Choreographer accuses Beyonce of ‘stealing’ moves for ‘Countdown’ video

Thursday, 13 October 2011 13:50

According to avant garde Belgan choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Beyonce has stolen a few of her ballet dance moves for new video "Countdown".

Video director Adria Petty told MTV news that the video paid tribute to Audrey Hepburn, the Supremes and film classics Funny Face and West Side Story. According to Petty, she brought a number of sources before Beyonce so that the singer could shape the spirit of the video.

It’s apparent to Keersmaeker that those clips included moves from her experimental ballet “Rosas danst Rosas”: “Obviously, Beyonce, or the video clip director Adria Petty, plundered many bits of the integral scenes in the film… People asked me if I’m angry or honored. Neither. [O]n the one hand, I am glad that ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ can perhaps reach a mass audience, which such a dance performance could never achieve, despite its popularity in the dance world since [the] 1980’s. And Beyonce is not the worst copycat, she sings and dances very well, and she has a good taste! On the other hand, there are protocols and consequences to such actions, and I can’t imagine she and her team are not aware of it.”

Keersmaeker writes in a statement on her website that “like so many people, I was extremely surprised when I got a message through Facebook about the special appearance of my two choreographies – ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ (1983) and ‘Achterland’ (1990) – in Beyonce’s new  videoclip ‘Countdown.’”

The choreographer told Studio Brussel: “I’m not mad, but this is plagiarism. This is stealing.”

Beyonce issued a statement on Tuesday, admitting: “Clearly, the ballet ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ was one of many references for my video, ‘Countdown.’ It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life.”

Not wanting the rest of her references to be overshadowed by Keersmaeker’s accusations, she added: “I was also paying tribute to the film, ‘Funny Face’ with the legendary Audrey Hepburn. My biggest inspirations were the 60’s, the 70’s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross.”

Dappy arrested on suspicion of assault

Tuesday, 11 October 2011 13:13

According to the Daily Mirror, N-Dubz star Dappy was arrested and held in custody Sunday on suspicion of an assaulting his girlfriend, Kaye Vassell.

The Guardian reports that the rapper was held for 12 hours before police released him without any charge.

Officers were called to the home Kaye’s mother but a police spokesperson said that “no further action will be taken.”

21-year-old Kaye, mum of Dappy’s two sons, did not require hospital treatment following the episode.

The couple have had something of a complicated relationship, and Kaye broke things off with the star last year after he admitted to a string of flings.

She said at the time: “He’s hurt me beyond belief, so I’m walking away. Dappy just isn’t mature enough to have a proper relationship. He’s confessed to six affairs but I get messages every day from girls who say they’ve slept with him.”

Kaye recently admitted to posting nude pictures of Dappy online.

Dappy was allegedly assaulted by Kaye last year, and sought treatment for a broken nose. The star once said that in spite of their pitfalls, he plans to one day marry Kaye.

“If I lose this wildness I’ll be out of work,” Dappy said in a recent interview. “I’ll be the next Ozzy Osbourne. I’m going to take it to that crazy level. Kaye hates Dappy at times but she loves the hype. We don’t always get along. I do make mistakes. Women love Dappy.

“I’m thinking of marrying Kaye. I’ve got her an Italian ring. It has loads of diamonds and it’s bigger than my face. I haven’t given it to her yet. She needs to behave a bit.”

Both Dappy and Kaye have denied any incident of assault, with Kaye tweeting: “Me and Dappy are VERY HAPPY and He Would Never Lay a Finger on Me”.

She added: “Dappys not in jail … Papers Actually Make me SICK.”

Robbie Williams launches Rudebox Radio

Monday, 10 October 2011 13:52

Shortly after leaving Take That and returning to his solo star status, Robbie Williams launched Rudebox Radio from his LA living room.

Williams is broadcasting the new internet radio show via his official website. The first episode, featuring an interview with Gary Barlow, was recorded while the X Factor judge found himself in Los Angeles for the judges' houses portion of the show.

