Nu Virgos

Nu Virgos (also known as ВИА Гра - an allusion to VIA Gra due to first three letters, which stand for vocal-instrumental band) is a Ukrainian/Russian girl group, that hit the charts in their country in September 2000 with their first single[citation needed]. Their first success in Europe was in May 2004, with the single "Stop! Stop! Stop!".[citation needed] The group is known for their frequent lineup changes, with 11 different individuals having at one time been in the group.[1] The group was co-created by Dmitriy Kostyuk and Konstantin Meladze. Kostyuk is the manager of the group and the co-producer of the group's albums. Meladze is writer the group's songs and the co-producer group's of the albums.

After "Popytka No. 5" more videos were out on the screens: "Obnimi menya" (Hold me closer), "Bomba"(Bomb), "Ya ne vernus" (I won’t be back). By the end of the year Nu Virgos’ repertoire comprised 7 songs that were enough to embark on a tour. The group’s first ever live date took place in Dnepropetrovsk on the stage of the city’s Ledoviy Palace in front of some 4,000 spectators. The group’s management decided to release the first full-length Nu Virgos’ effort which was entitled after their major hit Popytka No. 5.

Within 2001 Nu Virgos collected some of their first awards: “A Hundred Pood Hit” from HIT FM Radio, “Golden Gramophone” from “Russian Radio”, and the “Golden Firebird” prize at the Ukrainian annual festival “Tavriyskiye Igry”.

2002 saw the group becoming a trio instead of being a duet and changing their musical direction. In spring the group appeared in the new video "Stop! Stop! Stop!" whose success enabled Nu Virgos to take part in the “Ovation” Music Award Ceremony held at the Moscow’s State Central Concert Hall “Rossiya”. In September a new video “Good morning, papa!” was released , and close to that year’s end the group's members played the roles of crowned heads in a TV musical called "Zolyshka" (Cinderella).

In the beginning of 2003 Nu Virgos released "Ne ostavlyay menya lyubibiy" (Don’t ever leave me love), complete with an eponymously titled video tape containing a collection of Nu Virgos’ videos. They released Stop! Snyato! (Stop! That’s a wrap!) which included four new songs along with several remixes. They attended the Russian MUZ TV awards and the “Soundtrack” award all won by Nu Virgos. In May the group released the new video "Ubey moyu podrugu" (Kill my girlfriend).

By the end of 2003 having completed their new Biologiya (Biology) album, they entered international music scene. Their first English-language album Stop! Stop! Stop! saw the light of day in Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Scandinavian countries. More videos appeared on TV – melodically and lyrically strong "Okean I tri reki" (Ocean and three rivers) and “Prityazhenya bolshe net” (No attraction anymore) (both in duet with singer Valeriy Meladze) shortly followed by the "Biologiya". In the summer of 2004 Nu Virgos were awarded the Russian music award “MUZ TV 2004” and completed a world tour spanning the territories including South East Asia, Israel and America.

The year 2005 was marked by the launch of the Russian version of Nu Virgos' official web-site as well as by the release of three new videos: "Take you back", "I don’t want a man" and "Brillianty" (Diamonds). Additionally the group picked up their second in a row MUZ TV’s “The Best Pop Act” award.

In January 2006 Nu Virgos were a participant at MIDEM 2006. Despite the heavy touring that year the group have offered two more videos: "Obmani no ostansya" (Tell me lie) and "L.M.L." and completed a new English album, their second after Stop! Stop! Stop!.

A second English language album L.M.L. was scheduled for release in November, 2006 . In early April 2007, due to unexpected pregnancy, Olga left the group, the English album project was broken so the label decided to release it digitally.

In 2007, Vera Brezhneva, the blond of the group, left the group after she married Mihayl Kiperman.

In May 2007, Nu Virgos once again won Best Group at MuzTV Awards.

On September 5 Nu Virgos premiered a video for the song "Potselui" (Kisses) in Ukraine, and September 10 - in Russia. November 1 2007, the group released a new album, called Potselui. (Kisses) with 19 tracks. Nu Virgos appeared in "Maxim" and FHM. In December 2007 Group recorded a new song called "Ya ne boyus" (I'm not afraid). In 2008, the team is scheduled to tour with English-speaking album L.M.L. for a variety of countries such as Japan, Germany, Britain and others. The group releaded a new video in February 2008.

In March 2008, the former Miss Russia Tatiana Kotova joined Nu Virgos.[1]
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_Virgos

N'Sync

What does *NSYNC mean ? -
JustiN, ChriS, JoeY, LansteN and J.C.

If it weren't true, someone would surely invent this story. Five handsome, charming and talented young men from all over America, each with a passion for singing and a dream of stardom come to Orlando, Florida. Soon after individual professional breaks, they form a vocal quintet. They take a name utilizing the last letter of each of their first names to signify the perfect unity of their harmonies. Less than a year later, the group cuts an album, which becomes a monster hit in Germany and then all over Europe. The album is released in the U.S. and almost overnight, the group attains staggering worldwide success and fame. This is the incredibly true story of *NSYNC.

Their self-titled debut in 1998 sold over ten million copies with four number one hits: "I Want Your Back," Tearin' Up My Heart," "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You," and "Drive Myself Crazy." Fans ate up their holiday album, Home For Christmas. The follow-up, No Strings Attached, broke records and sold 2.4 million albums in its first week. "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me," and "This I Promise You" instantaneously became pop classics. The accompanying tour sold out arenas and stadiums. Surely, this was all a fluke.

If the stadium dates on the sold out *NSYNC 2001 PODODYSSEY Tour or the infectious anthem "Pop" and its amazing video still don't convince you, then you simply don't want to admit true artistry. With each album and each live performance, *NSYNC just gets better and better. Their latest offering, Celebrity, is a collection of great pure dance music that's made especially with their fans in mind. Just like No Strings Attached and following in the tradition of Michael Jackson and The Beatles, Celebrity is a concept album.

"We chose the title Celebrity because the term is a misconception of what people really are," says Justin. The ability to never take themselves seriously has always been the group's most endearing quality. Celebrity pokes fun at their legendary status in pop music (just check the album cover) and even addresses some of the issues that accompany fame. Even more impressive than their social commentary is the increased songwriting and production from the group's members. JC, who also contributed to No Strings Attached, co-wrote four songs and co-produced three. "Our records are just about having good energy, having fun. That's why we even did a 2-step record like 'Up Against the Wall,'" says JC.

Celebrity also introduces Justin as a songwriter and producer. He co-wrote seven tracks and co-produced five on the new album, most with *NSYNC's choreographer Wade J. Robson. Believing they would be a great team, Justin approached Wade about collaborating musically. "We got together right after the last tour and wrote for a week, that's it, and came up with 'Pop,' 'Celebrity,' 'See Right Through You,' and 'Gone.' It's crazy. We've got a chemistry that's second to none," Justin says.

