Research Topics: Free Biography Essays

Natalie Portman_My Favorite Female Actress (Foreign)

Beauty, Brains, and Talent: A Lethal Combination   Most child stars, unfortunately, fade to obscurity as they get older. The minute they get a growth spurt or crossover the damning threshold of adolescence, their fifteen minutes of fame is totally up. The public forgets about them, the same way they forgot about Home Alone tyke Macaulay Culkin (among others). Some child stars, after the demise of their careers, they try to relive their glory days and end up getting seriously messed up –– you know, drugs, booze, sex, etc. Before you know it, they’re washed up has-beens in rehab, a la Lindsay Lohan.             Few actors have managed to escape the confinement of the Child Star image. Only those with top-notch talent, fierce determination, and excellent management have crossed over. Actors like Natalie Portman.             Academy Award-winner Natalie Portman (born on June 9, 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel) was discovered in a pizza parlor when she was eleven years old and kicked off her career playing brainy baby characters in movies, like her feature film debut, Leon: The Professional (1994). After that, she starred in movies featuring big names like Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro in Heat (1995), and Jack Nicholson in Mars Attacks! (1996). She shot to Household Name status with the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the prequel to the hit franchise created by George Lucas, in 1999 as Queen Amidala. She reprised her role as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). Portman proved her versatility as an actress by starring in movies of diverse genres, such as: Anywhere But Here (1999), a drama-comedy film, as Susan Sarandon’s daughter; romantic comedy/drama Garden State (2004), opposite Zach Braff; Closer (2004), with Julia Roberts and Jude Law; V for Vendetta (2006), a sci-fi action movie; The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), with Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana, a historical drama based on King Henry VIII’s affair with the Boleyn sisters; Black Swan (2010), earning her an Oscar; No Strings Attached (2011), a romantic comedy opposite Ashton Kutcher; and Thor (2011), an action movie based on the Marvel comic book of the same name.             Granted, there are actresses who have much more sophisticated and superior resume, but none of them have Natalie Portman’s intelligence and stunning good looks.             Her selection of projects is one of the reasons why I like her. Unlike many actresses who just accept whatever role thrown at them, Portman actually reads and considers the script and doesn’t “sell out” for the sake of movies –– she has principles and she’s sticking by them. For instance, she has said that she refused to be in a horror movie or any kind of “Jennifer Love Hewitt type” film. She turned down her role in Anywhere But Here because she had to shoot a love scene that involved nudity and only accepted when the script was re-written minus the love scene. She turned down the title role in Lolita (1997), as she disapproved of young artists being exposed to sex in movies.   “I think there’s enough exploitation out there that it’s not necessary to do more.” –– Natalie Portman on Lolita.               Another reason to like her? She obviously cares about the quality of a film of hers than she is about looks. What other actress would willingly shave her head for a role, just as Natalie had done for V for Vendetta?             What truly sets her apart from most actresses was the fact that she continued her studies despite her blossoming career. She multitasked between being a movie star and a regular high-school girl. She even went to prom (“A designer is going to give me something to wear. It’s the most amazing perk I have.” –– when asked about her prom dress). And guess what? After graduating Valedictorian of Syosset High School in 1999 (and, yes, I do mean valedictorian), she proceeded to study Psychology and Neuroscience in Harvard. She felt that she could use college to “explore what other careers I might be interested in,” and that she didn’t care if it ruined her career. “I’d rather be smart than a movie star,” she said.             Smart? Hello, Neuroscience? Duh. Check. Beautiful? That goes without saying. Check. Talented? She didn’t win an Oscar for nothing. Check. A caring, moral, passionate person who has her entire life ahead of her? Check. Natalie Portman is a true movie star and a true intellectual. This is the type of woman we want young girls to look up to. This is one child actress who isn’t going anywhere for a long time.     Reference: ·         IMDB. 2011. Natalie Portman – Biography. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204/bio. [Accessed 29 May 11].   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Natalie Portman_My Favorite Female Actress (Foreign)

Beauty, Brains, and Talent: A Lethal Combination Most child stars, unfortunately, fade to obscurity as they get older. The minute they g...

Michael J. Fox

Marty McFly turns 50!   Michael J. Fox, the Canadian actor famous for portraying All-American teenager Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, recently turned the big 5-0 last June 9.             Honestly, this came as a shock. I always thought of Michael J. Fox (who, fun fact, is a vegetarian) as somewhere in his early forties, much like most 80s teen stars today –– maybe because of his height . . . the same  height that garnered him roles as teenagers during the eighties (and he was well into his twenties by then), but also cost him a lot of major roles.             Michael Andrew Fox (b. June 9, 1961, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) was an army brat. He and his family had lived in loads of different towns in cities all over Canada before settling down in Burnaby, British Columbia, Vancouver. He dropped out of Burnaby Central Secondary School just before his graduation to focus on acting –– a move he regrets and regards as a “stupid youthful mistake” (apparently, he forbids his kids to stop studying and tells them to at least finish high school, then maybe take a year or two in college).             He successfully auditioned for the role of a ten-year-old in the Canadian TV series Leo and Me when he was fifteen. Three years later, he packed his bags and traveled to the Land of the Free, particularly Los Angeles, California. He was then discovered by producer Ronald Sheldo, who cast him in his TV movie Letters from Frank, which marked Fox’s US TV debut. He later added the faux middle initial “J” –– a homage to actor Michael J. Pollard –– after failing to register with the Screen Actors Guild because of their no-same-name policy (there was an older actor who also went by Michael Fox). Fox was offered more TV roles, but just like every other actor in LA, he hit a rough patch –– the roles just stopped coming. It was that time in his life when, he said, he was living off of microwave macaroni and cheese, sold paperback books to various bookstores for cash to buy groceries, and even hit up his parents for a loan so he could keep up with rent.             And then, on one fateful day, a phone call from his agent came to say: “You got the part of square kid Alex P. Keaton on the comedy series Family Ties.” (His agent didn’t actually say that, but called to tell him he got the role in the bag.) It was on the set where he met his would-be wife Tracy Pollan, who played Alex’s longtime steady Ellen. The show –– which would last for seven seasons on NBC (1982-1989) –– was originally pitched as a show with “hip parents, square kids” and the parents were supposed to be the main characters of the show. But Michael’s boyish charm made him steal every scene he was in, and by the show’s fourth season, Alex P. Keaton was Family Ties’ main attraction, becoming the center of the show, garnering Michael three consecutive Emmy awards (1986, 1987, 1988) and a Golden Globe Award in 1989.             While starring in Family Ties, he appeared in numerous movies, including the box office hit Back to the Future (a film where his character, Marty McFly, was sent from 1985 to 1955, causing his mother to cast romantic aspirations toward him and his father to be pushed further into the background, endangering Marty’s existence) and Teen Wolf in 1985, Light of Day in 1987, The Secret of My Success in 1987, Bright Lights, Big City in 1988, and Casualties of War in 1989. His last major film role was in Peter Jackson’s The Frighteners in 1996.             In 1996, he went back to TV, starring in the political sitcom Spin City, which would air until 2001. Since then, Michael appeared as guest stars in numerous TV shows such as Scrubs in 2004, Rescue Me in 2009 (opposite good friend Denis Leary) and The Good Wife in 2010. In 1998, he made the shocking declaration that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease (he found out in 1991; while he was filming Doc Hollywood, he noticed his finger twitching uncontrollably, sought a doctor, and was diagnosed with the disease) and has since then became a strong advocate for research toward discovering a cure. On March 5, 2010, Karolinska Instutet of Sweden awarded Michael with a honoris causa doctorate for his work as a true advocate of Parkinson’s research.             Forever imprinted in my mind as skateboarding teen Marty McFly, or as the workaholic in The American President, Michael J. Fox is an inspiring person, a talented actor, and a voice for the sufferers of Parkinson’s everywhere. Happy belated birthday, Michael.   References: ·         Answers.com. (2011). Michael J. Fox: Biography from Answers.com. Available: http://www.answers.com/topic/michael-j-fox. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         IMDB. (2011). Michael J. Fox (I) – Biography. Available: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000150/bio. Last accessed June 11 2011. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Michael J. Fox

Marty McFly turns 50! Michael J. Fox, the Canadian actor famous for portraying All-American teenager Marty McFly in the Back to the Futu...

