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TV Trends: With 'Hunger Games' And 'X Men' Series, Jennifer Lawrence's Star Just Rises And Rises

November 12, 2014, 7:23 am
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So Jennifer Lawrence is in London this week. How do we know? From the screams of delight at another wardrobe malfunction - mostly coming from her - as she owns the red carpet, glorious in Dior, at the premiere of another film showcasing her unique appeal to pretty much all cinema-goers.

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Jennifer Lawrence - popular, talented and beautiful - how does she pull it all off?


Somehow, this guileless star has pulled off the almost impossible trick of being very talented - a Best Actress Oscar under her belt at the age of 22 - proving incredibly popular with the boys, something that proved a double-edged sword with the leak of naked photographs, and also managed to be the kind of girl that other girls want to hang out with.

Her on-off romance with Chris Martin has proved it is possible to go out with someone from Coldplay without getting any nicknames. And what did she do after the recent rumoured split and reconciliation? Jumped on a plane to London for a film premiere, suffered the requisite wardrobe malfunction and just kept partying with the girls - all with a massive grin on her face.

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Just hanging with the girls, in Dior, at the London premiere of latest 'Hunger Games' film


So far, so Katy Perry. But Jennifer is something quite different. Still in her early twenties, she's already a young mistress of juggling the kind of indie films that soak up the attention come awards season - who can forget her career-making performance in 'Winter's Bone'? - along with helping to steer not one, but two, blockbuster franchises to global success.

As Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games', she eats up the screen. Whether she's out in the wilderness with only her wits to help her, or sharing more tender scenes with her sister or new love Peeta (played by Josh Hutcherson), she remains inherently believable as the consummate action heroine she's become.

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Jennifer in the X Men series - as alluring as ever


But what really makes her interesting, and will no doubt help grant her longevity in a forbidding industry not known for its loyalty, is her seeming willingness to share the riches with other actors both on and off the screen.

Decked out in a wig, she was one of the delights of 'American Hustle', but didn't detract from the talents of co-stars Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper or Christian Bale. And her comedic talent and histrionics earned her another Oscar nomination, bringing her tally now to three, the most for someone of her age.

As Mystique in the X-Men Franchise, she holds her own, even painted blue, in a cast full of A-listers - including Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Halle Berry, Peter Dinklage and Patrick Stewart. On social media, even in polls limited to just these films and their characters, she comes second to Hugh Jackman's Magneto in the amount of interest shown by the series' millions of fans, not bad when you consider he gets all the added Wolverine kudos and airtime. Jennifer Lawrence's character garners an impressive 14% of all posts written, far more than Fassbender's Lehnsherr, McAvoy's Xavier and her own ex-boyfriend Nicholas Hoult's Hank.

Of course, one of the many delightful things about J-Law is that we can be 100% certain she won't mind a little bit of adoration going elsewhere. She's the first person to come over all giddy in the presence of another movie star - remember this moment when she was interrupted by a chuckling Jack Nicholson and then behaved… well, just like any other person would in the circumstances…





All of which just makes her that bit more adorable. May she reign supreme!

'X Men: Days of Future Past' is now available on Virgin Movies. All TV trends data referred to in this article has been supplied by Virgin Media, which provides access to up to 260+ channels including Freeview Channels, Virgin Movies, Sky Movies and Netflix.





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Wyatt The Baby Can Play The Drums Better Than You

November 12, 2014, 8:52 am
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And by 'you', we do of course mean 'us'.

Wyatt gets a little help from his dad, natch. Well, you can't be expected to get all the Pantera licks down at quite such a young age, can you?

(Via Pleated Jeans)
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Katie Hopkins 'Dirty Rodents' Tweet About Palestinians 'Could Result In Prosecution'

November 12, 2014, 9:17 am
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Katie Hopkins is facing calls for her prosecution after sending a tweet that described Palestinians as "dirty rodents" - and one lawyer says it could happen.

The controversy-courting Hopkins sent her most offensive message to date when she tweeted: "2 state solution my arse. Filthy rodents burrowing beneath Israel. Time to restart the bombing campaign."




It led to calls for her to be prosecuted for incitement to racial hatred. But while unpopular tweets routinely prompt others to call for criminal charges, this one could have legs.

Media lawyer Steve Kuncewicz said a prosecution was possible, adding it would most likely be under the Public Order Act for causing racially-aggravated "harassment, alarm or distress."

He said prosecutions for posting to Twitter had to go through "a lot of hurdles" with the Crown Prosecution Service forced to decide not only that a conviction was likely, but also in the public interest.

He said any police investigation would need to consider issues such as the right to free expression under the European Convention of Human Rights.

He also said there were aggravating factors - including the fact she had not apparently shown any remorse - that could make authorities want to "make an example of her".


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    • "There's enough there for a prosecutor to make something out of," he said. "She has got a lot of followers. She's very visible. That might be enough."

    Liam Stacey, who was imprisoned for 56 days in 2012 when he tweeted racist abuse to footballer Fabrice Muamba, was prosecuted under the same Act. He sent swearing, abusive messages calling Muamba and others the n-word.

    Mr Kuncewicz pointed out that Hopkins' tweet was not aimed at a particular individual, making it less likely hers could be demonstrated to have caused the "harassment, alarm or distress," which the law requires.

    But he added the Public Order Act could be the best way for any prosecution to proceed, rather than communication laws, which have resulted in prosecutions for sending "menacing" tweets.

    Peter Nunn, who harassed MP Stella Creasy and feminist Caroline Criado-Perez after they backed a campaign to put Jane Austen on the banknote, was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after being prosecuted under the Communications Act.

    "(The Public Order Act) is a better peg to hang it on. It's more straight-forward. It's been there for years. It has a history of being applied in this way," Mr Kuncewicz added.

    "In the Twitter Joke Trial, a judge was asked to decide whether something was menacing and lots of people took issue with that."
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    Babymetal Live at Brixton Academy

    November 12, 2014, 9:18 am
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    BABYMETAL return to the UK for another round of genre-bending, guitar shredding, unbridled mayhem in front of another sold-out London audience.

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    After I managed to dry out from the biblical downpour before the show I was afforded the chance to watch BABYMETAL, the Japanese J-pop/metal hybrid, from many vantage points on Saturday November 8 2014; high up in the balcony, the peripherals of the stage, on top of several other people after the infamous 'wall of death' collapsed during 'Ijime, Dame, Zettai' ('No more bullying, never' obviously) and I can honestly say with not a hint of irony, BABYMETAL smashed it this night.