With so many songs on Celebrity with the Justin stamp, fans will get to see a new side of the charismatic singer. "If you write the things that you perform, you're putting your heart out there for everybody to either hold and nurture; or throw to the ground and step on it," he says. However, he need not worry. If there was any album that fully communicated the *NSYNC sound, this is it. "It's great to hear everybody developing musically. We're all going down the same road and it's cool to see what they've picked up," says Chris. The other guys in the group are also learning their way around the studio and eventually they too will help define the *NSYNC sound on upcoming projects.

"We enjoy all music-rock, R&B, hip-hop, blues, country, show tunes, etc. We've always had very musical ears even though people say whatever about us, but we know music and how it's structured," Chris says. "We know how we are vocally and when we go into the studio, we use what we know to make our sound different."

Celebrity is a unique collection of amazing pop songs that will undoubtedly reach a wide range of audiences. The mesmerizing ballad "Gone" (Justin beatboxes the beat!), the playful "The Game is Over" with its sample from the Pac-Man video game, and the dreamy uptempo-lullaby "Girlfriend" are just a few of the album's standout cuts. Other producers on Celebrity include Rodney Jerkins, The Neptunes, Brian McKnight, and Sweden's Cheiron production team Max Martin and Rami. "We'd already established our sound and coined the term 'dirty pop,' but you really can't classify our music. It's a great mixture of a lot of different genres that include the group's diverse tastes," says Lance. "Our formula has always been about five people coming together to brainstorm," Joey says. "Each person adds their own flavor and the combination is what defines *NSYNC.

Justin Timberlake might go solo, and his album might come out in the fall of 2002. Lance Bass is going to space sometime in November 2002. joey Fatone is in a movie called "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Lance and Joey's movie "On The Line" is on VHS and DVD. Justin Timberlake has broken up with Britney Spears. He said he was "cool" about the break-up on the "Rosie O'Donnell Show."
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/'N-Sync-Biography/588FF56B4FA61B56482568B8003DD106

Norah Jones

Norah Jones crosses musical borders from jazz to soul to folk-based pop. Jones' honey and smoke voice along with her skill as a storyteller urges listeners to hear original and classic songs, as if for the first time.

Norah grew up in Texas with her mom Sue. She got into jazz while attending
Dallas' Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She always enjoyed singing but felt that studying piano would be a more solid foundation. She majored in jazz piano at the University of North Texas for two years before taking a trip to New York city.

The trip started out as just a summer away from college, but Norah quickly knew that she would not be leaving for a while.

"The music scene is so huge. I found it very exciting. I especially enjoyed hearing amazing songwriters at places like The Living Room. Everything opened up for me. I couldn't leave."

She started hanging out with local songwriters and became inspired to write her own songs.

Eventually a band was started with local songwriter Jesse Harris and bassist Lee Alexander. Norah sang and played piano.

In October 2000 the band recorded some demos for Blue Note Records. Norah used this as an opportunity to find her voice between her roots in jazz and a new passion for songwriting. The resulting demos were available as the now of out print EP "First Sessions".

"That recording is a very special document of a working band. Jesse, bassist Lee Alexander, drummer Dan Rieser, and me. We also had guitar players Adam Rogers and Tony Scherr come in on a few tracks. They fit right into the band vibe we had going."

In January 2001 she signed with Blue Note Records. Her first Blue Note release entitled Come Away with me was released on February 26th, 2002.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Norah-Jones-Biography/EF7BDA65E55CD7CE48256BE2001B6C71

No Doubt

THE VERY BEGINNING
Anaheim, California. Little Eric Stefani writes his first song, "Stick It In The Hole," about a pencil sharpener, forcing sister Gwen to sing along. Gwen was more interested in The Sound of Music.

Born and raised in England, relocated to SoCal at age 11, Tony Kanal joins his high-school jazz band in 10th grade as the bass player, although he had previously played the saxophone.

Ninth grader Adrian Young attempts to drum to "Bend Over' by O.C. band Doggy Style at a school talent contest; several years later, when he was 18, his parents bought him a kit for Christmas and he learned "Wild Flower" by the Cult.

Tom Dumont's life changed when he realized what the phrases "dressed to kill' and "hotter than hell" really mean: Rock 'n' Roll; a wee lad with a prized KISS record living in Irvine (California), he dreamed of being a rock star. When he became a teenager, Tom picked up a guitar and started practicing.


SETTING THE FOUNDATION
December 1986
Back-flipping singer John Spence forms the Orange County-based 2 Tone ska group No Doubt -- named after his favorite expression -- with keyboardist Eric, who forces Gwen to sing backing vocals. Gwen cites Madness, Kermit the Frog, Julie Andrews and Fishbone's Angelo Moore as her heroes.

March 14, 1987
After several raucous party performances, No Doubt play their first "official" gig at Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach, California; the band was second on a bill of fourteen with The Untouchables headlining. Tony was one of several hundred people watching.

Shortly after, Tony, a high-school junior, shows up to try out wearing baggy pants and Mexican sandals. Band accepts him even though this is his first band; still a high-school senior, Gwen eagerly accepts him.

Summer 1987
Gwen kisses Tony at an Orange County party. They hide their relationship from the band. An organized perfectionist, Tony becomes the band manager (now he's just the bass player).

Dec. 21, 1987
Tragically, John Spence shoots himself at an Anaheim park. A few days later, No Doubt plays big industry gig at the Roxy in Hollywood; but devastated over John's suicide, they call it quits. Days later, they reform knowing that's what John would want.


STILL FORMING
Spring 1988
Heavy-metal guitarist Tom, a college music student, leaves his sister's heavy-metal band, Rising, because the metal scene in O.C. sucks; after peering in the window while No Doubt rehearsed, Tom pulls his long hair into a ponytail and joins the ska-heavy No Doubt, adding a heavier edge.

1987-1988
Part of the then-underground-ska-scene, No Doubt built a huge following of loyal "rude boys" and "rude girls" after numerous gigs opening for The Untouchables and Fishbone, as well as their own all-ages shows. Through this following, they were able to avoid the "pay-to-play" crap many young bands acquiesced to. A three-song and a five-song demo are sold at shows.

Summer 1989
Drummer, huge No Doubt fan and fibber, Adrian joins No Doubt after calling a number from the back of a demo tape; he tells No Doubt he has years of experience, but later admits he only has one. His love of 70's rock and ska made the choice obvious. No Doubt plays their first out-of-state show in Arizona in front of about a hundred people.

1989-1990
No Doubt evolved into a solid five-piece unit, expanding their sound to include the styles of each member. The natural evolution caused a few "rude kids" to fall away, but with shows opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley and Mano Negra, their fan base broadened to the college crowd. Pizza mailing list parties became the modus operandi as the list, which was started in 1987, grows from a few hundred names to a couple thousand. (In 1993, when the list reaches approximately 7,000 names, Tony decides to have just pizza parties).


UNDERGROUND BAND STRIKES IT BIG, SORT OF
August 1991
No Doubt signs a "big" recording contract with Interscope Records; they continue driving around O.C. in their old cars and work day jobs (Gwen and Tony were sales people at the same department store, Adrian waited tables at a steak house, and Tom ran a small music equipment rental business). Interscope head honcho Jimmy Lovine predicts Gwen will be a star in five years. The band really wants to be played on local radio station KROQ.

