OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928
Category: Archive

New & Noteworthy: Cold Shoulder

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Oddly enough, this was not a concern when he and his wife Gwyneth named their child after produce . . .

Hall of Fame rockers U2 have been awarded Portugal’s highest honor in recognition of their efforts to eradicate global poverty and erase Third World debt.
The band, the members of which were visiting the country on the European leg of their “Vertigo Tour,” attended an official ceremony hosted by the country’s president, Jorge Sampaio, on Sunday. His Excellency praised the Irish stars for proving that it is possible to combine the public exposure it received from its musical success with the protection of humanitarian causes.”
In more U2-related news, British rockers Keane were, well, keenly disappointed when a band member’s illness forced them to give up their opening slot at the Lisbon concert.
“The boys [were] gutted,” a Keane spokesperson told reporters. “It had been a dream come true playing with U2, and they were especially looking forward to playing in Lisbon.” UK-based punk/art band The Kaiser Chiefs filled in.

You might want to sit down before you read this next item. And if you’re already sitting, you may want to brace yourself, because I’m about to shatter one of your illusions.
Ready? Okay, here goes: Some of the members of pre-fab pop bands are only in it for the money. (Breathe. Slowly.)
This earth-shattering news comes from singer Lee Ryan, late of the British boy band Blue (oooh, nice alliteration!), and newly solo singer with — surprise! — a record to promote. Lee told an entertainment web site that after the band had achieved a level of success, “We lost that thing of singing live. We didn’t so much of that towards the end.”
But Lee couldn’t face compromising his artistic vision. Or something.
“I didn’t want to mime,” he said. “Doing it for the money was just too shallow.” And, as we all know, pop stars are anything BUT shallow.

Teen star Hilary Duff has absolutely no problem performing in front of thousands of people. But the actress/singer suffers from paralyzing stage fright when she performs for small groups.
“There’s something . . . comforting about seeing a whole sea of people with glow sticks going crazy,” she said in a recent interview. “[It’s harder] than being able to identify people I know out of a crowd of 200.”

Attention, all you aspiring publicists and party planners: Don’t invite Elvis Costello and Madonna to the same soiree. Trust me, sparks will fly.
The Punk/New Wave pioneer, whose real name is Declan McManus, paid the Material Mom a rather backhanded compliment recently. While lauding her talents as a “package” performer, the “Oliver’s Army” singer added that the Kaballah Konvert is “a dancer, not a singer.”
“It’s about the whole package,” he told contactmusic.com. “And what you can persuade people to believe.”

Believe it or not, Victoria Beckham is not quite the scholarly academic that she appears to be. In fact, it turns out that the Poshest member of the late, lamented Spice Girls recently admitted that she has never actually read a book.
Obviously, some of you are wondering if that could be true. After all, didn’t she “write” her autobiography a couple of years ago? And hasn’t David been fairly prolific in the composition department as well — durty text messages aside? The soccer god has written two books. But apparently, Victoria simply can’t be bothered poring over dusty old books. Not when there are issues of Vogue and Glamour piling up in her mailbox.
“I haven’t read a book in my life,” she told a Spanish journalist recently. “I haven’t got enough time. I prefer to listen to music, although I do love fashion magazines.” Big pictures, you know.

Follow us on social media

Keep up to date with the latest news with The Irish Echo

One might think that being plucked from obscurity and groomed for superstardom would be a good thing. But for pop diva Mariah Carey (she of the black and Irish roots), marriage to former Sony Records chief Tommy Mottola quickly morphed into something resembling a gilded cage — one from which she longed to escape.
A rather melodramatic Mariah told Allure magazine that, during her five-year marriage to the music industry honcho, she fantasized about being kidnapped and set free from the relationship.
“I longed for someone to come kidnap me back then,” she told the startled journalist. “I’d have my pocketbook with me at all times in case I had to make an escape.”

From his sax performance on the Arsenio Hall Show, to his in-concert phone conversations with Bono during U2’s Zoo-TV Tour, former President Bill Clinton made it clear that music played a large role in his life. And now, thanks to a brilliant fundraising effort by his presidential museum, everyone can enjoy his favorite tunes — including a classic from a famed Irish composer.
“The Bill Clinton Collection: Selections from the Clinton Music Room” will go on sale next month through the shop at his museum in Arkansas. Among the tracks on the first CD are songs that have a great deal of personal significance to the former commander-in-chief. “Chelsea Morning” by Judy Collins, inspired his daughter’s name, and “The Town I Loved So Well,” by Phil Coulter, is a reminder of Clinton’s role in the Irish peace process.

