Monday, January 19, 2009
Music
4:46PM Jess McGuire | Do not ask me what kicked this off because I have no idea, but for the last week I’ve been listening to ‘Cool Rider’ from Grease 2 repeatedly on the iPod. It’s so awesome! I mean, obviously it’s kind of weak, but therein lies its charm. Michelle Pfeiffer’s thin vocals? Lyrics which spell out the song title? That amazing riff underneath the bit where Michelle’s singing “If he’s cool enough, he can burn me through and through!”? IT IS ALL GOOD.
I think Natalie Bassingthwaighte should cover this. And given her background in musical theatre, I suspect she’s probably familiar with the track so it should definitely be considered a potential b-side/”free download for the fans”.
HINT HINT, THE BASS/SONG-BMG.
PS: Comic kudos to the wag who said in the YouTube comments “She shouldn’t straddle the top rung of a ladder like that. It’s not safe, and in strict violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.” More »
And Now Some Late Afternoon ‘Cool Rider’ Appreciation
4:46PM Jess McGuire | Do not ask me what kicked this off because I have no idea, but for the last week I’ve been listening to ‘Cool Rider’ from Grease 2 repeatedly on the iPod. It’s so awesome! I mean, obviously it’s kind of weak, but therein lies its charm. Michelle Pfeiffer’s thin vocals? Lyrics which spell out the song title? That amazing riff underneath the bit where Michelle’s singing “If he’s cool enough, he can burn me through and through!”? IT IS ALL GOOD.
I think Natalie Bassingthwaighte should cover this. And given her background in musical theatre, I suspect she’s probably familiar with the track so it should definitely be considered a potential b-side/”free download for the fans”.
HINT HINT, THE BASS/SONG-BMG.
PS: Comic kudos to the wag who said in the YouTube comments “She shouldn’t straddle the top rung of a ladder like that. It’s not safe, and in strict violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.” More » 
Music
4:35PM Jess McGuire | I only ask because it sounds as though it would have been an unbelievably fantastic and/or hilarious gig. Check out this review of her Adelaide shows in The Advertiser. It makes me want to cough up good money to go and see Delta in concert. Also, I find myself watching the piano-humping happy video clip for Delta’s ode to The Poo’s love (Out Of The Blue) on YouTube and laughing in a tender, loving way. Damn you, Adelaide Advertiser! I have important things to do, stop encouraging me to procrastinate by obsessing over Delta Goodrem’s music career!
The Australian pop princess wowed the audience at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night in the first of her two Adelaide concerts for the Believe Again tour. Opening the show with her hit Believe Again, Goodrem looked every bit the princess, styled in a specially designed Bowie dress. Joining Goodrem on tour was her fiance and seemingly part-time comedian, Irish singer Brian McFadden. The couple performed their duet Almost Here as well as rock ‘n’ roll classic Do you Love Me?, complete with “mashed potato” actions.
Can’t you just imagine it? Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden impersonating Baby and Johnny Castle on stage as they belt out some vintage “rock ‘n’ roll”?
If you went to the show, please let us know (in detail!) what it was like to experience such a spacktacular event in the flesh.
MORE: Deltra Goodrem’s Adelaide Entertainment Centre review More »
Did You Go To Any Of Delta Goodrem’s Recent Shows?
4:35PM Jess McGuire | I only ask because it sounds as though it would have been an unbelievably fantastic and/or hilarious gig. Check out this review of her Adelaide shows in The Advertiser. It makes me want to cough up good money to go and see Delta in concert. Also, I find myself watching the piano-humping happy video clip for Delta’s ode to The Poo’s love (Out Of The Blue) on YouTube and laughing in a tender, loving way. Damn you, Adelaide Advertiser! I have important things to do, stop encouraging me to procrastinate by obsessing over Delta Goodrem’s music career!
The Australian pop princess wowed the audience at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre last night in the first of her two Adelaide concerts for the Believe Again tour. Opening the show with her hit Believe Again, Goodrem looked every bit the princess, styled in a specially designed Bowie dress. Joining Goodrem on tour was her fiance and seemingly part-time comedian, Irish singer Brian McFadden. The couple performed their duet Almost Here as well as rock ‘n’ roll classic Do you Love Me?, complete with “mashed potato” actions.
Can’t you just imagine it? Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden impersonating Baby and Johnny Castle on stage as they belt out some vintage “rock ‘n’ roll”?
