UNTIL JUNE

Determined to make it as a band the members of Until June packed up their bags and left their Phoenix, Arizona homes for sunny Los Angeles, a city where hopes and dreams are gloriously realized or abandoned in frustration and bitter defeat. Josh Ballard, singer for the transplanted Los Angeles trio confesses, "We didn't give ourselves a way out. We packed up, left school, left our families and forced ourselves to be alone in L.A. with just our music."
With a collective deadline of April 2007, the unnamed band christened itself after their self-imposed cut-off date. Fortunately, just as time was running out, Until June signed with Flicker Records/Sony.

Sequestered in a new town the band has crafted an album infused with honesty and perseverance. Produced by Brian Garcia (Our Lady Peace, Kelly Clarkson, King's X), Until June's self-titled debut release represents the virtue of pushing through one's fears, no matter what.
Think in hybrid, a cross-section of the sounds of Keane, Coldplay, and Ben Folds Five—powerful, piano-based rock without an agenda. Warm falsettos crescendo into correspondingly warm moments of emotion. And yet there are many moments of wide-open, airy breaks and choruses, a la Sigur Ros and Sunny Day Real Estate.
Until June's approach to songwriting is more classic in nature. Verses, choruses and bridges flow into one another as songs progress and evolve, without such rigid structures as you hear on mainstream radio. The album lends a beautiful candor seldom heard today, but Ballard & Co. are realistic, even humble about their own sound.
"We would love to think that we are making music that will change the world," Ballard explains, "but we are more concerned with letting it all out than writing pop hits. This music is our everything, and we have lived it. We want people to know that on the record, as well as at shows, we are 100% about spilling our guts. We just want people to feel what we feel."
Though the prevailing lyrical themes on Until June are brokenness and heartache, there is a thread of redemption that is subtle, yet powerful throughout. On "What I've Done" Ballard speaks of deep regret and the need for salvation from one's own mistakes: Tied around the mess I've made, the air I breathe gets shorter every time I speak. The words you've heard a thousand times I've tried before but now I feel like letting go of everything that hurts the most, and now I'm begging you don't let go.
Armed with this sincere emotion, Until June plans to continue to hone its live show while traversing the nation. After four tough years in L.A., where they faced every obstacle the city could throw at them, nothing less than a full-time, national touring schedule would seem appropriate. Recently, Until June completed a U.S. run.
"We want to challenge the listener, not just offer the same, recycled pop," Ballard declares. "The goal of this band is to raise questions, to cause people to seek out greater answers beyond themselves. And I know that we will never take our music lightly because it has the power to influence, the power to encourage. After all, we may need to lay this band down someday. But not today."
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

DAVID BOWIE

Born: January 08, 1947
The cliche about David Bowie says he's a musical chameleon, adapting himself according to fashion and trends. While such a criticism is too glib, there's no denying that Bowie demonstrated remarkable skill for perceiving musical trends at his peak in the '70s. After spending several years in the late '60s as a mod and as an all-around music-hall entertainer, Bowie reinvented himself as a hippie singer/songwriter.

Prior to his breakthrough in 1972, he recorded a proto-metal record and a pop/rock album, eventually redefining glam rock with his ambiguously sexy Ziggy Stardust persona. Ziggy made Bowie an international star, yet he wasn't content to continue to churn out glitter rock. By the mid-'70s, he developed an effete, sophisticated version of Philly soul that he dubbed "plastic soul," which eventually morphed into the eerie avant-pop of 1976's Station to Station. Shortly afterward, he relocated to Berlin, where he recorded three experimental electronic albums with Brian Eno. At the dawn of the '80s, Bowie was still at the height of his powers, yet following his blockbuster dance-pop album Let's Dance in 1983, he slowly sank into mediocrity before salvaging his career in the early '90s. Even when he was out of fashion in the '80s and '90s, it was clear that Bowie was one of the most influential musicians in rock, for better and for worse. Each one of his phases in the '70s sparked a number of subgenres, including punk, new wave, goth rock, the new romantics, and electronica. Few rockers ever had such lasting impact.
David Jones began performing music when he was 13 years old, learning the saxophone while he was at Bromley Technical High School; another pivotal event happened at the school, when his left pupil became permanently dilated in a schoolyard fight. Following his graduation at 16, he worked as a commercial artist while playing saxophone in a number of mod bands, including the King Bees, the Manish Boys (which also featured Jimmy Page as a session man), and Davey Jones & the Lower Third. All three of those bands released singles, which were generally ignored, yet he continued performing, changing his name to David Bowie in 1966 after the Monkees' Davy Jones became an international star. Over the course of 1966, he released three mod singles on Pye Records, which were all ignored. The following year, he signed with Deram, releasing the music hall, Anthony Newley-styled David Bowie that year. Upon completing the record, he spent several weeks in a Scottish Buddhist monastery. Once he left the monastery, he studied with Lindsay Kemp's mime troupe, forming his own mime company, the Feathers, in 1969. The Feathers were short-lived, and he formed the experimental art group Beckenham Arts Lab in 1969.

Bowie needed to finance the Arts Lab, so he signed with Mercury Records that year and released Man of Words, Man of Music, a trippy singer/songwriter album featuring "Space Oddity." The song was released as a single and became a major hit in the U.K., convincing Bowie to concentrate on music. Hooking up with his old friend Marc Bolan, he began miming at some of Bolan's T. Rex concerts, eventually touring with Bolan, bassist/producer Tony Visconti, guitarist Mick Ronson, and drummer Cambridge as Hype. The band quickly fell apart, yet Bowie and Ronson remained close, working on the material that formed Bowie's next album, The Man Who Sold the World, as well as recruiting Michael "Woody" Woodmansey as their drummer. Produced by Tony Visconti, who also played bass, The Man Who Sold the World was a heavy guitar rock album that failed to gain much attention. Bowie followed the album in late 1971 with the pop/rock Hunky Dory, an album that featured Ronson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman.

Following the release of Hunky Dory, Bowie began to develop his most famous incarnation, Ziggy Stardust: an androgynous, bisexual rock star from another planet. Before he unveiled Ziggy, Bowie claimed in a January 1972 interview with the Melody Maker that he was gay, helping to stir interest in his forthcoming album. Taking cues from Bolan's stylish glam rock, Bowie dyed his hair orange and began wearing women's clothing. He began calling himself Ziggy Stardust, and his backing band -- Ronson, Woodmansey, and bassist Trevor Bolder -- were the Spiders from Mars. The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released with much fanfare in England in late 1972. The album and its lavish, theatrical concerts became a sensation throughout England, and it helped him become the only glam rocker to carve out a niche in America. Ziggy Stardust became a word-of-mouth hit in the U.S., and the re-released "Space Oddity" -- which was now also the title of the re-released Man of Words, Man of Music -- reached the American Top 20. Bowie quickly followed Ziggy with Aladdin Sane later in 1973. Not only did he record a new album that year, but he also produced Lou Reed's Transformer, the Stooges' Raw Power, and Mott the Hoople's comeback All the Young Dudes, for which he also wrote the title track.

Given the amount of work Bowie packed into 1972 and 1973, it wasn't surprising that his relentless schedule began to catch up with him. After recording the all-covers Pin-Ups with the Spiders from Mars, he unexpectedly announced the band's breakup, as well as his retirement from live performances, during the group's final show that year. He retreated from the spotlight to work on a musical adaptation of George Orwell's -1984, but once he was denied the rights to the novel, he transformed the work into Diamond Dogs. The album was released to generally poor reviews in 1974, yet it generated the hit single "Rebel Rebel," and he supported the album with an elaborate and expensive American tour. As the tour progressed, Bowie became fascinated with soul music, eventually redesigning the entire show to reflect his new "plastic soul." Hiring guitarist Carlos Alomar as the band's leader, Bowie refashioned his group into a Philly soul band and recostumed himself in sophisticated, stylish fashions. The change took fans by surprise, as did the double-album David Live, which featured material recorded on the 1974 tour.