Marie-Ange Casta

Well known as a sister of supermodel Laetitia Casta, Marie Ange Casta made it on her own in the same industry. Grew up in Corsica with her family which she has a strong tight. Born at the fifth day of July, now she is over 20 years old. She studied visual arts in Corsica but decided to stop and went to Paris to study fashion design and there because of her height which is 5 feet and 8 inches and started modeling. Her first important assignment was the Fall/Winter 2009/2010 for Mango campaign. Aside from modeling she do films and she’s one of the artist in “Des vents Contriares” along with Audrey Tautou and “Minuers 27” that she is promoting now. She also does TV series entitled “Come Here I’ll Kill My Beautiful”. She is currently working on the “Rascals”. She’s still practicing her love for drawing and designing. As a matter of fact she is currently collaborating with Reebook. She likes the design of Sonia Rykiel, Chloe, Dior and Jil Sander. She has an electric taste for designs. She emphasizes that she has an eye for details. She is very particular on the color of the dress, the cut of another one, the texture of one and more. But she’s just any one of us. She dresses according to her mood however loves matching accessories that seems to be incompatible at first sight. But in general she likes things that are comfortable and fitted the curves just like most of girls.             Marie-Ange at the moment loves listening to Theophilus London. She went to London’s concert. But just like her fashion taste she listens to different types of music depending also to her mood. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Marie-Ange Casta

Well known as a sister of supermodel Laetitia Casta, Marie Ange Casta made it on her own in the same industry. Grew up in Corsica with he...

Manny Pangilinan

From Humble Roots to Big-Shot Business Tycoon   It’s alarming to see how much people like 	Manuel V. Pangilinan have achieved in their lives. It makes us lesser beings 	–– okay, it makes me feel like a lazy slob with absolutely no 	direction in life. I just hope that by the time I’m over 60, I’ll have 	accomplished even just a quarter of what he had.             Manny Pangilinan (b. July 14, 	1946, Manila, Philippines) was clearly born an achiever. He earned a 	Bachelor of Arts degree in Ateneo de Manila University, where he graduated 	cum laude, and in 1968, earned his MBA degree from the Wharton School of 	Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League 	school, and one of the most prestigious universities in the world). After 	graduating, he worked for the Philippine Investment Management Consultation 	Inc. in Manila and then shipped himself to Hong Kong, where he was employed 	in companies such as Bancom International Limited and American Express Bank.             In 1981, he founded First 	Pacific Company Limited, where he would assume the roles of Managing 	Director until 1999 and Executive Chairman until 2003. In June 2003, he was 	appointed as CEO and Managing Director. You think that’s impressive? Well, 	MVP’s other credits in his impressive resume left me slack-jawed and just 	plain awed. Aside from acting as CEO of First Pacific Company Ltd, he serves 	as: Chairman of the Board of PLDT; Chairman of the Governance and Nomination 	and Technology Strategy Committees of the Board of Directors of PLDT; 	Chairman of companies such as Smart Communications, SPi, Landco Pacific 	Corporation, Maynilad Water Services Inc., Philex Mining Corporation, and 	Manila North Tollways Corporation; Director and President and CEO of 	Meralco; Chairman of the Boart of Trustees of San Beda College, PLDT-Smart 	Foundation Inc. member of the Board of Trustees of Caritas Manila and Radio 	Veritas-Global Broadcasting Systems Inc.; President of the Samahang 	Basketbol ng Pilipinas; and Chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of 	the Philippines. Received various awards over the years, such as , the 	President Pamana ng Pilipino Award (1996), Best CEO in the Philippines by 	Institutional Investor, CE0 of the Year by Biz News Asia in 2004, and, most 	recently the Global Filipino Exeutive of the Year at the Asia CEO Awards in 	2010. Pangilinan has also received Honorary Doctorates in Humanities from 	the San Beda College in 2002 and from the Xavier University in 2007 and was 	named as one of the 2009 Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes magazine.             His good name was tainted in 	2010, when he admitted that he had plagiarized –– or, in his words, “had 	some help” with –– his commencement speech for ADMU’s graduating class. 	Numerous bloggers and journalists noted the similarities of MVP’s 	commencement speech to that of media mogul Oprah Winfrey, author J.K. 	Rowling, Conan O’Brien, and even United States president Barack Obama.             Some of his plagiarized 	passages include: 	  	MVP So today, I wish you nothing better 	than similar friendships. And tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not 	a single word of mine, you will recall those of Seneca, one of the old 	Romans I met in search of ancient wisdom – as is a tale, so is life: not how 	long it is, but how good it is, that matters. 	  	JK Rowling So today, I wish you nothing more than 	similar friendships. And tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not a 	single word of mine, you remember those of Seneca, another of those old 	Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career 	ladders, in search of ancient wisdom: As is a tale, so is life: not how long 	it is, but how good it is, is what matters.   MVP 44 years ago I sat where you sit now, and I thought exactly what you are now thinking, ‘What is going to happen to me? Where can I find a job? Am I really graduating a virgin?’ Conan O’Brien 15 years ago, I sat where you sit now. And I thought exactly what you are now thinking, ‘What’s going to happen to me? Will I find myself in the world? Am I really graduating a virgin?’               The issue of plagiarism generated much buzz, as with his decision to resurrect Willi Revillame’s controversial show –– which would later be accused of child abuse following an incident where a six-year-old boy was persuaded to dance like a male stripper. In spite of the negative buzz, Pangilinan continued to do his job, even contemplating to be a part of a group of investors that will financially support NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Evidently, his top priority is to profit.   References: ·         Bong Godinez, PEP.ph. (2010). Plagiarism accusations against Manny Pangilinan pile up | PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz. Available: http://www.pep.ph/news/25320/Plagiarism-accusations-against-Manny-Pangilinan-pile-up. Last accessed June 9 2011. ·         WikiPilipinas: The Hip ‘n Free Philippine Encyclopedia. (2011). Manuel V. Pangilinan. Available: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Manuel_V._Pangilinan. Last accessed June 7 2011. ·         Mikhaela De Leon, Philippine Online Chronicles. (2010). MVP says sorry for ‘borrowed’ speech, quits ADMU post. Available: http://thepoc.net/breaking-news/breaking-stories/5683-mvp-says-sorry-for-borrowed-speech-quits-admu-post.html. Last accessed June 7 2011. ·         Forbes.com. (2010). Manuel V. Pangilinan Profile. Available: http://people.forbes.com/profile/manuel-v-pangilinan/63628. Last accessed 7th June 2011. ·         John L. Silva. (2011). JOHN’S THOUGHTS AND DEEDS: A Letter to Manny Pangilinan. Available: http://johnsilva.blogspot.com/2011/03/letter-to-manny-pangilinan.html. Last accessed 7th June 2011. ·         Millionaires in the Philippines. 2009. Millionaires in the Philippines: Manny Pangilinan. [ONLINE] Available at: http://millionaireinthephilippines.blogspot.com/2009/02/manny-pangilinan.html. [Accessed 07 June 11]. ·         Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2011. Manuel V. Pangilinan – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_V._Pangilinan. [Accessed 07 June 11]. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Manny Pangilinan

From Humble Roots to Big-Shot Business Tycoon It’s alarming to see how much people like Manuel V. Pangilinan have achieved in their l...