If you went to the show, please let us know (in detail!) what it was like to experience such a spacktacular event in the flesh.
MORE: Deltra Goodrem’s Adelaide Entertainment Centre review More »
Music
4:28PM Jess McGuire | Has it been nearly a month since I last mentioned Ladyhawke on Defamer Australia? How dreadful of me. I should remedy this situation at once by bringing your attention to something that “did the rounds” (internet wise) about a month ago. I realise my coverage is late, but I’ve been busy, and hey – better late than never, right!?
Y’all know how everyone (cough) has been banging on about Lily Allen’s cover of Britney’s ‘Womanizer’, yeah? Lily “accidentally” gave the song to Mark Ronson to play on the radio hoping he’d talk over it but he didn’t and now her record company is cranky at her, blah blah blah.
WHATEVER.
I much prefer Ladyhawke’s version of the song which was recorded for Radio 1’s Live Lounge. I think it’s beautiful.
You can download it via Hard Candy. More »
Ladyhawke Covers ‘Womanizer’
4:28PM Jess McGuire | Has it been nearly a month since I last mentioned Ladyhawke on Defamer Australia? How dreadful of me. I should remedy this situation at once by bringing your attention to something that “did the rounds” (internet wise) about a month ago. I realise my coverage is late, but I’ve been busy, and hey – better late than never, right!?
Y’all know how everyone (cough) has been banging on about Lily Allen’s cover of Britney’s ‘Womanizer’, yeah? Lily “accidentally” gave the song to Mark Ronson to play on the radio hoping he’d talk over it but he didn’t and now her record company is cranky at her, blah blah blah.
WHATEVER.
I much prefer Ladyhawke’s version of the song which was recorded for Radio 1’s Live Lounge. I think it’s beautiful.
You can download it via Hard Candy. More »
Music
3:06PM Jess McGuire | Let’s start with the positive. On the eve of U2 obsessives finally getting to hear the new U2 single “Get On Your Boots” (Defamer Australia’s resident U2 expert Elmo Keep expects to be filing her review tomorrow), it seems Bono and chums have delivered a blistering couple of songs at Obama’s inauguration concert, belting out Pride (In The Name Of Love) and City Of Blinding Lights (the only redeeming song on their last record, in my humble opinion).
Elmo excitedly posted this video on her Facebook page and said “This makes up for every wrong thing that Bono has ever done, ever. Even if he has profound trouble getting MLK-related dates correct. OH GOD BONO, YOU HAVE COME BACK TO US!”.
Decide for yourself.
What’s the bad Bono-related news, I hear you asking? More »
Good News/Bad News For Bono Fans
3:06PM Jess McGuire | Let’s start with the positive. On the eve of U2 obsessives finally getting to hear the new U2 single “Get On Your Boots” (Defamer Australia’s resident U2 expert Elmo Keep expects to be filing her review tomorrow), it seems Bono and chums have delivered a blistering couple of songs at Obama’s inauguration concert, belting out Pride (In The Name Of Love) and City Of Blinding Lights (the only redeeming song on their last record, in my humble opinion).
Elmo excitedly posted this video on her Facebook page and said “This makes up for every wrong thing that Bono has ever done, ever. Even if he has profound trouble getting MLK-related dates correct. OH GOD BONO, YOU HAVE COME BACK TO US!”.
Decide for yourself.
What’s the bad Bono-related news, I hear you asking? More »
Small Screen
2:39PM Jess McGuire | Is Holly Valance promoting something at the moment? A mildly catchy pop song or a television show or something? Because she’s been in the news more in the past couple of days than she has in the past year. I’m not complaining, she clearly likes delivering quality sound bites in interviews which helps me do my job, but I am still a bit unclear as to why she’s turning up in the press all of a sudden.
Not that I care very much. I am more interested in the fact that Holly has spoken out against Neighbours! Can you even BELIEVE that? Talk about biting the hand that fed you a few years back!
Ex Neighbours star Holly Valance has attacked the TV series which catapulted her to international fame. The Melbourne stunner – who made her debut as Felicity Scully in 1999 – says the Ramsay Street show has seriously deteriorated since leaving seven years ago to embark on a pop career.