Young Americans, released in 1975, was the culmination of Bowie's soul obsession, and it became his first major crossover hit, peaking in the American Top Ten and generating his first U.S. number one hit in "Fame," a song he co-wrote with John Lennon and Alomar. Bowie relocated to Los Angeles, where he earned his first movie role in Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). While in L.A., he recorded Station to Station, which took the plastic soul of Young Americans into darker, avant-garde-tinged directions, yet was also a huge hit, generating the Top Ten single "Golden Years." The album inaugurated Bowie's persona of the elegant "Thin White Duke," and it reflected Bowie's growing cocaine-fueled paranoia. Soon, he decided Los Angeles was too boring and returned to England; shortly after arriving back in London, he gave the awaiting crowd a Nazi salute, a signal of his growing, drug-addled detachment from reality. The incident caused enormous controversy, and Bowie left the country to settle in Berlin, where he lived and worked with Brian Eno.

Once in Berlin, Bowie sobered up and began painting, as well as studying art. He also developed a fascination with German electronic music, which Eno helped him fulfill on their first album together, Low. Released early in 1977, Low was a startling mixture of electronics, pop, and avant-garde technique. While it was greeted with mixed reviews at the time, it proved to be one of the most influential albums of the late '70s, as did its follow-up, Heroes, which followed that year. Not only did Bowie record two solo albums in 1977, but he also helmed Iggy Pop's comeback records The Idiot and Lust for Life, and toured anonymously as Pop's keyboardist. He resumed his acting career in 1977, appearing in Just A Gigolo with Marlene Dietrich and Kim Novak, as well as narrating Eugene Ormandy's version of Peter and the Wolf. Bowie returned to the stage in 1978, launching an international tour that was captured on the double-album Stage. During 1979, Bowie and Eno recorded Lodger in New York, Switzerland, and Berlin, releasing the album at the end of the year. Lodger was supported with several innovative videos, as was 1980's Scary Monsters, and these videos -- "DJ," "Fashion," "Ashes to Ashes" -- became staples on early MTV.

Scary Monsters was Bowie's last album for RCA, and it wrapped up his most innovative, productive period. Later in 1980, he performed the title role in stage production of +The Elephant Man, including several shows on Broadway. Over the next two years, he took an extended break from recording, appearing in Christine F (1982) and the vampire movie The Hunger (1982), returning to the studio only for his 1981 collaboration with Queen, "Under Pressure," and the theme for Paul Schrader's remake of Cat People. In 1983, he signed an expensive contract with EMI Records and released Let's Dance. Bowie had recruited Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers to produce the album, giving the record a sleek, funky foundation, and hired the unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan as lead guitarist. Let's Dance became his most successful record, thanks to stylish, innovative videos for "Let's Dance" and "China Girl," which turned both songs into Top Ten hits. Bowie supported the record with the sold-out arena tour Serious Moonlight.

Greeted with massive success for the first time, Bowie wasn't quite sure how to react, and he eventually decided to replicate Let's Dance with 1984's Tonight. While the album sold well, producing the Top Ten hit "Blue Jean," it received poor reviews and ultimately was a commercial disappointment. He stalled in 1985, recording a duet of Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street" with Mick Jagger for Live Aid. He also spent more time jet-setting, appearing at celebrity events across the globe, and appeared in several movies -- Into the Night (1985), Absolute Beginners (1986), Labyrinth (1986) -- that turned out to be bombs. Bowie returned to recording in 1987 with the widely panned Never Let Me Down, supporting the album with the Glass Spider tour, which also received poor reviews. In 1989, he remastered his RCA catalog with Rykodisc for CD release, kicking off the series with the three-disc box Sound + Vision. Bowie supported the discs with an accompanying tour of the same name, claming that he was retiring all of his older characters from performance following the tour. Sound + Vision was successful, and Ziggy Stardust re-charted amidst the hoopla.

Sound + Vision may have been a success, but Bowie's next project was perhaps his most unsuccessful. Picking up on the abrasive, dissonant rock of Sonic Youth and the Pixies, Bowie formed his own guitar rock combo, Tin Machine, with guitarist Reeves Gabrels, bassist Hunt Sales, and his drummer brother Tony, who had previously worked on Iggy Pop's Lust for Life with Bowie. Tin Machine released an eponymous album to poor reviews that summer and supported it with a club tour, which was only moderately successful. Despite the poor reviews, Tin Machine released a second album, the appropriately titled Tin Machine II, in 1991, and it was completely ignored.

Bowie returned to a solo career in 1993 with the sophisticated, soulful Black Tie White Noise, recording the album with Nile Rodgers and his now-permanent collaborator, Reeves Gabrels. The album was released on Savage, a subsidiary of RCA, and received positive reviews, but his new label went bankrupt shortly after its release, and the album disappeared. Black Tie White Noise was the first indication that Bowie was trying hard to resuscitate his career, as was the largely instrumental 1994 soundtrack The Buddha of Suburbia. In 1995, he reunited with Brian Eno for the wildly hyped, industrial rock-tinged Outside. Several critics hailed the album as a comeback, and Bowie supported it with a co-headlining tour with Nine Inch Nails in order to snag a younger, alternative audience, but his gambit failed; audiences left before Bowie's performance and Outside disappeared. He quickly returned to the studio in 1996, recording Earthling, an album heavily influenced by techno and drum'n'bass. Upon its early 1997 release, Earthling received generally positive reviews, yet the album failed to gain an audience, and many techno purists criticized Bowie for allegedly exploiting their subculture. hours... followed in 1999. For 2002, Bowie reunited with producerToni Visconti and released Heathen to very positive reviews. He continued on with Visconti for Reality in 2003. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

BRITNEY SPEARS

Britney Spears was born in Kentwood, Louisiana, U.S.A. on December 2nd 1981. "Even as a little baby, Britney was a real darling…she was always being noticed." Says Lynne Spears, Britney's Mom. Lynne has even said that Britney was dancing around at the early age of two. In fact, Britney's parents believed in her abilities so much that Lynne would drive two hours everyday just so Britney could attend gymnastics classes. Although gymnastics was a fun pastime for Britney--the uneven bars and floor exercise were her favorites--she found that she wasn't nearly as strong as the other girls and although she practiced over three hours a day, the moves didn't come near as easy to her. Giving up on gymnastics was a total loss, however, as Britney soon found out that it had developed her skills as a dancer.

Changing her goals, the future queen of pop performed at her first talent show at the early age of six. By the time she was nine, she was already traveling around to different dance competitions performing in the jazz lyrical dancing category. Gymnastics and dancing at an early age wasn't the only preparation she did for her future career--Lynne has said that Britney could be found singing all the time. The song "What Child is This" was her first key to stardom--she sang it at her kindergarten graduation. It wasn't until later that Lynne realized that Britney could have a future in singing, when Britney was bouncing around on the trampoline. On top of Britney's singing and dancing as a young child, she also competed in beauty pageants. At five she won first place in the Kentwood Dairy Festival; at seven, she was awarded silver first-prize for Miss Talent USA. And that's not all--the Spears' home is filled with other trophies Britney has collected over the years.

Appearing in talent shows and choirs around her hometown, Britney's talents were obvious from a young age. She auditioned for The Disney Channel's 'Mickey Mouse Club' at the age of eight. Too young for the show, but too talented to dismiss, a Disney producer helped her to get an agent in New York where she spent the next three summers studying performing arts. She began to act in TV commercials and off-Broadway shows. At age 11, with varied and invaluable entertaining experience already behind her, Britney graduated to a coveted place in Disney's 'Mickey Mouse Club'.

Her first real lead was in a comedy called Ruthless. In 1992, Britney left Ruthless and landed a spot on Star Search. She won the first round, but was beaten by another contestant in the second. This setback didn't deter Miss Spears, who knew in her heart that she was destined for greater things. Finally, Britney returned to audition for the MMC again; except this time she was offered a job! Along with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera, and Kari Russell, Britney rapped, sang, and danced through over 110 skits on the show. After two years, in 1994, MMC was canceled, leaving Britney to wonder what was next.

After a couple of years on the show, Britney went back to New York to start a music career hoping to follow in the footsteps of her idols Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. She started out by recording several songs on a homemade demo and then returned to the person who had helped her out before: Entertainment Lawyer Larry Rudolph. Rudolph immediately set Britney up with Jive Records. After listening to her tape, Jeff Fenster, senior vice president of artists and recording for Jive Records, said, "she was intriguing, so we had her come in and audition for us in person." What did she audition to? "Jesus Loves Me" and "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. After her performance, everyone in the room was amazed and Britney was immediately offered a recording contract.

