Melody Plant

Kylie has released her 10th studio album with more confidence than ever. And she has scooted off to Germany to promote it.

The miniature singer, most recently in the news for being humiliated by a saucy statue created by Madame Tussauds, was cleared last year of the horrible disease; Breast Cancer, which knocked her down in 2005.

And now as she promotes her new album X, she says, “I think it’s not so difficult to write a decent song but to write a great song is a difficult thing. I like the challenge of trying to find that and at the very least, writing something that I enjoy singing and all people love. It took me a number of years to find my confidence to do that but now it’s just part of me.”

What a trooper. I remember listening to Kylie when I was a kid and she is still going strong; with the right attitude and music that pleases the new generations as the times move on. You go girl!

Hannah Montana’s Barbie girl Miley Cyrus turned 15 and the only thing her parents say she wished for was to celebrate her birthday on the stage, with her hometown fans.

Daddy opened her act with a guitar solo and from that point on the young star took the stage. 15,000 people congratulated her on her 15th birthday at the end of the act, singing in a choice a nice happy birthday. Miley seemed quite sincere when she told the crowd that she is living her dream both for her and for millions of young Americans out there that can get the big break she did. The innocent 15 year old wishes every kid could live her dream along with her.

We should already come to expect that after showing up for their first show together and the fact that their reunion tour is just around the corner, another Spice Girls blog would be up. This time around, it’s from Sporty Mel C. She talked about rehearsing, performing and even nerves.

She’s incredibly excited about their upcoming tour and spoke about the rehearsals saying that she thinks after all of it, they may just as well run a marathon. She also talked about the rush of being on stage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last week but said that she was incredibly nervous and even shaking the whole time.

I’m sure the nerves will be gone come the start of their tour.

Whoever said that reality TV stars and alums can’t make it big in the real world should really start eating their words now. But in the case of American Idol alums Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry, was there ever really any doubt?

The two singers won big at the 2007 American Music Awards by picking up three awards each. Carrie won for Favorite Female Country Artist, Favorite Country Album for ‘Some Hearts’ and the Audience Text-in Award for Favorite Artist just days after winning big at the Country Music Association Awards. Chris Daughtry and his band took home Breakthrough Artist, Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Contemporary Artist.

Congrats to both!

Leona Lewis’ debut record ‘Spirit’ officially took the #1 spot in the UK albums’ chart this week and it broke records on the way there. Her album because the UK’s fastest-selling debut of all time selling an amazing 375,872 copies!

Leona was up against the Spice Girls, Led Zeppelin and Celine Dion. She actually beat the #2 Spice Girls by over 300,000 copies. Wow! Leona’s current single ‘Bleeding Love’ is #1 on the singles’ chart for the fourth consecutive week, seeling a total of 563,702 copies.

Leona’s album ‘Spirit’ is now scheduled for release in the US on March 18th.

There is another military man attempting to reach heights in the world of music, and he is Beautiful. Jay Picton is a physical trainer in the Navy, sporting rugged good looks and a promising music career. His single, Unexplainable Reason, has already topped an independent online chart, and he has hopes it will breakthrough to the regular pop charts in the not too distant future.

He claims to have hit the music business by accident. After a knee injury put him on sick leave he began to learn the guitar and write his own songs. Meeting his girlfriend then gave him the opportunity he needed; introducing him to Clyde Ward of Worldwide Productions. Clyde has worked with many great acts including Lionel Richie; whom our budding star has now recorded 3 songs with.

Yes girls, he does have a girlfriend (sigh); but just look at that picture. Isn’t he gorge? Keep those ears peeled for Jay Picton on your radio; if his voice matches his looks he is definitely on for a winner.

In a sneak peek at their highly anticipated world tour that will kick off on December 2 in Vancouver, the members of the biggest British girl group to ever come out in the 1990s almost stole the show from feathered and jiggly-bodied models on the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held on Thursday.

The Spice Girls reunited and performed for the first time in almost 10 years. They performed one of their classic singles ‘Stop’ decked out in 1950s-style military outfits complete with male backup dancers. After a change of clothes and decades, the girls came out to perform their latest single ‘Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)’ decked out in 1930s evening gowns.