Leonardo DiCaprio: My Favorite Male Actor (Foreign)

The Blue-Eyed Babe Who Rebelled Against Conformity   The ever-evolving phenomena that is Leonardo DiCaprio’s career ranges from that unknown blue-eyed babe in TV to having the dubious pleasure of becoming the Poster Boy for teenage hormones run rampant to hotshot Hollywood leading man. Very few actors are fortunate to have the diverse career Leo has. Also, very few have the pleasure of working with critically acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan.             Leonardo DiCaprio is, of course, Martin Scorsese’s favorite leading man, and has cast him in numerous projects, the first one being Gangs of New York in 2002 (also starring Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day Lewis) and, recently, in Shutter Island.             Martin Scorsese and I have this in common.             Not the casting part (I wish). Leonardo DiCaprio is my favorite Hollywood actor, has been since I first laid eyes on him in James Cameron’s epic Titanic (1997). Suffice it to say that, like every other woman during that period, I nearly pee in my pants whenever the name Leonardo DiCaprio came up.             Since then, my interest in DiCaprio has improved into a more mature stage (mostly). I’ve admired the choices he’s made in his career.             For instance, I’ve admired how he refused to be conformed to the teenage heartthrob status he’d attained after the success of Titanic (which, by the way, surpassed all box office records and had been the highest-grossing films of all time –– today, it is second only to James Cameron’s other epic, Avatar). DiCaprio’s portrayal of heroic and romantic Jack Dawson, coupled with his obvious chemistry with co-star Kate Winslet, made females swoon, dawning the era of the Leo Mania. On numerous occasions, Leo stated how he disliked the attention.   “It was pretty disheartening to be objectified like that. I wanted to stop acting for a little bit. But it changed my life in a lot of ways, but at the same time, I can’t say that it didn’t give me opportunities. It made me, for the first time, in control of my career.” –– Leonardo DiCaprio on Titanic               Unlike other actors who found fame as teen heartthrobs, Leonardo didn’t spend the next few years playing hunky leading men in movies meant for the adolescent demographic. Instead, he starred in Woody Allen’s satirical film Celebrity (1998) and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998). His image as a teeny-bopper’s walking wet dream faded around 2002, when he starred in Catch Me If You Can with Tom Hanks and in Gangs of New York, his first of many Martin Scorsese collaborations. By the time his next movie, The Aviator (2004), was released, Leonardo DiCaprio was no longer identified as a teen heartthrob but has established himself as a serious actor.             Another reason why I am so fascinated with him is because, unlike many of his contemporaries, Leonardo DiCaprio is a surprisingly versatile actor. He has proven himself to be bankable as a romantic hero (Romeo + Juliet, Titanic), a drug-addled teen (The Basketball Diaries), and a leading man in gritty, dark films (The Departed). And you know that he carefully chooses his projects. All his films are hailed by critics and fans alike and are often award-winning (or, at the very least, always nominated). So you know he’s not only in it for the cash, but for the prestige and the desire to work with a particular artistic individual.             His penchant for portraying conflicted, tortured souls means all films he’s in is sure to be a complicated, intelligent project. Take Inception –– his character is, in a sense, a thief who deals with the fact that his wife (driven crazy by their line of work) framed him for her murder when it truth she had committed suicide. He plays Cobb so well, displaying despair and grief perfectly. It’s why I love watching his movies –– I know I’m in for a roller coaster ride that will leave me breathless and wanting more.             Another reason why I love him is that, unlike so many actors, he’s totally upfront about who he is. There is no bullshit, no illusions. He’s an actor navigating his way through Hollywood. And unlike so many of his egotistical colleagues, Leonardo DiCaprio knows how good he’s got it.   “You kidding? I feel very fortunate. A lot of people would love to be in my position. There are so many people out there who are suffering trillions of times more than I could ever suffer, and would love to be me. I am a lucky little bastard.” – Leonardo DiCaprio when asked on whether there are any aspects of fame he dislikes.   References: ·         Leonardo DiCaprio – Biography. 2011. Leonardo DiCaprio – Biography. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000138/bio. [Accessed 28 May 2011] ·         Leonardo DiCaprio: Biography from Answers.com. 2011. Leonardo DiCaprio: Biography from Answers.com. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.answers.com/topic/leonardo-dicaprio. [Accessed 28 May 2011] Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Leonardo DiCaprio: My Favorite Male Actor (Foreign)

The Blue-Eyed Babe Who Rebelled Against Conformity The ever-evolving phenomena that is Leonardo DiCaprio’s career ranges from that unk...

Justin Timberlake: My Favorite Male Singer (Foreign)

