Van Tango

Keira Knightley has been unveiled as the new face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle perfume. She follows the likes of Kate Moss and Nicole Kidman in fronting campaigns for the major scent company. Chanel said Keira was chosen for her "elegance, beauty and modernity". Good choice there. It makes more sense for someone like KK to be selected rather than La Lohan who does not fit in the big time fashion world.

Watch out kids! For those who are just plain lazy to get in shape.. Uncle Fiddy is coming at ya with some tips on healthy living. What? Oh it's just 50 Cent doing another business deal with a TV Show as a guest star discussing on kids' nutrition. He's obviously hoping to get them all In Da gym Club... 50, who has bared his washboard stomach on album covers, is spokesman and judge for a cooking competition aimed at improving high school students' eating habits. Student chefs in cities across the nation will compete to win a university scholarship by creating the most "nutrient-rich" cafeteria lunch recipe. Not too sure whether the winner gets any of the G-Unit bling2 medal but once again another good way to show what a dedicated man he is to the public. That is..until the release of his next album with a big "warning: expletives inside" logo.

The peeps at the upcoming Austrian music festival can expect some expensive handbags at dawn when arch-enemies Paris Hilton and Pink come face-to-face. By now, everyone would have seen the 'Stupid Girls" video which made fun of the high class blondes including Ms Hilton. The interesting thing will be when Paris, who is hosting the Top Of The Mountain festival in Ischgl, will introduce Pink. "It could all kick off", said a source. "Pink is known for her outspoken ways and Paris isn't one to shy away from confrontation." Bet Paris is sharpening her pencil right now...

Paris Hilton promoting new soda in Austria

























Alicia Keys, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans on the set of The Nanny Diaries























So it's going to be Arsenal facing the spanish boys from Barca in the CL finals this year. Both of them didn't show the normal flair and skill in the second leg of the semis; rather adopting a more disciplined approach. Two major events decided the contest for each game. At the El Madrigal, Villareal was awarded with a penalty in the 88th minute when Gael Clichy barely touched Jose Mari who went down like being hit by a shotgun. Jens Lehmann became Super-mann when he guessed correctly to his left with low, sharp dive and denied Riquelme the goal that would have tied the aggregate to 1-1 at FT. The Argentinian looked shell shocked for the remaining minutes and the london boys celebrated their big European final after some bloody decades. Still in Spain, AC Milan needed a goal to take the game to extra time. A very odd decision by German ref Markus Merk who whistled for a foul by Shevchenko on Puyol before he headed in a goal where Valdes allowed it to go in. But replays showed that there was no pushing or shoving by Sheva. Puyol just lost his balance and slipped on his own. Funny thing is, the assistant ref also didn't see that as the case. That ref Markus is also a dentist and he has definitely kicked the teeth of AC Milan. So it's the Gooners vs Barca who will compete for the CL title. Should be a glorious game of flowing attacking football. Don't really care who wins it.

--Once in a lifetime--
Think about this one... Next month, (on Thursday, 4th of May ) at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 AM in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04.05.06
This won't ever happen again in our lifetime...

*WATCH AND ENJOY THIS BRILLIANT MUSIC VIDEO*
Lily Allen - LDN


Jet are well on the way to finishing an as yet untitled second album. In a post on the official website, they say "We've tracked 20 cracking songs. We are now happy to tell you that that not only do we have drums and bass finished but that we are well into guitar overdubs. That means we are inundated with a cache of beautiful vintage guitars and amps. Cameron and Nic are currently working with [producer Dave] Sardy and the studio boffins on guitars for a raucous rocker that is going to destroy your constitution (but shall remain nameless for the time being). As you can surely understand we are so excited to hear our songs come together right before our eyes. Well ears, I should say." Will be looking forward to this. Vintage guitars should make them still relevant. Unlike some supersoft rock band Maroooo...

There is a new mobile phone TV advert starring Robbie Williams. Or is Robbie Williamssss? The ad features several fake Robbies, created with masks that took two hours to apply to the actors. Viewers see a woman bump into the singer himself after receiving a text message linked to a gossip website that announces he is in town. The ad was filmed over four days at The Lot Studio in LA in March. Williams supplied his own music for the shoot for T-Mobile's Internet access service. Wonder if they check the belly size of those blokes too. Hey, it must look realistic, right?


Gary Barlow would love Charlotte Church to appear with Take That on their comeback tour during their performance of "Relight My Fire" in Cardiff. He is excited about getting Charl on board: "I love her. She is so grounded and has such a lovely spirit about her," he said recently. "How great would it be to get her to sing Lulu's bit when we play Cardiff? She's got a fantastic voice and it would be perfect venue for her. I'm definitely going to ask her." Soul singer Beverley Knight has been filling in for Lulu on the track...god knows what she will say about being replaced by Ms Church..

