Ziggy the Comment Bot

This is the discussion topic for: Bjork's Tibet cry angers fans in China The Icelandic singer, Bjork, has caused controversy among fans in China by shouting "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of a concert in Shanghai. The singer ended her concert by singing her song "Declare Independence" as an encore. Before its final rallying cry of "Raise your flag!" she intoned "Tibet, Tibet" repeatedly. The singer spoke and sang in English, and the Chinese who made up half the audience may not have understood her. Tibet is known as Xizang in Mandarin but talks people were posting about it in every chinese forum and blog later. "If she wants to be political, please go home and mind her own business, please don't buzz about other country's inner affairs," wrote one contributor on the English-language danwei.org. "The atmosphere was very strange, uncomfortable compared to the rest of the concert," said Stephen Gow, a British teacher who lives in Shanghai. People did not boo, he said, but they left the Shanghai International Gymnastic Centre hurriedly. Officials at the China-based company promoting the concert, Emma Ticketmaster, said they had no comment.

This is the discussion topic for: Canadian jazz guitarist, Jeff Healey, dies at 41 Canadian jazz guitarist Jeff Healey, known for his blues-based rock and his distinctive playing style, died in hospital on Sunday after a life-long battle with cancer. He was 41. Healey, stricken with retino blastoma, a rare form of cancer that robbed him of his eyesight as a baby, first picked up the guitar when he was three years old. With his trademark style of holding the instrument across his lap, Healey formed his first band at 17 and later gained fame for his trio, The Jeff Healey Band. Discovered by the legendary jazz guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in a Toronto bar in 1982, Healey released a string of albums over the next 20 years, including the 1988 Grammy-nominated "See the light," with the hit single "Angel Eyes." He performed with a host of legends over his three-decade career, including B.B. King, George Harrison and Vaughan.

This is the discussion topic for: Robert Plant turns down £100 million Sunday Mirror yesterday reported that Robert Plant has turned down an extra £100 million pay checque to take Led Zepplin on a world tour. Plant had decided to concentrate on his new partnership with country singer Alison Krauss. A band source reportedly said: "Despite the enormous offer, the decision did not come down to money. They always said they would do the one-off show and then see how they felt. Jimmy [Page] had enjoyed the concert in December enough to want to tour. He argued they still had something to offer. He likes the idea of another chapter in the band — the grown-up tour. John [Paul Jones] sided with Jimmy. He loved making music with the others again. But Robert wanted to leave last year's concert as their legacy.

This is the discussion topic for: NME Awards winners Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 - full list of winner: Best British Band: Arctic Monkeys Best International Band: The Killers Best Solo Artist: Kate Nash Best New Band: The Enemy Best Live Band: Muse Best Album: Klaxons - 'Myths Of The Near Future' Best Track: Arctic Monkeys - 'Fluorescent Adolescent' Best Video: Arctic Monkeys - 'Teddy Picker' Best Music DVD: Nirvana - 'Unplugged In New York' Best Live Event: Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals Best TV Show: 'The Mighty Boosh' Best Radio Show: Zane Lowe (Radio 1) Best Film: 'Control' Best Website: Facebook Best Venue: Wembley Stadium Hero Of The Year: Pete Doherty Villain Of The Year: George Bush Best Dressed: Noel Fielding Worst Dressed: Amy Winehouse Worst Album: Britney Spears 'Blackout' Worst Band: 'The Hoosiers' Sexiest Man: Noel Fielding Sexiest Woman: Kylie Minogue Godlike Genius: Manic Street Preachers Philip Hall Radar Award: Glasvegas John Peel Award for Musical Innovation: Radiohead Best Dancefloor Filler: The Wombats - 'Let's Dance to Joy Division' Best Album Artwork: The Good The Bad And The Queen - 'The Good The Bad And The Queen' Best Band Blog: Radiohead www.radiohead.com/deadairspace Best Music Blog: The Modern Age www.themodernage.org

This is the discussion topic for: Madonna reveals new album title, her last major label album Madonna will release her new studio album, the final release after 26 years with Warner Bros Records, on April 28th, it has been revealed. Titled 'Hard Candy', the set is her first album since 2005's 'Confessions on a Dance Floor', and will be preceded by a single entitled Four Minutes. Madonna announced last year she's leaving Warner Bros Records, which has guided her career - and even launched her own label Maverick - since she started in 1982. She has signed a 10-year recording deal with concert promoter Live Nation to boost her income by managing every aspect of her career.