Did He Really Bring Sexy Back?   The boy band renaissance began in the 90s, with the Backstreet Boys sweeping into the music scene, baring abs and sending females roughly between the ages of 11 and 42 into a hormonal mess. The success of the Backstreet Boys asking females to quit playing games with their hearts paved the way for another wave of would-be-(moderately-if-not) successful pretty-boy bands such as Westlife, Hanson, Dream Street, LFO, and arguably the most talked-about boy band of the millennia, *NSYNC.             It was 1996 when *NSYNC –– consisting of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, and Chris Kirkpatrick –– released their first-ever single, “I Want You Back.” Unfortunately, the US music scene was still hung up on alternative and/or metallic rock, leaving the fledgling group turning to the UK for some love. While they were building up their fan base abroad, record industries in the United States started to have a change of heart where bubblegum pop was concerned. Suddenly, groups such as the Backstreet Boys and Hanson had massive appeal, especially to the younger demographics. By 1998, *NSYNC had finally wowed the ladies of their native US with their All-American good looks, in-sync vocals (no pun intended), and killer dance moves.             As the group progressed, it became clear that the true star of the band was the young Justin Timberlake. Timberlake’s first claim to fame came in the form of The All New Mickey Mouse Club, where he was casted alongside future celebrities such as fellow *NSYNC member J.C. Chasez, future girlfriend Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Felicity star Keri Russell, and The Notebook star Ryan Gosling, among others. His talent evidently came through at a young age, because, by the time he was 10 years old, he’d already won the Preteen Mr. American Pageant and had sung on Star Search. Timberlake proved to be a vital part of *NSYNC, wherein he –– along with Chasez –– co-wrote several tracks on their sophomore album, No Strings Attached (2000). Justin was just as, if not more, involved in their third album Celebrity, which features six songs written by him, including the smash hit “Pop.”             Maybe it was his natural charm, or maybe it was his much-publicized relationship with Britney Spears (who, incidentally, was his childhood sweetheart, circa The All New Mickey Mouse Club). But it was evident that Justin Timberlake’s popularity was growing by the second. By 2002, he broke out of the boy band and released his solo album, Justified. Most of his songs, especially “Cry Me a River,” was said to be inspired by his 2001 break-up with Britney Spears.             While his previous work from *NSYNC was pretty good, I enjoyed his solo music much more. Timberlake successfully shed away the teeny-bopper mainstream sound and produced songs that were part soul, part R&B, and part hip-hop. His song autobiographical song “Cry Me a River” was the first of many Timberlake-Timbaland collaborations. His debut solo album was well-received by critics and had even garnered him Grammies for Best Pop Vocal Album for Justified and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Cry Me a River.”             One of the reasons why his music appeals to me could be attributed to the fact that he’s more about the quality than the quantity. After his 2003 “Justified and Stripped” tour with Christina Aguilera, JT took a break from the music industry.   “I was really burned-out on the music. After that album, I just didn’t have any creative juice left. It was my first solo record, and it was kind of like every idea I had about myself since I was a little boy.” –– Justin Timberlake to W’s Robert Haskell               He released his second album in 2006. FutureSex/LoveSounds, which was released on September of 2006, proved to be just as good as his first album. The first single from the album, “SexyBack,” became a smash hit. It’s one of my favorites –– a danceable song that really does make you want to just abandon all inhibitions and start dancing like the night’s never going to end. Once again, Justin Timberlake established himself as an extremely talented singer, producer, and overall entertainer.             Since then, he sang a duet with Madonna, titled “4 Minutes,” for her Hard Candy album. Justin Timberlake has also been dabbling in a career in the movie industry, starring in numerous film projects such as Alpha Dog and, most recently, The Social Network, a story based on the founding of popular social networking site Facebook.             As of 2011, Justin Timberlake has yet to release another single. But one thing’s for sure: he isn’t going to disappoint. And as far as I’m concerned, JT did bring sexy back.   Reference: ·         Answers.com. 2011. Justin Timberlake: Biography from Answers.com. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.answers.com/topic/justin-timberlake. [Accessed 29 May 11] Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Justin Timberlake: My Favorite Male Singer (Foreign)

Did He Really Bring Sexy Back? The boy band renaissance began in the 90s, with the Backstreet Boys sweeping into the music scene, baring...

Lauren Alaina

The One   At only sixteen years old, Lauren Alaina managed to exhibit talent that could match even the most seasoned artist. Her voice, so pure and so angelic, had captivated millions of fans as soon as she hit her first note in ‘American Idol’ Season 10. It’s no secret that her talent and her good ol’ Southern charm managed to enchant judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and, most especially Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.             Thanks to millions of fans who believed in her gift, Lauren Alaina made it through the season, and it came down to two –– Alaina and country crooner Scotty McCreery. Both gave it their all during the finale, giving us extremely strong performances that had voters wondering, waiting. Who was going to become the next American Idol?               Lauren Alaina (b. November 8, 1994) was a sophomore at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, when she auditioned for ‘American Idol.’ According to Lauren, her cousin, Holly Witherow, inspired her to sing. Witherow was diagnosed with a brain tumor.             It was the Nashville audition, and she was the final contestant for that day. The judges were blown away by her voice as she sang Faith Hill’s “Like We Never Loved at All.” The judges kept lavishing her with praises right after she stopped singing, and a beaming Lauren asked if she could bring her family in to introduce them to the amazing panel of judges.             They agreed.             When Miss Jennifer Lopez asked Lauren to sing for her folks, Lauren revealed that her parents’ song was “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing,” sung by Aerosmith for the movie Armageddon. Lauren proceeded to sing the Aerosmith number and invited Steven Tyler to sing with her. The viewers were then treated to an impromptu duet between Steven Tyler and the Georgian miss while the other judges and Alaina’s family watched. It was a touching moment, arguably one of the best of the entire season. When the audition was over, the judges were in complete agreement –– they may have just found “The One.” At the closing of the show, Tyler repeated that they may have found “The One.”             Bloggers, viewers, reviewers, and critics were raving about the blonde cheerleader with the amazing voice. “The best singer so far this season, Alaina is also the least specific,” writes Jon Caramanica for the New York Times. She was compared to other Idol winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. Her “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” duet with the Aerosmith’s front man garnered Lauren more than a few loyal fans.             From that moment on, Alaina continued to awe audiences with her performances, ranging from “You Keep Me Hanging On” by the Supremes to Elvis Presley’s “Trouble.” She was always declared ‘safe,’ and was declared ‘advanced’ for six episodes after her audition. During the Top 5 episode (Songs from Now and Then), Alaina’s rendition of Katrina Elam’s “Flat on the Floor” and Todd Duncan’s “Unchained Melody” earned her a spot in the bottom two, along with Jacob Lusk. Ryan Seacrest announced that she was safe, and Lusk was eliminated.             Five performances later, it came down to two –– Lauren Alain vs. Scotty McCreery. Who would become the next American Idol?             Steven Tyler had been a steady fan of Alaina’s since their Nashville duet to the point where viewers had accused him of favoritism, and he thinks she should win. “I circled her months ago and said ‘American Idol.’ Her and about six or seven others, but I heard her first. I mean, how does a 15-year-old sing like that? How does that happen? That’s magic, that’s the gift and that’s what we’re looking for.”             But it just wasn’t meant to be. After a record of 122 million votes, Scotty McCreery was crowned as Season 10’s American Idol. Alaina fans were devastated, but Lauren doesn’t see it as a loss.             “I didn’t lose,” Alaina said. “I came in second place.”             “I knew Scotty was gonna win,” she continued. “ … I couldn’t pick a more perfect person to get second place to. I know that’s cheesy, but he’s my best friend.”             Since coming in second in American Idol, Alaina has had her fun, sparking rumors that she and McCreery were dating after planting a kiss on him during the finale, presenting at the CMT Awards, scoring a record deal and even releasing a record-breaking single, “Like My Mother Does,” entering at number 20 in Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart. She’s not the American Idol, but she’s still a star.       References: ·         Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011). Lauren Alaina – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauren_Alaina. Last accessed June 11, 2010. ·         Michele Amabile Angermiller, Shirley Halperin, The Hollywood Reporter. (2011). ‘American Idol’s’ Lauren Alaina on Scotty McCreery’s Win: ‘I Didn’t Lose; I Came in Second’. Available: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idols-lauren-alaina-scotty-192461. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         Kiki Von Glinow, PopEater.com. (2011). Lauren Alaina: Scotty McCreery ‘Might Be My Boyfriend’ | PopEater.com. Available: http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/26/lauren-alaina-scotty-mccreery-might-be-my-boyfriend/. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         Lisa Princ, SheKnows Reality TV Magazine. (2011). American Idol: Lauren Alaina Inks Record Deal | Reality TV Magazine. Available: http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/2011/06/10/american-idol-lauren-alaina-inks-record-deal/. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         AOL Music Records, PopEater.com. (2011). ‘Idol’ Runner-Up Lauren Alaina Breaks Records With Debut Single | PopEater.com. Available: http://www.popeater.com/2011/06/08/lauren-alaina-debut-breaks-records/. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         Connie Ann Kirk, Examiner.com. (2011). ‘American Idol’: Steven Tyler, Lauren Alaina, ‘Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing’ (video) – National Young Adult Pop Culture | Examiner.com. Available: http://www.examiner.com/young-adult-pop-culture-in-national/american-idol-steven-tyler-lauren-alaina-don-t-wanna-miss-a-thing-video. Last accessed June 11 2011. ·         Tierney Bricker, Zap2it. (2011). ‘American Idol’s’ Steven Tyler: ‘Lauren Alaina’s been perfect’ – From Inside the Box – Zap2it. Available: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/05/american-idols-steven-tyler-lauren-alainas-been-perfect.html. Last accessed June 11 2011. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Lauren Alaina

The One At only sixteen years old, Lauren Alaina managed to exhibit talent that could match even the most seasoned artist. Her voice, s...

