January 30, 2012
Are students at Rutgers University ready for this jelly?
A new course at the big league school will study the politics and meaning of Beyonce and her music. Starpulse reports that Politicizing Beyonce will now be offered as part of the school’s Women’s and Gender Studies program.
Lecturer Kevin Allred will teach the class, which will analyze the star’s music and videos in an exploration of Beyonce’s cultural importance.
“The performer’s music and career are used as lenses to explore American race, gender, and sexual politics,” reads an overview for the course. “Course topics include the extent of Beyonce’s control over her own aesthetic, whether her often half-naked body is empowered or stereotypical, and her more racy performances as her alter ego, Sasha Fierce.”
In addition to Beyonce, other stars such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Lady Gaga, Adele and Amy Winehouse will also be discussed.
The star, who recently gave birth to her first daughter, the already famous Blue Ivy, isn’t the only member of her family with a university course dedicated to their study.
Georgetown University currently offers Sociology of Hip-Hop: Jay-Z, which focuses on the rhymes of the star’s famous rapper husband.
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January 30, 2012
Former American Idol favourite Danny Gokey has married for a second time.
According to People magazine, the bespectacled singer married model Leyicet Peralta at a small ceremony in front of friends and family this past weekend in Florida.
“We wanted a smaller, more intimate wedding of just friends and family,” the happy couple tell the magazine. “The theme of the wedding was romance and love.”
As Idol fans will recall, Gokey’s first marriage ended tragically when his wife Sophia died in 2008 following surgery for congenital heart disease.
At their wedding, Gokey and Peralta requested that all gifts be donations to Sophia’s Heart, a children’s charity the singer created to honour the memory of his late wife.
“We are so thankful to have found each other and now be able to spend the rest of our lives together,” say the newlyweds. “We pray our gratitude grows more every day because there is so much for us to do now.”
After placing third in the eighth season of Idol, Gokey released his debut album My Best Days in 2010.
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January 30, 2012
The Foo Fighters are set to headline a campaign fundraiser for U.S. President Barack Obama’s upcoming re-election campaign.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Dave Grohl fronted modern rockers will entertain guests at the event which will be held at the estate of soap opera producer Bradley Bell.
Word is up to 1,000 tickets will be sold, ranging from $250-$500. Movie star Will Ferrell will co-host the show.
Grohl tells Red Bulletin he’s an Obama supporter. The Foos have played for the president before, performing at the White House for members of the military and their families at an event back in 2009.
“He’s got the toughest job on earth,” Grohl says. “I would hate to hand the administration over to another party that is just focused on corporations, greed and money. You know, I’m a fun, peace-loving guy, but sometimes the right wing gets a little too selfish.”
Following the show will be a fundraising dinner that promises to be a little more exclusive than the rock and roll gig, as plates for the meal will cost $35,800 apiece.
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January 27, 2012
Is Oprah Winfrey the godmother of Babyonce Blue Ivy?
Not according to the TV talk show host’s best friend Gayle King.
US magazine reports that rumours have floated across the web all week that Winfrey had been selected by Beyonce and proud poppa Jay-Z to be the godmother of their first child, the already world famous Blue Ivy.
Not true, says King, who appeared on The Early Show on CBS to set the record straight.
“It’s absolutely not true that she’s the godmother,” King told the show. “She’s friends with them, of course, and likes them both very much.”
According to King, Winfrey has been so busy lately celebrating the first graduating class of her girls academy in South Africa that she hasn’t even managed to send the happy family a present for the baby.
“She’s working on sending them a baby gift,” King revealed. “She hasn’t even had time to send a baby gift because she’s been away. Let me just say, if it is true, it is news to her. It is news to her. You know, she was heading to South Africa when the baby was born.”
CNN reports that Winfrey travelled to South Africa to congratulate the first graduating class of the school she founded and funded for girls.
“I am one proud mama and for once I think I know what that feels like for real,” Winfrey said. “It feels like a real sense of accomplishment. It is a triumph indeed, considering where all these girls have come from.”
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January 27, 2012
50 Cent says if the Patriots win the Super Bowl he’ll share a naked photo on the internet.
Entertainment Weekly reports that the hip-hop superstar has accepted a wager proposed by one of his Twitter followers. “Lets bet,” wrote tweeter MyBestAssets. “If the Giants lose the Superbowl, u must post ur [d---] on the twitter. If they win, I’ll post my boobs & face on here. Bet?”
Fiddy – real name Curtis Jackson – responded with a succinct “Ok”.
It’s not the only bet 50 is trying to line up for the big game.
MTV reports that hip-hop don Bryan “Birdman” Williams has been tweeting his support for the New England Patriots and offering to bet $5 million on the game to anyone willing to take him up on it.
50 Cent has responded, claiming he already won $500,000 on a playoff game by backing the Giants – and now he’s ready to lay down a cool million they’ll win the Bowl.
“I’m up 500,000 off the last one. F— it ill bet it back Ill put a 1,000,000 on my G MEN. STUNNER you got the # hit me if you want it,” 50 tweeted earlier this week.
