“Pop Idol” winner Will Young notched up a third week at the top of the British pop charts on Sunday. The 23-year-old saw off spoof rapper Ali G and U.S. reggae star Shaggy whose duet “Me Julie” came straight in at No. 2, according to The Official UK Charts Company. Young has sold more than 1.5 million copies of the double-A side “Anything is Possible/Evergreen” in less than a month. It means Young will next week go head-to-head for the No. 1 spot with Gareth Gates, the 17-year-old singer he beat to win the “Pop Idol” television talent show. Gates… Read more »
Chart-topping singer Dido had her nomination for a British best-newcomer award revoked Wednesday, after officials realized she wasn’t that new after all. The singer, who rose to stardom after rapper Eminem chose her song “Thank You” as the backing track to his chart-topper “Stan,” was nominated Monday in the category for a Brit Award, Britain’s equivalent of the Grammys. Observers pointed out that the 30-year-old Dido, whose real name is Florian Cloud De Bounevialle Armstrong, had been nominated for best female artist the previous year. The Official U.K. Charts Company, which compiled the list of eligible artists, said Wednesday it… Read more »
Sir Mick Jagger? The Rolling Stones frontman seems to think that should be the case, especially since some of his peers have been knighted, including Paul McCartney and Elton John. In the documentary Being Mick that airs on Thanksgiving Day on ABC, Jagger expresses a bit of irritation that he’s never received any sort of title from his homeland-in one segment he imitates Britain’s Prince Charles, adopting a haughty accent as he affects the prince saying, “Is it true you haven’t got anything at all? That is rather odd, isn’t it?” Being Mick is part of the promotional campaign for… Read more »
PJ Harvey won Britain’s most prestigious popular music award on Tuesday, but was unable to accept it in person after being stranded in the United States following devastating attacks on New York and Washington. The British singer-songwriter told the Mercury Award ceremony in London by telephone from Washington: “It has been a very surreal day. All I can say is thank you very much I am absolutely stunned.” Referring to the day’s tragedy she said: “The whole city is in a state of shock.” U.S. authorities halted all civilian flights until at least midday on Wednesday after three hijacked domestic… Read more »
Girl band Atomic Kitten have rocketed to number one in the British pop charts with a remake of the Bangles’ “Eternal Flame.” The trio’s rendition of the 80s hit booted Robbie Williams’ “Eternity/Road To Mandalay” out of the top spot to number three, behind “Bootylicious” by Destiny’s Child. American boy band O-Town entered the charts in fourth place this week with “All or Nothing,” while Eminem and his group D12 were at number five with “Purple Hills.” “Eternal Flame,” co-written by Bangles member Susanna Hoffs, was a U.S. No. 1 hit for her group in 1988.
Bad boy rapper Eminem is to appear naked in a special centerfold for a British magazine, it was confirmed on Tuesday. Eminem, known for his homophobic and misogynistic lyrics, will down his trademark chainsaw and will be pictured with only a stick of dynamite to protect his dignity in June’s UK edition of women’s magazine Cosmopolitan. “He will be appearing naked in a sealed section in the June issue,” a spokeswoman for Cosmopolitan told Reuters. The controversial 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, will join 16 mainly British celebrities, including soap actors and pop stars, for the… Read more »
Two of Britain’s biggest toy retailers said Monday they will not sell a new line of Eminem action figures because the dolls didn’t fit with the retailers’ images, according to Reuters. “We were offered the Eminem doll but decided not to stock it,” Nicole Lander, a spokesperson for Woolworths, told the news agency. “The visual impact didn’t fit with our family environment and having it around a Barbie doll, for example, didn’t feel right.” Hamleys, described by Reuters as Britain’s most famous toy retailer, also said it would not stock the controversial rapper’s three different figures. American toy stores were… Read more »
British duo Bob Vylan is making their way to the U.S. and Canada this fall to share their new record. On April 5, the two released their widely acclaimed album Humble As The Sun featuring tracks “Makes Me Violent” and “Hunger Games.” The route kicks off on September 24 at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right and concludes on October 15 at Los Angeles’ The Roxy Theatre. Additionally, you can catch the band at Louder Than Life and Aftershock Festival. Recently, the duo shared their album’s successes on social media, which includes ranking No. 1 on the Hip-Hop and R&B Albums Chart.… Read more »
It has been quite a few years of ups and downs for Games We Play. His debut record, Life’s Going Great, released via Fueled By Ramen/DCD2 Records, focuses on what we lose when we follow our dreams. Shining the spotlight on insecurity, burn-out, and a broken marriage, Emmyn Calleiro, the mastermind behind the project, writes about the side of success that is rarely discussed but often felt immensely. His lyrics are unapologetically honest, cutting straight to the substance of everything that has happened in the last 12 months. But rather than wallowing, Games We Play turns his pain into self-deprecating… Read more »
While She Sleeps has released their new single, “To The Flowers,” off of their upcoming full-length, Self Hell. It will be their first full-length since 2021 and comes out on March 29. The British act also dropped a cinematic music video to accompany the single to showcase the loss of simplicity and optimism. Vocalist Loz Taylor explains that the video flows through continuous tragedy. “‘To The Flowers’ is emotional, tragic, and real life. We intended to make a short film that encompasses the real emotions of relationships, grief, love, death, and pain.” With scenes running in motion, cut scenes of… Read more »
