Archive for November 18th, 2008
Beyonce’s ‘Sasha Fierce’ Looks to Debut at No. 1
As NowPublic previously reported, R&B superstar Beyoncé is the final stages of completing an artistic transformation into her ultra-bootylicious alter-ego Sasha Fierce.
Having amped up anticipation for the album with her highly entertaining ‘Single Ladies’ stint on SNL last weekend, Beyoncés new album “I am…Sasha Fierce” hit the last remaining, real-world, music store shelves, as well as digital download locales across the internet on Tuesday. The full album is also being streamed online at the Sasha Fierce MySpace page.
Although the album was only released this past Tuesday, it is expected to sell at least 500,000 copies in its first week and to debut at the top of the pop charts.
Beyonce Knowles‘ new album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, is on track to debut at number one on the albums sales chart next week.
Yesterday (November 18), Beyonce dropped her highly anticipated third solo album, I Am… Sasha Fierce, on Music World/Columbia Records. According to HitsDailyDouble, the two disc set will debut at the top of the charts. They project that it will sell between 500,000 and 550,000 copies.
But Beyoncé’s double…ahem…”concept” album splits duty between Ms. Fierce-side booty bangers and Beyonce-side ballads — and it appears to suffer from a case of confused musical and artistic identity.
Is the double album/double identity the new single album/single identity?
Beyoncé should chat with T.I., Nelly, and Outkast and their alter-egos for details.
And as for Beyoncé vs. Sasha — fierce is your forte, girl, don’t settle for slow jams!
Beyoncé’s decision to create an alter ego for her new split-personality double album, “I Am … Sasha Fierce” (Columbia) seems more like a business decision than a psychological one.
She keeps the ballads for herself and outsources all her hip-hop and dance-oriented material to her alter ego, Sasha Fierce – a way to keep both outlying ends of her fan base happy. Those who love her more conventional side need never be bothered by an urban, edgy rhythm or street slang ever again, and vice versa.
It’s a brilliant idea, if only the music cooperated.
Other reviews agree on the music not quite mixing right:
Does the split-personality attempt work? As a total package, not quite. Individual songs such as the role-reversal jam “If I Were A Boy” and saucy “Video Phone” shine, while other tunes just don’t produce enough oomph.
Vulnerability is nothing new for Beyonce, who touched on her sensitive yearnings on 2003’s solo debut “Dangerously in Love.” But she came roaring back in 2006 with “B’Day,” the kind of woman-in-control hit album that scorched club roofs with its rapid-fire grooves.
Executively produced by Beyonce and her dad-manager Matthew Knowles, “I AM . . . SASHA FIERCE wants it naughty and nice. Still, with only 11 songs on the full album’s standard version, splitting the two sides is unnecessary. Each disc isn’t strong enough to maintain the momentum “B’Day” did, even with five extra songs on the album’s deluxe version.
Tags: Culture | Music | cd | Beyonce | album | Release | Sasha Fierce | beyonce sasha fierce | sasha fierce review | beyonce album | beyonce snl | beyonce snl parody
‘Twilight’ Fans Freak For Film’s Premiere
A new pop culture phenomenon has emerged from the shadows and into the blinding brightness of Hollywood, as the Twilight movie premiered in Los Angeles on Tuesday to the thundering applause, shrieks, screams, and chants of its vampirically-rabid fans.
As NowPublic member Manny Castro has reported, an estimated 500 advanced screenings are already sold out, as are at least 400 weekend screenings of the film.
Twilight officially opens in North American theatres on November 21st. See the film’s site for international release dates.
There were hundreds of people lining the Los Angeles streets screaming and chanting. There were homemade signs, punny slogans, and custom T-shirts. Attendees declared whose team they were on. There were moms and daughters, men and women, couples and singles. There were even a few people so overcome by emotion that tears were shed. They stood for hours, some for days, to make sure their opinions were seen and heard despite the harsh, ashy air quality caused by the numerous nearby wildfires.
I’m not talking about last weekend’s anti-Proposition 8 rally. No, this chaotic scene, which featured more black, less rainbows, was for the Nov. 17 premiere of Twilight, the epic love story of a high-school girl (Bella) and her vampire beau (Edward) based on the hit book series by Stephenie Meyer. While the two events had several similarities, I dare say the Twilight folks were slightly more fanatical.
Tags: California | Culture | Movies | hollywood | Los Angeles | Celebrity | twilight | twilight premiere | kristin stewart | twilight premiere los angeles | twilight stephenie meyer | twilight series | twilight movie premiere | twilight movie
Battle of the Doodles: Palin vs. Obama
Everybody doodles, only some doodles are seemingly more important and interesting than other doodles.
For instance, when the absent-minded chicken scratch scrawls belong to Gov. Sarah Palin and President-Elect Barack Obama, well, then it’s time to call in the handwriting analysts to decipher the cryptic symbology, metaphorical allusions, and hidden insights into personality and character.
W00t dee doodle doo.
Sarah Palin’s doodles, which were scribbled in 1996 when she was running for mayor of Wasilla, and President-elect Barack Obama’s doodles, which were purchased on an Ebay auction in May, 2007, for $2075, have been analyzed by a graphologist.
And what did the handwriting expert have to say?
According to graphologist Sheila Kurtz, the Obama doodle shows he is “economical, clear and to the point,” while Palin’s doodle indicates she is “smart, but scattered and all over the place.”
Tags: Culture | Art | Barack Obama | Obama | drawing | doodle | Sarah Palin | palin doodle | obama doodles
The Roots to Retire, Become Jimmy Fallon’s House Band
Last weekend, Nah Right posted a YouTube clip of The Roots allegedly announcing their retirement from touring — in order to become the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he takes over Late Night next year.
But the video was taken down and neither the band or NBC have issued any further word.