No word yet on whether Birdman will accept the wager.
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January 27, 2012
If you want to party with Diddy, a.k.a. Sean Combs, at the Playboy Mansion on Grammy night, be prepared to shell out some cash.
TMZ reports that tickets for the hip hop mogul’s post-awards-show bash are selling for between $1,500 and $50,000.
What does $50,000 get you? Sources tell the gossip site that, for that price, you get 2 cabanas, VIP admission for 20 people, buffet dinner, open bar, free bottle service and 15 dedicated female promotional models. So, admission for 20 people…that’s actually $2,500 a person and not $50,000 “each” as TMZ put it.
Proceeds from the black tie affair will go to benefit the Angelwish Foundation for children afflicted by HIV/AIDS.
In other news, Combs is planning to launch a music-themed cable network, according to broadcastingcable.com. The site reports that the channel, called Revolt, is aiming to launch in December of this year.
Sources reportedly describe it as “a music and music news channel with an urban skew,” and “the old days of MTV, but for more of the African American audience.”
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January 27, 2012
Could a strange new Mickey Mouse t-shirt released – and then retracted – by Disney be the impetus for a reunion by 1970s gloom rockers Joy Division?
Rolling Stone reports that the shirt featured a spoof of the album cover for the British band’s seminal 1979 album Unknown Pleasures, with the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head woven into the design.
Disney pulled the shirt from their online store just days after making it available, following a deluge of complaints from fans.
Former band member Peter Hook, however, says the shirts could be the thing that pulls him back together with his old bandmates.
Hook is currently at odds with Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris, over their efforts to use the name Joy Division, but not include him in the line-up.
Hook, Sumner and Morris formed Joy Division with lead singer Ian Curtis, who killed himself in 1980. Hook, Sumner and Morris later formed the electronic outfit New Order with Gillian Gilbert until Hook left under less than friendly circumstances in 2007.
Hook says Disney’s odd fashion statement could end up helping to heal the wounds.
“You never know, this might be just the thing that brings me, Bernard and Stephen together to have a laugh and a drink,” Hook tells Rolling Stone. “And maybe Walt can achieve what no amount of people seem to be able to do in the world, and bring Joy Division back together.”
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January 27, 2012
Troggs frontman Reg Presley has revealed that he is suffering from lung cancer and will be retiring from the group.
The garage rock, protopunk band formed in 1971 and is best known for their classic 1966 hits “Wild Thing” and “With a Girl Like You” and 1967’s “Love is All Around.”
Presley, 70, reportedly suffered a major stroke around late 2010/early 2011 and in December 2011 was hospitalized with what was suspected to be another stroke. He has now posted a note on the band’s official website saying, “As you all know I was taken ill whilst doing a gig in Germany in December. During my stay in hospital tests showed that in fact I have lung cancer. I am receiving chemotherapy treatment and at the moment not feeling too bad.
“However I’ve had to call time on The Troggs and retire. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the cards and calls and for your love, loyalty and support over the years.”
He added, “I shall miss you all.”
The Troggs’ last album Athens Andover was released in 1992.
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January 26, 2012
The death of jazz great Etta James has led to a spike in the star’s album sales.
Billboard reports that sales of James’ albums has been boosted over a thousand percent by her death earlier this month. The Best of Etta James – 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection has rocketed up the Billboard 200, landing at No. 46, her highest US albums chart.
The beloved torch song “At Last” has been doing well as a single too, climbing to No. 29 on the Digital Songs chart, gaining 1,361% on its previous week sales.
Two other James collections, Her Best and At Last! also both entered the top 100 pushing sales of the singer’s various collections up 1,091% over the week before she died.
James, who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011. She died last week, on January 20, in Riverside, California.
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January 26, 2012
Former American Idol star Lauren Alaina has blasted a Hilton hotel for a rude welcoming she received in Maryland.
Taste of Country reports the Idol runner-up let her issues with the hotel be known via Twitter, with a series of tweets aimed at the staff of the inn.
“Taxi man took me to the wrong Hilton & the people at this Hilton garden inn in Gaithersburg, Md are making us wait out in the cold for a cab,” Alaina tweeted.
“I sure hope I [don't] catch a cold bc of these inconsiderate people. Sir whoever you are I hope your horrible situation that made your outlook on life so awful. We will be praying for you. And because of the way you [treated] us we will never stay at your hotel so we won’t need that KEY.”
The country music sensation later made a point of saying she wasn’t upset with all Hiltons however, adding: “Not taking anything away from Hilton hotels Bc they are great. However I’m just saddened by the negative attitudes people have these days.”
After receiving supportive tweets from her fans, Alaina apologized for having gotten so upset. “Im sorry I’m using twitter to vent. It just makes me upset to think of all the people they may have done this to already. Oh well. Love yall.”
After placing second in last year’s televised talent competition to fellow country crooner Scotty McCreery, Alaina has released her debut album Wildflower and is now on tour with Jason Aldean.
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