Tag Archive for 'Elton John'

Bono, Alicia Keys and the beginning of the end of Aids

Hmm. Just saw Bono, Alicia Keys and a host of other stars, politicians, activists and supporters talk about the beginning of the end of Aids in a 2hr 30min live webcast on YouTube.

Unfortunately, I only managed to catch the last hour or so. But still, it had some noteworthy moments include Elton John talking about how spending for Aids should not be cut: “We’ve got it by the scruff of the neck” he said, and getting rid of Aids is possible, as long as spending on Aids isn’t reduced.

Also, former US president Bill Clinton talking about pushing on to make sure that the position taken by governments isn’t diminished when talking about combating Aids. “We all thought that it was only in America when it was raging in Africa, now, we think it’s the rest of the world and not America,” he said.

Then, there were Bono’s anecdotes. And Alicia Keys, looking hot as usual, and being taller than Bono; talking about “being aggressive” in the push to make Aids awareness and support for combating Aids continually viable. Bono called her a lioness. Well, we all know she does have a sexy roar. So…


Get set for a knight of music

Yes, thanks to the good folk at Marina Bay Sands and Live Limited, Sir Elton John will be back in town, this time with a promise to be better than the one that happened the last time around. Interestingly, he will be joined by a duo called 2CELLOS. It’s two people from Croatia – Luka Sujic and Stjepan Hauser – who play cellos. What’s interesting is that they got their start on YouTube, and secured a record deal with Sony Music because of that.
What I want to hear are the songs from The Union, that album he released with Leon Russell late last year, “When I started, he was my idol, mentor and everything I wanted to be as a song-writer.” said Sir Elton. “In the last third of my life, I want to make records that I really want to make.”
To mark over four decades of Elton music, Universal Music Singapore will be re-launching Elton’s entire music catalogue on CD and DVD, as well as digital downloads via online music stores.

The show happens on Nov 20, 8pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets are on sale from Aug 29 available from Sistic. They will be priced at S$498, S$348, S$248, S$188, S$148 and S$108.


HELP! GLEE is on the way…

…to surpassing The Beatles reign on the Billboard Hot 100 charts has having the most number of appearances among non-solo acts in the chart’s 52-year history.

Yes, my dear Poparazziacs, according to Billboard’s online site (www.billboard.com) come Oct 16, the cast of Glee will have 75 Hot 100 entries, beating The Beatles’ 71.

Other comparable facts: The 75 tally is based on a show that has only been on for two seasons or more precisely, one year, four months and two weeks. The Beatles tallied their 71 Hot 100 titles between 1964 and 1996. Ironically, The Beatles’ songbook aided the Glee-ful Hot 100 haul with two songs, Hello, Goodbye and I Want To Hold Your Hand.

Interestingly, only 14 of the Glee recordings have spent more than one week on the Hot 100, and the cast’s titles have totaled 105 cumulative chart weeks. The Beatles’ Hot 100 catalog amounts to a combined 617 chart weeks. The Beatles additionally boast 34 Hot 100 top 10s, compared to Glee’s one.

The Glee cast will also claim the third-most appearances among all acts since the Hot 100 was launched in Aug 1958. Only Elvis Presley (108 charted titles) and James Brown (91) stand in their way to reaching the top of the heap. In fact, Glee has become such a buzzword that The New York Times proclaimed them a “bonafide phenomenon”. Their words, not mine.

 

At any rate, here are the top 10 acts with the most appearances on the Billboard Hot 100:

1. Elvis Presley (108 entries)

2. James Brown (91)

3. “Glee” Cast (75)

4. Ray Charles (74)

5. Aretha Franklin (73)

6. The Beatles (71)

7. Elton John (67)

8. Lil Wayne (64)

9. Stevie Wonder (63)

10. Jay-Z (61)

 

Meantime, Glee fans will want to get their hands on Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show, their latest offering, with music from Richard O’Brien’s cult musical masterpiece. This is expected to be released in the United States on Oct 19.

As for me, I’m listening to Happiness Is A Warm Gun. Yes it is, you know.