“Miley Cyrus takes Britney's path - Kansas City Star” plus 4 more

Miley Cyrus takes Britney's path - Kansas City Star
Justin Timberlake brings friends - er, loose acquaintances - to ... - Las Vegas Weekly
Justin Timberlake wraps up week with ‘Friends’ at Mandalay Bay - Las Vegas Sun
Hewitt hurt over split rumours - Jam! Showbiz
Forget the past and craft a musical style of your own - University Chronicle

Miley Cyrus takes Britney's path - Kansas City Star

Posted: 19 Oct 2009 12:30 AM PDT

CONCERT REVIEW

Anyone who becomes the most popular in something eventually figures out that once you get to the top, you usually have to work even harder to stay there. That's especially true when your primary audience is preteens and young adolescents, whose tastes can change as quickly as they grow up.

Miley Cyrus, the reigning princess of pop, came to town Saturday and demonstrated that there are several ways to sustain popularity, and one of them is by expressing your sexuality, overtly and implicitly.

Cyrus pretty much sold out the Sprint Center on Saturday, two weeks after she postponed her original date. Among the nearly 16,000 fans, half were girls 10 and younger; half of the rest were girls in the 11 to 16 range; and the rest were older adolescents and a lot of parents.

They saw a spectacle: an elaborate multi-screen video presentation, a small army of backup dancers, some aerial theatrics that included Cyrus sitting atop motorcycle a few stories above the crowd, a brief tribute to Michael Jackson, a Joan Jett cover and as many wardrobe changes as you get in a Cher concert. It didn't quite match the extravagance of the Jonas Brothers' show this summer, but it came close.

Cyrus, who will turn 17 in November, has emerged from two worlds. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, was a brief country sensation in the mid-1990s, and she starred with him in the Disney sitcom "Hannah Montana." At her show here in 2007, she played both roles: Miley Cyrus and her alter-ego, Hannah Montana.

Saturday, she stuck to one super-ego: herself. She and her band performed several of her hits, like "See You Again," "7 Things," "Hoedown Throwdown" and "The Climb," from the movie "Hannah Montana." Like the Jonas Brothers', her music is pop that is crafted, smoothed and shined to a glossy, radio-ready finish. It's all catchy, and some of the newer material borders on the kind of hard pop that Kelly Clarkson produces.

Cyrus also gave her fans a peek at one of her next films by showing a short commercial trailer for "The Song," which comes out next year. Nothing like taking advantage of a captive audience.

Some of Cyrus' wardrobe was borderline salacious — low tops, super-short skirts and skin-tight shorts — all of which were exaggerated several times by some revealing, low-angle camera shots.

Her half-brother, Trace Cyrus, 20, also got into the act. He is the lead singer in Metro Station, the opening band, and despite the age of the crowd before him, he was comfortable shedding his shirt and grinding like Vince Neil in a Motley Crue video. He came out during the main event and busted some more Chippendale moves when he joined his sister on "Hovering."

It's safe to say that most of the audience had been exposed to things more risqué than what they saw Saturday.

But it's starting to look like Miley and her dad came to a fork in the road, and instead of taking a right at Hilary Duff, they decided to go the way of Britney Spears.

For their sake, let's hope they've seen the trailer to that movie.

Set list: Breakout; Start All Over; 7 Things; Kickin' and Screamin'; Bottom of the Ocean; Fly on the Wall; Thriller tribute; Let's Get Crazy; Hoedown Throwdown; These Four Walls; The Last Song movie commercial; When I Look at You; Obsessed; Spotlight; Girls Night Out; I Love Rock 'n' Roll; Party in the USA; Hovering; Simple Song. Encore: See You Again; The Climb.

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Justin Timberlake brings friends - er, loose acquaintances - to ... - Las Vegas Weekly

Posted: 18 Oct 2009 09:59 PM PDT

Justin Timberlake brings friends - er, loose acquaintances - to Mandalay Bay

Alicia Keys, TLC and Snoop Dogg join JT on stage for all-star concert

Melissa Arseniuk

Sun, Oct 18, 2009 (9:51 p.m.)

Justin Timberlake had a few friends over Saturday night to play some music at Mandalay Bay.

Naturally, there was more to last night's get-together than a jam session: It was a star-studded and very high-profile party for 8,000 at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

"An Evening with Justin Timberlake and Friends" marked the end of the singer's weeklong namesake charity golf tournament and further supported the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Timberlake invited eight so-called "friends" to join him onstage last night for an all-star concert: Snoop Dogg; Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, TLC, Timbaland, Ciara and Jay Sean.

He invited a whole different group of so-called friends last year -- including current rumored love interest, Rihanna, as well as the Jonas Brothers, Will.i.am, Adam Levine and 50 Cent – but apparently none of the 2008 buddies were invited back.

None of his former Mouseketeers (ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, former 'N Sync bandmate JC Chasez or Christina Aguilera) were invited, either – though Timberlake was spotted hanging out with his former boyband brother, Chris Kirkpatrick, at LAX on Thursday.

It all begs the question: What, exactly, is friendship in the music business? And what does it take to be Justin Timberlake's friend?

