Thanksgiving is a time when many reflect on what they are thankful for, and Demi Lovato shared her blessings with Seventeen magazine this year.
"As many of you know, last year at this time, I was in treatment. I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve away from my home and family which is why I am so excited to be with them this year," the “Skyscraper” singer wrote in her monthly column for the teen mag. "Thinking about how far I have come in a year makes me so thankful."
Back in 2010, Demi checked into a rehab facility to treat depression, bulimia and Bipolar II disorder and now reveals, "I could not have done this without God and the amazing support from my family. They have stuck by me through everything and love me just the way that I am. That is a wonderful feeling to know that people accept the real you."
"Going to treatment was a gift and I believe it saved my life. I learned how to be strong and healthy even through struggles," Lovato went on to say. "It also helped me open up about my issues and share them with others. Knowing that my family, friends and fans accept me for who I am is the greatest feeling ever!"
Giving his Big Apple fans a huge thrill, Justin Bieber gave a fabulous performance on the “Today” show this morning (November 23).
The “Baby” singer warmed up the crowd with his hit song “Never Say Never” before bringing Usher to the stage for a duet of “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.”
According to a report, Bieber’s fans began lining up at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan on Monday in order to see the teen singer.
And given the wind and rainy conditions, it seems Justin’s loyal following is willing to do anything to support him.
Taylor Swift & Selena Gomez: Madison Square Garden Girls
Wrapping up this leg of her Speak Now tour, Taylor Swift rocked Madison Square Garden in New York City last night (November 22).
The “Mean” songstress was joined onstage by her gal pal Selena Gomez and they sang their very first duet together (“Who Says”) for the sold out crowd.
Also in the house was James Taylor, who performed “Fire and Rain” alongside Miss Swift during the gig and posed for pictures afterwards.
Taylor’s Speak Now World Tour has been comprised of 98 shows in 17 countries spanning three continents, and she’ll pick back up in Australia and New Zealand in 2012.
He has much to be thankful for this week! Drake's second album “Take Care,” has landed the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart on Wednesday (November 23).
Upon hearing the exciting news, the “Miss Me” singer tweeted, "I can't even find the words to express my appreciation. ... 'Thank you and I owe you' is all that comes to mind ... truly."
The album, which was released on November 15th, has already sold over 631,000 copies.
Some of our other favorite artists landed in the top 10 this week - In the #2 spot is Michael Buble’s “Christmas,” the #4 album is “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn,” the #5 position was filled by Adele’s “21” and in the #6 position is “Under the Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber.
Sure, it’s the day before Thanksgiving, but Lady Gaga is already looking ahead to the Christmas season.
The “Edge of Glory” songstress has released her new four-track A Very Gaga Holiday EP to get her Little Monsters in the mood for Santa Claus.
Included is Gaga’s cover of the Christmas classic “White Christmas,” which is sure to get the egg nog flowing.
Additionally, Lady Gaga will be performing and giving an inside look at her holiday traditions on “A Very Gaga Thanksgiving” tomorrow night (November 24) on ABC.
She’s always up for a good time, and last night (November 22) Elle Fanning was in the house for the “Super 8” DVD and Blu-Ray Release Party.
The “Somewhere” cutie showed up at the AMPAS Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills where she hammed it up with Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso, and JJ Abrams.
In a recent interview, Elle discussed some of the cool opportunities she’s been given thanks to her budding film career.
Referring to her July trip to Paris Haute Couture Week, she gushed, “When I found out that I was invited to the Chanel show — that was the loudest I’ve ever screamed in my life. That was the best day of my life.”
Not letting anything slow him down today, Justin Bieber just released the video of his new song “Fa La La” featuring Boyz II Men on Wednesday (November 23).
The black and white clip begins with the Biebs singing alone but then the “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” fellas join in and sing, "Baby you de-serve eve-ry-thing you want/ It's your night."
“Fa La La” is the latest single from Justin’s holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, which has moved down to #6 on the Billboards 200 album charts list after being up top since its release at the beginning of the month.
An excited Bieber tweeted this morning, “today just keeps getting better..now my NEW MUSIC VIDEO with @boyzIImen for #FALALA is OUT!!”
After years of hard work and dedication, she made it to superstar status this year and now Nicki Minajis being honored for her talent.
It was announced on Wednesday (November 23) that the “Super Bass” singer has been named Billboard’s Rising Star of 2011.
In a statement, Minaj said, "I am deeply honored to be recognized by Billboard. My nation of Barbz and I have come a mighty long way; yet we are nowhere close to where God will take us. Sit back and enjoy the ride."
