Music News
Music News
Liam Payne claims there were "divas" at the recording of the Band Aid 30 single.
The One Direction singer insists he and his bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - weren't in the studio for long enough to mingle with their fellow stars on the latest recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?' but says the charity track's organiser Bob Geldof "wasn't happy" with some of those who took part.
He told BBC Radio 1's Scott Mills: "We actually managed to get in the recording booth first so we were done in like an hour so we left. I missed all the drama.
"Bob did a little speech at the start. I say a little speech but it was the most epic thing I've ever heard in my life.
"He said to our manager, 'There are so many people here and you guys are the least fussed'. And I was like 'Yes. we're not divas. That's so good'."
"I'm not going to repeat the word he used to describe them but he wasn't happy with some people."
Liam's comments come after one of the singers on the track, Emeli Sande admitted she felt they should have recorded a different song to raise money to tackle the Ebola crisis in West Africa and apologised for causing offence with the lyrics.
She tweeted at the weekend: "Yes, I agree the lyric needs changing. In fact I feel a whole new song is required. Angelique Kidjo and I made and sang our own edits. Unfortunately, none of these made the final cut...
"I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control. The sole objective is to raise awareness and money to provide medical aid to those suffering the Ebola outbreak, which is being worsened and amplified by poverty. Thank you so much for your support."
Meanwhile, Lily Allen has branded the project "smug" and said she would rather donate money directly than have taken part in the recording.
She said: "I got an email asking me to do it. It's difficult to explain why I didn't do it without sounding like a complete ****.
"I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in a with a bunch of people like that.
"It's like the success club and I'm not really in that club. I don't think I'm above it all - I'm way below it. But there's something a bit smug about it."
Liam Payne: There were divas recording Band Aid 30
Liam Payne claims there were "divas" at the recording of the Band Aid 30 single.
The One Direction singer insists he and his bandmates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan - weren't in the studio for long enough to mingle with their fellow stars on the latest recording of 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?' but says the charity track's organiser Bob Geldof "wasn't happy" with some of those who took part.
He told BBC Radio 1's Scott Mills: "We actually managed to get in the recording booth first so we were done in like an hour so we left. I missed all the drama.
"Bob did a little speech at the start. I say a little speech but it was the most epic thing I've ever heard in my life.
"He said to our manager, 'There are so many people here and you guys are the least fussed'. And I was like 'Yes. we're not divas. That's so good'."
"I'm not going to repeat the word he used to describe them but he wasn't happy with some people."
Liam's comments come after one of the singers on the track, Emeli Sande admitted she felt they should have recorded a different song to raise money to tackle the Ebola crisis in West Africa and apologised for causing offence with the lyrics.
She tweeted at the weekend: "Yes, I agree the lyric needs changing. In fact I feel a whole new song is required. Angelique Kidjo and I made and sang our own edits. Unfortunately, none of these made the final cut...
"I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control. The sole objective is to raise awareness and money to provide medical aid to those suffering the Ebola outbreak, which is being worsened and amplified by poverty. Thank you so much for your support."
Meanwhile, Lily Allen has branded the project "smug" and said she would rather donate money directly than have taken part in the recording.
She said: "I got an email asking me to do it. It's difficult to explain why I didn't do it without sounding like a complete ****.
"I prefer to do my charitable bit by donating actual money and not being lumped in a with a bunch of people like that.
"It's like the success club and I'm not really in that club. I don't think I'm above it all - I'm way below it. But there's something a bit smug about it."
Music News
Bob Geldof has urged people to delete and re-download the Band Aid 30 single.
The Boomtown Rats frontman is pleased 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?' single - which is raising money to fight Ebola in West Africa - has topped the charts in 61 countries after selling over 300,000 digital copies in a week but is concerned the falling price of music means it won't make as much money as the 1984 original, which made £8 million for famine relief thanks to sales of 3.7 million.
He said: "In 1984 a single was £3.50, today it's 99p...That worries me.
Even if you already have it, delete, download again."
"We need to sell 300% more than we did then [in 1984] to even begin to make up the cash figure."
A physical CD version will be released on 8 December and the organiser admitted this was a "bright spark" to raise more money.
