Sally Shapiro

   
Artist: Sally Shapiro

   Genre(s): 
Techno
   

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Discography:


   
 Disco Romance

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 9

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In a sense, Sally Shapiro is both the recording nom de guerre of an anon. Swedish isaac Bashevis Singer and too the make of the twosome, consisting of that isaac Bashevis Singer and producer/writer Johan Agebjörn, wHO are in concert responsible for the euphony released under the moniker "Sally Shapiro." That medicine, combining Shapiro's soft, silvern vocals with Agebjörn's vintage-styled synthesist dance tracks, is a debate and punctilious replication of the sound of 1980s Italo disco music, as well as a distillate of the melancholy even hopeful sentimentality unremarkably associated with prim indie pop.


The pair first met in 2001, working in an berth together, only it wasn't until Christmas 2004 that Agebjörn, a womb-to-tomb Italo disco music devotee, noticed Shapiro's voice spell they were telling carols at his pianoforte. He told her she would make an fantabulous Italo-style isaac Bashevis Singer, and as chance would have it she turned out to be a fan of the literary genre as considerably. Shapiro in agreement to criminal record vocals for a tune Agebjörn had penned in the style of Valerie Dore and Katy Gray (likewise pseudonymous singers world Health Organization were backed by obscured writing/production teams), although when they finally got around to it in early 2006, she was so shy that Agebjörn had to leave the room spell she sang her part. The resulting data track, "I'll Be by Your Side," was nigh instantly hailed as a modernistic classical on online discotheque forums; it was tending a vinyl group tone ending on the Austrian label Diskokaine that July and was shortly championed in such outlets as Pitchfork Media, Vice magazine publisher, and The Village Voice.


The record album Disco Romance followed on Diskokaine in December, containing that strain and basketball team more Shapiro/Agebjörn collaborations (one of them, the single "Windcheater Christmas," a cover of the Swedish indie pop one-woman banding Nixon), 2 remixes, and an ambient Agebjörn instrumental. In October 2007, Canadian-based indie Paper Bag Records released Disco music Romance in North America with a revised track itemisation including 3 young songs (two by Nixon's Roger Gunnarsson; one of them penned specifically for Shapiro) and the extended variation of "I'll Be by Your Side." Shapiro's much-discussed shyness (she soundless refuses to criminal record vocals piece anyone is in the room) has precluded her from euphony videos or making live appearances to advertize the album, although she has given numerous interviews.

Miss Conception

Georgina (Heather Graham) is a 30-something Brit who worries that the impending onset of early menopause means she will never be able to give birth, something she is itching to do. Unfortunately, Zak (Tom Ellis), her boyfriend of six years, is not ready to be a father. This causes a major conflict in their relationship forcing him to move out while she commiserates with best friend Clem (Mia Kirshner) and gay pal Justin (Orlando Seale). When she is given (false) reason to believe Zak has started playing around with an associate, she takes it as license to begin a desperate four-day quest to find a man--ANY man--to get her pregnant before its too late. This leads her to fertility clinics, nightclubs, the Internet, funerals, strip clubs--even her own employees at the construction company she runs. She even resorts to a turkey baster at one point exclaiming, �I can�t believe the potential father of my child is a kitchen utensil� (we�re not making this up!) Will she get pregnant? Will she and Zak get back together? If you don�t know the answer you have never taken Romantic Comedy 101.Milwaukee-born Graham pulls a Renee Zellweger and dons a British accent, � la Bridget Jones, to play a woman whose maternal instincts are on overload and biological clock running out. Graham is an attractive actress who has never gotten her due, but she won�t be getting it here playing a character who is so silly and clueless that you wonder why her boyfriend even bothered to stick around six years in the first place. We�d like to root for Graham, but the sheer shrillness and single-mindedness of Georgina is so annoying, it�s hard to imagine any woman being able to identify with her, especially as she is willing to let just about any Tom, Dick or hairy guy help her conceive the child she says she craves. So much for bringing a kid into a healthy environment! Ellis as Zak is not given much to do except look perplexed (we feel your pain) while another non-Brit Mia Kirshner (Showtime�s The L Word) does her best British impression in the standard best friend role. Everyone else is pretty much one dimensional stereotypes used as props in her quest for motherhood at any cost.There is a germ of a decent idea in Miss Conception that should have played as an all-out raunchy, over-the-top comedy. But director Eric Styles seems more interested in doing a Four Weddings and a Funeral/Bridget Jones Diary-style flick, which just doesn�t ring true in any sense of the word--and the �words� these actors are given don�t help the cause. �Women have needs and I need these needs to be tended to,� Graham whines to a potential donor. Oy. The recent Baby Mama proved that a similar concept could make a smart, funny comedy, but Miss Conception just doesn�t gel in any way, shape or form. What Styles doesn�t seem to get is that we all know how a romantic comedy ends up, but it�s how we get to that point that matters. This thing is a 103-minute chore to endure both for it�s target female audience and any poor guy dragged along. Its distributor is giving it only a limited release in theatres on a quick route to basic cable, DVD, hotel rooms and airplanes. If it turns up on your flight we suggest sitting next to the closest emergency exit.