Oct.-Dec. 1991
Between working and going to school (Tom's a music major, Gwen's an art major, Tony and Adrian are psychology majors -- it's a smart band), band drives to a Los Angeles studio as often as possible to record their debut album, a 14-song collection of older material (1987) as well as recently penned tracks; on a budget, they spend less than $13,000.

March 1992
Self-titled No Doubt released. Only 30,000 sold; grunge is in; they don't get played on KROQ. Adrian remembers the program director saying, "It would take an act of God for this band to get on the radio." Enough said.

In support of No Doubt, the band embarks on their first two-week 13-show Western-state headlining tour in two vans (five members, a three-piece horn section, a roadie, tour manager/soundman and equipment).

Summer 1992
Band makes video for "Trapped In A Box" for a mere $5,000; MTV never played it, but M2 does now. No Doubt once again make a two-week Western run.

Fall 1992
Hitting the big time, the band undertakes a two-and-a-half month national-tour -- still in a van. Although, predominately headlining small clubs, the band plays a couple shows with Public Enemy, Pato Banton, and The Special Beat, a reunited Specials and The English Beat.


FROM TRAGIC TIMES COMES MAGIC
March 1993
No Doubt begins the first sessions for what would be called Tragic Kingdom. The album was recorded in eleven different studios over two and a half years. Tony refers to it as a "battleground" -- and there were casualties.

1994
Eric departs before the completion of Tragic Kingdom, and continues as an animator for The Simpsons.

After a seven-year relationship, Tony gets claustrophobic and dumps Gwen; the singer has plenty to sing about and "Don't Speak" evolved from a love song into a broken heart song.

Early 1995
Knowing it had been three years since they had any music out and local fans were wanting something new, No Doubt self-releases the 10-song Beacon Street Collection, named after the house on Beacon Street in Anaheim where several
members lived and the garage studio where most of the tracks were recorded. They sold out of the first thousand CD's within two weeks after selling them at shows and local record stores (To date, they've sold approximately 100,000 copies).

Fall 1995
Wanting to learn how to read music and grasp the rudiments, Adrian takes a basic drumming class at Fullerton Junior College (California); not a morning person, Adrian still makes the 8 a.m. classes.

Aug.-Sept. 1995
Laying the groundwork for Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt plays the main stage on the first Warped Tour.

October 1995
Tragic Kingdom, a mixture of ska, new wave, pop, punk and rock, is released. Of the lyrics, Gwen says: "We went through some really bad times in the past couple years -- personally and bandwise -- and our whole way of dealing with that is humor and I think that's really apparent in the record."

Album doesn't make the charts and KROQ, slow to catch on, doesn't pay attention.

No Doubt play the Virgin Megastore in Costa Mesa, California; since relatives will be attending, and also, Gwen believes, because she's a girl, her mother asks her not to swear when she sings "Just A Girl"; Gwen swears; her mom won't speak to her for a week.

Winter 1995
KROQ pays attention; band smiles. New wave-ish "Just A Girl," about being a girl, gets massive requests.

Band swears it's not their friends calling.

In support of Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt tours a week with 311, then several weeks on their own, followed by holiday radio shows.


A GIRL IS A QUEEN, NO DOUBT IS FLY
January 1996
Several months after it's release, Tragic Kingdom debuts on Billboard's Top 200 at No. 175, and the single "Just A Girl" reaches No. 10. "That single surprised the hell out of me," Tom, who created the music, told Guitar World. "I always thought the song was cool, but I never expected it to fly like it has." Video, which features band in one room and Gwen in another, is all over MTV; media ignores band and focuses on Gwen's midriff and bindi.

No Doubt makes late night debut performing "Just A Girl" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

March 28, 1996
David Letterman is seen tapping his foot while No Doubt performs "Just A Girl" on The Late Show.

May 1996
On the road opening for Bush, Gwen breaks her foot while performing; the show must go on -- this time with plenty of Band-Aids.

After Dominic Griffin interviews No Doubt for the syndicated radio show, "Live From The Pit", Dom follows Gwen, repeatedly saying: "Yeah, I know I was the drunk Irishman from the Real World, but I'm just a boy and you're just a girl." A restraining order is issued. (If you believe this, you believe Dominic is a journalist.)

June 1996
The catchy "Spiderwebs," with music by Tony and Gwen-penned lyrics NOT about their relationship, reaches No. 5 in Billboard.

Band begins their first European tour, followed by dates in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan.

July 1996
Tragic Kingdom goes Platinum.

Gwen changes her hair; Mabel's Salon in Austin reports big business in platinum color treatments.

August 1996
Tragic Kingdom certified Double-Platinum. Although No Doubt had been headlining in clubs for seven years, the band embarks on their first sold-out theater-size headlining tour.

Salons across the country complain that every teenage girl wants to get their hair cut and colored like "that No Doubt girl." "Gwennabees" are hatched.

Meanwhile, Tony goes from blond to brown, and Adrian, who had sculpted his hair into two red horns, and Tom check the theory that blondes have more fun by dipping into the bleach bottle; barber shops don't report an increase in coloring.

Sept. 5, 1996
Mutual admiration established, No Doubt returns to Letterman to perform "Spiderwebs."

Sometime 1996
Some leading news magazine reports that those other two blonde singers are out and "that No Doubt girl" is paving the way for a new style; she changes her hair again. The band gets cropped out of photos. No Doubt stipulates they are a BAND, not just a girl. Gwen feels guilty, but becomes the reigning queen of pop and idol to teenage girls.

October 1996
November issue of SPIN hits the stands with No Doubt cover story--only they forgot there were three guys in the band too. Gwen's pretty face and belly button get top billing while the boys are relegated to the Table of Contents page. SPIN says: "No Doubt is the Last American New Wave Group."

November 1996
After performing nearly every night for a year, Gwen's vocal chords are strained; the band cancels its second European tour; the dates are made up in February and March 1997.

Quintessential power ballad "Don't Speak," about Tony and Gwen's break up, reaches No. 2 on the Modern Rock chart and No. 1 on Hot 100 airplay chart in Billboard. Video portrays a different story, the story of three forgotten guys pitted against the adored singer; it was therapeutic. "Has it got to the point where we mean nothing?" Tom queries a Rolling Stone writer. "If Gwen doesn't speak, we mean nothing?"

Dec. 7, 1996
No Doubt perform "Don't Speak" and "Excuse Me Mr." on Saturday Night Live. The following week Tragic Kingdom reaches No. 1 in Billboard -- 14 months after its release, selling 229,000 copies the first week at the top spot, more than 500,000 Christmas week, and 6 million total. The album will spend nine weeks at No. 1, and 36 weeks in the Top 10.


DECADE OF NO DOUBT
Winter 1997
No Doubt begins their third headlining tour, this time at enormadome venues. It was either stripped-down clubs or Spinal Tap, jests Tom. They went with the classic comedy and the Cirque de Soliel sets.

