Being known for her unique-but-often-criticized performances, Lady GaGa recently admitted that her stage antics made her father thought she was "mentally unstable". In an interview with Barbara Walters, the "Bad Romance" hitmaker opened up about what her father really felt towards her performance on stage. "It wasn't really so easy for my dad, especially in the beginning," the 23-year-old recalled her father 's reaction after he watched her performed for the first time. She went on detailing, "We didn't talk for months after the first time he saw me play, and my mother told me he was afraid I was, like, mentally unstable." (Celebritymania.com)Anti-gay singer, Buju Banton arrested on a federal drug charge
Buju Banton, a Jamaican performer whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is in federal prison in Miami, the Miami Herald reports. He's been in custody since Thursday, arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, a DEA spokesman said. Why the controversy -- one of many for the singer -- over the Grammy nod for his ninth album, "Rasta Got Soul"? Because of lyrics from the early part of his repertoire that advocated violence against gays -- an idea that's not anywhere close to new in Jamaica. If convicted, he faces as many as 20 years in prison. (L.A. Times)Grammy nominated Miley Cyrus song has now been ruled ineligible
Miley Cyrus's song, The Climb, featured in Hannah Montana: The Movie, had been shortlisted for the best song written for motion picture, television or other visual media prize. Because the track was not specifically written for the film, it has now been replaced by another song. In a statement, the Academy said it went "to great lengths to review submissions through a meticulous and rigorous screening process. Despite this procedure, there are rare occasions where changes are required." Its place in the shortlist will now be filled by the Karen O song, All Is Love, which is featured in the movie version of Where the Wild Things Are. The 52nd Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy, will be held in Los Angeles on January 31st, 2010. (BBC)Elton John clears out his closet for charity fund raising
Sir Elton John and his civil partner David Furnish are selling some of their designer clothes to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This will be the fifth time they have held the sale, which raised £400,000 in 2002. A pop-up shop will be opened tomorrow in Covent Garden, central London, for one week. Designer labels include Versace, Dior, Prada, McQueen, D&G and Jean Paul Gaultier and items ranging from accessories, clothes, luggage and sunglasses will be on sale. John said: "Out The Closet has become an amazing fundraising opportunity for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. We always get a fantastic response from the public – I think the idea that the items we all buy and enjoy can help someone in dire need, particularly at this time of year, really strikes a chord. I’m so grateful for everyone’s support in making this happen.” Furnish added: “The new stock in Out The Closet represents the largest clear out that I have ever had, and it’s exciting to think that my clothes will draw a whole new demographic into our shop. For the first time we have sunglasses in-store and other accessories which will make great Christmas gifts." (UK Pink News)French rock icon Johnny Hallyday in medical coma
French rock icon Johnny Hallyday is in a medically induced coma at a U.S. hospital as a result of an operation gone bad in France, according to the singer's handlers. Music producer Jean-Claude Camus said the 66-year-old singer is expected to recover from surgery to fix the damage. Camus told France's TF1 television on Friday that Hallyday was put in a coma "so he won't suffer." Hallyday checked himself into Cedars Sinai to fix back problems that stemmed from a Nov. 26 surgery in Paris for a herniated disc. According to a release from Hallyday's publicist, lesions from the first operation required more surgery and the singer had also suffered an infection. Camus told France-Info radio that the American medical team discovered the infection was attacking the singer's bone marrow. He went on to say: "It seems the Americans fixed things that they found that were very badly done." (CBC)Johnny Hallyday's surgeon attacked in Paris
A French surgeon who operated on rock legend Johnny Hallyday has been attacked in Paris, officials say. Stephane Delajoux was punched and kicked by two hooded men late on Friday, according to his lawyer and legal officials. "Dr Delajoux was attacked extremely violently in the sight of his children," lawyer David Koubbi said, quoted by the French AFP news agency. "He is suffering from a chest injury. He was punched one or more times and kicked as he lay on the ground." Hallyday, 66, known as the "French Elvis" suffered complications following surgery in Paris for a slipped disc. He is reported to have been placed in an induced coma prior to more surgery at a Los Angeles hospital. The website of the French daily Le Figaro, citing the singer's press representatives, reported that doctors plan to pull him out of the coma early next week. His family is said to be at his bedside. (BBC)Adam Lambert: 'My job is not to take care of your kids'
Adam Lambert appeared on the Thursday, December 10 episode of "The View". The runner-up of "American Idol" season 8 once again addressed his raunchy performance at the 2009 American Music Awards. "I'm not a babysitter." said Lambert "My job is not to take care of your kids. That's your job... It's not American Idol anymore. It's my career. I wasn't up there on stage like, 'Oh, this is going to get them.'" During the interview, Lambert also admitted that the controversy had helped to put a spotlight on a double standard for homosexual artists. "I brought awareness and visibility. It may not have been the exact visibility I was looking for, and they're not focusing on [my music], which is what I'm about," he stated. (Celebritymania.com)Rolling Stone Lists Top 100 of the Decade
Rock music returned to the forefront in the 2000s, as shown by the host of rock bands landing in the magazine's album Top 10, including Canadian ensemble Arcade Fire. However, it shared the limelight with hip hop, with rappers like Jay-Z, Eminem and M.I.A. scoring highly.Rolling Stone's Top 10 albums of the past decade are:
Radiohead, Kid A
The Strokes, Is This It
Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Jay-Z, The Blueprint
The White Stripes, Elephant
Arcade Fire, Funeral
Eminem, The Marshal Mathers LP
Bob Dylan, Modern Times
M.I.A., Kala
Kanye West, The College Dropout
Arcade Fire's 2007 album Neon Bible also made the cut for the Top 100 (landing at No. 75), while other Canadians on the list include the New Pornographers, for the 2003 album Electric Version (No. 79), and Leonard Cohen, whose 2001 album Ten New Songs squeezed into the No. 100 slot.
Some of the same artists figured into Rolling Stone's run-down of best songs, with each of the Top 10 representing widely appealing chart-toppers that rose above their respective genres to capture the attention of the general public.
Rolling Stone's Top 10 songs of the past decade are:
Gnarls Barkley, Crazy
Jay-Z, 99 Problems
Beyoncé, Crazy in Love
Outkast, Hey Ya!
M.I.A., Paper Planes
The White Stripes, Seven Nation Army
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Maps
Amy Winehouse, Rehab
U2, Beautiful Day
Eminem, Stan
Once again, Montreal-based Arcade Fire offered a Canadian component to the tally, with the band's tunes Wake Up and Rebellion (Lies) charting at No. 42 and No. 75, respectively. A full list of the 100 top albums and songs is available on the Rolling Stone website.