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    Not to say they were that bad at the Forum in July, far from it; they were astonishing then, but now they had a meaner, more purposeful edge. And I think the bigger venue (the Academy is over double the capacity of the Forum) suited them down to their tiny boots with Moa Kikuchi (Moa-Metal), Yui Mizuno (Yui-Metal) and Suzuka Nakamoto (Su-Metal) covering the huge stage with effortless zeal and pin-sharp dance moves.

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    As in July the band were backed by the ridiculously talented Kami (God) band but it was the girls, rising from beneath the stage during show opener 'Death', that stole proceedings. Songs Akatsuki and Rondo of Nightmare gave Su a chance to show off her remarkably powerful voice and 4 No Uta, the wonderfully bonkers Onedari Daisakusen opportunity for Moa and Yui to lead the audience on a wildly merry journey into the land I would like to call This Is Fabulously Good Fun, Isn't it?

    I've had some time to reflect on this show and I am still lost for words. Some folks have described it as a bit like an anime cartoon come to life. This is completely false. It is an anime cartoon come to life; one you're absorbed into, spun upside down and in front of, pushed, tripped and soaked with.

    A montage about fox gods, legends, a new song and everyone left just as wet as they arrived but with more bruises and with bigger smiles than any rain cloud could ever hope to wash away.

    Like I said in March, BABYMETAL are here for a few more years yet and this sublimely energetic and wickedly fun show only reinforced that opinion.

    Rating: 5/5

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    BABYMETAL'S debut CD is available to buy on iTunes.

    All photos above copyright Dana (Distortion) Yavin.
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    ‘Hunger Games': The 12 Actresses Who Could Have Played Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen (VIDEO)

    November 13, 2014, 3:12 am
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    It’s hard to imagine anybody else playing the role of Katniss Everdeen in the ‘Hunger Games’ films, however, it turns out Jennifer Lawrence had plenty of competition for the role.

    A number of other young actors auditioned for the highly-coveted part, including Chloe Grace Moretz, who would have been just 14 years old when filming begun.

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    Abigail and Saoirse were both considered for the part


    Other stars who lost out to Jennifer in the race for the role include Abigail Breslin, best-known for her roles in ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘My Sister’s Keeper’.

    Mary Mouser, who now stars in ‘Scandal’, is also thought to have been on the producers’ shortlist, as was ‘The Lovely Bones’ star Saoirse Ronan.

    ‘Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1’ is released in UK cinemas this weekend, and marks the third instalment of the four-part series. The final film is due for release in November 2015.

    See all the actresses who could have played Katniss in the video above...

    MORE ‘HUNGER GAMES’:
    • Why Do We Love Jennifer Lawrence So Much?

    • Watch The Literal Trailer For ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’

    • ‘The Hunger Games’ Gets Simpsonised




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    Stations of the Cross: A Film That Looks at Religious Fundamentalism

    November 13, 2014, 3:32 am
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    Stations of the Cross, winner of the Silver Bear for Best Script at this year's Berlin Film Festival, tackles aspects of religious fundamentalism within the social and family structure and its practical application to contemporary society whilst addressing some contradictory positions regarding God. The film's central character is Maria, a teenage girl on the cusp of making her Confirmation in a Parish which has reverted to a stricter, more traditional view of Catholicism; what I call "Wishy washy Catholicism" which is essentially the adaptation of Christian thought to the modern world -including relaxed attitudes to homosexuality, sex before marriage and even abortion. Most strikingly the Parish endorses one of the most draconian and oppressive Christian traditions; the absurd and rather disgusting notion that pleasure is somehow a spiritual defect. With this it side steps the modern friendly message of Christianity that we are all happy children of God, who are loved and love each other, with a dictatorial framework of governance that posits that we are the property of God, subject to his will and constraints and therefore we must sacrifice our own individual identity and happiness in order to fulfill God's will.

    Indeed throughout the film individual autonomy is pitted against the will of God. The latter is situated within a dogmatic cannon accepted on blind faith where the word of God is the word of God and sin is sin - there is no grey area. This has severe practical consequences for any thinking human being but perhaps more so in the modern world and particularly during adolescent development. Maria is attracted to a young suitor and like all of us in this situation she wants to impress. Unfortunately these self-recognised feelings of potential happiness and satisfaction collide dramatically with her fundamentalist teachings, and her upbringing, and thus she finds herself in the confession box declaring her sin and conceited arrogance because she was attracted to another human, cared about her appearance and wanted to make a mark. Yet the pitting of individual autonomy and contentment against dogmatic fundamentals and immovable scriptural rules does not stop there. All forms of modern music are satanic (I never knew the devil had a favourite track list), her social contact is scrutinised by her family against the backdrop of fundamentalist views which further serves to highlight the paralyses inflicted on personal, social and individual development as a consequence of dogmatic religious fundamentalism dispatched on a mere whim, treated as an undeniable truth and reality but presented without rational justification.

    The film's tone is sombre but the atmosphere is enticing. You are placed directly into every scene riddled with borderline religious insanity and it consequences on the young protagonist in a stark and in your face manner. The film, which has been largely praised by critics and the art house community, briefly depicts some contradictions found in the philosophical framework of hard-core Catholicism at the beginning of the film. For instance the metaphysical existence of a supreme omnipotent being that somehow needs his flock on earth to do his willing . The children during as Parish lesson, in preparation for their Confirmation, are told that evil and sinful pleasure is everywhere and as Catholics they have been chosen as God's warriors on earth. For me this strikes at the heart of one the most significant contradictions regarding religious thought which is the idea of a supreme being whose will is untouchable and who has dominion over all of us but that we can somehow decide what action to take. This is usually answered in the form of free will but free will contradicts the almighty power of God.

    Although the film could do more to address the philosophical issues behind religious thought systems in general, along with the psychological motivations behind its belief, it does centre its story on one of the most important questions facing religious fundamentalism and religion in general which is the role of, and the impact on, children. This is because as adults we can fully comprehend and respect the views of others but in adolescence it is difficult to distinguish what is voluntary and what is being pushed upon the child; and ultimately what the consequences will be on the child's future adulthood. The film will have a special screening on Monday the 17th of November at 6.30pm at Clapham Picturehouse with a special panel discussion on religious fundamentalism which will include myself, Dr Catherine Wheatley of Kings College London and Sight and Sound; and Dr. Lisa Oakley, an expert on Spiritual Abuse Psychology. Stations of the Cross is in cinemas from the 28th of November.

    the Mono Metaphysics Argument - Why the existence of God is logically impossible: http://thebiggestquestions.org/the-mono-metaphysics-argument/
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    Simple Minds Frontman Jim Kerr: 'Every Generation Has Its Soundtrack, But We Still Have Something'

    November 13, 2014, 3:41 am
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    Jim Kerr of Simple Minds believes there's still a huge hunger for his band's kind of rock music, even if the charts are full of samples, electronic dance and young singers.