More »
Holly Valance Not Much Of A Neighbours Fan These Days
2:39PM Jess McGuire | Is Holly Valance promoting something at the moment? A mildly catchy pop song or a television show or something? Because she’s been in the news more in the past couple of days than she has in the past year. I’m not complaining, she clearly likes delivering quality sound bites in interviews which helps me do my job, but I am still a bit unclear as to why she’s turning up in the press all of a sudden.
Not that I care very much. I am more interested in the fact that Holly has spoken out against Neighbours! Can you even BELIEVE that? Talk about biting the hand that fed you a few years back!
Ex Neighbours star Holly Valance has attacked the TV series which catapulted her to international fame. The Melbourne stunner – who made her debut as Felicity Scully in 1999 – says the Ramsay Street show has seriously deteriorated since leaving seven years ago to embark on a pop career.
More » 
Competition: Score Yourself A… Blackberry Bold
2:00PM Kym Weathersten | Well, we ever so subtly hinted at it, and now it’s here. Thanks to FOX8’s new action/game/reality/whatever-other-description-you-can-think-of program The Phone, we have 4 Blackberry Bolds to give away, valued at $999. To enter, simply watch tonight’s premiere of the The Phone on FOX8 at 8.30pm and answer this two part question; What is the final clue to the first memory card (hint: you’ll find it at the petrol station), and Using the comments field below, tell us in 25 words or less what challenge you would make the contestants face if you were the ‘Clue Master’. Entries close January 21st at 5pm. Just a word of warning, though; the comp is also running on our sister sites Kotaku and Giz. So to beat all those game and gadget-heads and win the high speed smartphone, with LCD screen, you’ll need to be extra creative… For a run through of what the smartphone actually is, hit the link for a rundown by the techies over at Giz. The Phone premieres 8.30pm tonight, on FOX8. [Terms and Conditions] [The Phone] More »
People
1:37PM Jess McGuire | Oh happy day! It’s always nice to start a week of covering the idiotic celebrity “beat” with some good news, so it’s cheery to learn that beloved Australian actress and Crown Casino hater Rachel Griffiths is expecting another little one with her husband Andrew Taylor.
Aussie star Rachel Griffiths has revealed why she chose to wear an unusual golden toga to the Golden Globe awards last week. Rachel had good reason to choose comfort over corsetted style – she is pregnant with her third child. Rachel, 40, and her artist husband, Andrew Taylor, have two children: daughter Adelaide Rose, 3, and son Banjo Patrick, 5.
I wonder what ultra-Australian name they’ll give the newest addition to the family?
· Dorothea?
· Matilda?
· Skippy?
· Lawson? (Also: he has · a sweet moustache)
· Perth? (for a girl, obviously).
· Slessor?
· Ern?
· GANGgajang?
As ever, Defamer Australia welcomes your suggestions.
MORE: Rachel Griffiths is pregnant with third child More »
Rachel Griffiths Is Expecting Again!
1:37PM Jess McGuire | Oh happy day! It’s always nice to start a week of covering the idiotic celebrity “beat” with some good news, so it’s cheery to learn that beloved Australian actress and Crown Casino hater Rachel Griffiths is expecting another little one with her husband Andrew Taylor.
Aussie star Rachel Griffiths has revealed why she chose to wear an unusual golden toga to the Golden Globe awards last week. Rachel had good reason to choose comfort over corsetted style – she is pregnant with her third child. Rachel, 40, and her artist husband, Andrew Taylor, have two children: daughter Adelaide Rose, 3, and son Banjo Patrick, 5.
I wonder what ultra-Australian name they’ll give the newest addition to the family?
· Dorothea?
· Matilda?
· Skippy?
· Lawson? (Also: he has · a sweet moustache)
· Perth? (for a girl, obviously).
· Slessor?
· Ern?
· GANGgajang?
As ever, Defamer Australia welcomes your suggestions.
MORE: Rachel Griffiths is pregnant with third child More »
People
12:48PM Jess McGuire | There was an interesting report in the Sunday Telegraph over the weekend which asked whether the incredibly pointless Paris Hilton, a woman whose half-hearted doe-eyed love of cock has been well documented in the past, is actually in the midst of a Sapphic love affair with Australian model/whatever Cheyenne Tozzi.
Are Paris Hilton and Shire babe Cheyenne Tozzi more than just friends? Personal photos on Hilton’s camera seem to suggest they are lovers. To the world they present an image of globe-trotting men magnets. Yet, Hush has learned the real attraction may be between the sizzling beauties themselves.