Too bad they lipsynched the whole time.

It just goes to show that you can never be too young to be successful. The Jonas Brothers’ debut disc, ‘Jonas Brothers’ under Hollywood Records has now officially gone gold by selling over 500,000 copies.

15-year old Nick, 18-year old Joe and 20-year old Kevin are definitely headed for the big time as they’re now appearing with big time artists and even performing on big time shows. On Tuesday, the pop rock group of brothers joined Alicia Keys on TRL. And come Sunday, November 18, the rest of the world can see them perform at the 2007 American Music Awards.

Amy Winehouse parties so hard during tour that her tour manager just can’t hang with her anymore. Thom Stone has reportedly quit as her tour manager because he is worried about that Amy is ruining his health. Haha, we all knew this was coming and let me tell you fans out there who think she might be able to claw back, this is only the beginning and there are more lows for her to come. Winehouse disappointed fans that were anxious to see her at the opening night of her U.K. tour in England, on Wednesday. Many of the anxious fans were so pissed at her lackluster performance that they walked out mid-show and demanded a refund. Just as I said there are more lows from her to come and she really is headed the Britney way, lackluster music and bad performance, dipping ratings and a complete trainwreck that’s what she is headed towards.

Pop wreck Britney Spears has become so unreliable that her video shoot for ‘Piece of Me’ has been canceled. The video production team had already prepared for a no-show by Britney and hired a stand in during rehearsals–and possibly for the actual shoot itself. yeah I don’t believe her camp neither…especially since they gave 100 excuses why she failed the drug test and none of them could be the closest to the truth. We all know that Britney is not working these days all she is involved in is her custody case and that’s on top of her agenda right now. Whether she manages to win the custody or part custody or visiting rights does not matter at all. She has been reported to driving with the kids time and again and breaking rules at will. SO if she cancels a video shoot is not at all a surprise to me. When she will be able to come out this wreck situation is not one that we all can sit and predict. Her album is doing well but she not.

Kelly Clarkson arrived at the 9th annual Motorola anniversary party in Los Angeles on Thursday. The American Idol alum was there not as a simple guest but a performer. She performed a 12-song set which included some of her more loveable hits, namely ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Since U Been Gone’.Her performance also included some of her newer songs, which by the way, cannot be classified as hits. But honestly, I’d rather not talk about it. It honestly pains me.

But for those that still choose to believe in her, look out for her on Monday night when she performs at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.

Whether it’s a sign of the times or just plain capitalist idea, you can take it for what it’s worth. Jennifer Lopez has never been shy to put her name on whatever product. Now, she’s putting her name on a USB stick by releasing her new album ‘Brave’ in one.

The typical plastic USB drive is out for JLo but in comes a classy block of African Mahogany or African Blackwood to encase her singing. The USB stick also comes complete with an autograph. It doesn’t come cheap though because the techie styled showcasing of her album is available for $80.

Tori Amos recently had a concert in Chicago this week and everyone that left the concert could only talk about one thing: her performance of the song ‘Me and a Gun’. It’s the seminal song off her debut album that talks about rape.

Tori dressed up as her ‘Pip’ character and performed the usually acapella song with her full band. At the end of the song, she even brought out some props in the form of a gun and a knife. That’s some heavy stuff right there.

On a lighter note, the singer debuted the song ‘Raspberry Swirl’ for the first time on her current tour. It’s the first time she performed that song in years.