Laurent Gbagbo

Another One Bites the Dust   Another tyrant has been stripped off his power––Laurent Gbagbo, who had served as Côte d’Ivoire’s fourth President for well over ten years, had been sent to prison after trying unsuccessfully to evade the United Nations, which was out for his blood.             Gbagbo was born in the village of Mama, on May 31st of 1945. Before entering the world of politics, he was a history professor and a nonprofessional chemist and physicist––he earned his doctorate at Paris Diderot University in 1979. The next year, he was appointed as the Director of the Institute of History, Art, and African Archeology at the University of Abidjan. In 1982, he organized what is now the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI).             His imprisonment now isn’t exactly his first time in jail. He was first arrested in the early ‘70s and then later again in the early ‘90s. Gbagbo was even exiled in France for the most part of the ‘80s. He came back to Côte d’Ivoire on September of 1988 and was subsequently elected as the FPI party’s Secretary-General.             Following the establishment of multiparty politics, Gbagbo was the lone candidate who campaigned against Houphouët-Boigny on October 1999. Gbagbo lost, earning less than 20 percent of votes. That same year, he––along with eight other FPI members––managed to win a seat in the National Assembly. In the span of 1990 to 1995, he had a seat in the Ouragahio District in the Gagnoa Department, and served as the president of the FPI Parliamentary Group. He was sentenced to jail in 1992 and was charged with instigating violence, although he was released a short time later.             In 1996, he was again elected a seat in the Ouragahio National Assembly and as President of the FPI. For the 2000 presidential election, the FPI again chose Gbagbo as their candidate. Robert Guéï refused to allow anyone––particularly Alassane Ouattara and Henri Konan Bédié––to run against him, except for Gbagbo. Gbagbo established himself as president on October of 2000.             The first Ivorian civil war broke out in 2002. Rebels, who dubbed themselves “Forces Nouvelles,” from the northern area had successfully seized the cities of Bouaké, and Korhogo. The Forces Nouvelles wanted a just election––their candidate, Alassane Ouattara, had been denied the right to run for president after Gbagbo and his followers accused Ouattara of not being “a real Ivoirian.”             A peace agreement had popped up somewhere, which ultimately shattered when Gbagbo refused to agree to a democratic election. In November 2004, he commanded air strikes against the rebels following the rebels’ refusal to disarm. On November 6, one of the air strikes hit French soldiers––9 had been killed. The Ivoirian government decreed it was a mistake, but the French believed that it was all deliberate and retaliated by taking down most Ivoirian military aircraft. Gbagbo’s supporters had brutally attacked the French and even Ivorian who had French origins.             The government and the rebels signed a peace deal on March 4, 2007 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. As a result, the Forces Nouvelles’ leader, Guillaume Soro, was established as Prime Minister. On July 30 2007, Gbagbo traveled to the north for “the peace flame,” a disarmament ceremony which involved the burning of weapons to symbolize the end of war. Gbagbo declared the war has ended and said that the sovereignty should move on and focus on the elections planned for 2008.             Again, Gbagbo was the FPI presidential candidate, running against Alassane Ouattara. Officially, Gbagbo’s term ended in 2005, but kept delaying an election. The planned 2008 election was postponed to 2010.             In December 2010, the Ivory Coast Election Commission (CEI) announced that Ouattara was the winner, garnering over 54 percent of the vote. Gbagbo and his party cried foul play and demanded that votes from nine regions be annulled. The Constitutional Council, incidentally headed by a supporter of Gbagbo, excluded votes from the said nine regions, particularly the areas where Ouattara had been leading in the polls. Without the votes, Gbagbo came out the winner, garnering 51 percent of votes. Once again, tumult began to rise, and Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, told the government to “act responsibly and peacefully.”             After much turmoil, which includes Gbagbo banning foreign news media to broadcast from within the country and Gbagbo demanding that the UN and French troops leave the country (which some perceived as part of a plan to kill ethnicities from the northern area), Gbagbo was finally put in his place. He was arrested on April 11, 2011, and later, told his supporters to quit fighting. The entire world cheered with this good news, even U.S. President Barack Obama, and Hilary Clinton said that Gbagbo’s arrest will send a strong signal to the dictators and tyrants everywhere, that “They may not disregard the voice of their people.”   References: ·         Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011). Laurent Gbagbo. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Gbagbo. Last accessed June 30 2011. ·         Global Post. (July 9 2011). All is not well in Ivory Coast. Available: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/110629/ivory-coast-ouattara-gbagbo. Last accessed July 9 2011. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Laurent Gbagbo

Another One Bites the Dust Another tyrant has been stripped off his power––Laurent Gbagbo, who had served as Côte d’Ivoire’s fourth Pres...

