lifestyle THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Music & Movies Mick Jagger Jagger, Wood record Nepal quake charity single

he Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood features Knight on lead vocals and Jagger on backing and restore lives.” The track was produced by Pink Floyd have joined forces with British soul singer Beverley vocals. They are accompanied by a 100-strong assembled drummer Nick Mason. More than 7,500 people were killed TKnight to record a charity single in aid of victims of choir of the charity’s supporters. and hundreds of thousands left homeless by the quake, last month’s earthquake in Nepal. The track, entitled “Look “The terrible events in Nepal show just how vulnerable which struck on April 25. — Reuters into Your Heart” will raise funds for charity Save The our fellow man can be in the face of nature,” Knight said. Children’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal. Wood said he was “My hope is that the proceeds of this song will go some “delighted” to be able to take part in the recording, which way to help raise urgently needed funds to repair homes

Beatles, Stones eclipsed by hip-hop impact

he impact of hip-hop’s arrival on the The researchers analyzed 30-second pop music scene eclipsed that of the snippets of roughly 17,000 songs from the TBeatles-led British invasion of 1964, a US Billboard pop charts from 1960 to 2010. computer analysis of 17,000 songs has Computer programs were used to catego- found. The unusual study found three revo- rize each song based on musical proper- lutions on the charts: the 1991 emergence ties, instrumentation used, chord patterns of rap and hip-hop on mainstream charts; and other elements. Lead author Matthias the synth-led new wave movement of Mauch said some may disagree with this 1983, and the advent of the Beatles, Rolling scientific approach to a very personal sub- Stones, The Who and other British rockers ject but asserted the study breaks new in the early 1960s. Although the Beatles - ground. “For the first time we can measure paced by the songwriting of John Lennon musical properties in recordings on a large and Paul McCartney - enjoy perhaps the scale,” he said. highest place in critics’ esteem, the “We can actually go beyond what music researchers found the hip-hop movement experts tell us, or what we know ourselves more profound. about them, by looking directly into the They wrote that the rise of rap and relat- songs, measuring their make-up, and ed genres represents “the single most understanding how they have changed.” important event that has shaped the musi- The study is not likely to be popular with cal structure of the American charts in the aging musicians who peaked in the mid- period we studied.” By contrast, the British 1980s, which the researchers found to be bands - heavily influenced by US stars like the most static period in the study. — AFP Chuck Berry and Little Richard - were found to have followed existing trends. The study, released yesterday, was conducted by the University of London and Imperial College The Beatles Korean pop band Bigbang back with new single after three years

