M & A...

CONFIRMED:

After Avicci mentioning in a recent interview that he had an "upcoming project" with Madonna, the queen of everything has now announced that she is indeed working with the Swedish superstar DJ.

From Madonna's Instagram:

"Doing some house work before heading to the studio with Avicci!

#artforfreedom #clean"

Which she shortly later amended in:

"Doing some house work after 4 hours of sleep which is why i cant spell! On my way to the studio to work with Avicii! #clean"

From Billboard.com:

Madonna is making music with EDM star Avicii, she told the world via Instagram on Friday night. "On my way to the studio to work with Avicii!," was part of the Queen of Pop's caption for her Instagram photo of herself in black fishnets posted late yesterday.

Avicii, who saw his track "Wake Me Up" reach No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year, had simply tweeted "Studiomode!" several hours earlier.

There's been no word on what exactly the pair worked on last night, or whether the sessions were intended for a future Avicii release or Madonna's next album. In February, she confirmed to The Canadian Press that she was working on the follow up to 2012's "MDNA," saying "Plans are in the works already. Don't ask me with who, it's a secret. Top secret."

Madonna's affinity for Avicii is well known. She famously popped up as a surprise guest during the Swedish DJ's set at the Ultra Music Festival in 2012.

In addition, it seems that Madonna may be working with longtime songwriting partner Patrick Leonard!

Lady Sings The Jazz...

Diana Ross will headline the 35th annual Montreal Jazz Festival this summer along with the singer-songwriters Rufus Wainwright and Bobby McFerrin and the Canadian crooner Michael Bublé.

It will be Ms. Ross’s first appearance at the festival, and in addition to performing, she will be the recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald Award, which celebrates the repertory, range and versatility of international jazz singers. The festival is to be held from June 26 to July 6. For a full lineup: Montreal Jazz Festival

A DVD, please!

3 From 1...

The music business in the tiny corner of the world I live in is so boring it makes me thank the heavens above every day for the international music scene.

I would honestly say that in the last 10 years, there have been less then five local hits that I actually somewhat enjoyed. Instead I have to suffer through shit like Of Monsters And Men and this year's Eurovision song which is so truly terrible that I am convinced it was in fact written by a five year old (while "costumes" and "staging" were done by a younger sibling!). But, all is not lost - because we have our very own pop diva: the Icy Spicy Leoncie!



Yes my lovelies, Leoncie has been releasing music, shaking her stuff and creating controversy since the mid 80s. Born in 1947 in India, she released her first album in the early 80s but most of her musical output has been in the last decade.



Miss Leoncie has been a constant source of gossip for three decades - she used to be a stripper, she's very vocal on her often questionable views on things and no matter how wrong she might be, she is not afraid to stick to her guns. She has constantly complained that her, erm, art does not get radio or TV airplay - which, according to her, has much more to do with racism then the quality of her music. She has said many times that she would win Eurovision if only she would get the change, she has  picked public fights with almost everyone it seems (customs officers, real estate sellers, musicians - you name it) and if we are to believe her own press, she's an international superstar. Oh yes, her songs are played all over the world (except in Iceland, apparently), she does huge concerts and international reviews have supposedly compared her to the likes of Aretha Franklin (the voice, you see) and Madonna (the image and stunning music videos, obviously).



Sadly I could not find her 90s appearance on the brilliant Eurotrash, nor could I find her stunning X-factor audition from a few years back. But if I ever find the Eurotrash one, I will post it - her apperance in some pub in front of 10 people with a constantly skipping backing track CD had me falling over backwards with laughter (good natured one, of course).



Leoncie releases her music mostly on her own, and makes her visual masterpieces together with her husband Viktor.  Here is a look at her discography.







Say what you will about her - but in a country where the music business is so incredible boring, she is (for better or worse) a breath of fresh air. And to tell you the truth, I would actually rather vote for her in Eurovison then the complete shit we are sending this year!

Here is a threesome - excuse me, trio of songs from the Icy Spicy Indian Princess herself: Leoncie!



Do visit the official Leoncie YouTube channel - this video in particular is a must! You will also find a duet with the Icelandic King Of Pop, Paul Oscar - and videos to such songs as "Killer In The Park" and "Sex Crazy Cop". Good times!

It Must Have Been Cold There In Her Shadow...

Another year, another Oscars. Nothing much to get excited about, as usual - except that this year, the legend that is Bette Midler performed her classic hit "Wind Beneath My Wings" as a tribute to the film industry people that have passed away since last year's ceremony. What a welcomed return to the spotlight - now, go make a new album!

Madonna once again hosted her annual private Oscars after party at manager Guy Oseary's mansion. The Gucci-sponsored event lures in top celebs annually with the promise of luxury brand goods from the Italian fashion house and plenty of booze.

Security detail was tight at the coveted after party. "There was tons of security and tons of staff checking people in," an insider told US magazine. Paparazzi is not allowed inside with the promise of privacy for famous guests attending the event. Madonna wore 1,000 carats of diamonds at the party, which attracted all the A-list celebrites (the rest apparently went to Elton John's party). Academy Award winners past and present let loose and dined on dishes such as Caesar salad, penne pasta with red sauce, rice and chicken in a curry sauce and potato knishes, served buffet style.