This is the discussion topic for: The Oscars 2008 Best picture Winner - No Country For Old Men Atonement Juno Michael Clayton There Will Be Blood Best director Winners - Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country For Old Men Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Jason Reitman, Juno Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood Best actor Winner - Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood George Clooney, Michael Clayton Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises Best actress Winner - Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age Julie Christie, Away from Her Laura Linney, The Savages Ellen Page, Juno Best supporting actress Winner - Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There Ruby Dee, American Gangster Saoirse Ronan, Atonement Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone Best supporting actor Winner - Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James... Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton Best foreign language film Winner - The Counterfeiters (Austria) Beaufort (Israel) Katyn (Poland) Mongol (Kazakhstan) 12 (Russia) Best animated feature film Winner - Ratatouille Persepolis Surf's Up Best adapted screenplay Winner - No Country For Old Men Atonement Away from Her The Diving Bell and the Butterfly There Will Be Blood Best original screenplay Winner - Juno Lars and the Real Girl Michael Clayton Ratatouille The Savages Best music (score) Winner - Atonement The Kite Runner Michael Clayton Ratatouille 3:10 to Yuma Best music (song) Winner - Falling Slowly - Once (performed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) Happy Working Song - Enchanted (performed by Amy Adams) Raise It Up - August Rush (performed by Jamia Simone Nash and Impact Repertory Theatre) So Close - Enchanted (performed by Jon McLaughlin) That's How You Know - Enchanted (performed by Amy Adams) Best documentary feature Winner - Taxi to the Dark Side No End in Sight Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience Sicko War/Dance Best documentary short subject Winner - Freeheld La Corona (The Crown) Salim Baba Sari's Mother Best visual effects Winner - The Golden Compass Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Transformers Best cinematography Winner - There Will Be Blood The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Atonement The Diving Bell and the Butterfly No Country For Old Men Best art direction Winner - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street American Gangster Atonement The Golden Compass There Will Be Blood Best animated short film Winner - Peter and the Wolf I Met the Walrus Madame Tutli-Putli Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven) My Love (Moya Lyubov) Best short film Winner - Le Mozart des Pickpockets At Night Il Supplente Tanghi Argentini The Tonto Woman Best costume design Winner - Elizabeth: The Golden Age Across the Universe Atonement La Vie en Rose Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Best make-up Winner - La Vie en Rose Norbit Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Best sound mixing Winner - The Bourne Ultimatum No Country For Old Men Ratatouille 3:10 to Yuma Transformers Best sound editing Winner - The Bourne Ultimatum No Country For Old Men Ratatouille There Will Be Blood Transformers Best film editing Winner - The Bourne Ultimatum The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Into the Wild No Country For Old Men There Will Be Blood

This is the discussion topic for: U2 Head Into Studio To Record "Masterpiece" Undercover reports that U2 have finally entered the studio for their follow up to 2004's 'How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb'. The band, who travelled to Morocco last year to write with long time collaborator Daniel Lanois are planning a "masterpiece", Lanois told Billboard. "There's so much material. When you get Eno and I and those guys in the room, before lunch there's like eight things." "We've had some exciting beginnings via jam sessions, now we will pick our favourite beginnings and say, 'OK, that's a lovely springboard. Now what are we trying to say?' "The springboards are sometimes melodic, sometimes riff-based, but I can assure you they are exciting."

