Melody Plant

Songstress MIA recently had a sit down with Uptown magazine where she was asked about what she thought of British singers like Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. What she had to say was funny, mean and the truth all at the same time. She said “The biggest thing coming out of England right now are singers like Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. I think questioning the status quo for them is doing lines of cocaine in the toilet.” Honestly, I couldn’t have said it better myself. It’s like she took the words out of my mouth. MIA is now officially my hero.

Hilary Duff threw on a killer pair of cork-colored boots to spend her entire Tuesday afternoon at a recording studio in Burbank, California. It looks like the more successful of the Duff sister is getting back in music mode and is back to recording a new album after making a film, ‘War Inc’. Later in the evening, Hilary ate hearty at Mr. Chow with her hockey player boyfriend Mike Comrie. I wonder if any of her new songs will be about her beau just like some songs from her last album were about ex-boyfriend and now Nicole Richie baby daddy Joel Madden.

Mariah Carey is used to all things fancy so it should come as no surprise that even a trip to the tacky Magic Mountain is still going to get touches of her diva personality. An inside source has revealed some details that went down at the diva’s wedding party, namely when it came to the bathrooms. Mariah had her own private potty to piss in with guards right outside the bathroom. If the diva has to be comfy, the guests have to be too. The boys’ room had tissues, a cup full of gum and even a candle while the ladies’ room had pink mats, gum, Listerine and a basket full of hairspray. The newlyweds were also said to be driven around the theme park in a gold cart with Mariah being followed by a hairstylist and makeup artist.

Amy Winehouse has reportedly branded Pete Doherty’s songs ’s**t’, throwing their duet plans into doubt.

‘Rehab’ singer Amy has been working with the Babyshambles rocker since he left prison last week but has been unimpressed with his musical efforts. A source said: “Pete’s really struggling to get it together. It hasn’t clicked yet. Amy has thrown back every song Pete has written for her. She keeps telling him they’re rubbish, and worse, and she’ll only perform if the song is great. When she’s in the studio she can be ruthless and doesn’t care about hurting people.”

Pete and Amy have been spotted together nearly every day since the former Libertines star got his freedom back. Amy started work on a number of tracks with Pete’s Babyshambles bandmate Mick Whitnall while the ‘Killamangiro’ singer was still in Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

The pair intended to meet up earlier this week for a jam at the Jazz After Dark venue in London’s Soho, but by the time they arrived at the venue, 2am, it had closed.

Madonna’s new album ‘Hard Candy’ dropped in stores on Tuesday and while her first week sales are still being predicted, the Queen of Pop has already conquered a key area in the new music business machine commonly known as digital sales. Madonna’s first single off the new album ‘4 Minutes (To Save the World) has become the second ever single to have digital sales over one million units in five weeks. Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ was the first. As of Tuesday, the digital sales for her single were at 1,004,482 units. Mariah must be really pissed at that considering she barely broke the top 10 on digital sales.

James Blunt survived the frontline of a Balkan war – but now faces emergency surgery on an injured pinky.

The former NATO peacekeeper needs an operation on the little finger on his right hand if he wants to play the piano properly again. He snapped the digit when he was mobbed by crazed fans at a gig in Asheville, North Carolina, last month. Docs need to break then reset the finger before putting it in plaster.

And that’s not spiffing news for posh James.

The singer can still play the guitar perfectly but his skills tinkling the ivories are now more Eric Morecambe than Elton John.

There will be a few sniggers from the trendy music crowd delighted by his troubles. But whatever your musical taste, there’s no denying that his piano-playing pinky has helped shift millions of records.

Former Army captain James said last night: “I need it to be right but the idea of having them take a hammer and smash my finger into two isn’t so thrilling.”

Recalling the accident, he said: “I jumped off stage at the end of the gig and was chased by women, and even some men, in the crowd. I started running and the next thing I knew I had broken my finger. I don’t even know how I did it or what made me do it. I can’t play the piano but I can still play the guitar with my remaining fingers. It was a funny moment being chased, but when I got back on stage it was nerve-racking looking down and realising the finger was pointing the wrong way. Upon reflection, it was dumb to jump into the crowd but in a way it was my own fault. I had leather-soled shoes on and just slipped.”

Before getting into music, James had a successful military career.It included a stint in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, from which he came back unharmed. But not even the might of the evil Serb army could prepare him for legions of crazed Bluntites.

If you’ve ever seen the women at one of his gigs, you’ll know what I mean. Starched collars and rosie cheeks all round.