Tragic Kingdom reaches No. 1 on Billboard's International Album Eurochart, and was a Top 5 album in the U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia, Norway, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, Denmark and Finland.

January 1997
No Doubt attends American Music Awards after being nominated for Favorite New Artist Pop/Rock. Band's super excited even if they don't win. "Not bad, Best New Artist and we've been around for 10 years," marvels Gwen.

February 1997
No Doubt attends Grammy Awards after being nominated for Best Rock Album and Best New Artist.

Band's super excited even if they don't win. They perform "Spiderwebs" live.

All-time touring highlight, No Doubt plays a sold-out 3,000-capacity show in Israel -- including members of the two opposing religious groups. On their day off, they tour Jerusalem and swim in the Dead Sea.

March 1997
No Doubt celebrates Tenth Anniversary!!!

April 11, 1997
No Doubt perform the reggae-tinged "Sunday Morning" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; although the lyrics are once again about their break up, it's Tony's favorite No Doubt song.

May 1997
Rolling Stone finally puts No Doubt on the cover--the ENTIRE band in white surgical garb. The writer announces "everything (Gwen) says is true" and that their pop music is "rousing and potent."

July 1997
Tony's life takes on new meaning after meeting his all-time music hero Prince, or as he is now called, The Artist formerly known as Prince. After the Purple One checked out No Doubt's Minneapolis show, he invited the band back to Paisley Park to jam. How cool is that?

Summer 1997
Rarely seeing a Sunday morning at home, No Doubt continue to see the world from a stage. Tragic Kingdom, still in the Top 50 at 80-plus weeks on the charts, sells seven million in the U.S. and eleven million worldwide. No Doubt, their first record, has now sold around 250,000 copies.

Sept. 4, 1997
They finally win. "Don't Speak" gives No Doubt the opportunity to speak as they enthusiastically accept the Best Group Video statue at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Fall 1997
No Doubt plays across Europe, India, Singapore and South America. Tragic Kingdom continues to sell big, reaching eight million in the U.S. and fourteen million worldwide.

Oct. 21, 1997
Interscope re-releases 10-song Beacon Street Collection as part of the back catalog.

November 1997
No Doubt releases Live In The Tragic Kingdom, a 92-minute, live-performance video shot at The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, the arena owned by Magic Kingdom heads Disneyland. Plenty of rock poses, good cheer and sweat.

More good tidings, No Doubt's version of the Vandals joyful carol "Oi To The World" -- recorded in one day while on tour -- appears on the album A Very Special Christmas III; proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics.


A REST TO DEVELOP IT
Early 1998
No Doubt takes some much needed time off, adjusts to being home, step across the Orange County border, and settle into new addresses within the L.A. County line; two now reside in Long Beach and two in Los Feliz. They stop eating at fast food eateries—except Tony. Renting out a Hollywood Hills home, the band begins writing songs for their forthcoming CD—finding their direction; as Gwen said: "We didn't really know what kind of music we were gonna write because it had been so long and we kind of out grew our old style." Gwen, now very in love, has plenty to sing about.

March 7, 1998
They win again—this time at the California Music Awards (formerly the BAMMIES). Gwen gets a statue for Outstanding Female Vocalist Statewide, and the band walks off with Outstanding Group Statewide.

April 1998
For the Stormy Weather '98 concert at L.A.'s Wiltern Theater, a benefit for Don Henley's Walden Woods Foundation, Gwen sings two torch songs: "I Can Dream, Can't I," made popular by the Andrew Sisters, and Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue."

August 1998
Gwen's a waitress—just for a day. She appears in an apron in a Rufus Wainwright video shot at her house. A week later, Gwen (without the apron) hosts a birthday bash for Tony and Adrian at her house. Many musician friends dance to loud rock music until 3 a.m. The excitement proves to be too much for Adrian; around 4 a.m. he re-decorates Gwen's front yard with regurgitated petits fours.

September 1998
The band attends the MTV Video Music Awards—purely for fun. Gwen looks smashing in her blue Smurfs fuzzy bra top and matching blue-dyed hair

October 1998
Straying for a brief afternoon, Gwen records a duet with Brian Setzer for his new album, Dirty Boogie. The track, made famous by Ann Margaret and Elvis Presley is called "You're the Boss."

October 31, 1998
Boo! Trick or treats were courtesy of Offspring's Dexter Holland. Gwen was a vampire, Tony was a bag of French fries (he loves those things), Adrian was a nun, Tom was something politically incorrect (we're not saying), and No Doubt horn player Gabe McNair was a skeleton. It was a hoot!

November 1998
No Doubt celebrates their childhood in song for the Rugrats soundtrack. In the fall, the band records "I Throw My Toys Around" with musical hero Elvis Costello, who also wrote (with his wife) and produced the song for the movie.
The band continues writing songs for their forthcoming CD and searches for the right producer.

Dec. 31, 1998
The band throws a HUGE New Year's Eve bash at Gwen's house for their friends, friends of friends, and musician- and actor-friends of friends. A star-studded affair with the likes of Tommy Lee, Ben Stiller, the Chili Peppers, Beck, plus many more. It goes into the wee hours. Adrian, once again, is plagued with ill feelings, but waits until the ride home.
After numerous attempts to find the right producer, the band finally decides on Glen Ballard, with Jack Joseph Puig as the man with the right mix and Alain Johannes (of Eleven fame) as the engineer. The magic (and long process) occurs at two Los Angeles studios—Ocean Way and Royaltone. According to Gwen, the band has three goals: to grow as songwriters, keep it simple and clean instrumentally with no tricks, and to be spontaneous.


GETTIN' ON WITH IT
February 1999
After numerous attempts to find the right producer, the band finally decides on Glen Ballard, with Jack Joseph Puig as the man with the right mix and Alain Johannes (of Eleven fame) as the engineer. The magic (and long process) occurs at two Los Angeles studios—Ocean Way and Royaltone. According to Gwen, the band has three goals: to grow as songwriters, keep it simple and clean instrumentally with no tricks, and to be spontaneous.

Feb. 22, 1999
Adrian's Schwing Magazine Charity Golf Tournament raises money for a Hollywood charity. Out for a putt and a swing, members from the Offspring, NOFX, Smashmouth and Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Earlier in '99, Adrian and Vandals drummer Joe Escalante started Schwing, an alternative golf publication through Thrasher. Lotsa musicians and girls in bikinis.

March 1999
RIAA creates a new sales status symbol: the Diamond Award for artists who move more than 10 million copies of a given album in the U.S. Forty-six artists were responsible for the 62 best-selling albums of all time... and in the mix was No Doubt for Tragic Kingdom (at 10 million!).
Band says "yes" to hip movie Go and delivers "New" for soundtrack. Finally, new music from No Doubt, although it's not so new ("New" was the first song the band wrote after Tragic Kingdom). The song, produced by Jerry Harrison, is received at radio with enthusiasm.