For Ciara, it's about mixing business with pleasure.

"We happen to share one of the same managers," she said.

The songbird first met Timberlake "two or three" years ago, at one of her concerts.

"It was very brief, backstage," she recalled. "I had a song out called 'Promise' and I remember him telling me how much he loved that record and the melodies."

"I met his mom and family, as well," she added – though she couldn't remember any of their names on Saturday when she was asked.

"In a sense he's a friend from afar," she shrugged. "It's not so much of an every-day, talk-on-the-phone, you know, kind of friendship or whatever. … He's really like my brother in music. I know if I needed to reach him for advice or ask him something or, you know, call him and ask him to listen to something."

Ciara noted that she knows fellow Timberlake and Friends performer Snoop Dogg far better.

"I've met him several times," she said. "Snoop's awesome."

"I've been on one of his shows that he did for MTV," she added, referencing Dogg After Dark.

"We did an (Adidas) event with David Beckham together. … That was the most recent," she continued. "We took pictures. He's always so fun."

Ciara said she knows Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC better than Timberlake, too.

"I met her through one of our mutual friends, actually. We'll run into each other now and then," she said. "I've known her, probably, for two years. (When) she was doing soundcheck, I wanted to run back by and see her really fast, and just wave at her and say hi."

"Ciara's from Atlanta, she's an A-town girl," Watkins added.

"We're really cool with Alicia Keys," Watkins' bandmate, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, chimed in, explaining, "We did work with her for the BET Awards."

The two surviving members of the former threesome said they have known Timberlake since his 'N Sync days.

The women knew everyone on Saturday night's bill except for two people.

"I'm looking forward to meeting Taylor Swift," Thomas said.

"Yeah, I've never met Taylor Swift or Jay Sean," Watkins said. "Those are the only two we don't know."

Sean said he wasn't close friends with a lot – OK, any – of the artists Timberlake hand-selected for last night's show.

"I'm from England; we really don't bump into (celebrities on the street) that often," he said.

"In the music industry, you bump into people all the time, but you don't really get a chance to vibe," he said. "I bumped into Ciara before, in L.A., … a couple of months ago at this party at Nobu. … Snoop Dogg I haven't met before, TLC I haven't met, Taylor (Swift) I haven't met."

In fact, he didn't even really know Timberlake before this weekend.

"We're very new friends," he laughed. "This is the first time I've really met him and got to engage with him."

The two bumped into each other at soundcheck on Friday.

"We're friends now," he smiled.

And he has plans for his new BFF.

"I need him to teach me how to play golf. I'm very bad; I'm very bad," he joked. "And I want him to teach me some dance moves."

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Justin Timberlake wraps up week with ‘Friends’ at Mandalay Bay - Las Vegas Sun

Posted: 18 Oct 2009 09:02 PM PDT

By Melissa Arseniuk (contact)

Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 | 8:58 p.m.

Justin Timberlake had a few friends over Saturday night to play some music at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Naturally, there was more to Saturday night's get-together than a jam session: It was a star-studded and high-profile party for 8,000.

"An Evening with Justin Timberlake and Friends" marked the end of the singer's weeklong namesake charity golf tournament and further supported the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Timberlake invited eight so-called "friends" to join him onstage: Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, TLC, Timbaland, Ciara and Jay Sean.

He invited a whole different group of so-called friends last year -- including current rumored love interest, Rihanna, as well as the Jonas Brothers, Will.i.am, Adam Levine, and 50 Cent – but apparently none of the 2008 friends were invited back.

It all begs the question: What, exactly, is friendship in the music business? And what does it take to be Justin Timberlake's friend?

For Ciara, it's about mixing business with pleasure.

"We happen to share one of the same managers," she said.

The songbird first met Timberlake "two or three" years ago at one of her concerts.

"It was very brief, backstage," she recalled. "I had a song out called 'Promise' and I remember him telling me how much he loved that record and the melodies."

"I met his mom and family, as well," she added – though she couldn't remember any of their names Saturday when she was asked.

"In a sense he's a friend from afar," she shrugged. "It's not so much of an everyday, talk-on-the-phone, you know, kind of friendship or whatever. … He's really like my brother in music. I know if I needed to reach him for advice or ask him something or, you know, call him and ask him to listen to something."

Ciara noted that she knows fellow Timberlake and Friends performer Snoop Dogg far better.

"I've met him several times," she said. "Snoop's awesome."

"I've been on one of his shows that he did for MTV," she added, referencing "Dogg After Dark."

"We did an (Adidas) event with David Beckham together. … That was the most recent," she continued. "We took pictures. He's always so fun."

Ciara said she knows Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC better than Timberlake, too.

"Ciara's from Atlanta, she's an A-town girl," Watkins acknowledged.

"We're really cool with Alicia Keys," Watkins' bandmate, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, said. "We did work with her for the BET Awards."

The two surviving members of the former threesome said they have known Timberlake since his 'N Sync days.

The women knew everyone on Saturday night's bill except for two people.

"I'm looking forward to meeting Taylor Swift," Thomas said.

"Yeah, I've never met Taylor Swift or Jay Sean," Watkins said. "Those are the only two we don't know."