    “Every generation has its soundtrack,” he tells HuffPostUK. “Fortunately, our stuff still has something. They’re big tunes, which makes them communal, and they go down a storm at festivals. And then people like David Guetta jump on a track and sample it, so a whole new bunch of ears gets to hear our stuff. So we're not museum pieces yet.”

    READ ALSO:
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    Jim reveals that he always used to look at bands like the Rolling Stones and wonder why they kept going, until his group found themselves doing the same thing.

    “We supported the Stones, and we used to look at them and think, ‘Why?’” admits Jim to HuffPostUK. “But it’s written on their faces, they’re old blues guys. And now I’ve come to accept that this is what we do, too, it’s just who we are.”

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    Jim Kerr still gives it "100% every night - you have to"


    29 years after songs like ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ and ‘Alive and Kicking’ made them one of the world’s biggest bands, gracing the era-defining soundtrack of ‘The Breakfast Club’ and filling stadiums around the world, Jim Kerr has decided not to fight his enduring urge to perform, hence the arrival of ‘Big Music’ - the band’s 16th studio album, full of sounds familiar to the band’s fans.

    On writing duty with Jim, as ever, is Charlie Burchill, the other half of one of rock’s most enduring marriages, surely? “We go back to when we were eight years old,” agrees Glasgow-born Jim. “We’ve got lots of things in common, we’re best mates and we give each other space. For us, the world makes sense through music, and we escape through it, too.”







    With constant touring - playing to 130,000 in the UK last year - and all this music pouring out of them, the chaps may indeed love to create new tunes - but don't people just want to hear the big foot-stomping hits, waiting impatiently, until Jim finally asks them, "Won't you come see about me...?"

    He laughs. “We have to balance it, given they get such a good reaction. Our new songs have to be up to scratch, too or the whole set is damaged. We’re not reckless.”

    'Big Music' is available now - click here for info, with the first single 'Honest Town' below. The band is set to go back on the road next year - dates and ticket info available here.



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    Azealia Banks Addresses Twitter Spats With Eminem And Lily Allen: ‘People Take Things Too Seriously'

    November 13, 2014, 4:22 am
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    Azealia Banks is almost as well-known for her Twitter exclamations as she is for her music, and she’s no stranger to controversial exchanges and spats with other celebrities.

    However, the ‘212’ creator has hit back at her critics, telling Huff Post UK that her comments - including the now-deleted tweet about Lana Del Rey and Eminem - are all just a joke.

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    Azealia Banks


    When Eminem unveiled a track with the line, “I’ll punch Lana Del Rey right in the face”, Azealia sent a public message to the ‘Video Games’ starlet, writing: “@LanaDelRey tell him to go back to his trailer park and eat his microwave hotpocket dinner and suck on his sisters tiddies [sic]."

    Speaking to Huff Post UK, Azealia explained herself, stating: “I think people take things too seriously and that’s why I deleted it. I was just like ‘whatever’.

    “Obviously I’m joking, like, come on, you said you were going to punch my friend, ‘dude, I’ll punch you’, I’m joking though!

    “I think social media is damaging for everyone, but you know… I like to laugh, I like to have a good time, I like to joke, I like to shock and be shocked."

    Azealia also addressed her well-publicised feud with Lily Allen, which climaxed when the British singer referenced their Twitter exchange in her song ‘Insincerely You'.

    “I’ve never even heard the song,” she explains. “I don’t listen to Lily Allen’s music, I thought the first album was great but I wouldn’t know what she was up to musically.

    “I really do like that first album though, it was really good.”

    Azealia took the music world by surprise when she decided to release her long-awaited debut album ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ online earlier this month.

    After storming the charts with ‘212’ in 2011, Azealia’s debut album was delayed on multiple occasions due to various disputes with her record label.

    'Broke With Expensive Taste' is available to purchase online now.



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    'I'm A Celebrity' 2014: Leech 'Explosion' Puts A Stop To Sexy 'Bikini Moments'?

    November 13, 2014, 4:27 am
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    ‘I’m A Celebrity’ viewers hoping to tune in to the new series and see one of the show’s famous 'bikini moments' will be disappointed to hear they may be in short supply this year, due to an 'explosion' of leeches.

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    That’s right, in addition to snakes, spiders and all manner of creepy crawlies, this year’s famous campmates may well also have to share their living space with leeches, thanks to a reported outbreak of the blood-sucking creatures.

    Spin-off series, ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here NOW’ presenter Joe Swash has confirmed toThe Mirror that there are leeches “everywhere” in the camp’s water, which could make bathing even more difficult for the stars.

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    Myleene Klass's white bikini went down in 'I'm A Celeb' history


    In previous years, contestanst such as Myleene Klass, Amy Willerton and Helen Flanagan have made viewers’ jaws drop as they lounged around camp in their bikinis, but it now sounds as though beekeeping outfits might be more appropriate attire for this year’s stars.

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    Amy Willerton


    The new series of ‘I’m A Celebrity’ kicks off on Sunday, 16 November, with the campmates being split into two groups upon their arrival.

    The two groups have already been revealed, and the public can now vote for which team they’d like to see face the “celebrity slammer”, a jungle-themed prison within this year’s camp.

    Group B - compiled of ‘TOWIE’ cast member Gemma Collins, among others - have been named 4/6 favourites to face the “celebrity slammer”, while former ‘‘Allo ‘Allo’ actress Vicki Michelle is already favourite to be booted out of camp first, according to Ladbrokes.

    See who else is taking part below...



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    ‘Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special': Rachel Stevens, Louis Smith, Sophie Ellis-Bextor Sign Up

    November 13, 2014, 5:00 am
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    The six celebrities who are competing for the glitterball trophy in this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special’ have been revealed by BBC bosses, who have also confirmed that Sir Bruce Forsyth will be returning as the show’s presenter.

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    This year’s returning dancers include Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Louis Smith, who won the 2012 series.

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    Rachel, Lisa and Sophie are all getting their dancing shoes on...