April 1999
Tom remarks: "This is our eighth week recording... and probably our 80th week working on this record."
Unable to wait until Gwen finishes vocals for a track, Maggen, the singer's 14-year-old dog, went poo-poo on the studio carpet. Gwen cleans it with paper towels and disposed of the mess in the garbage bin next to the studio, locking herself into the stinky gated structure in the process. "There I am, standing on top of the garbage bin that smells awful while everyone is inside a sound-proof studio."

May 1999
A whopping 17 songs are recorded—the band is really excited. It's a new sound for the band. One they have a hard time describing—or pinpointing into a style. Tony thinks there's a pervasive early '80s New Wave thing reminiscent of what they grew up on, and a very organic rock '70s sparse sound. The songs are somewhere between rock, pop and reggae. (Tony admits that all reggae they've attempted in the past sucks; "We've finally hit the right groove. Now we don't have to qualify what we've done.")
Burning London—A Clash Tribute is released. It includes No Doubt's cover of "Hateful," which is produced by David Kahne and includes guest vocals, growls and hand gestures by Billy Idol. Proceeds are donated to an L.A. youth shelter.

June 1999
Gwen adds vocals to Fishbone's cover of Sly and the Family Stone's "Everybody is a Star" for the Fishbone and Familyhood Nextperience tribute album (out March 2000).

July 1999
No Doubt completes mixing at Ocean Way with Jack Joseph Puig. Band is really excited. Record company is really excited. If the fans knew, they would be excited. Then the band decides to record two more songs; now they are the only ones excited. Tour plans for fall are put on hold.

August 1999
Band enters the studio again to record new songs for the as-yet-untitled new album on Interscope Records.
Tragic Kingdom continues to sell big, reaching 15 million worldwide.
No Doubt hosts their second annual co-birthday bash for Tony and Adrian (who sports a pink mohawk for the party) at Adrian's home in Lakewood, California. Celebrating the dynamic duo's special day: members from 311, Rage Against the Machine, and the Vandals, Perry Farrell, actor Vince Vaughn, and... well, more rock and movie stars than the neighbors liked. It was a long and festive night.

Sept. 30, 1999
No Doubt kicks off an eight-city West Coast club tour in San Diego in full pop gear: Tony and Tom wear red JUMPsuits, the horn section in lime green, Gwen in bubblegum pink (including her feathered hair), and Adrian shirtless and in boxers. The jaunt was appropriately dubbed "Pop Smart" and "Pop Start" by two fans who screamed in joy over the new pop songs at the band's L.A. show.

Oct. 9, 1999
On the final night of No Doubt's club tour, in a tender moment at The Fillmore in San Francisco, Adrian lures his girlfriend Nina to the stage, and before the thousand-plus fans, gets down on one knee, professes his love and then proposes. Nina shakes her head "yes" and the two exit the stage in each other's arms. The band, moved to tears, finishes the set with Vandals drummer Josh Freese covering for Adrian.

Winter 1999
Final touches are made to the as yet untitled new record. Even more recording, mixing, and mastering to make it just right.

Dec. 5, 1999
No Doubt attends the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards at New York's fashionable 26th Street Armory. The very fashionable band is nominated for Most Stylish Video, and Gwen—proudly displaying her multi-colored braces—is nominated for Most Fashionable Female Artist. The band walks away with the statue for Most Stylish Video for "New." Orthodontically-challenged teens everywhere proudly smile a toothy grin.

Dec. 31, 1999
Way to ring in the millennium!! No Doubt played at one of the biggest parties in the world: Times Square. To be exact, the MTV New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. The first band to play MTV in the new millennium, No Doubt took the stage a few minutes after midnight, performing a festive rendition of "It's the End of the World (And I Feel Fine)" by REM, the new skool and new first single "Ex-Girlfriend" to appease the millions of waiting fans, and the old skool "Spiderwebs."

Jan. 5, 2000
No Doubt is shot—but it’s all good. The band is shot by photographer David LaChappelle for their new album, drum roll please, Return of Saturn.

Jan. 16, 2000
The first No Doubt wedding: Adrian and Nina happily make the commitment at Adrian’s home in Southern California while family and close friends (including members of the Vandals and Sugar Ray) watched and cried. A true tight-knit group, Gwen serves as a bridesmaid while Tony and Tom stand as groomsmen.

Jan. 24-26, 2000
The video for "Ex-Girlfriend," directed by Hype Williams, is shot


SPRING AHEAD
Feb. 1, 2000
"Ex-Girlfriend," the first—and extremely anticipated single—from Return of Saturn, will be released to radio. The band waits for the day when all the planets aligned in the… you get the point. The accompanying video will be seen on millions of TVs the following week.

March 2000
No Doubt set to pack their bags and get their feet wet. The band will hit the road for an intimate three-week club tour in the States followed by a European tour in April and May. At this point they plan to take a couple deep breathes and begin a thorough tour of the U.S. and the rest of the world. Who knows, maybe Saturn will follow.

April 2000
The very down-to-Earth yet extremely out there Return of Saturn will be released April 10 internationally and April 11 in the States. Produced by Glen Ballard, mixed by Jack Joseph Puig and recorded by Alain Johannes, the 14-song disc encompasses the band’s eclectic tastes: New Wave, reggae, pop and rock. Radio programmers across the country predict a minimum of 14 hits.

The 5th Album
Jan. 2000 - Sept. 2001
In the studio making "Rock Steady".

The first single from Rock Steady was "Hey Baby" , then "Hella Good", "Underneath It All" and at last "Running"

On the Grammy Awards 2003 No Doubt won a grammy for best Pop Single with "Hey Baby"

HALL OF FAME

In February 2003 Gwen introduce Sting and The Police into Hall Of Fame and performs "Every Breath You Take"

THE MOVIE PROJECT

Gwen Stefani played in the Movie "The Aviator" between Leonardo Di Caprio

Gwen said that she make an Album, Not a NO DOUBT Album, an solo album of herself, but she didn't know what it will be an full Album or still two Singles with other great Artists.

Thanks to Andy "The Biggest No Doubt Fan" for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/No-Doubt-Biography/1DABACDF7675B780482568B9000C30C7

Nickelback

By the summer of 2004, Nickelback had been on tour around the globe for the better part of the previous 5 years, at that point supporting their third album, The Long Road (which at the time had sold 5 million copies worldwide). The plan was to take some time off to enjoy the fruits of their labor before even thinking about new songs. But two weeks into their vacation Chad, Mike and Ryan started feeling that old familiar urge, so they gathered in Chad's studio near Vancouver to jam. “Once we got in there and started to mess around, we just didn’t stop,” says Chad.

Since Nickelback used Kroeger’s studio and co-produced the album with their friend Joey Moi, they were not in a fevered rush to finish up. And, over the next seven months, they spent countless hours making sure every song on their fourth album, All the Right Reasons, was exactly the way they wanted it. The resulting 11 tracks are the most insistent, dynamic and diverse Nickelback has conjured to date. The first single “Photograph” is reflective and earnest, constructed on a foundation of multi-layered vocals, infectious melodies and guitars that build to a triumphant buzz. “Fight For All The Wrong Reasons” echoes with textural guitars and evolves from a moody melody into a crunchy, southern-tinged riff. And “Savin’ Me” is a call for redemption that’s driven by a combination of ringing and fuzzy guitars, undeniable vocals, gliding strings and delicate piano. “We were a little scared of using piano,” admits Kroeger. “We just didn’t think it was very rock and roll. It wasn’t until we heard piano in a Nickelback song that we all said, ‘Yes, we like this and we want to do more of it.’ It just complimented the part so well and really showed that we shouldn’t be narrow minded about any instrument, no matter what it is or what sort of stigma might be attached to it.”

