceleste), Live Digital and TagWorld, while promoting her single and video “Dream” through a viral distribution campaign on major file sharing networks such as eDonkey.

Having performed on stage since childhood (releasing a single in Italy at age 8 which led to the Pope asking to meet her), Astrella spent her youth in acting schools and dance troupes before working with her father providing backing vocals and touring with him. Her career has since been richly developed by working with other musicians in recording sessions, performances and/or home jams, amongst them David Gilmour, Brian Setzer, Donovan, Mark White, Happy Mondays, and Graham Nash, to name but a few.

What the press is saying about Astrella-Celeste:

“Astrella has the most beautiful lyrics and voice, so sensitive, so personal--her song 'Dreams' is like a deep and magical mystery tour inside her heart, and the way she sings 'you' in the song 'I Need You,' you'll swear she's singing just to you. The music is so relaxing, like Jimmy Buffett meets Carole King on a beautiful island, and the mood can be summed up well in the line 'Take it easy, what's your hurry, I can see no need to worry'”--Rock City News

“Astrella is an expressive vocalist who pens insightful, visual lyrics. Celeste's band and production are crisp and clean. Astrella's music orbits around the acoustic guitar but has a fuller sound thanks to her band and the use of various instruments including horns. Astrella's songs have interesting inflections and instrumentation that explore a range of soft moods”--Peer Music / GMW Bucks

MusicDish (http://www.musicdish.com) has been at the forefront of the digital music sector, publishing some of the industry's leading music magazine, including MusicDish.com and Mi2N.com. Through the MusicDish Network (http://www.musicdish.net), it supports the development of artists and labels through saturated marketing and online brand development, whether online street teams or p2p viral distribution.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=10660

...sounds interesting, doesn't it..?

John - ;)

canoilers

08-01-2006, 8:41am

Thank you again for the article Sir. Mr. Man guy.

FinnFreak

08-01-2006, 8:51am

:p

PR Newswire (press release), NY - Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Elvis Week is Alive in Chicagoland

Elvis Presley Festivities August 11, 12, 16 and 17th
Annual 'Elvis Spectacular' Set to Rock Chicago's Park West!

CHICAGO, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks the 29th anniversary of
the day Elvis Presley left the building for the last time. The memory of
"The King" stays alive through annual events at Graceland, in Chicago, and
throughout the world. The 3rd week of every August, since 1977, has come to
be known around the world as Elvis Week.

Since 1977, Chicagoland has been celebrating Elvis Presley Week with a
wide variety of events. This year's schedule is bigger and better than
ever! Elvis Week includes:

-- "White Sox Elvis Night" on Friday, August 11th, Southsiders celebrate
Elvis!

-- Fleet Feet Sport's "Elvis Is Alive" 5K and Concert Saturday, August
12th, the Elvis concert at 6:30pm features "Chicago's favorite Elvis,"
Mark Hussman, with Alice Peacock and other celebrity guests. To
register for the 5k visit http://www.fleetfeetchicago.com

-- 29th Anniversary Date - Wednesday, August 16th, 2006:
The Annual "Elvis Spectacular" ROCKS Chicago at the Park West!
322 W. Armitage. Mark Husssman's wildly popular, critically acclaimed,
Elvis Tribute Concert begins at 8 p.m., Tickets Only $15.00! More at
http://www.markelvis.com

-- Hussman's weekly Thursday night "Elvisland" show at the Canoe Club in
Orland Park goes into high gear with its special Elvis Week addition.
Thursday, August 17, at 8pm visit: http://www.canoeclubrestaurant.com

Chicago's Annual Elvis Spectacular Concert is better than ever!

Sensational musical acts have been added to the Elvis Spectacular, which
moved to the Park West this year. The Elvis Spectacular features Mark
Hussman with the acclaimed Anthony Smith's Guitar Street Orchestra!
Ann-Margrock Dancers return with Buzz Kilman, Patty Elvis, and The Barefoot
Hawiians!

This year's Elvis Spectacular Concert is family friendly! "E" fans
under 18 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Tickets are available at
Ticketmaster or the Park West box office! This popular show has been known
to sell out -- purchase your tickets today!

Mark Hussman was selected as "#1 Elvis" by America Online. He has
performed onstage with U2, Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain and
Wynonna and Naomi Judd. He has been featured on CNN, and in Rolling Stone
Magazine.

Mark Elvis is endorsed by Elvis fans across the globe, including music
legends like U2 and Cher! Hussman has produced and headlined the Elvis
Spectacular since 1997.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-01-2006/0004407504&EDATE=

John - ;)

Troll

08-01-2006, 9:14am

Great articles John.

Alex

08-01-2006, 10:06am

:dunno:.. okay..

Interesting articles as always!

canoilers

08-01-2006, 2:18pm

Thanks for the article John. :D

FinnFreak

08-02-2006, 4:02am

PR Web (press release) - Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Save Your First Dance For Aerosmith:
Top 10 'First Dance' Wedding Songs

AN ONLINE SURVEY has revealed the UK's top 'first dance' wedding tunes – with 'Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith at number one.

Swindon, Wiltshire (PRWEB) August 2, 2006 -- AN ONLINE SURVEY has revealed the UK's top 'first dance' wedding tunes – with 'Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith at number one.

The survey, conducted by UK-Disco.co.uk, polled over 1,300 UK DJs to identify Britain's Top 10 Wedding songs. Amongst the classic crooners were some surprise entries:

First Dance Wedding Songs – The Official Top 10

1. Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith
2. Everything I Do (I Do It For You) by Bryan Adams
3. Amazed by Lonestar
4. You're Still The One by Shania Twain
5. From This Moment by Shania Twain
6. Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison
7. You're Beautiful by James Blunt
8. Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden
9. Angels by Robbie Williams
10. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

The winner is:

Aerosmith surprised everyone by coming out on top of romantic classics like 'Amazing' by Lonestar and 'You're Still the One' by Shania Twain.

Bryan Adams's chart hit from the movie 'Robin Hood' came a close second – proving that 'Everything I Do, I Do it For You' has long-lasting appeal (or maybe it was Kevin Costner in tights).

New classics?

Every song in the Top 10 was at least 8 years old – the exception being James Blunt's recent chart hit 'You're Beautiful'. Will this tune become a wedding classic like Robbie's 'Angels' (no9), or is it destined for relegation?

Wedding Resources

Finding a DJ is blissfully easy at UK-Disco.co.uk. It's the UK's biggest directory of mobile discos and DJs, with more than 1300 listings. There's no need to register and the site is searchable by region, so brides and wedding-planners can quickly find and print a list of local DJs.

Top Wedding Songs – in full

UK-Disco will publish the full Wedding Song survey online in September, so that brides and grooms who are stumped for wedding music can browse the full list of more than 200 favourite 'first dance' songs.

For further information

View the full survey results at www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey]. Download a PDF version of this press release at www.uk-disco.co.uk/press [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/press]. For more information, contact Jon White at UK-Disco on 01793 840777 or 07976 202080.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Wedding Song survey was carried out by UK-Disco between June and July 2006. The full list of songs submitted is available at www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey].
2. UK-Disco is the UK's biggest resource for DJ and mobile disco services. It was established in 2005 and now attracts more than 70,000 visitors per month.
3. UK-Disco is owned and managed by I.T. Magic (UK), Swindon.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/8/prweb418673.htm

:rolleyes: - ...höh... ours was Suvivalssi...

John - :p

Aurore

08-02-2006, 6:21am

thanks for the news!! that's great! it's normal that she won You're Still The One is so cute... but I'm amazed that there wasn't Forever And For Always :rolleyes: :]

RKSTFan

08-02-2006, 9:18am

Save Your First Dance For Aerosmith: Top 10 'First Dance' Wedding Songs

AN ONLINE SURVEY has revealed the UK's top 'first dance' wedding tunes – with 'Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith at number one.

Swindon, Wiltshire (PRWEB) August 2, 2006 -- AN ONLINE SURVEY has revealed the UK's top 'first dance' wedding tunes – with 'Don't Wanna Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith at number one.

The survey, conducted by UK-Disco.co.uk, polled over 1,300 UK DJs to identify Britain's Top 10 Wedding songs. Amongst the classic crooners were some surprise entries:

First Dance Wedding Songs – The Official Top 10

1. Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith
2. Everything I Do (I Do It For You) by Bryan Adams
3. Amazed by Lonestar
4. You're Still The One by Shania Twain
5. From This Moment by Shania Twain
6. Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison
7. You're Beautiful by James Blunt
8. Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden
9. Angels by Robbie Williams
10. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

The winner is:
Aerosmith surprised everyone by coming out on top of romantic classics like 'Amazing' by Lonestar and 'You're Still the One' by Shania Twain.

Bryan Adams's chart hit from the movie 'Robin Hood' came a close second – proving that 'Everything I Do, I Do it For You' has long-lasting appeal (or maybe it was Kevin Costner in tights).

New classics?
Every song in the Top 10 was at least 8 years old – the exception being James Blunt's recent chart hit 'You're Beautiful'. Will this tune become a wedding classic like Robbie's 'Angels' (no9), or is it destined for relegation?

Wedding Resources
Finding a DJ is blissfully easy at UK-Disco.co.uk. It's the UK's biggest directory of mobile discos and DJs, with more than 1300 listings. There's no need to register and the site is searchable by region, so brides and wedding-planners can quickly find and print a list of local DJs.

Top Wedding Songs – in full
UK-Disco will publish the full Wedding Song survey online in September, so that brides and grooms who are stumped for wedding music can browse the full list of more than 200 favourite 'first dance' songs.

For further information
View the full survey results at www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey]. Download a PDF version of this press release at www.uk-disco.co.uk/press [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/press]. For more information, contact Jon White at UK-Disco on 01793 840777 or 07976 202080.

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Wedding Song survey was carried out by UK-Disco between June and July 2006. The full list of songs submitted is available at www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey [http://www.uk-disco.co.uk/survey].
2. UK-Disco is the UK's biggest resource for DJ and mobile disco services. It was established in 2005 and now attracts more than 70,000 visitors per month.
3. UK-Disco is owned and managed by I.T. Magic (UK), Swindon.

PR Web (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/8/prweb418673.htm)

Troll

08-02-2006, 9:20am

Thanks for the article.

canoilers

08-02-2006, 9:42am

Shania will be played at my wedding..... thats if I ever have one to begin with. :p

matty

08-02-2006, 3:10pm

Shania will be played at my wedding..... thats if I ever have one to begin with. :p

Same here :p :D
My future wife can have whatever kind of wedding she wants, but we'll be dancing to Shania.

Troll

08-02-2006, 9:37pm

She can also belt out a tune, counting Canadian country singer Shania Twain among her favourites when she sings karaoke.

http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/wat/news/news_632001.html

Alex

08-02-2006, 10:57pm

I hadn't thought about it but maybe I'll do that too, shania on my wedding! Oh what am I saying, if I don't think having a wedding!! :p:p...

captainCorr

08-04-2006, 7:34am

"Shania Twain isn't going to fail to deliver 'Feels Like a Woman' because hits are what she's all about, and she aims to please," said Tony Cavallario, lead singer of the Cleveland indie band Aloha. "She's going to approach it with great enthusiasm. That's her raison d'etre. [source (http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_4127718)]

:]:up:

Troll

08-04-2006, 9:14am

Great article Mathias.

Troll

08-04-2006, 9:15am

The Rating Game

Most Overrated Country Star

Thursday, August 3, 2006

David Wynes

Music panelist

1. Toby Keith: When he jumped on the "I hate the Dixie Chicks" bandwagon, he should have been erased from country music. Instead he released a line of "cowboy" hats available at your local mall department store. How country is that?

2. Rascal Flatts: I may not be a country music fan, but I know when someone is all hat and no horse.

3. Shania Twain: Last I checked, cornrows and back-up dancers was not country. Hank Williams Sr. must be rolling in his grave.

John Pulliam

Business Editor

1. Shania Twain: She's a good singer, cute as a button, but what is she singing? It's not country music.

2. Lorrie Morgan: I've only ever heard one song she's done that I enjoyed. How does she remain popular?

3. Lee Greenwood: OK, I'll give you "God Bless the U.S.A." Legendary song, but Lee has made a career out of that one song. He needs to add to another song or two or I have to say his career is overrated.

Mike Trueblood

Sports Editor

1. Kenny Chesney: Forgot his country roots with Jimmy Buffet-type songs like "When the Sun Goes Down." Can the average country fan relate to that?

2. Rascal Flatts: Pop or country? Video with nude scenes didn't help me decide.

3. Shania Twain: Being drop-dead beautiful often can't overcome her wooden singing style and awful song lyrics.

Next week: Best Audio Books

E-mail jklockenga@register-mail.com with your picks. We'll publish them next week.

http://www.register-mail.com/stories/080306/FEA_BAGE14I1.GID.shtml

Troll

08-04-2006, 9:17am

She co-wrote the disc’s original songs alongside Kevin Churko, who has worked with Shania Twain, Britney Spears and Celine Dion.

http://www.houstonvoice.com/2006/8-4/arts/cover/further.cfm

Troll

08-04-2006, 9:42pm

Womack was just starting out and her self-titled album in 1997 was a refreshing oddity. Shania Twain's gimmicky brand of exclamation-point pop dominated the country market while Womack, with songs like Never Again, Again and The Fool, was a traditionalist.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=2702e8b0-4057-4282-a9fc-b1293c950364

Alex

08-04-2006, 11:47pm

She co-wrote the disc’s original songs alongside Kevin Churko, who has worked with Shania Twain, Britney Spears and Celine Dion.

http://www.houstonvoice.com/2006/8-4/arts/cover/further.cfm
That's interesting, I knew about it.

Troll

08-05-2006, 9:46am

There's a certain romanticism to country music, though it may be hard to believe with acts like Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney making a farce of denim and cowboy hats.

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/10241

Troll

08-05-2006, 1:32pm

Reality checks

For Wynonna, her family is her reality check. After she had Elijah, she took time off to be a mom. "And one day, here I am, with my post-partum body in my pajamas, scrubbin' a toilet and I look up and there's Shania (Twain) lookin' gorgeous and I started to get very vulnerable."

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060803/LIFESTYLES0101/608020346

Troll

08-07-2006, 9:31am

Currington opened the show with his current hit, “Why, Why, Why,” which is No. 17 on Billboard’s country charts, and continued with his hits including “I Got a Feelin’” and “Doin’ Something Right.” He also jumped into several cover songs, with a soulful take on Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” a sultry version of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” and rock with AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

His encore included “Party For Two,” the Shania Twain duet that propelled his exposure, but audience members were shy about singing the Shania part, and the song’s beginning fizzled.

http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/08/06/news/local/doc44d6c659b182a526083030.txt

Alex

08-07-2006, 11:02pm

His encore included “Party For Two,” the Shania Twain duet that propelled his exposure, but audience members were shy about singing the Shania part, and the song’s beginning fizzled.

http://www.qctimes.net/articles/2006/08/06/news/local/doc44d6c659b182a526083030.txt
so he sang all the song including shania's part?' :shocked: i would like to hear it.

Troll

08-09-2006, 4:07pm

And pop country is about how good you look, how clean you are, and how perfect everything is. It's not real, it's fake. It's plastic. They're singing songs that somebody else has written, and they don't identify with it at all. It's just ... you know, it's a scam, basically. People like Shania Twain have only done, what, maybe two shows, and sold 50 million records or whatever. So it's nothin' but who you know, and a power play, and kissin' somebody's *** and workin' with them and stuff like that, you know? The outlaws and rebels and all that stuff is definitely missed.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A184067

shaniatfan

08-09-2006, 5:25pm

That's a bunch of BS!!!!!!!!!!!! And they know it..

Alex

08-09-2006, 7:14pm

That's interesting :uhh: I don't like that kind of artist who dedicate to sing other songs writen by other artists without right of the own autor. I'm not meaning I don't like the music at all, like all we know, the majority of the artists sing songs that weren't writen by themselves, but other take advantage of other situation to sing them, it's the worst thing one artist can do.

Troll

08-09-2006, 11:04pm

That's a bunch of BS!!!!!!!!!!!! And they know it..

You got that right.

Alex

08-10-2006, 12:48am

That's a bunch of BS!!!!!!!!!!!! And they know it..
Yeppers, its and they do;)

Troll

08-14-2006, 9:44pm

Auditioning on a lark
This isn't the kind of heartwarming story that will thrill those who were rejected, but Sarah Goldberg, 20, of Manhattan, just sort of lucked in to a win today. She came along just to support a friend, although she did happen to be wearing a red cowboy hat and boots and some gold chains, and decided to give it a shot herself.

Singing Shania Twain's That Don't Impress Me Much, she apparently impressed the judges very much indeed. However, she has a vacation in Paris scheduled for Wednesday, and no matter what happens with Idol, she told Rachel Breitman, she's going abroad for 10 days.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2006/08/auditioning_on_.html

Alex

08-14-2006, 10:45pm

Thanks for the link and the story of this girl singing TDIMM...

shaniatfan

08-15-2006, 12:57am

Country: Trace Adkins, Dangerous Man (* * 1/2)
If Trace Adkins had any doubts that his fans like to get a little raunchy, they were erased completely by last year’s hip-swiveling Honky Tonk Badonkadonk — arguably the biggest song about butts since Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Baby Got Back. Dangerous Man, which includes the popular Badonkadonk video mix, has several songs in the same mold, including the singles-life-as-baseball metaphor Swing and Southern Hallelujah, which sounds like a Southern rocker singing Shania Twain. Fightin’ Words — in which Adkins growls menacingly, “First Amendment? Son, the First Amendment protects you from the government, not from me” — is the sort of thing country music haters hate about country music, but the man who relives the past with a dying grandfather who may or may not be able to hear him in The Stubborn One is the kind of character people who love the music cherish. — Brian Mansfield

http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2006/08/listen_up_chris.html

Wow, Trace's music on his new CD is being compared to Shania's music in a weird sort-of way

Alex

08-15-2006, 3:19pm

May be compared with Shania but never be the same;). Thanks for the link.

Troll

08-15-2006, 9:46pm

shaniatfan

08-16-2006, 2:18am

Lurking at the Aquarium, Brilliant Houdinis of the Deep......

"Mr. Potato Head!" a few children squeal, and immediately Shania (who came from Canada and was dubbed Shania Twain by the aquarium's director) hugs herself around him. Minutes pass. The octopus-keeper has hidden smelt inside the plastic potato, but so far, Shania ignores the food. She's more into snuggling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/15/AR2006081500916.html?nav=rss_print/style

Troll

08-16-2006, 10:02am

That is interesting.

matty

08-16-2006, 1:19pm

Thanks for the articles guys.

Alex

08-16-2006, 3:21pm

Many of Canada's biggest country music stars have made the trek to Nashville to pursue their dream of making it in the country music capital of the world," said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group. "Now they follow in the footsteps of Shania Twain, Carolyn Don Johnson, Terri Clark and so many more before them."

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=154481
Well, to me it's great country, really not my favorite, just crazy about shania. But as capital of the music world I don't think. Maybe with only Shania I'll agree:p

Thanks for the late articles; very interesting points at them.