Beforehand everyone seems normal as fans talk about their new Porsches, boyfriends and favourite Beaujolais. But once he begins to coo You’re Beautiful (for the millionth time) they turn into a ravenous, blood-thirsty mob. And if James ever dares enter the crowd then it really becomes scary stuff, as shown by the Asheville scrum.

Sadly, the singer’s gruelling tour schedule means he cannot get the urgent surgery he needs just yet.

Not wanting to let fans down, he will continue playing shows in Japan, New Zealand and Australia while waiting for a gap in his schedule to get things fixed, with a pal filling in on keyboards.

James added: “I need it fixed. I need all my fingers to work properly. Not just for performing but for partying.”

Get well soon, James — for the sake of female Bluntites everywhere.

The ‘Together Again’ star – who has been dating record producer Jermaine Dupri since 2002 – thinks Alicia is “wonderful” and admires both her beauty and talent. When asked who she would have a lesbian fling with, Janet replied: “I think I would pick Alicia Keys. I think she’s wonderful.”

Janet believes people often question the sexual orientation of Alicia and US TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey because they are such “strong” characters.

She explained: “They are strong women. Maybe they want to put something else behind it because of the strength. Like, you can’t be a woman and be strong, and there has to be something else to it.”

Although Janet is happy to speculate about lesbian flings, she insists she would be devastated if Jermaine revealed he was gay. She added: “I’d be upset because I want to be with him! It’s so funny because I joke with him, ‘It drives me crazy to be a girl sometimes, so in my next life I’m going to come back as a guy, and you’re going to be my b***h!’ ”

The 41-year-old star also revealed she wants gay marriage legalised and is worried she will “jinx” her relationship if she decides to tie the knot again. Janet said: “I think it’s about finding your soulmate. It’s finding that person you connect with, but most people don’t get it right. Look at me. The thing is I don’t know if I ever will or won’t get married again. I’m very happy where I am. I just think I jinx marriages, but that’s not going to stop me from loving.”

Janet was married to James DeBarge from 1984 to 1985 and to Rene Elizondo Jr. from 1986 to 1999.

American Idol contestant David Cook had a very special guest in the audience on the performance show last night. His brother Adam, who is battling brain cancer, traveled all the way from Indiana to lend his support. Adam had a nurse and a doctor with him on standby. He is also said to be at tonight’s elimination show. If you remember, David was recently hospitalized due to his blood pressure because of the stress of thinking about his brother’s health. He’s sure to get some sympathy votes with this story. But in any case, David is a great performer anyway and gets lots of votes every week. I just wish his brother will end up ok.

The artist who’s arguably the most talented to have come out of the Spice Girls camp has just released her solo album ‘This Time’ in Canada and she’s gracing the Canadians with her presence. Mel C is going on a tour across Canada in support of her solo album. Her tour kicks off on May 4 at Club Soda in Montreal and will round off on May 17 at The Plaza Club in Vancouver. Sporty is going places people and she’s taking her amazing music with her! Canada better love her or they’ll have me to answer to! Go Sporty!

Toni Braxton has been brought to a Las Vegas hospital for chest pains on Monday night. The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer just got done performing her live show ‘Toni Braxton: Revealed’ at Flamingo when she started to not feel well. Earlier this year, the singer revealed that she has a heart condition called pericarditis which is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. It may have been the cause of her hospitalization. Un-break her heart indeed. Hospital officials reveal that the 40-year old is doing fine and is in good condition now. Let’s hope that it’s all smooth sailing after that.

Mary J. Blige owns over 1,000 pairs of shoes.

The ‘Just Fine’ singer is so obsessed with designer footwear that she has a whole closet devoted to storing her purchases.

She said: “My biggest fashion weakness is definitely shoes. My favourites are some Chloe wedges. I have around 1,000 pairs.”

I envy her….as I am sure most warm-blooded females will!

Mary is planning to channel her love of fashion into her own clothing range, which will focus on denim. She added to: “I’d really love to do that. I want to start with a great pair of jeans that fit nicely and are made from a good-quality material. I’m also working on a perfume. I’m always checking out new scents for ideas.”

However, the 37-year-old singer has no intention of trying to compete in the fashion stakes with her younger pop rivals.

She said: “I’m learning about fashion, but a lot of people do like my style. I don’t have to compete though – I don’t even want to compete. I’m not trying to outdo Rihanna or Beyonce.”

The Sugababes nipped into a nude lap dancing bar this week — then kicked off their shoes for a go on the poles.

The girls got hot and steamy at Boutique gentlemen’s club following their after-show party at Manchester’s Red Rooms. And it seems the girls are big exotic dancing fans.