Nickelback’s eagerness to experiment and evolve lights up All The Right Reasons like a bonfire. While the band’s music has always been deeply personal, this time not only have they laid it all bare but they also searched every inch of their sonic spectrum to create an album that appeals on many different levels. “On The Long Road we went in a heavier direction, but with this album we really wanted to show our range and have songs that work for all the diverse fans that go to Nickelback shows and listen to our records,” Kroeger says, giving a window into the impetus for his songwriting – making music for real music fans like him. Nickelback’s all-inclusive approach has been a large part of the band’s immense success. The Long Road went triple platinum in the U.S. and included the radio hits “Someday,” “Figured You Out” and “Feelin' Way Too Damn Good.” Their previous disc, 2001’s Silver Side Up, was even more successful, selling over 6 million copies in the U.S. and containing three number one hits, “Too Bad,” “Never Again” and their mega-successful breakout single, "How You Remind Me," which was the number one Most Played Song of 2002.

Joining Nickelback just in time to make All the Right Reasons was new drummer, Daniel Adair. Adair’s hard-hitting yet multifaceted style perfectly matched the band’s new material, from the foot-to-the-floor stomp and grind of “Animals” to the “lump-in-throat sentiment of “If Everyone Cared.” Adair jumped right in to the fold and his ‘audition’ in Chad’s studio even made its way into the finished album. “We are totally thrilled to have Daniel in the band,” Chad says. “The creativity that went on with him in the studio was really inspiring. He’s a totally amazing player.”

Over the years, Nickelback’s music has appealed to listeners of pop, hard rock, alternative and metal. A number of seemingly disparate celebrity artists have also embraced the band, including ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons and ex-Pantera members Vinnie Paul and the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott. Both Gibbons and Abbot (albeit posthumously) aided in the creation of All the Right Reasons. Nickelback met Gibbons backstage after one of their shows in Colorado and they all immediately hit it off. When a guitar solo was needed on the track “Follow You Home,” they asked for Gibbons’ help, then flew to Los Angeles to record the part. “I wanted a real different flavor for that solo, and Billy totally nailed it,” Chad says. “After he did the guitar part, he actually sang the third verse on the song in that low, gravelly voice of his and we put this distortion effect on it. It’s really cool.” Gibbons’ contribution did not end there, he also lent backing vocals to the track “Rock Star.”

The Pantera connection was more complicated and stemmed from a darker place. Chad became friends with drummer Vinnie Paul and the late guitarist Dimebag Darrell while on tour with Jerry Cantrell, and wound up working with Dimebag on a cover of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” which appeared on the “Charlie’s Angels” soundtrack. After the legendary guitarist was shot and killed onstage, a devastated Kroeger wrote an aggressive song called “Side of a Bullet,” as a lasting tribute to his friend. “After I put the song together, I really wanted Vinnie’s blessing,” Kroeger says. “So, I called him up and played the track for him over the phone. He said, ‘I’d love to have you do a song about my brother.’ Vinnie then sent some guitar outtakes and we pieced together a solo and put it on the song. The result is a new Dimebag Darrel solo.”

“Side of a Bullet” is just one of the many tracks on All The Right Reasons that’s rife with compelling narrative. Ever since Kroeger started writing about his personal trials on “Never Again” and “How You Remind Me” he has strived to tell stories his fans could simultaneously relate to and be transported by. “Animals” is about a nice girl and a bad boy who get caught in the act by the girl’s dad, and “Savin’ Me” addresses a man in prison who wants to be saved and a fallen angel who must return to earth to be forgiven for his sins. “I really like to tell a story that comes off like a movie inside the listener’s head,” Kroeger says. “And I try to put myself in the scene when I’m writing it. That makes it easier for me to look around and see what I can sing about. Otherwise you don’t get any details and it doesn’t play out very well.”

One of the most personal songs on All the Right Reasons, “Photograph,” is a glimpse back at Kroeger’s teenage years in which he recalls his first kiss, the friends he used to hang out with and the time he got busted for breaking into his high school. “I think I just wanted to take a trip down memory lane, and I wanted to see if I had enough ideas that would make other people take that trip, too,” Kroeger says. “It’s so funny throughout the course of a day how many times you look back and think, “I wonder whatever happened to that one girl or I wonder if the house I grew up in is still standing.’ And after people started listening to it, I was amazed how many of them thought the same thing.”

Like all of Nickelback’s albums, All the Right Reasons was born of sincerity, emotional revelation and a genuine love for music, but this time the music also stemmed from necessity – not the necessity of making deadlines or getting albums on the shelf. Rather the necessity of an artist to create, explore and try to understand more about the world around him. Hence the album title, which was a play off the track “Fight For All the Wrong Reasons.”

“I really want to make music for the right reasons,” Kroeger says. “The most important reason is to make music because you love it. And I think that’s why we spend so much time on it. On this record, we didn’t want to overlook any small detail.” Throughout the creation of All the Right Reasons, the band tweaked verses, changed choruses and altered arrangements until the songs passed the band's own litmus test- no song was deemed "done" until it made the hair on the back of their necks stand up. “We’re perfectionists,” he says. “If you finish a song and it’s not stuck in your head, then how will it stick in someone else’s head when they’ve only heard it once or twice?”

Thanks to jared Blalack for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Nickelback-Biography/30155B99A929BBCF48256B79000579F0

Nelly Furtado

"It was summertime and I was in the Azores, hanging around the small village my parents are from. I was looking out on this very rural setting, on a road going up a hill. There was an old man coming down the hill with a pitchfork on his shoulder. He was wearing gum boots, work pants and a Coca-Cola T-shirt. I saw that and thought, That’s my album!"

Quaint tales and obscure sayings and antique vases safely encased under museum glass are all nice relics of tradition. But the living history and customs of different cultures and different times seem, for singer Nelly Furtado, as rocking as a Camaro stereo blaring monster beats.

The timeless and cutting-edge comprise essential components of the energetic m?lange that has made Furtado one of pop music’s premier artists. This mix emerges with an explosive new simplicity and breadth on Folklore (set for release Nov. 25, 2003, on DreamWorks Records). The album is Furtado’s follow-up to her multiplatinum debut, Whoa, Nelly! It just shows how variously and hard the stuff on Folklore, as Nelly Furtado imagines it, can kick.

"This is the folklore of my mind," Furtado says. "The word often conjures up something old, but I’m kind of flipping its usual understanding. Folklore is something magical and mystical. I like that. But more than that, I think of it as a belief in origin. It’s people’s stories basically. Everybody everywhere has his or her own folklore. It can be light; it can be dark. And it doesn’t always have to come from the past. The historical part is not the point. Gossip about a celebrity? That’s modern folklore. The story of Ozzy Osbourne biting the head off a bat? That’s folklore as well."