Pony Up! are an all-female four piece hailing out of Montreal, Canada. They apparently formed on New Year’s Eve 2002 and since then have been busy touring Australia, North America, and now the United Kingdom.
Perhaps there is something special here then that did not reveal itself on the night. Perhaps it was just the bad P.A. system that made them sound boring, nervous and not particularly interesting to watch or listen to.
To be fair to the girls, every now and then you do hear a lot of potential in their playing, and they do have a few decent songs. The only problem seems to be that because they are quite a novelty in the world of rock ‘n’ roll, a girl band who are not pop - it seems that perhaps they have been let off more easily than their male counterparts would be. Sleater-Kinney they are not, though they seem to be compared to them quite often. Another part of the ‘not enough girls with guitars’ problem one must assume.
The only ray of sunshine in the band was guitarist Sarah Moundroukas who seemed to be a very talented performer. Any time she took up the reins of a song, the interest of the crowd seemed to perk up just a little bit more than usual.
Perhaps if she were the lead singer in the group the whole quality of the band would be much better. Sadly the real lead vocalist Laura Wills seems to enjoy being the centre of attention far too much for that to ever happen, even if she cannot sing very well.

We first saw Sheryl Crow do it with adopted son Wyatt, then we saw Liv Tyler do it with her son and her father and now we have Gwen Stefani. For the last concert of The Sweet Escape Tour on Saturday at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, California, the platinum blonde singer brought out her 17-month old son Kingston on stage with her.

Kingston wore the same kid-friendly noise-canceling headphones that the other babies did when they were brought on stage. A video of his on-stage appearance has made it onto YouTube. There was an ‘aww’ moment when the littly tyke started banging on the keyboard on stage. How cute!

Singers need more than the spotlight though, and even ones who have sold over 200 million albums still want to feel like they have something to offer. So she’s left the lights of Vegas behind, stepped back into the real world and in fairness to her, brought along a clutch of songs that actually may change a few people’s opinion.

Amongst the list of luminaries who twiddle a knob, knock out a lyric or strum a guitar for her are the all-conquering Timbaland, king of R’n’B balladry R Kelly, ex-Evanescence axe wielder Ben Moody, Christina Aguilera and Pink co-writer Linda Perry… and the always entertaining Dave Stewart, whose influence stretches so far that there’s even a lyrical snip of The Eurythemics’ “Here Comes The Rain Again” woven into the title track.

The highlights are two very different songs. In the power ballad corner, she shows off her larynx with a belting take on Heart’s endless queen of soft rock, “Alone”. Up against it for the title is the more contemporary “Shadow Of Love”, a song with enough disco and fun for Kylie to sing it.

Taking Chances doesn’t quite do what the title suggests, but it does push Celine Dion to the edge of her comfort zone and show an artist who not only wants to remain relevant but is prepared to work hard to stay that way.

Sad news for those that have been looking forward to seeing Kylie Minogue in concert. The Australian singer has nixed plans for a world tour next year.

Kylie recently overcame a battle with breast cancer so it’s understandable that she’s concerned that the rigors of touring would take too much of a toll on her health. On the advice of her doctors, she has decided that she will not go on the road.

Kylie has released a statement regarding the matter saying “The tour is not going to happen, it is far too soon. I can’t do it next year. It kind of breaks my heart because that is what I’m in this business for. Not being able to go ahead with my plans is a real downer. Every woman has to face up to new priorities, near the top is health. I take my health very seriously but not obsessively. Everything is about pacing yourself.”

British pop singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield made a huge splash as a new artist in late 2005 and early 2006. Her first two singles, “These Words” and “Unwritten” crackled with energy and wit that seemed to signal a unique pop talent was emerging. However, following up such an auspicious beginning has been a difficult task for Bedingfield. “I Wanna Have Your Babies,” the first single from her second album N.B., peaked at a relatively disappointing #7 in the UK in the spring of 2007 causing Epic Records to delay release of a single in the US. 6 months later “Love Like This” is being promoted as the first American single from the album.

Where Natasha Bedingfield’s first hits inspired with their words of self-awareness and personal encouragement, “Love Like This” is a somewhat dull, breezy, simplistic dissertation on romance between long-term friends. It would be very easy for this single to get lost amid more unique or challenging pop songs. Natasha Bedingfield sounds like just another pop singer here. Uniqueness and the ability to stand out are lacking.

In a clear effort to give the song a pop boost, Sean Kingston is brought in for a brief featured part. This vocal serves no purpose other than providing an extra element for the single’s marketing campaign. Natasha Bedingfield needs to step up her game if she will avoid losing a significant part of her initial pop audience.

