Yauch, Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz formed the band that gained fame in the 1980s and stood out not just for their music, but for their ethnicity. In a genre dominated by African-Americans, they were three white Jewish kids from Brooklyn, New York.

The Beastie Boys sold some 40 million records worldwide over more than 20 years. As time passed, Yauch branched into filmmaking and activism, helping raise money for various causes including efforts to help free Tibet from Chinese rule.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys … passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer,” said a statement posted on the band’s website.

In July 2009, Yauch disclosed he had been diagnosed with a tumor in his left salivary gland and lymph node, and he later had surgery and sought medical treatment in Tibet, among other places. In October of that year, he said he was “feeling healthy, strong and hopeful” that he had beaten the disease.

But as recently as last month, it was apparent Yauch was very ill when he missed his group’s introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Yauch was born in Brooklyn on August 5, 1964, and taught himself to play bass guitar, forming a band on his 17th birthday that would later become the Beastie Boys. He went by stage name MCA. Diamond was Mike D and Horovitz, Ad-Rock.

Initially, the group played punk rock, but soon switched to rap as that musical genre gained prominence on New York streets and in underground clubs in the early 1980s.

The group’s breakout album, “Licensed to Ill,” was released in 1986 and featured “Fight for Your Right” and “Brass Monkey,” and put it squarely on the music industry’s hitmaker map.

MUSIC, FILM, PHILANTHROPY

The Beasties followed “Licensed to Ill” with “Paul’s Boutique” (1989), which broke from the hard rock and rap of their debut. That was followed by CDs like “Ill Communication” (1994), with its big single, “Sabotage,” and “Hello Nasty” (1998) that featured the hit “Intergalactic.”

Over the years, the Beasties challenged themselves with shifting musical styles, but their fans remained loyal. They released four No. 1 albums in their career and won three of the music industry’s top awards, the Grammys.

The Recording Academy, which gives out the Grammys, issued a statement calling Yauch “part of one of the most groundbreaking trios in hip-hop.”

Russell Simmons, a co-founder of Def Jam Records, the label that first signed the Beasties to a record deal, posted a message on his website saying, “Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly.”

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch also directed Beastie Boys videos such as “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.”

He founded independent film company Oscilloscope Laboratories, which makes and distributes low-budget, art-house fare. It recently released the drama “We Need to Talk About Kevin.”

Outside music and film, Yauch formed the Milarepa Foundation, which raised money for post-September 11 disaster relief and other causes. In 1996, Milarepa produced the massive Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen, and his daughter, Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents, Frances and Noel Yauch.

source from: yahoo

Laine, 18, who idolizes Lambert and aspires to be a country star herself, sang the song as fellow contestant Hollie Cavanagh, also among this week’s bottom two singers, wiped away tears knowing it was her friend’s final number.

On Wednesday’s performance episode of the top-rated U.S. television show, judge Jennifer Lopez had praised Laine’s energetic performance of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” and Randy Jackson exclaimed that she was “born to be on the stage.”

But the panelists’ comments for Laine’s rendition of “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” were not universal. While Lopez enjoyed the singer’s spin on the Dusty Springfield classic, mentor Jimmy Iovine thought it was one of her weakest performances of the season.

Still, Iovine had hoped Laine would remain in the contest because, he said, “she suits up and shows up every night.” But his hopes were dashed by audience voters who choose the contestants that will remain.

Cavanagh, who had frequently found herself in the show’s danger zone of being voted off, wowed the judges on Wednesday with her soaring energy and Tina Turner-like dance moves in her take on “River Deep Mountain High.”

Contestants sang hits from the 1960s, followed by songs by British artists on Wednesday, and “Idol” got a visit from one it most famous past winners, country songstress Carrie Underwood on Thursday elimination episode.

Now a top country star, Underwood performed the title track from her album “Blown Away,” which was released earlier this week. Coldplay sang their song “Paradise,” and came back later in the show for an encore performance.

Four contestants remain on “Idol” heading toward the show’s finale later this month.

“Idol”, which first aired in on Fox in 2002, has launched the careers Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Jennifer Husdon, among others. Now in its 11th season, the show continues to be the most watched reality TV show in America, though it has received stiff competition from “The Voice” this year.

Audiences vote for their favorite performers by phone and text message each week as contestants are challenged by a variety of musical styles. The winning contestant receives a recording contract.

source from: yahoo

Yauch, 47, lost his battle with cancer on Friday, May 4.

Chris Martin sang a version of the classic Beastie Boys song for Yauch as if it were a Coldplay song.

Watch Coldplay perform Beastie Boys ‘Fight For Your Right To Party’ here:

source from: music-news

There are no new songs on this record, everything has been previously released, so you may be asking why. Paul Stanley of Kiss articulated it so nicely when we once asked him why Kiss were putting out another greatest hits with all the same songs when we had them all already. ‘But not in this order,’ was Paul’s answer.

So both Kylie fans who are yet to discover playlist on their iTunes can look forward to ‘The Best of Kylie Minogue’ next month.