    S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens will also be taking part, along with former ‘Emmerdale’ star Lisa Riley, Chris Hollins and astrologer Russell Grant.

    The festive special will be aired on Christmas Day and this year, it will have a pantomime theme.

    The male professional dancers taking part are Aljaž Skorjanec, Robin Windsor and Tristan MacManus, while Aliona Vilani, Iveta Lukosiute and Joanne Clifton will partner the male celebrities.

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    ...as are Louis, Rusell and Chris


    The current series of ‘Strictly’ is still on-going and, much to everyone’s surprise, Judy Murray remains in the competition.

    Stars including Alison Hammond and Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills have left the show, while Pixie Lott and ‘EastEnders’ actor Jake Wood continue to impress the judges.

    Thankfully none of this year’s ‘Strictly’ stars have been as terrible as these dancers…



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    With BandAid30 Set To Record Anniversary Record On Saturday, We Ask: Who Should Sing Crucial First Line?

    November 13, 2014, 5:14 am
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    With the luminaries of BandAid30 preparing to assemble for the weekend recording of the anniversary single, we're pondering who'll be singing what, specifically the crucial first line of the song, the first voice we'll hear after those bongs that have heralded a poignant festive message for the last 30 years.

    Who do YOU think should sing the song's opening lines? Vote below...

    Bob Geldof has revealed his impressive list of recruitments for this year's single, and they include One Direction, Coldplay's Chris Martin (back for more), Bono (back for more of more), Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Sinead O'Connor, Ed Sheeran and Olly Murs.

    Back in 1984, the honour went to a popular singer, at the top of his game. The words were actually written for David Bowie to sing, but he couldn't make it to the Notting Hill studio after all, so his slot had to be taken by chart resident Paul Young, on a career high after hits including 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' and 'Love of the Common People'. His anguished grimaces and reaches for the high notes suited perfectly the desperate plea of the record.





    In 1989, the lineup included all that era's most successful singers - Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Lisa Stansfield, Cliff Richard, Jimmy Somerville, Wet Wet Wet and Bros - with the song produced, fittingly, by Stock, Aitken and Waterman. The first words went to Kylie, who didn't get as much air-time as Paul Young, with Chris Rea stepping up for line 2.





    Cut to 2004, and the introductory passage went to a fresh-faced Chris Martin, sounding remarkably like Paul Young. He was followed up by a laid-back Dido, doing nothing to make this song any more special than the ones who'd come before.





    So, back to the present day, which of this impressive roll-call should it be?

    While One Direction fans no doubt think their golden boys should be given the honour of starting the song, it will mean that the rest of the song is a bit of an anti-climax. On the recent BBC 'God Only Knows' music campaign, producers wisely put the boys somewhere in the middle to keep their fans watching, and Bob should surely follow suit. Unless he has ambitious plans to give them a line each? Not all of them have the voice and, although their fans would be ecstatic, would threaten to convert this in to a One Direction video, with star backup. So, no, sorry, chaps - somewhere in the middle for you.

    Bono's unrivalled status as elder statesman of this assembly should give him an automatic leading slot, but… can he resist repeating the career-making line that he sang for the original and its follow-up in 1989? Saying that, controversy abounds with the line 'Tonight, thank god it's them, instead of you' as being less than universally charitable. Apparently even Bono had trouble saying it, and had to be persuaded (twice). If it ain't broke…

    Conversely, Chris Martin of Coldplay has already had his moment, singing the first few lines for the Band Aid 20 version. To avoid repetition, Bob Geldof will have to put him somewhere else.




    Perhaps a woman again? Emeli Sande has the pipes, but is almost a victim of her own success. Because she became the voice of the 2012 Olympics, and pretty much everything commonwealthy/charitable/eventy for the following 18 months, Bob Geldof might rightly feel that the power of her sound has been diluted. Similarly, Elbow 'took' the Olympics, but it also cast a big shadow, for now, over anything else they might do, so no Guy Garvey for this slot.

    Meanwhile, the elusive Adele is obviously mistress of all she surveys, unarguably the diva without equal in the room, and her much-missed music-making for the past few years, means that her voice will make any line she sings an event in itself.

    However, there's one even bigger star that would bring the song to a whole other level. Bob Geldof may say what he like about this project "not being about nostalgia, the UN phoned" but, let's make no mistake, it's dripping in it with the 30th anniversary for Bob Geldof, Midge Ure - leading us to enjoy the present, but mostly remember the past when pop stars came out to play.

    How fitting would it be, then, to go full circle and have the song introduced by the unique, timeless tones of a peerless legend who couldn't make it on that Sunday, 30 years ago, and remains just as enigmatic, elusive and in demand to this day? Go on, Mr Bowie, make it happen! After all, it is Christmas time…

    #BandAid30 will be available to download from 8am on Monday 17 November on iTunes.

    Here are details of the two competitions being run in conjunction with this massive event.

    1) Prizeo competition
    One lucky winner and their guest will be invited down to the recording on Saturday 15 November. There is also a range of limited edition supporting items for sale including the Band Aid T-Shirt and even guitars signed by all the artists taking part this year. CLICK HERE TO ENTER.

    2) Text to donate
    By texting AID to 88833 entrants can donate to the Band Aid Trust. One lucky entrant and their guest will also win the opportunity to come to the recording on Saturday 15 November. Texts costs £1.50. People wishing to donate via text after Saturday's recording can continue to do so.

    See all the acts taking part below...



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    The KKK - Khloe, Kourtney and Kim?

    November 13, 2014, 5:17 am
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    Photo - gossipmagazines.net


    Khloe Kardashian has been facing a huge Twitter backlash after posting a meme which reads; 'The only KKK to ever let black men in' with a photograph of herself, her sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian-West as the background. After posting the meme, which was also published to Instagram by Scott Disick, essentially Khloe's brother-in-law, the pair received accusations of racism. Are people missing the point or are people right to be outraged?

    The meme has been tweeted shortly after the merry band of white-hood-wearing, uneducated gang of numpties - AKA the Ku Klux Klan, released a statement saying that anyone is welcome to join them, no matter their race or sexual orientation - isn't that a joke in itself?

    The KKK isn't a lighthearted organisation, despite their official website claiming they are 'Bringing a Message of Hope and Deliverance to White Christian America! A Message of Love NOT Hate!' Okay, so only to white Americans though, right? Seems a bit strange, but anyway... The KKK were responsible for hundreds, perhaps thousands of atrocities across America, stemming back as far as the 1890s. So can murders, lynchings and brutal attacks be turned into a joke? Does it matter whether people in 2014, - including the Kardashian family - are not actually racist? Or does it matter more that racial-hatred, discrimination, fascist attacks, murders and rapes still occur all over the world?