The track - which features stars including One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith - outsold the rest of the top five singles in the UK combined with over 312,000 copies shifted but Bob admitted he was nervous about the response the song would get.
He explained to BBC Radio 1: "Did I expect it? Yes I expected it but did i expect it in such vast, willing numbers? No I didn't.
"You just can't assume anything... You don't know if the audience is interested in this.
"Certainly they like the artists but are they interested in seeing the artist do just one or two tracks?"
Bob Geldof urges re-buy of Band Aid
Bob Geldof has urged people to delete and re-download the Band Aid 30 single.
The Boomtown Rats frontman is pleased 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time?' single - which is raising money to fight Ebola in West Africa - has topped the charts in 61 countries after selling over 300,000 digital copies in a week but is concerned the falling price of music means it won't make as much money as the 1984 original, which made £8 million for famine relief thanks to sales of 3.7 million.
He said: "In 1984 a single was £3.50, today it's 99p...That worries me.
Even if you already have it, delete, download again."
"We need to sell 300% more than we did then [in 1984] to even begin to make up the cash figure."
A physical CD version will be released on 8 December and the organiser admitted this was a "bright spark" to raise more money.
The track - which features stars including One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith - outsold the rest of the top five singles in the UK combined with over 312,000 copies shifted but Bob admitted he was nervous about the response the song would get.
He explained to BBC Radio 1: "Did I expect it? Yes I expected it but did i expect it in such vast, willing numbers? No I didn't.
"You just can't assume anything... You don't know if the audience is interested in this.
"Certainly they like the artists but are they interested in seeing the artist do just one or two tracks?"
Music News
Joni Mitchell believes she is a better musician than Bob Dylan.
The 71-year-old singer explained that she is far more creative than her fellow music maker, despite being in a male-dominated industry.
When questioned about comparisons to the 'Blowin' In The Wind' crooner, she stated: "I am much more original musically, and a much more original thinker."
The star - who is known for her hit singles including 'Blue' and 'Both Sides Now' - continued to slate the music business as a whole, scalding the "oppressive" men who "exploit" musicians.
She said: "I'm a woman in a man's world. There are hardly any women in my business. There are oppressive men and exploitative men."
However, the acclaimed musician later acknowledged her love for men, and admitted she enjoyed being on tour with men during her younger years.
She added: "It's all male-dominant, and you're always with them. I'm on the road with 21 guys, and I love men's company, don't get me wrong. Even when they're stupid little boys, I still like them. I mean, love the sinner, hate the sin."
The artist - who released her last studio album, 'Shine', in 2007 - also asserted she was never a hippie, despite being known for tracks like 'Woodstock', and explained she was only in it for the fashion.
She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "The hippie values were not mine, they were naive, they had no place, they were childish: the politics were stupid.
"I was in it for the costume show."
Joni Mitchell: I’m better than Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell believes she is a better musician than Bob Dylan.
The 71-year-old singer explained that she is far more creative than her fellow music maker, despite being in a male-dominated industry.
When questioned about comparisons to the 'Blowin' In The Wind' crooner, she stated: "I am much more original musically, and a much more original thinker."
The star - who is known for her hit singles including 'Blue' and 'Both Sides Now' - continued to slate the music business as a whole, scalding the "oppressive" men who "exploit" musicians.
She said: "I'm a woman in a man's world. There are hardly any women in my business. There are oppressive men and exploitative men."
However, the acclaimed musician later acknowledged her love for men, and admitted she enjoyed being on tour with men during her younger years.
She added: "It's all male-dominant, and you're always with them. I'm on the road with 21 guys, and I love men's company, don't get me wrong. Even when they're stupid little boys, I still like them. I mean, love the sinner, hate the sin."
The artist - who released her last studio album, 'Shine', in 2007 - also asserted she was never a hippie, despite being known for tracks like 'Woodstock', and explained she was only in it for the fashion.
She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "The hippie values were not mine, they were naive, they had no place, they were childish: the politics were stupid.
"I was in it for the costume show."
Music News
The Charlatans took a "completely different approach" to working without Jon Brookes.
The 'One to Another' group - who were left devastated after the drummer passed away from a brain tumour last year - found it "cathartic" recording new material but didn't worry about getting a replacement for their late bandmate until they needed to.
