News – Page 129 – Sounds of Oz

Posted on 06/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Kylie Awarded Top French Honour

We love her, the Brits love her, and it seems the French love Kylie too. They awarded our pop princess its highest cultural honour, the Order of Arts and Letters, in a ceremony in Paris yesterday.

France’s cultural minister Christine Albanel told Kylie she was a “Midas of the international music scene who turns everything she touches into gold.”

But it wasn’t just Kylie’s catchy tunes hotpants that impressed France. Ms Albanel also applauded the work she’s done in increasing the profile of breast cancer.

“I want to publicly salute the courage you showed by revealing publicly that you had breast cancer. Doctors now even go as far as saying there is a ‘Kylie effect’ that encourages young women to have regular checks,” she added.

Kylie’s proud parents Ron and Carol Minogue made the trip to France to support their daughter.

Kylie kicks off her European tour in Paris tonight.

Image source: Georges Biard @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 05/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Music Channel Brings You Sensational Songs

I promised it and the music channel delivered: plenty of must-hear songs for your iPod, MP3 player, or old-fashioned stereo! Here’s what my clever colleagues came up with.

Sammi at 52 Bands has outdone herself with four music videos from the likes of Ben Folds Five and Amy Winehouse.
Ana at Austin Sound Check has introduced me to Full Service and Built by Snow.
Devorah may cover the New York Music Scene, but she’s still digging Aussie outfit Architecture in Helsinki!
Duffy’s so hot right now, and Dave at Brit Music Scene tells us which song he thinks you must hear.
Jason at Christian Music Fan thinks we need to listen to a little Derek Webb and Tobymac.
Heather at Country Music Stop shows us Jewel’s Southern flavour.
Lara at Crooner Culture serves up one of my favourites: “Everything” by Michael Buble. That man makes me swoon!
Roberta at Ear Sucker likes to rock, whether it’s old school like Def Leppard or new school like Cradle of Filth.
Stacey at Hippie Sounds serves up some classic cuts from Paul McCartney and Crosby Stills and Nash.
I don’t know a whole lot about industrial music, but Derek at Industrial Addiction has steered me in the right direction with videos by Within Temptation and Mortiis.
Bryan at Jazz and Blues Lounge offers none other than Miles Davis andDave Brubeck. I agree – these songs should be in every music collection!
Dave shows us two videos that never got the attention they deserved at Killed by the Video Star.
Scott at Metal Martyr encourages us to take advantage of two free downloads!
Find your bliss with Shankar’s favourite songs at New Age Vibe.
After that you might want something a little more upbeat. Denise at News in Punk has just the thing.
I absolutely love “Falling Slowly,” and so does Bruce at Our Digital Music. Go listen to it at his blog!
Dexie at Pop Music Scene is listening to Flyleaf and Nelly, and she thinks you should too!
Something old and something new: Deb at She Plays Music recommends a little Patsy Cline and Fiona Apple.
Albert at Smells Like Alternative shows us a new spin on the old Pearl Jam classic “Corduroy.”
Bruce at The Rock Dose gives us a double dose of Dylan.
Our resident Rock Relic Chuck offers two videos from one of his favourite bands, The Fore.
Mike at Toronto Unplugged tells us we need to listen to two of Canada’s finest … and there’s no Nickelback or Celine Dion to be seen!

Image source: Dan Barrett @ Unsplash

Posted on 05/05/2008 by Lauren Katulka

Two Must Have Aussie Tracks

Here at the music channel we believe you can never have enough great songs. So today we’re playing good Samaritans and telling you the tunes you need on your MP3 player. Every blogger will talk about the two tracks they think you must own.

Personally, I’m in a bit of a romantic mood at the moment, so I figured I’d write about some of my favourite love songs.

The first is “Sew My Name” by Josh Pyke. I’ve always had a thing for cute guitar boys, so Josh ticks all those boxes. He’s pure mellow acoustic goodness. This is probably my favourite of his tracks because it’s just so sweetly romantic. It’s like a modern fairytale – beautiful but quirky and free of clichés.

For something different I figured I’d take a look at the flipside and dig up something a little older, and something by a great female singer. Renee Geyer was the obvious choice. Here she is with the delicious “Say I Love You.” It’s so bold and brassy and fun, with a beat that was just made for dancing. Don’t fight it – just do it!

Posted on 04/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Kylie Admits US Failure, Focuses on European Tour

Kylie Minogue might be massive in Australia and Europe, but American audiences haven’t warmed to our pop princess.