Troll

08-18-2006, 10:02am

Shania comes top of wedding music poll
Friday, 18 August 2006
It seems brides to be in the county are impressed very much by a particular Shania Twain song when it comes to their big day.

Research by Cumbria County Council reveals that the Canadian star’s 1998 top 10 hit ‘You’re Still The One’ is the most popular piece of music to walk down the aisle to, at civil wedding ceremonies.

http://www.lakelandradio.co.uk/cms/content/view/6919/1/

Troll

08-18-2006, 10:03am

There have been a lot of comparisons made between newcomer Danielle Peck and Shania Twain. Besides the good looks, Danielle's current single, "Findin' a Good Man," has a Twain feel to it. Peck has a simple explanation for the comparisons.

"I think when somebody's brand new, they are going to be compared to someone. I just take that as flattery, but I don't think I'm too similar to her," she said during an interview with me this week.

In fact, Danielle admires Shania, but her biggest influences musically have been Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060818/COLUMNIST35/60817018/-1/NEWS14

Troll

08-19-2006, 5:01pm

complained a few years ago during Shania Twain's last tour (also an in-the-round encounter) that the diva wasted too much time glad-handing fans close to the stage and its assorted catwalks, an annoying distraction for anyone seated further away. But I take it back: Having watched Hill do exactly the opposite – blithely acknowledge admirers, play to the rafters instead of the people and indulge in too many ego-boosting bows – I realize Shania had it right all along.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/music/abox/article_1247910.php

Alex

08-19-2006, 10:03pm

I don't think Shania had wated the time greetring fans, when that's what a true artist perform in her shows.

Thanks for the links and the weird comment :huh:

canoilers

08-20-2006, 8:35am

Alex

08-20-2006, 1:11pm

Finally people see the light, its about freakin time they did.

Yep you're very right.

canoilers

08-20-2006, 6:40pm

Maybe all it needed was for someone to change the bulb. :p

shaniatfan

08-21-2006, 3:43am

Toby And Shania To USRN's Country Giants' Labor Day Special

NASHVILLE, TN Monday Aug.21.2006 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- In 1993, as two members of Mercury Records experimental effort to launch three new artists at the same time titled their "Triple Play," Toby Keith and Shania Twain began their superstar recording careers at the exact same moment in time, March of 1993. The third member of the Triple Play, John Brannen, never caught on and soon faded away, while Shania and Toby rolled on separate paths to country superstardom.

Their amazing stories of how they each arrived to the highest ranks of country music are chronicled, and their greatest hits are played in the two-hour COUNTRY GIANTS Labor Day Weekend special produced by United Stations Radio Networks and Country Forever Productions.

Toby's part includes exclusive interview clips about Keith's upcoming film with Toby and co-star, Lindsey Haun who plays Keith's daughter in "Broken Bridges" that premieres in Nashville September 8th.

Haun has also been signed to Toby's Show Dog Records and both Toby's new single, "Crash Here Tonight," and Haun's debut single "Broken" are from the soundtrack album for "Broken Bridges."

http://www.netmusiccountdown.com/inc/news_article.php?id=10878

shaniatfan

08-21-2006, 3:51am

I complained a few years ago during Shania Twain's last tour (also an in-the-round encounter) that the diva wasted too much time glad-handing fans close to the stage and its assorted catwalks, an annoying distraction for anyone seated further away. But I take it back: Having watched Hill do exactly the opposite – blithely acknowledge admirers, play to the rafters instead of the people and indulge in too many ego-boosting bows – I realize Shania had it right all along.
.
Read the entire article http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/music/abox/article_1247910.php

Now i was a bit confused, in the beginning is the author bashing Shania or just making a statement?? and is he saying that Shania is better live then Faith or the opposite. I was a tad bit confused.

tower

08-21-2006, 3:54am

Good old Nashville, wow they do remember who Shania is again after all sigh... Please exuse me if I tell you that outside of North America few have heard of this Toby Kieth person, or even care!

Fact of life Guys, country is DEAD in Europe and dying in Canada, well in Timmins at anyrate as the only remaining Country and Western Bar in Timmins drops country for Pop and Rock (Windsor Tavern is no longer a country Bar).

Timmins lost its only Country Music radio station a few months ago, the Moose now plays classic Rock.... What does Nashville say about that then Eh?

FinnFreak

08-21-2006, 4:00am

Forget the genre limitation boundaries: more power to the actual song & music, I say...

John - ;)

FinnFreak

08-22-2006, 9:08am

Reality TV Calendar - August 22, 2006

Canadian Idol: Is It A Little Bit Country?

Episode 25 Recap By Nickie S.

Another Monday evening is upon us which means another performance episode of everyone's favourite summer Canadian show, Canadian Idol. My, how the week has flown. It seems like only yesterday that Ashley was voted off.

Tonight's theme is Country music and the competitors have spent some time this past week in Nashville under the direction of country star Martina McBride. Since I am not a particular fan of this style of music I am not terribly familiar with Martina's material other than those songs that have been popularized over the last few years. I do know, however, that she has been in the business a very long time and I'm sure she'll have some very useful advice to offer. Apparently she is extremely enthusiastic about the whole experience and although a little concerned that she wouldn't have anything to teach them she has said that they were like "little sponges", absorbing everything she had to say. Country music has also come a long way over the last ten years or so with the advent of performers like Shania Twain and Garth Brooks. Both of these singers have helped to make this musical style a little more mainstream and much more appealing to the likes of me! Having said that, however, I just received the list of songs for tonight's show and they are:

If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra

None of these were the country tunes that I had in mind. Ha! Ha!

As usual I will be enjoying the show from the comforts of my living room, accompanied by a slew of nine and almost-nine year olds. None of my guests are familiar with the songs that will be sung tonight so again it will be interesting to see and hear how well they can relate to all the performances. Eva Avila is the clear favourite of this group of kids; they all think she's gorgeous and aspire to look and dress like her (scary) and they have all enjoyed the songs she's sung and the manner in which she's delivered them. I'm expecting that she'll remain true to form this evening but I also think tonight could be Tyler's night to shine and if so, maybe he'll capture their attention.

Enough of me and my ramblings. Let's get on with the show.

Welcome back to the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto. With the AIDS conference now over Canadian Idol has been able to reclaim its usual summer home. I'm imagining Ben's hair with bright red streaks tonight, simply because it's been hot and sunny here and red seems to be the theme. I so wish they'd spike his hair up or do something funky with it, just for a laugh and a change. It would make these interminable first two minutes less dreary but at least he moves right onto the judges.

Ben: "Brass tacks. What is so great about country music?"

Jake: "It's about the lyrics and the sentiment behind those lyrics."

Ben: "What makes (Martina) such a dominant force in country music?"

Sass: "She's the real deal."

Ben: "Does Country music offer something for everyone?"

Farley: "We have an eclectic group of kids."

Ben: "What is going to take to win this thing?"

Zack: "Regardless of the theme you must stay honest to yourself."

By the way Zack, love the country duds dude. Great jacket! But Jake, that's an atrocious tie.

And suddenly we're back with Elena Juatco. Honestly I'd forgotten about her. This week we're looking at a week with idols, beginning with immediately after the elimination show where the idols had to get ready for their trip to Nashville. In Nashville they treated to limo rides, a horse and carriage ride and other tourist perks, including a trip to the Grand Olde Oprey. Back in Toronto only two days before the show we see the idols choosing their wardrobe and rehearsing for the big night.

And that's the end of that piece.

Onto tonight's theme Ben talks a little about country roots before we move onto meeting Martina McBride. She talks believability, which is really pertinent to country music because if you don't believe what the performer is singing then a country song won't work.

Now that most of the preamble and the first commercial break is over it is finally time for the actual performances, some fifteen minutes into the show. I must admit I get a little tired of the filler at this stage of the season. It is too soon for the competitors to sing two songs apparently yet the entire one hour must be made up somehow.

The cursed first position goes to.....

The cursed first position goes to Eva this week, who will be singing Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again". This is an interesting song choice; even as I write this I have Dolly's rather unique voice drumming in my head which it makes it difficult for me to believe Eva can actually pull it off. Martina is very enthusiastic about Eva, saying that she has a gift and is a performer with a whole lot of potential.

Jake: "Last week we got see the kind of music we know you like. This week you took a song and made it Eva."

Sass: "The best thing is to see you just take charge of the stage."

Farley: "What I'm seeing…is a sweet balance between grace and confidence."

Zack: "I thought the really cool thing was it wasn't real country. I dig that, it was you."

Armchair Critic: "What is that horrible song? I don't like that song. She still looks really pretty though. And she really has a nice voice. But that was a really boring song."

I enjoyed that performance by Eva although her foray into the audience didn't really work for me. Vocally I thought she was quite good and she really attempted to connect with everyone. At least she wasn't just standing on the stage doing nothing, I guess. I didn't find it very country either, but that's okay by me.

In second spot is Tyler who plans to bless us with "Suspicious Minds". (I got one song selection right in the song pool at least.) Having said that, obviously this may be just a little too predictable. Many of the Canadian Idol viewership believed that tonight was really Tyler's chance to impress and would have preferred that he chose a more modern country tune. So we'll have to see whether that has any impact at all. Meanwhile Martina advises him that whilst he has a great belty voice, it is a little pitchy when he tries to sing softer.

Sass: "You made it sound like sweet potato pie."

Farley: "You finally got a chance to ride that invisible horse. Your kinfolk should be really proud."

Zack: "That was completely credible."

Jake: "You did not disappoint."

Armchair Critic: "Meh, it was okay I guess. He looks like he's riding a horse. I don't mind him but he's not as good as Eva. And I don't like his hair."

I am really disappointed to say it was stereotypical Tyler and he didn't stand out tonight as he should have. Vocals, looks; all of it was same old, same old, which won't disappoint his die hard fans but won't win him any new ones. In the meantime, the continual bobbing up and down and bouncing is driving everybody nuts. It is distracting and only demonstrates his lack of rhythm and his obvious nerves. Whilst it was okay I don't think this will cement a place in the Top Four at all.

Craig is our third performer tonight and we look forward to his rendition of Willie Nelson's "Always on My Mind". Again, when I saw the list of songs I pictured Craig singing it which means if I'm that correct, then perhaps Craig is a little predictable. Or else I know what would be a great song for him! You choose. Martina believes, like many of the previous mentors, that Craig needs to sing with more emotion and feel his lyrics more. She goes so far, in fact, to suggest that he thinks about someone he cares about (I seem to recall someone saying that both he and Chad some weeks ago). It's interesting that everyone seems to notice this lacking aspect of his performances yet the judges tell him that he's believable just about every time he sings.

Farley: "I think the biggest think about that performance was the maturity you showed."

Zack: "I felt it, but you have such a unique instrument I want to be as big and as obnoxious as me."

Jake: "I actually believed that. Very good job."

Sass: "…you get this fabulous, unique, awesome individual that I love."

Armchair Critic: "Mom, I really, really, really don't like him. He sounds like a girl and I just hate his hair. It's a real mess and it doesn't look good dark. And that's a horrible song. I'm really hungry. Can I make an ice-cream float?"

Well, it's probably not really a very young person's song, especially when they're not familiar with country music to begin with. For me it really was too predictable and I'm now beginning to wonder if he might begin to fall into some trouble with the voting public. This is the time of the competition when it is crucial to win over new fans and if he's continuing to perform the same way then I can't see it happening. I've always admired his unique sound and technical ability but I don't enjoy the songs he chooses, nor am I a fan of his style. Tonight isn't any different and for the second time in two weeks I believe he may be at risk.

Fourth up tonight is Steffi who plans to entertain us with Nancy Sinatra's hit "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'". I can actually see Steffi doing a lot with this, and after three rather dull performances I look forward to some pep and entertainment from her. Martina says she's a little stiff in the rehearsal and needs to be a little sassier and a little looser over all, even though she is fascinating to watch.

Zack: "The singing is fine. It's very corn ball. I think people have got to decide, as much as I love you, whether or not you're the next Canadian Idol."

Jake: "Every week when I come here I think what is Steffi going to do now?"

Sass: "That was one of my favourite performances of yours."

Farley: "That was sexy, sassy, sultry and oh so Steffi."

Armchair Critic: "Oh no the bow again. I just don't like her, mom. Can I now go get some ice-cream while she sings?"

Steffi was entertaining as always but finally Zack has said something with which I can connect. I have said all along that she's really good at what she does, but is it Canadian Idol material? I still can't see myself listening to any of her music, although I would certainly go see her in a musical because I think she'd be exceptional. But when I think of recordings I think of music I can really dance to, or with which I can really connect. As far as I'm concerned that does not apply to Steffi. Big props for the boots and for the entertainment aspect; vocally I thought it was one of her worst efforts.

In the pimped final position is obviously Chad who will charm us with Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind". As much as I love this song 1) I don't really think it's a country tune and 2) it has been done on every season of Idol so far and people are getting a little sick of it. Martina really likes his voice and thinks he has a lot of talent but doesn't think he's really connecting with the song.

Jake: "I love watching you sing. When you sing….you capture the sentiment of the words better than anyone on this show."

Sass: "I love your voice."

Farley: "When I listen to the radio and I hear your voice I'll know it automatically."

Zack: "I really didn't even remember I was here dude. I was just watching you remembering how much I cared for you."

Armchair Critic: "I don't like him either. That wasn't a very good show. I'm going to bed now."

Sometimes I really like Chad and other times I don't. This is my favourite performance of the night and my favourite of his overall, in part because it's hard to destroy such a wonderful song. Chad was simple and charming and used his eyes to perfection to help with the emotional part. Everyone else should enjoy it too.

I have to say that I'm glad Country week is over. Overall I found it to be a pretty lackluster show and again I'm not too sure exactly what the judges were raving about. I must be the jaded one I guess, or my expectations are totally unrealistic.

As to who goes home tomorrow night, I think it may actually be between Steffi, Tyler and Craig to be honest. We just have to wait patiently until tomorrow night's results are revealed.

http://realitytvcalendar.com/recaps/ci4/ns-ci4-ep25-p1.html

Canadian Idol: They Shock Us Again This Week

Photo Scoreboard and Rankings as of August 16, 2006 By Nickie S.

Canadian Idol eliminations this week did provoke a bit of a shocking result.

The bottom three elicited Craig, Steffi and Ashley with Ashley our eventual loser.

I'm surprised at the result, given I thought Ashley was one of the better performers last night.

Here are this week's rankings.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/eva.jpg
Eva
Current Ranking: 1 - Previous Ranking: 2

Eva Avila, 19, Quebec. I swear this girl becomes more beautiful every week and as long as she continues to be interesting she is certainly one of the strongest contenders for a Top 2 position. Eva would be the producers' dream given that she has the looks and the voice to translate into a generic "popular" music market. She does need to make sure she balances her ballads with equal, if not more, up-beat numbers and make sure they suit her. If she continues to sing as she did this week she will win the competition.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/craig.jpg
Craig
Current Ranking: 2 - Previous Ranking: 1

Craig Sharpe, 16, Newfoundland. Craig continues to demonstrate a maturity that is beyond his years. With solid performances now behind him and a thorough endorsement from the judges I would suggest that he is simply cementing his position in the Top 2. Newfoundland would love to produce the winner of this year's Canadian Idol and I think that as the weeks progress he will continue to develop new fans across the country.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/tyler.jpg
Tyler
Current Ranking: 3 - Previous Ranking: 3

Tyler Lewis, 20, Saskatchewan. Tyler appears to be breaking out of his laid back, plaid shirt, meat and potatoes style by rocking out and proving that he can rock with the best of them. I sense that he is becoming more comfortable on stage and is learning to manage his jerky arm waving and overcome his lack of physical rhythm, moulding them into appropriate stage antics to suit the song. If he continues to do this I think he'll split a lot of second favourite votes and break the Top 5, if not make Top 3.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/steffi.jpg
Steffi
Current Ranking: 4 - Previous Ranking: 6

Steffi D, 17, Ontario. Steffi is really trying to come out of her mould and she has attracted a lot of fans through her unique style and theatrical approach. Many people who prefer the alternative scene have really gravitated to her style. And she is now proving to be a popular alternative to the expected "popular" style.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/chad.jpg
Chad
Current Ranking: 5 - Previous Ranking: 5

Chad Doucette, 17, Nova Scotia. Chad has turned a lot of heads with his unique sound and ultra confident stage presence. He does have to remember, however, that he is not Jacob Hoggard from Season Two and that his performances have to be believable. The judges universally endorse him at this point but the voting public is split into the like and not like categories and I think he is certainly vulnerable now. He should last one or two more weeks.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/ashley.jpg
Ashley
Finished 6th
Ashley Coulter, 23, Ontario. Ashley is a rocker chick and for many, a breath of fresh air. For others, however, she is too much a one trick pony and considered more as a front woman of a band than a solo performer. Now she's mixing it up and showing a more vulnerable side which appears to have worked. Unfortunately it didn't work for long enough. Good luck Ashley.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/rob.jpg
Rob
Finished 7th
Rob James, 28, Manitoba. Rob still fights the fact that he once had a recording career however his two solid performances have attracted a lot of positive attention. If he continues to perform as he has the past two weeks I think he will attract the votes of those fans who have lost their early favourites. And it didn't happen which disappoints me. Rob, I think you're great. You have a lot to offer our music industry and keep it up.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/brandon.jpg
Brandon
Finished 8th:
Brandon Jones, 17, New Brunswick. Brandon has a lot of potential, having already proven himself as a seasoned stage performer and you can't but help be infected by his obvious enjoyment of what he's doing. Vocally he has a lot to learn, however, and he really needs a few years of intensive training to strengthen his breathing and his vocals so that they are not overpowered by the physicality of what he does. I am shocked he left so early due to his fan base, but not shocked overall as he didn't appear to be improving. Good luck to you Brandon.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/sarah.jpg
Sarah
Finished 9th
Sarah Loverock, 25, British Columbia. Unfortunately for Sarah she is quickly becoming known as last season's Amber Fleury. The voting public doesn't just want a great technical singer, they also want to be entertained, which Sarah doesn't always do. Sarah needed to pick popular songs that showcased her upper range. She took a huge risk this week that didn't work. Good luck Sarah. We'll miss you.

http://www.realitytvcalendar.com/shows/canadianidol/kati.jpg
Kati
Finished: 10th
Kati Durst is a 26 year old automotive detailer from Goderich, Ontario. I personally think Kati slid into the Top 10 by the skin of her teeth. She is a good singer with a very free spirited personality; however, all her early performances were somewhat forgettable. Her Monday night performance was more of the same unfortunately, receiving the most negative reviews from the judges despite Zack's comment that it was her "most honest and forthright" to date. Kati you did well to get this far and if you can keep your pitch in focus, you may yet have a folk singing career ahead of you. Good luck.

http://www.ctv.ca/idol/gen/Home.html

John - :)

Troll

08-22-2006, 9:58am

Thanks for the article John.

