Momma Shannon
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Hey, peeps a little late today but give me a few minutes and I'll pull some stuff together :yes:
Not much going on it seems...
Contrasting fortunes as Madonna and ***** turn 50
1 hour ago
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Pop icons Madonna and Michael Jackson turn 50 later this month, but the contrasting fortunes of the two music legends could not be more stark as they usher in their respective birthdays.
Madonna, who celebrates her birthday on August 16, will bring up the half century with her career in rude health, less than one year into a groundbreaking 120-million-dollar, 10-year deal, and with a recent No.1 album.
But "King of Pop" Jackson, who is 50 on August 29, will mark his birthday still struggling to rebuild his career following a 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges, and with his finances the subject of intense speculation.
In the 1980s, the duo ruled the music world, with Jackson riding high thanks to the phenomenal success of his seminal 1983 "Thriller," which with more than 50 million copies sold remains the best-selling album of all-time.
Madonna enjoyed similar success, exploding on to the scene with 1983's "Madonna," and following it up with the multi-platinum "Like a Virgin" a year later, which has sold 21 million copies worldwide.
Yet while Madonna consolidated her success in the 25 years since her debut, Jackson's star has waned, an outcome that few would have predicted in 1983.
"It's interesting, you know, they're both the same age, they're both monster superstars, cultural myths almost, from the 1980s into the 1990s, but in so many ways they're hard to compare," said Robert Thompson, professor of television at the University of Syracuse.
"One could argue that as a musician, a dancer and an entertainer, Michael Jackson has it all over Madonna by a factor of 10," Thompson said.
"He's the guy who's up there with Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, one of the top musical performers in our cultural history."
Yet Madonna, Thompson said, has prospered from her extraordinary ability to reinvent herself, a skill that allows her to remain relevant despite the march of time and changing music tastes.
According to Geoff Mayfield, chart director of Billboard, Madonna achieved solid success with her latest album "Hard Candy", which topped the charts earlier this year.
"It didn't sell as well as her music did a few years ago, but it was a number one album, and if anyone has ever proven that she's able of reinventing herself, that's Madonna," Mayfield said.
Jerry Del Colliano, a professor and music industry expert at the University of Southern California, also cited Madonna's chameleon-like ability to adapt.
"Madonna has managed to stay creative, and to stay relevant. I think she still is in the popular music scene," Del Colliano told AFP. "I don't know what she'll be like at 60, but Mick Jagger is there and he's rocking and rolling.
"There's no shrewder businesswoman. She could probably run a music studio."
Analysts were less optimistic about Jackson's ability to pull his career out of its prolonged nosedive of the last decade.
According to Thompson, Jackson's problems can be traced back to the astounding success of "Thriller" and the fame it earned him.
"He got to the point that he was so rich, so powerful and so famous, that he was allowed to kind of withdraw from any kind of reality," Thompson opined.
"Michael Jackson is the example of someone who was truly spoiled -- and by spoiled I mean ruined -- by the level of fame that he achieved.
"He accidentally turned himself into a parody of himself, and then it's kind of hard to re-emerge as a serious performer," Thompson said.
Both Thompson and Del Colliano expressed doubt that a Jackson comeback was feasible, saying the stigma of sex abuse allegations would continue to haunt the singer despite his acquittal.
"I don't think it's impossible, I think he's still got talent, but then you tie that in with the trial, and that made an awful lot of people terribly uncomfortable," Thompson said.
Del Colliano added: "Jackson withstood a trial, which was very ugly, and was vindicated. The idea that he could be a paedophile, having that in the news is not going to make your career any good."
A spokeswoman for Jackson did not respond to questions about how or where the singer would be celebrating his birthday.
Madonna, however, was reported to have postponed a star-studded party set for Saturday at the English country home she shares with husband Guy Ritchie after twisting an ankle during rehearsals for her forthcoming world tour.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRYHvTTFyXdkrLmsRDqIUGKwTSKg
Article about Janet (really nothing great today)
Yo-yoing Janet Jackson desperately trying to lose weight for new world tour
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:25 PM on 12th August 2008
Janet Jackson is desperately fighting the flab to drop the pounds she has gained since unveiling her slimline new figure last year.
Seen in Paris dressed in a dowdy, black shapeless outfit, which appeared to be concealing extra pounds, the singer looked a complete contrast to the stunning picture of her taken in March earlier this year.
The self-confessed yo-yo dieter has gained a reported two stone in the past five months and friends she is desperate to shed almost three stone in time for her world tour.
Enlarge
Yo-yoing weight gain: Janet Jackson has blamed her two stone weight gain on her boyfriend's junk food habit. Seen left in June, and right in March
The source told Closer magazine: 'Janet's such an extreme yo-yo dieter. She's piled on the pounds really quickly over the summer, and is now desperate to lose 40lb, just over three stone, in time for her world tour.
'But Jermaine has been stocking the fridge with pizza, fried chicken, chocolate and ice-cream.
The source told Closer magazine: 'It's causing friction in their relationship.'
Janet, 42, has had an ongoing battle with her weight for years. Her yo-yo dieting saw her dramatically gain 4st in 2006, before losing it in four months.
By July 2007 she was pictured looking bulky again after regaining some of the weight.
The sister of reclusive singer Michael Jackson is said to be miserable at her current weight of over 10st.
She now has a nutritionist and a chef, and is sticking to a 'strict diet of 1,700 calories a day'.
Janet Jackson arriving at the Costume Institute Gala in May with music producer boyfriend Jermaine Dupri
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/tvsho...rately-trying-lose-weight-new-world-tour.html
Not even any good mentions today dang. I'll check back on the news sites a bit later to see if anything new has come out :yes:
Not much going on it seems...