Shortly after, Jive went to work on Britney's first album. The eleven tracks on her freshmen album were recorded all over the world: from Sweden at Max Martin's studio to New Jersey, where she worked with Eric Foster White. After the production on her CD was finished, Jive set forth on promoting their newest artist. Months before her album came out Britney's name was on teenager's lips everywhere. She even embarked on a mini-tour throughout malls in the US to promote her yet-to-be released CD. Britney then landed the coveted spot as *N Sync's opening act on their 1998 tour. But, that was only the edge of the iceberg for Britney.

In late December 1998, Jive Records released Britney's first single "…Baby One More Time" and by January, it was a number-one hit. Britney's album debuted at number one shortly thereafter, paving the road for one of the world's biggest stars. Unfortunately, in February 1999, Britney's luck took a turn for the worst. While filming the video for her second single, "Sometimes," Britney tore cartilage in her left knee and was forced take a brief break to have surgery. After she was done recuperating, Jive immediately set her up with her own headlining tour sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger. Her 2nd single, 'Sometimes' - a soft summer ballad - was released in June 1999 and was warmly received by a rapidly growing fan base.

After a massive summer tour across North America, Britney returned to the charts with another smash hit, '(You Drive Me) Crazy'. The highlight of 1999 for Britney was performing a poptastic medley at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Dublin, where she was the undoubted star. She won all four awards for which she was nominated. The categories were Best Female Artist, Best Breakthrough Act, Best Pop Act and Best Song for '…Baby One More Time'.

Born To Make You Happy', the fourth single to be taken from Britney's debut album, was released in January 2000 and shot straight into the top of charts around the World, securing her status as a pop phenomenon. In between touring and promotion, Britney recorded new songs for an eagerly anticipated second album: 'Oops!… I Did It Again' was the first single from an album with the same name. Released in April 2000, the melodious and upbeat song, accompanied by a stunning music video directed by Nigel Dick, shot to the top of music charts around the globe. The album release followed, debuting at #1 in the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and 15 other countries worldwide. Its' reception stamped the title 'Oops!… I Did It Again' with uncanny appropriateness - she had indeed 'done it again!'.

The second single from the album, was 'Lucky' - a bittersweet tale of loneliness and stardom - containing the apt lyrical phrase "the World is spinning and she keeps on winning!" Britney's 'Oops!…' World Tour was announced on May 12th 2000. Her fans couldn't wait to see her perform. The shows packed 90 minutes full of her classic hits, energetic dance routines and magical costume changes. Fans were left in awe. Stronger' - an attention grabbing slice of classic up-beat pop - and 'Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know' - a smooth ballad, co-written by Shania Twain - , followed as the final singles from an exciting sophomoric record, that showed immense growth as a performing artist and a tight relationship with a sound that is undoubtedly 'Britney!' and now?…

Along with her rigorous schedule and the release of her successful 2X Platinum home video Time Out With Britney Spears in late 1999, Britney and her mother have written a book entitled Heart To Heart. As if that weren't enough, Britney has also created the Britney Spears Foundation in conjunction with the Giving Back Fund. Its first endowment is the formation of a performing arts summer camp for underprivileged kids in Massachusetts. "I'm so happy to be able to give kids the opportunity to learn about amazing world of dance and music that I've have been lucky enough to make such a big part of my own life."

Britney has appeared on screen and in print around the globe. 'Time Magazine' (International Edition), 'Marie Claire' (UK) 'Elle' (UK and Japan) and 'Vogue' (Spain) are some of the magazines that have embraced Britney's charismatic image for their cover stories. MTV, CHANNEL V, FOX, M6, RTL, along with a countless number of other television networks and programs around the world, anticipate Britney's new releases as fans would themselves.

Britney co-headlined at the Rock In Rio Festival in Brazil in January, 2001, performing to an audience of over 250,000. Also in January, Britney appeared with Aerosmith and *NSYNC at Superbowl 35 during the half time show, performing Aerosmith's classic hit "Walk This Way". Britney presented and won an award at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards and co-hosted and performed at the 2001 American Music Awards.

In 2001, the reigning Queen of Teen Pop shows us a fresh and more mature side. The new songs on her third album, 'Britney', reflect the changes in her life and her development from a teenage girl to a mature, young woman. Working with producers such as The Neptunes, on the first single 'I'm a Slave 4 U' has allowed her to move on to the next level. Other producers and songwriters on the album include Max Martin, Rami, Riprock 'n' Alex G, Dido, Josh Schwartz and Brian Kierulf of KNS Productions, Rodney Jerkins, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears herself.

In early 2001, Britney sparked her career as an actress, when she began filming Crossroads, a movie which she had a hand in creating. To help promote the movie, Britney began work on a third album, aptly named "Britney".

The first single, "I'm A Slave 4 U" was debuted by a racy performance at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards that still has people talking, more than a year after the performance ended. The album, released November 6, 2001, debuted at #1, making Britney the first artist to have her first three albums debut at #1. The album sold more than 800, 000 copies within its first week. A feat that doesn't quite match her previous attempt, but in comparison to any other female artist, is still an amazing accomplishment. She snatched up the spot for the second fastest selling album by a female artist. (The feat which would later be topped by Shania Twain's comeback album "Up!") Fortunately, Britney still holds the #1 spot.

"Crossroads" was released to theaters in February 2002, bringing in $17, 000 opening week. Not bad for a movie in which the lead character is starring in her first film. In June 2002, Britney opened a restaurant called Nyla (named after her two favourite places in the world: New York and Louisiana). Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't do so well, and in November 2002, Britney pulled out of the restaurant.

In late 2002, she went on a 6-month hiatus from the spotlight to lay low. In early December, the hiatus was called off, and she ventured back into the studio to begin work on her fourth album, later to be titled 'In The Zone'. With this album, she worked with a handful of famous producers, writers and even hooked up with a few people to costar on the album. Producers include Moby, R Kelly, P Diddy and more. She co-wrote 7 of the project's 12 sterling new compositions, collaborating with such heavy hitters as Red Zone ("Me Against The Music," "The Hook Up"), The Matrix ("Shadow"), Moby ("Early Mornin'"), and Cathy Dennis ("Toxic," "Showdown"). Also contributing hit worthy material to the album is R. Kelly ("Outrageous"), Ying-Yang Twins on "(I Got That) Boom Boom."

The musical union of Britney and Madonna within the taut, classic-funk groove of "Me Against The Music" is quite real, though, and it reveals each of them at their most kinetic and soulful. Collaborating with one of her all-time greatest musical influences was a dream come true for Britney. The song's accompanying video clip, directed by Paul Hunter, shows Madonna enticing Britney through a maze-like underground club, only to disappear into thin air when Britney gets close enough to touch her. The clip is rife with symbolic gestures of Madonna passing the baton pop power to Britney --- an image that the young artist finds exciting, humbling, and perhaps a bit premature.

Britney has never had a problem staying in the spotlight with everything that surrounds her. Her career has been built out of controversy and people keep coming back begging for more. In the beginning of her career the hottest talk in Hollywood was that Ms. Spears got breast implants in hopes to boost her image. No sooner did that talk die down before new rumors that she was dating teen heartthrob Justin Timberlake came out. These happened to be true, and Justin and Britney emerged as one of the hottest new couples on the scene. In March 2002, their four-year romance ceased due to various speculated reasons. Justin's "Cry Me a River" video seems to be the only clues as to why their relationship ended, essentially accusing Britney (through a look alike model) of cheating. Britney, however, has chosen to remain discreet about her love life. She did admit that her girl-next-door image wasn't entirely true: after years of speculation, she revealed that she wasn't a virgin. On! top of that, she smoked and drank alcohol. The media had a hay day coupling Britney with every single man in Hollywood, of which Britney can only laugh. Now, Britney has added further controversy to her career by kissing Madonna during their performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, a move that apparent Ms. Spears suggested herself.