See Also

• Catacombs
• Rush Hour 3
• BloodRayne II: Deliverance
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Actors union, studios reach new TV labor deal

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Screen Actors Guild and major studios returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday from a three-week recess in contract talks after Hollywood's smaller performers union came to terms with producers on a new labor deal.


The tentative accord between studios and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or AFTRA, raised hopes yet again that labor peace in the world's entertainment capital might yet prevail after a 100-day screenwriters strike that ended in February.


AFTRA reached compromises on two issues viewed as major stumbling blocks by both unions -- obtaining contract coverage for original made-for-Internet shows and actors' consent for the online display of TV clips in which they appear.


But it remained unclear whether AFTRA's deal might form the basis of a settlement with the larger, more militant Screen Actors Guild, or whether SAG would see its bargaining position undercut by its sister union.


The two unions had negotiated their main TV contracts together for nearly three decades. But AFTRA decided to go it alone earlier this year after long-simmering tensions with SAG reached a boiling point.


The AFTRA deal, governing actors' employment on about a dozen prime-time TV shows, is still subject to approval by the union's governing board and a ratification vote by its 70,000 members. But there was little doubt it would win endorsement.


The spotlight turns now to talks with SAG, which represents 120,000 actors and whose contract covers the lion's share of prime-time television and the film industry as a whole. About 40,000 of SAG's members also belong to AFTRA.


STRIKE JITTERS 

Matt Damon who? Pac-Man, Mario are the real heroes

Move over, Matt Damon: a survey has found that videogame characters Mario and Pac-Man are the real heroes for many US consumers.

Mario, the short, overall-wearing character of Nintendo's video games, holds more appeal than celebrities such as actors Damon and Ashley Judd, and basketball star Michael Jordan, according to the Davie Brown Celebrity Index (DBI).

And Pac-Man, the ghost-battling, dot-gobbling hero of the popular arcade game, is recognized by 94 per cent of US consumers, more than celebrity heavyweights such as Ben Affleck, Dolly Parton and Jamie Foxx.

The independent index uses consumer surveys to rank more than 1600 celebrities across several categories including their popularity and appeal.

It recently added a dozen video game characters, including Mario, Pac-Man, Lara Croft, Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog.

"Mario's appeal is not unlike the appeal of Tom Hanks or Will Smith," said Bill Glenn, vice president of insights and analytics for Davie Brown Entertainment which created the DBI.

"He's a charming, good-natured guy. And, like Hanks, he's been with us for 25 years, so he's familiar to us. For celebrity endorsers, these are critical factors," he said in a statement.

Mario ranks close behind Pac-Man in awareness, recognized by 93 per cent of US consumers, according to the DBI.

Among the characters tested by the DBI, Pac-Man also posted the second-highest score in "appeal". Ryu Hayabusa, from the action-adventure game Ninja Gaiden, ranked third in "appeal" among the characters.





See Also

• The Subways preview new album at The Great Escape
• Scarlett Johansson’s Demands Stop Cannes Appearance
• Mystery Jets plan a murder at The Great Escape

Star One

   
Artist: Star One

   Genre(s): 
Metal: Progressive
   Rock
   

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Discography:


   
 Live On Earth

   Year: 2003   
Tracks: 11


   
 Space Metal

   Year: 2002   
Tracks: 10

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Fergie's mother denies pregnancy reports

Gnarls Barkley to play chapel gig

Gnarls Barkley have added two more London dates to their schedule, including a gig at the capital's prestigious Union Chapel.

The group, who released their second album 'The Odd Couple' last month, will now play Bush Hall the day after their previously-announced show at the 229 venue.

Gnarls Barkley were forced to cancel their promo tour for 'The Odd Couple' last month due to family illness.

The duo will now play:

London 229 (June 12)
London Bush Hall (13)
London Union Chapel (14)

To check the availability of Gnarls Barkley tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.

Iler Escapes Crane Collapse

Sopranos actor Robert Iler owns an apartment in a New York block that was struck by a crane that fell and killed two construction workers on Friday . Iler - who played A.J. Soprano in the hit series - was at home in the Upper East Side building when the tumbling 62 metre (200 foot) tower crane struck. The crane was working on a new 32-story-apartment block when it collapsed and destroyed many apartments in Iler's neighbouring building. According to Tmz.com, the 23-year-old actor - who had lived in the block for several years - felt the impact and heard people screaming, although his home was not affected. Two men were killed and number of others hospitalised by the incident, the second crane collapse in New York in just two months.