This is the discussion topic for: Brit Awards 2008: The winners Best British male Winner: Mark Ronson Also nominated: Jamie T, Mika, Newton Faulkner, Richard Hawley Best British female Winner: Kate Nash Also nominated: Bat For Lashes, KT Tunstall, Leona Lewis, PJ Harvey Best British album Winner: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare Also nominated: Leona Lewis - Spirit, Mark Ronson - Version, Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion, Take That - Beautiful World Best British group Winner: Arctic Monkeys Also nominated: Editors, Girls Aloud, Kaiser Chiefs, Take That Best British breakthrough act Winner: Mika Also nominated: Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, Klaxons, Leona Lewis(Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners) Best British live act Winner: Take That Also nominated: Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Muse (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners) British single Winner: Take That - Shine Also nominated: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love, Mika - Grace Kelly, Mark Ronson Ft Amy Winehouse - Valerie, The Hoosiers - Worried About Ray (Winner chosen by a live public vote on the night) International male solo artist Winner: Kanye West Also nominated: Bruce Springsteen, Michael Buble, Rufus Wainwright, Timbaland International female solo artist Winner: Kylie Minogue Also nominated: Alicia Keys, Bjork, Feist, Rihanna International group Winners: Foo Fighters Also nominated: Arcade Fire, Eagles, Kings of Leon, White Stripes International album Winner: Foo Fighters - Echoes Also nominated: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible, Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden, Silence, Patience & Grace, Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times, Kylie Minogue - X Critics' Choice Award: Adele Outstanding contribution to music: Sir Paul McCartney

This is the discussion topic for: Radio 1 DJ jailed for four years in Dubai for possession of cannabis. Radio 1 DJ Grooverider has been jailed for four years in Dubai for possession of cannabis. The 40-year-old - real name Raymond Bingham - was arrested at the city's airport on November 23 after flying in for a nightclub gig. Customs officials found 2.16 grams of cannabis in his luggage. The DJ has denied deliberately smuggling drugs into the country and claimed to have accidentally left them in a trouser pocket. "It's ridiculous. I must have forgotten the spliff. It was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted," he said last month in an interview from his prison cell. Grooverider has been with Radio 1 since 1998 and co-hosts the weekly Fabio and Grooverider show at 2am each Sunday. Since his arrest, the programme has continued without him. He was employed on a freelance basis and hasn't been paid by the station since November. A Radio 1 spokesman said: "He has made a serious mistake and he is paying a very high price."

This is the discussion topic for: Rolling Stones warn 'don't take drugs' Speaking in Berlin at the premiere of "Shine a Light", Martin Scorcese's documentary about them, Sir Mick said: "When we were experimenting with drugs, little was known about the effects. In our time, there were no rehab centres. Anyway, I did not know about them." Keith Richards, a former heroin addict, warned if Amy Winehouse does not give up drugs she could end up looking as wrinkly and wasted as him. "She should get her act together," he said. Jagger also expressed concern about Winehouse, saying: "I'm worried she might die if she goes down the road that she has taken." Alan Clayson, author of a recent biography of the band said: "I am surprised they are having a go at Winehouse, but Mick is right on one point. The Betty Ford clinic didn't exist in the 1970s. You had to rely on the NHS." A spokesman for the Stones, who invited Winehouse to join them on stage at a concert last year, said: "Mick and Keith were asked to give their views about Amy and did so. They are still good mates."

This is the discussion topic for: Idiots of the week: Prince, Village People to sue Pirate Bay Following recent lawsuits and calls for ISPs to monitor illegal file sharing activities on websites such as The Pirate Bay, now artists Prince and The Village People are to sue the file-sharing website in a Swedish court, according to news website E24.se. “We’re looking at damages of millions of dollars, and we will act in both US and Swedish courts,” John Giacobbi, president of law firm Web Sheriff, said in a statement. The law firm specialises in copyright issues, E24.se reports. Other artists, including Van Morrison and copyright holders of Chet Baker’s back catalogue, can also be included in the lawsuit, Giacobbi said.

This is the discussion topic for: Aretha V Beyonce, The Catfight Continues The Aretha Franklin and Beyonce catfight continues. Matthew Knowles, speaking up for Beyonce, has now called Aretha, the Queen of Soul "childish". Aretha Franklin has been bemoaning the fact that Beyonce called Tina Turner "The Queen" at the Grammy Awards. She feels she is the rightful owner to the musical royal title. While Aretha Franklin has been known as the Queen of Soul since the 60s, Tina Turner was often called The Queen of Rock. Beyonce and Tina sang together on the Grammy Awards. Aretha was also in attendance. Beyonce's father and manager, Matthew Knowles told People magazine "I am not taking something this ridiculous to Beyonce. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as a 'queen.' Not queen of gospel, queen of soul, queen of blues, Queen of England. I consider my wife a queen and sometimes call her that. Does Aretha have a problem with that?" Source: Undercover Australia