In January 2004 she embarked on a bizarre week-long bender in Las Vegas culminating in a 'quickie' Vegas chapel style marriage to school sweetheart Jason Alexander. When the hangover had finally lifted the couple divorced two days later with Britney telling the newspapers: "I wanted to get married, then I ran away". In January 2004 Britney visited London briefly to publicize her new Pepsi TV commercial filmed with Beyonce Knowles and Pink. Amazingly, she managed not to marry anyone. But on September 18, 2004, Ms. Spears became Mrs. Federline when she married her former backup dancer, Kevin Federline. It was the first marriage for Federline, who previously fathered two children with Moesha star Shar Jackson. The two lovebirds honeymooned in various places including Fiji!

Sources: Britney Spears' Official Web Site, BritneySpears.org, BritneySparkles.com, BritneyFans.com, Britney People, Tiscali UK, Kidzworld.
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

GIUSY FERRERI

Giusy Ferreri (born Giuseppa Gaetana Ferreri on 17 April 1979 in Palermo, Italy) is an Italian singer-songwriter. In 2008 Giusy took part at the first Italian edition of the talent show X Factor, in which she came second. Her vocal qualities have been compared to Nina Simone, Bessie Smith and Amy Winehouse.
Between 2008 and 2009, Ferreri sold 900,000 copies of her first EP and debut album.
In June 2008 Sony BMG Italy released the debut EP by Ferreri, which includes her first single Non Ti Scordar Mai Di Me written by Italian pop singer Tiziano Ferro, and five covers of classic songs from the 60s-70s. The single held the number one position of the Italian singles chart for an impressive fifteen consecutive weeks, becoming one of the most successful tracks ever on that chart. The album debuted at the top spot of the Italian album chart and stayed there for eleven consecutive weeks. It went on to be certified 4x platinum denoting over 300,000 copies shipped

Debut album: Gaetana

In October 2008 the song Novembre, the first single from Ferreri's official debut album Gaetana, was released. The tune debuted at number one in Italy and held the top for eight weeks so far. The album was released on 14 November 2008. It debuted at number one on the iTunes Italy chart and subsequently peaked at #2 on the Italian FIMI albums chart, selling over 80,000 copies in its first week of release[2]. The album sold so far over 400,000 copies in Italy. The second single from the album, "Stai Fermo Lì", was announced on 8 January 2009 and was released in Italy on 16 January 2009. The third single off the album was "La Scala (The Ladder)", originally written by Linda Perry and translated in Italian by singer Tiziano Ferro. The song peaking at #27 on the FIMI singles chart and at #49 on the Greece Singles Chart.

On 20 November 2009 her second studio album was released across Europe, while debuting at #10 on the Italian FIMI albums chart. The first single is a cover of Ma il Cielo è Sempre Più Blu by Rino Gaetano.

In her second studio album, Ferreri records cover versions of some of her favourite (Italian and international) artitsts: La Magia è la mia Amante (I Was Made To Love Magic) by Nick Drake, Con una rosa by Vinicio Capossela and Paolo Benvegnù, Il Mare Verticale (Portrait the Sea) by Jerome Kern, Yesterdays (song played in the past by Billie Holiday), Ciao amore ciao by Luigi Tenco and Estate by Bruno Martino.


Source:en.wikipedia.org

Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

GEORGE MICHAEL

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou to a Greek Cypriot father and a British mother, George grew up in suburban Hertfordshire.
He attended the Bushey Meads School where he became best friends with Andrew Ridgeley. They formed their first band whilst still at school, the short-lived The Executive. Following that they created Wham! in 1981.
The duo’s pretty-boy looks and catchy lyrics meant they were an instant success with their first singles ‘Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do)’ and ‘Young Guns (Go For It!)’ (1982). Wham’s debut album, ‘Fantastic’ (1983), had the hit single ‘Club Tropicana’ (1983) with the memorable video, shot in Ibiza. Rapidly following was the album ‘Make it Big’ (1984) with hit singles ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Freedom’ and ‘Everything She Wants’. Wham! toured China in April 1985 and received much media coverage around the world. Their fame was starting to spread.

The album ’Music from the Edge of Heaven’ (1986), with hit singles ‘I’m Your Man’ and ‘Last Christmas’, made Wham! the most successful pop act of the 1980s. In 1986, after nearly five years of dominating the charts, touring the world and being poster pinup heartthrobs, Wham! decided to part ways. In 1986, they released their farewell single ‘The Edge of Heaven’ and played to a capacity crowd for their final concert at Wembley Stadium, London. Andrew then settled in Cornwall and George began to pursue a solo career.
A year later, George released his debut solo album ‘Faith’ (1987) to a resoundingly enthusiastic response. It sold over 7 million copies and was number one in both the US and the UK. Memorable singles from the album were ‘Faith’, ‘Father Figure’, ‘Kissing A Fool’ and ‘I Want Your Sex’. Three years later, the release of the album ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1’ (1990) was the start of George’s dispute with record label Sony. He claimed that the album’s poor sales were due to Sony’s poor marketing. In 1993, George entered into a court case with Sony over his record contract, which cost him millions and which he eventually lost. DreamWorks bought George out of his Sony contract and released the more sombre album ‘Older’ in 1996. The next two albums were the greatest hits compilation ‘Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael’ (1998) and ‘Songs from the Last Century’ (1999) which received a lukewarm response from critics.

After all the years of privacy regarding his sexual orientation and rumoured relationships with various women, George was finally out of closet. On 7 April 1998, he exposed himself to an undercover policeman in a Beverly Hills park toilet, was arrested for lewd behaviour, fined $180 and given 80 hours of community service. In a rebellious retort, George released a video to his single ‘Outside’ which featured policemen kissing. It became known that George’s lover of two years, Brazilian Anselmo Feleppa, had died in 1993 of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage and the song ‘Jesus to a Child’ from the ‘Older’ (1996) album was a tribute to him. George was also finally able to publicly acknowledge his relationship with Kenny Goss from Dallas, Texas, a former cheerleader coach and later an Adidas sports clothing executive. In 2005, the couple opened the Goss Gallery for contemporary art in Dallas. They own homes in Hollywood and Dallas and have an £8 million mansion in Highgate, North London.


In his upfront way, George made political comment on the Tony Blair/George Bush role in the “War on Terror” in his controversial 2002 song ‘Shoot the Dog’. He was involved in several of the Band Aid songs and concerts and spoke out against Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government and it’s missiles involvement with the US.

Following a five-year gap in album releases, the highly anticipated ‘Patience’ (2004) made number one on the UK charts and number two in Australia. George performed with Paul McCartney, providing harmony for ‘Drive My Car’, at the 2005 Live 8 concert. In a drive to re-launch his career, on 21 April 2006 George announced his first solo concert tour in 15 years: a fifty-date ‘25 Live’ concert tour, commemorating 25 years of being in the music business. The album ‘Twenty Five’, a greatest hits album that includes four new tracks, was put together to coincide with the tour.

George had admitted to taking medication for depression, including Prozac and smoking cannabis (a Class C drug). Recently, he found himself repeatedly caught out by the law. On 26 February 2006, he was arrested for possession of cannabis, cautioned by the police and let go. Then on 15 May 2006, he was found slumped over the steering wheel of his Range Rover, sweating profusely and apparently napping at the traffic lights. A fellow motorist spent almost five minutes knocking on his window before he woke up and weaved off down the road and hit a traffic bollard. Later that month, George attracted police attention once more when he drove into three parked cars in the North London street in which he lives.

In July 2006, UK tabloids printed photographs of George emerging from the bushes of London’s Hampstead Heath, apparently having engaged in a sexual act with a man they called a ‘pot-bellied, jobless van driver’. George’s reply was that he had cruised for gay sex since his early teens and that his current partner, Goss, had no problem with this habit. At 3.22am on 1 October 2006, police found George with a stash of cannabis, slumped semi-conscious in his Mercedes Benz S-Class, causing an obstruction at an intersection in Cricklewood, North West London. They first took him to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead for a check up and then to the Colindale police station, where they booked him for possession of cannabis and released him on bail, pending further inquiries into his fitness to drive. The court date has been set for November 2006. He went directly from the police station to Luton airport to fly to Lyon to resume his ‘25 Live’ tour.

