Tag: Justin Bieber

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Musique

Charity album for Japan now available online

Songs for Japan, a digital compilation album to raise money for the country’s earthquake and tsunami disaster relief efforts, features a total of 38 artists, reports MTV.

Now available on iTunes for $9.99, the album includes 38 tracks from major artists like the Black Eyed Peas, U2, John Lennon, Madonna, Eminem and Justin Bieber. Songs for Japan also includes an exclusive remix of Lady Gaga’s hit single Born This Way.

To ensure the Japanese Red Cross Society receives as much of the money as possible, all participating artists and record labels agreed to waive royalty fees, and Apple is foregoing its usual cut of album sales.

The project was only announced last Monday (March 21), and rushed out in under a week, with the download available on Friday (March 25).

"We are doing it only digitally because it is faster, and this will be a worldwide release. The plan is to have it available later this week," a spokesperson said during the project announcement.

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Musique

Arcade Fire wins four Junos

Following their surprise win at the Grammy Awards in February, Montreal-based band Arcade Fire continued their winning streak, taking home four Juno Awards during last night’s ceremony (March 27), reports Chartattack.

The band won best album and best alternative album of the year for their 2010 recording, The Suburbs. They were also named group of the year and songwriter of the year, making them the biggest winners of the night.

In a surprise sweep, music legend Neil Young, who was attending the ceremony to receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, was named artist of the year and won the award for adult alternative album of the year, giving him the second highest number of trophies of the night.

"What year is this?" Young joked as he took the stage. "I am totally surprised."

Pop star Justin Bieber picked up two awards, including pop album of the year and the fan choice award, the only award selected by fans. Unable to attend the ceremony, Bieber appeared by video to thank his mother and his fans.

Other winners from last night’s ceremony include Said The Whale, Young Artists for Haiti, Matthew Good, and francophone artist Karkwa. Juno host, rapper Drake, did not win a single award.

 

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Musique

Selena Gomez plans Britney Spears tribute

Teen pop star Selena Gomez plans to pay tribute to her idol Britney Spears during an upcoming concert tour, reports Teen Music.

"We are working on a few cover songs. We are working on a Britney tribute, which I’m so stoked about, ’cause I love Britney. I was like, ‘I have to do it.’ I wanna do a mash-up of all her songs and just go for it," the teen singer and actress told MTV News.

Although official details about the upcoming tour have yet to be announced, Gomez says that she will be covering songs from various points in Spears’ recording history.

"We’re gonna do a little tribute. We’re gonna do her hits…’Baby One More Time,’ and then I think we’re going to try to incorporate ‘Toxic’ and that phase. And then we might do some of her recent, new stuff."

The one thing Gomez won’t try to replicate, however, is Spears’ signature dance moves.

"I don’t think so. I’m not going to even touch Britney! She’s so good," she said. "I wouldn’t want to butcher it. I’m just going to pay tribute to her! I’m gonna say she’s awesome."

Best known for portraying Alex Russo in the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place, the actress and singer made her lead role theatrical film debut in Ramona and Beezus.

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Musique

News March 22 – Justin Bieber, Rihanna, U2 on Japan relief album

As with Haiti’s earthquake last year, several artists are once again are leading the way in raising funds for Japan, after its disastrous earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear plant meltdown last Friday (March 11).

Thanks to technology, a new digital fundraising album with songs contributed by major stars like U2, Rihanna and Justin Bieber could be ready as early as next week.

Many musicians have a large fan base in the country, and Universal Music has tapped some of its artists to contribute a song for the digital album, which may be released as early as next Friday (March 25).

Performers who have already confirmed their participation in the project include Justin Bieber, U2, Rihanna, Bon Jovi and Nicki Minaj. The album’s success depends on major acts willing to waive royalties for songs that appear on the record.

Lady Gaga, also with Universal Records, may be asked to participate after her great success in raising $250,000 through the sale of bracelets she designed.

"We are doing it only digitally because it is faster, and this will be a worldwide release,” said a spokesperson for Universal Music, the world’s biggest record label. “The plan is to have it available later this week."

All proceeds from the digital album will go to the Japanese Red Cross.

 

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Selena Gomez gets personal in upcoming album

Teen pop star Selena Gomez will be getting personal in her next album, acknowledging her biggest supporters, and calling out those she feels have treated her poorly, reports TeenMusic.com.

"There’s one song that I co-wrote with Toby Gad: It’s kind of like a compliment song slash dig. It’s really fun. It’s basically saying, ‘I had a few people who weren’t treating me right, but now I have wonderful people.’ So it’s like I’m thanking my friends while saying goodbye to the other people. It’s very therapeutic," the singer explained.

But the album won’t just be about getting in digs at exes like Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers.

There is one [song] that I’m completely in love with, and it was written by Pixie Lott, who I am obsessed with," she said. "And it’s my mom’s favorite song. It’s very sweet. It’s kind of a ballad, but not really. It’s basically about living in the moment; it’s about enjoying right now. I’m very much enjoying right now. I’m in a good place," enthuses Gomez.

The as-yet-untitled album will be Gomez’s third and is expected to hit shelves this summer. As the lead singer and founder of the pop band Selena Gomez & the Scene, Gomez has also contributed to the soundtracks of Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story and Wizards of Waverly Place.

Best known for portraying Alex Russo in the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place, the actress and singer made her lead role theatrical film debut in Ramona and Beezus.