Her newie X topped the Aussie, Greek, and Taiwanese charts, and cracked the top ten in the UK, and Switzerland. But in the United States the record sold a measly 6000 copies, and limped into the Billboard charts at number 139. With appearances on The Today Show, Dancing with the Stars, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Late Late Show to support it, X simply should have done better.

Kylie knows when to quit, and she’s ruled out further efforts in the American market.

“I gave it my best shot. I won’t try again,” she told Britain’s Daily Mail.

And seriously, why would she? She’s got a European tour to think about. Fans there have spent more than half a million dollars on tickets.

Kylie’s first tour since her breast cancer diagnosis will kick off in Paris on Tuesday, before taking in Greece, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Luxembourg, Russia, Latvia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

All those enthusiastic European fans should make her American flop a little easier to swallow. If you want to be amongst them, see when Kylie’s visiting you.

6 May 2008 – Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
7 May 2008 – Sportpaleis, Antwerp
9 May 2008 – Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart
10 May 2008 – Festhalle, Frankfurt
12 May 2008 – O2 Arena, Prague
14 May 2008 – Stadthalle, Vienna
15 May 2008 – Sports Arena, Budapest
17 May 2008 – Cotroceni Stadium, Bucharest
18 May 2008 – Lokomotiv Stadium, Sofia
20 May 2008 – Kurucesme Arena, Istanbul
22 May 2008 – Terra Vibe, Athens
25 May 2008 – Hallenstadion, Zurich
27 May 2008 – Cologne Arena, Cologne
29 May 2008 – Olympiahalle, Munich
30 May 2008 – Geneva Arena, Geneva
1 June 2008 – Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon
3 May 2008 – Palacio de Deportes, Madrid
5 June 2008 – Rockhal, Luxembourg
7 June 2008 – Colorline Arena, Hamburg
8 June 2008 – Forum, Copenhagen
10 June 2008 – Spektrum, Oslo
11 June 2008 – Globe, Stockholm
13 June 2008 – Hartwell Arena, Helsinki
16 June 2008 – Olimpiiski, Moscow
18 June 2008 – New Arena, St Petersburg
20 June 2008 – Riga Arena, Riga
22 June 2008 – Velodrom, Berlin
23 June 2008 – Ahoy, Rotterdam
26, 27, 29, and 30 June 2008 – Odyssey Arena, Belfast
5, 6, 8 and 9 July 2008 – Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow
11, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 July 2008 – Evening News Arena, Manchester
20, 21, 23 and 24 July 2008 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
26, 27, 29 and 30 July, and 1, 2 and 4 August 2008 – O2 Arena, London

Image source: Sunrise.seven @ Flickr

Posted on 03/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

New Book Celebrates Aussie Icon Jimmy Barnes

Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes is about to tell all in an insightful new book, Icons of Australian Music: Jimmy Barnes. It’s part of a series of coffee table books that are sure to be hits with local music enthusiasts.

I remember revelling in Jimmy’s colourful life when Toby Creswell released the very cool biography Too Much Ain’t Enough in the 90s. But this is the first chance we’ve had to hear the whole story straight from the horse’s mouth.

This autobiography promises to lift the lid on the wild days of Cold Chisel, Jimmy’s battle with addiction, his recent heart surgery, his charity work, and his love for his family and his music.

Jimmy’s friends Michael Gudinski, Don Walker, Ian Moss, and Mark “Diesel” Lizotte have also contributed their words to this memoir.

With press clippings, exclusive photos, hand written lyrics and stacks more it sounds like this will be a must for Aussie music fans. Icons of Australian Music: Jimmy Barnes is released on 7 May, but you can take a sneak peek now at Jimmy’s website.

Image source: DianeSunshineCoast @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 02/05/200819/04/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Hall of Fame Details Announced

Five more musical icons will enter the ARIA Hall of Fame on July 1, and you could be there. For the first time ever, a limited number of tickets will be available to the general public.

There’s no word yet on the inductees who will join previously honored stars like AC/DC, Cold Chisel, the Bee Gees and Nick Cave.

The ceremony will be held at Melbourne Town Hall. Rockwiz’s brilliant Julia Zemiro will host the awards, so they should be stacks of fun.

If you’d like to be there you can grab a ticket from Ticketek on May 12.