Guests included Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Pink, Jamie Fox, Lupita Nyong’o, Julia Roberts, Jared Leto, Miley Cyrus, Bette Midler, Charlize Theron, Madonna’s ex Sean Penn and spouses-to-be Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher - and Madonna's kids!

“Brad and Angie were talking to Julia and hanging out with Lupita, who was walking around with her Oscar telling everyone it was the best night ever,” a source told E! And then there was the dance floor.

“Miley was dancing with Madonna, and Julia was dancing with her friend,” the source said. (Although not confirmed, we imagine it was Roberts’ best friend from high school, who she brought as her date because hubby Danny Moder had to work.)

And continuing their PDA tour, “Sean and Charlize were making out on the dance floor,” the source said.

Kunis and Kutcher (his ex-wife, Demi Moore, used to cohost the soiree with Madonna) were also spotted at the Gucci-sponsored bash, as were Leonardo DiCaprio and his model girlfriend Toni Garrn. Jennifer Lawrence was palling around with some girlfriends.

Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres was there with wife Portia De Rossi, as was Bradley Cooper with his first-time Academy Awards attendee girlfriend Suki Waterhouse. Cooper’s American Hustle costars Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams also joined in on the fun. Meryl Streep brought along her husband, Don Gummer.

The bash went on until 4AM - and the hostess changed outfits at least twice, dripping with diamonds the whole evening.

Blame It On The DISCO...

As regular readers of this blog now, I have always followed the Swedish Eurovision song selection well. In the past 10 years, Melodifestivalen has often been even more fun to watch then the actual Eurovision. But sadly, this year has been a different story!

The songs have been more or less dreadful, the staging been as boring as any TV "talent" show and most of the performers looked and sounded like that's exactly where they should be - on something like X-Factor.

The final is next Saturday and the running order of the 10 final songs has been decided:

1. Anton Ewald – “Natural”

2. Ellen Benediktson – “Songbird”

3. Alcazar – “Blame It On The Disco”

4. Oscar Zia – “Yes We Can”

5. Linus Svenning – “Bröder”

6. Helena Paparizou – Survivor”

7. YOHIO – “To the End”

8. Sanna Nielsen – “Undo”

9.Panetoz – “Efter solsken”

10. Ace Wilder – “Busy Doin’ Nothin”

Out of these 10 songs, only two manage to be somewhat interesting. 

Sanna Nielsen has always done well in Melodifestivalen and her entry this year (almost a ballad version of Eric Saade's "Popular") is most likely to win, in my opinion. It's nothing terribly special, but compared to most of the rest of this years songs, it is a cut above the rest. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if it wins (that is, if the dreadful Ace Wilder track doesn't - it seems to be a big favorite in Sweden, for reasons unknown by moi).

Much less likely to win is this one. Ex-Eurovision winner (for Greece) Helena Paparizou didn't qualify straight to the final but got her ticket through Andra Chansen (Second Change) this weekend. The song seems to be going down very well in Sweden and might do quite well on Saturday - but if memory serves, a song that did not qualify straight to the final has never actually won. Again, not a fantastic song per se - but much better than most of the other entries.



BUT: there is one more thing that will make the final ever so worth it! The return of the glorious Alcazar!



"Blame It On The Disco" sounds quite a bit like their previous entry "Stay The Night" - but this time they decided to make their entrance a la Madonna (Confessions Tour). Dressed in their most glittery outfit, the injected a MUCH needed life and fun into an otherwise terrible boring competition. Of course I hope this will win on Saturday, but I suspect it just might be a bit too camp...

In any case: my favorite this year:

3 From 1...

Three rather fun tracks from Mimi Imfurst (ex member of Xelle and former contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race).

Divas, Russians And Salsa...

Still trying to get a rid of that annoying flu! I did sneak out yesterday though to go to the local flea market - ant thank god I did! I picked up loads of excellent CDs for a steal. Example:



This rather fabulous, out of print and impossible to get box set from Lisa Stansfield. It rarely comes up for sale and when it does it goes for silly money (but can be yours now on the Amazon marketplace for just 399 pounds)! My price: 5 pounds!!!



Today I am trying very hard to comprehend the fact that it is, to the day, 25 years since Madonna returned to the music world after taking 1988 off from music with her single "Like A Prayer". I still remember when I heard the song on the radio for the first time - I was blown away by how different it sounded from her previous work, and of course by how utterly fabulous it was!

The song made it's debut via 2 minute Pepsi commercial that was shown all over the world at the very best time slots possible. The rest is history of course - just hours later the actual music video for the single made its debut and all hell broke loose, resulting in Pepsi dropping the whole campaign. Madonna of course walked away with a cool 5 million dollars for her part though ;)



Anyways, in order to cheer me up here are a couple of things that I came across:



This has to be seen to be believed! Ex Army of Lovers gal Michela De La Cour is full on salsa swing, with some weird partners. This really made my weekend ;)