George has denied that he has a drug problem although he encouraged his partner, Kenny Goss, to be treated at the Arizona clinic for alcohol abuse in June 2004. His recent, increasingly erratic behaviour and constant run-ins with the police is causing concern in some quarters, even although his concert ticket sales have been phenomenal.

With his public image under scrutiny, George is doggedly pursuing his music career. Due for release in November 2006 is a new single with ex-Sugarbabes singer Mutya called ‘This Is Not Real Love’. He is also busy recording a new version of the song ‘Heal the Pain’ with Paul McCartney. He wrote the original as a tribute to McCartney and is honoured that McCartney is singing this version. In a career spanning more than twenty years and having sold in excess of 80 million records - as part of Wham! and as a solo artist - George has certainly painted a colourful picture. Here’s hoping he soon attracts only positive media coverage and finds success in his musical pursuits.

source:thebiographychannel

Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

RIHANNA

Born: February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados
Years Active: 00's
Genre: R&B

Rihanna established her dance-pop credentials in summer 2005 with her debut smash hit, "Pon de Replay," and continued to demonstrate such hit potential in subsequent years (e.g., "S.O.S." in 2006; "Umbrella" in 2007; "Disturbia" in 2008). However, it was the singer's third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, that made her a full-fledged international pop star with a regular presence atop the charts. Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados, she exhibited a certain star quality as a young child, often winning beauty and talent contests. Because she lived on the fairly remote island of Barbados in the West Indies, however, she never foresaw the sort of stardom that would later befall her.

That stardom came courtesy of a fateful meeting with Evan Rogers. The New Yorker was vacationing in Barbados with his wife, a native of the island, when he was introduced to Rihanna. Rogers had spent years producing pop hits for such superstars as *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Laura Pausini, and Rod Stewart, and he offered the talented Rihanna a chance to record. Along with Rogers' production partner, Carl Sturken (the other half of Syndicated Rhythm Productions), Rihanna recorded several demos that sparked the interest of the Carter Administration -- that is, the newly appointed Def Jam president Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. This led to an audition, and Rihanna both received and accepted an on-the-spot offer to sign with Def Jam.

Come summer 2005, Def Jam timely rolled out "Pon de Replay," the lively leadoff single from Music of the Sun. Produced almost entirely by Rogers and Sturken, the song synthesized Caribbean rhythms with urban-pop songwriting. "Pon de Replay" caught fire almost immediately, climbing all the way to number two on The Billboard Hot 100 and contesting the half-summer reign of Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" atop the chart. The debut album spawned one other hit, "If It's Lovin' That You Want," which also broke the Top 40. Rihanna's follow-up effort, A Girl Like Me, saw even greater success and spawned three sizeable singles: a chart-topper ("S.O.S.") and two Top Ten hits ("Unfaithful," "Break It Off").

Rihanna's third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), continued her success while signaling a change of direction. Whereas her past two albums had been imbalanced -- often weighed down by faceless balladry and canned Caribbean-isms -- Good Girl Gone Bad was a first-rate dance-pop album, stacked with several chart-topping singles and boasting collaborations with Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, and StarGate. The lead single, "Umbrella," shot to number one, as did "Take a Bow" and "Disturbia." Its success turned Rihanna into one of the planet's biggest pop stars. Rated R (2009) was released in the wake of a physical altercation with romantic interest Chris Brown, who pled guilty to felony assault. The album's lead single, "Russian Roulette" -- written with Ne-Yo -- was one of the year's most controversial singles, and it set the tone for the singer's new, dark direction. Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

LADY GAGA

Η Στέφανι Τζερμανότα (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) [1][2][3] είναι Αμερικανίδα τραγουδίστρια και τραγουδοποιός και περισσότερο γνωστή με το καλλιτεχνικό της ψευδώνυμο, Lady GaGa. Είναι επίσης μουσικός. Έχει επηρεαστεί από καλλιτέχνες της ροκ όπως ο Ντέιβιντ Μπάουι και οι Queen, καθώς επίσης και από τραγουδιστές της ποπ, όπως ο Μάικλ Τζάκσον και η Μαντόνα.
Πρώτα χρόνια
Γεννήθηκε στο Μανχάταν και συγκεκριμένα στο Yonkers από καθολική οικογένεια στις 28 Μαρτίου του 1986. Φοίτησε σε σχολείο καλογριών (Sacret Heart), όπου φοίτησαν και οι αδελφές Hilton([εκκρεμεί παραπομπή]. [4] Παίζει πιάνο από ηλικία 4 ετών, μαθαίνοντάς το ακουστικά και έκανε μουσικές σπουδές στη Νέα Υόρκη.
Καριέρα
Σε ηλικία 20 ετών άρχισε να δουλεύει ως τραγουδοποιός στην Interscope Records για λογαριασμό μεμονωμένων τραγουδιστών όπως ο Akon, η Britney Spears, η Fergie, αλλά και συγκροτημάτων όπως οι Pussycat Dolls.[5]

Το 2008 η Lady GaGa κυκλοφόρησε το πρώτο της άλμπουμ με τίτλο The Fame, το οποίο όπως εξήγησε η ίδια απευθύνεται σε οποιονδήποτε επιζητά φήμη.[6] Το άλμπουμ έχει σημειώσει τεράστια επιτυχία, με τραγούδια όπως το "Just Dance" που έφθασε στην κορυφή των Aμερικανικών και Bρετανικών charts και το "Poker Face " που κατέκτησε την κορυφή της Mεγάλης Bρετανίας, του Aμερικανικού billboard καθώς και δεκάδων ακόμα χωρών σε ολόκληρο τον πλανήτη. Το πρώτο τραγούδι ήταν υποψήφιο για Βραβείο Γκράμι για την καλύτερη ηχογράφηση χορευτικής μουσικής.[7]
Αρχικά υπέγραψε συμβόλαιο με την Def Jam και στη συνέχεια με την Interscope Records τον Ιανουάριο του 2008. Ο τραγουδιστής Akon μεσολάβισε ώστε η Lady Gaga να υπογράψει συμβόλαιο με τη δισκογραφική εταιρεία Aka Live. Το δεύτερό της άλμπουμ με τίτλο The Fame Monster το έχει αφιερώσει στον πατέρα της, που, όπως δήλωσε η ίδια, την προστάτευε πάντα από τα τέρατα. Περιέχει σινγκλ όπως Bad Romance, Alejandro, Speechless, καθώς και όλες τις προηγούμενες επιτυχίες της από το The Fame. Το όνομα με το οποίο έγινε γνωστή αποτελεί αναφορά στο τραγούδι των Κουίν "Radio Ga-Ga" .
Γεννήθηκε στο Μανχάταν και συγκεκριμένα στο Yonkers από καθολική οικογένεια στις 28 Μαρτίου του 1986. Φοίτησε σε σχολείο καλογριών (Sacret Heart), όπου φοίτησαν και οι αδελφές Hilton[εκκρεμεί παραπομπή]. [4] Παίζει πιάνο από ηλικία 4 ετών, μαθαίνοντάς το ακουστικά και έκανε μουσικές σπουδές στη Νέα Υόρκη

Σημαντικές βραβεύσεις

Η τραγουδίστρια απέσπασε δύο Γκράμι το 2010 και έχει προταθεί έξι φορές συνολικά για το εν λόγω βραβείο.[9] Ειδικότερα με το The Fame κέρδισε Γκράμι στην κατηγορία καλύτερο ηχογράφημα χορευτικής μουσικής και καλύτερο άλμπουμ με ηλεκτρονική ή χορευτική μουσική.
Το Φεβρουάριο του 2010 απέσπασε τρία βραβεία στα βρετανικά μουσικά βραβεία (διεθνούς πρωτοεμφανιζόμενου καλλιτέχνη, της διεθνούς τραγουδίστριας της χρονιάς και του καλύτερου άλμπουμ -για το The Fame- από διεθνή καλλιτέχνη).

