| CMU Daily - on the inside 8 Aug 2002 |
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We all know Elton Johns’ 1997 rework of Candle In The Wind sold more in its first week of release than any other single. But another Elton John song has matched this record – which song and why?
Answer tomorrow
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GEORGE RESPONDS TO MEDIA BACKLASH
George Michael has blamed the Murdoch press for the reaction to his latest single ‘Shoot The Dog’. In a web chat with fans he said: “I'm probably the biggest celebrity to have sided (perhaps foolishly) with The Daily Mirror in recent years and I seem to be paying the price for it. Not that I think it wasn't worth it. This situation is more important than any record or any attack on me and I didn't go into this with my eyes closed. I had a feeling I would get caught in the Sun / Mirror war zone but it never occurred to me that Murdoch's other publications, specifically the New York Post, would misrepresent myself or the reaction of the American people in general so enormously". The song, against Tony Blair’s willingness to follow American into war in the Middle East without consulting the UK electorate, is released in Europe this week. The video in particular, which features Tony Blair as George W. Bush’s lapdog, caused media outrage, especially in America. But George claims he is cool with the reaction to the song. He continued: "Anyone who has a problem with the cross between pop and politics should look at the politics first and the ridiculous media response second. The truth is the argument has been strengthened and if the record comes in at 56 it will have done its job".
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OSBOURNES FACE NEW LAWSUIT
The Osbournes are facing a second law suit from a TV company claiming they are behind the renewed interest in the Osbourne clan. Threshold TV suing the family, MTV, Viacom, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Sony Signatures Network, and Monowise for “breach of contract, unfair competition, and intentional and negligent interference with contractual relations and prospective economic advantage,” claiming Threshold TV was "instrumental in creating the current value in the entertainment properties surrounding Ozzy Osbourne" and that the company had a contract with the Osbournes from December 2000 covering the Osbourne's name, likeness, image, identity, personal, trademarks, and right of publicity. Two weeks ago the Osbournes were sued by producer Gary Binkow, who claimed to have conceived and developed the idea for The Osbournes.
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OASIS CRASH / TOUR UPDATE
After a follow-up medical examination yesterday doctors reported that Noel Gallagher suffered heavy facial bruising, whiplash and shock when he and two band mates were involved in a car crash earlier this week. Noel has been ordered to rest for at least three days which means the band’s Philadelphia gig on Friday and Boston date on Saturday will also be postponed – their Indiana concert was postponed yesterday. They hope to be able to make a gig at the New York City club this weekend, and resume the main tour next week. Liam Gallagher told the BBC yesterday: "I spoke to him (Noel) on the phone and he's just bruised up and stuff, you know what I mean, shaken. He said it was a car crash. He turned back, looked up and it all happened."
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THE STROKES RERELEASE DEBUT
The Stokes will support their Autumn US tour with a limited-edition rerelease of debut album ‘Is This It’ which will feature a bonus DVD including uncensored videos for the singles ‘Last Nite’, ‘Hard To Explain’ and ‘Someday’, plus previously un-aired live renditions of ‘NYC Cops’ and ‘The Modern Age’ from a recent MTV2 show. The CD will be released in the US in early October, and the DVD will get a stand alone release a few weeks later. A UK release is yet to be confirmed.
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EMINEM’S STRIP SHOW
Word is Eminem has started recording a new US home video show that gets girls to strip off for the cameras. Today’s Sun says the rapper beat the likes of Tommy Lee and Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath to become the presenter of 'Girls Gone Wild'. They say Slim Shady has already been filming in New York's hip beach district the Hamptons and strip clubs. The show’s producer Jo Francis told reporters: "Who cares about Tommy Lee? We only want the best of the best. That's why we got Eminem.”
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BRITINEY OFF FOR THREE MONTHS
As predicted in the CMU Daily, Britney Spears has announced she is to take a break from the music business, following her recent world tour. A spokeswoman for record company Jive told the BBC she would take a three-month work break after an exhausting touring schedule, but would be away from music for longer. "She has been touring non-stop and she understandably needs to take a break before she begins work on her next film, about the world of Nascar racing. So she'll be away from music for a while, but she'll be back." But the spokeswoman denied rumours that she may spend up to two years away from the spotlight due to exhaustion.
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MAJORS CLAIM THEY ARE MAKING CONCESSIONS
The major labels claim they are offering major concessions in an effort to appease pop stars angry over punitive contracts. It follows a number of artists publicly criticising, or taking action against, the majors. Eagles frontman Don Henley, Sheryl Crow and the Dixie Chicks are lobbying hard for changes in employment law in California that would reduce how long a label can tie an artist to an exclusivity contract. Meanwhile Courtney Love is pursuing legal action against Universal Music over an alleged breach of contract – action that many labels fear may become a test case which, if Love wins, would lead to other artists going to court. The Recording Industry Association of America, representing all the five major music groups, has said it is willing to negotiate, in particular offering to reduce the amount of damages record companies can claim from artists breaking contracts longer than seven years. RIAA chief executive Hilary Rosen told reporters: "I want the artist community to know that the record companies came to the table with substantial compromises and it's now in the artists' hands." But Jay Cooper, an entertainment lawyer representing the artists, has said the offer of concessions had not solved major differences. "I don't want to negotiate in the press," Cooper he said. "It's too delicate. There are too many issues. Whether we'll settle or not, I have no idea."
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R KELLY IN COURT
R Kelly made a brief court appearance in Chicago yesterday for a status hearing on the case dealing with the under-age sex and child pornography allegations made against him earlier this year. A county judge set a date for a further hearing on 20 September after conferring with prosecutors and Kelly's defence lawyer. Experts reckon the star faces a $100,000 (£63,000) fine and up to 15 years in jail if he is found guilty this Autumn.
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COX RETURNS TO LATE NIGHT CHANNEL 4
Radio 1’s Sara Cox is set to get Chris Evans' old post-pub Friday slot on Channel 4. She has filmed a pilot for a new show called ‘Born Sloppy’ where she co-hosted with RI:SE presenter Colin Murray. Comedian Matt Lucas and Rock Profiles co-creator David Williams also appeared in the pilot, along with LA Pool Party presenter Lisa Snowdon. "It's a like a lock-in filmed at Sara Cox's gaff, which is a converted pub," one insider told the Media Guardian. "It's a mixture of entertainment and music but it's not a show for hardcore music fans. It's for people who like music but don't necessarily want to wade through a 15-page article in Rolling Stone." Word is Channel 4 bosses are pleased with the pilot and they are expected to put a ten week run into their Autumn schedule. It’s the first big live entertainment show Channel 4 have shown in the Friday slot since the well-past-its-sell-by-date TFI was axed in 2000. Presumably the station hope that the new show, which is headed up by TFI producer Will Macdonald, will be more like TFI at its peak, and less like the less successful ‘Girlie Show’, Cox’s last late night Channel 4 outing.
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Answer to Wednesdays pop quiz:
One from the teeny-pop archives - what did Take That’s last number one and Boyzone’s first have in common?
To those whose answer was “they were both shite” – you may be right, but the answer on the card was that they were both Bee Gees covers – Take That’s last number one was ‘How Deep Is Your Love’, and Boyzone’s first ‘Words’, both chart toppers in 1996.