Contrasting fortunes as Madonna and ***** turn 50
1 hour ago
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Pop icons Madonna and Michael Jackson turn 50 later this month, but the contrasting fortunes of the two music legends could not be more stark as they usher in their respective birthdays.
Madonna, who celebrates her birthday on August 16, will bring up the half century with her career in rude health, less than one year into a groundbreaking 120-million-dollar, 10-year deal, and with a recent No.1 album.
But "King of Pop" Jackson, who is 50 on August 29, will mark his birthday still struggling to rebuild his career following a 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges, and with his finances the subject of intense speculation.
In the 1980s, the duo ruled the music world, with Jackson riding high thanks to the phenomenal success of his seminal 1983 "Thriller," which with more than 50 million copies sold remains the best-selling album of all-time.
Madonna enjoyed similar success, exploding on to the scene with 1983's "Madonna," and following it up with the multi-platinum "Like a Virgin" a year later, which has sold 21 million copies worldwide.
Yet while Madonna consolidated her success in the 25 years since her debut, Jackson's star has waned, an outcome that few would have predicted in 1983.
"It's interesting, you know, they're both the same age, they're both monster superstars, cultural myths almost, from the 1980s into the 1990s, but in so many ways they're hard to compare," said Robert Thompson, professor of television at the University of Syracuse.
"One could argue that as a musician, a dancer and an entertainer, Michael Jackson has it all over Madonna by a factor of 10," Thompson said.
"He's the guy who's up there with Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, one of the top musical performers in our cultural history."
Yet Madonna, Thompson said, has prospered from her extraordinary ability to reinvent herself, a skill that allows her to remain relevant despite the march of time and changing music tastes.
According to Geoff Mayfield, chart director of Billboard, Madonna achieved solid success with her latest album "Hard Candy", which topped the charts earlier this year.
"It didn't sell as well as her music did a few years ago, but it was a number one album, and if anyone has ever proven that she's able of reinventing herself, that's Madonna," Mayfield said.
Jerry Del Colliano, a professor and music industry expert at the University of Southern California, also cited Madonna's chameleon-like ability to adapt.
"Madonna has managed to stay creative, and to stay relevant. I think she still is in the popular music scene," Del Colliano told AFP. "I don't know what she'll be like at 60, but Mick Jagger is there and he's rocking and rolling.
"There's no shrewder businesswoman. She could probably run a music studio."
Analysts were less optimistic about Jackson's ability to pull his career out of its prolonged nosedive of the last decade.
According to Thompson, Jackson's problems can be traced back to the astounding success of "Thriller" and the fame it earned him.
"He got to the point that he was so rich, so powerful and so famous, that he was allowed to kind of withdraw from any kind of reality," Thompson opined.
"Michael Jackson is the example of someone who was truly spoiled -- and by spoiled I mean ruined -- by the level of fame that he achieved.
"He accidentally turned himself into a parody of himself, and then it's kind of hard to re-emerge as a serious performer," Thompson said.
Both Thompson and Del Colliano expressed doubt that a Jackson comeback was feasible, saying the stigma of sex abuse allegations would continue to haunt the singer despite his acquittal.
"I don't think it's impossible, I think he's still got talent, but then you tie that in with the trial, and that made an awful lot of people terribly uncomfortable," Thompson said.
Del Colliano added: "Jackson withstood a trial, which was very ugly, and was vindicated. The idea that he could be a paedophile, having that in the news is not going to make your career any good."
A spokeswoman for Jackson did not respond to questions about how or where the singer would be celebrating his birthday.
Madonna, however, was reported to have postponed a star-studded party set for Saturday at the English country home she shares with husband Guy Ritchie after twisting an ankle during rehearsals for her forthcoming world tour.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRYHvTTFyXdkrLmsRDqIUGKwTSKg
Article about Janet (really nothing great today)
Yo-yoing Janet Jackson desperately trying to lose weight for new world tour
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 2:25 PM on 12th August 2008
Janet Jackson is desperately fighting the flab to drop the pounds she has gained since unveiling her slimline new figure last year.
Seen in Paris dressed in a dowdy, black shapeless outfit, which appeared to be concealing extra pounds, the singer looked a complete contrast to the stunning picture of her taken in March earlier this year.
The self-confessed yo-yo dieter has gained a reported two stone in the past five months and friends she is desperate to shed almost three stone in time for her world tour.
Enlarge
Yo-yoing weight gain: Janet Jackson has blamed her two stone weight gain on her boyfriend's junk food habit. Seen left in June, and right in March
The source told Closer magazine: 'Janet's such an extreme yo-yo dieter. She's piled on the pounds really quickly over the summer, and is now desperate to lose 40lb, just over three stone, in time for her world tour.
'But Jermaine has been stocking the fridge with pizza, fried chicken, chocolate and ice-cream.
The source told Closer magazine: 'It's causing friction in their relationship.'
Janet, 42, has had an ongoing battle with her weight for years. Her yo-yo dieting saw her dramatically gain 4st in 2006, before losing it in four months.
By July 2007 she was pictured looking bulky again after regaining some of the weight.
The sister of reclusive singer Michael Jackson is said to be miserable at her current weight of over 10st.
She now has a nutritionist and a chef, and is sticking to a 'strict diet of 1,700 calories a day'.
Janet Jackson arriving at the Costume Institute Gala in May with music producer boyfriend Jermaine Dupri
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/tvsho...rately-trying-lose-weight-new-world-tour.html
Not even any good mentions today dang. I'll check back on the news sites a bit later to see if anything new has come out :yes:
Today in
Michael Jackson History
1992 - Michael Jackson's maxi single for "Jam" was released. Michael Jackson History
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