Troll

08-22-2006, 9:58am

Seniors lining up for fun
Posted: Monday, Aug 21, 2006 - 01:28:14 am EDT
By KATIE HARP

Carol Bugh,left, and Betty Haipe line dance at the Senior Center in Princeton. Bugh has been the instructor of the class for the last 11 years.

Staff Writer

The dining hall at the Senior Center in Princeton turns into a honky-tonk every Tuesday and Friday with a lot of tush pushing and electric sliding.

Artists like Shania Twain and Brooks and Dunn blare from the cassette player, and after each song, the instructor calls out the dance. Without hesitation, the dancers strut, waltz and cha cha with grace, poise and ease.

“The main reason we are here is because of fellowship,” said Carol Bugh, who has been instructing the class for the last 11 years. “We care about one another.”

Bugh teaches the line dancing class along with Dorothy Marshall and Sue Engler.

The center is not your average honky tonk.

No smoke. No neon lights. No cowboy hats.

The closest thing to western attire is the occasional pair of blue jeans, and orthopedic shoes are worn instead of boots.

But that doesn't stop anyone from having a good time.

The seniors laugh and talk with one another between songs, and occasionally sing the lyrics to their favorite tunes.

The class, which had about 20 people Friday, has as many as 60 during the winter months according to dancer Frances Sweezer.

“We do it for fellowship more than anything,” Mary Jean Barrett said. “A lot of people here are alone, and we have good friends here.”

Bugh went on to say the group also keeps in touch with each other off the dance floor.

“We send cards to each other, and we have a prayer list,” Bugh said.

Line dancing is an alternative form of exercise to many seniors who attend.

“It's good exercise and you don't need a partner to do it,” Marshall said.

Line dancing is preceded by a toning class that begins at 9 a.m., helping seniors stay active while having fun with their peers.

“The workout is geared toward seniors,” Bugh said. “It works every muscle in the body.”

Line dancing gives dancers, like Barrett, a new adventure.

“I never danced before I started coming to line dancing,” said Barrett, who has been line dancing at the center since 1995.

A group favorite is the dance and song titled, “He Drinks Tequila.”

Eyes light up when the song comes on and the some laugh bashfully like young school girls as they sing along with the song's lyrics, “He drinks tequila, and she talks dirty in Spanish.”

The class size fluctuates depending upon the time of year and day of the week. Fridays are the least busy of the two days the class is offered.

“Tuesday's workout is not as strenuous as Friday's,” Bugh said. “A lot of seniors schedule doctor and hair appointments on Fridays.”

http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2006/08/21/pdclarion/news/news2.txt

Alex

08-22-2006, 1:34pm

Thanks for the articles John and Andrew :great:

FinnFreak

08-23-2006, 3:35am

News from Vanderbilt University - 8-22-2006

Bluebird on the Mountain concert features Jarvis, Cannon and White

http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/files/lGAwpO/Lari%20White%20pic.jpg/main.jpg

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Singer-songwriters John Jarvis, Chuck Cannon and Lari White will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, as part of the Bluebird on the Mountain concert series at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.

Bluebird on the Mountain presents artists from the stage of Nashville’s Bluebird Café singing on scenic observatory grounds overlooking the city. The series is booked by Amy Kurland, founder and owner of the Bluebird Café.

Jarvis, two-time Grammy winning songwriter and an accomplished studio musician, has penned songs for Vince Gill, The Judds, Conway Twitty, Brooks and Dunn and Amy Grant. He has played piano on records by Faith Hill, Shania Twain, George Strait and Reba McEntire. Jarvis’s latest solo project, View from a Southern Porch, blurs the lines between stride, Celtic, jazz, country, classical, and even bluegrass music.

Cannon has written No. 1 singles for Toby Keith and John Michael Montgomery. His latest solo CD is titled God Shaped Hole and was co-produced by fellow Bluebird performer and wife Lari White.

White won a Grammy award for her 1995 performance of "Amazing Grace" on The Apostle soundtrack. She recently performed on Broadway in the hit musical Ring of Fire at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and produced the new hit Toby Keith CD, White Trash with Money. She self-produced her latest project, Green Eyed Soul, a stark departure from her country music roots.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available through Ticketmaster, which will add a handling fee. Tickets are limited, and past performances have sold out prior to the day of the show. The concert will be held rain or shine.

Tickets are $70 for carloads with a maximum of eight people and $30 per person. No RV’s or buses will be admitted.
Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket. After the show, visitors can stay to look at the stars using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope.

The final show of the 2006 season is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and will feature Hugh Prestwood and Matraca Berg.

Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake. A map is available at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/directions.htm.

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/news/releases/2006/8/22/bluebird-on-the-mountain-concert-features-jarvis-cannon-and-white

John - :)

FinnFreak

08-23-2006, 6:58am

TMZ.com - Aug 23rd 2006

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tmz.com/media/ijgk.gif

Will Shania Twain "Come on Over"?

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tmz.com/media/2006/08/shania_fm_08_22_06.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tmz.com/media/2006/08/question_15.gif Will Shania Twain ever have a tour in South Dakota?

While anything's possible Andrea, it's not likely that Shania Twain will be stopping in South Dakota any time soon. Sources close to the country crooner tell TMZ that she has no tours currently planned and that she is on holiday for an indefinite amount of time.

In 2004 she released her "Greatest Hits" album, which peaked at number two on the the Billboard 200. And in 2005 she unveiled "Beginnings," an album which fans have warmly taken in.

To read more about Shania, click here (http://music.aol.com/artist/shania-twain/42121/main).

http://www.tmz.com/2006/08/23/will-shania-twain-come-on-over/

:rolleyes: - These guys are totally clueless...

John - :p

Troll

08-23-2006, 10:14am

Thanks for the articles.

canoilers

08-23-2006, 12:34pm

Thanks for the articles guys. :D

Alex

08-23-2006, 10:56pm

More great articles.

tower

08-31-2006, 10:55am

Yes Mercury have a lot of PR work to do to get Shania Twain a household name in the UK. Remember until I went to Timmins I had never heard of Shania and she had two albums out by then. It was not until well after the come on over CD was released, I 'discovered' Shania by chance seeing the picture on the hardback 1st version of Robin Eggar's Biography of her in a bookshop at Norwich Airport in December of 2001.

dreamer

08-31-2006, 2:06pm

wow wow wow!

shaniatfan

09-01-2006, 12:22am

SASKATOON -- Crime-fighting dogs will soon be getting their due, thanks in part to country music star Shania Twain.
Money is being raised to create a national monument honouring police dogs that have lost their lives in the line of duty, and Twain has kicked in $5,000.
Saskatoon Const. Doug Marianchuk, who is behind the initiative to create the memorial, confirmed Twain's donation.
He said the native of Timmins, Ont., was contacted about the project by an Ontario Provincial Police officer. The monument will be built at the RCMP police dog training centre in Innisfail. Marianchuk said he wants to create "something that's always there to honour the dogs in the future."

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Showbiz/2006/08/31/1789236-sun.html

shaniatfan

09-01-2006, 12:23am

Shania is soo sweet, now i know why we love her SOOO MUCH

FinnFreak

09-01-2006, 1:51am

Transworld Skateboarding - 08.31.2006

P Rod To Star In Vicious Circle

VICIOUS CIRCLE" TO BEGIN PRODUCTION

Pro Skater Stars in Groundbreaking Latino-Themed Drama

Emily Rios of "Quinceanera" fame hooks up with pro skateboarder Paul Rodriguez Jr. in North Hollywood this week on the set of "Vicious Circle," a high-concept coming-of-age drama that begins principal photography this week.

Paul Rodriguez, Jr., or P-Rod, holds two gold medals from the X-Games in skateboarding. P-Rod is so highly regarded as an athlete that he is the face of Plan B Skateboards and one of only five people in the world with a shoe named after him by Nike. Paul Rodriguez, Sr. is a co-star as well as P-Rod's father.

Emily Rios is known for her role in "Quinceanera," which won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Monday morning, P-Rod is already busting kickflips and ripping up all the skateboard props made for him before shooting starts. Emily Rios walks about the set in one of P-Rod's Plan B hats. Co-star Clifton Powell arrives Tuesday morning from Washington with a big smile, as P-Rod scorches his feet filming a scene where he runs barefoot on the rooftop of a school.

The film is the feature debut of writer/director Paul Boyd, who has had a remarkable career directing music videos for stars such as Shania Twain, Michelle Branch, and Sting. For "Vicious Circle," Boyd teams up with producer Joseph Devan Gaudry (Emilio), and director of photography Denis Maloney (Emilio, Chasing 3000).

"Vicious Circle is his baby, he's been trying to make this movie for a decade now," says P-Rod about director Boyd. "He's passionate, he's working the camera himself, this is the day he's been dreaming of for the past ten years and he's really pushing the extra nine."

And how does P-Rod feel about playing a rocker kid in a film that is not centered around skateboarding? "It's real fun, I like it because it has a small skate element but it's mainly a drama. My character, RJ, his style and attitude is nothing like mine. The hardest thing was getting comfortable in clothes RJ would wear, because he's very punk rock and I'm more hip-hop."

Set in modern day Venice Beach, "Vicious Circle" is a character study that uniquely examines cause and effect, unintended consequences, and the meaning of brotherhood. Creative and troubled beyond his years, young RJ (Rodriguez) is an artist, a chess master, and on a mission to find out what happened to his dead girlfriend, Angel (Rios). But he's not the only one. Both cops and a speed-fueled, vicious gangster think RJ has answers and will go to any length to find him.

Other cast members include Perrey Reeves (Entourage), Cody McMains (Everwood, Scary Movie), Richard Edson (Hard Scrambled, Starsky & Hutch), Jacob Vargas (Jarhead, The Virgin of Juarez), and Trevor Wright (Air Buddies).

Information about the film and production updates can be found at www.myspace.com/viciouscirclemovie.

http://www.skateboarding.com/skate/news/article/0,23271,1515757,00.html

John - :)

FinnFreak

09-01-2006, 3:21am

The Miami Herald - Fri, Sep. 01, 2006

ASK THE DJ / BORIS

by MICHAEL HAMERSLY

Russian DJ Boris' hard-pumping, driving sound has become synonymous with the underground ''New York sound,'' which is perfect for the main room at Space, where he's spinning Saturday night. His energetic, uplifting music has spurred major record labels to request remixes: Janet Jackson's All I Want and Thalia's I'm In Love for Virgin Records, Anastacia's Left Outside Alone for Epic Records, Jewel's Stand for Atlantic Records and Pink's Real Good Feel Good for Columbia Records. But check out Boris' latest mix CD, Believe, for a better idea of what to expect at Space; 305-375-0001.

Q: Is Believe your best work?

Yes, Believe is definitely my best work. It's the closest thing to a live set, such as I do at crobar in New York or anywhere else.

Q: What makes a track sound "underground''?

It's definitely something that's not overplayed and not on the radio. For me personally, I am all about the drums, percussion and the darkness of a track that won't make it commercial.

Q: You're famous for 12-hour marathon sets, sometimes back to back (is that really true?) -- were you inspired or influenced by Danny Tenaglia?

Yes, I have done marathon sets pretty much every weekend, lately. This past weekend, I went from Cielo in New York to Stereo in Montreal, to Sonic in Toronto . . . right back to New York to do Surf Club. They've all been marathon sets -- 12 hours or longer -- with the exception of Cielo. Growing up in New York, I was inspired by many DJs, but everyone will tell you that Junior Vasquez was the original after-hours DJ whom everyone looked up to.

Q: How do you keep from collapsing behind the decks?

Lots of Red Bull! [laughs].

Q: Do you ever listen to Top 40 radio thinking "I should remix that one''?

Not at all. Usually, labels will commission me to remix certain artists, and sometimes those are in the Top 40.

Q: Have you really remixed country songs?

No country, although I suppose Shania Twain used to be country. But now, she's really a pop singer.

Q: Will we hear any boot-scootin' remixes at Space?

[laughs] No, no boot-scootin' remixes.

Q: Do you get into the party scene that permeates nightclubs?

I like it for the whole scene: the music, the party, the vibe, the people, the club, the crowds. It's a combination of things.

Q: Do you think technological advances have diminished the quality of today's new DJs?

It definitely has advanced with the addition of Serato, Final Scratch and MP3. All you've got to do now is show up to a gig with either your CDs or your computer. As opposed to before, where you would have to lug heavy bags of records.

Q: In your eyes, what's the state of the dance music scene today?

I think dance music is strong and alive today, with more and more people coming out here in the States. And it being so mainstream overseas helps.

Q: Any advice for young aspiring DJs?

My advice to aspiring DJs is to go out and network in the clubs. Try to meet as many people as you can. Also, try to have your own sound that will separate you from the next DJ, because there are so many talented DJs out there.

Q: What would you do if you had to change careers?

I would probably be a stockbroker.

Q: What do you love to do in your free time?

Watch sports and play some, as well. I am a sports junkie.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/nightlife/15404161.htm

John - ;)

FinnFreak

09-01-2006, 4:22am

The Denver Post - 08/31/2006

Big & Rich's country salute

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2006/0831/20060831_111624_big_rich2_400.jpg

By Ricardo Baca, Denver Post Pop Music Critic

A couple of dudes tear it up and find success. Not everybody appreciates Big Kenny and John Rich's collaborative songwriting.

Under the name Big & Rich, the multiplatinum pop-country duo has changed the face of Nashville since "Horse of a Different Color" hit shelves in mid-2004.

But regardless of what you think about songs such as "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" or "8th of November," it's almost impossible not to admire the spirit in which they were created. Big & Rich were seasoned Nashville songwriters long before they met each other, but they're also just a couple of dudes tearing it up - as their fans will see when the duo plays tonight in Pueblo at the Colorado State Fair and Saturday afternoon at Copper Mountain Resort.

"Kenny and I are planning on taking a couple of trips - we actually met the bartender while taking a trip," Rich said recently, referencing the South Dakota bartender/Vietnam veteran who was the inspiration behind the battle-themed ballad "8th of November," the duo's current single. "Their stories are in our songs, and we discovered them by rocking around the country.

"He and I are going to Mexico in the winter to see what in the world we run into. We've been so busy we haven't been able to do it. But we're gonna dig it up, tear it up, turn it upside down and see what we have left. We have an arsenal of new material, but we also want to find these stories that are out there."

Big & Rich have had a busy summer. They played 25 shows in August, and when they're not on the road, they're writing and producing for themselves and others. Ask Big or Rich what they're doing at any given moment, and you'll always get a different answer - but no matter the reply, it will only reinforce these guys' overarching influence in mainstream country.

"I just got off tour and walked right into the studio with Gretchen Wilson," Rich said earlier this week, referring to his friend, longtime collaborator and the woman whose career he helped jump-start. "We're working on her third record, and she'll be putting it out in early '07. We're finishing it up now, and it's classic Gretchen Wilson: She's rocking your face, great lyrics, great voice. I'm producing it with her. I wrote about half of it with her, and she wrote on every single song."

Rich co-wrote "Redneck Woman" with Wilson. In May 2004, the single that started it all was the first by a female artist to top the Billboard country singles chart in more than two years. Whether you love or hate Wilson, her role as a successful female in such a male-dominated world is significant. And Rich is partially to thank.

"We're songwriters first and foremost," Rich said. "'Save a Horse,' 'Comin' to Your City,' those are all about Kenny and I tearing it up. But then you meet a veteran telling a story like (the one portrayed in '8th of November'), and we're honored we got to meet the guy and write about it. It broadens what we do as songwriters and performers."

The jingoistic "8th of November" has altered people's perception of Big & Rich, who truly are best known for the super-sized, boot-stompin' country anthems that are their bread and butter. To make a modern rock analogy, "8th of November" is their sobering "Under the Bridge" or "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." One listen and you'll know the melody pat, but only then will you realize the unrelentingly patriotic sadness within.

"It shows people the other side of what we do," Rich said. "A gentleman who was our bartender in South Dakota told us a story about him and his brigade, the 173rd Airborne, in Vietnam. They were ambushed and everyone was killed save for him and two other men. Big Kenny and I wrote his story down. We're still in contact with him. We saw him two shows ago in Ohio, presented him with the American flag and said the Pledge of Allegiance."
Ever since the release of their sophomore record, "Comin' to Your City," the duo has been overwhelmed by the reaction to the song, which falls in line with the rest of the patriotic country music that has thrived in the post-Sept. 11 period. Country radio picked it up, and the fans love it. But members of the 173rd Airborne, past and present, have been uniquely touched by Big & Rich's retelling of Nov. 8, 1965.

"It feels like you're giving something back to the guys who gave so much for us," Rich said. "They were willing to go out there and fight, and since we were fortunate enough to not ever go out and do that, we as songwriters feel honored to be able to show our respect this way for what they did."

The hit is yet another accomplishment for Big & Rich, whose follow-up to their 2-million-selling debut went platinum in January. They're not only stirring up Nashville, they're riling up country music.

"People's perception of what country music is has changed," said Rich, who has been integral to the launch and branding of country rapper Cowboy Troy, whose debut is nearly (and curiously) gold.

He maintains that country music offers a much wider range of music than listeners hear on most other radio formats.

"Flip to a country station, and you have something that is slammin' like hard rock and then you have Alison Krauss and then Shania and the real pop stuff. To me that's why country record sales are up by a pretty large percentage.

"Country music is growing where nothing else is growing. That diversity is why we're gaining listeners and nobody else is."

Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.

Big & Rich

The pop-country duo plays two Colorado shows this weekend.

PUEBLO|Colorado State Fair Events Center, Pueblo; 8 p.m., tonight with Cowboy Troy. Other acts playing the State Fair this year are Los Lonely Boys, REO Speedwagon and Paul Wall. The fair runs through Monday. Check coloradostatefair.com for schedules and more information. |$20-$30|Ticketmaster, 303-830-8497 or ticketmaster.com.

COPPER MOUNTAIN|Copper Country Main Stage, Copper Mountain; 3:45 p.m., Saturday with Cowboy Troy|$22-$35|Ticketmaster, 303-830-8497 or ticketmaster.com.

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_4262429

John - :)

Troll

09-01-2006, 9:07am

Thanks for the articles.

tower

09-01-2006, 11:12am

Country's share of the North American Radio is going down - interesting how some say it is a healthy Genere when clearly its exposure outlets are not growing, even Timmins has lost all the Country and Western Radio Stations and now the last Tavern - the Windsor has abandoned Country for 70's and 80's Rock mostly.

dreamer

09-01-2006, 8:48pm

yeah I know it's nuts

matty

09-02-2006, 3:21pm

Thanks for the droppings guys ;)

Alex

09-03-2006, 11:42am

yes thanks for posting them.

canoilers

09-03-2006, 2:40pm

Troll

09-03-2006, 3:43pm

Help Comes From Unlikely Source

Written by Sharon Vanhouwe
Sunday, 03 September 2006
Shania Twain is on board.

She has donated money for a monument for police service dogs.

Constable Doug Marianchuk says he's been working away at raising awareness, as well as 30 thousand dollars for such a monument for the past 8 years.

An article he wrote for a police publication was seen by a constable with the Ontario Provincial Police, who happened to have gone to school with Shania and her sister.

