Lady Gaga

Credit: AP Photo

Lady Gaga stopped by Omaha radio station, KQCH 94.1, yesterday after shooting the video for new single “You & I,” and had very sweet things to say about Amy Winehouse.

“I never got to meet here,” Lady Gaga says. “I think sometimes we were in the same place. Gosh, I’m real devastated about it... I really remember being in New York. I was with Lady Starlight. She and I were in Duane Reade shopping for eyelashes and glue and I just remember I saw her on the cover of Rolling Stone. It was [her] first cover. I always felt like an outsider.. [Lady Starlight] looked over at me and said, ‘If she can do it, you can do it.’ I always felt like Amy opened a door for girls like me, who didn’t fit that exact, real pop, real wholesome...she was really special and she’ll be greatly missed.” The comments about Winehouse come in around the 7-minute mark.

[More after the jump...]

U2

Credit: AP Photo

Both U2 and Pearl Jam will have a strong presence at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall.
Davis Guggenheim’s “From The Sky Down,” which revisits the creation of U2’s 1991 seminal album, “Achtung Baby,” will open the festival on Sept. 8, according to the New York Times. The film will include both archival footage and fresh interviews as it examines the album’s legacy.

Cameron Crowe’s two-hour documentary spanning Pearl Jam’s career, “Pearl Jam Twenty,” will premiere at TIFF two days later on Sept. 10. The Oscar-winning director and journalist has followed the band since its inception; he draws upon more than 1,200 hours of old footage from before the band’s formation, as well as new interviews, to weave together Pearl Jam’s journey from obscurity to superstardom.

[More after the jump...]

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are buddies. They have a fun, playful banter as co-hosts of the Country Music Assn. Awards, which they’ll co-host together again this fall.

What they do not have, despite being in the desert in the video for their new duet, “Remind Me,” is anything approximating heat. Maybe that’s the point since the song is about a couple whose once red-hot passion has cooled and they feel miles apart (hence the literal interpretation that has them walking, walking, walking, walking toward each other across a great expanse).

But miracles happen every day so maybe there’s hope for these crazy kids. There are two in the video as a matter of fact: Paisley’s electric guitar, which is the sole possession he brought with him to the desert (and, wisely, his hat for sun protection), magically amplifies itself. Equally wondrous, Underwood is able to walk in stilettos in the desert (and she’s got the one-foot-crossed-in-front-of-the-other model’s walk down pat, even if no real human walks that way).

[More after the jump...]

Michael Jackson

Are they trying this again? Members of the Jackson family (as in Michael Jackson) held a press conference Monday in Beverly Hills to announce a tribute concert for their fallen brother and son.

The event, dubbed “Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert,” will take place Oct 8 at the 75,000-seat Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. An organization called Global Live Events will produce the event, according to Billboard.

No artists have been announced but tickets go on sale on Aug. 4. Jackson’s siblings, Marlon, Jackie, Tito and LaToya, as well as his mother, Katherine, made the announcement.

Is any of this ringing a bell? In 2009, shortly after Jackson’s June 25 death, a group called World Media Awards announced that a giant tribute to Jackson would be held in Vienna. It then got switched to London and then it was cancelled for good after acts like Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown distanced themselves from the end. We don’t need a crystal ball to suggest this event may suffer a similar fate.

UPDATE: Following yesterday's press conference, Jackson's brothers Jermaine and Randy released statements saying they did not support the event because it occurs while Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, will be on trial. Additionally, the executors of Jackson's estate (which is not his family) said they have not authorized the use of The King of Pop's name for the tribute show. 

Amy Winehouse

 

Credit: Steffen Schmidt/AP

It’s a crass, but true, axiom: death is a good career move.

“Back To Black,” Amy Winehouse’s Grammy-winning, second-album, will likely return to the Billboard 200 top 20 this week, based on sales following her July 23 death.

Her sophomore set moved up to 25,000 copies, largely between her death and the close of this week’s chart at midnight Sunday, according to Billboard.  Last week, the album sold slightly more than 1,000 copies. Sales of the album similarly spiked in the U.K., with the album reentering the chart at No. 59. The British chart closed at midnight on Saturday.

[More after the jump...]