Σινγκλς (επιτυχίες)

* "Just Dance"

Αυστραλία: 2x πλατινένιο
Δανία: πλατινένιο[11]
Νέα Ζηλανδία: πλατινένιο[12]
Σουηδία: χρυσό
ΗΠΑ: 2x πλατινένιο

* "Poker Face "

Αυστραλία: 2x πλατινένιο[13]
Νέα Ζηλανδία: πλατινένιο
ΗΠΑ: Χρυσό
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

BEYONCE

Όπως ένας κορυφαίος αθλητής, ένας καλλιτέχνης είναι απόλυτα αφοσιωμένος στο να κατακτήσει το στόχο του και έπειτα, αφού το έχει καταφέρει, πρέπει να ανεβάζει τον πήχη ψηλότερα, πάντα ζητώντας να ερμηνεύει στον απόλυτο βαθμό, αγγίζοντας τα καλύτερα προσωπικά του όρια.
Η Beyonce το γνωρίζει αυτό. Είναι ευλογημένη με ένα ακούραστο πνεύμα που την ενισχύει. «Ό,τι δημιουργικό καταφέρνω, με κάνει να θέλω να δουλέψω σκληρότερα και με οδηγεί σε μια κατεύθυνση που ξαναπάρει.» εξηγεί. «Αν είναι εύκολο, τότε ο ενθουσιασμός δεν υπάρχει πια γιατί δεν μου αρέσει να βαριέμαι και να βολεύομαι όταν πρόκειται για την μουσική μου. Μου αρέσει να προκαλώ τον εαυτό μου και όλους όσους είναι γύρω μου στο μεγαλύτερο βαθμό.

Αυτή η δημιουργικότητα την έφερε στο επίκεντρο το 2003 με το σόλο ντεμπούτο της Dangerously In Love, το οποίο κέρδισε τον απίστευτο αριθμό των πέντε Grammies, επιβεβαιώνοντας το υψηλό της κύρος σαν μια κορυφαία pop/R&B τραγουδίστρια, συνθέτρια και παραγωγό. Με hits οπός τα "Crazy In Love" και "Baby Boy," η Beyonce έκανε θραύση στις πωλήσεις δίσκων, ήταν το headline αμέτρητων sold-out περιοδειών παγκοσμίως, και παρουσίασε την ολοκληρωμένη καλλιτεχνική της έκταση, επαναπροσδιορίζοντας στην πορεία και τον εαυτό της. Πώς λοιπόν αγγίζεις τον καλύτερο σου εαυτό?
Η απάντηση της Beyonce' είναι το B'Day, στο οποίο η Beyonce Knowles και ο Mathew Knowles από την Music World Productions Inc. είναι οι παραγωγοί. Συμπίπτοντας με τα 25α γενέθλια της, το B'Day είναι μια γιορτή και ένα ορόσημο . Γεμάτο ψυχή και αγγίζοντας μουσικά το άψογο με τους δυνατούς ρυθμούς και τους ώριμους στίχους του, κομψό και απόλυτα σέξι, το B'Day είναι ο ήχος από ένα καλλιτέχνη που ανεβάζει τον πήχη.
Η Beyonce συνέγραψε και έκανε την έκανε την παραγωγή στα 11 τραγούδια του δίσκου, με την βοήθεια μια ομάδας που συμπεριλαμβάνει stars όπως οι Swizz Beatz, Rich Harrison, The Neptunes, Sean Garrett, Star Gate, Jay- Z, Solange Knowles, Angela Beyince, Makeeba και Rodney Jerkins.
Από το 2004 που ξεκίνησε την πρώτη σόλο περιοδεία της, η Beyonce έχει ακολουθήσει ξέφρενους ρυθμούς. Οι Destiny's Child μας είπαν αντίο με το Destiny Fulfilled, μια αποχαιρετιστήρια περιοδεία και μια συλλογή από #1 hits .Την ίδια χρόνια η Beyonce και η μητέρα της, η στυλίστρια των Destiny Child's Tina Knowles, κυκλοφορήσαν μια συλλογή ρούχων, την House of Dereon, που πήρε το όνομα της από την γιαγιά της.
Η δημιουργική πολυπραγμοσύνη δεν σταμάτησε. Την επόμενη χρονιά η Beyonce ξεκίνησε γυρίσματα για τον ρόλο που η ίδια περιέγραψε ως τον ρόλο μιας ζωής: την "Deena Jones" σε μια πολύ-αναμενόμενη κινηματογραφική έκδοση του κλασικού musical του Broadway, Dream Girls. Τα εξουθενωτικά γυρίσματα για την ταινία ξεκίνησαν τον Απρίλιο 2006 και κράτησαν 4 μήνες. Η Beyonce που δεν είχε χαλαρώσει καθόλου τους ρυθμούς της από το Dangerously In Love, ήταν πιο έτοιμη να ξεκουραστεί. Ακόμα και αφού είχε ξοδέψει αρκετές ώρες δουλεύοντας πάνω σε στίχους και καινούργιες ιδέες, ανακάλυψε ότι αισθανόταν αναζωογονημένη και γεμάτη έμπνευση. Έτσι, μετά από δυο μέρες διακοπές, άφησε την ξαπλώστρα δίπλα από την πισίνα και προτίμησε το σκοτάδι του studio. Η συγκίνηση ήταν αναπάντεχη «Είπα στον υπεύθυνο δημόσιων σχέσεων μου αυτό είναι μυστικό. Μην το πεις στον μπαμπά μου, μην το πεις στη μαμά μου, σε κανέναν, ούτε και στην εταιρία.»
Δουλεύοντας με εκπληκτική ταχύτητα, η Beyonce συγκέντρωσε στην ομάδα της τους Swizz, Jerkins, Harrison, Sean Garrett, και τους μάζεψε όλους στο studio στην Νεα υορκη και τους έβαλε σε διαφορετικά δωμάτια. Μετά το παιχνίδι άρχισε και η Beyonce (που ήταν σε διαφορετικό δωμάτιο με τους στιχουργούς Angela Beyince, Makeeba και την μικρότερη αδελφή της Solange Knowles) να πηγαίνει από studiο σε studio. Ανάμεσα σε πολλές μουσικές, έκανε και μερικά σχόλια καλής θέλησης του τύπου «Οh , Rodney, έχει πολύ ζεστή εδώ μέσα», μετά πήγαινε στο άλλο δωμάτιο, στον Harrison και έλεγε με θαυμασμό, «Hey, ο Swizz ανάβει φωτιές εδώ μέσα, πρέπει να κάνεις το ίδιο!» Γελάει η Beyonce, «Δεν υπήρχε αρνητικός ανταγωνισμός, όλα συνέβησαν τόσο γρήγορα, έτσι δεν χρειάστηκε να ναυλώσω ιδιωτικά αεροπλάνα και να έχω να κάνω με υπερβολικές αντιδράσεις και βαριά προγράμματα. Η διαδικασία ήταν μαγική, ο καθένας ήταν πραγματικά ενθουσιασμένος που ήταν στο studio, και που ήταν απλά δημιουργικός».
Δουλεύοντας με εξοντωτικούς ρυθμούς, η διαδικασία κράτησε 3 βδομάδες και παρέδωσε 25 τραγούδια, τα οποία έγιναν τα 11 του B'Day . «είναι ο,τι καλύτερο έχω κάνει μέχρι στιγμής» λέει με ειλικρίνεια.
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

CHRISTINA ANGUILERA

Η Κριστίνα Μαρία Αγκιλέρα (Christina Maria Aguilera, γεν. στο Στάτεν Άιλαντ, Νέα Υόρκη στις 18 Δεκεμβρίου 1980) είναι αμερικανίδα τραγουδίστρια, στιχουργός και μουσικός παραγωγός. Μαζί με την Μπρίτνεϊ Σπίαρς διεκδικούσαν και συνεχίζουν να διεκδικούν τον τίτλο της πιο επιτυχημένης νεανικής τραγουδίστριας. Έχει πουλήσει πάνω από 30 εκατομμύρια αντίτυπα σε όλο τον κόσμο.

Έχει καταγωγή από την Ιρλανδία και τον Ισημερινό. Άλλαζε συχνά τόπο κατοικίας επειδή ο πατέρας της ήταν στρατιωτικός. Σε ηλικία έξι ετών έκανε τις πρώτες της εμφανίσεις στην τηλεόραση, ενώ στα 12 της συμμετείχε στο "The Mickey Mouse Club".