The OPP officer asked Twain to contribute and, Marianchuk says, she did.

He says it was a sizeable amount of money.

Now, Marianchuk says he's raised about half the money needed for the monument but another 15 thousand dollars is still needed.

If you want to help you can contact Marianchuk at d.marianchuk at sasktel dot net.

The monument should be complete and ready for an unveiling in June of 2007.

It will be erected at the RMCP Training Kennels in Innisfail, Alberta.

http://www.saskatoonhomepage.ca/index.php?option=com_d4j_ezine&task=read&page=9&category=21&article=940&Itemid=86

canoilers

09-03-2006, 5:26pm

Unlikely I doubt it, I don't think you could get anymore likely. We are talking about a woman and her dog Tim. She probably would've done it for him by its lonesome let alone any other reasons she had.

dreamer

09-05-2006, 6:57pm

well said!

FinnFreak

09-06-2006, 4:13am

The East London Dispatch, South Africa - Wednesday, 09/06/06

My Kinda Town | East London

Doug Voke – Be positive at all times

DOUG VOKE is the principal of Selborne Primary School in East London. He is a keen supporter of all sports at the school and had some fun playing against the U9 hockey team on Monday. He is a great believer in being positive in all you do in life.

What music are you listening to? Why do you enjoy it?

Shania Twain, the Mavericks and Garth Brooks. Music for me is a “mood thing”. I enjoy most genres of music, but not hip-hop or rap.

http://www.dispatch.co.za/2006/09/06/Easterncape/bdoug.html

John - :)

FinnFreak

09-07-2006, 3:18am

The Age - Melbourne, Australia - September 7, 2006

Radio Waves

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/FinnFreak/PureCountry.jpg (http://202.147.105.47/purecountry)
Click here to listen to PureCountry (http://202.147.105.47/purecountry)

Over at the FM band, the Australian Radio Network, owner of MIX 101.1 and Gold FM, last week launched www.PureCountry.com.au, a new, internet-based radio station aimed at country music fans across Australia.

Internationally known country music performers such as Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Troy Cassar-Daly and Shania Twain will dominate the playlist, along with music from many local artists. The contemporary country music format is expected to attract younger listeners online, who will access PureCountry.com.au from their computers or smart phones.

http://www.theage.com.au

John - :cool::up:

canoilers

09-07-2006, 3:19am

That is cool, but then again when isn't being able to listen to Shania. :D

Troll

09-07-2006, 9:04am

Thanks for the article John.

Troll

09-07-2006, 9:04am

Delta H Designs Shipley Studio

Los Angeles, CA-Chances are that the neighbors in Mike Shipley's residential street in Los Angeles have no inkling that the man who has mixed top artists such as Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, The Cars and Blondie is at work in the house next door. That's thanks in no small part to a cutting-edge new acoustical design by Hanson Hsu, principal of Delta H Design.

Shipley has given the entire house over to record production, installing a Digidesign ICON-equipped mix room downstairs, together with lounge and kitchen facilities, while creating another Pro Tools room upstairs. According to Hsu, Shipley initially came to him with a tricky design brief for the mix room: "He said he didn't want to change square footage, he didn't want angled walls, he didn't want floating slabs-all the tools that we all use. And he wanted to build a small room that sounded like the best control room in the world.

"I came back after a week with a brand new acoustic design. I told him I thought it would sound good but he would be the guinea pig; it's never been done before. It's basically a rectangular room, and small-room acoustics are always hard. But we've been able to get Mike exactly what he wanted."

Hsu is, not surprisingly, protective of his new design concept, but did allow, "Everything is a standard construction material, except for the cloth. There are no specialty products, which is why we did it on time and on budget. It probably took me as long to figure out the concept of this room as it did to build it."

One other thing: Shipley insisted on retaining the windows in the front wall, and they had to open. "Which is just a joy for every acoustician in the world to hear," laughed Hsu, who found an ideal solution. "We put in these soundproof windows from Switzerland. They tilt and turn, so you don't get any reflection."

Part of the mix room concept was to save money for his clients, according to Shipley: "It costs so much to make a record, and you're tied down to a certain amount of hours per day in the studio to do it. With this, I'm charging a nominal fee, and it's by the song. So if I take a day and a half, clients get the benefit of it, and I benefit because I can go to bed knowing that I've done something that I didn't have to compromise on."

Furthermore, he said, "A lot of younger bands don't have the budget, and I can give them what they want for so much less. I can still go and work with [producer] Mutt [Lange] and Shania, but I like to work with younger bands, too."

Shipley, an Australian who grew up in England then stayed on, reportedly worked on the very first SSL console to be installed in that country, and stayed loyal to the brand for decades. "But the industry changed. I'm one to always try out something new. I would not have this in here," he said, indicating the ICON, "if there weren't people like Dave Hill working on plug-ins."

He continued, "And already there are lots of features [in the software] that were taken from SSL-type automation. I'm used to working a certain way and so are a lot of other guys. I've asked Digidesign and [director of worldwide console sales] Rich Nevens for all kinds of stuff, and they've said yes every time. They listen."

The ICON also eliminates one of the main acoustical headaches of a large mix room. With a 100-input analog console, for example, "You don't even know what you are hearing, with so much pinging off that huge board. Stuff is going everywhere, so there is no focal point."

Hsu added, "Acoustically, the ICON has such a low profile. The sound goes right past it. Having the bottom open lets the low end roll under the console and come to the mixer in a direct rather than a reflective environment."

The acoustic design has even withstood the interior design, according to Shipley. "We just started shoving in furniture, whether it was reflective or not, because it was more 'vibe-y.' People can feel really, really comfortable here."

As Shipley demonstrated in a blind test with a major client involving a mix done at his studio and at a commercial studio, they also get a great mix: "They chose the mix from this room hands down. This room is really accurate, and it translates well. I prefer working in this room to any other room in town. I can say that hand on heart, because I've been in a lot of rooms. This room is completely spot-on."

Delta H Design

http://www.deltahdesign.com/
http://prosoundnews.com/

dreamer

09-07-2006, 7:24pm

thanks very interesting!

FinnFreak

09-08-2006, 2:48am

:rolleyes:

Chattanooga Times Free Press - Thursday, September 07, 2006

First Person: Just awful

Filed by Steve Barrett

Do you ever wonder if we’ll all just wake up some morning, take one listen to some old Faith Hill or Shania Twain tune and ask, “What on earth were we thinking? They’re terrible!”

Saw a mini-documentary on TV Land the other night. It was about Sherman Hemsley, George Jefferson from the old sitcom “The Jeffersons.”

Despite a bizarre appearance by “All in the Family’s” inexcusable Sally Struthers, it was fun seeing much of the old “Jeffersons” cast back together. And as they sat down to a home-cooked meal that Mr. Hemsley had prepared, I was pleasantly shocked to see the station include his blessing on the food, which ended with an unapologetic, “In Jesus’ name, amen.”

http://www.tfponline.com/absolutenm/templates/blog.aspx?articleid=4449&zoneid=11

:huh: - Steve... do you ever have those days, when you write down a few thoughts you think are worthwhile... and right after that, you notice that it needs some changes, NOT to seem complete rubbish... because you can do better than that... and you throw away the nonsense parts - and let it be published, when it's in your mind closest to perfection you can possibly get..?

:really: - no..?

Too bad.

I would've removed that first paragraph...

...because the world is a better place, with songs by Faith and Shania.

“In Jesus’ name, amen.”

:]

Blogcritics.org - September 07, 2006

Music Review: Emily Herring - My Tears Will Be Relieved

By Benjamin Cossel

Take a look at most country music performers these days and you'll find, by and large, they're a reflection of their fan base. Just ask the Dixie Chicks - politically right-leaning, conservative, god fearing folk - nothing wrong with any of this, just an observed generalization.

Enter Emily Herring and her 2006 self-released My Tears Will Be Relieved. From the opening track, "What Will I Do?" where Herring tries to reconcile sexuality with religion to "Has Country Gone to Hell?" with such lines as "Where's our country/When a chick in Dixie/Can't even speak her mind/The Pope is out to warn us/Michael Moore has too much to write." Herring wears her politics on her sleeve. She's left leaning and she pretty much dares you to say anything about it.

Herring also breaks from the country music stereotype where the gals sing songs about their men, even if it's cheating songs, and the guys are left with the supposed tough talking "Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses" lines. Herring is a gal with moxie and it comes through in her music. She's closer to Hank Williams in her lyrics and delivery (check out track #9 "By Heaven") then she is to Shania Twain. Her lyrics pull more from the everyman's life experience and are arraigned in such a manner that most of us can relate to. I don't know much about "What Happens in Mexico," from Toby Keith's "Stays in Mexico" but I certainly understand "Well I'm blue/Oh you lied/You weren't true" from Herring's "Blues in the Key of C#minor"

Herring graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in music composition, it was during her time there that she began to break away from the typical collegiate studies and focus more on the music of her roots - country, folk, and blues. My Tears Will Be Relieved relishes in all these styles as Herring easily floats between the different but similar genres for an effecting album that will please fans of each type.

Herring was invited to play this year's Mid-Point Music Festival (MPMF) Sept. 23. She'll be playing a series of dates beginning in Portland, Ore., Sept. 12, making her way towards Cincinnati home of the MPMF. In the meantime, get over to her myspace page and pick up a copy of this disc!

Benjamin Cossel is currently a photojournalist for the Ohio National Guard. When not working with the Guard, he freelances for his local newspaper, "The Galion Inquirer."

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/09/07/194137.php

"She's closer to Hank Williams in her lyrics and delivery (check out track #9 "By Heaven") then she is to Shania Twain."

:huh: - ?

:uhh: - ...

:D - !

;) - ...let's all hope she makes it - despite those obvious shortcomings...

John - :p

canoilers

09-08-2006, 7:47am

Some people hey, gotta make you wonder.

Thanks for the articles Andrew and John. :D

Troll

09-08-2006, 9:10am

Thanks for the articles John.

EilleenTwain88

09-08-2006, 11:07am

"She's closer to Hank Williams in her lyrics and delivery (check out track #9 "By Heaven") then she is to Shania Twain."

:huh: - ?

:uhh: - ...

:D - !

;) - ...let's all hope she makes it - despite those obvious shortcomings...

John - :p
More amazing was the explanation... (Her lyrics pull more from the everyman's life experience and are arraigned in such a manner that most of us can relate to.)

Either I am too simple or this guy has totally different "everyman's life" than me.. the very reason why I like Shania's lyrics is because they ARE so easy to relate to... :shocked: :funny: ?!?

Troll

09-08-2006, 4:15pm

Dax found this on the other board

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.meridianhomes.co.nz/images/shania1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.meridianhomes.co.nz/shania.htm&h=305&w=520&sz=33&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=klP392SFVZ9XnM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshania%2527s%2Bnew%2Bproperty%26svnum %3D30%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX

Also this

now the the girls on this board can order shania shoe's!

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=181411&CategoryID=24470&bhcp=1

EilleenTwain88

09-09-2006, 3:43am

Alex

09-09-2006, 10:40pm

Great more dropping articles the last ones:D

FinnFreak

09-11-2006, 5:36am

The Waterloo Record, Canada - Sep 11, 2006

Country stars heading down East for awards show

http://www.therecord.com/images/kwr/kwr1416844_1.jpg
Nova Scotia's George Canyon has been
nominated for four Canadian Country
Music Awards. The show airs tonight
at 8 p.m. on CBC.

[SAINT JOHN, N.B.] - Canada's biggest country and western stars are going East for their annual industry award show tonight, to what many consider the cradle of country music.

Country singers are leaving their homes in the West and in Nashville and making the trek to Saint John, N.B., for the Canadian Country Music Awards show, to be televised across Canada on CBC-TV at 8 p.m., as well as on U.S. and Australian country music networks.

Although the East Coast has produced some of the giants of country music, including such pioneers as Wilf Carter and Hank Snow of Nova Scotia and Don Messer of New Brunswick, it has been 20 years since the award show was last held in the region.

Alberta native Carolyn Dawn Johnson, nominated for female artist of the year as well as songwriter of the year with Gordie Sampson and Troy Verges, said she's looking forward to some Maritime hospitality.

"It's such an interesting setting,'' she said in an interview while en route to New Brunswick from her home in Nashville.

"I've never been to Eastern Canada before for the CCMAs ... I went to the East Coast Music Awards in Charlottetown last year and that was an absolute blast. I mean there was music everywhere, all the hotel rooms were rocking. I got a real feel for what the East Coast is like.''

The East Coast is still producing big country stars, including last year's top winner, Nova Scotia-born George Canyon, who is up for four awards this year.

Canyon will be performing at the awards ceremony along with such stars as Johnson, Amanda Wilkinson, Great Big Sea, the Road Hammers and Aaron Pritchett.

Another famous Maritime performer, Anne Murray, will be on hand during the two-hour show to induct Halifax producer Brian Ahern into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Ahern was Murray's musical director on Singalong Jubilee, the show that launched her career. He also produced Murray's first 10 albums, including Snowbird.

Murray also will present an achievement award to her manager, Bruce Allen.

Vancouver native Pritchett is heading into the prestigious awards show with the most nominations -- six.

Pritchett is riding on the success of his third album, Big Wheel, which is nominated for album of the year.

Ontario native Amanda Wilkinson, who has been singing since she was six in her family's band, is nominated for four awards this year, including female artist and single of the year -- It's Okay to Cry.

Wilkinson said in an interview the nominations and the awards show are "icing on the cake'' for Canada's country performers.

She said the main enjoyment of the event is getting together with other artists. She said the country music scene, while competitive, enjoys a high level of camaraderie.

"We've all been in this circuit and have played this music for a very long time,'' Wilkinson said, noting this is the 30th anniversary of the country music awards.

"Some of the artists here this week I've known since I was little, singing with my family. It's really a reunion of sorts.''

Wilkinson, who also now lives in Nashville, said Canadian country music performers are well regarded in the critical U.S. market.

She said superstars like Shania Twain have helped open the door for other Canadian artists.

"We're a force to be reckoned with,'' Wilkinson said.

Other top nominees include Saskatoon's Brad Johner, Johnny Reid of Brampton and the Road Hammers who all have five nominations each.

Alberta native, Terri Clark, has four nominations.

http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1157925012820&call_pageid=1024322089000&col=1024322319351

John - :)

canoilers

09-11-2006, 5:51am

Thanks John, thats an awesome article if I do say so myself. :D

FinnFreak

09-11-2006, 6:01am

We have our ways of making Canadians happy.

John - ;)

canoilers

09-11-2006, 6:57am

Aint that the truth, and I aint hard to please.

Troll

09-11-2006, 9:12am

Thanks for the article.

FinnFreak

09-12-2006, 7:05am

Entertainment Weekly - TUESDAY, September 12, 2006

Music Chart Flashback

How do 9-year-old hits by the Spice Girls, Jewel, Third Eye Blind, and others hold up today? Whitney Pastorek gives 'em another listen

Hello, Flashbackers, and welcome to another week of Chart Flashback, where we flash back to the hits that were on the chart. That's right: Every single song on this Chart Flashback was taken directly off the Billboard chart from the week in the year that we are flashing back to!

You might be asking: Whitney! Why did you pick these songs to flash back to? They are not the best songs from that year, and you are a moron! The answer, my dear Flashbackers, is easy: Because these are the songs on the chart. I did not pick these songs. Actually, you picked these songs, since they are, technically, the top 10 singles played on radio and bought in stores during the week in question — which means every single one of you had a hand in their selection and subsequent place in American history. Don't like 'em? Wanna grumble about it? Maybe start with the man in the mirror, and ask him to change his ways. No message could be any clearer: If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make that change. Na-na na, na-na na, na naa na-na.

And now, without further ado, Billboard's top 10 for the week of Sept. 20, 1997:

10. ''Foolish Games''/''You Were Meant for Me,'' Jewel
It's nice to think back to a time when a crooked-toothed girl with a guitar could be one of the biggest names in music. (Nowadays, it seems, one must be far more proficient at lip-synching than songwriting, but that's another discussion for another time.) This single — Billboard is giving the slot to A-side and B-side here, thanks to the aforementioned retail sales factor of this list — kind of showcases the best and worst of what Jewel was about, in my opinion. ''You Were Meant For Me'' is a sweet little love song with a very playable guitar riff that any good 15-year-old with a Yamaha was cranking out at her high school talent show that fall (note: I was not 15 when this song came out, thank you very much; I was just stuck playing it for 15-year-olds who wanted to sing it at the camp talent show); meanwhile, ''Foolish Games'' is an arduous, mealy piece of overcooked veal that appears to have had some large undue effect on the future work of Amy Lee, lead singer of Evanescence. Although I always have liked the line, ''Excuse me/ Think I've mistaken you for somebody else/ Somebody who gave a damn,'' because it very much sums up my reaction to the song itself. So meta. ''YWMFM'': B; ''FG'': C+

9. ''Barbie Girl,'' Aqua
The song that finally, after all these years, made pedophilia okay! I can honestly say I have never seen a more disturbing sight in all my years than the day I sat on the subway and watched three little girls, none of whom were over the age of 12, listening to ''Barbie Girl'' on an MP3 cell phone and merrily caressing their own torsos as they sang, ''You can touch/ You can play/ If you say I'm always yours'' at the top of their prepubescent lungs. I know this is not the place for my feminist rants, but if this song was supposed to be ironic, it missed the mark by a mile. They could not have found a more creepy voice to growl, ''Come on, Barbie, let's go party''; there could not be a more reprehensible lesson to teach little girls than the joys of letting a man dominate your unable-to-stand-due-to-the-laws-of-gravity body; and finally, it's not even a particularly good song from a musical standpoint, and I think my ears are bleeding. Yeah, yeah, I know, it's ''fun.'' Give me Cyndi Lauper and ''She Bop'' any day over this sort of ''fun.'' There, at least the squeaky-voiced girl is in charge. F

8. ''Semi-Charmed Life,'' Third Eye Blind
Whee! Doo-doo-doo!! Admit it, people: You love this song. How do I know you love this song? Because I have seen you at parties, on road trips, and during wedding receptions singing along, mouthing every word of Stephan Jenkins' faux-rap, bouncing up and down like Gwen Stefani at a Mighty Mighty Bosstones show circa 1989. Doo-doo-doo!! There's nothing at all wrong with that; in 1997, we were just entering the fun-time rock-band era that would usher in such sunny, roly-poly, destined-to-one-day-go-on-and-host-Extra groups as Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth, and we weren't yet sick of this crap. Now, of course, I could largely do without. But let me ask you this: Which do you prefer, jolly party rock or nü metal? Yeah, that's what I thought. B+

