You can only be so popular in high school when you play a trombone. Despite her band camp tendancies, Nelly Furtado says she was actually pretty popular and involved in high school activities when she was 16.
“It’s horrible, I was popular!” she said. “We were the cool girls. We were also really involved in school activities. I was the head of the graduation committee, organizing all the grad events.”
Needless to say, host Jordan Bortolotti was disappointed his 16-year-old self probably wouldn’t have a chance with Nelly Furtado’s 16-year-old self.
“You never know!” said Nelly.
In this episode of Way Back When, the singer talks about playing the trombone, being obsessed with TLC and what her teen self would think of her current pop-stardom.
Watch it here
We’ve been following Canadian singer My Name is Kay since falling in love with her debut single and first music video, aptly called “My Name Is Kay.” ANDPOP’s Caity Babcock caught up with her for our newest episode of Small Talk and talked about everything from pre-stage rituals (try “peacocking”) to her favourite female rappers.
“When I moved out on my own I kinda started developing my own type of style. So it’s been a blend of everything. I learned how to rap from MCs in London,” she told us. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Missy Elliot, I think she’s one of the best. No one can replace her, she is one of the best female rappers of all time. Then obviously people like Nelly Furtado, I love her. She can actually freestyle and everything.”
To end the interview, we had a hilarious balloon-blowing competition with the singer (we try not to sexualize things).
Watch it here
“Not Even the King” — Alicia Keys
After dabbling in the pop and hip hop scene, Alicia Keys goes back behind the piano in “Not Even the King,” the second single off her upcoming album, Girl on Fire. “Not Even the King” carries a special message: money alone doesn’t make you rich. The new, artsy lyric video for the single features positive, childlike paintings that reinforce Keys’ beautiful melody and gentle keystrokes. It’s a great track to remind you what matters most in life. “Girl on Fire” is released Nov. 27.
“Fall Down” — Diggy Simmons ft. Victoria Monet
Seventeen-year-old Diggy Simmons dropped “Fall Down” featuring Victoria Monet from his upcoming mixtape Out of This World. The track re-ignites beef between Diggy and J. Cole, who freestyled a rap about Diggy at a Kendrick Lamar show: “Picture me hating on a young n—a with talent/Album flopped, but it’s cool, he caked out on his allowance.” Diggy took the lyrics as a direct attack on him and came back with “Fall Down.” He raps: “Thought J. stood for Jermaine, not Jetsetter/ You see me and shook my hand, coppin’ pleas in person/ Now you act less than a man, mentioning me in verses.” Ouch!
“Parking Lot” behind the scenes — Nelly Furtado Read more…
In a crowd of 43,000 fans, technicians at the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants baseball game managed to spot South Korean hip hop star PSY in the crowd and capture him dancing to his own song on camera. His viral hit “Gangnam Style” started playing at Monday’s game, causing a mass eruption of the infamous horseback riding dance move.
Anyone notice a little someone named Scooter Braun sitting next to PSY? There were rumours that the two were going to meet in LA, especially after Scooter tweeted about his music crush.
It’s become apparent that no one can resist the infectious chorus and beat… even celebrities like Nelly Furtado aren’t immune. She danced to the songs at a show in the Philippines.
“Sweet Life” — Frank Ocean
A few days ago, Frank Ocean posted an extremely vulnerable story on his blog about his first time falling in love with a man — an unprecedented step for a newcomer, or really any musician, in the hip hop industry. Since then, there has been a flurry of tweets, statuses, blog posts, and the like, regarding the R&B crooner’s unexpected move. However, Ocean has already moved on, releasing a new track from his upcoming, highly anticipated album Channel Orange, called “Sweet Life.” Produced by Pharell, the retro inspired track lays a jazzy keyboard over a whimsical bassline to complement Ocean’s smooth harmonies. Channel Orange drops on July 17th.
“Cherry Wine” — Nas and Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse fans will be happy to know they can hear a brand new track featuring the songstress who suddenly passed away last year. “Cherry Wine,” off rapper Nas’ upcoming album Life is Good, was recorded in 2008 when Nas and Winehouse were working on a different track, “Like Smoke.” The song stayed hidden for four years and Nas himself wasn’t keen on releasing the record. Thank goodness he decided to go ahead with it, because it really is a gem. The oldschool beat, Winehouse’s laidback vocals, and Nas’ on-par rhymes are beautiful together. The only complaint I have about the record is that Winehouse will never be able to perform it live. A bittersweet release, but a great first posthumous jam for Winehouse. Catch Cherry Wine on Nas’ Life is Good, released on July 17.