Nicki will be on-hand to accept her award at the sixth annual Women in Music event in New York City on December 2, where Taylor Swift will be honored with Billboard’s Woman of the Year.
Justin Bieber Lights Up "Christmas In Rockefeller Center"
Paying a return visit after performing on the "Today" show earlier in the day, Justin Bieber took the stage for the pre-taping of "Christmas In Rockefeller Center" in New York City on Friday night (November 23).
The 17-year-old Canadian sensation sang out alongside Usher during a rendition of "Chestnuts" while joined by Busta Rhymes for "Drummer Boy" during the mini-set (watch performances above).
Tweeting to his millions of followers upon winding up the show's taping, Justin wrote, "that was a great day....HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!"
As for "Christmas In Rockefeller Center," the Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie co-hosted the celebration also features Tony Bennett, Michael Buble, Cee Lo Green, Faith Hill, Carole King, Katharine McPhee, Javier Colon and The Radio City Rockettes while set to air on NBC next Wednesday, November 30th at 8/7c.
Both are fragments of works by Cory Arcangel. The difference between them is significant. The first one is a joke - it is a repetition, a trick played on the idea of reproduction or universality. The other one too. But the other one moves towards something else. It provides us with the doubt as to what it should be like. I don't know Schoenberg's op. 11, 3. I might have heard it, but I'm not sure how it sounds. Yet it certainly doesn't sound like these cats. Or does it? What is it about Schoenberg that makes him sound like Schoenberg? And why do we need him to sound like Schoenberg? (Why do we call artists people who interpret in the most faithful way? And no, this is not a rhetorical question. What is it about repetition that still makes it move us aesthetically? And no, any form of the answer "the difference within the repetition" will not satisfy me as long as I keep putting the same piece on my mp3 player and enjoy it beause it is the same, and still appreciate its freshness, not its "difference".) The thing, here, is not just about the cats, it isn't the old elephant-making-oil-paintings trick. It is rather about other possibilities of listening, of paying attention, of defining what you hear. Can we hear the Schoenberg in the original cat videos? Can we hear Bach in the original music versions? The Bach composition, in that sense, says too much - it states a clear correspondence between the original YouTube videos and Bach's work. The second says less: it says "it is out there, but it's hard to say where exactly, and why exactly we would stop there". (And does it while being damn funny). And that's when our ears melt and reconsolidate, they become other ears, and other, and other. We are forced to listen to what might be there, and not what we think is there. So why do I like the first video more? Maybe because I still enjoy what is there a lot. Or because I'm not a fan of Schoeberg.
The etude by Gyorgy Ligeti I would like you to pay attention to is the second one. It starts at 2'15". Here is what a competent source has to say about the work:
The third etude, "Touches bloquees" ("Blocked Keys"), uses the same technique that first appeared in "Selbstportrait," the second of the Three Pieces for Two Pianos. Certain keys are held down silently with one hand while the other hand plays a very fast chromatic line on and around the blocked keys, which of course do not sound. The result is a complicated rhythmic pattern that gives the music a somewhat mechanical quality. At first the silent gaps are all the duration of a single eighth, but eventually the gaps are two eighths, then three, and continue to increase in length until the texture becomes increasingly sparse. Again, this etude is about the creation of illusion; we see a continuous pattern of eighth notes on the page, but what results in performance are quirky rhythmic patterns that are not discernible to the eye and would be all but impossible to notate in a more traditional fashion to achieve the desired effect.
Actually, it wasn't so much about the listening for me. What put me in a state of awe was the seeing. It is the clear struggle between the hands, the tension between the immobile one and the one that runs crazily above it or under it. Also, the tension of the one that is supposed to stay immobile, simply blocking some keys, but cannot resist the opportunity and spurts out sounds now and again, as if to underline it has total power. And then they switch. And we hear it, we hear this body negiation, we hear it once we see it, once we understand the game, it becomes obvious. The music becomes obvious. Because it's about music, right? And the soldier-fingers, constantly attempting to design the space through movement. A movement whose purpose is not something else - like a sound - is a dance. If you ever needed proof, here is one.
Oh, and on a different note, here's a little bit of pre-mash-up mashing up, for your listening amusement, the one and only John Oswald:
It is a fascinating feeling, to realize that today's contemporary is tomorrow's retro, that no matter what, everything we wear, listen to, appreciate or create today will be looked at in just a few years with a paternizing, if not condescendent, smile. Timeless art? Pl-lease. The very feeling of them not being timeless, of being dated, is part of the pleasure of appreciating them. Age can work for the work, but it is still at work.