7. ''2 Become 1,'' Spice Girls
Hmm. This one's tough. I will admit to owning a copy of Spice World, and to watching it multiple times; I will also admit to going through a brief, Sporty Spice-inspired period during which I attempted to wear white tank tops and Adidas track pants to parties. But I never really thought the group's balladry was as good as their peppier tracks, and the farther I get away from that dark, dark period in my life (I was a college graduate at the time, for chrissakes; what on earth could I have been thinking?), the more I question the logic behind such decisions as my purchase of both Spice Girls albums at a time when I was scraping together change to buy Kraft macaroni & cheese, then making it with water instead of milk and butter because who had money to buy milk and butter? In any case. The song. It's too slow, and the lyrics appear to have been written by a safe-sex-loving unicorn. Also, it's almost impossible to identify the individual Spice Girls by their voices here, so airbrushed are the proceedings. C

6. ''I'll Be Missing You,'' Puff Daddy and Faith Evans (f. 112)
How can you make fun of a song about a dead guy? Sure, Puffy is blatantly manipulating our emotions by sampling a Police song, and yeah, the Faith/112-sung chorus is terribly shrill, and indeed, there is very little actual original work happening here, but nevertheless: It's a song about a dead guy. B-

5. ''How Do I Live,'' LeeAnn Rimes
The big winner of 1997's ''How Do I Live''-off, this version of the Diane Warren-penned love theme from Con Air (no, seriously, Con Air had a love theme) beat out Trisha Yearwood's soundtrack cut by a long shot and [I]has gone on to top the list of country wedding songs, second only to Shania Twain's ''You're Still the One''/''From This Moment On'' rock block. I'll admit to a cheesy love for LeeAnn, and also to spending some time singing this alone in my room at night, but I made a tragic misstep at karaoke this weekend by trying to move my quiet, private performance into a public venue. Word to the wise: Don't try it. It's boring, it goes on forever, and you can't hit the high notes. B

4. ''Mo Money Mo Problems,'' the Notorious B.I.G. (f. Puff Daddy and Ma$e)
Best things about this track: It's a song by a dead guy that actually beat the tribute song to said dead guy on the charts. It's off a posthumous album perhaps not coincidentally titled Life After Death. It once again features Puff Daddy, hip-hop's savviest participant of all time. And it samples a hot, hot Diana Ross song. Worst things about this track: It once again features Puff Daddy. It gets ''I'm Coming Out'' stuck in my head. And I am convinced that Biggie's use of this girly sample was a direct factor in Jay-Z's decision to put those squawking orphans in ''Hard Knock Life.'' Finally — and I know I'm not by any means the first person to say this, nor will I be the last — can someone solve his damn murder already? And then start figuring out what happened to Jam Master Jay? Thanks. B+

3. ''You Make Me Wanna...,'' Usher
I am so very excited to go see Usher in Chicago on Broadway next week, mostly I know that he is already a pro with minimalist chair dancing, a skill very necessary in that production. (I also like the way Mr. Raymond anticipated the coming boy-band storm in this video, forestalling its dominating effect on his career by F/X-ing himself into a fivesome.) Overall, I give ''You Make Me Wanna...'' mad props, mostly because unlike so many of his unh-ing R&B peers, Usher has actually taken some risks here with the time signature and kept the treacle to a minimum. It is perhaps the only song in which I will tolerate both an overbearing high-hat and a ridiculously unnecessary dinging parakeet bell in the background. A-

2. ''Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),'' Backstreet Boys
Aw, they're so young! So fresh, so new! If only we could have known what this song would bring, Flashbackers, do you think we'd have embraced it so? If we could go back and see that this charming, innocent, so-called ''band of boys'' — just off the boat from success in Germany (where they totally have impeccable musical taste; see: Hasselhoff, David) — would lead to the downfall/resurrection of pop music, depending on your perspective... would we do it all again? Personally, I say yes. Even though this track happens to be totally generic and neutered and the sort of thing that makes me want to start cutting myself just to remember what it feels like to have a genuine emotion, anything that led to the existence of ''I Want It That Way'' can't be all bad. C+

1. ''Honey,'' Mariah Carey
I'm gonna get letters — because I get letters every single time I write about Mariah Carey — but is this the one where she rides the Jet Ski in the video? That's really the only reaction I have to this song: It's The One With The Jet Ski. Maybe my ambivalence is because she never really busts it out here, except in a little descant thing accompanying her breathy repetition of the chorus — and I pretty much only listen to Mariah Carey songs to hear her bust it out. To the song's credit, though, it did give us the immortal phrase, ''Mari-yah/ You're on fi-yah,'' which, unless I am mistaken, comes straight from the mouth of none other than... Puff Daddy! I hereby crown him the King of 1997. And next week I will be retreating back to the safety of the '80s, where Mr. Combs is nowhere to be found, because I've officially had enough. B+

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,1533782_4_0_,00.html

John - ;)

FinnFreak

09-12-2006, 7:53am

Monsters and Critics - Sep 12, 2006

This Day in Music for September 12, 2006

- 1998 -

A concert by Shania Twain is televised live on DirecTV, in what the direct broadcast satellite service claims is the first such TV event for the country star.

http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1200521.php/This_Day_in_Music_for_September_12_2006

John - :):up:

Troll

09-12-2006, 9:09am

Great articles.

canoilers

09-12-2006, 9:21pm

Thanks for the non-bashing articles, I like those ones. :D

FinnFreak

09-13-2006, 7:36am

The Globe and Mail - Wednesday 13 September 2006

Lights, camera, new Walk of Fame!

by JEFF GRAY

Canada's Walk of Fame will soon get the star treatment itself. It will be moved to a park in downtown Toronto beside Roy Thomson Hall, bathed in the glow from dozens of "columns of light" and celebrated with new interactive video displays.

The design, called Celebration Park and unveiled yesterday, will mean a major update for the Walk of Fame, which since 1998 has honoured more than 100 Canadian celebrities with Hollywood-style stars in the pavement along King Street West. "The vision that we had in 1998 of mimicking an American idea is now not representative of who Walk of Fame is or who we are as a nation," said Peter Soumalias, president and chief executive of Canada's Walk of Fame, a non-profit group. ". . . There wasn't much original about our idea."

Since 2003, the Walk of Fame has been planning to update its look, launching a design competition in conjunction with city officials to come up with a new way to honour the country's celebrities. Yesterday, it unveiled the winner, a design by Toronto's pgm Design Associates, which beat out 14 rivals.

Patrick Morello, the lead designer, agreed that the Walk of Fame needed a bold makeover. "You could walk by the current Walk of Fame and not even know you crossed it. . . . We needed this whole space to be animated."

Soumalias said the final details of the design were still to be worked out, but the project's price tag was expected to be about $5-million, half of it covered by the city and the rest by private fundraising. Construction is expected to start next year.

The designs for Celebration Park -- inspired, Morello said, by the Northern Lights -- would see trees planted and enormous light columns erected along the north side of the space, which is between Metro Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, south of King Street West and the current Walk of Fame.

Once inside the park, illuminated pathways would guide visitors to a video wall -- possibly showing highlights of the work of Canadian stars or comments about their work sent in by on-line fans -- along with a concert stage for the Walk of Fame to hold its induction ceremonies and hold free concerts.

Whether stars would still be honoured with slabs in the pavement -- which could be illuminated -- or with inscriptions on the massive light columns is still to be decided, Morello said.

The Walk of Fame honoured Pamela Anderson, Eugene Levy and Brendan Fraser this year. Others who have made the walk include: Alanis Morissette, William Hutt, Paul Anka, Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky and Michael J. Fox.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060913.wxwalk13/BNStory/Entertainment/home

John - :)

captainCorr

09-13-2006, 7:39am

Finally! When I was there, it looked quite..well.. desolated..:uhh:

Troll

09-13-2006, 9:07am

Thanks for the info.

captainCorr

09-13-2006, 4:31pm

Universal Music Group (UMG) and MTV Networks' Music Group Announce Comprehensive Agreement for Mobile Programming in the US

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group (UMG), the
world's leading music company, and MTV Networks' Music Group today
announced a comprehensive and non-exclusive agreement under which MTV
Networks can create and distribute full-length music videos and original
video programming for mobile devices from UMG's industry-leading catalog of
current and legendary artists including Fergie, Nelly Furtado, Elton John,
The Killers, U2, Jay Z, Ludacris, Don Omar, Bon Jovi, Juanes, George
Strait, Shania Twain, Sugarland and Hinder, among many others.
[....] [source (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-13-2006/0004432240&EDATE=)]

canoilers

09-14-2006, 11:39am

Thats cool thanks for the article John. Hopefully one day I'll get too see it. :D

FinnFreak

09-15-2006, 6:21am

Monsters and Critics - Sep 14, 2006

This Day in Music for September 14, 2006

- 1998 -

Shania Twain wins awards in six of the eight categories for which she is nominated in the Canadian Country Music Awards.

http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1201506.php/This_Day_in_Music_for_September_14_2006

John - :):up:

canoilers

09-15-2006, 8:05am

Woohoo! Thats the same day as my buddy's birthday. He hates Shania so much, I'll guess I'll just have to bring that up, often at that too. :p

Thanks John. :D

Troll

09-15-2006, 9:28am

Thanks for the articles.

shania megafan

09-15-2006, 10:10am

Cool! thanks for posting

dreamer

09-15-2006, 6:54pm

you say he hates her well well don't mind if I let my imagination take over mwahahahaha!*we need and evil laugh smiley here*

canoilers

09-16-2006, 8:14am

you say he hates her well well don't mind if I let my imagination take over mwahahahaha!*we need and evil laugh smiley here*Actually he doesn't hate Shania as much as he hates country period. Which I find kinda funny, cause he's kinda a red-neck. He's even got the trailor to complete the ansomble. If he had his beat up '64 chevy pick up in his yard it would be complete. :p

Anne-Marie

09-16-2006, 2:57pm

Madonna's Gibson Les Paul Custom Guitar From Her 2001 Drowned World Tour to Go Up for Auction on Ebay on October 6, 2006 Thu Sep 14.

SONORA, CA (PRWEB) September 14, 2006 -- Madonna's Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar, personally autographed, will go up for auction on Ebay starting on October 6, 2006, at 7:00 P.M. PST, ending on October 16, 2006. The guitar is the only surviving guitar of two that were custom made for Madonna and played by her on her 2001 Drowned World concert tour. This tour was the first time Madonna every played a guitar in concert. The Drowned World tour ended on September 15, 2001 in Los Angeles. After the show, Madonna autographed this guitar "Love, Madonna" in gold paint pen and gave it to her Guitar Technician, John Griswold, as a big "Thank You" for all his services.

This guitar has been photographed and video taped world-wide thousands of times and a photo of this guitar appears in the Aug. 27, 2001 issue of People Magazine. This is one of the most photographed guitars in the world.

Madonna's guitar and included matching tour case are numbered with the Gibson serial number of 001360 which is verified on all the tour's manifests and carnet. While the guitar has back scratches and light wear from Madonna's costumes and belt buckles rubbing against it during her performances, it is in perfect working order and has been clear coated to protect the autograph from wear (standard procedure in guitar preserving). This guitar can be played without wearing down the autograph. With original strings as Madonna last played them, this guitar has been kept very well and secure the last 5 years.

A year prior to her 2001 Drowned World Tour, Madonna contacted guitar maker Gibson about making her 2 custom Les Paul guitars to use on her Drowned World tour. Gibson made only two of these custom guitars just for Madonna.

Within Gibson, this guitar became known as the "Madonna Les Paul Model". They were originally made with silver tuners and fittings. Madonna decided she wanted the guitars to fit better with her stage costumes so she consulted with her Guitar Technician John Griswold. They decided on simple "gold on black" and John replaced the outer hardware with gold fittings and removed the pick guards.

These two identical guitars were made so Madonna could have a Primary and a Backup guitar while on tour. The guitar in this auction was her Primary guitar and used 90% of the time on the Drowned World Tour only. John Griswold says that he would only give her the Backup guitar to play every now and then just to keep it in working order. When she preformed, Madonna never knew if she was playing her primary or backup guitar. Madonna kept her backup Gibson guitar which was later stolen at a venue rehearsal for her Re-Invention Tour of 2004. So this autographed guitar of John's is the only one to exist and is truly "one of a kind" and rare.

John Griswold has been a Guitar Technician since the early 1970's and has worked with such acts as Journey, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffet, George Harrison, Ringo Star, and Shania Twain. John was hired by Madonna as her guitar technician back in 1989 and was with her during the promotional pre-tour rehearsal and tours and the Drowned World rehearsals and throughout the final 2001 concert tour.

John and his family lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit the city. His house was flooded to the top of the first floor and he lost most of his possessions and studio equipment. This guitar was one of the first things he and his family saved. John and his wife and son evacuated and relocated to Sonora, CA.

While John is reluctant to present this precious guitar for auction, the financial loss and hardship his family has suffered from the impact of Hurricane Katrina has necessitated such a bold move.

The seller, Pierce Jensen of Sonora, CA (Ebay Seller "pierceandshelly"), has been a member of Ebay since March 1999 and has thousands of successful auctions to his credit along with a wonderful feedback rating. He's an Ebay "Power Seller" ranking among the most successful sellers in terms of product sales and customer satisfaction on Ebay.

Until the auction begins, this guitar can be previewed at:

www.pscelebrities.com/madonna/

Anne-Marie

09-16-2006, 3:01pm

Ask the DJ | Borisby MICHAEL HAMERSLY

Russian DJ Boris' hard-pumping, driving sound has become synonymous with the underground ''New York sound,'' which is perfect for the main room at Space, where he's spinning Saturday night. His energetic, uplifting music has spurred major record labels to request remixes: Janet Jackson's All I Want and Thalia's I'm In Love for Virgin Records, Anastacia's Left Outside Alone for Epic Records, Jewel's Stand for Atlantic Records and Pink's Real Good Feel Good for Columbia Records. But check out Boris' latest mix CD, Believe, for a better idea of what to expect at Space; 305-375-0001.

Q: Is Believe your best work?

Yes, Believe is definitely my best work. It's the closest thing to a live set, such as I do at crobar in New York or anywhere else.

Q: What makes a track sound ``underground''?

It's definitely something that's not overplayed and not on the radio. For me personally, I am all about the drums, percussion and the darkness of a track that won't make it commercial.

Q: You're famous for 12-hour marathon sets, sometimes back to back (is that really true?) -- were you inspired or influenced by Danny Tenaglia?

Yes, I have done marathon sets pretty much every weekend, lately. This past weekend, I went from Cielo in New York to Stereo in Montreal, to Sonic in Toronto . . . right back to New York to do Surf Club. They've all been marathon sets -- 12 hours or longer -- with the exception of Cielo. Growing up in New York, I was inspired by many DJs, but everyone will tell you that Junior Vasquez was the original after-hours DJ whom everyone looked up to.

Q: How do you keep from collapsing behind the decks?

Lots of Red Bull! [laughs].

Q: Do you ever listen to Top 40 radio thinking ``I should remix that one''?

Not at all. Usually, labels will commission me to remix certain artists, and sometimes those are in the Top 40.

Q: Have you really remixed country songs?

No country, although I suppose Shania Twain used to be country. But now, she's really a pop singer.

Q: Will we hear any boot-scootin' remixes at Space?

[laughs] No, no boot-scootin' remixes.

Q: Do you get into the party scene that permeates nightclubs?

I like it for the whole scene: the music, the party, the vibe, the people, the club, the crowds. It's a combination of things.

Q: Do you think technological advances have diminished the quality of today's new DJs?

It definitely has advanced with the addition of Serato, Final Scratch and MP3. All you've got to do now is show up to a gig with either your CDs or your computer. As opposed to before, where you would have to lug heavy bags of records.

Q: In your eyes, what's the state of the dance music scene today?

I think dance music is strong and alive today, with more and more people coming out here in the States. And it being so mainstream overseas helps.

Q: Any advice for young aspiring DJs?

My advice to aspiring DJs is to go out and network in the clubs. Try to meet as many people as you can. Also, try to have your own sound that will separate you from the next DJ, because there are so many talented DJs out there.

Q: What would you do if you had to change careers?

I would probably be a stockbroker.

Q: What do you love to do in your free time?

Watch sports and play some, as well. I am a sports junkie.

Anne-Marie

09-16-2006, 3:02pm

Nashville welcomes Bobcat rising star

By Penny Rathbun
(Created: Friday, June 9, 2006 4:38 PM CDT)

Jessica Hawthorn says she wants to bring back the old style of Country and Western singing.

"I want to bring back the traditional side of country music," said the 2001 Celina High School graduate. "I want to be the female George Strait," she added.

She's on her way to accomplishing both of those things with her first single and CD titled "Texas Hold 'Em," and by singing at the Fan Fair in Nashville this week.

She is there with her brother, Celina footballer John Clark playing the guitar, and her two cousins, Laura and Becca Nelson singing backup. Even her mother and her two pet peek-a-poos are on the trip with her.

She may be bringing back the old style of country singing, but her way of doing it is highly burnished with 21st century pizzazz and sparkle. Her statuesque height, blonde hair, and listen-to-me-now voice don't hurt either.

Hawthorn has been singing since she was 3 years old. Her kindergarten teacher who told her mother about how Jessica sang, "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man," for her kindergarten classmates can verify that.

"It's been something I've desired since I was little. You have to have some luck, too," she said.

After high school she studied music at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas on a scholarship. There she met a songwriter and began recording her music. In that process she met Robert Metzgar, a Nashville record producer who signed her to a new label designed to showcase new talent, Platinum Plus Universal.

Her husband will soon return from a tour of duty in Iraq. They plan to move to Nashville.

While you can hear hints of Patsy Cline and Crystal Gale, when she sings lyrics like, "He's a cowgirl's dream, he puts the crease in my jeans," she doesn't sound like anyone but Jessica Hawthorn.

She says her friends and family have always encouraged her. She grew up with music, singing occasionally in her father's band. Her grandmother, Tommie Vest, is the director of the Celina Senior Center on the Square and also has a group of musicians she regularly performs with.

"Everything that has happened to me, I believe God has willed it. I'm so blessed. I have been blessed enough to work with some great people," said Jessica.

A few of her favorite Country and Western singers are Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Kenny Chesney.

She has this advice for anyone thinking about pursuing a singing career. "Don't let anyone discourage you. Sing every chance you get. Make as many contacts as you can," she said.

Her Web site is www.jessicahawthorn.com.

While Jessica is bringing back the old style of country singing, people like Faith Hill and Leann Rimes better keep their running shoes on.

Anne-Marie

09-16-2006, 3:04pm

Björn Again keeps generations rockin' to ABBA's music

By Jodi Duckett Of The Morning Call You know the songs — ''Waterloo,'' ''Dancing Queen,'' ''Mamma Mia.'' Yes, you do.

That's the thing about these mega-hits from that 1970s pop music phenomenon named ABBA. They're so dynamic and catchy that you know them even if you don't think you do.

Even if you really don't know them, it wouldn't take much for the songs to get under your skin and embedded in your brain.

And tribute groups such as Björn Again help to keep the music of the colorful Swedish quartet alive.

Björn Again, headlining Thursday's ''Dancing in the Streets'' celebration in downtown Allentown, has been performing ABBA hits far longer than ABBA was together.

