Joe Kavanagh's Music News

It's been almost a half century since the so-called British Invasion swept up on American shores in the shape of four precocious scousers with floppy haircuts, and while a recurrence has threatened in the intervening years, it has never quite taken shape but if anyone needed evidence of the increasing tendency of American music fans to look across the Atlantic when it comes to music then they need look no further than this years Grammys, where British acts dominate many of the biggest categories. Coldplay lead the charge with seven nominations but they are joined by no fewer than ten other UK acts. The most compelling evidence of the British influence, however, is the Best Record category, where Coldplay lead an all-British race that includes Leona Lewis, M.I.A., Adele and Robert Plant...

Coldplay also made the news last week when 80s guitar hero, Joe Satriani, filed a lawsuit in California alleging that their track, Viva La Vida "copied and incorporated substantial original portions" of his 2004 track, If I Could Fly. The guitarist has requested a jury trial and is seeking damages, and "any and all profits" earned from the song. Coldplay were also accused of plagiarism earlier this year when New York-based act, Creaky Boards, alleged that Chris Martin lifted elements from one of their tracks after attending one of their gigs, only for Coldplay to prove that the track in question was recorded before he ever even attended the gig. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Coldplay thought Joe Satriani was a character in Goodfellas or Happy Days...

The University of West of Scotland recently announced that a section of their music course will be devoted to the troubled life of Amy Winehouse, as an illustration to students of the downside of the industry. In an interview with The Times, course leader, Alan Dumbreck, claimed: "Amy Winehouse is a great example of the potential pitfalls in the music industry. She is recognized as a multi-award-winning great artist. But the by-product of that lifestyle can be stress and illness. We would look at how the industry is often not a supporter of longevity." Poor Amy also provides a pretty good example of the benefits of combing your hair and putting on a bit of makeup before leaving the house and I don't think they'll be teaching her current "look" in beauty courses any time soon...

Britney Spears may be on the comeback trail in the US but her stock continues to fall around the globe, with her obnoxious behavior on UK TV show, The X Factor, heading the list of her latest transgressions. Now the flaky singer has come under attack in Australia where concerned parents are up in arms, over what they claim is a not-so-subtle hidden message in one of the songs on her latest album, Circus. If You Seek Amy (say it aloud and the meaning becomes apparent) has caused an outrage in Australia, according to website Undercover.com.au, where mother Leonie Barsenbach is quoted as saying: "I was astonished and totally taken aback when I heard my five- and seven-year-old kids walking around the house singing, 'F-*-*-K'. When I asked them what it was, they told me it was Britney Spears. I was horrified. I got them the Circus album because little kids are Britney fans, but there was no warning on the album and none of the songs listed had 'F-*-*-K' in the title. Listening to it, it is extremely blatant and offensive. I feel I have been deceived into believing that this was acceptable content for children but instead it is objectionable." In all fairness, given the fact that she's a crackpot, twice-divorced parent whose kids have been taken away from her, not to mention the fact that she has a propensity for going around with her coochie on public display, I can't imagine how any parent could possibly think that anything associated with Britney is child-friendly...

Fresh from the success of her recently released cover version of Snow Patrol's Run, Leona Lewis claims that her next album will be somewhat rockier than her debut, telling an interviewer last week: "I have a few tracks on this album which have a bit more of a rocky edge, so it's kind of going in that way a bit more. It is going to be a live, organic feel. I think The Script are so talented and great guys, and if they did want to write with me in the future then definitely I'd be up for it. I think they are amazing. For the next album there are a few bands I am going to be working with, hopefully, and it is going to be a different direction." Perhaps I'm cynical but this smacks of a snow job by label bosses because Leona Lewis and the Irish band share the same label: Sony. I wonder if her plugging The Script has anything to do with the fact that their album sales have failed to live up to the expectations of the label, who projected that they would set the world on fire, because they would not even be in the first thousand band names that would spring to mind when you think rock music and to be honest, The Script are probably to rock 'n'roll what Cliff Richard is to hip hop...

Celine Dion was in the media last week singing the praises of incoming US president, Barack Obama, saying: "I don't get too involved in politics. But I'm happy that Obama will be the President. I think he's extremely smart and the kind of leader that inspires people and gives people hope for better things in the world. Right now, it seems that this is very much needed in our lives. I wasn't bothered that a woman didn't get into the White House. The most important thing is that the right person is there. I think Obama is the right choice." That's funny because I could have sworn that Dion's track You And I was the official song of Hillary's campaign. Talk about being up for the winner. Dion also claimed that she is so run off her feet that she does not even have time to write anymore, saying: "I wish I could write songs. I have a lot of ideas. A tune will come into my head and sometimes a lyric, but I never really sit down and try to make something from it. It's just for me. And I think I'm too busy anyway." Long may that continue but it's a puzzling statement nonetheless seeing as she has written precisely two songs in her entire career...

In more Obama news, it was revealed last week that British Conservative leader, David Cameron, spent time with the incoming US president last summer, some of which he used to extol the virtues of acts like Radiohead and The Smiths. Cameron also allegedly gave Obama albums by Lily Allen and Gorillaz, which really makes him look like the nerd at school trying to impress the cool kid. It obviously didn't work because Obama allegedly referred to the Conservative leader as a "lightweight" to some of his aides. I'm as much a music fan as the next man, but surely there were more important things that Cameron could have found time to discuss. "Shouldn't we talk about the global economy Mr. Cameron?" "That's all very well, but what about Jonny Greenwood, he's dreamy, don't you think?"...

Akon, has criticized Premiership football managers, Phil Scolari and Roy Keane for refusing to allow their players to attend his Christmas party, which is due to take place in Miami later this month. The bash, being co-hosted by Lil' Wayne, will allegedly cost over a million dollars and other invitees include Leona Lewis, Michael Jackson and Kanye "look at me, I'm great" West. Although the Sunderland players have not been named, the two Chelsea players that have been forbidden to attend are Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba. The rapper and general buffoon told UK tabloid, The Sun: "I guess I kept them a bit too late last time. I think the coaches were jealous." Although I am aware that Akon is slower than a stopped clock, did he not consider the fact that these players might have to play football over the traditionally packed holiday schedule? You know, that act of kicking a piece of cow hide around a field that they get paid $150,000 a week to do while the people that pay their wages actually work for a living. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a contributing factor towards Roy Keane walking out on the Sunderland job last week and I would have given anything to have been in the office the day those players knocked on his door to ask for time off to attend a party. I'd imagine there was a lot of incredulous swearing involved.