Madonna just started working again with her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie, in his upcoming mobster flick Revolver. Actors Jason Stratham and Ray Liotta are also starring, luckily with a strong cast Madonna shines best—cue up A League of Their Own or Dick Tracy. Also, Madonna just signed on to voice the character Princess Selenia in Arthur, a computer-animated film based on the children's books written by Luc Besson, who will also direct. Still need more Madonna? There are rumors that LaM is working on a new CD due next autumn and might be the face of Vesace again for the fashion house's next campaign.
Getting ready to strike a pose au naturale for her 60th birthday is Cher. Although her big birthday is not until May 20, 2006, she must have thought this over during her Farewell Tour which has gone on for three years strong and is expected to end sometime next year.
Getting into Victoria Beckham's pants will be easier now than expected. The British faux royalty—formerly known as Posh Spice —is working with Rock and Republic designers on a new line of high-end denim goods per Billboard magazine. Her apparel will be competing against the likes of Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. Now only if her husband, soccer superstar David Beckham, will model them.
R&B sensation Usher is going to have everybody screaming 'Yeah!' A 7-year-old sex tape of Usher having a three-way with two women has been unearthed and is making the rounds. When the video was made, Usher was just 19 years old and this was around the time when he guest appeared on the TV show Moesha and his music career was just taking off. Ironically, the song playing in the background during the menage a trois is 'Waterfalls' by TLC, and we all know how TLC singer Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas was an item with Usher.
While her diary may be her best kept secret, everybody should know about the soundtrack to Bridget Jones 2: The Edge of Reason. This collection consists mostly of the finest British artists. Annie Lennox and Sting reunite on a remake of his hit 'We'll Be Together,' which they also sang this summer while touring together and Dido and Rufus Wainwright duet on 'I Eat Dinner,' originally recorded by Rufus's mother, Kate McGarrigle. Other highlights include archetype Bridget songs by Kylie Minogue, 10CC, Beyonce and Carly Simon.
Still yearning for more Rufus? The young artist is readying for the release of his next album Want Two, which will be more experimental than its predecessor Want One and this collection will be a bit of a family affair. His sister Martha Wainwright will be providing backup vocals, while his mother Kate McGarrigle will be playing the banjo and his aunt Anna McGarrigle will be on the accordion. Want Two, just out on Dreamworks, includes a bonus DVD, a concert of Rufus at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. Keep an eye out for Rufus on the big screen in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator and in Heights, starring Glenn Close.
Tori Amos will be making more than just little earthquakes with her multi-media onslaught due in February. The fire-haired artist will be releasing her latest collection The Beekeeper, which will feature vintage organs, Afro-Cuban percussion, gospel choirs and her familiar piano-based manifestations. Cowritten by former Village Voice editor and New York Times music journalist Ann Powers, Tori is releasing her first book, Tori Amos: Piece by Piece from Broadway/ Doubleday. This will help bridge Tori's life, inspirations and her overly autobiographical lyrics.
What's in a name? Drag queen extraordinaire Jackie Beat, from the movies Wigstock and Flawless, joined up with the West Coast electro-friendly band Dirty Sanchez. Their debut EP Filthy Rich Italian Satanists has everybody buzzing and is highlighted by the tongue-in-cheek 'Fucking on the Dancefloor' and a cover of Soft Cell's 'Sex Dwarf.'
In 1999 chillout artist Dot Allison released her solo debut Afterglow, marveling critics and her fans, yet it remained mostly unnoticed. This slipped disc has Dot flying away from her band One Dove's electronic sound, favoring Tori Amos like dark ballads and pagan-inspired retrospective rock, even collaborating with '60s lyricist Hal David. Dot has been compared to Bjork, Dido and Portishead, but enjoys evolving artistically with each project. Afterglow includes the simple 'Message Personnel' where Dot coos over her chants and the post break up ode to a broken heart 'Tomorrow Never Comes.' In between albums, Dot is highly sought after, working with Death in Vegas, Slam, King of Woolworths, St. Etienne, and sang for Massive Attack on their recent tours. Dot is in the process of working on her third solo CD.
—Also contributing: Tony Peregrin
