Monday December 12, 2005
Defending the music
Pop philosophy I have never relied on my sexuality and I don’t really have an image at all. I used to say that I would never wear anything on stage that I couldn’t wear out to dinner with my grandmother. It just felt more respectable. I always assumed that being a musician was a vocation and I wanted to do it with dignity. This current pop culture is full of perversity. I’ve been called the Emily Dickinson of pop and the thinking man’s Madonna. You sort that one out.
– Singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant (www.independent.co.uk)
SONY Music USA recently resolved a messy, high profile dispute with singer Fiona Apple, but now the record corporation is facing a showdown with another acclaimed and temperamental artiste. The conflict between Sony’s Columbia Records label and singer-songwriter Nellie McKay over the content of her upcoming second album flared up in public this week when McKay launched into an extended, tearful outburst during her performance last Tuesday at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
The 20-year-old singer, known for her sophisticated pop-cabaret songs, social activism and emotional demeanour, told the audience that she wants her upcoming album, Pretty Little Head (due Jan 3), to contain 23 songs and run 65 minutes, but that the label plans to release a 16-song, 48-minute version.
She encouraged her fans to write to Columbia in protest, and spelled out the e-mail address of Columbia Records Group Chairman Will Botwin. After berating an audience member who told her to stop talking and sing, McKay appeared to break down in tears.
“It’s not fair, it’s not fair to anyone what they’re doing,” she said. “The corporations are raping the world. I know that everyone is gonna grow up and, you know, get cynical and everything. I can’t, I still care too much. This is driving me insane.”
The situation recalls the recent struggle between Sony’s Epic label and Apple, in which the singer-songwriter briefly quit music altogether because she thought that the company was imposing restrictions on the recording of her album Extraordinary Machine.
Stapp socked
ROCK outfit 311 has taken to the message board on its official website to clarify reports of an altercation that took place last week between three group members and former Creed frontman Scott Stapp. The apparent fight happened on Thanksgiving in a lounge at Baltimore’s Harbor Court Hotel. According to the post, 311’s Chad Sexton, SA Martinez and P-Nut were watching a basketball game in the lounge when Stapp came into the room.
“He appeared intoxicated,” the post says. “He drank a shot at the bar and then threw his shot glass, smashing it on the bar. He was acting belligerent and got into an argument with patrons sitting at the bar.” The band says Stapp proceeded to sit down next to Martinez and make “a disrespectful and crude remark” to his wife. When Sexton asked Stapp to leave, Stapp punched him, according to the post. “Scott was looking for a fight – and that’s what he got,” the group says.
“A fight ensued. Soon the police arrived and everyone was restrained and questioned, and Scott was ultimately asked to leave the hotel.” According to a 311 spokesperson, Martinez fractured a knuckle in the fight, but performed the next evening in Baltimore with his hand in a cast. At deadline, a representative for Stapp had not responded to a request for comment.
KT and Travis
SCOTTISH favourites Travis has revealed that singer-songwriter KT Tunstall is set to appear on their new album. Bassist Dougie Payne said the group met Tunstall while on a tour of small venues to promote their greatest hits record and invited her to collaborate with them on a new song. Payne also revealed the group have been working with long-time producer Nigel Goldrich on the new material and already have a lot of songs recorded. The as yet untitled new album is due to be released next year.
To Africa, with love
BONO and Alicia Keys have collaborated on a new charity single, Don’t Give Up (Africa), to benefit the Keep a Child Alive organisation, which provides medicine to families with members who have AIDS or have been diagnosed as HIV-positive.
The song is a new interpretation of the Peter Gabriel song Don’t Give Up, which appeared on his landmark 1986 album So and featured vocals by Gabriel and Kate Bush. The new Bono and Keys take was offered last week on iTunes.
Keys, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, said Bono had inspired her with his efforts to champion poverty relief in the troubled continent. She called AIDS “the most important issue we face” and urged people “to recognise the extreme disaster Africa is facing and step up for the Motherland.”
Franz in the flesh
FRANZ Ferdinand released a two-disc live DVD last Tuesday boasting footage of the band captured around the world and special bonus features.
The first disc in the Domino/Epic set contains performances from Scotland’s T in the Park festival, the Avalon in Los Angeles and the Brixton Academy in London, among other international venues. Bonus features include karaoke films of the singles Matinee and Take Me Out and behind-the-scenes footage from recent tours.
The second disc boasts two full performances from 2004 shows in London and San Francisco, in addition to video interviews from the band’s tour bus. Also included are three songs from tour stops in Australia and New Zealand. Franz Ferdinand’s sophomore album, You Could Have It So Much Better, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 202,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Billboard Hot 100: Top 10
1. Run It! – Chris Brown
2. Laffy Taffy – D4L
3. Gold Digger – Kanye West (featuring Jamie Foxx)
4. Photograph – Nickelback
5. Soul Survivor – Young Jeezy featuring Akon
6. My Humps – The Black Eyed Peas
7. Don’t Forget About Us – Mariah Carey
8. When I’m Gone – Eminem
9. Stickwitu – The Pussycat Dolls
10. We Be Burnin’ – Sean Paul
Billboard 200 Top Albums: Top 10
1. Now 20 – Various Artistes
2. Chris Brown – Chris Brown
3. Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
4. The Road And The Radio – Kenny Chesney
5. Fijacion Oral Vol. 2 – Shakira
6. Amarantine – Enya
7. The Emancipation Of Mimi – Mariah Carey
8. Confessions On A Dance Floor – Madonna
9. All The Right Reasons – Nickelback
10. Hypnotize – System Of A Down
Modern Rock Tracks
1. Only – Nine Inch Nails
2. DOA – Foo Fighters
3. Save Me – Shinedown
4. Hypnotize – System Of A Down
5. Perfect Situation – Weezer
6. Soul Meets Body – Death Cab For Cutie
7. Feel Good Inc – Gorillaz
8. Bat Country – Avenged Sevenfold
9. Juicebox – The Strokes
10. The Ghost Of You – My Chemical Romance
Top Country Albums
1. Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
2. The Road And The Radio – Kenny Chesney
3. The Legend Of Johnny Cash – Johnny Cash
4. Reba: #1’s – Reba McEntire
5. Feels Like Today – Rascal Flatts
6. Timeless – Martina McBride
7. Fireflies – Faith Hill
8. Comin’ To Your City – Big & Rich
9. Songs About Me – Trace Adkins
10. Be Here – Keith Urban
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
1. Chris Brown – Chris Brown
2. What The Game’s Been Missing! – Juelz Santana
3. The Emancipation Of Mimi – Mariah Carey
4. Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ – Soundtrack
5. The Sound Of Revenge – Chamillionaire
6. Monkey Business – The Black Eyed Peas
7. Big Boi Presents... Got Purp? Vol. II – Purple Ribbon All-Stars
8. The Way It Is – Keyshia Cole
9. Let’s Get It: Thug Motivations 101 – Young Jeezy
10. Late Registration – Kanye West
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