Frontman Tim Burgess said: "I suppose it felt a little bit different making it, but we just kind of made it with lots of optimism.
"It was a completely different approach. We wrote the songs without drums. We wrote them with drums in mind, and then decided who we would like to play the drums after. "
His bandmate Martin Blunt added: "We started in January and finished in June and as the process went along with the songs, it was quite cathartic for the rest of us. We've probably done our most optimistic second record."
One track on the album, which is entitled 'Modern Nature' and will be released in January 2015, was partly written by John and they hope its inclusion is a "fitting tribute" to their friend.
Martin told BANG Showbiz: "Before Jon suddenly passed away, he began to write some lyrics for a song he had in mind. He'd started to demo it with a friend of his, and we managed to unravel that. It's like an extra track on one of the CDs.
"He wrote them in hospital. Pretty heavy, but, it's not the end."
Tim added: "We just did our best and did it very slowly, a fitting tribute I think."
However, the singer admitted he found it tough to sing Jon's words so opted just to take backing vocals.
Asked if he found it hard to sing the song, he said: "You know what, it was, so I didn't. Jon had this song in mind and he presented it to the band, in a written demo form, with some kids singing it, some students from a music college. It just sounded so great that I only did backing vocals. They were pretty tough to sing."
The Charlatans’ new approach
The Charlatans took a "completely different approach" to working without Jon Brookes.
The 'One to Another' group - who were left devastated after the drummer passed away from a brain tumour last year - found it "cathartic" recording new material but didn't worry about getting a replacement for their late bandmate until they needed to.
Frontman Tim Burgess said: "I suppose it felt a little bit different making it, but we just kind of made it with lots of optimism.
"It was a completely different approach. We wrote the songs without drums. We wrote them with drums in mind, and then decided who we would like to play the drums after. "
His bandmate Martin Blunt added: "We started in January and finished in June and as the process went along with the songs, it was quite cathartic for the rest of us. We've probably done our most optimistic second record."
One track on the album, which is entitled 'Modern Nature' and will be released in January 2015, was partly written by John and they hope its inclusion is a "fitting tribute" to their friend.
Martin told BANG Showbiz: "Before Jon suddenly passed away, he began to write some lyrics for a song he had in mind. He'd started to demo it with a friend of his, and we managed to unravel that. It's like an extra track on one of the CDs.
"He wrote them in hospital. Pretty heavy, but, it's not the end."
Tim added: "We just did our best and did it very slowly, a fitting tribute I think."
However, the singer admitted he found it tough to sing Jon's words so opted just to take backing vocals.
Asked if he found it hard to sing the song, he said: "You know what, it was, so I didn't. Jon had this song in mind and he presented it to the band, in a written demo form, with some kids singing it, some students from a music college. It just sounded so great that I only did backing vocals. They were pretty tough to sing."
Music News
One Direction were "gutted" 'Steal My Girl' didn't make it to number one in the UK.
The group saw their latest single peak at number three last month and though they were upset not to top the singles chart, they think Meghan Trainor's 'All About That Bass' deserved to take the number one position.
Louis Tomlinson said: "'Steal My Girl' didn't go to number one and we were gutted to be honest.
"But that's just the way it is - there's tough competition out there. 'All About That Bass' is just a monster."
Niall Horan added: "I'm all about that bass."
Despite their disappointment, the 'You & I' group - which also features Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles - never fail to be astonished by the support of their fans.
Louis told Britain's OK! magazine: "Everything we do, the fans are so incredibly supportive. Going into an album you think, 'We've had such incredible support over the past three albums, surely this won't be received on the same level. But they do."
Zayn added: "That's why it amazes us even more, because it's persistent."
One Direction upset at not topping chart
One Direction were "gutted" 'Steal My Girl' didn't make it to number one in the UK.
The group saw their latest single peak at number three last month and though they were upset not to top the singles chart, they think Meghan Trainor's 'All About That Bass' deserved to take the number one position.
Louis Tomlinson said: "'Steal My Girl' didn't go to number one and we were gutted to be honest.
"But that's just the way it is - there's tough competition out there. 'All About That Bass' is just a monster."
Niall Horan added: "I'm all about that bass."