They may look like ABBA, with their kitschy, glitzy costumes, '70s hairdos, Swedish banter and disco-era dance moves, but they don't claim to be ABBA. They claim to provide the ''ABBA experience,'' meaning performances that will put you in a party mood, get your body moving and send you back to another time.

''We're proclaiming to be the very next closest thing to ABBA,'' says Stephanie Thompson, a Canadian country singer who tours the United States as Agnetha Falstart, the alter ego of ABBA blonde bombshell Agnetha Faltskog.

In fact, the ''official story'' of Björn Again is that they don't even know who ABBA is.

The group — Falstart, Frida Longstokin, Benny Anderwear and Björn Volvo — surfaced in 1989 after their helicopter and a giant glittery platform shoe from outer space collided leaving them stranded on a deserted island. They were rescued, but had total amnesia except for some beautiful melodies inside their heads.

So they began singing those songs. Björn Again first heard from ABBA in 1990 when they received a telegram from Björn Ulvaeus while on their first tour of Sweden. It read:

''The best of luck. Anyone who looks like me ought to have a successful career!''

And in February 1999 Benny Andersson stated live on London's Capital Radio:

''Fans had better make the most out of Björn Again because that's the closest they are going to get to seeing ABBA. ABBA will never reform!''

ABBA — an acronym of the first names of members Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lynstad, Faltskog and Björn Ulvaeua — gained worldwide attention when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with ''Waterloo.'' The group — made up of two real-life couples — quickly racked up a string of hits, but disbanded in 1983.

Groups such as Björn Again quickly stepped in to keep the fun alive. The enduring popularity of ABBA was proved again when audiences went wild at the premiere of the still-running ''Mamma Mia!,'' the musical based on the songs of ABBA.

Björn Again was formed by Australian musicians Rod Leissle and John Tyrell, who thought it would be fun to do ABBA songs since they were not being played on the radio. The first gig was sold out. There are now three touring units — in North America, Europe and Australia.

The band tours constantly, performing mostly in theaters. It also is a popular band for corporate events, such as a Rolls-Royce convention.

''Björn Again did Russell Crowe's wedding, and opened for Rod Stewart, Shania Twain and the Spice Girls,'' says Thompson.

Thompson joined the group two years ago.

''I was born in 1973 so I grew up on ABBA music,'' she says. ''The most ironic thing is I idolized the blonde [Faltskog]. Her and Olivia Newton-John.''

In character, she acts ''a bit reserved and shy, although I'm a confident performer. I'm totally in love with Björn, he's my entire world.''

Frida, she says, played by Summer Brockwell, ''is more like a sex kitten. She plays the field a little more,'' an allusion to her on-again, off-again relationship with Benny, played by Rick Benton. Chad Holtzman is Björn.

Fans, she says, are between 8 and 80, but Thompson says ABBA is especially special to her generation.

''I think the biggest thing about ABBA music is it takes you back to that zone of your life, to wherever you were at the moment.

''But if it's not familiar to you cause you didn't grow up with it, you're going to become familiar because it's catchy and melodic.''

''Dancing Queen,'' Thompson says, is the ''ultimate'' favorite song in North America. ''Fernando,'' she says, gets people crying.

A Björn Again performance is energetic and interactive. Members sing, dance, interact with each other and the audience. The four members, along with a drummer and bass player, will whip up enough excitement so everyone is dancing and singing.

''In the two years I have been in the band, I have not once seen a night that we have not seen a standing ovation,'' says Thompson.

Anne-Marie

09-16-2006, 3:07pm

Briefs & TV: A day to rejoice

• Who is the oldest active offensive player in the NFL?

Answer below.

For football fans, it's a day to rejoice

Fourteen Top 25 college football teams will be going head to head on Saturday -- the most ranked teams to play each other on one day since 1994. ESPN is referring to it as "Separation Saturday," but Mikey is ready to take it a step further and declare it "Better Than Sex Saturday."

Hot wings, cold beer, great college football on the tube? The only way it could get any better for a guy would be to top off the day with the Carolina Panthers cheerleaders feeding you grapes while you're watching The Three Stooges Meet Hercules.

Mike Bianchi

Orlando Sentinel

Q&A

Al Michaels and John Madden have been coming into our living rooms forever, it seems. In separate interviews this week, the Dallas Morning News posed questions to each.

Q. What has been the biggest surprise since you began working together? Madden: Just his eating habits. Al doesn't eat vegetables. He doesn't even want vegetables on his plate. If they are there, he sends them back. I think he's trying to prove you can eat healthy without vegetables.

Michaels: How much John loves to laugh. Once in a while we'll both get the adolescent giggles like two kids in the back of an eighth grade classroom.

Q. Say you guys sit down to play the Madden 2007 video game and winning means everything. What team do you choose? What team do you choose for your opponent? Madden: I would take Indianapolis. I'd want Peyton Manning as my quarterback. There are so many things I could do. I would have Al coach Houston.

Michaels: Truth be told, I don't know how to work a video game. I'd bring my nephews in as surrogates and tell them to take no prisoners.

Q. Who is your favorite baseball announcer? Madden: Vin Scully.

Michaels: The late Curt Gowdy. I always felt he was the best listen in any sport.

Q. Have you ever owned a fantasy team in any sport? Michaels: No, a thousand times over.

Madden: I did when I was at Fox. We played fantasy football for six or seven years. I won it once. Mark Rypien had a great year at quarterback. It was the best year I ever had.

Q. Is it Michaels and Madden or Madden and Michaels?

Madden: Michaels and Madden.

Michaels: Whichever way Shania Twain wants to sing it.

Barry Horn
Dallas Morning News

Troll

09-16-2006, 4:41pm

Thanks for the articles.

FinnFreak

09-17-2006, 7:07am

Q. Is it Michaels and Madden or Madden and Michaels?

Madden: Michaels and Madden.

Michaels: Whichever way Shania Twain wants to sing it.

John - :D:up:

FinnFreak

09-17-2006, 10:09am

Belfast Telegraph - 17 September 2006

Country & Western: A book you'll keep going back to

By Ralph McLean

If you're reading this column, chances are country music plays at least a little part in your life.

But just what kind of country really floats your boat? Are you a hardcore hillbilly, a Shania fan or a Steve Earle believer?

Does the sound of old time fiddles and banjos get you polishing your cowboy boots with glee or do you prefer your country with a little western swing?

It's not easy is it? What if you're all those things and more, like me? There are so many different types of country music out there it can get pretty confusing at times.

That's where a great book like Country Music: The Complete Visual History comes in.

Edited by noted country authorities Paul Kingsbury and Alanna Nash and featuring a heartfelt foreword by Willie Nelson, it's the kind of book you'll keep coming back to for years and years.

If you ever find yourself looking for the history of Tammy Wynette or a little background on the development of the pedal steel guitar this is the volume for you.

Trust me, the detail and information on offer here is mind boggling.

Published by DK books in conjunction with the ever reliable Country Music Hall Of Fame, it tells the whole history of what we know today as country music over 360 lovingly produced pages.

It's certainly a complex tale with everything from the earliest mountain music and bluegrass getting equal coverage alongside the big hitting names like Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks.

Over 12 informative chapters, it traces the journey that country has taken from rural entertainment to be enjoyed on the front porch to the global phenomenon it is today.

Thankfully, some of the less appreciated figures in that illustrious history receive much deserved credit. However late it might be, it's nice to know the likes of bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin and Lefty Frizzell haven't been forgotten by the country music establishment.

This is a book which is much more than a mere history lesson, however. Contained within those lushly printed pages are the kind of period photographs you'd be hard pushed to find outside of the country music hall of fame itself.

From dusty black and white snapshots of rural America at work and play to stunning portraits of country troubadours like Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings on stage, it's a visual feast for the eyes that delivers more every single time you open it.

It's an open-minded tome as well, with sections dedicated to the likes of Ray Charles, an often undervalued but hugely influential player in country and western history, and a few unlikely back room heroes into the bargain.

Whatever type of country music you like there's something special waiting for you in here and like the best of the music it can move you, thrill you and break your heart in the space of just a few minutes.

Now how many books can you honestly say that about?

Ralph presents the Ralph McLean Show every week day from 3pm on BBC Radio Ulster and McLean's Country every Saturday night from 8pm. Find out more at www.ralphmclean.com

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/music/story.jsp?story=706696

:uhh: - but... do they mention REDNEX..? :huh:

...that's what *I'd* like to know... :p

John - ;)

tower

09-17-2006, 10:16am

Björn Again keeps generations rockin' to ABBA's music

The band tours constantly, performing mostly in theaters. It also is a popular band for corporate events, such as a Rolls-Royce convention.

''Björn Again did Russell Crowe's wedding, and opened for Rod Stewart, Shania Twain and the Spice Girls,'' says Thompson.

A Björn Again performance is energetic and interactive. Members sing, dance, interact with each other and the audience. The four members, along with a drummer and bass player, will whip up enough excitement so everyone is dancing and singing.

''In the two years I have been in the band, I have not once seen a night that we have not seen a standing ovation,'' says Thompson.

You know at Hyde Park in London back that July 2003 they knocked the Mavericks off the map and provided such a great warm up for Shania, us fans just sang our heads off and had so much fun...

tower

09-17-2006, 10:34am

Belfast Telegraph - 17 September 2006

Country & Western: A book you'll keep going back to

By Ralph McLean

Over 12 informative chapters, it traces the journey that country has taken from rural entertainment to be enjoyed on the front porch to the global phenomenon it is today.

:uhh: - but... do they mention REDNEX..? :huh:

...that's what *I'd* like to know... :p

John - ;)

Well I have to laugh when the mention "The Global phenomenon it is today"? Eh? That is why poor Shania has to tone down the Green and bring out the Red for the UP! Release... who writes this RUBBISH... Oh I forgot it is written by a "Country and Western" fan so it must be true? Eh ;)

Go into a British Pub and ask any punter "Who is Toby Keith" most will have no idea. Ask any punter in Britain who Toby Keith is married to and few will know. Nashville sure loves it's self and thinks the World does too.... Duh... Homer Simpson's image now springs to mind.

I hope of course the FACT that Country and Western came mostly from the new wave of immigration and has it's roots in Folk music from Italy, Spain, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, the Gypsies and many many other NON US countries, but I guess that would not go down well in a post 9/11 USA.

Just keep hypeing it up, for if you say you are great loud enough and long enough, people will believe you.

Oh John played RedNex by Request last night in Gibby's - Chris and I did our first public Saturday night session and we got them dancing.... Oh yes, had to be done. Played a fair bit of Country too, but then this IS North America - It just annoys me when they think every country in the World watches CTV or has Country and Western only radio.

These people want to look at how many Country format Radio stations in North America are jumping over to Pop or Classic Rock and then wonder the future of this "the global phenomenon"

Oooh I am going to get my head blown off for this post ;)

FinnFreak

09-17-2006, 11:49am

Well, looking how the Dixie Chicks' videos are getting airplay today - even on the Finnish "The Voice" channel... (that's mainly targeted to an audience under 30) ...I'd say that in Europe many are getting over the whole "label thinking"... and just listen to good music... regardless of what category it's supposed to be in...

John - ;)

Troll

09-17-2006, 3:03pm

Thanks for the article John.

canoilers

09-17-2006, 3:59pm

Well I have to laugh when the mention "The Global phenomenon it is today"? Eh? That is why poor Shania has to tone down the Green and bring out the Red for the UP! Release... who writes this RUBBISH... Oh I forgot it is written by a "Country and Western" fan so it must be true? Eh ;)

Go into a British Pub and ask any punter "Who is Toby Keith" most will have no idea. Ask any punter in Britain who Toby Keith is married to and few will know. Nashville sure loves it's self and thinks the World does too.... Duh... Homer Simpson's image now springs to mind.

I hope of course the FACT that Country and Western came mostly from the new wave of immigration and has it's roots in Folk music from Italy, Spain, Russia, Ireland, Scotland, the Gypsies and many many other NON US countries, but I guess that would not go down well in a post 9/11 USA.

Just keep hypeing it up, for if you say you are great loud enough and long enough, people will believe you.

Oh John played RedNex by Request last night in Gibby's - Chris and I did our first public Saturday night session and we got them dancing.... Oh yes, had to be done. Played a fair bit of Country too, but then this IS North America - It just annoys me when they think every country in the World watches CTV or has Country and Western only radio.

These people want to look at how many Country format Radio stations in North America are jumping over to Pop or Classic Rock and then wonder the future of this "the global phenomenon"

Oooh I am going to get my head blown off for this post ;)I don't think any one pretends that CTV or anything else Canadian is know outside of Canada. Thats pretty much the story of this country, Canadians supports Canada whether anybody outside the country does or not. The same thing that you complain about our culture for can be said for Europe. You said so yourself about how many people know about Toby Keith in British pubs and he isn't even Canadian, well isn't that the same thing that you complain about that we do over here. I don't understand the Hypocrisy when the fact is both do it.

FinnFreak

09-18-2006, 1:55am

The Washington Post - Sunday, September 17, 2006

Beyonce's big start paces rare gain for 2006 sales

By Geoff Mayfield, Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Turns out Beyonce's birthday is not just a celebration for the singer, but for the whole music industry. The No. 1 bow by her second solo album, "B'Day," also signals the first time in four months that album sales beat those of the comparable 2005 sales week.

Released September 5, the day after her 25th birthday, it opens with 541,000 copies, 59 percent more than the 317,000 first-week sales that greeted her first solo album, "Dangerously in Love," in 2003.

There was only one period in the seven-album career of her group, Destiny's Child, when she had a larger sales week: Third set "Survivor" began at 663,000 in May 2001.

The improvement over her first solo album's start is no surprise. With this record arriving just a few months before her starring role in "Dreamgirls" hits screens in December, Beyonce's celebrity has never been greater, fetching beaucoup ink in magazines and newspapers.

Her August 31 performance at MTV's Video Music Awards set the stage for "B'Day." The video for second single "Ring the Alarm" was MTV's most-played clip during release week (29 plays) and also was among the 10 most-played videos at BET and VH1 Soul. The song enters the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 12, her highest debut either solo or with Destiny's Child.

Beyonce's opening sum is the best Nielsen SoundScan week by any solo artist this year. It is the third-largest total by any 2006 album, exceeded only by Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang" (722,000) and Tool's "10,000 Days" (564,000).

"B'Day" is the fifth album in 2006 to start in the half-million-plus club, compared with four during the first 36 sales weeks of 2005.

RISING TIDE

Beyonce's "B'Day" becomes the 25th album to bow at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2006, but it manages a feat few of those have accomplished. Namely, it paces a gain over last year's same-week album sales.

Mind you, it's a slim gain of less than 1 percent, but a victory, nonetheless.

This signals the first uptick over comparable-week 2005 album volume since May and the first since April that wasn't triggered by a holiday shift.

The Mother's Day spike of 7.9 percent posted in the week that ended May 14 was a mirage, as the gift-giving occasion happened a week later in 2006 than it did in 2005. Similarly, the 20 percent advance reported for the week ending April 16 compared this year's Easter frame to a non-holiday week.

The two weeks leading up to Easter were the last occasions before now when album volume rose without the benefit of a calendar quirk.

In the one that ended April 2, when rapper T.I. bowed at No. 1 with a 522,000-unit start for "King," album sales were up by 4 percent over the same 2005 frame. A week later, the 700,000-plus start for the aforementioned Rascal Flatts album led a 15 percent rise in album volume.

Those advances were the first ones posted since the very first stanza of 2006, a rally that followed consecutive gains in the tracking weeks that ended with Christmas and New Year's Day.

Now that a crowded list of A-level talent is releasing albums in the last four months of the year, can the industry cut the 5 percent gap from last year's album pace? Not a safe bet, because the last four months of any year are chock-full of new superstar albums.

In the last trimester of 2003, a September-December rally that included new releases from the likes of OutKast, Alicia Keys, Toby Keith, the Beatles and Clay Aiken cut the prior-year album gap from 8.5 percent at the end of August to a more digestible 3.6 percent deficit by year's end.

But in 2004, almost all of the 7.2 percent gain over prior-year sales built during the first eight months got coughed up, slimming to a mere 1.3 percent lead by the year's 52nd week, despite a high-profile parade during the last four months that included new albums from U2, Shania Twain, Green Day and Ray Charles.

The gap in prior-year album sales increased slightly during the last four months of 2001 and 2002, but narrowed during the last trimester of 2005.

This year's march continues in the coming week with Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/ LoveSounds," which like "B'Day" had an initial shipment of 1.3 million and is projected to start with sales of around 600,000.

Reuters/Billboard

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/17/AR2006091700692.html

John - :)

FinnFreak

09-18-2006, 2:33am

The Hamilton Spectator - Sep 18, 2006

Elton John is coming to town

By Graham Rockingham

Pop superstar Elton John will be bringing his band to Hamilton's Copps Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 5.

Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities (HECFI) is expected to announce today that tickets will go on sale Friday morning for John's first concert here in seven years. The show will likely draw well over 15,000 fans. John is in the midst of touring to promote his latest album, The Captain and the Kid, written with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin. The new CD -- due in stores across Canada tomorrow -- is billed as an autobiographical sequel to John and Taupin's ambitious 1975 concept album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

For the tour, John has put together a band featuring some of the key musicians from his early 1970s glory days, including Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums.

During recent shows in the United States, John's concerts have included a half dozen songs from the new album, combined with boomer classics such as Rocket Man, Daniel, Levon, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Funeral for a Friend, Philadelphia Freedom and Bennie and the Jets.

The knighted superstar last performed in Hamilton in 1999 before more than 18,500.

That concert, in which John performed solo for almost three hours, broke a box office record for Copps Coliseum since surpassed by Shania Twain in 2003.

The 59-year-old English songwriter, known for his flamboyant dress and lavish lifestyle, is one of the most popular solo recording artists of all time.

During his nearly 40-year career, John has sold some 200 million records worldwide, with 29 consecutive Top 40 hits and 35 gold and 25 platinum albums.

As of last night, ticket prices for the Copps show were still unavailable.

Tickets for the previously announced Western Canadian leg of the tour, however, have generally ranged from $65 for upper level seats to $149 for the floor (plus service charges).

Tickets will be available at the Copps Coliseum box office or through Ticketmaster.

grockingham@thespec.com

905-526-3331

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1158531021172&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815

John - ;)

FinnFreak

09-18-2006, 8:56am

Blogcritics.org - September 18, 2006

Ring The Alarm:
Beyonce Is Not A Diva

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000H0MKGA.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V61153420_.jpg

By Clayton Perry

Before beginning, let’s set the record straight: this is not a hate-Beyoncé piece.

This comprehensive editorial was written to reveal one simple fact: Beyoncé is not a diva.

To be frank, over the years, the media has “anointed” the star of Destiny’s Child with a title she doesn't deserve: diva. This article is not meant to discount or ignore the talents Beyoncé possesses but, rather, to make the following clarification: Although Beyoncé is the lone survivor of the Destiny Child breakup (and she became a “household name” in the process), that does not make her a diva.

Here are the facts:

Fact #1: Although Beyoncé has won nine Grammys, only one is attributed solely to her: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (2003) for "Dangerously In Love 2".