Haley Reinhart

Credit: AP Photo

Haley Reinhart has signed with Interscope.

The 20-year old belter is the fourth “American Idol” contestant from Season 10 to ink a label deal, according to various reports. Her season mate, Pia Toscano, is also on Interscope and released her first single, “This Time,” earlier this month.

As “AI” watchers know, “American Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine, who joined the show this year, is chairman of Interscope/Geffen/A&M.

For those keeping count, winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina both signed with Mercury Nashville. McCreery’s first single, “I Love You This Big,” peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Alaina’s first single, “Like My Mother Does,” maxed out at No. 43 on the same chart.

Mercury Nashville and Interscope are divisions of Universal Music Group. Starting with this season, UMG took over from Sony Music as “American Idol’s” label partner. UMG has first right of refusal on the finalists.


 

Kanye West and Jay-Z

Two weeks before their joint album, “Watch The Throne,” comes out, hip-hop titans Kanye West and Jay-Z make their collaboration official: the two have formed a new group called The Throne.

The two will also tour together behind the project, starting in Sept. 22 in Detroit for a 24-date outing. Below are the tour dates and the album's track listing.

There’s a tremendous amount of hype in the press release but the album is called a “once-in-a-lifetime” collaboration, so we’re taking that to mean that The Throne will not necessarily be an ongoing recording entity—unless, of course, the album sells millions — given that both West and Jay-Z are plenty busy outside of this venture.

Starting today, fans can pre-order the album online via iTunes. It will drop digitally on Aug. 8, but won’t be available at physical retail until Aug. 12. Consumers who pre-order the deluxe version of the album today through iTunes, will instantly get the current track, “Otis.”

Hear “Otis” here.

Tickets for the tour will go on sale on Aug. 8, and fans who purchase their tickets online through TicketMaster and LiveNation.com will receive a digital copy of the album. The tour will feature The Throne, as well as each artist performing his classic hits.

Bits and pieces of “Watch the Throne” have leaked out, including an early track, “H.A.M.,” which is on the deluxe version of the album. The pair only recorded together in person, leading to recording sessions in London, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Paris and New York. Outside producers include The RZA, the Neptunes and Mike Dean.

THE THRONE TOUR DATES

9/22/11            Detroit, MI                  Palace of Auburn Hills

9/24/11            Toronto, ON                           Air Canada Centre

9/25/11            Montreal, QC              Bell Centre

9/27/11            East Rutherford, NJ    Izod Center

9/28/11            East Rutherford, NJ    Izod Center

9/29/11            Washington DC          Verizon Center

10/4/11             Philadelphia, PA        Wells Fargo Center

10/6/11            Chicago, IL                 United Center

10/7/11            Chicago, IL                 United Center

10/8/11            Minneapolis, MN        Target Center

10/10/11          Denver, CO                 Pepsi Center

10/13/11          Tacoma, WA               Tacoma Dome

10/14/11          Vancouver, BC           Rogers Arena

10/16/11          San Jose, CA               HP Pavilion

10/17/11          Sacramento, CA          Power Balance Pavilion

10/19/11          Los Angeles, CA        Staples Center

10/20/11           Los Angeles, CA       Staples Center

10/21/11          Las Vegas, NV           MGM Grand Garden Arena

10/25/11          Dallas, TX                   American Airlines Center

10/26/11          Houston, TX                           Toyota Center

10/29/11          Atlanta, GA                            Philips Arena

10/30/11          Greensboro, NC          Greensboro Coliseum

11/1/11            Baltimore, MD             1st Mariner Arena

11/3/11            Boston, MA                            TD Garden  

OFFICIAL SEQUENCE

1. No Church In the Wild (feat. Frank Ocean)

2. Lift Off  (feat. Beyoncé)

3. N---as In Paris     

4. Otis (feat. Otis Redding)

5. Gotta Have it

6. New Day

7. That’s My Bitch

8. Welcome to the Jungle

9. Who’s Gon Stop Me

10. Murder to Excellence

11. Made In America (feat. Frank Ocean) 

12. Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson)

**** AVAILABLE ON THE DELUXE VERSION

13. Illest M----------r Alive ****

14. H.A.M ****

15. Primetime ****

16. The Joy (feat. Curtis Mayfield) ****

 

Adele

 

Credit: Jeff Christensen/AP

The unsinkable Adele floats back to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart next week as "21"  is poised to pop back to No. 1.