The tracklisting is:

Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
Spinning Around
I Should Be So Lucky
Love At First Sight
In Your Eyes
Kids (with Robbie Williams)
Better The Devil You Know
All The Lovers
Give Me Just A Little More Time
Celebration
Slow
Red Blooded Woman
I Believe In You
On A Night Like This
Confide In Me
Get Outta My Way
The Loco-Motion
Tears On My Pillow
Wow
In My Arms
Never Too Late

In other Kylie news, Kylie will be performing for the Queen in front of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Jubilee next month. She will also be heading Proms In The Park. She recently completed her Anti Tour is Australia and the UK.

More special live dates have been hinted at to come as well as some interesting collaborations and a film role.

The Best Of Kylie Minogue will be released on June 19.

source from: music-news

Multi-award winning singer Adele returned to number one in the albums chart with “21″, overtaking David Bowie and Dire Straits for the number of weeks spent in the top spot, the UK’s Official Albums Chart said on Sunday.

The Brit and Grammy award winner moved up two places in her 64th week in the albums chart with “21″.

During her career, she has notched up 23 weeks at number one, including one week for her debut album “19″ and 22 weeks for “21″.

Bowie and Dire Straits both managed 22 weeks.

Making way for Adele was Nicki Minaj with “Pink Friday – Roman Reloaded” which dropped one place to number two.

A new entrant at number three was Alabama Shakes with debut album “Boys & Girls”.

In the singles chart, pop starlet Carly Rae Jepsen kept teen sensation Justin Bieber at bay, holding on to number one with “Call Me Maybe”.

The Canadian Idol contestant outsold her Canadian compatriot’s single “Boyfriend” by two to one. Bieber, who had praised his rival on Twitter, had to settle for a new entrant at number two.

American R’n'B singer Usher was another new entrant at number four with “Climax”.

source from: tuoitrenews

Robin Gibb, singer with the legendary band the Bee Gees, was in a coma in hospital Sunday after contracting pneumonia in his battle against cancer.

“Sadly the reports are true that Robin has contracted pneumonia and is in a coma. We are all hoping and praying that he will pull through,” said a brief statement on RobinGibb.com.

Media reported Sunday that the 62-year-old was at a private hospital in Chelsea, where wife Dwina, his three children and brother Barry — also of the group — were keeping a bedside vigil.

Gibb, part of one of the biggest-selling groups of all time, had bowel surgery 18 months ago for an unrelated condition but a tumour was found and he was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and the liver.

Back in February, Gibb said he had made a “spectacular” recovery from his treatment, sparking hopes that his cancer was in remission, but he has since experienced a sharp deterioration.

Gibb was too ill to attend Tuesday’s premiere of his first classical work, “The Titanic Requiem”, composed with his son Robin-John Gibb to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner on April 15, 1912.

The work, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, took more than two years to complete.

Gibb had been due to perform in person the song “Don’t Cry Alone” at the premiere, staged at the Central Hall Westminster in London.
“The one place he really wanted to be in two and a half years he couldn’t be and it was heartbreaking,” his son RJ Gibb told BBC television on Thursday.

“He’s still in hospital. He’s fighting a lung infection. As a lot of people who’ve had family members or friends who have been through a cancer bout know, there are a lot of periphery problems afterwards that you have to deal with.

“He will have to keep scrutiny on this for his entire life and, God willing and we’re all praying for him, he comes through and makes a speedy recovery.”

Actor Leslie Phillips, 87, a close friend of the singer, was returning from a holiday in Spain to visit Gibb, newspapers said.

“It saddens me deeply — poor Robin has taken a serious turn for the worse. I feel very sad if it is true that he has only days to live,” he was quoted as saying in The Sun.

The Bee Gee underwent surgery for an ongoing problem with a twisted intestine in 2010.

The same hereditary condition led to the death of his twin brother Maurice at the age of 53 in 2003, while younger brother Andy died in 1988 following a battle against cocaine addiction.

Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb scaled the heights of the pop world in the 1970s with disco hits including “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Stayin’ Alive”, and “Night Fever”.

The band notched up record sales of more than 200 million since their first hits in the the 1960s.

source from: tuoitrenews

It came for her performance as a strong, kind-hearted doctor Ha Linh, who tries to discover the reason for her husband’s death, in M&T Pictures’ Gieo Gio (Sowing the Wind).

Anh, a native of the central province of Thanh Hoa, began her professional singing career in HCM City when she was just 16.

With her stunning looks and melodious voice, she quickly became popular and began to act in many TV serials and movies.

In 2010 she won the Best Actress Award at the Viet Nam International Film Festival for her role of a young singer in Dao Ba Son’s Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca (The Tale of a Songstress in Thang Long Citadel).

Actor and model Binh Minh won the Favourite TV Series Actor award for his performance as an undercover police officer pretending to be a gangster in Vat Chung Mong Manh (Fragile Evidence).

Huynh Dong and Le Phuong won the Favourite Supporting Actor and Actress prizes.

Singers Dam Vinh Hung and Ho Ngoc Ha were voted the Favourite Male and Female Singers.

Que Tran won the Favourite Cai Luong Actress award for the second successive year, while Trong Phuc won the prize among men.

Quy Binh was the Favourite Theatre Performer for his contributions to the development of theatre last year.