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    Sure, Khloe didn't mean the offence that this meme has inevitably caused, but do you think she was within her rights to post something that was intended to be lighthearted, or should she have refrained from tweeting the photo as to not cause such controversy and offence over such a sensitive issue?
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    Fertile Finland Could Be Primed to Spearhead the New Nordic Takeover in UK

    November 13, 2014, 5:27 am
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    The second edition of annual Nordic cultural feast, JA JA JA Festival, starts today, and is a good starting place for Londoners to discover the new potential of Finnish music.

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    Sweden of course has pop gold history and in terms of Nordic music has made well in excess of $150m globally from its music exports and as a subsequence naturally gets a very easy ride. For me though, Finland is the most outward looking country in the Nordics at this present time. There is a fully revived and cosmopolitan exuberance to Finland's music scene that just cannot be ignored. And if any of the Nordics is to create a big impression on the UK, like Sweden has done over the years, then Finland is ready.

    Across the last decade or so, Nordic music, via a dedicated export agency named Nomex, has stormed the UK, and has perhaps developed into a scene or music sub-culture all of its own. Dedicated support from websites like The Line of Best Fit and Clash, broadcasters such as BBC 6 Music and XFM, and labels like Fierce Panda and Bella Union have helped many bands and artists from these territories including the Ravenonettes (DK), Of Monsters and Men (ICE) and even recent new hopes Kid Astray (NO) flock down from the under the northern skies and tickle the UK's taste buds. Nomex offspring organisation JA JA JA Music being the prime mover and regularly placing hotly tipped Nordic acts into venues like north London's Lexington. Today even sees the start of the second edition of the Ja Ja Ja festival taking place at the aforementioned venue and Mile End's Great Hall. The Nordics these days make up a large part of the UK's underground heartbeat.

    A few weeks back I visited a conference called Music & Media 2014 in Tampere, Finland. It is an event that sees an annual convergence of music executives and entrepreneurs from major labels, publishers and independents of all sizes. It is a great event that seamlessly conducts big business meet-ups, technology seminars and sync licensing summits with a fantastic showcase programme called Lost in Music held in venues around the small industrial city. This is the place to go to get an educated handle on the musical might and prospects of Finland.

    The emphasis is naturally geared towards Finnish music, namely the pop, rock and electronic variety...and thankfully not as much Metal as one might expect. Finland in comparison to the reputation of its Scandi neighbours has taken its fair share of knocks, and is easy to dismiss in comparison to the likes of super slick Sweden, cosmopolitan Denmark, Ice cool Norway and the eternally kooky and too-cool-for-school Iceland. Finland, and especially since Lordi landed the double-edged sword of a Eurovision win in 2006, has for a considerable time been pigeon-holed with sub genres of the darkest metal.

    I am not sure if Lordi embellished the country's metal reputation in a good way or not. Whatever the case maybe the band's winning song Hard Rock Hallelujah brought Finland back up to speed, for a few years at least, with it it's Nordic neighbours in terms of music commerciality. The Finnish music mission is now seemingly very clear - broaden its commerciality by throwing everything they have at it.

    Of course, the UK's musical love affair with the Nordics is nothing new. Sweden, having had the upper hand for many years, even before Abba! But in the years that followed the "Ab four" we have witnessed Norway's a-ha and the Swedish Roxette, both master and desicrate the UK's pop charts. The Danish Whigfield wig out with her massive one hit wonder, Saturday Night. We can continue to scrape the million-seller barrel and name check Rednex, again Swedish. Aqua, a Danish/Norwegian mix-up, and Basshunter, again Swedish. In mainstream terms if we exclude the brilliant Abba, and if we put the UK's public's dubious taste buds to one side, is it any wonder the Nordics have gone all out to form organisations such as Ja Ja Ja and more recently the Nordic Playlist to fire a warning shot over their own pop history, and formulate a new cultural undergrowth to ensure a new kind and alternative pop dominance?

    But it is Finland's outward facing attitude that will be key to any success. Labels and technologies are bubbling and surfacing with great ideas and even better bands. New, rates free, digital aggregator Music KickUp comes out of Finland. Cool and eclectic independents like Helsinki's Soliti and Turku's Svart Records blend in nicely with the country's big time independent all-rounder Fullsteam (an agency/label/promoter) and are all contributing to Finland being the new jewel in the Nordic crown.

    It was recently announced just prior to Music&Media 2014 that Fullsteam have merged with German indie, and some say their equivalent, the promoter and booking agency FKP Skorpio. A magnificent move that will further position the music of Finland. To boot, in Lapland this coming January an event called Lapp Dance will launch and electronic club music from Berlin in all its forms will be showcased at Hotel Crazy Reindeer. Again, asserting that the future of the Nordics could well be Finnish.

    Of course there is stiff competition. Sweden's Goat and also Icona Pop immediately come to mind as two examples, albeit polar opposite. But Finnish bands like the neo psychedelia of Black Lizard and Jaako Eino Kalevi, the dance pop of Axl Smith, along side the new angular and fuzzy pop/rock experimentalism of Kap Kap and Death Hawks, all bands that could blow huge in UK. And again demonstrating that Finland is harbouring a healthy, broad base of crossover appeal just as much or more than any other Scandinavian nation.

    Finland's geographical location also places itself within easy reach of not only the Russians (some may argue the reason why the Finns look outward) but more importantly, fast rising Baltic nation Estonia. The two countries have extensive business ties and also beneficial tax measures with one and other. Estonian acts like Ewert and the two Dragons, signed to Warners in north America, are receiving more attention in UK and interesting electronic acts like Faun Racket are bubbling on the surface. Hard hitting tie-ups between the two nations by way of Music & Media 2014 and Estonia's well respected conference Tallinn Music Week can only help and not hinder a global push on Finland's part.