Furtado showed up on the scene in the fall of 2000, 20 years old, with the release if her acclaimed debut, Whoa, Nelly! Radio tracks such as I’m Like A Bird and Turn Off The Light, both Top 10 hits on the Billboard singles charts, introduced listeners to a young Canadian, British Columbian by birth and Portuguese by heritage, who brought a self-styled vibrancy to the diverse musics she whipped together: hip-hop, Portuguese fado, pop, soul, classical, Brazilian, dance, folk, Latin and anything else that seemed expressive and alive to her.

Working with the production team of Track and Field (Gerald Eaton and Brian West) in Toronto, where she has lived since her late teens, Furtado struck fans and musicians as that extraordinary thing, a genuinely real and talented person. The songs she wrote and sang in her alert voice were about feelings old, new and futuristic; local and international; serious and daft; historic and chic; and the music was as inventively rhythmic as it was melodic. For all of this, Furtado and Whoa, Nelly! were recognized. Among slews of other citations and nominations, the Canadian Juno Awards named Furtado its Best New Solo Artist and Best Songwriter in 2001, and at the 2002 Grammy Awards, I’m Like A Bird won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Whoa, Nelly! remained a presence in the marketplace for two years, a lifetime by pop music standards. But as Folklore demonstrates, that was only the beginning. The new album’s songs produced by Track and Field and Furtado further develop the ideas and emotions that have long compelled Furtado. And with her ever-upbeat sense of fusion and generosity, and without sacrificing zing or immediacy, her music continues to ignore the stylistic restrictions that can leave pop music stale. One need look no further than first radio track Powerless (Say What You Want) for evidence of this.

Furtado (signed by DreamWorks A and R exec Beth Halper) began Folklore by making demos of the songs she had written while headlining shows across North America on her 2002 Burn In The Spotlight Tour. At first, she worked on her own. "But then at some point I went, ‘Hmm,’" Furtado says, "'I miss working with Track and Field.' Because I find that, when I work with them, my music comes together really quickly, very effortlessly. And it’s fun which, above all, music should be; if you’re not having fun there’s no point. So, we started working together in Santa Monica [Calif.] last spring."

Furtado realized that her new songs were somewhat different from her earlier material. "I think I’ve grown a lot," she says. "A lot of the songs on my first album, I was a teenager still; I was just kind of writing, writing away, and hadn’t experienced all that stuff. My first album was very aware of how I didn’t want to tour with a somber record. Therefore I recorded a happy, energetic record on purpose, because I didn’t think I was strong enough to go onstage and stand behind melancholic songs. I just wanted to share goodness and positivity and bright colours with the world. Now, I’m stepping back and understanding that I can do both; I can still be positive and yet really raw and real at the same time. In the past I’ve hidden behind a lot of metaphors. There’s always a veil in front of that. Now, it’s more like whoa, whoa, there’s nothing to hide behind. I’m far more comfortable in my skin, I suppose."

Musically Furtado remains as adventurous as ever, a product of hip-hop freedom who still likes the streamlined U.S. pop and gnarly guitar rock she grew up on. Yet she never allows those passions to close down her thirst for the reality of folk and the flair of international forms. The first song that ever swept her away was a tune by an earlier fusion-minded soul, Prince. The song was Power Fantastic, which Furtado encountered on a friend’s mix tape. "I had never heard anything like it," she remembers. "I think because it was so very lush and gorgeous, his voice. But at the same time, the level of emotion was high." Ultimately Furtado would go on to love the work of artists as different as Smashing Pumpkins and Jeff Buckley, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Caetano Veloso. (Veloso, along with banjoist Bela Fleck and the Kronos Quartet make guest appearances on Folklore.)

As the child of Portuguese parents who immigrated to Canada, Furtado has always heard these many genres through the prism of Portuguese folk and religious musics. "I look at music with a very open mind and really wide lens," she says. "When you don’t have any boundaries, you’re limitless, you can do anything because you have no bias. There’s a difference between having no bias and having no taste. You can navigate your way through all sorts of genres, which is what I like to do." Furtado’s career, as well as her music, amply demonstrates this.

In 2001 she sang on a remix of Missy Misdemeanor Elliot’s Get Ur Freak On, while in 2002 she recorded Fotografia, a duet with celebrated, Grammy-winning Colombian singer-guitarist Juanes, which hit #1 on the Latin charts.

For all her interests, Furtado remains as rooted in her Portuguese ancestry, and her intriguing thoughts and memories about her heritage animate Folklore. The church music she grew up with, for example, can function as a musical agent of transcendence. "I could be at my aunt’s barbecue," Furtado explains, "at her house, in her kitchen, making food, cooking chicken, drinking port wine. And someone will pull out a church book, a little songbook, and start singing. And I’ll just start singing. It becomes non-church, really, something that connects people to their homelands. I do believe that my melodic sensibility comes from growing up with all this great Portuguese folk church music. It’s weird. It’s just a melody and a lyric, but you feel as though you’re somewhere else when you hear it."

Her desire to fashion what she calls a post-folk record informed Furtado’s recent recording. "I really wanted to make a record that played on folk themes but was very modern at the same time," she says. "Folk is universal; it exists in every single country, every nation, every language, this idea of somebody picking up a guitar and singing about what’s around him or her. It’s spontaneous, real, down-to-earth, family-oriented. We’re playing with those themes, with taking folk instruments from all these different countries. That’s why we’ve included things like a banjo and accordion, trying to mix it up a bit."

"The goals of this collection," Furtado says, "crystallized in her mind when she was on vacation last year, spending time in The Azores, the Portuguese island group in the mid-Atlantic where her family originates.

I was visiting a grandparent of a friend of mine, an elderly woman," she recalls. "I was at her house, and she had all the beautiful old antique photos laid out on her cement terrace on the top of this hill. So, all these old photos were laid out on this cement table; all her things were outside the house. And it started to rain a bit, and she had all her clothing hanging on the clothesline. And on top of this beautiful hill, I could see the ocean below, and the hills over there. And in the distance, I heard a young person drive by with their booming system cranking techno music."

For Nelly Furtado, it all makes happy/sad, folky/hip-hoppy, weird/logical, hopeful kind of sense. "I would love to be described as a girl sitting on the porch," she says, "on a rocking chair singing to the wind. Kinda like a person on the street walking around, seeing what I see. I want to capture the wisdom of what I’ve learned from my ancestors, from my grandparents and all my heritage, going back to the old country. I would love to be seen as a woman, as a girl cackling at the world, but praying for it at the same time."

Thanks to jonas_matos@hotmail.com for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Nelly-Furtado-Biography/3498BA0A64523A5148256A08000F9FF8

Natasha Thomas

Seventeen-year-old Natasha Thomas from Copenhagen/ Denmark well remembers her first performance in front of an audience: "I was in the sixth grade," she recollects. "It was a concert, staged by the music school I went to. I had just changed public schools, because most of my class was bullying me. The concert was held at my old school, and they were there, so I was very nervous. But I knew I just had to get up there and show them. No one was going to scare me off. The song I sang was 'Killing Me Softly'."