“Distance” — Christina Perri ft. Jason Mraz Read more…
The Hives – “Go Right Ahead”
In The Hives’ new video for their latest single “Go Right Ahead,” which we previously featured on Musical Prozac, the boys (men?) suit up, leave the garage behind and head to the studio. The video was filmed in Benny Andersson from ABBA’s brand new studio in Stockholm. The Hives were lucky enough to be the first band to record here. The whole video looks they shot it in one take, though with all their energy the rowdy song doesn’t need anything more to carry it. Oh, and top hats are included. The Hives’ new album Lex Hives will be released on June 1.
Nelly Furtado – “Big Hoops”
The bigger the better, the bigger the better, the bigger the better…. Hoops that is. As in, Nelly Furtado’s new single “Big Hoops” off her fifth album, The Spirit Indestructible (June 19.) Nelly’s first music video in three years delivers, with Native American hoop dancers, and Nelly herself wearing stilts, towering over LA. The song has some serious swag and is on par with her new hip-hop style. Also, as Nelly adamantly sings, she can move fast, she can move slow, she can go places nobody else goes! Wait, we’re still talking about hula hoops right?
Grimes – “Nightmusic” ft. Majical Cloudz Read more…
Performers for the 2010 Winter Olympics opening-ceremonies were meant to be kept under wraps. But, thanks to spies at the rehearsals and a commercial for the games that aired during Saturday Night Live, certain secrets are spilled, People.com reported.
Canadians like Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and Bryan Adams are the lucky celebs that are planned to perform at the opening-ceremonies Friday night in Vancouver. The legendary band Rush and jazz singer Nikki Yanofsky is also expected to perform, both who are Canadians. Devo, the ‘80s band is among the bands planned to perform at the Games’ medal ceremonies.
Nelly Furtado will have a supporting role in Michael McGowan’s musical film Score: A Hockey Musical, reports CBC. Furtado, from Victoria, B.C., will play a zealous fan.
Olivia Newton-John will also star in the movie, which begins filming this week in Toronto. Canadian singer Hawksley Workman will also make an appearance.
“Nelly is an incredible entertainer and, after speaking with her, I realized that she fully relished embracing her inner hockey fanatic,” McGowan said.
The Canada for Haiti telethon and its French counterpart, Ensemble Pour Haiti, both held Friday, raised $16 million for earthquake relief efforts in the country, reports CBC.
Canada for Haiti was held in Toronto and created by CBC, CTV and Global. The funds will go to a group of Canadian charities working in Haiti.
Governor General Michaelle Jean, who was born in Haiti, made an appearance in Montreal for Ensemble Pour Haiti.
“It’s very important to take this time to put our hearts together and put our heads together and see what we can do to support Haiti in this ordeal,” she said. “We are in an era where civil society is big and international and what Haiti has experienced has touched everyone on this planet. Breaking down solitudes is my motto and that is what I hope to do here.”
Timbaland has always been known for big-star collaborations, and his upcoming studio album Studio Value II is no exception. The roster features an abundance of guests, with the biggest surprise being Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger.
According to chartattack.com, Kroeger, Drake, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Chris Daughtry, Brandy, The Fay and Keri Hilson make guest appearances on Timbaland’s radio platform-spanning follow-up to 2007′s Shock Value, which is out Nov. 23 through Universal Music.
Furtado guests on the album’s first single, “Morning After Dark,” which will be available to buy on iTunes beginning this coming Tuesday (Oct. 27). Furtado previously guested on Shock Value, as did Timberlake and Hilson.
With her first full length Spanish album Mi Plan debuting September 15, Grammy Award winning Canadian-Portuguese singer Nelly Furtado has already made it into the history books.
Manos Al Aire, the album’s first single, has pegged the no. one spot on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, which makes her the first North American artist to reach that feat with a song that was originally written in Spanish- and not a translated version of an English song.