See Also

• Robert Downey Jr - Iron Man Still Rules Us Box Office
• DJ Funksta
• Steve Cropper - Fascinating Fact 5331
• Mathias Grassow and Jim Cole and Klaus Wiese and

Philip Glass and Rainstick Orchestra

   
Artist: Philip Glass and Rainstick Orchestra

   Genre(s): 
Avantgarde
   

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Discography:


   
 The Floating Glass Key In The Sky

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 7

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Take That - Barlow Supports Take That Musical

Fiorella Mannoia

   
Artist: Fiorella Mannoia

   Genre(s): 
Pop
   Folk
   Instrumental
   

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Discography:


   
 Canzoni Nel Tempo Cd2

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 17


   
 Canzoni Nel Tempo Cd1

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 16


   
 Onda Tropicale

   Year: 2006   
Tracks: 13


   
 Concerti (cd2)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 12


   
 Concerti (cd1)

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 11


   
 Momento Delicato

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 10


   
 Fragile

   Year: 2001   
Tracks: 9


   
 Fiorella Mannoia

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 12


   
 Certe Piccole Voci: Live

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 26


   
 Canzoni Per Parlare

   Year: 1999   
Tracks: 10


   
 Gente Comune

   Year: 1994   
Tracks: 10


   
 Le Canzoni

   Year: 1993   
Tracks: 15


   
 I Treni a Vapore

   Year: 1992   
Tracks: 8


   
 Di terra e di vento

   Year: 1989   
Tracks: 8


   
 Basta Innamorarsi

   Year: 1986   
Tracks: 12


   
 Belle Speranze

   Year:    
Tracks: 10

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Italian pop star Fiorella Mannoia started acquiring involved in show business piece participating in a movie called Not Cantare, Spara! at the years of 13. She recorded her kickoff single in 1969. Mannoia's debut album, Mannoia Foresi & Co, was released by RCA in 1972. She made her kickoff appearance at the prestigious San Remo's Festival in 1981, telling "Coffee shop Nero Bollente." Mannoia returned to that same event in 1984 with "Come Si Cambia." A year later, Momento Delicado was released by Ariston, followed by a self-titled record in 1986 and Di Terra E Di Vento in 1989, featuring Chico Buarque's classical "Oh Che Sara." In 1994, Fiorella Mannoia teamed up with Brazilian singer/songwriter Caetano Veloso, recording "Il Culo del Mondo."





Baby Dee

Chris McGregor and Brotherhood Of Breath

   
Artist: Chris McGregor and Brotherhood Of Breath

   Genre(s): 
Jazz
   Country
   

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Discography:


   
 Brotherhood

   Year: 2007   
Tracks: 5


   
 County Cooking

   Year:    
Tracks: 8

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Joe Dolan remembered in Mullingar

Johnny Depp - Surprise Guest Depp Steals The Show At The Mtv Movie Awards

JOHNNY DEPP stole the show at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night (1Jun08) picking up two prizes and sending Hollywood's female contingent into a frenzy.

Shy Depp was a surprise guest at the bash, shocking even A-listers in the audience when he appeared onstage to collect his awards for Best Comedic Performance, for the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie and Best Villain for Sweeney Todd. Lindsay Lohan jumped to her feet; while Juno Oscar winner DIablo Cody swooned when the cameras fixed on her.

Depp expressed his surprise to win a comedy award, telling the crowd, "I'm not really sure how this happened. You can ask anyone, I'm not a very funny person."

Elsewhere, Adam Sandler picked up a Generation award from Tom Cruise and treated the audience at Universal City, California's Gibson Amphitheatre to an impressive rendition of Carly Simon's Nobody Does it Better.

There were also awards for Will Smith, Zac Efron, Iron Man and Transformers.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Female Performance - Ellen Page in Juno

Best Male Performance - Will Smith in I Am Legend

Best Movie - Transformers

Best Summer Movie So Far - Iron Man

Breakthrough Performance - Zac Efron in Hairspray

Best Fight - Sean Faris and Cam Gigandet in Never Back Down

Best Comedic Performance - Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean:

Best Villain - Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd

Best Kiss - Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman in Step Up.

See Also

• Pirates Of The Caribbean - Pirates Director Verbinski Signed For Bioshock Adaptation
• Halliwell praises Cruz’s dance moves
• Ulrich Schnauss
• More awards for Oscar-tipped Atonement