By the way, there is good/bad news for the UK music industry. Charlotte is taking a career break until 2008 to deal with personal and family problems. After completing her UK tour on Friday, Crazy Chick has requested a two-year break before the release of her next album. A source says: "This is the last we'll be seeing Charlotte on stage for a while. She has decided there are more important things than touring in her life at the moment and she won't carry on if she's not happy. The best thing for her to do is to take a break and comeback when she's ready. She will bring one more single out and then that will be it. It will be more than a year until she is on the road again so don't expect her next album until 2008." There'll be more shopping trips with Gav for sure. And kicking anyone who tries to flirt with him. Or maybe a marriage proposal to come...

Welsh quartet The Automatic have announced the details of their debut album due this summer. The band will release 'Not Accepted Anywhere' on June 12 and precede it with the single 'Monsters' on June 5. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have confirmed details of their next single. 'Turn Into', the second single from 'Show Your Bones' will hit the shelves on June 19.

The Paddington's have written and demoed 30 new songs for their second album. The band have apparently been hard at work in their Hull base working on the tracks, some of which such as 'Broken Man' and 'You And I' were debuted live in February. They are expected to enter the studio shortly to record the first material for the as yet untitled long player. It will be released via Mercury later this year.



Johnny Depp is in the running to play Michael Hutchence in a movie biopic about the late INXS frontman. Apparently producers are eager for Depp to land the starring role in a project which has reportedly received some strong opposition from Hutchence's family. Oh yes. If anyone is suited for that role, it has to be Johnny.


Charlize Theron is currently in talks to play the role of Marilyn Monroe. Theron is the favourite to play the screen siren in Tom Hank's film adaptation of Anthony Summer's biographical novel, 'Goddess'. Hank's production company, Playtone films, are hoping to bring the legend of Monroe to a new audience. Theron who is a huge Monroe fan once considered purchasing Monroe's Beverley Hills home.. but didn't. Will Theron be able to pull off this role? I would think so.


US Weekly's Hot Hollywood Awards (April 26 2006)




Making an entrance: [ Paris / Maria / Avril / Brittany ]


Kylie Minogue has confirmed she is recording new music. She promises fans won't have to wait long for her musical return, saying: "I'm working with a few people, just kicking some ideas around. It's fun to be working again and sitting down and making music. I'm taking it slowly. You know, baby steps. We're taking one baby step at a time. It's early days and I'm not sure what shape things are going to take yet. Really, what we're doing is messing around in the studio with different people and seeing what comes up. I don't know yet what songs I'm going to sing, or how I'm going to sing them, or what they're going to be about." Kylie is planning a flamboyant return - by recording a collaboration with Scissor Sisters. She wants to amaze her fans with a stunning comeback song. She visited New York City earlier this week to watch the hitmakers perform, and has since been spotted enjoying lunch dates with frontman Jake Shears. A new Kylie single is always good for the body and soul. If "I Believe In You", which was co-written by SS, is any indication of what's to come in the future, then believe you me and other straight/gay disco lovers we will all soon 'feel the fever'.

Kylie Minogue wants to tie the knot with boyfriend Olivier Martinez next month, friends have claimed. She has reportedly told pals she wants to walk down the aisle with the hunky actor as soon as she can. She hopes to have a secret ceremony at an undisclosed location in Eastern Europe. Kylie allegedly told a friend: "The time is right." A source revealed to Grazia: "She and Olivier are closer than ever. She wants to marry as soon as possible." Cheers to that!

Here she is in NYC on the way to meet her Scissor Sisters pal Jake Shears













New Naima pics photographed by Howard Huang. A stunner.













After 'Joey' ended his marriage just recently, it's now time for Scully to bow out. Gillian Anderson has split from her husband of two years, Julian Ozanne. They issued a joint statement through their solicitors last Friday: "Gillian Anderson and her husband Julian Ozanne are saddened to announce that their marriage is at an end and they are in the process of separating. At this difficult time they request that their privacy is respected. There will be no further comment." They got married back in Dec '04 on an island off the Kenyan coast and settled in London with Gillian's daughter, Piper, from her first marriage. At least they've kept their differences away from the public eye. Can't say the same thing regarding Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards.. [scans from their Divorce Papers]

Fun things to do at work
--To brighten up a dull day and worry your workmates!