The single is also a massive success internationally, grabbing the no. one spot in Italy, Colombia, Chile and Central America, while settling in the top five spots in Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Germany.
Known for her broad spectrum of musical interests, Furtado invited internationals artists Alejandro Fernandez, Josh Groban, Juan Luis Guerra, Julieta Venegas, La Mala Rodriguez, Buika and Alex Cuba to give the record a unique touch.
Furtado will also begin a promo tour for the album on September 13, which will take her to the top Latin and American TV shows across the U.S., as well as a visit to European countries such as Germany, France, Spain and England.
The artist has sold over 18 million albums in her career, with close to ten million in sales from her previous album Loose- which was the no. one global album in 2007.
I know what you’re thinking.
James Morrison
Since when do I rave more than rant? It appears that my admiration for certain figures in the pop-culture world outweighs my dislike for others. Odd but true. However, I assure you one thing:
It won’t last long.
But the reason for my back-to-back raves is due to one celebrity in particular—singer James Morrison (please note: not to be mistaken with Jim Morrison from ‘The Doors’).
James Morrison, the 24-year-old English singer-songwriter and guitarist, surely knows how to melt my heart. In 2006, his debut single “You Give Me Something” became a hit in Australia, Japan and Europe. His first album “Undiscovered” debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart and made Morrison the best selling male solo artist of 2006 in the UK.
Read more…
Nelly Furtado is sticking close to her multi-cultural roots and exploring creating music and lyrics that are laced with Portuguese and Spanish. Although Furtado has always been influenced by her background and experimented with Portuguese influences and Spanish lyrics in her 2003 Folklore album and her 2006 Loose project, she is now jumping into both languages with two feet and has proclaimed that she is diving full force into the language and music.
“I am currently recording two new exciting albums- one in Spanish and one in Portuguese,” Furtado reported on her website on Tuesday. “Stay tuned and I will give you a sneak peak really soon.”
Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette and Rufus Wainwright make up the Canadian contingent in a live John Lennon tribute DVD that will be released next month.
“Come Together: A Night for John Lennon’s Words & Music” was filmed at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall Oct. 2, 2001, less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks.
All proceeds from the event, which had been planned ahead of the attacks, were donated to 9/11 recovery efforts.
For the concert, performers were given free reign to reinterpret songs from Lennon’s catalogue.
Furtado teamed up with Dave Stewart for “Instant Karma,” Morissette covered “Dear Prudence” and Wainwright put his own spin on “This Boy” with Sean Lennon. The latter two also team up with Moby for “Across the Universe.”
As well, the 90-minute DVD features commentary from actors James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Steve Buscemi, Kevin Bacon and Kevin Spacey, who share their memories and speak about Lennon’s message of peace. Spacey contributes his own rendition of Lennon’s “Mind Games.”
Proceeds from the DVD’s sale will go to the Robin Hood Foundation.
Here are the performances featured on the “Come Together” DVD:
John Lennon, Yolanda Williams and Billy Preston — “Imagine”
Dave Matthews — “In My Life”
Stone Temple Pilots — “Revolution”
Alanis Morissette — “Dear Prudence”
Moby, Sean Lennon and Rufus Wainwright — “Across The Universe”
Cyndi Lauper — “Strawberry Fields Forever”
Marc Anthony — “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”
Shelby Lynne — “Mother”
Nelly Furtado and Dave Stewart — “Instant Karma”
Lou Reed — “Jealous Guy”
Natalie Merchant — “Nowhere Man”
Kevin Spacey — “Mind Games”
Craig David — “Come Together”
Sean Lennon and Rufus Wainwright — “This Boy”
Sean Lennon — “Julia”
Everybody — “Give Peace A Chance” / “Power To The People”
Juno and Grammy winner Nelly Furtado has another accolade to add to her list: the Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
The organization announced Wednesday they were awarding the singer-songwriter its most prestigious award, which is given to artists who have made a lasting contribution to Canadian music and the arts.
Past winners include rock veterans The Tragically Hip, musical theatre actress Louise Pitre, jazz great Oscar Peterson, country-rockers Blue Rodeo and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian.
Furtado will receive the award during the conservatory’s annual gala on May 28, where she will also perform a short acoustic set with guitarist James Bryan.