Yes, Beyoncé has won nine Grammys. And, yes, Beyoncé has tied with Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones for the most number of Grammy awards presented to a female artist in a single night: five. The smoke and mirrors of numbers, however, blinds the truth: Unlike her peers, Beyoncé has never won (or been nominated for) any of the Grammy’s “Big Four” – Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, or Best New Artist.

Besides her lone achievement, three Grammys are associated with her stint with Destiny’s Child, while the remaining six stemmed from collaboration. And, although Beyoncé has sequestered 9 Grammys, all are limited to following categories: Rap and R&B. So much for her mainstream appeal.

The “fuzzy math” of Beyoncé’s Grammy count distorts and magnifies her musical achievements. Of Lauryn Hill’s eight, she can lay personal claim to three. Of Alicia Keys’ nine, five are hers alone. Of Norah Jones’ eight, she does not have to share three. Of Beyoncé’s nine, she can attribute only one solely to her own work. Thus, even among her contemporaries, without referencing established divas, Beyoncé does not compare. Moreover, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones have all be nominated for (and won) the Grammy’s Best New Artist award.

It is interesting to point out that adulation of Beyoncé, among her industry’s peers, was particularly spotty, even as they doled out five Grammy’s for Dangerously in Love. In 2004, Beyoncé lost out on a Best New Artist nod to Evanescence, 50 Cent, Fountains Of Wayne, Heather Headley and Sean Paul.

Beyoncé’s absence from the list, while receiving nominations in other categories, was an industrial-sized slap-in-the-face. Of her contemporaries, the Best New Artist Grammy has gone to Mariah Carey (1991), Toni Braxton (1994), Sheryl Crow (1995), LeAnn Rimes (1997), Paula Cole (1998), Lauryn Hill (1999), Christina Aguilera (2000), Shelby Lynne (2001), Alicia Keys (2002) and Norah Jones (2003). Needless to say, despite the “rise” of Beyoncé, it’s not far-fetched to assume that there was no oversight of her capabilities, let alone her industrial significance.

FACT #2: Although Beyoncé scored a #1 Billboard Hot 200 album with Dangerously in Love, it has only sold 4 million inside the United States.

Although Dangerously in Love sold a respectable amount, the album should, for significance’s sake, be scrutinized in context to (and in comparison against) Beyoncé’s past offerings with Destiny’s Child, as well as those of her fellow contemporaries. In regards to her past offerings, I will use Destiny’s Child’s The Writing’s on the Wall and Survivor as benchmarks, by which she will be compared, since these albums were released before Beyoncé’s solo effort. In regards to her solo effort, I will compare her against Lauryn Hill, a fellow contemporary, who also jettisoned from a popular, best-selling group, in pursuit of a solo career.

Stateside, Destiny’s Child’s The Writing’s on the Wall sold 8 million and Survivor, its follow-up, sold 4 million copies, of which 663,000 were sold in its first week of release. While Dangerously in Love matched the sales of Survivor, in regards to domestic sales, the album’s first week sales, which gauge the market’s anticipations for purchase, paled in comparison — totaling only 317,000 copies.

For an established star, breaking away from her less-talented group members, it’s alarming that her breakthrough album, in regards to overall and first-week sales, only compares to the group’s second-best effort. And, when compared against the group’s magnum opus, The Writing’s on the Wall, sales of Dangerously in Love only reached the halfway mark. Thus, in this context, the group is still bigger than the star.

And, when compared against Lauryn Hill, to put things in better perspective, Beyoncé really falls flat. Even though Lauryn Hill launched a solo career in the aftermath of the Fugee’s The Score, which established the group’s members as hip-hop icons, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill sold 8 million copies — double that of Dangerously in Love — and besting The Score by 2 million copies. Lauryn Hill was able to prove she could stand outside of the shadow of the Fugees.

Beyoncé has not. She still stands in the shadows of Destiny’s Child. To match Lauryn Hill’s feat, Beyoncé would need to sell a diamond album — no small task, indeed. But, if Beyoncé needs help, she could ask fellow contemporary, Norah Jones, for some tips. Jones’ solo debut, Come Away With Me, has been certified for sales of 10 million — 6 million more than Dangerously in Love.

While it might sound a bit facetious to dare Beyoncé to sell a diamond album, one would think it would be possible, especially with the marketing blitzes arranged by her business associates. Nevertheless, neither Beyoncé’s solo nor Destiny’s Child’s group career has spawned a RIAA diamond-level album — necessitating sales of 10 million copies in the U.S. Even in this post-Napster/iTunes day and age, the feat is possible.

Jewel, Norah Jones and Alanis Morissette have done it. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Britney Spears have done it twice. And Shania Twain has done it three times!

FACT #3: Although Beyoncé has amassed 7 #1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, none are for solo performances. Her first four come from her stint with Destiny's Child: "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Say My Name", "Independent Women Part 1" and "Bootylicious". The remaining three "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy" and "Check on It" are supported by Jay-Z, Sean Paul and Slim Thug, respectively.

Although amassing more #1 Billboard Hot 100 singles than her fellow, younger contemporaries (Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones), there is one candle, in retrospect, that Beyoncé can not hold against them or other established divas: a #1 single without a supporting guest star. It is interesting to note that Beyoncé has never reached the summit by herself. A real diva must be able to stand alone, in a memorable performance, as Janet did in “Control,” Whitney did in “The Star Spangled Banner” (at Super Bowl XXV), and Mariah did in “All I Want For Christmas Is You”.

In addition to these songs, Janet has reached the summit 10 times, Whitney 11 times and Mariah 13 times — all by themselves. Beyoncé’s count, once again: 0. As it stands, in the mainstream conscious, Beyoncé, for every one of “her” hits, will only be remembered as the siren of an all-star ensemble or duo.

In retrospect, what would “Crazy in Love” have been without Jay-Z’s memorable quip (“yes sir I'm cut from a different cloth/my texture is the best fur, I'm chinchilla”), “Baby Boy” without the Jamaican musings of post-Dutty Rock Sean Paul (“top top – girl / me and you together is a wrap – dat girl”) or “Check on It” without Slim Thug’s infusion of hip-hop (“good girls gotta get down with them gangstas”)?

FACT #4: Although Beyoncé has "sold" over 17 million albums, stateside, 13 million account for her Destiny's Child catalog.

When taking solo (U.S.) sales into consideration, Beyoncé lies at the bottom of the heap. Beyoncé would need to produce two additional renditions of Dangerously in Love to surpass Alicia Keys, three to eclipse Norah Jones, four to stand beside Toni Braxton, five to match Janet Jackson, thirteen to outdo Whitney Houston, and fourteen to compete with Mariah Carey. You get the idea…

Final Thoughts

Some may wonder why I would take the time to write an editorial on such a non-earth-shattering topic as whether Beyoncé is or is not a diva. The answer, if solely for therapeutic reasons, is to call into question (and shine a spotlight) on what the world considers “good” music. Throughout the new millennium, the music industry has pushed the likes of Britney Spears, Ashanti, and Hillary Duff to superstar status, while talented vocalists like Toni Braxton, Anastacia, and Deborah Cox have faded into the background, with little fanfare.

All things considered, this editorial is the by-product of various “water-cooler conversations” I’ve had over the years. Without a doubt, the ebb and flow of corporate and consumer interests have jump-started and abruptly ended countless musical careers. Consequently, in such a volatile market, it is understandable stars, like Beyoncé, use media machines to meticulously craft their persona, so that it can weather (and, hopefully, resist) external tampering.

Unfortunately, for the world, the manufactured gloss of Beyoncé — concealing warts and all — has prevented music fans from establishing a personal connection that was possible with Janet on “Together Again”, Madonna on “Human Nature” and Tina Turner on “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” Thus, it goes without saying that, to enjoy Beyoncé completely, one has to do it visually. No heartstrings required.

Beyoncé’s music can not be appreciated with one’s eyes closed, as with Aretha Franklin or Whitney Houston. For music lovers, there is no internal chemistry or song for the ages to look forward to. Sadly, the songstress, along with the songs she sings, is nothing more than a manufactured good created solely for commercial profit. And, as with most things, in this day and age, art is no longer the name of the game. Beyoncé even alluded to this fact, when she announced her forthcoming album, B’Day, was written and recorded in less than two weeks. Thus, from the outside looking in, the trappings of music’s “visual age” have trapped her.

And Beyoncé, of all people, should know musical masterpieces are not crafted in two weeks. Despite the massive media blitz for B’Day, the album’s lead single, “Déjà Vu”, received a lukewarm reception at radio — stalling at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay before making a quick descent. And the album’s second single, “Ring the Alarm”, seems uninspired — heavily resembling Kelis’ “Caught Out There”, in sound and style, and Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” in her performance at MTV’s 2006 Video Music Awards (08.31.2006). All in all, B’Day may just be the beginning of the end for Miss Beyoncé, regardless if it goes gold or platinum in its first week.

As the record stands, in my book: Beyoncé is not a diva.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/09/18/074153.php

di·va [dee-vuh, -vah]

[I]–noun, plural -vas, -ve [-ve]

a distinguished female singer; prima donna.

[Origin: 1880–85; < It < L dīva, fem. of dīvus god; cf. divine]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

di·va

n. pl. di·vas or di·ve

1. An operatic prima donna.
2. A very successful singer of nonoperatic music: a jazz diva.

goddess, feminine of divus, god. See dyeu- in Indo-European Roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

diva

n : a distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star [syn: prima donna]

WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University

...so... obviously to get raised to diva status, isn't an easy thing to pull off nowadays..?

...man, was that a useless piece of verbal masturbation, IMO...

John - ;)

Troll

09-18-2006, 9:05am

Thanks for the articles.

Troll

09-18-2006, 9:06am

Oldie: John and Bo Derek teach Shania to count to 10

by George Emerson

John Derek is the sixty-nine-year-old director of Bolero and Ghosts Can't Do It, both of which are classified as "soft porn" by The Film Encyclopedia. But today he is in the kitchen of the faux-Mediterranean villa on his ranch in Santa Ynez, California, almost apologizing for having made a country-and-western video. "I'm not into country music," insists Derek. He blames his wife, Bo, for taking him into shooting "this ****" -- a little number starring the Canadian country singer Shania Twain.

The video was for the song "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" from Twain's breakthrough album The Woman in Me. It features a shot of the singer strutting into a country diner and testing the seams of her scarlet evening dress. For the next few minutes, she flounces onto tabletops and into the occasional cowboy's lap, but attracts no notice from the ranch hands, who are intent on eating their breakfasts.

In reality, says Derek, the cowboys -- all locals who frequent the Long Horn diner near his ranch -- "were in high cotton. They couldn't believe it, with her rubbing against them, and dancing at their table, and singing to them."

Not everyone likes the video, however. "She's the highest-paid lap dancer in America," scoffed Nashville star Steve Earle.

But some scoffing is inevitable when an album sells almost 6-million units, and Derek seems unperturbed. "Everybody needs help," he says. "I mean, Christ, you know, if God came down we'd have to help Him, too -- visually, I mean."

Later in the conversation, Derek up-grades the Twain video to "sort of sweet and sort of silly." It helped, he says, to use a lot of young people: "They weren't hard men. They were sort of, ah, budding, budding young guys."

He steps away to buzz his wife through the ranch's security gate. In a moment, Bo, star of 10 and producer of the Twain video, glides into the kitchen. She professes admiration for Twain, "especially for hanging in with John, 'cause he's not easy. He's very opinionated, outspoken, and tough."

Tough at first, maybe, but now downright complimentary. Twain, he allows, has something. "I mean obviously she has it. It can't be just her ******* singing and wiggling around."

Saturday Night Magazine 1996

Troll

09-18-2006, 9:06am

Shania Twain - Rolling Stone review

McGee, David

(Nov 25, 1993. , Iss. 670; pg. 112)

In a year that has seen a number of exceptional country singles, one of the strongest is by a new country artist from Canada. Shania Twain would be worth watching if only for the incredible heart she displays on "What Made You Say That," the first single off Shania Twain, her debut album.

For the most part, Twain's brand of country is hard and bluesy, and her themes center on love in all its aspects. "What Made You Say That" communicates the exaltation of new love; "There Goes the Neighborhood" explores the aftermath of a community blown apart by divorce; "When He Leaves You," a straight-ahead country weeper written by Mike Reid and Kent Robbins, finds a wife matter-of-factly sympathizing with her unfaithful husband's soon-to-be ex-lover. Through it all, Twain works the vocal magic of an assured stylist whose every breath broadens a song's emotional landscape. The voice has a rough-hewn edge, falling somewhere in the Tanya Tucker-Trisha Yearwood realm, and range enough to get down and dirty ("Crime of the Century") or soft and tender ("Still Under the Weather").

Accompanied by a host of top-flight Nashville, Tenn., players, Twain displays the grit and maturity of a woman who has experienced life to the depths. Check out her unflinching foray into the pleasures of the flesh on the R&B-tinged "You Lay a Whole Lot of Love on Me"; when she soars and swoops on that number, you realize may be hearing one of the best country torch singers since Patsy Cline. True, Shania Twain has a long way to go before she reaches that exalted peak, but attention must be paid.

FinnFreak

09-18-2006, 9:11am

"I mean obviously she has it. It can't be just her god-damn singing and wiggling around." - John Derek

...a classic quote..!

John - :D:up:

canoilers

09-18-2006, 11:23am

Thanks for the articles very much. :D

RKSTFan

09-18-2006, 3:11pm

Blogcritics.org - September 18, 2006

Ring The Alarm:
Beyonce Is Not A Diva

...man, was that a useless piece of verbal masturbation, IMO...

John - ;)

The only good part of that article was the Shania mention and THIS (http://www.thenubianoproject.com/2006/blog_beyonce_rta03.jpg) illustration:

http://www.thenubianoproject.com/2006/blog_beyonce_rta03.jpg

:cool:

Troll

09-18-2006, 4:19pm

She has moved up on that list.

EilleenTwain88

09-19-2006, 12:58am

...man, was that a useless piece of verbal masturbation, IMO...
Absolutely. Comparing her to Alicia Kayes is just telling a daughter how much less matured she is compared to her mother... big news... :shocked: ?!?!

And about being a Diva in his books - if I were Beyonce I would only say: "Who really CARES!"

FinnFreak

09-19-2006, 4:31am

IT Business Net - 09/18/06

Major music labels negotiate with YouTube

By RACHEL KONRA, AP Technology Writer

A revenue-sharing deal between video startup YouTube Inc. and Warner Music Group Corp. is likely to be the first of a spate of content distribution partnerships between Web sites and music companies, industry officials say.

Warner Music Group Corp., the country's third-largest recording company with annual revenue of $3.5 billion, announced Monday a deal to distribute and license its copyrighted songs and other material through YouTube. The agreement means that millions of YouTube users can legally watch music videos or include popular songs in their own homemade videos that they post on YouTube.

Universal Music Group spokesman Peter LoFrumento confirmed Monday that Universal _ the top record label in the world, representing artists such as Eminem, Melissa Etheridge, Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain, Stevie Wonder and Sting _ is also negotiating with YouTube to strike a distribution deal.

Last week, Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris said that the company had to figure out some way to stop "copyright infringers" such as YouTube and News Corp.'s social networking site MySpace.com. Morris implied that, if YouTube negotiations fell through, Universal might resort to lawsuits or other measures.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment is also negotiating with YouTube, but a representative for New York-based Sony BMG said Monday that the company wouldn't comment on ongoing negotiations. Sony BMG labels include Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Sony BMG Nashville and Sony Urban Music.

Negotiations between the 19-month-old startup YouTube and the biggest players in the recording industry mark a major change in the previously chilly relationship between Hollywood and Silicon Valley.

For years, music and movie companies were reluctant to use the Internet to disseminate content because of the threat of piracy and copyright infringement. But business experts say the phenomenon of YouTube and MySpace _ particularly among young consumers _ have forced the labels to venture online.

Simultaneously, startups seem increasingly willing to come up with revenue-sharing business models that compensate recording executives and their artists, said Phil Leigh, president of market reseach group Inside Digital Media.

"The Warner deal is one more piece of evidence that the record labels are comprehending the value of free music distribution," Leigh said. "Instead of insisting on being paid every time, they're realizing they can use the Internet to popularize music and stimulate demand for both CD and digital downloads."

The Warner-YouTube deal, announced Monday, means that Warner will transfer thousands of its music videos, artist interviews and other digital content to San Mateo, Calif.-based YouTube, a Web site launched 19 months ago by two 20-something buddies.

Industry analysts praised the deal. Instead of protesting free digital distribution by sending cease and desist orders or lawsuits, as record labels did several years ago with Napster and other emerging sites, Warner and YouTube can work together.

Consumers will likely have access to Warner music videos and songs by the end of the year, when YouTube rolls out an advanced content identification and royalty reporting system to help minimize copyright infringement.

"Warner has been the most aggressive in all things digital, whether downloads or ring tones and now video," said American Technology Research Senior Analyst P.J. McNealy. "This is a natural progression and a pre-emptive strike to help eliminate potential copyright concerns."

Besides the namesake label, Warner is releasing titles from the Atlantic, Asylum, Elektra and Rhino labels, which feature artists Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Ray Charles, as well recent hit makers Linkin Park, Green Day and Faith Hill.

YouTube and Warner will share revenue from advertising on both Warner videos and videos that YouTube users upload that include content from Warner's music video library. YouTube users view more than 100 million videos per day.

Pacific Crest Securities analyst Steve Lidberg expects the Warner deal to be the first of many in upcoming months.

"The labels still want to be paid each time. What's changed is that they've found new monetization models where they can get paid," Lidberg said. "It's a new revenue source for Warner that they weren't getting paid from before. ... I'd expect this to be the foundation by which YouTube could have other discussions with the major labels in the marketplace."

Warner stock closed at $24.40 Monday, down 10 cents from Friday on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

http://www.itbusinessnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=66684

* * *

Toronto Star - Sep. 19, 2006

Canada's anti-Shania

http://www.thestar.com/images/thestar/img/060919_corb_lund_300.jpg
Alt-country crooner Corb Lund.

By JON FILSON

Although it's a paradox to be predictable, yet original, somehow, Corb Lund's made it work.

The line between "old school" and "old" is so slight — it'd be easy to dismiss Lund as a hick singer. Instead, he's being hailed as a modern practitioner of hardcore country and folk — think of a storytelling Johnny Cash, a Western Canadian Gordon Lightfoot, a kinder, gentler (and Canadian) Steve Earle. He's sincere, yes, but with a wry sense of humour and an eye for detail as a songwriter.

A musician, singer and song-writer for more than 20 years, Lund has found his most successful niche: He picked up a couple of new trophies earlier this month at the Canadian Country Music Awards, winning for album of the year with Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer — he says that was a "surprise" — and the roots artist of the year, which he was the odds-on favourite going in.

Touring everywhere "east of Winnipeg" throughout the fall, Lund and his band the Hurtin' Albertans are fresh off a gig in Aurora earlier this month but he's playing the GTA twice more: tonight at Tequila Willy's in Oshawa and again at Lee's Palace on Saturday.