This is the discussion topic for: Portishead reveal new album tracklisting Portishead have revealed the track-listing for their forthcoming new album, ‘Third’, which will be released on April 28. The track-listing will be: ‘Silence’ ‘Hunter’ ‘Nylon Smile’ ‘The Rip’ ‘Plastic’ ‘We Carry On’ ‘Deep Water’ ‘Machine Gun’ ‘Small' ‘Magic Doors’ ‘Threads’

This is the discussion topic for: Radiohead greatest hits coming without the consent of the band Undercover reports that EMI is planning to release a Radiohead 'Greatest Hits' album without the consent of the band. Radiohead left the label last year and released their latest album 'In Rainbows' independently, but EMI has rights to compile whatever they want from the first 6 albums. When told about the plans, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien commented We won't be doing any promotion for that, obviously." The release of the album is expected around May, when Radiohead start their US tour.

This is the discussion topic for: Massive Attack join Glastonbury line-up Massive Attack will appear at the Glastonbury Festival this summer, according to reports. Scheduled to release their long-awaited new album later this year, the band set to headline the second stage. They become the latest act to confirm an appearance at the Somerset gathering, after it was announced that Kings Of Leon, Jay-Z and The Verve will headline. Hot Chip, Fatboy Slim, Elbow, Neil Diamond, CSS, British Sea Power and Leonard Cohen are also said to be on the fill for the three-day event. Ticket registration for Glastonbury is now open. Visit www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk for more information.

This is the discussion topic for: The Who start working on new album The Who’s guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend has revealed the band are already working on a follow up to 2006’s 'Endless Wire', NME reports. That record was the band's first studio album in 24 years, and many speculated it could be their last - however, the two remaining members of the original group have now spoken about their future plans. Townshend explained: “Roger [Daltrey, singer] is working on his own idea for an album for us, with the producer T-Bone Burnett, who is an old friend of mine. I am hoping to come up with some songs for a more conventional Who record.”

This is the discussion topic for: The Game jailed over gun possession Rapper The Game is behind bars for the next two months after pleading guilty of possessing a gun at a basketball game. 28-year-old Jayceon Terrell Taylor was also given 150 hours of community service and ordered to spend three years on probation by a judge at the Los Angeles district attorney's office lodging a plea deal which spared him a possible five-year incarceration. Two other felony charges, making criminal threats and exhibiting a firearm in the presence of a peace officer, were dropped as part of the plea. The charges relate to an incident at a 2007 basketball game at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex near his old Compton neighbourhood. The rapper reportedly got so angry with a member of the opposing team, Rodrick Shannon, he punched the man before retrieved a pistol from his Cadillac Escalade and threatening to kill him.

This is the discussion topic for: Beyonce & Tina duet Beyonce is to duet with Tina Turner at the Grammy Awards this weekend, according to reports. There is no news on what the pair will play, although organisers have announced details of some of the other performers. Rihanna, Feist, Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin are slated to appear, as is Fergie with John Legend and Foo Fighters with John Paul Jones. Prince, Akon, Tony Bennett, Cher, Nelly Furtado, Quincy Jones, Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart and Stevie Wonder are expected to present awards.

This is the discussion topic for: Cher $200 million Las Vegas deal Cher is coming out retirement to play a series of Las Vegas shows. The 61-year-old singer – who claimed she would never perform live again after her 2005 'Farewell Tour’ – has signed a deal reportedly worth $200 million for a three-year residency at Caesars Palace hotel. Cher said: 'It is going to be a visually unbelievable show with brilliant choreography. Our set moves down from the ceiling, in from the sides, up from the floor. We have screens in the foreground, the centre and the back. We can change a city into a forest in two seconds. You'll see a different stage for every song." The star is expected to perform four shows a week at the venue's 4,100 seat Colosseum starting from May 6.

