The Star Online: Entertainment: Music
The Star Online: Entertainment: Music |
- Winehouse had high alcohol levels in blood -inquest
- Michael Jackson top earner among dead celebrities
- Kelly Clarkson as strong as ever on new album
| Winehouse had high alcohol levels in blood -inquest Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:07 AM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - British singer Amy Winehouse had more than five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her blood when she died on July 23 aged 27, British media reported on Wednesday. The "Rehab" and "Back to Black" singer had 416 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, according to the findings of an inquest into her death, compared with the legal driving limit of 80 mg. A hearing in London also learned that Winehouse, who battled drug and alcohol addiction throughout her brief but successful career, had not drunk alcohol in July until the day before she died. The findings backed reports shortly after her death that the Grammy award-winning artist had been trying to deal with her addiction but ran the risk of complications from binge drinking. A security guard checked on Winehouse at 10 a.m. on the day she died at her house in Camden, north London, and thought she was asleep. He checked again at 3 p.m. and called the emergency services. The inquest ruled that she had died of "misadventure." Members of her family, including her father Mitch, were present at the inquest, but made no comment to awaiting media as they left. A statement was expected to be released later on Wednesday. Winehouse's last filmed performance was in Serbia in June, when she was jeered by the crowd as she struggled to perform her songs and stay upright. Her management then canceled all her scheduled performances. Results from toxicology tests released in August showed there were no illegal substances in Winehouse's system when she died. "Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy's system at the time of her death," a spokesman for Winehouse said at the time. "Results indicate that alcohol was present but it cannot be determined as yet if it played a role in her death." Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Michael Jackson top earner among dead celebrities Posted: 25 Oct 2011 09:43 PM PDT LOS ANGELES (Reuters): Michael Jackson was named this year's top-earning dead celebrity on Tuesday in a list compiled by financial website Forbes.com, earning the title for the second year in a row following his death in 2009. "Thriller" singer Jackson, who died aged 50 of a drug overdose, is estimated to have earned $170 million in the past year, which also places him as the second highest-earning pop music act this year, dead or alive, Forbes.com said. Jackson's physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, is currently on trial in Los Angeles, charged with involuntary manslaughter for administering the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid for the singer in Jackson's home. Murray has pleaded not guilty. Jackson, whose name has rarely been out of the media headlines due to his sudden death and its cause, has seen sales of albums and memorabilia increase in the past year. The theater group Cirque Du Soleil has mounted an extravagant show called "Immortal" that is based on the singer's life and music. Earlier this month, a tribute concert in Cardiff, Wales, lured tens of thousands of fans. The King of Pop is followed closely by the King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley placed second on the list with earnings of $55 million. Like Jackson, Presley's estate has also benefited from Cirque du Soleil, who produced "Viva Elvis" in tribute to the late singer. Hollywood's golden age pin-up girl, Marilyn Monroe, who died at age 36 in 1962, earned near $27 million, placing her third on the list. Sultry screen icon Elizabeth Taylor, who passed away in March 2011 aged 79, was placed fifth after reportedly earning $12 million, with a large portion coming from the sales of her popular fragrance, "White Diamonds." The Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list by Forbes takes into account any deceased famous figure who has earned at least $6 million between October 2010 and October 2011. The full list can be viewed on Forbes.com at www.forbes.com/deadcelebs. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Kelly Clarkson as strong as ever on new album Posted: 25 Oct 2011 05:36 PM PDT NEW YORK (Reuters): Kelly Clarkson is concerned. She released her new album "Stronger" this week and thinks it is her best work yet, but whenever something like that happens she worries nobody will like it. The 13-song collection finds Clarkson working with a handful of new songwriters on some tunes and continuing to write her own music, which she has done since winning TV singing contest "American Idol" in 2002 at age 20. While many past "Idol" winners have failed to rise to the heights of superstardom, Clarkson has enjoyed chart-topping success with pop rock singles such as "Miss Independent" and the smash hit, "Since U Been Gone." But at age 29, the Texas native now has seen both highs and lows in her career, and she knows that even if she thinks her songs are great, the fans are the ultimate decision makers. "Whenever you love something so much - and I think this is my best yet - I think sometimes when I think like that, it means no one's going to like it," she said of "Stronger." A majority of the songs on the new album find Clarkson at an emotionally charged state. The sound straddles the line between big dance numbers and arena-rock bombast, which has become her signature calling card. Clarkson calls the album "very intense" and said she felt she had a lot of energy and "soulfulness" to put into it. She likened each song to its "own little rollercoaster ride. Dynamically, vocally, that's what I love doing." The energy is evident on the first single, "Mr. Know It All," as well as the up-and-down rock moments of "You Can't Win" and the electro-rock arrangements of "Let Me Down." SONGS ABOUT REAL LIFE Lyrically, the songs dwell heavily on relationships and empowerment, two subjects that have been highlights her work through the years. "I love writing and singing songs about real life situations - especially about relationships," she said. "Everyone wants to feel like they're not alone in a thought. That's the best feeling I get, when I hear a song and it's like 'you just nailed me.' That's the coolest thing in the world, to write something that can be relatable to other human beings." Over the years, Clarkson's image has been that of an artist who is willing to speak her mind in regards to her creative output, even if it meant going against her label, as she did surrounding 2007's "My December." And as she has matured, making music seems to be getting easier for Clarkson, mainly because she has not clung too closely to any one genre. In recent years, she's collaborated with country stars Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride. She also co-headlined a tour with McEntire in 2008. "Stronger" continues to reflect her expanded range in musical styles, as evidenced by the dance-pop of "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," charged rock and roll of "Hello" and the power ballad "Standing in Front of You." Yet, while she may continue to explore different sounds and arrangements throughout her career, her vocals on "Stronger" remain her biggest asset among fans and critics. In its review for "Stronger," The New York Times described Clarkson as turning into the "Mary J. Blige of pop music," where she's becoming "so good at being wounded that no one wants her to heal." The Washington Post was less than thrilled, however, calling the album "comforting" but "unchallenging." Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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