Το 1994 πηγαίνει στην Ιαπωνία και μαζί με την Κέιζο Νακανίσι ηχογραφούν το κομμάτι "All I Wanna Do". To 1998 συμμετέχει στο σάουντρακ της ταινίας "Μουλάν". To καλοκαίρι του 1999 κυκλοφορεί το πρώτο της προσωπικό άλμπουμ που είχε ως τίτλο το όνομά της. Το τραγούδι "Genie In A Bottle" σκαρφαλώνει στα charts και στην Αμερική παραμένει για πέντε συνεχόμενες εβδομάδες στο νούμερο 1. Το πρώτο της άλμπουμ πούλησε πάνω από 8 εκατομμύρια αντίτυπα στην Αμερική και 12 εκατομμύρια σε όλο τον κόσμο. Το 2000 κέρδισε το πρώτο βραβείο Grammy ως "Καλύτερη Πρωτοεμφανιζόμενη Τραγουδίστρια".


Το 2000 το τραγούδι της "What A Girl Wants" πηγαίνει στην κορυφή των αμερικάνικων charts, και η ίδια συμμετέχει στο Χριστουγεννιάτικο γκαλά στον Λευκό Οίκο και κερδίζει και το πρώτο της Grammy. Το Σεπτέμβριο του 2000 μπαίνει στο χώρο της latin pop και κυκλοφορεί το άλμπουμ "Mi Reflejo", στο οποίο απλώς το ερμηνεύει, αφού αν και έχει καταγωγή και από τον Ισημερινό, δεν μιλάει καθόλου ισπανικά.

Την άνοιξη του 2001 αλλάζει κατεύθυνση, γίνεται πιο R&B και μαζί με την Μία, την Πινκ και την Λιλ Κιμ σκαρφαλώνουν στην κορυφή των charts με το "Lady Marmalade", τραγούδι που ακούστηκε στην ταινία "Moulin Rouge!".

To δεύτερό της προσωπικό άλμπουμ κυκλοφορεί το φθινόπωρο του 2002 με τον αποκαλυπτικό τίτλο "Stripped" και την ίδια να δοκιμάζεται σε ποπ μουσικά μονοπάτια. Το άλμπουμ είχε τεράστια επιτυχία σε όλο τον κόσμο και κατάφερε να μείνει στα charts για πολλά χρόνια ακόμα. Κυκλοφόρησε 5 singles από το άλμπουμ με επιτυχία. Συγκεκριμένα το τραγούδι Beautiful έφθασε το νούμερο 2 στην Αμερική για 2 εβδομάδες και νούμερο 1 στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο. Με τα δύο της άλμπουμ έχει καταφέρει να αποσπάσει πολλά βραβεία από διάφορες διοργανώσεις, όπως Billboard, Latin Grammy, Teen Choise, MTV και πολλά άλλα. Το Σεπτέμβριο του 2004 με τη συνοδεία της Μίσι Έλιοτ συμμετέχει στο σάουντρακ της ταινίας "Shark Tale" ερμηνεύοντας το κομμάτι "Car Wash".

Τον Αύγουστο του 2006 κυκλοφόρησε το τρίτο studio άλμπουμ της καριέρας της με τον τίτλο Back To Basics.
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

MADONA

Η Madonna Louise Ciccone (16 Αυγούστου, 1958) είναι μία Ιταλο-Αμερικανίδα τραγουδίστρια, στιχουργός, μουσικός, παραγωγός, χορεύτρια, ηθοποιός και συγγραφέας. Συνήθως αναφέρεται ως η "Βασίλισσα της Ποπ", "Madge (Ματζ)", "Material Girl ". Είναι γνωστή για τα πρωτοπωριακά μουσικά της video, καθώς και την χρήση πολιτικών, θρησκευτικών και σεξουαλικών συμβόλων στην δουλειά της.

Το 2000, το Βιβλίο Ρεκόρ Γκίνες αναγνώρισε τη Madonna ως την πιο επιτυχημένη τραγουδίστρια όλων των εποχών, με πωλήσεις περίπου 130 εκατομμυρίων δίσκων και 50 εκατομμυρίων single. Σύμφωνα με δελτίο τύπου της Warner Bros σχετικά με το album Confessions on A Dance Floor "με πωλήσεις που ανέρχονται σε πάνω απο 300 εκατομμύρια δίσκους παγκοσμίως, η Μαντόνα είναι η πιο ακριβοπληρωμένη τραγουδίστρια όλων των εποχών, σύμφωνα με το βιβλίο Guiness 2007, καθώς και το Billboard Magazine". Το περιοδικό Forbes έχει υπολογίσει της περιουσία της κοντά στα $325 εκατομμύρια. Επιπλέον η Μαντόνα είναι κάτοχος του ρεκόρ των μεγαλύτερων εισπράξεων περιοδείας (Confessions Tour) από γυναίκα καλλιτέχνη, με κέρδη πάνω απο $200 εκατομμύρια.
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...

SHAKIRA

Η Σακίρα γεννήθηκε στις 2/2/1977 στην Μπαρανκίγια της Κολομβίας. Η μητέρα της είναι Κολομβιανή με ρίζες από την Ιταλία και την Καταλωνία, ενώ ο πατέρας της είναι από το Λίβανο. Έγραψε το πρώτο της ποίημα La Rosa De Cristal (Το Κρυστάλλινο Ρόδο) όταν ήταν τεσσάρων ετών, ενώ το πρώτο της τραγόυδι, το Tus Gafas Oscuras (Τα Μαύρα Γυαλιά Σου) το έγραψε στα οχτώ.
Το 1991 υπέγραψε δισκογραφικό συμβόλαιο με τη Sony Colombia. Την ίδια χρονιά κυκλοφόρησε το πρώτο της άλμπουμ Magia (Μαγεία). Η παραγωγή όμως δεν ήταν καλή και το άλμπουμ πούλησε κάτω από 1.000 αντίτυπα.
Το 1993 κυκλοφόρησε το Peligro (Κίνδυνος) το οποίο επίσης απέτυχε.
Μετά από αυτό η Σακίρα αποφάσισε να τελειώσει πρώτα το σχολέιο, πριν επιστρέψει στη δισκογραφία.

