Music

Click Here to See What's on Barack Obama's iPod

Mandi Illuzzi — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:40:01 -0400

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The Democratic presidential hopeful spills all to Rolling Stone

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Barack Obama has revealed he has some "pretty eclectic tastes" when it comes to music.

“Everything from Howlin’ Wolf to Yo-Yo Ma to Sheryl Crow,” he tells the new issue of Rolling Stone. “And I have probably 30 Dylan songs on my iPod.”

His musical hero?

"It would have to be Stevie Wonder,” said the Democratic presidential nominee (and Us Weekly cover star), who grew up rocking out to the Rolling Stones and Earth, Wind & Fire.

He said Jay-Z "is a brilliant talent and a good guy.

"He’s serious and he cares about his art," he added. "That’s somebody who is going to start branching out and can help shape attitudes in a real positive way.”

His overall take on rap: "I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics, but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

He added, "It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves."

He previously told Us that his daughters are "very sensible" when it comes to music.

"They're pretty down on Britney and Paris and all of that," he told Us. "They think that's very 'yuck.' They're way more into Hannah Montana and Beyonce. They got to go backstage and meet Beyonce and they just love her to death."

Check out Obama's "Just Like Us" photo gallery.

Tell Us: Does Obama have good taste in music?

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Photograph by Peter Yang

Listen to Scarlett Johansson Sing

Mandi Illuzzi — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:36:07 -0400

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A track from her upcoming album has hit the web

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Channeling Sinead O'Connor!

Scarlett Johansson sounds eerily similar to the Irish singer on a track from her upcoming album Anywhere I Lay My Head (out May 20).

The tune "Falling Down" debuted on spinner.com Monday. Listen to it here and then return to Usmagazine.com to tell Us if you think Scarlett has a good voice.

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Scarlett Johansson arrives at the premiere of "The Other Boleyn Girl" on 19th February 2008 in London, England.

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Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage.com

Listen to Rihanna's New Single

Mandi Illuzzi — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:41:31 -0400

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She debuted the ballad, "Take a Bow," on Friday

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Rihanna debuted her latest single, "Take A Bow," on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Friday morning.

Listen to the ballad here.

Her 2007 summer anthem "Umbrella" was No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart last year.

The Grammy-winning singer is currently dating
singer Chris Brown.

Tell Us: Do you like Rihanna's single?

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Rihanna attends the Chanel Fashion show on February 29, 2008 in Paris, France.

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Tony Barson/WireImage.com

Whitney Houston Comeback Album Set for Holiday Release

Mandi Illuzzi — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:30:08 -0500

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Four tracks are already done, label head Clive Davis says

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Celebrate Christmas with Whitney Houston.

Her long-awaited comeback album is "on track for a holiday release," BMG Label Group chairman/CEO Clive Davis revealed at Billboard's Music & Money Symposium on Thursday.

"We're not going to compromise who she is to fit into today's hip-hop radio market," he added. "The public wants Whitney material."

Four songs have already been completed for the as-yet-untitled album, he said, and four more will be finished this month.

Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, songwriter Sean Garrett and R&B singer Akon have penned and produced tracks.

It will be Houston's first album of original material since 2002 and since her 2006 split from husband of 14 years, Bobby Brown.

Tell Us: Will you buy the new Whitney album?

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Whitney Houston attends the 2008 Clive Davis Pre-GRAMMY party on February 9, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

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Jessica Simpson: Why I'm Recording a Country Album

Mandi Illuzzi — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:39:19 -0500

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The singer also says she is uncertain whether she'll tour this year

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After her bad luck at the box office, Jessica Simpson is hoping to bounce back with a country music career.

"I am a country girl," she says in a new interview with Billboard.com. "I grew up in Texas, and country music was what I listened to. I always wanted to make a country album, but I wanted to wait until the time was right."

She also cites Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Reba McEntire as inspirations, adding, "I think there is a strength in female country artists."

She won't reveal her songwriting collaborators, but tells the Web site: "Writing is a release for me. It's a way for me to tell my story. That's not to say I wouldn't record a song that I didn't write. It's just that it has been a while since I have opened the book."

Simpson is still not certain if she'll hit the road to support the disc, which is due later this year.

"Since the record is in the beginning stages, there hasn't been much talk about a tour just yet," she says.

Tell Us: Will you buy Jessica's country album?

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Jessica Simpson sighting at Dos Caminos in New York City on November 15, 2007.

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James Devaney/WireImage.com

Listen to Heidi Montag's New Song!

Allison Corneau — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:53:43 -0500

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The Hills' star's latest pop single has been "leaked" onto the Web

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Say what you want about Heidi Montag's relationship choices, at least she knows how to sing a catchy-yet-forgettable pop song.

The aspiring pop singer's new single, "Touch Me," was "leaked" on Thursday to Perez Hilton. Take a listen and judge for yourself!

You tell Us: Do you think Heidi will succeed as a pop star?

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Heidi Montag arrives at The Hills - Season Finale Event held in West Hollywood, California on December 10, 2007.

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Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com

Hot Stuff: Madonna Makes it Into Rock's Hall of Fame

Allison Corneau — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:49:57 -0500

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After a 25-year career, she will be inducted into the hall, along with John Mellencamp, next March

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· Twenty-five years after releasing her first single, "Everybody," it was announced that Madonna will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.

· Heroes costars Milo Ventimiglia and Kristen Bell are narrating some of their fave holiday tales online...in claymation form.