The pair chatted about the old days during the program – and Gaz admitted his feelings were hurt when Williams made fun of him in interviews. Barlow added that he regrets not singing the lead vocals on Take That’s “Never Forget.”

“The only thing wrong with ‘Never Forget,’ for me, is that I’m not singing it,” Barlow said. “We used to divvy up stuff per record and when we first recorded the song it wasn’t the stand-out hit that it became, so I said, ‘Here you are, Howard.’ Then it had a big mix and it was just a different record when it came back, I was like, ‘Ey up.’”

Williams and Barlow put the past behind them when the former rejoined Take That for a record-breaking summer tour this year.

“Just reading your comments now…” Williams wrote after the episode aired, “so very, very happy that you’re digging Rudebox Radio. As you can imagine we had a lot of fun recording it.

“Alas it took too long to clear it so I came up with the studio name in your absence. Rudebox Radio now beams across the tinterweb from ‘Run It Wild,’ my studio in the house.”

The show’s second episode may not appear immediately as Williams is busy working on an upcoming solo album. He wrote to fans: “I’m going to get another one together, but I’m chocka block in the studio recording the new album still. So it might have to wait a while.”

Jessie J to judge The Voice

Tuesday, 04 October 2011 20:22

BBC One has landed "Price Tag" star Jessie J as a judge for upcoming talent show The Voice.

The singer is the first judge to be confirmed for the show, and controversy rages on as to who will be joining the 23-year-old on the panel. (Rumor has it that both Cheryl Cole and Lenny Kravitz are being considered, among others.)

In an interview with Radio 1 personality Chris Moyles, Jessie J revealed that The Voice would feature four judges. After a series of “blind auditions,” each judge is to pick ten wannabes to mentor.

The star said she was particularly eager to participate in the show because judges wouldn’t be able to see the contestants beforehand. She told Moyles: “I do think sometimes that a lot of people don’t audition for these shows because…they don’t feel they look like a pop star. I can’t wait; I’m so excited about it.”

Jessie added: “I’m excited to be a coach, inspiration and mentor and I jumped at the opportunity as it’s all about ‘the voice.’”

Although he had planned to participate in the show, Cee Lo Green was forced to pull out of the UK version of The Voice when filming interfered with his role on the US version. The show’s remaining three judges are expected to be announced in the coming months, and the show is due to launch in spring.

“Jessie J is going to be an amazing coach on The Voice UK,” said BBC One controller Danny Cohen in a statement. “She’s a massive young star with a strong personality, and her recent MOBO nominations are testament to her musical and creative ability.”

The singer had the opportunity to fine-tune her evaluation abilities when she appeared on the Judge’s Houses portion of the current X Factor, when she helped Tulisa Contostavlos choose between her groups.

ScarJo admits nude photos are authentic

Friday, 16 September 2011 14:54

Nude photos of actress and sometimes-singer Scarlett Johansson that appeared online earlier this week are not fakes, according to ScarJo herself.

A gang of hackers is said to have targeted Johansson's phone, from which nude snaps she had taken of herself were stolen.

Mila Kunis is also said to have been targeted by the group, and a shirtless photo of Friends with Benefits costar Justin Timberlake hacked from her phone.

TMZ reports that the FBI are close on the trail of these hackers, and that the identity of at least one of the leaders is known to law enforcement.

The attack on ScarJo’s phone is only the latest in a series of hackings performed by the group, who have sought information from the phones of a least 50 high profile Hollywood stars. Racy pics of the star show both her breasts and her backside, and appear to have been taken in Johansson’s bedroom.

Her lawyer released a statement which essentially confirmed the photos’ authenticity. “The highly personal and private photographs at issue capture our client self-posing in her own home in a state of undress and/or topless.”

Marty Singer, who represents Johansson, threatened to sue any media outlet that dared publish the photos. (And the fact that the actress would be able to sue due to copyright laws further suggests that she did indeed take the photos herself.)

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said of the ongoing investigation: “The FBI is investigating a person or group responsible for a series of cyber intrusions of high-profile figures. This would include many devices – could mean a computer, a desktop, a laptop, iPad, cell phone…intrusions into personal online accounts too.”