In a press release, the 29-year-old singer said she was “grateful and humbled” by the honour.
“Music has been both my saviour and statement since I was three years old,” she said.
In other Nelly news, Furtado recently re-recorded “In God’s Hands,” off her third album “Loose,” as a duet with country singer Keith Urban.
Nelly Furtado will mark the upcoming Earth Hour event with a free show in Toronto.
The Juno and Grammy Award-winning Victoria native has been named Canada’s first Earth Hour ambassador and will perform an unplugged concert at Nathan Phillips Square on March 29.
The World Wildlife Fund of Canada, who is organizing the event, says it will make the campaign as carbon-neutral as possible by taking steps such as powering the event with green, renewable energy.
Earth Hour, an effort to raise awareness about climate change, has cities around the world planning to turn their lights off from 8 to 9 p.m. on March 29.
The inaugural Earth Hour was held last year in Australia, where an estimated 2.2 million Australians took part to reduce demand on the power grid by 10 per cent.
This year, Canada is leading the way with more than 20,000 people, 1,000 businesses and 50 cities signed up so far.
Millions more are expected to participate around the globe.
At least if Nelly Furtado doesn’t win a Juno Award this year, she’ll still get a lot of camera time. The Canadian singer will host the awards, organizers announced yesterday.
Furtado will follow in the footsteps of former hosts like Shania Twain and the Barenaked Ladies when she grabs the mic on April 1 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“The JUNO Awards are part of the Canadian fabric and to be asked to host is a privilege I’m charmed to accept,” Furtado said in a press release.
Furtado has five Junos under her belt and will probably be up for a few more this year, as her third CD, “Loose,” was the highest-selling album in Canada in 2006.
Performers and nominees will be announced at a press conference in February.
The Junos will air on CTV.
Nelly Furtado says she will be releasing a Spanish album in the future.
MTV.com reports that the Canadian songbird says she is in the middle of recording her Latin album, following in the footsteps of other artists like Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez.
“I’m in the midst of recording a Latin album. It’s like, ‘Wow, I’m writing a song in Spanish.’ It’s really bizarre, but really great,” she said to MTV News.
Furtado, from Portuguese descent, says she didn’t learn Spanish until she was 14. And while she has dabbled in Spanish on tracks on her different albums, this is the first time she has written songs in Spanish.
“I feel like a little kid again, because it’s a whole new language. And I can’t translate poetically yet. But Latin languages come easy to me,” she says.
Nelly Furtado is set to duet with Kylie Minogue.
The “Promiscuous” singer has been desperate to work with the Australian pop superstar for some time and talks are now underway to make the proposed collaboration happen.
Nelly said: “We’ve been chatting about it for a while. I can relate to her because she has this crazy work ethic like me.”
Nelly, 27, admires Kylie for having the courage to return to the stage after winning her battle with breast cancer.
She said: “I love the fact she went back and followed up her tour.”
Nelly first shot to fame in 2000 with worldwide hit single “I’m Like A Bird.”
After the release of her second album “Folklore” in 2003, Nelly took a few years off to raise her daughter Nevis, now three.
She returned this year with new album “Loose,” which includes the hit singles “Promiscuous,” “Maneater” and “All Good Things (Come To An End).”
Nelly Furtado will be the first in a long line of guest musicians appearing on Canadian Idol’s upcoming Top 10 episodes. She’ll appear on both the performance and results shows, airing July 17 and 18 respectively.
According to a press release from CTV, other guest stars set to appear during the show’s Top 10 phase include Cyndi Lauper, ex-STYX singer Dennis DeYoung, Chantal Kreviazuk, country artist Martina McBride, and ex-Supertramp front-man Roger Hodgson.
“Canada Rocks!” will be the theme of Furtado’s kick-off show.
“We always kick-off the Canadian Idol Top 10 shows with a tribute to Canadian music and who better to share her experience and wisdom than homegrown superstar Nelly Furtado,” said Susanne Boyce, President of
Programming at CTV.
More themes and guests will be announced as the show progresses through the Top 10.
Starting July 17, all the action will be broadcast live from the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto. Fans can buy tickets for the performance and results shows for $5.00 each. They’ll be available through Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesdays, one week before the broadcasts.