We’ve heard from the two Mels otherwise known as Sporty and Scary Spice, now it’s time to hear from Emma otherwise known as Baby Spice. Emma is the latest Spice Girl to blog on their official website.

In her entry, she talked about finally being in LA, how her son Beau was and the mad rush of paparazzi that greeted her when she arrived. She also talked about her excitement over the rehearsals and the tour itself. She even gushed about the merchandise they were going to put out which even includes some baby bits that she wants to get for Beau.

What a weird coincidence, Duran Duran’s new video “Falling Down,” which was co-directed by Justin Timberlake is about a young star who is forced to go to rehab against her will and loses it. If this is about Britney I think this is quite low from J.T. I mean no one can argue that Britney is at a low point in her life. People can be judgmental of her, but it really is uncalled for from someone who said that he once loved Britney and that he wanted to help her through her tough times. I mean after Cry me a River Britney never said anything and took the high road (if cheating rumors were true she deserved the dissing), but it’s been YEARS, get over it Justin. JT could have been way classier and not jump in with all the haters. If you are such a creative artist stop taking cheap shots. Why is justin so obsessed with Britney. he says how he hates the press being all over his shit than he does shit like this. Leave Britney alone!!!! Why is he taking cheap shots at her? Who the fuck does he think he is?

Polysics and Young Love are all out on the road together

Here are the tour dates:

November 1 Providence, RI Heartbreak Hotel
November 2 Gettysburg, PA Gettysburg College
November 3 Emmitsburg, MD St. Mary University
November 4 Raleigh, NC Disco Rodeo
November 6 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
November 7 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jackie Gleason Theater
November 9 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
November 10 Dallas, TX Palladium
November 11 San Antonio, TX Sunset Station
November 13 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre
November 14 Phoenix, AZ The Marquee Theatre
November 16 San Francisco, CA Warfield
November 17 San Diego, CA SOMA
November 18 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
November 19 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
November 20 Orange County, CA The Grove
November 23 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

Chris Brown has ended hip-hop sensation Soulja Boy’s reign at the top of the U.S. pop charts with his new song Kiss Kiss. Brown’s collaboration with rapper T-Pain has toppled Soulja Boy’s Crank That (Soulja Boy), which spent seven weeks at number one. I think Chris Brown is HOT so he should stay him self! And about this toppling thing, well music today is as creepy as these guys themselves. There are just a few good looking males in the music industry and the other just a stinking pigs using a hell lot of perfume to hide that bad odor slipping out from underneath their armpits. Well that’s all that I’d like to these guys, for me the music of the Rolling Stones and other established artist is more fun listening to rather than have some cranked up music make me deaf in the ears.

Jive Records is officially giving up on trying to get Britney Spears to promote her new album. They’re not even planning a tour despite her single “Gimme More” topping the charts. The label realizes that Britney doesn’t care and is apparently becoming fed up with her antics. Her label should understand that she is basically in turmoil right now and she is clearly unfit to be on tour right now. What if she goes on a tour promoting the album and during an interview she starts crying because there is some bad news that coming from her custody trail. Then the media and her record would be at logger heads, her record label would have to defend her because she is in a way representing them when on tour and that paparazzi as usual needless to say would be out there in their full numbers trying to blow up the story by saying she is mentally ill. Best that she doesn’t tour right now.

I did say a few days ago that Jennifer Lopez’s new album ‘Brave’ was expected to bring in low numbers for its first week out. Apparently, even that was an understatement. To make cut it short, the album bombed big time.

JLo’s new album failed to make it to the Top Ten in the US and came in at #12 by selling just 53,000 units. All of the Latin pop star’s six previous studio albums, even her Spanish language one, broke into the Top 10 when they debuted.

LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Kid Rock, Bruce Springsteen, Rascal Flatts and even Josh Groban who released a Christmas album in October beat her to the Top 10. Ouch!