It has been reported that other hacker targets include Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Jessica Alba and Vanessa Hudgens.

Kelis ‘racially abused’ in London airport

Thursday, 15 September 2011 14:22

According to Kelis, a middle-aged white man referred to her as a "slave" during her wait at passport control in a London airport.

The "Trick Me" singer was on her way back to the States, accompanied by two-year-old son Knight, after having performed at music festival Bestival over the weekend.

A “red-faced sweaty man” allegedly accused the star of jumping the queue before calling her a “slave” and suggesting she was “probably a disgusting Nigerian.”

Kelis tweeted: “He called me Kunta Kinte and ranted and raved some more. The man behind the passport desk laughed, shook his head in agreement I guess, and said: ‘Kunta Kinte.’

“All the while, the entire line full of people I just saw on a plane with for almost 3 hours, over 50 people, said nothing. I mean literally nothing. Didn’t flinch.

“We all no I’m no saint, so I retaliated. Not the way I wanted to or how that pig deserved. But 1 my gorgeous baby boy was literally sitting on my hip and 2 I’m a believer. And we are better. Supposed to be.”

The singer added her thoughts on the London riots as well, writing that the events suggested that Britain was “decades behind progression.”

“I didn’t say anything at the time of the riots in London for a lot of reasons,” she said. “But I am in London all the time and today I’m gonna say that the racial issues in the UK are disgusting.

“It’s racially decades behind progression because everything is swept under the rug. People don’t talk about it. People don’t fight about it. Not mentioning a problem doesn’t make it go away.”

America, she allowed, was not without its own issues. “I bring it up now because, as an American, it is abundantly clear that my country has Smorgasbord of disgusting racial problems.”

Madonna knows what it’s like to be ‘reduced to a soundbite’

Friday, 02 September 2011 14:09

The Madonna-directed film about Wallis Simpson, W.E., made its debut at the Venice Film Festival, where the singer told journalists that "there was obviously some kind of subconscious attraction" to her subject matter.

The material girl said she could relate to the much-maligned American socialite – who later became the Duchess of Windsor – because she understood what it was like to be flattened to a single dimension by the public spotlight.

“I identify with her in that it’s very common when people become celebrities or public figures or icons, we are often reduced to a soundbite and you are given a few attributes and then you’re not allowed to have any more than that,” Madge said at the post-screening press conference.

Madonna spent three years researching and writing the script, completely absorbed by the story of a king abdicating in the name of love.

She added: “I think people try to diminish her as a human being because they didn’t understand the choice he was making. It was important to me, not to make her a saint but any stretch of the imagination because I don’t think she was, but to portray her as a human being.”

Although she hasn’t had much success in the film department, Madonna insisted that her successful director ex-husbands Sean Penn and Guy Ritchie had been “very supportive” of her efforts. And the singer didn’t seem bothered by what previous directorial effort Filth and Wisdom failed to achieve.

“I’ve always loved film, all my life,” she told the press. “As a child I was always inspired by movies and I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to make one.”

She added: “Making films is really hard in the first place. You have to believe in your subject matter and be passionate about it because there will be challenges along the way.”

James Blake announces Enough Thunder EP

Friday, 02 September 2011 14:02

Experimental dubstep artist James Blake has announced that an upcoming six-track EP will contain his recent collaboration with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

The EP, Enough Thunder, is set for release on October 10. In addition to the "Fall Creek Boys Choir" collaboration, Stereogum reports that the release will also feature a Joni Mitchell cover, "A Case of You", from the 1971 album Blue.

The remaining four songs will be James Blake original compositions.

The “Limit to Your Love” singer hinted at the EP earlier this month, when the “Fall Creek Boys Choir” video first appeared on his website and his official YouTube page teased: “Enough Thunder – Oct 2011.”

Blake burst onto the music scene in a big way earlier this year with his critically acclaimed full length debut. The album has been nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize, where it stands in competition with albums by Adele, PJ Harvey and Metronomy.