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New extended version of Justin Bieber movie

For fans who can’t seem to get enough of the teen pop sensation Justin Bieber, film director Jon Chu announced the release of a Director’s Fan Cut that adds 40 minutes of fresh footage to Justin Bieber’s concert documentary Never Say Never.

The recut movie hit theatres last Friday (February 25), and as a teaser, Paramount film studio released an entertaining clip showing Bieber meeting fans, and getting one of his young fans on stage to help sing his hit song Baby.

This clip and several others are now included in version Director’s Cut Fan of Never Say Never. The 3-D documentary film opened on February 11 to a strong reception from fans, earning more than $50 million in its first three weeks.

"We originally had a two-and-a-half-hour version of the movie, which we obviously couldn’t release," Chu explained to us. "So we started to think about putting stuff back in that didn’t have to do with our story but that we knew people would love."

 

 

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Justin Bieber in the studio with Kanye West

Although some may view teen idol Justin Bieber as just another product of the pop music industry, his presence in Kanye West’s studio will certainly bring some musical credibility to the young overnight sensation.

West published a photograph on Twitter, and announced he was working with the 16-year-old Canadian singer, calling him his “new beat protégé,” reports MTV News.

The two have worked together before when West remixed Beiber’s Runaway Love, which appears on Beiber’s new Never Say Never – The Remixes album.

It’s not clear exactly what the musical duo were working on. Recently, Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, said, "He’s been talking to Drake … [he] and Kanye had a call today about a song they’re trying to work on together; Kanye wants to produce a bunch of new songs for the album."

In an MTV News interview earlier this month, Bieber said that working with West "was amazing," and added that the controversial rapper-producer is "such a cool guy … just really laid back and … at the end of the day, he’s just a nice person."

 

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Musique

Arcade Fire wins again at Brit Awards

Barely 48 hours after stunning the American music industry by beating out Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Eminem for best album of the year with The Suburbs, Montreal band Arcade Fire has done it again on the other side of Atlantic, winning two of the highest honors at the Brit Awards.

Once again, The Suburbs was named best international album over contenders by Eminem, Cee Lo Green, Katy Perry, and Kings of Leon.

"We’re called Arcade Fire — check it out on Google," frontman Win Butler said in reference to the alternative band’s relative anonymity in the world of pop music.

As on Grammy Awards night, Arcade Fire also performed their song Ready to Start for the British pop music awards gala, and picked up award number two for best international group.

Although he went home from the 2011 Grammys empty-handed, Justin Bieber came out a winner at the Brit Awards with his trophy for best international breakthrough act.

 

 

Among other winners, Rihanna and Cee Lo Green each picked up their respective award for best international female star and best international male solo artist.

 

 

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New music February 15

Following this week’s Grammy Awards, several new music releases are hitting the shelves today, including Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never – The Remixes and PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake.

Pop superstar Justin Bieber has launched a remix album to coincide with the release of his new movie, Never Say Never, which opened in theatres on Friday (February 11). Bieber’s new album, Never Say Never – The Remixes, features big name collaborators Chris Brown, Rascal Flatts and Miley Cyrus, who teamed up with Bieber on some of his most popular tracks.

From pop to alternative, this week also sees the launch of PJ Harvey’s new album, Let England Shake. The new recording, Harvey’s eighth studio album, focuses on the current political landscape in England. The dark collection of twelve tracks features titles like The Words That Maketh Murder and Bitter Branches. Heavy use of an autoharp gives the songs an otherworldly quality, and the gentle, dream-like melodies contrast with the harshness of the words being sung.

Scottish rock band Mogwai releases their seventh studio album this week. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will features ten uniquely-named tracks such as How to Be a Werewolf and You’re Lionel Richie. The limited edition includes a bonus CD containing a 23-minute track, Music for a Forgotten Future (The Singing Mountain), that the band recorded for an art installation.

Also due out this week: Degeneration Street by Montreal group The Dears, Demons by Toronto group Cowboy Junkies, The Covering by Jay Sean, The People’s Key by Bright Eyes, and the self-titled debut album from Runner Runner.

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Arcade Fire wins Grammy for album of the year

Last night (February 13), viewers who were patient enough to watch the 53rd Grammy Awards all the way to the end, were pleasantly surprised to see Montreal-based indie band Arcade Fire win the most prestigious award of the evening – album of the year for The Suburbs – over competitors Eminem, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum.

Frontman Win Butler was a little shocked and initially sank to his knees on the stage. He collected the award from Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson

"What the hell?" he said, dumbfounded, as he thanked his home province of Quebec and fans. "We’re going to go play another song, because we like music," he added, as the collective rushed back to their places. Speaking French, Butler’s wife Régine Chassange quickly thanked the city of Montreal. Butler placed the golden gramophone award on an amplifier before ripping into Ready to Start.

In Canada, and possibly around the world, most people expected Justin Beiber to win best new artist, or perhaps even Drake. When Esperanza Spalding, a little known American jazz performer, was announced – most of the television audience was likely asking, “Who?”

Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now won both awards for record of the year and song of the year. Eminem took home the Grammy for rap album of the year for Recovery while Muse’s The Resistance took home the honours for best rock album.

Best female pop vocal performance went to Lady Gaga for Bad Romance, and for the men, the award went to Bruno Mars for Just the Way You Are.