    The Nordic alliance is curious. It does help Norway as it is naturally a distant place, and when an act like Kid Astray comes along it is important they are catapulted in some way. The Danes are wealthy enough, and seem content with their easy freeway into the mainland European market place. In terms of the Nordic push into UK I believe they gladly just tag along for the ride. Iceland has sadly become so achingly hip and out there zany it only seems to look inward (sorry Iceland friends). For this reason, the combined effort of a united Nordic assault is vital to the Icelandics. Sweden in pop terms will always be great and will remain at the top of the Nordic Christmas tree. But on a talent level at least, Finland is just as strong or even stronger than Sweden, and could very easily make its own headway with or without a Nordic united front. But if massive Juggernauts are required to pull the likes of Iceland, Faroes and Norway along, then move over Sweden, Finland is now burning on a full tank.
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    Sainsbury's Christmas Ad Is 'Better Than John Lewis', Internet Proclaims

    November 13, 2014, 7:00 am
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    John Lewis's hotly anticipated 2014 Christmas advert starring Monty the Penguin generated an online frenzy last week.

    But it seems that the Sainsbury's Christmas offering may just have knocked Monty out of the nation's hearts.

    Sainsbury's launched its Christmas ad, an epic three-minute film recreating the famous World War One 'Christmas Day truce' football match in no-man's land, last night.

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    Has Monty been knocked off the top spot?


    The ad, which has been made with armed forces charity the Royal British Legion, sparked a warm response online.

    On Thursday morning there were 6,465 mentions of the Sainsbury's #christmasisforsharing hashtag on Twitter, according to social media company We Are Social, while there were only 1,033 mentions of John Lewis' #montythepenguin.

    But the WWI ad has a way to go to overtake John Lewis's penguin film: there have been 174,000 mentions of the #montythepenguin hashtag in November overall.

    John Lewis bosses can't have helped but notice that lots of people were comparing the two ads, with Sainsbury's often declared the best.

























    Some tweeters also noticed that both John Lewis and Sainsbury's are selling a product from their adverts, but while John Lewis' is a £95 toy penguin, Sainsbury's is selling a £1 chocolate bar for which all the the profits go to the Royal British Legion.




    The Sainsbury's ad also isn't without its critics: some felt that it was inappropriate that the supermarket was making use of a historical conflict in its advertising.









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    'I'm A Celebrity': Best Bikini Moments, Including Myleene Klass, Amy Willerton, Helen Flanagan And... Katie Hopkins?! (PICS)

    November 13, 2014, 8:13 am
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    During the thirteen (yes, 13!) years that ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here’ has been on the box, the show has become known for its cringe-inducing Bushtucker Trials, insincere showmances and petty arguments between Z-list celebs who’ve eaten next to nothing in the past day and a half.

    SEE MORE:


    More recently the reality series has earned itself yet another important staple: the humble bikini.

    When Myleene Klass threw on her white two-piece to give her hair a rinse way back in 2006, what she didn’t know was that reality TV gold was being made.

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    Katie Price, Amy Willerton and Myleene Klass


    Since then, viewers have seen the likes of Helen Flanagan, Amy Willerton and, the nation’s sweetheart herself, Katie Price, throwing on their bikinis for a bit of alone time in the jungle shower.

    However, the world of ‘I’m A Celeb’ was recently shaken with the news that a leech “explosion” might have put a stop to the bikini action, meaning new campmates Melanie Sykes and model Nadia Forde may have to shower in a lot more layers than their predecessors to avoid an unwanted leech attack.

    Grim.

    In the spirit of “enjoy it while you can”, we’ve decided to delve deep into the ‘I’m A Celebrity’ vaults, to see which former contestants have strutted their stuff in a two-piece...



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    Azealia Banks Interview: ‘212' Rapper Reveals Her Reasons For Debut Album's Surprise Release

    November 13, 2014, 8:42 am
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    The sums have been done and when I speak to Azealia Banks, it’s been exactly 1,071 days since ‘212’ was released, but her debut album ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ isn’t even a week old.

    It’s fair to say that the release has been a long time coming, so it’s not exactly a surprise when she admits to a sense of relief.

    “It feels amazing, I’m so relieved,” Azealia tells me. “I’m really excited and really happy. I’m feeling a bunch of emotions right now but they’re all good.”

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    Azealia Banks


    When ‘Broke With No Expensive Taste’ was revealed online, critics were quick to compare her to Beyoncé, however this isn’t the first time Azealia has surprised fans with new music.

    She explains: “That’s something that I’ve always done, if you look back at the ‘Fantasea’ mixtape, it was all surprises, surprises, surprises.

    “A lot of people will say I’m pulling a Beyoncé but actually, I’m pulling an Azealia.”

    While the release itself was obviously the biggest surprise, ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ also demonstrates that there’s far more to Azealia than rap and she made a conscious effort not to create “a rap album”.

    “I just feel like rap is a genre that’s very tried, in a sense,” Azealia explains. “We have dope songs, real hot songs, but it’s regurgitated. I even think that about myself.

    “The other genres of music have grown and progressed and I feel like rap is stuck.”

    Perhaps one of her most-surprising endeavours is ‘Nude Beach A-Go-Go’, which Azealia describes as “an american surf rock song” that broaches one of pop culture's most-discussed issues.

    “‘Nude Beach A-Go-Go’ was a song that I made just to satirise the current trend of black culture appropriation,” she explains “It’s ‘everybody comes down and has a good time at my beach and my beach is better’.

    “It’s a metaphor for my space. It’s very American, through and through. It’s a parody of what’s happening now.”

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    'Broke With Expensive Taste' has been three years in the making


    While Azealia’s music is now speaking volumes, it’s no secret that she’s previously been involved in a Twitter spats - most recently when she shared her thoughts on Eminem’s Lana Del Rey lyric - however, she maintains that’s she’s often misunderstood in these exchanges.

    “I think people take things too seriously and that’s why I deleted it [the Eminem comment]. I was just like ‘whatever’,” she explains.

    “Obviously I’m joking, like, come on, you said you were going to punch my friend, ‘dude, I’ll punch you’, I’m joking though!

    “I think social media is damaging for everyone, but you know… I like to laugh, I like to have a good time, I like to joke, I like to shock and be shocked."

    Azealia’s clearly smarter than a quick scan through her Twitter account suggests, and after having fought Universal - and in a sense, won - what advice does she have for other artists?

    Without hesitation, she replies: “Save your money. you never know when you’re going to need it.

    “Don’t spend your f**king money. People are shady, people are funny, cover your ass, pay your taxes - and that’s it.”

    ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ is available to purchase online now.



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    TV Trends: Monty Python's The Meaning Of Live Comes To Gold, But Guess The Most Popular Python!

    November 13, 2014, 9:01 am
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    Michael Palin recently told HuffPostUK, "Every other aspect of Python life is contentious or complicated, but being on stage, doing the comedy, we love doing that. And they're the best people to play comedy with, so I'm really looking forward to that."