Jon Bon Jovi has never been tempted to cheat on Dorothea, his wife of 18 years - despite the constant temptations on offer to a rock superstar. The 45-year-old confesses he has been “no saint” but insists he has never delved into the “shallow pool” of the rock and roll lifestyle. I love Jon Bon Jovi - if he has never cheated -he is not one of many - I’m sure he has had plenty of chances to stray - so, if he hasn’t -that’s great! I’ve been a bon jovi fan for many years now…although I don’t like his saying ‘I’m not going to trade UP’ meaning he acknowledges that hooking up w/ a starlet would be a step UP from his gorgeous, but older wife, Dorothea. hmmm…Freudian slip there, Mr. Bon Jovi? doesn’t matter, I still love you. Remain faithful to your wife because pure and true love is with a partner whose stuck with you during all your highs and lows, give me another person who could do it for 18 years, none – you have the answer and your love with you.

Britney Spears’ life, by all appearances, is off track; her album, however, is on the fast track. I think the album is going to do well…all this publicity actually has helped launch her to stardom even more. It’s true what has always been said, there is no such thing as bad publicity! The more things are said about you, good or bad, negative or positive, once the media is printing all that there are going to be some readers who are going bump into that story and then maybe read it, people start talking about the music release, she already has a great past track record and the whole cycle converts into rating and music reviews and bang you are in the ‘picture’ of things. That’s exactly that the record company is trying to do, they know that there have been a few positives for Britney in the past 2 weeks and they think time is ripe for the release. These records companies are really good at the marketing as well, as good as marketing gurus themselves, now we have to wait and see the outcome.

Size matters to Janet Jackson, and she has decided to chronicle her yo-yoing weight in a new book. Yeah size does matter for everyone who’s in the public eye, you’ve got a certain image that you have built up over the years and then that’s what you have to maintain. Anything less or more is so severely scrutinized by the media that either you are virtually labeled a skinny or a fat ass. “[I'm] really coming from the soul with it, and what I was going through at different times in my life and what possibly brought it about for myself,” she says of the yet untitled book. Its mostly a fight with your mind, either you accept your new heavy looks and get on with life but that can have catastrophic effects on your career as an artist or you do something about it and live on to tell the world about or better write a book on it and sell it to the world as a new age dieting guru and that’s Janet has chosen to be.

Since when was posing with a new born baby become the trend in Hollywood or Hollywood types?

Welsh pop singer Charlotte Church and her rugby-playing husband Gavin Henson are featured on the cover of UK’s OK! Magazine with their new bundle of joy, Ruby.

Charlotte gave birth to her baby girl two weeks ago in her home but almost gave birth in a parking lot of a hardware store. Gavin accidentally locked her in when the alarm went off. People started looking at the screeching car and noticed Charlotte. “I was just trying to hide but couldn’t - just sitting there having contractions!”

Charlotte also said that Ruby, named because of her bright red lips, looks like Gavin. Charlotte also spoke of how happy she is about the new arrival and is obviously glowing.

Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman were spotted grabbing a late lunch at Magnolia restaurant on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood last Saturday. It is being reported that the lunch date at one of Christina’s favorite restaurants came at the heels of the singer shooting the music video for ‘Oh Mother’ from her third studio album ‘Back to Basics’.

Speaking of mother, her chic maternity clothes are doing all the announcing for her when it comes to being a mother. If there is justice in the world, let’s all hope that they’re actually having a girl. Don’t tell me you can’t imagine Christina slapping on the bright red lipstick and fake lashes on a baby girl.

Latino pop hunk Ricky Martin is stunned he has been awarded a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The singer will accept the accolade for his contribution to music in California on October 16th. Let me state my view on his Star at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. He is a fantastic performer and great with the girls as his looks are stunning and his moves on the dance floor make him look like a demigod. But even this does not mean that he deserves a Star, I think looks and fame should not be the criteria to be awarded a star, achievements in one’s career in their respective fields should be the sole and only criteria to be awarded a star. And the fact that Ricky himself is stunned by the adulation shows that he knows that he fully doesn’t deserve it. But now that he has been awarded the star he can be proud of it.