Jason Manford

Being at the Butt of a Joke               Apparently comedian Jason Manford has much to laugh about these days. Even after his social network sex scandal became public. The funnyman is back to making gags on his one man show Off On Tour We Go.             Audiences should expect to have the comedian spit out a few cheeky jokes about his fall from grace –– you know: the time he famously quit BBC One’s The One Show (a job he’s had for only four months) after he admitted that, yes, he had been sending some naughty messages to approximately 12 female fans.             One of these female fans is Debra McNamee, a 22-year-old who gave Manford two racy pics of herself in lacy underwear after they’d exchanged messages on Twitter. “When I first sent a message to him I thought he would never reply. Famous people never do and I was surprised when he got in touch,” she said to the Sun newspaper. “At first he just asked me about my dog and what I was up to and things like that. But after a while it started to get a bit more flirty.”             “He’d ask me for photos and then tell me how excited he was by them,” she said.             But to Manford, it was all just fun and games. “I can see now that what started out as a bit of messing about and having a laugh on Twitter has been misjudged and I’d like to apologize to anyone that this has offended as that was the last thing I ever intended to do.”             But McNamee isn’t the only femme he’d hit up for sexy photos. An anonymous lapdancer from Manchester said that, after sending Manford pictures of an American model and claimed they were her, the comedian replied by sending her sexually explicit messages. And that’s not all –– porn model Lucinda Turner, who Manford allegedly contacted after glimpsing her photos on adult website Adultwork on June 2010, spoke out about trading raunchy messages with the father of three. Turner admitted to the Sunday Mirror that they had exchanged tons of sexy messages and phone calls during the summer –– even once when the comedian’s pregnant wife was doing housework upstairs.             “He told me I had the best boobs he’d ever seen in his life,” claims Turner. “He’d spend a fortune ringing me, normally calling up in the middle of the afternoon when he was at home.”             “’Every conversation would start the same – he’d ask me if I would like to see ‘the daddy’ then he’d demand I start talking dirty to him,” she said.             Manford’s a prick, if you ask me. He’s also a lucky man, considering his wife is sticking by him, even if the world gave her evidence that the man she married was a jerk. But still, it’s pretty refreshing to see a woman willing to stick by her man, what with all the divorce these days.             “It has been a tough day in the Manford household,” he told the audience during a show of his in Newcastle. “My wife’s all right about it. She’s fine. She just said, ‘You dick.’ But we’re all right.”             Manford did apologize over his “stupidity.” He even took a break from comedy and quit The One Show to concentrate on his family.             “We would start off flirty, then innuendo and then a bit saucy. They were the moments I thought, ‘I shouldn’t be saying that.’ It was just nice to have some interaction I suppose,” he said. “But the next morning I would wake up and think, ‘Oh my God.’ I don’t drink or do drugs, so it’s not like I’ve those to blame – just my own stupidity.”             Honestly, I don’t enjoy listening to stand-up comedians. Don’t get me wrong –– I love comedy as much as the next person, and once or twice I’ve been known to rein in full-fledge donkey laughter after listening to a comical anecdote complete with goofy faces and over-the-top arm gestures.             Still, if I wanted a laugh, I’d rather hit up a funny website or read a funny book or watch a laugh-a-minute comedy DVD instead of listening to a comedian. No offense to any comedians out there, but most of the time, comedians tend to get a little too insulting for my taste. Jokes said are nearly inappropriate at times, as they can be too cruel or too judgmental. I get it –– we live in a world where sarcasm and thinly veiled barbs are considered amusing and witty. And, yes, like every other person, I too have laughed at cruel jokes. Still, I find it distasteful the way they capitalize on the pain of others –– and I’m sure the people these comedians are laughing at feel the same way.             I guess now Manford feels what it’s like to be at the other end of the jokes.     References: ·         Laura Blyth, Express & Star. (2011). Jason Manford is off on tour again. Available: http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2011/06/17/jason-manford-is-off-on-tour-again/. Last accessed June 19 2011. ·         Mail Online. (2010). Jason Manford quits The One Show following sex message claims. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1331097/Jason-Manford-quits-The-One-Show-following-sex-message-claims.html. Last accessed June 19 2011. ·         Mail Online. (2010). Further agony for Jason Manford’s wife as porn model reveals dirty web chats. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1331760/Jason-Manfords-porn-model-Lucinda-Turner-reveals-sex-message-web-chats.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Last accessed June 19 2011. ·         Nick Collins | Telegraph. (2010). Jason Manford apology over Twitter flirting. Available: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8111907/Jason-Manford-apology-over-Twitter-flirting.html. Last accessed June 19 2011. ·         Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011). Jason Manford. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Manford. Last accessed June 19 2011. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Jason Manford

Being at the Butt of a Joke Apparently comedian Jason Manford has much to laugh about these days. Even after his social netw...

Claudia Winkleman

Claudia Winkleman   Oh, to be rich and fabulous –– and multi-talented. If I possessed Claudia Winkleman’s many, many, many talents, I’d probably have an amazing life as well. I would only just imagine the many places she has been to, the many influential (and when I say influential, I mean rich and famous) people she has met and interviewed, the events she has had the pleasure of hosting, and I sit seething with envy. Some people have all the luck in the world.             She’s pretty, she’s got personality and confidence, she’s sexy, and undeniably talented –– and I respect her for sticking with what she does best: hosting, narrating, writing. (Honestly, some celebrities these days keep trying to capitalize on their popularity. A singer seeks to make films, even if she’s not a very effective actress. An actor with a mediocre voice records an album and passes himself off as the next rising star in the music biz. Seriously, won’t you people just stick with what you’re good at?)             London-born Claudia Winkleman is pretty amazing. She appears on TV, on the papers, and on the radio. (Are the people sick of hearing about her, then?)             She kicked off her career in TV when she bagged her first major TV job, a spot on the regional discussion program, Central Weekend in 1991. In 1992 until the mid-90s, she frequently appeared in BBC’s Holiday, even appearing in a special documentary where she got to travel the world –– from India to Japan to Dubai to Costa Rica –– under 34 days. During the remaining parts of the 90s, she acted as a reporter on This Morning (where she got to interview influential people such as Tony Blair and famous actors like Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford); she appeared on L!VE TV, but left shortly after to chase after other opportunities; she hosted BBC show Toilets, a show about –– that’s right –– the loo; and she also presented a number of game shows like Three’s a Crowd and Talking Telephone Numbers.             Her first daily TV show came in the form of BBC Three’s Liquid News, an entertainment update show where she shared co-hosting duties with Colin Paterson and, later, Paddy O’Connell.             In 2004, Winkleman started to host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and acted as emcee to a literature-based show, End of Story. She hosted Art Show, a show where celebrities are sent to take two-week courses at the Chelsea College of Art and Design. In 2007, she hosted the third season of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy with Patrick Kielty. In between 2008 and 2011, she has presented a number of high-profile shows like Eurovision: Your Decision with Sir Terry Wogan, Sport Relief with Patrick Kielty, Sky Movie Premiere’s broadcast of the 80th Academy Awards, the London 2012 party with Matt Baker on the BBC, the fourth season of Hell’s Kitchen. On March 29 2010, she replaced Jonathan Ross and became the co-presenter of The Film Programme. She was described by The Guardian as “a passionate and engaging advocate of cinema.”             Aside from TV, Winkleman has worked as a journalist, writing for a couple of major papers. Journalism is, apparently, in her blood. Her mother, Eve Pollard, was the former editor of The Sunday Express. Her father, Barry Winkleman, was a publisher of The Times Atlas of the World. When her parents divorced, they remarried writers –– Winkleman’s stepfather, Sir Nicholas Lloyd, was the editor of the Daily Express, and her stepmother, Cindy Black, wrote books for children.             Her career as a writer began with her columns for The Sunday Times and The Independent and wrote occasionally for Metro, a free daily London paper. She was a travel writer and wrote about her experiences abroad. After her stint as a travel writer, Winkleman focused on writing Lifestyle-type articles, often writing about the perks (and falls back) of being a woman, particularly sex and love, on Cosmopolitan and Tatler. She became a regular columnist for The Independent in 2005 until 2008. Her column was called Take It From Me, appearing every Wednesday, often containing her cheeky opinions on the lighter side of current events and anecdotes about her role as a wife and a mother.             If someone asks me what job I’d like to have, I’d tell them I’d love to steal Claudia Winkleman’s professional career. She’s accomplished far more than people could ever hope to achieve by the time they reach 40 — and I’m pretty sure we’d see more of her in the future.     References: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011). Claudia Winkleman. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Winkleman. Last accessed June 19 2011. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Claudia Winkleman

Claudia Winkleman Oh, to be rich and fabulous –– and multi-talented. If I possessed Claudia Winkleman’s many, many, many talents, I’d...