    And he looked back on the bizarrely enduring comedy, quoted in some of the highest chambers in the land. "I don't know why 'Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition' should be funny. I don't know why Margaret Thatcher got such a laugh in parliament when she likened the Liberal Party to a dead parrot, but there we are. Something clicked."




    And there we are, half a century after this group of chaps got together and caught a wave that, for whatever reason, it caught a wave that has been flowing ever since.

    John Cleese describes Monty Python - himself, Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones (Graham Chapman died in 1989) - as being a group of grumpy, competitive, old men and, to be sure, they've got a lot to be competitive about, with each of them - Beatles-style - heading off and proving themselves in vastly different fields.

    But if Cleese can barely raise a smile these days - the various complaints of record-breaking alimony bills and aching shoulders distracting him - he can rest easy that, according to social media at least, he remains by far the most popular, discussed and analysed of all the Pythons.

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    The Pythons have said that's it, no more touring, too hard on the old bones


    As well as being the most physically distinctive of the posse, in a way - the only way - that could translate the humour of the Ministry of Silly Walks - he found enough success to prove Python wasn't a fluke, with 'A Fish Called Wanda', and the 12 perfect episodes of 'Fawlty Towers'.

    So memorable is John Cleese in his various incarnations that, despite being absent from British shores for two decades or more, he has come out on top in a recent poll to find the nation's most influential comic. Cleese beat the likes of David Jason, Rowan Atkinson, Ronnie Barker and Ricky Gervais to clinch the top spot.

    Behind in the Python popularity list comes, unsurprisingly, Palin, the familiar face often tagged "the nicest man in Britain".

    “Nice is a bit vacuous,” he protests, when pressed on where this priceless branding comes from. “Most people I know are quite nice, until they go a bit spare if they get knocked off a bicycle or something."

    Comedy, drama, writing and, above all, travel, have all defined him, while Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle both enjoy separate fan bases for their extremely eclectic film and art projects. Meanwhile, Terry Jones has, meanwhile, been able to indulge his huge love of history and poetry, while participating in various TV and film projects.

    And what generally happens when popular individuals get back together? There's a tsunami of affection - as experienced by the Pythons when they announced their reunion tour in London this summer, and which robustly withstood many of the critics' barbs about the dated humour in the shows.

    "Provided we don't fall off the stage or go into a coma half-way through, they'll think they've got their money's worth," said Palin of the huge and expectant fanbase. "But that enthusiasm, we have to pay it back in the way we perform, the way we put it together."

    Despite the live shows, it seems that fans are actually more interested in two other examples of the troupe's tireless ingenuity. Despite the popularity of 'The Secret Policemen's Ball', 'And Now For Something Completely Different', even 'The Meaning of Life', turns out there are two staples, generally for hungover Sunday afternoons, of which fans simply cannot get enough... 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' and, thanks to Graham Chapman, 'The Life of Brian'. Which means, if ever the Pythons are feeling unloved, unremembered, irrelevant, they can just start whistling…

    'The Meaning of Live' airs tonight at 9pm on Gold, a Freeview channel. All TV trends data referred to in this article has been supplied by Virgin Media, which provides access to up to 260+ channels including Freeview Channels, Virgin Movies, Sky Movies and Netflix.





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    Culture Club Reunion Tour: Boy George Cancels Concerts Due To Illness

    November 13, 2014, 9:52 am
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    Culture Club have announced the cancellation of their UK and US tours, after Boy George revealed he has been suffering from throat problems.

    The band were due to play 10 shows in the States before starting a UK arena tour in December.

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    Cullture Club


    The singer has told the BBC: "I want to be able to perform to the best of my ability and the specialist has told me that right now that will be impossible.

    "I will focus on getting better and see all my fans soon."

    A statement from the band adds: "The throat specialist has ordered George to not sing as it may necessitate an operation.

    "We are hoping we can reschedule the concerts for next year, and hopefully George's problem will be resolved."

    Boy George has added to the official statement with a further comment in his Facebook page. It reads:

    BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS YOU WILL ALREADY BE AWARE THAT DUE TO SERIOUS ISSUES WITH MY THROAT I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CANCEL BOTH THE US AND BRITISH TOUR WITH CULTURE CLUB.

    I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY VOICE ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS AND MY MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT I SEE A TOP THROAT DOCTOR IN LOS ANGELES. AFTER HAVING A SERIES OF CAMERAS DOWN MY THROAT IT TRANSPIRES THAT I HAVE A POLYP ON ONE OF MY VOCAL CHORDS WHICH HAS HEMORRHAGED AND ONE OF MY VOCAL CHORDS IS UNUSUALLY ENLARGED AND WON’T CLOSE PROPERLY WHEN I SING.

    IN TRUE BRITISH FASHION I HAVE IGNORED IT THINKING THE PROBLEM MIGHT JUST BE TIREDNESS. I NEVER THOUGHT TO CHECK MY THROAT BECAUSE I HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME JUST "GETTING ON WITH IT".

    I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY DOCTORS THAT TO CONTINUE SINGING WITH THIS POLYP WOULD FURTHER DAMAGE MY VOICE AND COULD CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE ,IT’S A RISK I JUST CANNOT TAKE.

    I HAVE ALREADY HAD A TON OF WONDERFULLY SUPPORTIVE MESSAGES FROM FANS WHO HAD PLANNED TO TRAVEL AND I FEEL GUTTED TO BE LETTING PEOPLE DOWN. SUCH SUPPORT MAKES MY DECISION SO MUCH HARDER. TO SAY I AM DEVASTATED BARELY TOUCHES HOW I FEEL. I KNOW THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT ME WILL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DECISION I JUST HAD TO MAKE.

    I WILL DEFINITELY GET BETTER ,AND SEE YOU ALL SOON BACK ON TOUR

    THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE. IT MEANS EVERYTHING.

    GEORGE XXX


    Culture Club announced their reunion plans in June, when they also spent three weeks in a recording studio, working on their first new release since 1999.

    Following the band's first break-up in 1986, George struggled with a number of personal issues, including drug addiction, arrest and weight gain, making it impossible for him to reform the band.

    “I was awful,” he said, in reference to their 1999 attempt at a reunion. “I’m much nicer now. I wasn’t really ready for it.”

    Boy George's last solo album was released in late 2013 and shortly after its release he told the Huff Post UK about how fans react when they see him nowadays.