Το 1995 η Σακίρα ηχογράφησε το τρίτο της άλμπουμ Pies Descalzos (Ξυπόλητα Πόδια), το οποίο κυκλοφόρησε το 1996. Το άλμπουμ αυτό την έκανε σούπερ στάρ στη Λ. Αμερική και στην Ισπανία. Το Pies Descalzos πούλησε 4.000.000 αντίτυπα μόνο στη Λ. Αμερική. Μάλιστα στη Βραζιλία, με πωλήσεις που αγγίζουν το 1.000.000 συγκαταλέγεται στα πιο εμπορικά άλμπουμ όλων των εποχών. Τραγόυδια σαν το Estoy Aqui (Είμαι Εδώ) θεωρούνται σύμβολα της Λάτιν Ποπ.
Μετά την επιτυχία του Pies Descalzos η Sony κυκλοφόρισε και ένα άλμπουμ με remixes των πιο επιτυχημένων τραγουδιών της Σακίρα, το οποίο πούλησε 1.000.000 αντίτυπα και είναι ένα από τα πιο εμπορικά επιτυχημένα remix άλμπουμς όλων των εποχών.
Το τέταρτο άλμπουμ της κυκλοφόρησε το 1998 και ήταν το ?Donde Estas Los Landrones? (Πού Είναι Οι Κλέφτες;) Πούλησε πάνω από 7.000.000 αντίτυπα και έκανε γνωστή τη Σακίρα και σε χώρες εκτός της Λ. Αμερικής και της Ισπανίας, όπως στις Η.Π.Α, όπου το άλμπουμ έγινε πλατινένιο. Τα singles Ciega, Sordomuda (Τυφλή, Κωφάλαλη), Tu (Εσύ) ήταν τεράστιες επιτυχίες στη Λ. Αμερική, ενώ το Ojos Asi (Τέτοια Μάτια) έγινε παγκόσμια επιτυχία. Το ?Donde Estas Los Landrones? συγκέντρωσε θετικότατες κριτικές (π.χ 4,5/5 από το site All Music Guide), ενώ ήταν υποψήφιο για Γκράμμυ στην κατηγορία για το Καλύτερο Λάτιν Ροκ / Εναλλακτικό Άλμπουμ. Ακόμα η Σακίρα κέρδισε δυο Λάτιν Γκράμμυ στις κατηγορίες Καλύτερη Ποπ Ερμηνεία από γυναίκα & Καλύτερη Ροκ Ερμηνεία από γυναίκα για τα Ojos Asi και Octavo Dia (Η 8η Μέρα), ενώ ήταν ακόμα υποψήφια στην κατηγορία Καλύτερο Βίντεο, για το Ojos Asi.
To 2000 ηχογράφησε το πρώτο live άλμπουμ της, το MTV Unplugged, για το οποίο απέσπασε ξανά εξαιρετικές κριτικές. Το άλμπουμ ήταν υποψήφιο για δυο Λάτιν Γκράμμυ στις κατηγορίες Άλμπουμ Της Χρονιάς και Άμπουμ Με Τις Καλύτερες Ποπ Ερμηνείες. Το MTV Unplugged κέρδισε το 2001 το βραβείο Γκράμμυ για το Καλύτερο Λάτιν Ποπ Άλμπουμ.
Το 2001, μετά την τεράστια επιτυχία του ?Donde Estas Los Landrones? η Σακίρα συνεργάστηκε με τη Γκλόρια Εστέφαν για τη δημιουργία ενός αγγλόφωνου άλμπουμ. Έτσι το 2001 κυκλοφόρησε το Laundry Service το οποίο, αν και στόχευε την αγγλόφωνη αγορά, περιείχε και τέσσερα τραγούδια στα Ισπανικά. Το άλμπουμ γνώρισε τεράστια επιτυχία. Πούλησε 3.500.000 αντίτυπα στην Αμερική, πάνω από 4.000.000 στην Ευρώπη και πάνω από 13.000.000 παγκοσμίως. Μέσα από το άλμπουμ ξεχώρισαν τα singles Whenever, Wherever (Οποτεδήποτε, Οπουδήποτε), Underneath Your Clothes (Κάτω Από Τα Ρούχα Σου), Objection (Ένσταση) & The One (Ο Ένας). Μάλιστα το Whenever, Wherever, σύμφωνα με το United World Chart, είναι το 66ο πιο επιτυχημένο εμπορικά single όλων των εποχών. Ήταν υποψήφια για δυο ακόμα Λάτιν Γράμμυ και κέρδισε στην κατηγορία Καλύτερο Βίντεο, για το βίντεο του Suerte (Τύχη)
Το 2002 η Σακίρα κυκλοφόρησε το Grandes Exitos (Οι Μεγαλύτερες Επιτυχίες)

Το 2004 κυκλοφόρησε το Live & Off The Record το οποίο πούλησε πάνω από 3.000.000. Είναι το live CD+DVD από την παγκόσμια περιοδεία της Tour of the Mongoose.
Στις αρχές του 2005 η Σακίρα ανακοίνωσε την κυκλοφορία δυο άλμπουμ μέσα στο 2005. Το πρώτο θα ήταν το ισπανόφωνο Fijacion Oral vol. 1 (Στοματική Εμμονή μέρος 1ο) & το δεύτερο το αγγλόφωνο Oral Fixation vol. 2 (Στοματική Εμμονή μέρος 2ο).
Το πρώτο single από το Fijacion Oral vol. 1 ήταν το La Tortura (Tο βασανιστήριο) μια συνεργασία με τον Alejandro Sanz. Το La Tortura έγινε μια από τις μεγαλύτερες ισπανόφωνες επιτυχίες όλων εποχών πουλώντας πάνω από 2.500.000 αντίτυπα. Το Fijacion Oral vol. 1 κυκλοφόρησε στις αρχές Ιουνίου. Έκανε ντεμπούτο στο νούμερο 4 της Αμερικής και γρήγορα έγινε πλατινένιο. Τα επόμενα singles από το άλμπουμ ήταν τεράστιες επιτυχίες στη Λ. Αμερική και την Ισπανία, αλλά δεν είχαν την παγκόσμια απήχηση του La Tortura. To άλμπουμ απέσπασε πολύ θετικές κριτικές. Κέρδισε δεκάδες βραβεία μεταξύ των οποίων ένα Γκράμμυ στην κατηγορία Καλύτερο Λάτιν Ροκ / Εναλλακτικό Άλμπουμ και πέντε Λάτιν Γκράμμυ (αριθμός - ρεκόρ), για Άλμπουμ της Χρονιάς, Τραγόυδι της Χρονιάς & Ηχογράφηση της Χρονιάς για το La Tortura, Καλύτερη Παραγωγή & Άμπουμ με τις Καλύτερες Ποπ Ερμηνείες.Μέχρι σήμερα το Fijacion Oral vol. 1 έχει πουλήσει 4.000.000 αντίτυπα παγκοσμίως.
Στις 29 Νοεμβρίου κυκλοφόρησε το Oral Fixation vol.2. Στα τραγούδια Timor (Τιμόρ) και How Do You Do? (Πώς Είσαι;)ασκήθηκε κάποια κριτική γιατί εξέφραζαν έντονες πολιτικές και θεολογικές απόψεις. Μάλιστα το How Do You Do? δεν κυκλοφόρησε στα μουσουλμανικά κράτη. Το πρώτο single ήταν το Don/t Bother, το οποίο όμως δεν ήταν τόσο επιτυχημένο όσο τα Whenever, Wherever και Underneath Your Clothes. Οι πωλήσεις του άλμπουμ ήταν επίσης απογοητευτικές σε σχέση με αυτές του Laundry Service. Έτσι το άλμπουμ επανακυκλοφόρησε με την προσθήκη του Hips Don/t Lie (Οι γοφοί δεν ψεύδονται), μια συνεργασία με τον Wyclef Jean. Αμέσως οι πωλήσεις του άλμπουμ ανέβηκαν κατακόρυφα. Το Hips Don/t Lie έφτασε στο νούμερο 1 και στις δυο μεριές του Ατλαντικού. Είναι ,μέχρι στιγμής, το πιο επιτυχημένο single της δεκαετίας και σύμφωνα με το United World Chart το 46ο πιο επιτυχημένο εμπορικά κομμάτι όλων των εποχών. Για το Hips Don/t Lie η Σακίρα ήταν υποψήφια για Γκράμμυ στην κατηγορία Καλύτερα Φωνητικά σε Ποπ Συνεργασία.Το τρίτο single ήταν το Illegal(Παράνομος) μια συνεργασία με τον κιθαρίστα, ζωντανό μύθο της ροκ, Carlos Santana Μέχρι στιγμής το Oral Fixation vol.2 έχει πουλήσει 5.000.000 παγκοσμίως.
Τον Μάιο του 2006 η Σακίρα ξεκίνησε τη μεγαλύτερη περιοδεία της, την Oral Fixation Tour, η οποία κράτησε πάνω από ένα χρόνο και έκλεισε στη Κωνσταντινούπολη στις 9/7/2007, αφού πρώτα πέρασε από Β. Αμερική και Ν. Αμερική, Ευρώπη, Ασία και Αφρική. Περίπου 3.000.000 παρακολούθησαν το show.
Στα τέλη του 2006 η Σακίρα ξανασυνεργάστηκε με τον Alejandro Sanz στο κομμάτι Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No (Ευχαριστώ, Αλλά Όχι), το οποίο ήταν τεράστια επιτυχία στη Λ. Αμερική και την Ισπανια.
Στις αρχές του 2007 συνεργάστικε με τη ντίβα της R/n/B Beyonce, στο κομμάτι Beautiful Liar (Όμορφος Ψεύτης). Το κομμάτι έφτασε στο νούμερο 3 της Αμερικής, ενώ έμεινε στο νούμερο 1 της Ευρώπης για έξι εβδομάδες. Ήδη έχει πουλήσει 2.000.000.
Το 2007 ηχογράφησε ένα ντουέτο με τον Miguel Bose, το Si Tu No Vuelves (Αν Δεν Γυρίσεις) για το άλμπουμ του Papito.
Δείτε περισσότερα... See more...