It's been a long time coming: Lund's been in the country music scene for a decade now, but in a previous life, was the lead of the respected indie rock band The Smalls.

So he first toured the world as a hard rocker, but Lund's background as a country singer is legit: His family is fourth-generation cattle farmers near Taber, Alta. And you don't need to be from the farm yourself to realize his songs, from the current and catchy "Truck Got Stuck" to previous efforts on his disc Five Dollar Bill like "Roughest Neck Around" and "(Gonna) Shine Up My Boots" are all grounded in the real ins and outs of country living.

"There's not a whole lot of rural content in the lyrics any more," Lund says of the mainstream Nashville sound, over the phone from a tour stop in Montreal. "Our stuff does have a lot of rural content."

As a result, you can't read a review of Lund's work without coming across words like "sincere" or "honest." But it's not like he's up late at night, mulling over how to make his song lyrics 20 per cent more believable.

"It's the only way I really know how to do it," Lund says, of his song-writing. As for trying anything more obviously commerical than his more folksy tunes: "I don't think I'd know how."

His lyrics are original. Sure, he's got some drinking tunes — "Time to Switch to Whiskey" — but he doesn't do the obvious "hurtin'" country songs of love and loss.

"It's not that interesting to me, as a songwriter. I just write what I find interesting. That path has been trodden so many times," he explains. "I've never written a hypothetical love song, like the kind they do in Nashville.

"Everything I've written about has been something personal."

Lund is being hailed as a revolutionary in some quarters — but how can a "roots" singer sound so original and fresh? Arguably, Lund's success suggests the "New Country" wave has evolved to the end of its rope. Although Shania Twain reinvigorated the industry by jiggling onto the scene more than a decade ago, New Country arguably reached an apex in 2004 when she released the single "Party for Two" off her Greatest Hits CD. Sold in both a pop version and a country version, unless you heard the twin takes back-to-back, you couldn't tell which you were listening to. The unintentional message was clear: Like Jeff Goldblum and the fly in The Fly, the merger of pop and country had become complete ... producing something that had no reason to exist.

So is Lund ahead of the curve, as country swings back to its roots? "There's different kinds of country music," is all he'll say.

"But only a little bit of it gets on the radio."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1158573307866&call_pageid=968332188492

hmm... Shania's more than "just" country...

:huh: ..."no reason to exist"..? hah. :p

...every reason... and the world loves her for that.

John - ;)

Troll

09-19-2006, 9:03am

Thanks for the articles John.

Troll

09-19-2006, 9:03am

The Shania show

James Hunter

Shania Twain is in to it. In one warmly lit video directed (this is true) by John and Bo Derek, she's wearing jeans and a cropped T-shirt under a vest, taking an unsuspecting pasture by storm on the force of sheer denim. The vibe is country by Ethan Allen and Playboy. In another, the air grows golder, the mood pensive, and she executes small, contemplative steps through a kind of damp ballet, arms rising, fingertips meeting silkily above her head. The vibe is sex by Victoria's Secret, Danielle Steele, at Benatar, and the Falafel Palace. In yet another, she works up a sweat hanging out onstage with professional mall kids, dancing and laughing and, in silhouette, beating on a drum. The vibe is rhythm by Maxell and Janet Jackson. And in her latest, she dons leather, drives go-karts, outlines her lips in brown, and makes silly faces. The vibe--toy gearheads on the loose in leisureland--is Six Flags over Gucci.

Over a year after this string of clips from 1995's The Woman in Me (which has now sold over 6 million copies for Mercury Records) finally gave country its own videobabe, Shania Twain says she loves being an image. "Tomboy," as she characterizes "Any Man of Mine." So feminine that you get lost in it," as she remembers "The Woman in Me." "Youthful," as she describes "(If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here." And "funky-glam, corny-fun, goofy-fun," as she calls "You Win My Love."

Of them all, she says, most definitely "fun"--which is what these videos are: highly conscious attempts to convey fun. She says she seeks to be en of a "chameleon," in fact, to complement the characters of the songs she writes with Robert John "Mutt" Lange, her husband and scarily excellent all-purpose megaproducer. "I'm going to have a heck of a time when I go on tour," says Twain, whose refusal to take her success on the road until she's good and ready has mystified and, of course, offended Nashville. "There are a lot of sides to me, and I enjoy being all of them. It's what's so wonder about being an entertainer. I get to take on personalities that are naturally in me already."

Twain is a Canadian who had released one earlier album, done with relatively sober Nashville vets, and Lange is an elusive South African who during the '80s pretty much invented the scaled-back, big-ticket, unfazed juiciness of international mega-rock and pop styles. They spent much time and money--centuries and fortunes by country standards--making The Woman in Me. In retrospect, it should have happened at least five years earlier, this achingly professional outside interpretation of post-Garth country. But appearing on lazy Nashville time doesn't make the album anyless what it is.

On its own terms--which is how The Woman in Me requires you to take it--Twain's record is super. The producer of the Cars, Def Leppard, Billy Ocean, Bryan Adams, and others tweaks contemporary Nashville's beloved digital buzzes with flowing impersonations of analog: "I'm Outta Here" is virtually a country hommage to Janet Jackson and Jam-Lewis's "If"; and on a traditional excursion like "No One Needs To Know the current single, Shania and Mutt actually sound as though they can imagine nothing more clever than jarring down like Gram and Emmylou in sneakers. Still, it's doubtful that Twain's fans fancy themselves in the company of a Reba McEntire or Trisha Yearwood, of a virtuoso country singer. What they hear, instead, is a woman customizing for herself what already makes Nashville magnetic for Jeep Cherokee drivers.

And, conversely, what makes it problematic for the keepers of good taste, who can't pronounce her name and wonder if Shania's related to Mark. For this sort of country observer, troubled by someone who proudly offers mall culture at a time when subcultures are seen as the pure sources of what eventually sends Doc Martens to national shopping centers, Shania's achievements with fun negate themselves on contact; they inspire a yearning for something else entirely: the naively imagined pure. So Twain becomes the villainess in an entertainment-world morality play where honky-tonk and old countrypolitan records (20 years after they actually were in the air, as Shania is now) get respect and Twain gets trashed for not doing something she isn't even trying to do.

Denied the star role of pure in this simple little play, shania becomes phony by dramatic default; bluegrassy, folkie, or maximum-mood women like Alison Kraus, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, or this season's new ungaudy kid on the range, Gillian Welch, get awarded all the heroic parts. But these days, when audiences support both sides of this stupid and very outdated continuum, it's illogical to conceive either camp is real. Much more accurate is to say that Shania, Gillian, and millions of record buyers and TV viewers occupy a complicated world of often jarring points of view, and that what drives the latter may not inspire the former, and vice versa. Writing Shania off entirely misses not only the delight of a woman who has obviously worked hard and won, but more importantly the very complications that make pop interesting these days. Writing her off entirely misses enormous patches of (gulp) American culture.

Credheads usually find no place for Shania in their salons, but the reverse is far less true of Shania's fans. They aren't like '70s Bowie followers, for example, trying to build of pure glitter a society for themselves: flash is a welcome and mostly momentary diversion for them, not a worldview. It's something like this: where many Nashville hunks and divas still proudly weep over busted-up love, then recover with novelty tunes that sound like technological versions of Texan or Tennessee pinball, and where singer-songwriters frown and studiously compete at the country chess of emotions and origins (not to mention all those threatened traditions), Shania and Mutt offer vacation evenings of cagey backgammon. At Eurodisney.

Their view, however, is actually that country in the '90s needn't be, uh, foreign at all. Little about what might make country exotic or antique interests them; compelled by the plush instead of the creaky, they're off trying to be seen and heard as canny entertainment honchos, hardly flukes. "Listen," Shania told me, "the audience has sophisticated ears--and eyes. The audience that watches any kind of television and listens to any kind of audio gets the top quality just through ads. Hey, they have to be able to go from a Coke ad or a Janet Jackson record to my video or record ad not notice the difference in quality. There's no reason we shouldn't be at that level. That's absolutely been my goal right from the beginning."

canoilers

09-19-2006, 9:32am

Thanks for the articles, although I did like one alittle better than the other. Can you guess which one that would be. :p

Thanks for the article Andrew. :D

Alex

09-19-2006, 4:01pm

The shania show by James Hunter?:p

Thanks for the articles:D

canoilers

09-20-2006, 2:54pm

Yeah thats it, talk about an A-hole. :p

FinnFreak

09-21-2006, 7:35am

Bradenton Herald - Thu, Sep. 21, 2006

Tracy Lawrence reclaims his career

WADE TATANGELO, The Herald

Country music fans are a loyal bunch. The same cannot be said about the men and women who determine who will be the next Nashville star. The suits on Music Row are a ruthless gang responsible for acts like unceremoniously dumping Johnny Cash during the 1980s.

So it should come as no surprise that singer Tracy Lawrence was put out to pasture after the new millennium found him unable to produce hits like he did in the 1990s, a decade that found him living large in Music City. During the Clinton years, Lawrence peppered the airwaves with more than a dozen songs that reached No. 1 on Billboard's country chart including "Alibis," "Can't Break it to My Heart," "My Second Home," and "If the Good Die Young," all of which came from his 1993 album "Alibis" that sold more than a million copies. A large crowd is expected at the Dallas Bull in Tampa on Friday to hear Lawrence perform those familiar songs and a couple of new ones.

Dismissing a well-known name like Tracy Lawrence, who also co-writes much of his material, in favor of spending serious money on grooming an unknown seems a bit puzzling. However, it has been a growing trend in country music for more than a decade.

"They're about flavor of the month; the more established you are the more trouble you cause," Lawrence said during a recent phone interview. "The young artists are naive and just excited to get a shot at being a star."

The Texas native went on to recount being told that the major labels are only interested in an artist that can sell 1,000,000 copies of an album, a feat that is usually only accomplished by country artists with "crossover" appeal (and a decidedly pop sound) like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain and Rascal Flatts.

"Look at George Strait in the 1980s, he never sold a million copies of an album but he had a lot of gold ones" for sales of more than 500,000, Lawrence said. "The music business is broke. They spend a million bucks to break a new artist instead of letting artists evolve - they have it all backwards."

Lawrence might sound bitter about his treatment at the hands of record label heads, but when the subject switched to the future, the singer was optimistic. He recently launched Rocky Comfort Records (RCR) and has a new album titled "For the Love" planned to come out this winter.

"My brother and I just decided it was time to make that step," Lawrence said. "A lot of guys who had hits in the past are having more success on their own instead of being on some big (record) label."

Lawrence recently issued the single "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" to country radio, which marks the first release for Rocky Comfort Records.

"I just love the message of it," Lawrence said. "It's a downhome country song about remembering where you came from."

Lawrence said the song is going over "really, really well" when he performs it in concert.

"Country fans stay with you a long time," he added. "There's such a wide age range of fans coming to the shows and singing the words to all the songs, it's just great."

Wade Tatangelo, features writer/music critic, can be reached at 745-7051 or wtatangelo@

HeraldToday.com. His blog, "In Tune with Wade," can be found at http://blogs.bradenton.com.

BEST BACK-TO-BACK SHOWS

What: Gasoline Heart, Mike Dunn and The Kings of New England, 10 p.m. Friday, Rockerfellas; Mike Dunn and The Kings of New England 10 p.m. Saturday, Rasher Tierneys

Why: Two excellent Orlando area bands specializing in strong songwriting and shimmering folk/rock/pop arrangements come to Bradenton for back-to-back performances (see Night Moves column on next page).

Wade, music critic, is a big fan of shimmering folk/rock/pop tunes

If you go

What: Tracy Lawrence

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Dallas Bull, 8222 U.S. Highway 301 S., Riverview

Tickets: $25

Information: (813) 987-2855 or bull.com

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/entertainment/15558118.htm

* * *

Romford Recorder - 21 September 2006

Beverley leaves no Stone unturned

http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/london24/assets/images/dynamicFeed/TaylorM29421092006.P02.jpg

ANYONE who works in an office has heard such cringeworthy phrases as "singing from the same hymn sheet" or "reading from the right notes", but what happens when you try and combine the two?

Well, you end up jacking in your career as as an administration assistant at a medical recruitment agency, and opt to become a jazz singer - and occasional Audrey Hepburn lookalike. Or at least you do if your name is Beverley Stone.
Chigwell girl Beverley, 31, took the decision, 12 years ago and hasn't looked back since. She said: "It was a scary decision to give up a 9 to 5 office job, but I found my vocation, and have gone on to travel the world".

A former pupil at Valentines High School, Gants Hill, Beverley has been singing professionally as a singer-songwriter for nearly 12 years, but it was just four months ago, that she took the decision to form her own band and now she couldn't be happier.

She said: "It's such a great buzz to have a band behind you. I'm working with some great musicians, especially my pianist Steve Lodder, who has worked with people like Paul McCartney through the years, but they are all great guys and great players."

But don't just take Beverley's own word for it. Go and see the Beverley Stone Band in the flesh when they appear at at the Greenwich Jazz Festival, Peninsula Chinese Restaurant, Holiday Inn Express, Bugsby's Way Greenwich, next Thursday, September 29 from 7.30-10.30pm.

Closer to home, the band will take to the stage at Beverley's local stomping ground, Ye Olde Kings Head, High Road, Chigwell, on Monday, October16 from 8.30-10.30pm. Tickets are £5 from 020 8500 202.

Looking further ahead, Beverley has also been asked to appear at the London Jazz festival at Shanghai Blues, High Holborn on November 10 and 11 and also enjoys a monthly residency on the prestigious Bateaux London boat in the capital.

Jewish girl Beverley, who thanks "the closeness of my family, the Jewish humour and the food," for her grounding in life, is ambitious for quality, rather than reward.

She said: "It's all going very well at the moment, but obviously, in my dreams, I hope it will get better and better. My fans keep me going and give me the impetus to go on. It would nice to get an album recorded - especially on a major label - not so much for the fame and success but for the quality of recording we could put out and also to know that people like your music.
"That's the sort of fame that matters - that people like what you are doing."

But what of Beverley herself? She confesses to being influenced by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jnr, Aretha Franklin, Shania Twain, Ella Fitzgerald, Lisa Stansfield, Billie Holiday, and "anyone else that can sing", but what does she listen to when she is off stage?

She said: "I listen to so much music. It's a real "mixed bag" - everyone from Peggy Lee, Carole King and Joni Mitchell, and bands like The Beatles, Stereophonics, and (oh dear) Bon Jovi. I think if you're really into Essex, it's too difficult to pin it down to favourite artists or albums."

But what of Audrey Hepburn? Away from the jazz scene, Beverley also belongs to a series of look-alike agencies, as, throughout her life, she had been told that she looked like the famous big screen icon.

"It was my mum who suggested it. I get the Audrey Hepburn thing quite a lot, so thought it would be a good idea to sign up. You get to travel to some interesting places like Cannes and meet some interesting people. And it helps that I can sing Moon River!"

You can log on to Beverley's website at www.myspace.com/beverleystoneband.

http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/whatson/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=whatsonmisc&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatsonnewham&itemid=WeED21%20Sep%202006%2010%3A29%3A03%3A140

John - :)

canoilers

09-21-2006, 8:19am

Thanks for the article John.

Troll

09-21-2006, 9:01am

Thanks for the articles John.

FinnFreak

09-22-2006, 2:24am

Sunbury Daily Item - September 22, 2006

Sports: GO-KARTS

Mariah Libby racing toward a dream,
one step at a time

By Brad Ulrich, For The Daily Item

Country singer Shania Twain cut a song a few years ago that suits Mariah Libby perfectly.

The attractive 15-year-old Mifflinburg High School sophomore is a former cheerleader who has grown into a young lady and now hates the cheerleader image.

The song is "She's not just a pretty face."

Libby, daughter of Gary and Fawn Libby, excels in a sport dominated by men, and has dreams of one day following the lead of women like Danica Patrick and Erin Crocker who have broken into the upper levels of auto racing. To reach that level, Libby knows she has to prove, as the second chorus line in Twain's song says, "She's got everything it takes."

Mariah Libby is a racer who works on her own racing equipment. She gets her hands dirty, gets her share of bruises and bumps and learns every time she goes to the track. Some days she learns from her driving mistakes, other days she learns about setting up her go-kart to maximize performance. The lessons she learns on the track are relayed to her dad, who acts as her crew chief. She learns from the changes made on how to set up her kart. She also learns about her driving and what to do differently the next time a similar situation arises.

Libby races regularly in the Junior Restricted class at Selinsgrove Raceway Park. The division is loaded with proven talent and features not one but two defending track champions. Tyler Snook and Eric Aucker are her greatest rivals. The battle for the championship has been one of the closest at the speedway this year.

Libby has proven that she has talent competing against the pair of extremely talented young men. She gives credit to both young men for racing her clean all season without on track incidents and allowing the trio to learn and improve there racing skills together.

Last season was much the same, competing against Corbin Leiby, who has won multiple track championships. Leiby moved up a class this year and has already cliched a track championship in winged karts.

Libby said, "This year has been my best, whether I win the championship or not; I have six wins."

Five of those wins have been in official points races, the other coming early in the season before the points race began. As far as the point race, Libby sits in third position behind Snook and Aucker.

Libby has traveled nearly the entire east coast to compete. Traveling has been limited this season because of finances, but 2005 was very good. Libby competed in Daytona and qualified third in a field of 101 go-karts. She finished a solid 11th against the stellar field. She qualified in every race on the road and enjoyed competing at the different tracks.

Closer to home, Libby picked up victories at Silver Springs Speedway, Little Greenwood and Penns Creek Raceway Park. She now has 12 career wins on her resume.

Libby plans on moving to the Lites division in 2007. Lites usually carry a larger field of karts and the competition is tough. She would like to move to a full-sized stock car or micro sprint if additional sponsorships or ride should open up. Libby's 16-year-old brother, Branden, will be doing just that next season as he steps up to Roadrunners.

Mariah racer understands that moving up the racing ladder involves more than just skill. The financial burden becomes greater with each step and sponsorship is a valuable tool to reaching her dreams. Mariah is very receptive to any media opportunity she receives and knows any exposure could possibly lead to something bigger for her career. Around the pit area, the personable young lady can be see talking and enjoying the many friendships she has made through the sport she loves.

Mariah looks to many local drivers for inspiration in her career. Drivers like late model racer Jeff Rine, sprint drivers Davey Franek and Jordan Frontz, and go-kart racer Chuck Paige have shown leadership and driving skills which have helped her.

Libby would like to thank all her sponsors who have supported her throughout her career. She gives special recognition to her family for always being there and encouraging and supporting her in every way possible, "My family is everything to me," she says.

Mariah has the heart of a champion, the personality of a champion, and the desire to be a champion. She's not just a pretty face. Time will tell if she reaches her dreams. Luck will play a major factor and her personal efforts will reflect the outcome. Regardless of the outcome, she does have what it takes to be a champion both on and off the speedway. She has already proven that.

http://www.dailyitem.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060922/SPORTS/609220301/-1/NEWS

John - ;)