The organisers also gave away three more Contribution Awards to script-writer Nguyen Manh Tuan, singer Duc Tuan, and cai luong (renovated theatre) actress Phuong Hang.

Actress Van Trang received the organisers’ and sponsors’award for the Friendly Artist for her involvement in the TV channel’s charity and community activities.

source from: vietnamnews

15-year-old glass-bone patient Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh who is confined to a wheelchair but possesses a mature voice and a lovely face has become a finalist of Vietnam’s Got Talent.

Anh has become a sensation after amazing the audience during the show’s qualifier round with her cheerful performance of “Let’s Dance” originally sung by American singer Miley Cyrus.

At the fourth semi-final night broadcast on March 25, the girl continued to move audiences and the jury to tears with her singing of the song “This Is Me” by young Disney singer Demi Lovato.

“My heart was melted when I listened to your singing,” judge Thuy Hanh said after the performance. “I love you so much,” she added.

“I know it’s hard for you to be on stage, but your desire of singing gets you through all obstacles,” musician Huy Tuan commented. “You made the most touching story about music I’ve ever heard,” he confirmed.

While Phuong Anh went to the finale directly with the highest number of votes from the audience, popping dancer Duong Manh Hoa was chosen to the final list by the judges.

At the fourth semi-final night, Hoa impressed people with his creative popping dancing against the background music of famous song “Rolling In The Deep” sung by Grammy-winning singer Adele.

“Tonight you’re no longer a contestant, you’re an artist now,” actor Thanh Loc, member of the jury said about Hoa’s performance.

The most hard-to-please judge Huy Tuan also said he likes the way Hoa performed his sophisticated dance moves.

“This is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” he said.

However, many audiences, even the jury expressed regret with the elimination of Nguyen Dang Dang Khoa, the 10-year-old boy who fascinated people with his amazing Micheal Jackson moves.

“If I had the right to change the rule of the show, I would choose both of you. I’ve never had such a hard inner struggle in my life. You guys gave us the best performances,” Thuy Hanh talked to Dang Khoa and Manh Hoa. “My heartbeat stops when I see Khoa crying, but my choice is Hoa.”

So far, the first season of the Vietnamese version of Britain’s Got talent has had 8 finalists including Vo Trong Phuc, Dong Thoi Gian (The Flow of Time) dance crew, Dinh Ngoc Hoang, Nguyen Thanh Truc, Truong Giang and Vu Song Vu  .

Three more semi-final nights will continue to take place every Sunday to finish the list of 14 contestants for the finale night.

source from: tuoitrenews

Scandalous pop singer Ngoc Son has recently been invited to be the Honorary Chairman of the fan club of the Ho Chi Minh City-based football club Saigon FC, a decision which has ignited an uproar amongst fans.

Singer Ngoc Son is infamous in local showbiz with his repeatedly shocking the public with bizarre declaration and actions.

On the evening of March 4, Ngoc Son, wearing the Saigon FC fan club’s uniform T-shirt, appeared at the city-based Thong Nhat Stadium to sing before and at halftime of the Saigon FC – Cao Su Dong Thap match in the 8th round of V-League 2012.

Son told the football fans about his passion for football, and informed them that it was the club’s boss, Nguyen Duc Thuy, that had invited him to be the fan club’s honorary chairman.

“I will try to contribute more, and to be present at more of Saigon FC’s matches,” he told the audiences.

Son in a shocking semi nude photo shoots released in May 2011, with his body offensively exposed
For his part, the club boss said he had chosen Son in the hope of attracting some of his numerous fans to join Saigon FC’s fan club, and gain more spectators at Thong Nhat Stadium.

“I do not know any of Son’s previous scandals,” said Thuy.

“I will closely monitor in the future if the club’s image is affected by his new post as the honorary chairman of the fan club.”

However, many members of the fan club have strongly objected to the boss’s decision.
Saigon FC’s chiefs should have consulted the fan club prior to making such a decision, they said.

“It is OK if the chiefs choose models or singers to promote the club’s image, but having them as the honorary chairman is unacceptable,” said member Tran Huu Nghia.

Nghia said the club should make clear exactlywhat the role of the honorary chairman of the fan club is.

The chairman must be someone who has certain social positions, and clean moral status, he said.

Moreover, he should also be required to make contributions to the city’s football development in order to attract more football fans.

“I do not deny Son’s musical ability, but he is not qualified enough to be a chairman,” he concluded.

For his part, football fan Nguyen Trung Vinh expressed his concern that Son uses inappropriate words and actions, which will adversely affect the club’s image, although he can make the stadium more exciting with his presence.

Meanwhile, Tran Song Hai, another member of the fan club, posted an opposing opinion.

“I received the news with pleasure, since the fan club is joined by an artist,” he said.
“Moreover, Son can help the fan club have more young members.”

source from: tuoitrenews

She made a good impression with her sweet voice when she sang “Trang Mo Ben Suoi” (Mysterious moonlight by a stream) on the first round.

Last year, Ms Le Thi Nhung (76 year old), the oldest contestant got into the se-mi final round which was also a phenomenal of this contest.

source from: thanhniennews