dez'sPopLife

Illegal Music Downloader in Super Bowl Ad

You gotta love the irony...

Downloading music online from rogue file-sharing networks got 14-year-old Annie Leith sued for thousands of dollars. Now it has landed her a leading spot on a national ad that will debut during the Super Bowl. [Yahoo! News - Entertainment] More

Update: Double Jeopardy for kids caught in Pepsi Apple promo from the The Register gives a different, more disturbing perspective on this.

John Mayer at Macworld Expo

Check out this video of John Mayer helping Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrate Apple's new GarageBand music application. The boy has some skills!...oh and GarageBand looks pretty cool too, it's basically a DIY music studio.

[Link courtesy MacMinute]

World Idol: Kelly Clarkson abruptly left the set

According to this report from the New York Post,

Stunned "American Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson abruptly left the set of "World Idol" New Years' night after fans snubbed her in favor of a gap-toothed plumber from Norway. More

Yes Kelly did seem to look a bit out of sorts as the night went on but for all we know maybe she was hung over...who knows? Also the report doesn't cite any sources or evidence to back up the insinuation.

[Link courtesy reality blurred: the reality TV weblog]

Britney Already Seeking Annulment

According to this story from Associated Press via Yahoo! News - Entertainment,

Pop star Britney Spears married a childhood friend from Louisiana in an early morning ceremony, but quickly arranged to have it annulled, a source close to Spears told The Associated Press Sunday..."Nobody knew it was coming," said Maloof, Spears' good friend. A source speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that Spears was a "little stunned" about getting married to Alexander but was not drunk at the time.The source said the two arranged an annulment Saturday afternoon in the presence of several people, including a Las Vegas lawyer.The signed annulment will be official when the courts open Monday morning, the source said.

Also see this story and this story for more.

Is Britney Spears Married?

If this is true...well just let's say it doesn't sound like a keeper,

Britney Spears Marries in Las Vegas - Reports (Reuters), PASADENA, Calif. (Reuters) - Pop star Britney Spears has married a childhood friend during an apparently impromptu wedding ceremony on Saturday in Las Vegas, two published reports said...Spears married Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas strip early on Saturday, according to online reports by the Las Vegas Review Journal newspaper and People magazine. [Yahoo! News - Entertainment] More

This is apparently the affidavit of Application for Marriage License from the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Here's more from the People Magazine report,

The wedding plan was apparently hatched Friday night while Spears and Alexander were partying at Ghostbar, the hip club in the Palms Casino Hotel. The club's bouncers got word that Spears wanted a limo. One of the hotel's lime-green limos was provided, being driven by a hotel bellman, who shuttled the couple to the Little White Wedding Chapel, a famous quick-hitch place where everybody from Dixie Chick Natalie Maines to Bruce and Demi have tied the knot. More

World Idol: Congratulations Kurt Nilsen

Kurt Nilsen of Norway has won World Idol with Kelly Clarkson of the USA coming a close second. Belgium's Peter Evrard came third.

Kurt who sang U2s Beautiful Day consistently received 10 points with Kelly who sang You Make Me Feel Like A natural Woman consistently receiving 9 points from most every country.

It's not really a surprise that the the result came down to these two both of whom gave great performances.

Unfortunately, Guy didn't score much above the 5s and 6s. As others have said in comments on this blog he probably could have chosen a song that would have made more of an impact on the night. Guy sang his original arrangement of What A Wonderful World.

Judging by the top scorers, it was clearly the "big" songs, the ones that really showed what the singers were made of, that seemed to leave an impression on audiences. No surprises there I guess.

It's just my impression but Kelly seemed a little surprised and disappointed as the result unfolded. Then again maybe she like everyone else was just hung over. Hey she's a star any way you look at it and nothing can be taken away from her performance on the night.

Kurt was just totally taken by surprise and blown away by the result.

Victoria Beckham (was she lip syncing?) and Elton John both performed. The result was called out very much like the Eurovision contest with a country by country call out of the votes and a progressive tally.

I can't say I'm not disappointed that Guy did not win, but either one of Kurt, Kelly or Guy would have been worthy winners, so well done to Kurt.

Idol: New NZ Idol Weblog

Check out the new NZ Idol Weblog. Given that Idol is such a mass pehnomenon it is surprising that no one has done this before. Also check this story, A Popstar's view of the Pop-Idol phenomena.

World Idol Website

The World Idol Website is finally up. Check it out for information on the contestants, the judges and the voting.

You can also check out video of the contestants.

World Idol: Elton John Plans Appearance

Billboard reports that Elton John will appear on the January 1 results show of World Idol.

Buffy meets LOTR: Once More With Hobbits!

Ok this has to be one of my favourite finds for the year. In case you hadn't noticed Buffy fans are obsessive. Well so are Lord of the Rings fans as it would turn out. Once More With Feeling was the critically acclaimed musical episode from Buffy with original music penned by creator Joss Whedon himself.

Once More With Hobbits, writes LOTR related lyrics to the Once More With Feeling music. Apparently audio clips are on their way.

Hey, this is strictly fan stuff so you'll either get it or you won't.

[Link courtesy WHEDONesque]