Posted on 30/04/200830/03/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Olivia Completes Walk to Beijing

Olivia Newtown-John’s massive Great Walk to Beijing trek has come to an end. Olivia led a team of local and international celebrities and cancer survivors on the 228 km journey. The trek took 23 days

In case you haven’t heard, the likes of James Reyne, Sir Cliff Richard, Fergie, and Dannii Minogue walked to raise funds to build a new cancer and wellness centre in Melbourne. Ian Thorpe even did it without shoes one day!

The walk may be over, but the job’s not done yet. “We’ve achieved a lot in terms of educating people about the centre and how it will conduct worldwide research, with a wellness centre and patient care all under one roof. In terms of fundraising we are just at the beginning,” she said on the Great Walk to Beijing website.

You can still donate to this great cause through the site, or you might like to wait to buy Olivia’s latest CD, A Celebration in Song. This great album features duets with Delta Goodrem, Barry Gibb, Richard Marx, Jimmy Barnes, the late Belinda Emmett and more. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will also help fun the cancer centre. You can grab yours when it hits stores on 5 May.

Posted on 29/04/200830/03/2023 by Lauren Katulka

The Veronicas Slam Anorexia Rumors

Does anyone think The Veronicas have been looking a little thin lately? Well they’ve spoken up about it, insisting they don’t have eating disorders.

“Neither of us has any eating issues. People use the term anorexia too loosely,” Jess Origliasso told The Sunday Telegraph.

The size six sisters say they’ve always been thin, and feel it’s important to be positive role models for their fans.

“Anorexia is a disease of the mind, where people think they’re fat when they’re extremely thin. Neither of us has that disease and I think it’s a bit offensive when people throw that out there.”

I’ve got to say I sympathise with them. My sister was a size six and even special protein drinks wouldn’t make her put on weight. It wasn’t until she had a baby that she put on enough weight for people to stop making negative comments!

I can imagine being as busy as the Origliasso girls are must make it very difficult to pack on a few extra kilos. They’re thin, but I don’t think it’s unhealthily so. And we all know if they jumped up a few dress sizes they’d be slammed for that!

Image source: Michael Spencer @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 29/04/200830/03/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Iggy Pop and Jet Team Up

Rumour has it that punk legend Iggy Pop will head to Australia to perform with Jet at the ARIA Hall of Fame presentation later this year.

But it’s not as unlikely as it seems. Iggy and Jet got together earlier this month to record a cover of “The Wild One” for an Johnny O’Keefe tribute album.

Of course Iggy covered the song in the 80s and released it as “Real Wild Child.” And the lads from Jet have always loved Iggy. So I suppose it makes sense.

Except that Jet claimed they were breaking up last October. Didn’t take long for them to change their minds! I suppose when Iggy Pop starts asking after you reconsidering retirement is fair enough.

Image source: Robert Scales @ Flickr

Posted on 28/04/200830/03/2023 by Lauren Katulka

Kasey and Shane’s Number One Debut

Country music darling Kasey Chambers and her hubby Shane Nicholson have debuted at number one with their new album, Rattlin’ Bones. It was a clear winner with Aussie audiences, outselling Mariah Carey’s E=MC2 by around 1700 units.

The album is the first collaboration for the husband and wife team, but judging by its success it might not be the last!

The Presets’ Apocalypso slipped a little, but number three is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Cog’s Sharing Space is also continuing to sell well. It’s at number six.

Australia’s still sweet on Gabriella Cilmi. Her massive debut single “Sweet About Me” has held on to the number two possie.

The Getup Mob have exploded onto the charts with their inspirational version of “From Little Things Big Things Grow.” It’s sitting pretty at number four.

And we still can’t get enough of Faker’s “This Heart Attack.” It’s hanging on to tenth position on the ARIA charts.

Here’s all the chart action!

Australian Top 10 Albums

Rattlin’ Bones – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
E=MC2 – Mariah Carey
Apocalypso – The Presets
Watershed – k.d. lang
Set in Stone – Brian McFadden
Sharing Space – Cog
Step Up 2: The Streets – Soundtrack
Exile on Mainstream – Matchbox Twenty
The 100 Most Beautiful Melodies – Andre Rieu
Exclusive – Chris Brown

Australian Top 10 Singles

“4 Minutes” – Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake
“Sweet About Me” – Gabriella Cilmi
“Low” – Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
“From Little Things Big Things Grow” – The Getup Mob
“Bubbly” – Colbie Caillat
“Work” – Kelly Rowland
“With You” – Chris Brown
“Dream Catch Me” – Newton Faulkner
“Tattoo” – Jordin Sparks
“This Heart Attack” – Faker

Image source: Mandy Hall @ Wikimedia Commons