Could this really be the end of the illadelph dynasty?
Last night in Chicago The Roots announced that they will be retiring from touring EFFECTIVE March 2009. The move is being made to accommodate their new Night Gig as the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he replaces Conan O’Brien as the host of Late Night in March of 2009. Conan will be moved to the Tonight Show.
On the one hand this sucks because, despite The Roots status as the touringest group in Hip-Hop history, and despite the numerous live shows I’ve attended, I have never seen a proper live Roots performance. How is that possible? I don’t know, but I need to make sure I hit one up before March. I know it’s a temporary retirement, but if Fallon’s ratings are good, it could be a while.
Gawker speculates on the rumours and hints that the rumour “probably is” true.
This past weekend, a hip hop blog called Nah Right posted a YouTube interview with ?uestlove, a member of hip hop live band supergroup The Roots. And he said that The Roots were retiring from touring in order to become the house band for Jimmy Fallon when he takes over Conan O’Brien’s late night show next year. But that video was quickly pulled, so everyone has been scrambling to find out whether this apocalyptic… thing is actually true. NBC has no official comment, but we hear that it probably is. Essaywhuman?!!!??! This is one of those things that proves you’re getting old.
I’ve never had a group that I actually like go the late night house band route. Springsteen fans saw Max Weinberg take his act to Conan’s show; and I’m sure there were some jazz heads who were flabbergasted to see their main man Kevin Eubanks signing up with Jay Leno. But The Roots? The Illadelph generals opening up for that stuttering mop-headed ball of suck, Jimmy Fallon? It’s kind of tragic.
I have to agree.
I’ve loved The Roots since day one — but it’s going to be an awkward and bizarre transition to witness their ‘next movement’ from the live stage to the NBC studio soundstage.
We’ll be updating this story as we learn more about the band’s television plans.
Tags: Culture | Music | Tonight Show | hip-hop | television | NBC | The Roots | Jimmy Fallon | the roots retire | the roots jimmy fallon | the roots tour | the roots retirement
First Photo of Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter Surfaces Online
Teh internets have been abuzz since yesterday as the first photo of Johnny Depp, in costume as the Mad Hatter for Tim Burton’s forthcoming ‘Alice in Wonderland‘ film, surfaced online.
Chalk this up as another iconic role for Depp, who is undoubtedly Burton’s favourite co-conspirator of weird.
The actor and director have collaborated extensively over the course of their respective careers, with Depp taking on the ever-changing and ever-strange personas of a host of creepy leading men, including:
• Edward Scissorhands in Edward Scissorhands
• Ed Wood in Ed Wood
• Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow
• Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• the voice of Victor van Dort in Corpse Bride
• Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
And, in 2010, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
One has to wonder if there are any iconic weirdos left untouched by Depp and Burton?
If there are, I’m sure we’ll be seeing them on screen soon.
Tags: Culture | Movies | Johnny Depp | depp | Tim Burton | Alice in Wonderland | johnny depp mad hatter picture | johnny depp mad hatter first photo
Snake Massage Offered at Israeli Spa
This is supposed to be relaxing?
At Ada Barak’s Carnivorous Plant Farm in Talmei Elazar, Israel, slithering snakes are being used to create a therapeutic massage.
The northern Israel spa uses different sized snakes, which are placed on your back and left to writhe up and down your spine. The king and corn snakes produce a kneading sensation, while the tiny garden snakes gently caress the skin. Price tag? $80.
Tags: Israel | Spa | Health | Strange | snake massage | ada barak | talmei elazar
Jerry Yang Steps Down as Yahoo’s CEO
As anticipated, Jerry Yang, the co-founder and current CEO of troubled internet search giant Yahoo is stepping down as the company’s chief exec.
No word yet on an official replacement, but Meg Whitman’s name is floating around.
Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo and its CEO since June 2007, is stepping down from the Chief Executive spot as soon as a yet-to-be-named successor is appointed. Yang will be staying with the company in the role of “Chief Yahoo” and maintaining a seat on the company’s board of directors.
Tags: Business | Yahoo | Jerry Yang | Meg Whitman | Tech & Biz | jerry yang yahoo ceo | jerry yang yahoo
Hillary Clinton ‘plans to accept’ Secretary of State job
Goodbye Condi, hello Hillrod…
The Guardian is reporting that Hillary Clinton “plans to accept” President-elect Obama’s job offer to make Clinton the United States Secretary of State, replacing the current 66th SecState, Condoleezza Rice.
Do you think Clinton the best choice for the position?
Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration, the Guardian has learned.
Tags: Politics | Washington | condoleeza rice | Hillary Clinton | United States | World | Obama | SECRETARY OF STATE | guardian | President Obama | clinton secretary of state
What Country Will President Obama Visit First?
As a Canadian, I am more than a little disappointed to see that our new neighbour-elect to the south doesn’t appear to be considering a visit with our very own newly re-elected Prime Minister mini-Bush here at ‘our home on native land’.
Instead, it seems that Britain will be getting the honour of President Obama’s first visit.
In fact, Canada doesn’t even make it onto the Economist’s list of potential first places. Maybe we’re a little too close to home?
Where do you think Obama should go first?
THANKS to its “special relationship” with America, Britain is firm favourite to be the first country that Barack Obama will visit as president, according to Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker. Although Nicolas Sarkozy will no longer be president of the European Union in 2009, France is offered at 3/1 to receive President Obama. Germany, despite Mr Obama’s rapturous welcome in Berlin earlier this year, is given longer odds not only over its Gallic neighbour, but also Iraq and Afghanistan. At 10/1, Kenya is reckoned a more likely first stop than Israel or Japan.
Tags: Canada | Germany | Britain | Europe | Politics | World | Obama | Country | President Obama | obama first visit