Sean said he wasn't close friends with a lot – OK, any – of the artists Timberlake hand-selected for Saturday night's show.

"I'm from England; we really don't bump into (celebrities on the street) that often," he said.

"In the music industry, you bump into people all the time but you don't really get a chance to vibe," he said. "I bumped into Ciara before, in L.A., … a couple of months ago at this party at Nobu. … Snoop Dogg I haven't met before, TLC I haven't met, Taylor (Swift) I haven't met."

In fact, he didn't really know Timberlake before this weekend.

"We're very new friends," he laughed. "This is the first time I've really met him and got to engage with him."

The two bumped into each other at sound check on Friday.

"We're friends now," he smiled.

"I need him to teach me how to play golf. I'm very bad, I'm very bad," he joked. "And I want him to teach me some dance moves."

Melissa Arseniuk writes about Las Vegas entertainment and celebrity events. She can be reached at 702-948-7823 or by e-mail at melissa.arseniuk@lasvegassun.com.

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Hewitt hurt over split rumours - Jam! Showbiz

Posted: 18 Oct 2009 08:34 PM PDT

Jennifer Love Hewitt is fed up with persistent reports she is about to split from her boyfriend Jamie Kennedy - because she finds the rumours "hurtful".

The Ghost Whisperer co-stars have been dating since the start of this year following Hewitt's split from fiance Ross McCall.

The couple has been dogged by reports it's heading for a break-up because Kennedy is still in love with his ex, Shannon Funk, Britney Spears' former assistant.

The pair has constantly denied the break-up claims, but Hewitt is annoyed with the continued speculation.

She says, "I'm not going to lie - it's not annoying, it's hurtful,. It's really hurtful that people say that. Because he is like the most awesome person. I really hate that people would make it seem like he's not really a good guy, and not treating me well. He treats me very well.

"We are just trying to be really happy. It makes it hard to do that when everybody is putting negative energy out there."

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Forget the past and craft a musical style of your own - University Chronicle

Posted: 18 Oct 2009 07:43 PM PDT

Priscilla Renea tried to be a 'picture-perfect' girl for a not-so-great guy, as she explains in "Dollhouse." However perfect she tried to make her new album, "Jukebox," it turned out like that guy too.

There seems to be a sudden flood of artists trying to make it into the music business because their voice is mediocre and they have some sort of access to a guitar or piano.

The heightened availability of musical recording opportunities only hurts the business.

Fans now have to hunt through endless racks of vinyl records and CDs to find an album that is actually worth playing.

On "Jukebox," the first song is, "Dollhouse," which displays a hint of talent and effort—a possibility that her voice could carry throughout the eleven tracks of the album, Jukebox.

Unfortunately, it could not make it.

"Pretty Girl," is an R&B version of every slow Britney Spears ballad that fans skipped through every time she released a new album, like Spears' "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart," "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know," and "When Your Eyes Say It."

"Bacon 'N Eggs" is not even worth discussing. Naming a song after greasy breakfast foods may not be the best path to portraying an appealing image.

"Lovesick" delivers a ridiculous introduction that is likely to make someone sick. Be careful not to eat before this – it could end badly.

She says, "If loving you is wrong, then I don't want to be right."

It is amazing how cliché Renea can be while still genuinely sounding as though she thinks she is clever.

Novel, another R&B artist, recently released his EP entitled "I Am Future Black President," including five songs, some of which feature other artists in them.

His music seems to be about as popular as Ne-Yo – not.

"Wild West" is an R&B version of a depressing country song.

It is hard to understand why someone following in Kanye West's footsteps would want to sing about a desert, and try to sound like he is a gangster in it; this genre is suffering enough already.

"Sista" has the country feel at the beginning as well, as he states that he is sitting in a rocking chair, as the leading music is harmonica tunes from the country genre.

These songs were made taking up vital space in recording studios and it is a mystery of who is going to buy this music and actually listen to it.

Novel's falsetto, prevalent in the song "Damn," is rather feminine; it is also rather out-of-place, as if he is trying to bring on some old boy band grooves as seen in the early work of N'Sync.

Decades ago, music like this would not have gotten released – people would not even know that this artist existed, almost like censoring – it was a censoring of the worthless music.

Renea's first EP, titled, "Hello My Apple," had three tracks on it, based on her popularity on the video website, YouTube.

YouTube is great of course, but if it is embedding some sort of idea in musicians' minds that because a fraction of the world thinks they may have talent, then that is a slippery slope.

Renea, now 20, may have come a long way from her Florida bedroom, but, based on the songs from the album Jukebox, she should have made her transition more gradual, like into a condo singing to her cat instead of in a recording studio wasting space and money.

The pressures of living up to the music by R&B and pop stars like Britney Spears, Rihanna and Beyonce may seem unreachable, since songs need to have some sort of style that sets them apart from other artists' music.

Though Renea is probably proud that she performs both the guitar and piano accompaniments herself, most are based on the purposefully-forgotten 90s style of pop music.

They should have stayed forgotten.

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Britney Spears

Monday, October 19, 2009