He will perform at the London ceremony, to be broadcast live on September 6 by the BBC.

Last month Blake announced a four-date tour of the UK for the fall. In late November the singer will head to Leeds University, kicking off the string of gigs on November 25 and wrapping up at the HMV Forum in London on November 30.

After having played Green Man Festival and Bestival in August, Blake will head to the States in September for a string of dates leading into October. He will wrap up the month touring in Europe before returning to the UK.

In an April interview, Blake told Pitchfork of his music: “I don’t mind people calling it dubstep, but if somebody wants to call it something else, I’ve got no problem with that either. The beauty [of] it is that if you try and write in a certain way, it goes through this kaleidoscope and comes out as something completely different."

Camera-ready Cheryl Cole prepares for Hollywood debut

Thursday, 01 September 2011 18:00

Although her name still manages to make headlines, Cheryl Cole has all but disappeared from public view after the USA X Factor debacle that saw the singer pack her bags earlier than expected.

Apparently it wasn't all for nothing - the Geordie lass will be featured in an upcoming Hollywood film, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. The movie – which stars Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and Matthew Morrison – takes a look at the lives of four couples on the verge of becoming parents.

The Daily Mail spotted the singer on the Atlanta, Georgia set, and a toned-up Cheryl never looked better in her Louboutins and a stunning Emilio Pucci lace dress.

Cheryl’s cameo role won’t see her stretching her acting abilities too far: the star has been cast as a TV talent show judge. During the film, Cameron Diaz auditions before Cheryl’s character in an attempt to win a place on an X Factor-ish television program.

An insider told the Daily Mail: “This is a bit of fun for Cheryl. She will film the scenes imminently and is really looking forward to it. It doesn’t mean she suddenly wants to become an actress. It was just an opportunity that has come up while she has been having some down time and she thought it would be great fun to take part.”

Evidence that Cheryl and Cameron bonded on the set came via Cheryl’s newly founded Twitter account. The Girls Aloud singer tweeted: “Happy birthday Cameron, you sexy beeeyyaatch…X.”

Actress Cameron turned 39 on Wednesday.

Simon Cowell recently defended canning Cheryl on X Factor and replacing her with Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger. He told Hollywood Reporter: “You’re not drowning puppies here. You’re offering someone who’s got millions of dollars more money and more work. And if people think that’s cruel, then they can do that to me on a daily basis. I’ll take it twice a day.”

Olly Murs: I’m not boring!

Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:00

Fellow X Factor alumnus JLS may have branded Olly Murs boring, but he insists he likes to go out... sometimes.

The "Heart Skips a Beat" singer tells The Sun that he enjoys the occasional night out - but that he likes to steer clear of the drug scene. Illegal substances may be easier to obtain now that he’s famous, but Olly doesn’t want anything to do with them. He’s not much a drinker, either, and sips the good stuff only on “special occasions.”

“I don’t take drugs but I get offered them a lot in clubs,” he says. “If you are addicted to drugs and you are getting given them for free, then it makes it even worse.”

Most would be willing to bet that Olly had a drink or two after his new single featuring Rizzle Kicks landed this week’s top spot on the charts, giving the X Factor grad his second No. 1 hit.

This week another former reality television contestant is sitting pretty in the charts. The fifth album from Will Young, now 32, debuted at No. 1.

Will tells Daybreak he knew he still had more hurdles to conquer even after winning Pop Idol in 2002.

“When I won Pop Idol I was very aware it’s like a game of snakes and ladders. I went up a huge ladder but maybe I didn’t have credibility, so then I was like the new boy and I had to stick around.”

He adds: “You go in at the top in terms of you’re very famous. But like my friend always says to me, you don’t demand respect, you earn it. So it’s a huge starting point and then the hard work begins again.”

Like Olly, Will knows what it is like to face Simon Cowell, though the judging panel back in his day wasn’t exactly up to par with that of X Factor. The pop star tells the Guardian: “The table they were sitting behind was worse than a picnic table. It was like something at a village fete, with a paper cloth on it. I’m amazed they didn’t have cheese and biscuits.”