opular South Korean boy band Bigbang is many problems from competition and many peo- but it has had little impact in Europe and the back on the music scene after a three-year ple are struggling to survive,” band member United States with the exception of Psy’s Phiatus, with a new single delving into the Taeyang said in an interview yesterday. “It is com- “Gangnam Style” hit in 2012. Bigbang, which lead stresses of daily life. The track, entitled “Loser”, has forting that we are singing on their behalf and that singer G-Dragon hopes can reap success further dominated South Korea’s online music charts since is why people love this song.” west, are known for being heavily involved in their its release on May 1 and its video has seen more While Korean pop, known as “K-pop,” projects a music production as opposed to other K-pop than 12 million hits on YouTube. It has also ranked wholesome image to its fans, it has also been criti- groups which focus on their slick dance routines. top on the iTunes single charts of Hong Kong, cized by some of the public for its cut-throat com- The band is managed by YG Entertainment Inc, one Macau, Singapore and Taiwan, where the band has petition and the way it treats young talent, such as of South Korea’s three main K-pop talent agencies, many fans. excessively long hours and low pay until they make with acts including Psy and a market value of $637 The quintet had taken time off while band it big. “Many training places churn out the same million. YG said last year the private equity arm of members focused on their solo careers. They hope people,” Taeyang said. “I believe music must show French luxury goods giant LVMH would invest up to release a single a month until August, culminat- the identities that each of us has.” to $80 million in the firm. — Reuters ing in a new album in September. “Society is very The “Korean Wave” of music has swamped Asia, competitive. I think the word ‘loser’ can explain winning fans from Tokyo to Singapore and beyond AC/DC drummer says bandmates ignoring him after legal woes C/DC drummer Phil Rudd says his bandmates are prise guilty plea to the charges at the opening of his trial in broadcast with a statement explaining that Rudd had ignoring him after he was charged with threatening New Zealand last month, and in his first public comments changed from the man who originally joined the band in Ato kill and drugs offences, despite the Australian since his arrest admitted he made a mistake. “I’ve seen the 1975. “Phil created his own situation. It’s a hard thing to say wanting to join their world tour. The 60-year-old made a sur- error of my ways and it’s onward and upward from here. It about the guy,” said Young. “He’s a great drummer, and he’s was a mistake, we all make mistakes,” he told Australia’s done a lot of stuff for us. But he seems to have let himself go. Channel Nine late Tuesday, with the Melbourne-born drum- He’s not the Phil we’ve known from the past.” Rudd is due mer hoping to avoid jail after changing his plea. back in court on June 26. While threatening to kill carries a Rudd was arrested in September at his waterfront man- potential jail term of seven years, his solicitor last month said sion in the New Zealand coastal town of Tauranga, and has he would apply for a discharge without conviction, claiming had no contact with his AC/DC bandmates since. In recent the incident was just an angry phone call. Rudd was allegedly appearances, including at the Grammys this year, the band upset about poor organization at a function to launch his solo featured Chris Slade at the drum kit and he is playing on album “Head Job”, calling an associate to say he wanted the their “Rock or Bust” world tour, which kicked off this week in ex-employee “taken out”, then phoning the man and threat- Europe. Rudd said he was “fit and ready to go” and his cur- ening his life. When police raided Rudd’s home, they found rent bail conditions would allow him to join the tour, but 0.478 grams (0.017 ounces) of methamphetamine and 91 admitted the band was giving him the cold shoulder. grams (3.21 ounces) of cannabis, court documents said. Rudd initially faced another charge of “attempting to procure mur- Great drummer der”, but it was dropped after prosecutors decided there was Martin Freeman “They haven’t called me. I wrote them a letter and I tried to insufficient evidence. — AFP get in touch with Angus but I have had no contact from any- Phil Rudd body,” he said, referring to band co-founder Angus Young. “I’m Martin Freeman joins very disappointed, but that’s life.” Young responded to the Marvel’s ‘Captain Sam Smith sees specialist for Smashing Pumpkins frontman America: Civil War’ voice, cancels more shows fter solving murders in central London with “Sherlock” and traipsing through oung singing sensation Sam Smith on Tuesday brings awareness to vets AMiddle Earth in “The Hobbit,” actor saw a US specialist for vocal cord problems after Martin Freeman is heading into the Marvel uni- Yhe canceled more dates following an intense tour- hen Smashing Pumpkins takes the ’ tour kicks off opportunity working with Col. Sutherland to verse, the Walt Disney Co-owned studio said on ing schedule. The 22-year-old British singer, who was the stage this summer, part of the June 16 in Munhall, Pennsylvania, outside bring that message where people say, ‘Well, Tuesday. Freeman, 43, who played Bilbo big winner at the latest Grammy Awards, called off Wband’s mission will be to raise Pittsburgh, with sharing the why are you guys doing it?’” — AP Baggins in “The Hobbit” trilogy and won an shows scheduled Thursday and Friday in Tokyo and awareness of the plight of US military veter- bill. Both Corgan and Manson come from mil- Emmy for his role as Dr. John Watson alongside Sunday in Manila. Smith earlier cut short a tour of ans. For its “The End Times” tour, the band itary families. Said Corgan: “This is a perfect Benedict Cumberbatch’s crime-solving detec- Australia after doctors noticed a hemorrhage on his will work with the Easter Seals Dixon Center tive in BBC’s popular “Sherlock” series, is joining vocal cords following a concert in Sydney. on a joint venture called “New Beginnings: Musician , the cast of “Captain America: Civil War.” “Very upset about Japan and Manila dates,” Smith Reaching America’s Vets.” Frontman Billy right, and Hoda Kotb It is not known yet what role he will play in wrote on Instagram, calling the situation “horrid.” Smith Corgan doesn’t see it as a partisan issue; perform at National Marvel Studios’ third installment of “Captain flew from Australia to Los Angeles “to see a specialist to rather, he thinks the alt rockers can help Concert Day at Irving America,” in which Chris Evans will reprise his see what to do.” Smith, who until a few years ago was a some veterans and their families that simply Plaza on Tuesday in role as the patriotic superhero and is scheduled bartender in London, quickly amassed a global follow- fall through the cracks. “We kind of want to New York. — AP for release in May 2016. “Martin’s range from the ing with his song “Stay With Me,” a soulful ballad about a raise awareness of what’s going on in our dramatic to the comedic has consistently one-night stand.—AFP veterans’ communities, we want to support impressed us,” said Kevin Feige, president of families,” Corgan told The Associated Press on Marvel Studios and producer of the films. Tuesday at a Live Nation event promoting Marvel Studios has had a string of block- National Concert Day. buster hits with its cinematic superhero fran- He added: “It sounds like a very simplistic chises. “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” its latest film, message, but it needs to be branded in a has amassed $204 million in North America new way in American society.” Corgan since its May 1 release. In “Civil War,” which will attended the event with Col David pick up the story from the end of “Age of Ultron,” Sutherland, chairman of the Easter Seals the superheroes will be forced to side with Iron Dixon Center. The former US Army officer Man (Robert Downey Jr) or Captain America as explained why it was important to increase the two battle each other. public awareness of issues surrounding the Freeman notably starred in the 2001 British quality of life for veterans, military families mockumentary series “The Office” and more and families of the fallen. “There are 1.4 mil- recently last year received Emmy nominations lion veterans from all generations living at or for his role as a cowed, small-town insurance below the poverty line. There’s nearly salesman in FX’s hit miniseries “Fargo.” Freeman’s Sam Smith with his four Grammys in the press room 600,000 that are unemployed, 190,000 post- “Sherlock” co-star, Cumberbatch, will also be after performing on stage during the 57th annual 9/11,” Sutherland said. “So it’s not just aware- joining the Marvel universe as the complex lead Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. — AFP ness as we forget about the wars. We can’t of “Doctor Strange,” scheduled for release in forget about the veterans.” November 2016. — Reuters