Britney Spears_My Favorite Female Singer

Oops! She Did it Again   Back in the days, before the Justin Biebers and the Miley Cyruses of the world dominated adolescent audiences, there was only one true Pop Princess. She was the epitome of stardom, a true teen idol slated to be remembered forever.             Britney Spears.             Okay, I know that a lot of people have criticized her for her . . . er, eccentric ways. She may not be the best role model, and she may not be the best dancer and/or singer. But who can deny the star quality, the stage presence, the sex appeal that Miss Britney Jean Spears possess?             While she is not, has never been, and would never be, a strong vocalist, her love and dedication to performing totally makes up for it. Even at a young age, small-town girl Brit (born on December 2, 1981) dreamt of becoming a famous performer, like her idols Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Madonna. Her love of singing could be traced back to her childhood years and, after numerous talent shows, dance and vocal lessons, Britney auditioned for “The All New Mickey Mouse Club” –– and was subsequently rejected due to her tender age of eight.             Her love for dancing and singing could not be deterred, and two years later, she auditioned again and won herself a spot on the show, where she met future fellow pop princess Christina Aguilera and future boyfriend Justin Timberlake.             Two years later, the show was cancelled, but this didn’t stop Britney from achieving her goals. After living her life as an ordinary teenager girl (which also earned her the Homecoming Queen tiara), her yearning to be a star grew until, finally, she went off to New York and sent demo tapes to various recording industries until she finally signed a contract with Jive Records.             In 1998, her debut singled “(Hit Me) Baby One More Time” was released, with the music video featuring her as an innocent Catholic schoolgirl with pigtails and a wicked glint in her eye, and the rest was history.             Britney Spears definitely redefined the term ‘Pop Culture.’ After cementing her status as a bona fide celebrity by selling over 10 million copies of her first album and then releasing a new album –– “Oops! I Did it Again” –– which also shot to number 1 in the charts, she was subjected to extensive public scrutiny. To those who question her massive media appeal: this was the girl who was supposedly embroiled in a feud with Christina Aguilera, which Britney denied (“Christina and I are friends, no matter what the media makes up.”); shot wearing revealing clothes on the April 1999 issue of “Rolling Stone,” which was described by the American Family Association as “a disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality,” and encouraged Americans to boycott her album; she publicly vowed to keep her virginity until she got married; she and fellow Mouseketeer/*NSYNC star Justin Timberlake were in a much-publicized relationship, and their break-up sent Brit into a tailspin; kissed then-Hollywood bad boy Colin Farrell on the red carpet; French-kissed idol Madonna while performing “Like A Virgin” with Christina Aguilera in the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards (Aguilera also French-kissed Madonna, but nobody cared about that); she married childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas, only to have the marriage annulled 55 hours later; Britney married Timberlake’s former back-up dancer Kevin Federline, who was involved and had two children with actress Shar Jackson; Britney shaved her head, entered rehab, and stated in her website, “I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don’t think it was alcohol or depression. […] was like a kid running around with ADD.”             What I truly love about Britney Spears is the fact that she always rises up whenever she hits rock bottom. In 2004, after the start of Britney’s Meltdown Era, most critics talked nonstop about how Britney no longer had what it takes to make a comeback. She proved them wrong with the release of her worldwide hit single “Toxic.” After a lackluster “comeback” performance at the 2007 Video Music Awards, people started to give up hope that Britney would fix her act and go back to the stylish, energized pop vixen she used to be. But, oops! She did it again. She proved critics and disillusioned fans once more with the release of her 2008 single “Womanizer,” which hit the number one spot on music charts. Her next single, “3,” also shot to the top spot. No matter what blows she might deal, Britney Spears isn’t disappearing from the limelight. Not for a long time.     References: ·         Britney Spears: Biography from Answers.com. 2011. Britney Spears: Biography from Answers.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.answers.com/topic/britney-spears. [Accessed 28 May 2011] ·         Britney Spears – Biography. 2011. Britney Spears – Biography. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005453/bio. [Accessed 28 May 2011] Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Britney Spears_My Favorite Female Singer

Oops! She Did it Again Back in the days, before the Justin Biebers and the Miley Cyruses of the world dominated adolescent audiences, t...

Britney Spears_My Favorite Female Singer

Britney Spears_My Favorite Female Singer

Oops! She Did it Again Back in the days, before the Justin Biebers and the Miley Cyruses of the world dominated adolescent audiences, t...

Charmaine Pempengco_My Favorite Female Singer (Local)

The Little Girl With the Big Voice   Not only did the Internet introduce us to loads of information summed up in a matter of seconds and frustrating distractions such as the brilliant Facebook and the addictive Tumbler from practical matters such as work and studies, but the Internet also introduced to the world a string of exceptional talents such as the (mildly annoying) pop phenomenon Justin Beiber, the . . . er, creative (?) “Friday” singer/songwriter Rebecca Black, and of course, the Philippines’ very own Charice Pempengco.             Yes, if it weren’t for a little website called YouTube, these young stars wouldn’t have had their share of the spotlight. Imagine a world with no Justin Beibers (oh, wait, would it be mean of me if I say I’d want that?), no Rebecca Blacks (ditto), and no Charices. Well, even if I find two out of those three pains in my backside, it would be a shame if their talents would have never been unearthed (and yes, I mean the Bieber, too), especially Charice, who has brought so much pride and honor to our country.             The little girl with the big voice was born with very little advantages apart from her amazing voice, and yet she has managed to become a successful, world-renowned performer. Think about it. She grew up poor –– her father pretty much abandoned them; apparently her paternal grandmother treated Charice, her mother, and her brother like dirt; her mother was a single parent, trying to feed her children and giving them what they needed. She wasn’t conventionally beautiful. But she was talented and persevering, and that was all she needed to make her dreams come true.             Even as a young child, Charmaine Clarice “Charice” Relucio Pempengco’s (born on May 10, 1992 in Cabuyao, Laguna) talent was evident. Before making it to the big leagues, she entered numerous singing competitions in bids to help support her family. She entered her first major contests in 2005 when she joined ABS-CBN’s Little Big Star. She only placed third and kind of faded until she was discovered in 2007.             Her road to stardom starts here. While technically lost the competition, this was where Dave –– a.k.a. FalseVoice, a.k.a. the guy who posted the Charice videos which would ultimately cause her world-wide recognition –– first witnessed Charice’s enormous talent and potential. “I believed in her talent. After her stint on Little Big Star, she was suddenly left out and gone. That kind of talent is rare and should not be forgotten. Also, I wanted people all over the world to know that we exist and that we have great talents in our country.” –– FalseVoice             A Swedish music publishing company, Ten Songs Productions, stumbled upon one of FalseVoice’s Charice videos. Impressed, they tracked Charice down, flew her in to Stockholm, and had her record seven demos, including “I Will Always Love You,” “It Can Only Get Better,” and “Born to Love You Forever,” all of which can be found in her debut album Charice (produced by Star Records).             A video of Charice singing “And I Am Telling You” in her pajamas led to Star King, a South Korean talent show, inviting her to sing on their show. Ellen DeGeneres happened upon the video of Charice’s amazing Star King performance and, on air, Ellen invited Charice in her talk show. Charice did, marking her first-ever trip to the United States, sang on Ellen’s show, and was rewarded with a standing ovation. She then appeared on Oprah, and then on the United Kingdom’s The Paul O’Grady Show, where she again received a standing ovation, the first ever standing ovation in the show’s history. Her career was taking of rapidly, sending Charice to international-singing-sensation status. Add in “duet with Celine Dion; duet with Andrea Bocelli; mentored by Oprah Winfrey of The Oprah Winfrey Show and David Foster, hot-shot producer; recurring role as Sunshine Corazon in Glee,” and more of her accomplishments to her resume, and you’ve got a successful world-renowned singing sensation our country can be proud of. “When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out.” –– Ryan Murphy, creator of Glee             And despite making it big abroad, Charice is still the same girl she was before making her splash in the music scene. This is what I like about her the most. She may collaborate with the likes of Bruno Mars and Celine Dion, but she’s still grounded, passionate about singing, and as determined as ever. Not only that, she always remembers to go home to the Philippines. She might be a star, but she will never, ever forget her roots.    References: ·         Phil Bolsta, Triumph of the Spirit. 2008. Charice—My Interview With FalseVoice. [ONLINE] Available at: http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/falsevoice/. [Accessed 02 June 11]. ·         Wikipedia. 2011. Charic Pempengco – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charice. [Accessed 01 June 11]. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Charmaine Pempengco_My Favorite Female Singer (Local)