· Parents take note: Miley Cyrus fans said "Gimme More" concert dates for her Hannah Montana tour. So she did.

· Baby Spice is not being a baby about her sprained ankle.

· Watch Zac Efron crank his own Soulja Boy.

· Janet Jackson's latest single, "Feedback," has been made available for your listening pleasure.

· George Clooney has followed in Al Gore's footsteps with a Nobel accolade of his own for his efforts to bring peace to Darfur.

· Britney Spears still has her pulse on what's popular, at least in the baby-naming world. Her sons' names made Babycenter.com's list of 2007's most popular baby names.

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Madonna attends the premiere of Revolver at the Tribeca Grand screening room on December 2, 2007 in New York City.

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Jason Kempin/WireImage.com

Neil Diamond Spills: "Sweet Caroline" About Caroline Kennedy

Mandi Illuzzi — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:43:17 -0500

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The singer admits President Kennedy's daughter inspired him to pen the hit tune

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The secret is out: "Sweet Caroline," Neil Diamond's classic hit, is about President Kennedy's daughter.

"I've never discussed it with anybody before — intentionally," the singer-songwriter, 66, told The Associated Press Monday.

He told her he wrote the song for her after recently performing it via satellite at her 50th birthday party.

Diamond said he was "a young, broke songwriter" when he came across a photo of Kennedy as a girl "dressed to the nines in her riding gear, next to her pony" in a news magazine, he told the AP.

"It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately felt there was a song in there," he said.

So he penned the tune, years later in a Memphis, Tennessee, hotel room, in less than an hour.

"It was a No. 1 record and probably is the biggest, most important song of my career," he said, "and I have to thank her for the inspiration."

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Neil Diamond performs on the 2005 "Today" Show Summer Concert Series on May 6, 2005.

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Carrie Underwood Tops American Music Awards, Wins Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Album

Mark Cina — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 08:22:34 -0500

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Click here for a complete list of Sunday night's winners

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Following her victorious night at the recent Country Music Association Awards, Carrie Underwood cleaned house again at the 35th Annual American Music Awards.

She won Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album in the country music category.

The night also ended on a high note for her American Idol colleague Chris Daughtry, who won Favorite Album in pop/rock category; Favorite Artist in the adult contemporary music category and favorite Breakthrough Artist.

Here is a list of Sunday night's winners:

POP OR ROCK
Favorite Male Artist:
Justin Timberlake

Favorite Female Artist:
Fergie

Favorite Band, Duo or Group:
Nickleback

Favorite Album:
Daughtry/Daughtry

COUNTRY
Favorite Male Artist:
Tim McGraw

Favorite Female Artist:
Carrie Underwood

Favorite Album:
Carrie Underwood/Some Hearts

Favorite Band, Duo or Group:
Rascal Flatts

SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES
Favorite Male Artist:
Akon

Favorite Female Artist:
Rihanna

Favorite Album:
Justin Timberlake/FutureSex/LoveSounds

RAP/HIP-HOP
Favorite Band, Duo or Group:
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Favorite Male Artist:
T.I.

Favorite Album:
T.I./T.I. vs. T.I.P.

ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Favorite Artist:
Daughtry

LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist:
Jennifer Lopez

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Artist:
Linkin Park

CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Favorite Artist:
Casting Crowns

SOUNDTRACKS
Favorite Album:
High School Musical 2

FAVORITE BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST
Daughtry

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Carrie Underwood arrives to the 2007 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre on November 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.

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Steve Granitz/WireImage

Hanson Brothers Rally Behind Sib Isaac Before Upcoming Surgery

Mark Cina — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:20:18 -0400

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After surviving a life-threatening blood clot, Isaac Hanson is set to undergo another operation next month.

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The brothers of the teen 90s trio Hanson are rallying behind their sib, Isaac, as he prepares for another surgery.

On October 4, the eldest bro, 26, underwent a successful operation to remove a life-threatening blood clot that had traveled to both his lungs.

The singer — who is now on extreme amounts of blood thinner to prevent future clots — will undergo surgery in December to remove a rib that is pressing up against a vein.

How is he holding up?

“Isaac is doing well and he's got a clean bill of health," brother Taylor, 24, told Usmagazine.com at a Darfur Now screening in L.A. Tuesday night. "We got back on the road, amazingly [four days after his October surgery]. We are going to take a little break so he can have his surgery. Hopefully it will solve his problem.”

Added Taylor, “We're being very brotherly!”

The trio — which also includes brother Zac, 22 — will spend Thanksgiving together.

So what exactly goes down at the Hanson family holiday?

“It’s just turkey and family and all that!" Taylor told Us. "We like to cook, but it’s usually Grandma, or mom, or anyone who has a recipe. People bring in their part, a little pie, a little turkey!”

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Isaac Hanson speaks to the crowd at the Hanson and TOMS Shoes ready "Show Drop" Trip to Aid Children in South Africa at City Hall on October 30, 2007 in West Hollywood, CA.

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Michael Bezjian/WireImage.com

Music

Click Here to See What's on Barack Obama's iPod

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Listen to Scarlett Johansson Sing

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Whitney Houston Comeback Album Set for Holiday Release

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Jessica Simpson: Why I'm Recording a Country Album

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Listen to Heidi Montag's New Song!

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Hot Stuff: Madonna Makes it Into Rock's Hall of Fame

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