Oooh, delicious! Do go on, Sunday Telegraph. More »
Is Paris Hilton Getting Her Lez On With Cheyenne Tozzi?
12:48PM Jess McGuire | There was an interesting report in the Sunday Telegraph over the weekend which asked whether the incredibly pointless Paris Hilton, a woman whose half-hearted doe-eyed love of cock has been well documented in the past, is actually in the midst of a Sapphic love affair with Australian model/whatever Cheyenne Tozzi.
Are Paris Hilton and Shire babe Cheyenne Tozzi more than just friends? Personal photos on Hilton’s camera seem to suggest they are lovers. To the world they present an image of globe-trotting men magnets. Yet, Hush has learned the real attraction may be between the sizzling beauties themselves.
Oooh, delicious! Do go on, Sunday Telegraph. More »
People
11:32AM Jess McGuire | The Daily Telegraph seems to think Gabriella Cilmi’s promise to stop singing for one whole day will give haters of Sweet About Me some much needed respite, but unless you loathe the song AND you are (for some unknown reason, considering you hate her biggest hit) going to Gabriella’s live show during that time, I can’t see how it would benefit you in any real way. She’ll still be getting flogged on the radio!
For those are sick of hearing done-to-death track Sweet About Me be rest assured- Gabriella Cilmi has vowed to stop singing.
For two days, anyway. She will give up her vocals instead of food for the World Vision 24 Hour famine, which starts February 13.
HANG ON A SECOND. I’m no mathematician, but I am fairly sure the numbers don’t add up. More »
Gabriella Cilmi Promises To Keep Her Mouth Shut For 24 Hours
11:32AM Jess McGuire | The Daily Telegraph seems to think Gabriella Cilmi’s promise to stop singing for one whole day will give haters of Sweet About Me some much needed respite, but unless you loathe the song AND you are (for some unknown reason, considering you hate her biggest hit) going to Gabriella’s live show during that time, I can’t see how it would benefit you in any real way. She’ll still be getting flogged on the radio!
For those are sick of hearing done-to-death track Sweet About Me be rest assured- Gabriella Cilmi has vowed to stop singing.
For two days, anyway. She will give up her vocals instead of food for the World Vision 24 Hour famine, which starts February 13.
HANG ON A SECOND. I’m no mathematician, but I am fairly sure the numbers don’t add up. More »
Flotsam & Jetsam
11:18AM Jess McGuire | Oooh, this bogan brew sounds delicious!
The world’s biggest booze company has begun targeting young drinkers with a potent new drink which looks like a vodka mix but is actually a mutant beer that beats Kevin Rudd’s alcopop laws. Colourless and tasting of citrus, Smirnoff Platinum hit bottleshops this month after a marketing campaign which included giving it away via Facebook.
WHAT? I certainly haven’t received booze via Facebook, and I would be incredibly open to such a thing.
Let’s ask some alcohol connoisseurs what they think about Smirnoff’s “mutant beer”.
Anna Sanares, 32, of Surry Hills, and Leanne Suransky, 26, of Willoughby, said they preferred Smirnoff Platinum to Ice Double Black because it was so much cheaper.
Target market appears to be stoked! Top work, Smirnoff!
MORE: Smirnoff selling Smirnoff Platinum cheaper than Smirnoff Ice Double Black More »
Would You Drink Mutant Beer?
11:18AM Jess McGuire | Oooh, this bogan brew sounds delicious!
The world’s biggest booze company has begun targeting young drinkers with a potent new drink which looks like a vodka mix but is actually a mutant beer that beats Kevin Rudd’s alcopop laws. Colourless and tasting of citrus, Smirnoff Platinum hit bottleshops this month after a marketing campaign which included giving it away via Facebook.
WHAT? I certainly haven’t received booze via Facebook, and I would be incredibly open to such a thing.
Let’s ask some alcohol connoisseurs what they think about Smirnoff’s “mutant beer”.
Anna Sanares, 32, of Surry Hills, and Leanne Suransky, 26, of Willoughby, said they preferred Smirnoff Platinum to Ice Double Black because it was so much cheaper.
Target market appears to be stoked! Top work, Smirnoff!
MORE: Smirnoff selling Smirnoff Platinum cheaper than Smirnoff Ice Double Black More » 