Despite their disappointment, the 'You & I' group - which also features Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles - never fail to be astonished by the support of their fans.
Louis told Britain's OK! magazine: "Everything we do, the fans are so incredibly supportive. Going into an album you think, 'We've had such incredible support over the past three albums, surely this won't be received on the same level. But they do."
Zayn added: "That's why it amazes us even more, because it's persistent."
Music News
Emeli Sandé is not happy with Band Aid 30 and wants a "whole new song".
The 27-year-old featured on the fourth incarnation of the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' but was unhappy with the lyrical changes made to the track and believes a new song is needed instead of the classic hit.
Posting on Twitter, she said: "Dear friends, Yes I agree the lyric needed changing. In fact I feel a whole new song is required. Angelique Kidjo and I made and sang our own edits. Unfortunately none of these made the final cut. (sic)"
Despite admitting its downfalls, the 'Next To Me' singer - who recently revealed she split from her husband Adam Gouraguine after a year of marriage - praised the Band Aid single, which is raising money for the fight against Ebola in Africa, acknowledging organiser Bob Geldof for his dedication to the cause.
She continued: "Aside from my feelings regarding the lyric, there was no doubt in my mind or heart that this project came from a place of pure and respectful intent. Sir Geldof made this clear when he addressed us all: I haven't heard a man speak with such passion and sincerity in many years.
"I am so proud of my Zambian heritage. No offence or disrespect to the beautiful and prosperous continent was ever intended. In my eyes, this song is specifically addressing a medical crisis, which is very real and in urgent need of awareness and support. The response from world governments has been horribly slow and media coverage has been minimal though thousands and thousands are dying. (sic)"
The 'What I Did For Love' singer ended the message with an apology for anyone offended by the single - which is the biggest selling track of 2014 in the UK - once again defending the song by assuring fans that its purpose was to raise money and awareness.
She added: "I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control. The sole objective is to raise awareness and money to provide medical aid to those suffering the Ebola outbreak, which is being worsened and amplified by poverty.
"Thank you so much for your support (sic)."
Emeli Sandé wants new Band Aid track
Emeli Sandé is not happy with Band Aid 30 and wants a "whole new song".
The 27-year-old featured on the fourth incarnation of the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' but was unhappy with the lyrical changes made to the track and believes a new song is needed instead of the classic hit.
Posting on Twitter, she said: "Dear friends, Yes I agree the lyric needed changing. In fact I feel a whole new song is required. Angelique Kidjo and I made and sang our own edits. Unfortunately none of these made the final cut. (sic)"
Despite admitting its downfalls, the 'Next To Me' singer - who recently revealed she split from her husband Adam Gouraguine after a year of marriage - praised the Band Aid single, which is raising money for the fight against Ebola in Africa, acknowledging organiser Bob Geldof for his dedication to the cause.
She continued: "Aside from my feelings regarding the lyric, there was no doubt in my mind or heart that this project came from a place of pure and respectful intent. Sir Geldof made this clear when he addressed us all: I haven't heard a man speak with such passion and sincerity in many years.
"I am so proud of my Zambian heritage. No offence or disrespect to the beautiful and prosperous continent was ever intended. In my eyes, this song is specifically addressing a medical crisis, which is very real and in urgent need of awareness and support. The response from world governments has been horribly slow and media coverage has been minimal though thousands and thousands are dying. (sic)"
The 'What I Did For Love' singer ended the message with an apology for anyone offended by the single - which is the biggest selling track of 2014 in the UK - once again defending the song by assuring fans that its purpose was to raise money and awareness.
She added: "I apologise if the lyrics of the song have caused offence. I wish the changes had been kept but that is out of my control. The sole objective is to raise awareness and money to provide medical aid to those suffering the Ebola outbreak, which is being worsened and amplified by poverty.
"Thank you so much for your support (sic)."
Music News
Zayn Malik is reportedly ready to leave One Direction.
The 21-year-old musician is said to be tired of being famous and wants to quit the band - who released their fourth studio album, 'Four', this week - in favour of a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.
An insider revealed: "Zayn is fed up with the whole fame thing. He loves singing and his fans but he just wants a quiet life now."