Her professional attitude and her determination didn't always make it easy for the young singer. "I had to change schools once because my classmates bullied me," she says. But Natasha didn't give up on her dreams. She found herself a new school and focused on her favourite subjects: music and drama. She took dance and singing lessons and eventually started writing her own lyrics and songs. "I like to write about my own experiences in life. About my feelings and opinions. I find it very therapeutic."

Though Natasha works on her own career at the moment, of course there are popstars, she looks up to. "My favourite singer is Christina Aguilera. I love her voice and her current album 'Stripped'. She has some great songs and lyrics. And I have always looked up to Jennifer Lopez. She seems so sure of herself and always seems to have a good time." It's just natural that Natasha cares about her looks - "I never wear anything random, I?m very conscious about my apperance" - but she's defintely no fashion victim. "I don?t neccessarily wear something because it?s in. I have my own style. It kind of changes from day to day. One day I might wear baggy pants and the next tight pants and high heels. But I always make sure I look good. I like purple, because it?s really pretty and feminine. And white because it?s so soothing and clean. My favourite fashion item are a a pair of jeans that fit me perfectly. That?s so hard to find. And a dress that's kind of latin inspired. And finally, a pair of black boots. They' re kind of sexy meets bad ass biker chick. I like that."

A demanding pop career doesn't leave much time for hobbies. Natasha tries to keep up hers at least a little. "I always liked acting - I played a lot of theatre when I was at school. I don't read very often, but I do like poems mainly by the danish poet Michael Strunge. And of course, I love watching TV, especially "Friends". I also like going to the movies - my favourite actors are Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts. Because they?re both strong women with charming personalities and a great sense of humor. And Sean Penn because he?s a very talented actor. He?s very intense and on the screen he always seems to dedicate himself a hundred percent. My favourite movies are "The Sixth Sense" with Bruce Willis. It?s so suprising. I like it when you can?t always predict the final five minutes into the movie. And "What Women Want" with Mel Gibson is really good. I like the way it shows the guys how nasty and ridicilous they can be." In the near future, Natasha of course hopes to make it in the music business. And she' d like to give something back to her mother: "I really look up to her. She raised me on her own and she has always supported me in becoming a singer."
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Natasha-Thomas-Biography/89F4A4D018FF79C648256F6C000D4AD9

Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha Anne Bedingfield (born November 26, 1981) is an English singer and songwriter who debuted in the 1980s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Bedingfield recorded rock and gospel songs for the Hillsong London Church.

She recorded her first album Unwritten in 2004. The album contained primarily uptempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music,[1] it enjoyed international success with over 2.5 million sold worldwide.[2] In 2007, she received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for "Unwritten".[3] Bedingfield's second album N.B (2007) was yielded by "I Wanna Have Your Babies" and "Soulmate". Bedingfield has achieved 5 top ten singles in the United Kingdom to date.

Bedingfield has promoted humanitarian causes throughout the world, and is noted for her work with children in the "Stop the Traffik" campaign through her mother's charity, Global Angels.

Early life

Bedingfield was born in the Lewisham district of London to New Zealand-born Molly and John Bedingfield who are both charity workers.[4] She has three siblings; an older brother Daniel and a younger sister Nikola, who are both pop singers, and a younger brother, Joshua. Her interest in music was encouraged by her parents and growing up she took guitar and piano lessons.[5] As a teenager, Bedingfield and her siblings, Daniel and Nikola, formed the dance/electronic group, The DNA Algorithm.[6] The group provided Bedingfield with the opportunity to explore different musical genres and expand her songwriting abilities.[7] She provided vocals for the group which primarily performed dance-pop music about religion, independence and empowerment, themes that would later be found in her own solo compositions. The DNA Algorithm performed at several Christian music festivals before disbanding.[8] Bedingfield attended a year at the University of Greenwich, where she studied psychology to "make [her] a better songwriter."[4][5] After a year of studying psychology, she left university to concentrate on singing and songwriting. She began to record demos in the garages of friends who had recording studios. Bedingfield eventually took these demos to record companies.[9] Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Bedingfield composed and recorded songs for the Hillsong London Church. In 2004, her recordings appeared on the church's live album Shout God's Fame and the children's album Jesus Is My Superhero by Hillsong Music Australia.[10]

Music career
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Natasha-Bedingfield-Biography/42A5F8E61DF1D01E48256F0500074E01

Natalie

Name : Natalie Portman

Date of Birth : 9 June 1981

Place of Birth : Jerusalem

Birth name : Natalie Hershlag

Height : 5' 3

Profession : Actress

Fan Mail : Natalie Portman
C/O ICM 8942 Wilshire Blvd.


Natalie Portman Detailed Biography
Pretty, petite and doe-eyed, the Jerusalem-born daughter of a fertility doctor and an artist is now studying psychology at prestigious Harvard University in Boston (she turned down a place at Yale) – and it doesn't seem to have damaged her career in the least. Born on June 9, 1981, Natalie has long been on the serious side, deciding to become a vegetarian at the ripe old age of eight, taking time to learn three additional languages (French, Hebrew and Japanese) and making her Broadway debut while earning near-perfect marks as a full-time high school student.

Portman moved to New York when she was three. Raised on Long Island, she was discovered by a modeling agent who signed her on the spot. Her modeling stint led to an audition for Luc Besson's Leon. Due to her age (she was 12 when the film was cast), Portman was initially turned down for the lead role of Mathilda, a girl who asks a hit man (Jean Reno) to train her as an assassin to avenge her brother's death and falls in love with him in the process. However, she ultimately won the part and her 1994 film debut earned a number of positive notices. Portman then took on the role of Al Pacino's step-daughter in another demanding film, Michael Mann's Heat (1995). She followed this up with lighter fare as Jack Nicholson's daughter in Mars Attacks! (1996). Going on the same year to make Woody Allen's musical comedy Everyone Says I Love You, and continued to ride high with the success of her third film of 1996, Beautiful Girls. Portman took on another title role with her 1997 Broadway debut in The Diary of Anne Frank. She stayed with the show until May 1998, during which time she received positive notices for her performance. After lending her voice to The Prince of Egypt (1998), Portman took on her most talked-about role to date, that of Queen Amidala in The Phantom Menace (1999).

Natalie has also gone her own route in her film career – in fact, one can learn almost as much about her from the films she has turned down as from the ones she's accepted. She passed on Baz Luhrmann's Romeo And Juliet because, at 15, she wasn't comfortable with the on-screen love affair with 22-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio. She also rejected two other sexy film offers: the steamy teen seductress in Lolita and Christina Ricci's sexually-charged part in The Ice Storm because it was "too dark". Though she's found a level of success which many aspiring actresses can only dream of, it's clear Natalie won't settle for just being a beautiful Hollywood starlet.
source : http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/natalie_portman/index.shtml