    “I can walk about, I have a beard, I’m skinny," he told us. “My fans are sweet, they’re so relieved I’m still here. I saw someone mouthing the other day, ‘That’s not Boy George.’ I went up to him and told him it was. He was amazed."



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    Where Is This From?

    November 13, 2014, 9:56 am
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    Architectural gentrification seems to be full throttle at the moment. Unique, beautiful and historical buildings being bulldozed every minute by greedy demons. The sad truth is, some people actually like all that tasteless shit which allows them to do it, the kind of people who say, "Actually, I quite like The Shard"...should have gone to Specsavers.

    Anyway, forgetting this prelude to a nightmare, I'll leave this subject for another time... let's talk about a similarity in music which, on the contrary, I think is a great revolutionary turn.

    If you go to the website SoundCloud, which I was recently introduced to and is a currently popular online place for hearing new trendy music, click explore. You will then be presented with popular songs that other people online are listening to. If you click play on some of them, you will most likely hear some kind of synthesised sounds (modulated frequency tones/modified samples/naturally unrecognisable sounds), usually accompanied by a drum machine pulsing out something which has now taken the place of the drum kit. This not being the kind of music which resonates with me, I couldn't even begin to imagine where these records were recorded or made. Which is neither good nor bad...


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    Like many people, I grew up listening to music in the 1990s. This included music being played and sung in the house, my parents' records, music played at school, my own records once I started buying them and everywhere else. Some of it I loved and some of it not so much.

    However, through listening to all various kinds of music, I began to notice there was one aspect of music which seemed to have ended at some point in history and will never come back. This was having a sense of where something was from and hearing how music changed with its geographical location. The thing being, musicians had their own sound which was different depending on where they were or were from. The recording studios had their own sound. And certain groups of musicians could make a sound that represented certain parts of a country (for example The Wrecking Crew, west coast or The Funk Brothers, Detroit, The Skatalites, Jamaica...). Record labels also played a big a role here too of course. I think this all still does exist but to a far lesser extent.

    As to why the musicians had their own sounds in different locations, without going into great detail, seems pretty simple off hand for two main reasons.

    Firstly, if we look at 1950s America, for example, specifically black culture, geo- musical communication was far less. Comparing to a time before national broadcasting of music, television and the Internet, hearing music from a neighbouring country or city could have generally been a great challenge. And secondly, people had to have a skill in order to be listened to meaning they had to play their instruments well or they would have no chance of being recorded or getting gigs. For example, if you were a bad drummer, chances are no one was going to record you. Of course, we can only go by what we hear on records, as
    some of us were not lucky enough to have been there to hear those who were not. Also, bearing in mind that this is a pre-rock era, skill of playing is relied on rather than the technology to make the music.

    In contrast, anyone making a record today can know exactly what is out there at any time and be influenced by it and have a crack at it. And they don't need much money at all to record something and put it out to the world. This is obviously a good thing as it allows people to express themselves and do something that they enjoy and want to do.

    Recording studios and labels are interesting too. Some labels had their own studios (for example Chess (Chicago), King (Cincinnati), Tamla Motown (Detroit), Sun (Memphis) ...). In those days, you couldn't buy everything you needed to record a track and then start operating. Firstly, just buying the tape recorder meant taking out a bank loan. If you wanted to buy recorders, microphones, amplifiers... you would be looking at mortgaging your house and taking out a MASSIVE bank loan. Secondly, depending on how you wanted to record, you would most likely have to build your own equipment or/and start modifying existing equipment (usually ex broadcast equipment). As a result, every studio had its characteristic sound (some great and some not). This was because of their own room acoustics, their custom equipment, the people running them and obviously down to a lot more factors.

    Records made in Jamaica sound completely different to records made at Motown or in Britain or Columbia of the same era but they were all using the same basic technology, just quite differently.





    In contrast again, anyone today can go to their local shop and buy some things for not much and plug into their computer and hey presto, everyone has the gift of recording. Great. As for most of the recording studios now, they all have the same computers and the same mixing consoles (not actually necessary anymore) with the live room (where the musicians play) being the only main real variable. I have also seen studios with no live room! Studios are also dead cheap to record in compared to years ago. Great. But, these systems technically all sound the same because they are all the same.

    Musicians (people playing instruments), are not used much at all anymore on pop recordings or on the songs that were presented on the trending music page of SoundCloud meaning the music now comes from machines, usually with vocals over the top. Again, everyone using the same machines. I often hear more machine music when I'm in public spaces than I do people playing on recordings.

    So, now we can all have musical accessibility and make tracks after tracks and put them up for the world to hear in a few clicks of an apple mac track pad, which is amazeballs. This is all great and may seem a little obvious but, I feel something precious has been lost along the way somewhere. People's sense of owner ship and proudness of a sound or feel. How different people could all do different things with their music that was their own and no one could touch. And to stack all those different records on a shelf next to each other makes listening, for me, a never-ending pleasure.

    Respect, Lewis

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    ‘EastEnders' Spoiler: Sam Strike To Leave After A Year As Johnny Carter

    November 14, 2014, 4:25 am
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    ‘EastEnders’ actor Sam Strike, who stars as Danny Dyer’s on-screen son Johnny Carter, has announced his plans to leave the soap.

    MORE 'EASTENDERS':
    • See All The Latest 'EastEnders' Spoilers

    • Slater Family Favourite Returning To Walford

    • New Actor To Play Martin Fowler


    The actor arrived with the Carter family last Christmas, however, he’s now revealed that his time in Walford is coming to an end.

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    Sam Strike as Johnny


    Sam shared the news on Twitter, writing: “Thanks for all the love this year guys. Means the world. Decided to bow out. couldn't have done it without you all. Thanks @bbceastenders.

    “And of course tremendous love to my Carter family . True love.”

    ‘EastEnders’ bosses are remaining tight-lipped on how they will write the character out of the show, simply telling Digital Spy: “We can confirm that Sam is leaving ‘EastEnders’. We wish him all the best for the future.”

    Since their arrival in Albert Square, the Carter family have been at the centre of a number of the soap’s key storylines.

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    Sam’s character Johnny has struggled to deal his sexuality and Kellie Bright has been praised for her portrayal of Linda Carter, who was raped by her nephew Dean.

    The rape storyline is set to develop in the New Year and show bosses have confirmed that the Carter family will find out what happened.

    Johnny is the second Carter making an exit, as Stan, played by Timothy West, is also leaving 'EastEnders'.



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