Archive for June, 2011

Rihanna thanks ‘haters’ for ‘Man Down’ success

Saturday, June 11th, 2011
Rihanna performs on the 'Loud' tour

Rihanna has credited both her supporters and her critics for the success of her controversial ‘Man Down’ video on YouTube.

The Bajan star celebrated on Twitter after her latest promo, which has clocked up more than 17 million hits since its release last month, was named as the week’s most watched video on the social networking site.

‘Man Down’ depicts Rihanna shooting dead an apparent rapist in what was slammed by the Parents Television Council as a “cold, calculated execution of murder”.

A spokesperson stated at the time: “Instead of telling victims they should seek help, Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability.”

Rihanna previously described ‘Man Down’ as “art with a message” and argued that it reflected the realities of the “real world”.

Watch the official video for Rihanna’s ‘Man Down’ below.

Rebecca Black to star in Katy Perry music video

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
Rebecca Black

Rebecca Black will feature in the music video for Katy Perry’s new single ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’.

The 13-year-old singer, who made headlines earlier this year after the video for her song ‘Friday’ spawned 160 million views on YouTube, is seen sitting on the sofa in a newly released teaser for Perry’s single.

Following the revelation that Black will appear in the video, fans have been speculating whether the internet star will be given any lines in a single remix of the track.

The ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’ video is due to premiere on June 14.

Spot Rebecca Black sitting on the sofa in the background of the teaser around the 17-second mark below:

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‘X-Men: First Class’ beats ‘Hangover’ at UK box office

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
Michael Fassbender as Magneton in 'X-Men: First Class'

X-Men: First Class has topped the UK box office on its debut week on release.

The Marvel superhero prequel, starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and January Jones, pulled in £5.4 million since its opening last Wednesday to knock The Hangover Part II from the chart summit.

X-Men: First Class‘s total, however, falls short of the £6.6 million grossed by franchise predecessor X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.

The Hangover Part II has so far netted £21 million in box office receipts in the UK, putting it level with the UK takings of the first instalment after just two weeks on release.

Elsewhere, three new movies – JLS: Eye Wide Open, Senna and Ready – all perform well on limited release as they chart at five, six and seven respectively.

The UK box office top ten in full:
1. (-) X-Men: First Class – £5,438,386
2. (1) The Hangover Part II – £3,826,158
3. (2) Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – £2,144,179
4. (3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules – £645,196
5. (-) JLS: Eyes Wide Open – £463,914
6. (-) Senna – £375,173
7. (-) Ready – £236,868
8. (6) Rio – £94.127
9. (5) Fast & Furious 5 – £77,874
10. (4) Thor – £59,994

Pitbull fetches third week at singles No.1

Sunday, June 5th, 2011
Pitbull: 'Give Me Everything' ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer

Pitbull has notched up a third week at pole position on the UK singles chart with ‘Give Me Everything’.

The rapper’s team-up with Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer fought off rising rivals Aloe Blacc’s ‘I Need A Dollar’ and Alexandra Stan’s ‘Mr Saxobeat’ to retain the number one spot.

Outside the top five, DJ Alex Gaudino claims his fourth Top 10 hit in as many years, as well as the week’s highest new entry, with his Kelly Rowland collaboration ‘What A Feeling’ at six, just outdoing Rihanna’s ‘California King Bed’, which leaps to eight from last Sunday’s 20.

Also sneaking into the Top 10 for the first time is Jennifer Lopez and Lil Wayne’s ‘I’m Into You’, up three from 13, while Jessie J and Dev finish on the verge of the upper quarter after taking respective tracks ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ and ‘Bass Down Low’ to this week’s 11 and 12.

The Top 10 in full:
1. (1) Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer: ‘Give Me Everything’
2. (3) Aloe Blacc: ‘I Need A Dollar’
3. (5) Alexandra Stan: ‘Mr Saxobeat’
4. (4) LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & Goonrock: ‘Party Rock Anthem’
5. (2) Bruno Mars: ‘The Lazy Song’
6. (-) Alex Gaudino ft. Kelly Rowland: ‘What A Feeling’
7. (6) Chris Brown ft. Benny Benassi: ‘Beautiful People’
8. (20) Rihanna: ‘California King Bed’
9. (7) Snoop Dogg ft. David Guetta: ‘Sweat’
10. (13) Jennifer Lopez ft. Lil Wayne: ‘I’m Into You’

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‘X-Men: First Class’: Exclusive January Jones clip

Saturday, June 4th, 2011

‘Bond 23’ UK release date announced…

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
James Bond in Quantum of Solace

The James Bond film series’ 23rd instalment will be released on October 26, 2012.

Sony Pictures UK confirmed the UK cinema release date on its official Twitter account on Thursday.

Bond 23 – the working title for the project – had already been announced as debuting in the US on November 9, 2012.

Plans for Bond 23 were reportedly put on hold last year as MGM faced a financial crisis, but were revived once the company emerged from bankruptcy in November 2010.

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