1. Totally ignore the first five people who say "Good Morning" to you.
2. Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say, "just called to say I can't talk right now. Bye".
3. To signal the end of a conversation, clamp your hands over your ears and grimace.
4. Walk sideways to the photocopier, crab style.
5. Press the "no cup option" on the coffee machine, kneel down and drink directly from the nozzle.
6. Walk into a very busy person's office and while they watch you with growing irritation, turn the light switch off & on 10 times.
7. For an hour, refer to everyone you speak with as "Barbara"
8. After every sentence, say 'Mon' in a really bad Jamaican accent. As in, "the report's on your desk, Mon". Keep this up for 1 hour.
9. In a meeting or crowded situation, slap your forehead repeatedly and mutter, "Shut up dammit, all of you just shut up".
10. Carry your keyboard over to your colleague, and ask, "do you want to trade?"

Those of you who don't have a good rapport with your boss may want to vent it out through some anger management therapy. And please manage your anger SAFELY..

Looks like Monsieur Robbie will be part of the Take That reunion concerts after all. Gary Barlow has confirmed that Robb will join them on stage for at least some of the shows during their current British comeback tour. Because of his own solo tour commitments, he hasn't been able to take part in all of the comeback appearances. For now, Robb will appear on a video screen for now but it's been confirmed he'll be there in person when possible too. "Robbie is doing more than one gig," Barlow has revealed. "I don't know which dates, but he has told Mark Owen he is definitely coming back." There might also be a new album at the end of this year. I suspect the Gallagher brothers are giggling away in some pub over this..

Muse have confirmed the details of the first single to be taken from their forthcoming new album. The band will release 'Supermassive Black Hole' on June 19 although the formats and B-sides are yet to be revealed. Muse will release their as yet untitled new long player on July 3. Time is running out where a new born album must arrive.

The Record gives its exclusive view on Keane's second album 'Under The Iron Sea' after the first listen.

Editors
- live tracks, sessions and videos [link]
- Live Bootleg from Gent(Belgium) in early 2006 [link]


Four young lads from Scotland who play a sound that has the soul of Echo & The Bunnymen with the groove of Franz Ferdinand. The Cinematics continue to bolster their already growing reputation earned from tour dates with Snow Patrol, We Are Scientists, Ambulance LTD and Editors. Their spiky angular rock tunes are similar to The Departure and Interpol. 'Break' buzzes methodically around the Echo & The Bunnymen and Franz Ferdinand style, with the whooshing guitars of Scott Rinning and Ramsay Miller giving off a refreshing breezy effect that The Rapture made their own a few years hence. 'Break' is a great song with a guitar hook that reigns supreme and a vocalist that can hold a tune better than most. Quality.


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The Vines - Going Gone (acoustic session) [ win / youtube / qt ]

Vision Valley reviews [ NME / SPIN 1 2 / FILTER ]
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Maybe I'll give a track-by-track account of VV some other time. Simply put, the album is like a collection of buffet restaurants at a shopping mall. For now, I'm going to feast me ears on 'Going Gone' for a few hours per day.. Probably the most soulful Vines track ever.

Pete Doherty of Babyshambles was photographed at Spitalfields Market in London, England on Thursday (April 20).

Kate Moss kisses her driver goodbye in London MP






















Jennifer Aniston hopes to follow Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon by starring in a musical. (?????). And she is so determined to land a plum role that she's ditched one of her worst habits... Jenn said: "I have quit cigs so that I can get my voice in shape." Getting board of the mundane movie story lines? On the other hand, Renee Zellweger doesn't appear to be making too many friends on the set of her new movie Miss Potter. She plays the title role in the film about the children's author Beatrix Potter alongside Ewan McGregor. The movie is currently being shot in the Lake District, but certain members of the crew don't seem too friendly towards her. One was caught making a rude gesture at her as she departed after shooting an outdoor scene. Perhaps Renee is just as prickly as Potter's Mrs Tiggywinkle character..

Lindsay Lohan in Allure mag












Blender's 50 Worst Things to Happen to Music

"Lost" fans around the world will get a chance to start unlocking secrets about the mysterious island. ABC and 19 other networks stretching across five continents are introducing "Lost Experience" - an Internet game that will feature a parallel story line that will give insight into the show..(more)

Avril Lavigne looking great by the seaside













Simon Cowell is glad that Kellie Pickler made a very smart move after her singing catastrophe last week. "Where she was very smart, Kelly was, she admitted she got it wrong," Simon revealed. "She didn't do what so many contestant normally do, which is disagree with me. She was very, very smart." Read more.

Snow Patrol played in the 6 Music Hub on last Thursday (April 20). Check out pictures, and listen to a replay of the show.