The title is No. 3 this week. It has not slipped out of the top 5 since its February release and is this year's top seller at well over 2 million units in the U.S. It will sell around 75,000 copies, according to Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumormill.cgi?10

The Top 10 will likely see four debuts: the latest edition of "Kidz Bop Kids" should handily snare second place with sales of up to 65,000, while 3 Doors Down's  "Time of My Life"  is in a tight race with Beyonce's "4" for the No. 3 spot.  Similarly, new sets from 311 ("Universal Pulse") and DJ Khaled  ("We The Best Forever" ) are in a dead heat for fifth place.

Otherwise, this week's No. 1, Blake Shelton's "Red River Blue" will likely drop to No. 7, Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" is No. 8, Selena Gomez & The Scene's "When The Sun Goes Down" is at No. 9 and Bad Meets Evil's "Hell: The Sequel" is at No. 10.

Amy Winehouse

Credit: AP Photo

Celebrities and musicians of all genres took to their Twitter accounts in droves to tweet about Amy Winehouse’s death.  Here’s a quick round-up of what is out there...in their own words (and grammar).

Katy Perry: RIP Amy Winehouse. May she finally find peace.

Rihanna: I am genuinely heartbroken about this #DearAmy (Rihanna later tweeted a photo of herself at a Winehouse show)

Kelly Clarkson: What a waste of a gifted person. What a shame she saw no hope and continued living her life in that manor  (sic). I have been that low emotionally and mentally and that is overwhelming.

Usher: I’m so sad to hear the horrible news of Amy Winehouse’s death. I’m so happy I knew you Amy... Rest Well. Gone Too Soon... we’ll miss you!!

Janelle Monae: heart is heavy. My heart goes out 2 Amy Winehouse's family, loved ones. Praying for their strength during this time.

Billy Corgan: Sad to hear about Amy Winehouse. I mourn any time one of our own passes on. A tragedy...no doubt. Truly sad.

Kelly Osbourne: “I can’t even breath right now im crying so hard i just lost i of my best friends. i love your forever Amy & will never forget the real you.

Lea Michele: Devastated to hear about Amy Winehouse...she was truly one of a kind.

Josh Groban: Drugs took her gift, her soul, her light, long before they took her life. RIP Amy.

Demi Lovato: Amy Winehouse...So sad. Unfortunately, the world lost an incredibly talented woman to such a powerful disease...addiction. # RIP

Nicki Minaj: Please tell me Amy Winehouse didn’t die. Is this some sick joke?

Lance Bass: Another talent dies at 27-RIP-Amy Winehouse.

LeToya Luckett: So sad 2 hear the news about Amy Winehouse. I was sooo in love with her voice. R.I.P.

Missy Elliott: My condolences go out to Amy Winehouse family and My Prayers to those Families who lost loved ones in Norway...

Sandra Bernhard: Some people can’t handle it and it’s terribly sad. another great talent gone gone gone. amy Winehouse.

Amanda Bynes: I am so saddened by the news about Amy Winehouse. What a gifted musician. My prayers go out to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.

Boy George: I cannot contain my sadness and my anger about Amy Winehouse. Rest in peace child, it is a deeply sad day for many reasons.

Booty Collins: National Breaking News. Amy Winehouse found dead in her London home...Funkateers, we lost another.

Martina McBride: So sad to hear about Amy Winehouse. Such an incredible talent. Prayers fo out to her family and fans.

Sharon Jones: May you Rest In Peace Amy Winehouse...The Dap-Kings and Me will miss you most...Love you always! (Ed.’s note: Winehouse recorded with the Dap-Kings).

Jordin Sparks: Amy Winehouse : (

Rob Thomas: R.I.P. AMY WINEHOUSE. wow. just wow

Pete Wentz: super sad to hear about the news. RIP. never take life for granted.

Leann Rimes: RIP Amy Winehouse. So sad to see such a talent gone and her life end in tragedy. This makes me terribly sad.

Reba McEntire: Amy Winehouse found dead. So sad. Prayers go out for her family.