Gorgeous Keisha Buchanan told a fellow clubber she had blown thousand of pounds in a lap dancing club in Atlanta in the US.

Those Sugababes are certainly not as sweet as they look…

Robbie Williams is having a rare old time on strike from the gruelling slog of being a pop star. The beardy pop nob, in a teenage-style huff with his record label, has been filling his time with private cooking lessons.

A pal said: “He has an urge to host his own cookery show and bring out a book with it. The problem is, Robbie isn’t exactly the healthiest eater on the planet. Who needs lessons in how to cook burgers and chips?

“That’s about all he’s interested in.”

Nice. Get back to what you are good at Rob…

Dropping music sales are making it hard for musicians to pay for getting a record made but if you’re Jill Sobule, you can find a way around it. The musician is taking things into her own hands as the one-hit wonder is turning to fans for help with her next record. She has actually set up a website where fans can donate money to her album effort. Jill’s goal is to raise $75,000 and she’s already raised $54,000 in just a month. Contributors can choose their pledges ranging from $10 to $10,000 – each pledge getting a certain type of benefit like a free digital download of her disc to getting to be a guest singer on the album.

Just like ‘Milkshake’ once did for Kelis, ‘Google Me’ should do the same for upstart Teyana Taylor. The girl is only 17 years old and she’s already being dubbed as the next big thing by super producer Pharell who signed her to his record label. But we all know that you can’t go on just hype. But the song is a great hip hop anthem with a killer hook. You will definitely find it hard to not sing along to this one. “I’m a celebrity…” Oh yeah! Once this officially drops, people all over will be singing Teyana Taylor’s praises.

Trampy Amy Winehouse is launching her own brand of clothes and make-up so fans can copy her unique style. The news emerged yesterday as Amy, 24, modelled the look — including a leopard-print scarf atop her matted barnet and cig stuck to her lip.

The range will include hairspray, but the signature piece is set to be the heavy liquid eyeliner the Rehab singer has made famous. She has a meeting scheduled for later this week to discuss the project with fashion and cosmetics experts.

A pal revealed yesterday: “Amy’s style has been copied by girls around the country and there’s a lot of money to be made. It’s a very distinctive look. She wants to bring out a range of cosmetics and fashion products. There could be hairspray, head scarves, liquid eyeliner, perfume. All the things that are distinctive of her look.”

A fashion industry source added: “I think this stuff would sell very well in London. She has become a fashion icon despite not always looking too fresh.”

She had the biggest selling album of 2005 and everyone has been wondering when she would be back. After several delays to her album, we now know when Mariah Carey would officially be back.

There has already been a listening session in London for her new album which pretty much confirmed that her album would be out soon. Billboard now has a few more details and even mentions the release of Mariah’s new record on April 1st, and that’s no joke. They also have more info about specific songs and if that’s anything to go by, it looks like her album is a very promising one.

It is being reported that Heidi Montag’s first single ‘Higher’ is on its way in just a few short weeks. It will be out with a digital-only release on February 5, the same time that the video produced by Spencer Pratt comes out. Oh boy.

I don’t really know what Heidi’s musical style is like but if her musical influences are anything to go by, it should be a fascinating tableaux. In a release, she sited being influenced by Jesus, Theron Feemster and Britney Spears. There’s a pink elephant in the room and a joke to be made about ‘The Hills’ being alive with the sound of Heidi’s music.

Ever since Britney’s crazy episode on January 4th, her exhusband Kevin Federline has had sole custody of the couple’s two sons. Court today may change that and allow very restricted visitation. How is it affecting her boys?

Inside sources say that neither boy has even asked for her once during the 9 days. KFed has kept them close and been with them full-time, not even allowing Britney to talk to them on the phone until he knows they are ok. A source says, “The boys are doing fantastic.”

We’ll see how the story progresses and what she gets after her court visit.

The girlfriend of Kaiser Chiefs front man Ricky Wilson is in a panic because he has become pals with Kylie Minogue. The reason behind this panic is because they have an agreement that he is allowed one “celebrity shag”; and his choice is Kylie.

Ricky and Kylie hit it off after meeting twice recently, including at Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on New Year’s Eve. And both are performing at the Brits next month – giving Ricky another chance to try his luck.

He admitted at the Brits nomination bash on Monday that the first album he ever bought was by Kylie. Then he revealed: “My girlfriend Storm agreed I’m allowed one celebrity shag and mine is Kylie.”

I think stardom might be going to his head if he thinks he can pull that one off.

And when asked who his bird’s celebrity shag was, he said: “Me, of course.”

Modesty indeed.