Northern Ireland rockers Ash — the pride of Downpatrick, Co. Down — had the opportunity to rub elbows with music legend Paul McCartney last week, when they were awarded honorary companionship in the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Also honored at the ceremony were Bee Gee Robin Gibb and Robbie Williams’s former musical collaborator, Guy Chambers.

Yes, summer is drawing to a close, and that’s a bummer, but there are at least two good (Irish) reasons to look forward to the turning of the leaves. The Corrs will be getting back to their roots next month — when their long-awaited album of Irish songs hits the market. And the newly un-retired Sinead O’Connor gets back into the saddle with an album of reggae covers.
The Dundalk siblings will release their new CD, “Home” at the end of the month. The album will feature classics like “My Lagan Love,” “Spancill Hill,” “Peggy Gordon” and “Bird og ni Mhaille.”
Sinead’s record will feature covers of reggae classics by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear. The Dublin firebrand will mount a U.S. tour, and there are rumors of two shows at NYC’s Webster Hall (though there’s nothing listed on the venue’s website yet) . . .

Given his level of success in Hollywood, you’d think that Matt Damon’s auditioning days would be long gone. But there’s only one role that the “Bourne Supremacy” star has his heart set on these days — and his old pal, Ben Affleck, holds the key.
Matt has been giving the performance of his life, trying to convince his “Good Will Hunting” partner to name him godfather of his first child. The hunky actor, soon to be seen in “The Brothers Grimm,” has assured Ben and the missus, actress Jennifer Garner, that he’s the most logical candidate for the job. After all, he’s got youth, energy, and enthusiasm on his side. Not to mention that most impressive attribute of all: deep pockets. And a willingness to use ’em.
“He’d be smart to give me that job,” Matt told the Internet Movie Database. “I’d spoil that kid rotten.”

Some say that teen queen Lindsay Lohan has grown up way too fast. Others think she’s a living doll. And as one might imagine, the people at Mattel would fall into the second camp.
The toymakers responsible for Barbie, Ken, Midge and a whole population of 11-inch plastic zombies — er, dollies — have designed a Lindsay toy to celebrate her new status as a Hollywood “It” girl. According to MTV news, the basic Lindsay model comes dressed for a turn on the red carpet — but her “tween-age” fans will no doubt nag their parents for the optional accessories, like the “Dressing Room” play set and the “Party Limo.”
If Mattel’s as smart as they appear to be, future accessories will include the Damage Control Publicist, the Secret Celebrity Hotspot (including real velvet ropes!) and the Dysfunctional Family Collection.
Speaking of Lindsay and dysfunctional families, it appears that the actress/singer has decided to put the pain of her parent’s divorce trial to good use. As Dina and Michael Lohan slug it out in divorce court, Lindsay — who’s firmly in her mother’s corner — is pouring out her heart in a song addressed to her father.
Lindsay’s relationship with her father has been strained over the last few years. His erratic behavior has included a conviction for drunk driving and an assault on a relative at a family party. A source close to the singer told the New York Daily News that the teen star pulls no punches in the song.
“It’s the story of a girl crying to her father,” said the insider. “[She’s] asking him why he did all this to the family, and more so, to her.”

Brosnan: ‘Bond’ played it safe
Now that Pierce Brosnan definitely/probably/maybe will NOT be stepping into James Bond’s wingtips for a fifth go-round in the long-running movie franchise, he can finally admit the truth. Apparently, he was never a fan of a series — or the character that made him an international star.
The Navan-born actor, who is credited with reviving Bond’s popularity after Shakespearean actor Timothy Dalton’s disastrous stint, said that he felt like “a phony” while mouthing loads of “stupid one-liners.” Though he was paid handsomely for his services, he found the experience rather empty. From an artistic perspective, that is.
“[The role] never felt real to me,” he told Ireland Online. “I never felt I had complete ownership of the role.” Although, one assumes, he had complete ownership of the house in Malibu and the fancy sports car.

Other Articles You Might Like

Sign up to our Daily Newsletter

Click to access the login or register cheese