Latoya Jackson: I know the pain her family is experiencing I feel their pain. i've lived their pain. i'm sooo terribly sorry. Once again R prayers R with you.

Amy Winehouse

Credit: AP Photo

“Addicts die.” I remember a friend of mine, a recovering heroin addict, saying those harsh, cold words to me a few years ago, as I was driving over to comfort another friend of mine whose brother had just been found dead of an accidental drug overdose. I, who have minimal experience with drugs, felt like that was an unnecessarily cruel slap in the face given the proximity to time of death, but it is true.

His words were the first that popped into my head when I heard the reports of Amy Winehouse’s passing today at 27 (My colleague, Katie Hasty, will address the odd coincidence of her dying at age 27, as did Jimi Hendrix, Janis Jopin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, in a separate post). Her story, at the rate it was going, had only one real way to end and the conclusion wasn’t surprising or unexpected in any way—though that does not make it any less sad. The public — and press — had a countdown clock on her life from the moment it became clear what a hot, bee-hived mess she was. Remember the summer when she’d trot out of her apartment in just her bra for cigs?  Plus, as her disease crushed her ability to create, we all fed on those grist-filled scraps since she was no long providing us with anything else to feast on.

But I want to focus on her talent, which was immense. When Universal Music Group started to introduce the British singer her in the U.S.,  very few of us had heard her first album, “Frank.” However, “Back To  Black” had already blown up in the U.K.  and the earworm that is  “Rehab,” had embedded itself with its girl-girl chorus of “no, no, nos.”

Winehouse came to play the Roxy, the legendary club on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles just as “Back To Black” was coming out in the U.S in March 2007. The stories about her substance-fueled inabilities to hold it together while performing were already rising. As she took the stage in an ill-fitting, sleeveless dress, what I remember, standing probably 20 feet from her, were all her tattoos, including at least one of a pin-up girl—there may have been a hula skirt involved— on her arm that I found fascinating; it was like she had a secret past as a sailor.

Then she started to sing and on this night, she was on, if slightly jittery and nervous. Whether her handlers had made it clear she had to keep it together in front of all the press in Los Angeles or she had the presence of mind to do it herself, there was nothing to distract from her voice. It wasn’t a perfect show, but there were flashes of brilliance and heartache. Whatever demons drove her to her addictions were the same ones that propelled her to slice open a vein when she sang, such as on the glorious Motown homage, “Tears Dry On Their Own,” the torchy, resigned "Love is A Losing Game," or the confessional shrug of “You Know I’m No Good.”  She was a soul singer, jazz diva, and rock star all in one was how a friend of mine described her, and all three were on display that night.

It wasn’t a long show, but it served its purpose. It took the heat off the tawdry tales of her off-stage life and put it squarely back on her formidable talent. She was a mix of so many others before her —including Dusty Springfield, Ronnie Spector and Billie Holiday — but she combined those influences, with the great help of producer Mark Ronson, into something unique. Plus, her songwriting reflected her troubled personality in an honest yet never overly melodramatic way. She was authentic and raw in a world of contrived artifice.

Even though her request for a visa to attend the 2008 Grammys was denied, Winehouse went on to win five Grammys that night, the most by a British artist in a single night, including best new artist, song and record of the year.

Winehouse was part of a whole new wave of British female singers that crashed up on American shores--- seemingly a new one every week --and her popularity helped shine the light on them. Artists like Duffy, Corrine Bailey Rae, Kate Nash, Amy McDonald arrived within the same few years. And then, of course, Adele arrived a few years later.

I never saw her perform again, but frequently covered the canceled tours and the sporadic performances that showcased her spiraling- down life, including the last one in Serbia only a few weeks ago. The performance, which a local paper described as “the worst in the history of Belgrade,” led her to cancel the rest of her 12-date European tour. 

Over the last few years, there would be inklings of new music, but she never seemed to get her life together enough to make a sustained run in the studio.  She did record a song, "Body and Soul," with Tony Bennett for “Duets 2,” which will come out this fall to  commemorate the legend’s 85th birthday.

As we wrote in our piece in February, Bennett’s manager/son Danny told Hitfix  that Winehouse asked Bennett for advice. He simply told  her to take care of herself. Sadly, she was unable to listen.