The Little Girl With the Big Voice Not only did the Internet introduce us to loads of information summed up in a matter of seconds and f...

Singing Career of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson: His Singing Career               Michael Jackson is one of the world’s most popular people. He is known by any age group, not only because of the scandals that he is involved, but also because of his brilliance as a performer. But his popularity does not mean that every person knew how he started in the business. People may have known him as a philanthropist, singer, songwriter, producer, dancer, choreographer, actor, director, writer, and / or entrepreneur.             The purpose of this essay is to give the reader a background on Michael Jackson. To give the reader a history lesson on how Michael Jackson became the successful man that he is. But before that, here is a little information about him. He is born Michael Joseph Jackson on 29 August 1958 in Gary, Indiana. His siblings are: Maureen Reilette (Rebbie), Sigmund Esco (Jackie), Toriano Adaryll (Tito), Lajaun (Jermaine), La Toya Yvonne, Marlon David, Steven Randall (Randy) and Janet Damita Jo. He was the seventh of nine kids. He was married for nine months with Lisa Marie Presley and to Deborah Rowe for almost three years. With Deborah, he had a son named Prince Michael Joseph Junior and a daughter named Paris Michael Katherine. He also had a son from a surrogate mother. The baby was named Prince Michael II. The baby was said to be six months old last August 2002. Presently, he resides in Neverland Valley Ranch, Los Olivos, California, USA.             Michael Jackson first came into the spotlight at the age of 5. . In his first public appearance, he sang ‘Climb Every Mountain’. He was the lead singer of the Jackson 5, formed in 1964, with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon. At first, they sang in local clubs and bars in Gary Indiana. One of the Jackson 5’s paying gig was at Mr. Lucky’s. Each of them was paid a dollar for their performance. When their talents grew they competed in talent contests until they landed to a recording contract with Motown Records. It was Bobby Taylor of Vancouvers that discovered the Jackson 5 and arranged them for an audition in Motown. The Jackson 5 signed for Motown and moved to California. For publicity, Motown stated that Diana Ross was the one who discovered Jackson 5, and in their first album placed: “Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5”. This was because Diana Ross was Motown’s biggest star during that time. There they made hit after hit. As a parallel project with Motown Records, Michael recorded 4 solo albums and Jackson 5 recorded 14.             In 1976, feeling the need for more freedom, they left Motown and signed up with Epic Records. But they had to change their names from Jackson 5 to The Jacksons, as they were earlier known, because Motown owned Jackson 5. Also, their brother Jermaine has to stay with Motown since he married the daughter of Motown’s Berry Gordy. Instead of Jermaine, youngest brother Randy joined them. In Epic they also made one hit after another. They made a total of 6 albums with Epic between 1976 and 1984. In the 1978, Michael ventured into the musical film. He played as the Scarecrow while Diana Ross played Dorothy, in the movie “The Wiz”. It was an African-American remake of the Wizard of Oz. There he met Quincy Jones, who was doing the musical score for the film. Michael teamed up with Jones as his producer for his first solo album with Epic Records. It was with the album “Off the Wall” that they teamed up. The album became the mark for Michael’s transformation from a cute kid act to an adult superstar. It was released in 1979. It was the first ever album to have 4 No.1 singles in the US. The album was a crossover blending of soul, rock and non-stop boogie groove. The album sold 10 million copies and went multi-platinum.             The album “Thriller” broke what “Off the Wall” did in the market. It sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The album made 6 top ten singles and stayed number one for 37 weeks. It still remains as the best selling album of all time. For the promotions of the album, Michael used music video or short films. He worked with the best directors and producers, using the latest technology and special effects, combined with fantastic dancing and choreography. The video for the song “Thriller” was so successful that the video “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” became the world’s largest selling home video.             Michael Jackson performed for the 25th anniversary show of Motown Records. There he performed for the first time the “moonwalk”. In 1984, Michael Jackson won 8 Grammy awards, 7 of which was for his work in “Thriller” and 1 for his narrative work for the “ET Storybook”. Also in that year Michael Jackson received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Michael Jackson was able to break the colour barrier in MTV with his music videos and short films.             After “Thriller’, came “Bad”, which is the world’s second best selling album in history. It was released in 1987 and sold over 25 million copies including the hit singles “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “The Man In The Mirror”. The album generated 5 consecutive number one hits. Together with this album, Michael Jackson launched his record-breaking first solo world tour. At the end of the 1980s Michael was named ‘Artist of the Decade’.             In 1991, Michael signed with Sony Music and released “Dangerous”. With this is another world tour in 1992. He visited countries that were not visited by any pop/rock artist before. 1995 saw Michael Jackson’s most ambitious album, “HIStory Past, Present and Future Book I. It was a massive album containing 15 of Michael’s greatest hits from four previous albums and 15 brand new songs. “HIStory” has been certified 6 times platinum in the United State alone. In 1997, Michael Jackson released a remix album titled “Blood On The Dance Floor: History In The Mix”. It contained 5 new songs, which are linked with a 38-minute film where he played 5 major roles, and 8 remixes from HIStory. Some critics say that it was brilliant because it brought back to the forefront a 2-year-old album.             Michael Jackson performed for two charity concerts in Seoul, South Korea and in Munich, Germany in 1999. In 2001, he released a new album “Invincible”. But before this, he celebrated his 30th anniversary as a solo performer with two concerts in Madison Square Garden in New York. In the concert Michael reunited with his brothers and performed their biggest hits. Artists such as Whitney Houston, Usher, Destiny’s Child, and Shaggy also joined in the celebration. The “Invincible” album has released only two singles since its release. It is also surrounded by rumours that Sony Music lacked promotion for the album.   Reference:   Nicholson, Lois. (1994). Michael Jackson – Entertainer. New York: Chelsea House Publishing.   Grant, Adrian. (1994). The Visual Documentary. New York: Omnibus Press, division of Book Sales Limited.   Cardell, Chris. (1992). King of Pop. London: Jam Books.   Brown Geoff. (1997). Facts from the Dance Floor. UK: UFO Music Limited.   Danelly, Deborah (Ed.). (2003). Biography of Michael Jackson. Corpus Christi, Texas: Michael Jackson Fan Club.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Singing Career of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson: His Singing Career Michael Jackson is one of the world’s most popular people. He is known by any age...