The famous words of "Fucking in the bushes"; taken from The Isle Of Wight 1970 festival.
Video clips - [ "we put this festival.." / "kids running around na.." / "i love it..room for every.." ]


Jessica Simpson - Cosmo Mag (May 2006)












Nicole Kidman leaving a Hampton Starbucks with her trainer
























Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore in Paris



















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Muse - Instrumentals!

Jem = 2005... Lily Allen = 2006?
Last year, there was this Welsh chick who brought lushness pop which is soothing to the ears. Won't be surprised if the name 'Lily Allen' is being talked about in about 3-4 months time. Her music is refreshingly melodious in the veins of Bic Runga and Aimee Mann, but with the toned down skills of Mike Skinner. Check out her song 'LDN' from her MySpace Account. She even attempted a 50 Cent track! Trust me. You'll love it at first hear.

The Raconteurs - AOL Podcast


Van She - Kelly
So...is this some kind of tribute to Al Corley's "Square Rooms", Icehouse's "Electric Blue" and some other cheesy 80s pop tunes? These guys from Sydney got together early last year. Just look at the dress code of the band members, retro tv sets, and the electronic keyboard which probably belongs to Human League. Actually cringed a little when the chorus sets in.. but it eventually gets better when he kept repeating that bloody line again and again. The couples in the vid are supposedly watching the band on their tv sets and probably thought that it is better to make out halfway through the song. Definitely great for those who are still together in electric dreams.


Eagles Of Death Metal - I Want You So Hard (vid)
First of all, I'm not 'down' with metal. Any sorts of that genre. So when this band came about, I didn't really venture into them thinking that it was some horrible unacceptable stuff. Then, when they recently opened for The Strokes concert, there was something amiss. After hearing a couple of tracks, happiness beckons. This shite is rock n roll to the core! Imagine Jet & Kings of Leon combined with a sprinkle of Foo Fighter's quirkiness, then EoDM is the answer. These boys' bad news!


Jewel was in studio with the Jackie & Bender show on KISS 106.1 FM in Seattle on Wednesday (April 19). She talked about being sick on her last visit, being low-profile and avoiding the paparazzi, doing a photo shoot for InStyle at her home, touring with Rob Thomas, and the new album 'Goodbye Alice in Wonderland'. She then performed 'Again and Again'.


Keira Knightley in a recent trip to Rome





















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Julianne Moore eats so little to stay slim that she's hungry everyday. The flame-haired actress admits she's so worried about staying svelte in figure-conscious Hollywood she lives on diet foods - and says all actresses do the same. Nothing surprising there. The Hannibal star revealed: "If you want to know the truth about actresses, it's that we're hungry all the time. We live on granola bars and yoghurt." She added: "If you talk to any actress, they'll say, 'Yeah, I didn't have dinner last night because I had a photo shoot today'. And that's not extreme. There are some crazy dieters out there." Julianne also slammed the acting industry for making "emaciated" bodies seem acceptable. She told Grazia magazine: "I think I'm a slender person. But I could still be an acceptable weight in Hollywood if I lost 5lbs more, even though it would make me look emaciated." With the riches they have, eating should be something of a luxury. Oh, the irony.

Familiar faces could take the place of complex and hard-to-remember computer passwords, if a security system developed in the US takes off. Instead of requiring users to remember a string of letters and numbers before granting access to a computer, the new system asks them to pick out a pre-agreed set of faces from several grids of other faces. A string of randomly selected faces is hard for an attacker to guess but easy for a user to remember. "Part of the human brain has evolved specifically to remember and recognise faces," says Passfaces CEO Paul Barrett. "While you have to make a conscious effort to memorise and recall passwords, the equivalent processes for faces are completely intuitive." Barrett says a Passfaces authentication system that asks a user to pick out five faces from five different grids of nine faces is roughly equivalent to a random seven-character password.

The Passfaces system can be used to control access to any system that can display images - websites and handheld devices, as well as desktop machines. But Barrett concedes that it may not be suitable in every situation as it takes between 5 and 10 seconds on average to authenticate a person. "This may be unacceptable for applications that require the user to re-authenticate several times a day," he says. The system could also have its own unique drawbacks. For example, it could be easier for someone to watch over a person's shoulder as they select their faces on a screen. Images are often used by websites to distinguish between human and computer visitors online. So-called "CAPTCHA" tests normally ask users to identify strings of distorted text and numbers from an image - a simple task for humans. A new type of CAPTCHAs developed recently by a UK programmer instead asks users to distinguish between images of kittens and other cute animals. You can try out this authentication system, called KittenAuth.