The 'Steal My Girl' singer is also thought to be considering the departure in order to spend more time with Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, as he wants to settle down with the singer who he proposed to in August 2013.
Talking to the Sunday People newspaper, the source continued: "He has become increasingly disappointed with the little amount of time he can spend with Perrie.
"Unfortunately she is in a band too, they have so little time together.
"Zayn appreciates how lucky he is, but life is about family for him and he is seeing too little of his loved ones."
Their struggle to fit quality time together into their busy schedules has also meant the couple have not been able to make plans for their nuptials.
He admitted: "We are engaged... I've had a few questions about plans for the marriage; we haven't really had any plans yet."
Despite an imminent ceremony being unlikely, Zayn's bandmates - Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - have already started planning a pre-wedding celebration, and hope to whisk the handsome hunk off to Las Vegas for a debaucherous stag party.
Niall told OK! magazine: "You know where we're taking you, don't you Zayn ... Vegas!"
Zayn Malik ready to quit One Direction
Zayn Malik is reportedly ready to leave One Direction.
The 21-year-old musician is said to be tired of being famous and wants to quit the band - who released their fourth studio album, 'Four', this week - in favour of a more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.
An insider revealed: "Zayn is fed up with the whole fame thing. He loves singing and his fans but he just wants a quiet life now."
The 'Steal My Girl' singer is also thought to be considering the departure in order to spend more time with Little Mix star Perrie Edwards, as he wants to settle down with the singer who he proposed to in August 2013.
Talking to the Sunday People newspaper, the source continued: "He has become increasingly disappointed with the little amount of time he can spend with Perrie.
"Unfortunately she is in a band too, they have so little time together.
"Zayn appreciates how lucky he is, but life is about family for him and he is seeing too little of his loved ones."
Their struggle to fit quality time together into their busy schedules has also meant the couple have not been able to make plans for their nuptials.
He admitted: "We are engaged... I've had a few questions about plans for the marriage; we haven't really had any plans yet."
Despite an imminent ceremony being unlikely, Zayn's bandmates - Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - have already started planning a pre-wedding celebration, and hope to whisk the handsome hunk off to Las Vegas for a debaucherous stag party.
Niall told OK! magazine: "You know where we're taking you, don't you Zayn ... Vegas!"
Music News
Mariah Carey wants to do a mini residency in the US.
The '#Beautiful' singer, who split from Nick Cannon earlier this year after six years of marriage, reportedly wants to ink a multi-million dollar residency deal like Britney Spears, but doesn't want to move to Las Vegas.
A source said: "Mariah doesn't want to go to Vegas. She put out feelers to the Borgata in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut about a mini residency."
The 44-year-old beauty, who has three-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, believes she can make a lot of money from the gigs as she was recently forced to add another date to her upcoming Christmas concert series in New York City due to high demand.
The insider added to US Star magazine: "She wants a stable, high-paying gig that will keep her close to her New York home. Mariah is crossing her fingers that she can figure out a way to make money on her own turf."
While Mariah is still shopping around for a deal, Jennifer Lopez is rumored to have agreed to $350,000-a-show 72-date residency in Las Vegas recently.
But a source previously claimed she is waiting for promoters to sign off on her list of demands, including an all-white dressing room, before she signs the contract.
Mariah Carey wants US residency
Mariah Carey wants to do a mini residency in the US.
The '#Beautiful' singer, who split from Nick Cannon earlier this year after six years of marriage, reportedly wants to ink a multi-million dollar residency deal like Britney Spears, but doesn't want to move to Las Vegas.
A source said: "Mariah doesn't want to go to Vegas. She put out feelers to the Borgata in Atlantic City and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut about a mini residency."
The 44-year-old beauty, who has three-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, believes she can make a lot of money from the gigs as she was recently forced to add another date to her upcoming Christmas concert series in New York City due to high demand.
The insider added to US Star magazine: "She wants a stable, high-paying gig that will keep her close to her New York home. Mariah is crossing her fingers that she can figure out a way to make money on her own turf."
While Mariah is still shopping around for a deal, Jennifer Lopez is rumored to have agreed to $350,000-a-show 72-date residency in Las Vegas recently.
But a source previously claimed she is waiting for promoters to sign off on her list of demands, including an all-white dressing room, before she signs the contract.