This is the discussion topic for: Jay-Z Causes Glastonbury Backlash When Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis booked American rapper Jay-Z to headline one night of the festival, he wanted something totally different, but has now been hit with a fan backlash. Eavis told BBC Somerset, "He (Jay-Z) will appeal to the young people and under-25s for sure, so that's a big pull for them. It's not like the traditional one we do, like Radiohead, Coldplay and Muse and Oasis." But fans have referred to it as "a disaster" and claimed it will "ruin the festival" on NME. It's a hark back to 50 Cent's 2004 appearance at Reading, when he was showered with thousands of bottles as soon as he hit the stage -via Undercover

This is the discussion topic for: Britney was drugged by manager Britney Spears’ manager Sam Lutfi frequently drugged her, according to her mother. In a six-page declaration submitted as evidence for the restraining order against Lutfi, mother Lynne accused him of grinding up pills Britney takes for her bipolar disorder and putting them in her food. Lynne said: 'Sam told me that he grinds up Britney's pills, which were on the counter and included Risperdol and Seroquel. 'He told us that he puts them in her food and that was the reason she had been quiet for the last three days. She had been sleeping. He told us that the doctor who is treating her now is trying to get her into a sleep-induced coma so that they could give her drugs to heal her brain. 'He told me, 'I'm the one who spends 24/7 with your daughter. I sleep in cars outside her house so she can't leave.’ 'He also said that if he weren't in the house to give Britney her medicine, she would kill herself. Then he said to me, 'If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll p**s on her grave.’ " Lynne also revealed details behind the argument 26-year-old Britney had with Lutfi, after which she was seen sitting on a roadside curb outside her house crying. She said: 'Sam had told Britney that she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a w***e, that she cares more about Adnan Ghalib, her current boyfriend, than she cares about her kids, and that she does not deserve the kids. 'Britney spoke to me in a tone and with the level of understanding of a very young girl. Britney then picked up a bottle of pills and read part of the label and asked us, 'What does insomnia mean?' Sam told her the pills will help her stay awake.'

This is the discussion topic for: 50 Cent makes Paris Hilton cry 50 Cent kicked Paris Hilton offstage and reduced her to tears during a pre-Super Bowl concert on Thursday. Hilton hosted the live for 944 magazine in Scottsdale, Arizona and was stunned when the headliner turned on her. After 50 Cent namechecked her during his performance, Hilton climbed onstage to dance, but was promptly told to "Get the fuck off the stage" by the angry star. Onlookers tell PageSix.com the outburst prompted Hilton to break down in tears, which was captured on film by photographers at the event.

This is the discussion topic for: Spice Girls Cancel World Tour In a statement, the group said, "Sadly the tour needs to come to an end by the end of February due to family and personal commitments for Emma, Geri, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria." Poor ticket sales and high ticket prices is the unofficial reason for the cancellation although they deny that by saying: "Due to the phenomenal demand for tickets in the UK and the US along with the touring logistics for such a massive production it was not possible to fit everything in. As the girls return to normal family life and the kids go back to school they are reviewing all the options, who knows what the future might bring," The tour started in Vancouver on December 2nd. It will now end in Toronto on February 26.

This is the discussion topic for: Gnarls Barkley: new album confirmed Gnarls Barkley will release their new album in April, it has been confirmed. 'The Odd Couple' is the follow up to 'St Elsewhere' - which featured the record breaking hit single 'Crazy' - from the producer Danger mouse and singer Cee-Lo, and according to Billboard, the pair recently finished mixing the album in Los Angeles. The new album will move away from sampling techniques to include more live instrumentation.

This is the discussion topic for: Amy Winehouse 'has months to live' says husband Amy Winehouse’s jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil has spoken out about the couple’s descent into drug addiction. Private letters from the singer’s husband to his family have been published in the News Of The World, as well as conversations with his mother Georgette Fielder-Civil. He admits he lives in fear of waking up and hearing his wife has died from a drug overdose, and said: “Every day I fear the prison chaplain is going to walk into my cell and break the news that Amy is dead.” He also revealed that Winehouse is sometimes high on drugs when she comes to visit him in prison and regularly falls asleep during their meetings. Blake has warned his wife: “Quit smoking crack or you’ll be dead in three months.” He also admitted he and Winehouse were blowing £500 a day on heroin and cocaine before he got jailed - but revealed he has now cleaned up his act since being locked up. “I'm disappointed that Amy has been taking crack and I'm pleased she got caught because at last she is going to get the help she deserves. "I want Amy to grab this opportunity in rehab so we can have a marriage and future together. Because the way she's going I really fear I will come out of prison to no wife.” “I hate Amy’s father, Mitch. My mother calls him the Fat Controller," he wrote. "He is on Amy’s payroll. What man takes money off his daughter? Mitch ought to be ashamed.”