Jay-Z headlining the Global Citizen Festival was always going to be a major drawcard. So too, the prospect of seeing No Doubt together again on stage, joined for a track by Sting. Adding Carrie Underwood, The Roots and Tiesto to the mix made Saturday’s line-up appealing enough to take on the Global Poverty Project’s initiatives to win tickets to their concert in Central Park. Beyond, of course, the aim itself of ending extreme poverty by 2030. It made sense that Jay would have started his set with Empire State of Mind – as he did, after opening with a mash of Gil Scott-Heron’s NY You’re Bringing Me Down, Billy Joel’s New York…
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On The Run with Jay Z and Beyonce
You could read a lot into the Jay-Z and Beyonce On The Run show. If, you’re like the man at JFK that sat next to me on the day the elevator story came out, who spoke in a concerned tone over the phone about the kerfuffle as if it had happened to real friends of his. You could read a lot into each look, each touch, each lyric sent out into the concert ether. If, on the other hand, you’re just a fan who couldn’t care less about the gossip side of entertainment, you could just enjoy the show for what it is – two superstars bringing out the best of themselves,…
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The 2014 BET Awards – Of Happy Wonderlands and Love Songs
The BET Awards are long. Almost four hours so. That’s two movies – or one, if you’re watching Transformers 4. But a lot happens in that time – young performers get a snippet of time to showcase their fresh skills (witness for 17-year-old Gabi Wilson), a noted Humanitarian is honoured, and a dozen awards are, of course, handed out. And a handful of solid performances are turned in too – highlighting the spectrum of the channel’s ethos. From Nicki Minaj’s Alice in Wonderland theme to Chris Brown’s kitsch cool backdrop for Loyal, the setup of Sunday night’s show was vibrant and the energy high. The collaborations – John Legend playing piano for Jhene…
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Entertainment Express: Eli Wallach, Michael Jackson, Grammy Museum, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Fury
While the Queen has been visiting the set of Game of Thrones in Belfast, we’ve been taking a moment to pause and reflect… * It’s a truly sad day for family, friends and fans of Eli Wallach. The 98-year-old actor has been part of movie history for 60 years, acting in so many classic roles. Despite that, the NYT notes, he had never been nominated for an Oscar, although he did receive an honorary one just before his 95th birthday. But his legacy far surpasses the value of any statue. * It’s been five years since Michael Jackson died at his Los Angeles home. For fans in South Africa, the news…
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Entertainment Express: San Diego Comic Con, Royal Baby, Kanye West, Pearl Jam, Jay Z, Jesse & the Rippers
* The big news coming out of San Diego Comic Con this past weekend (actually late on a Saturday night) is that the next Avengers movie will be called Age of Ultron. Oh – and of course the news that Batman and Superman will team up in the next Warner Bros movie. Christian Bale is not onboard, but Henry Cavill is. * Royal Baby Watch has gone into overdrive – as Princess Catherine has gone into labour. Boy? Girl? Some don’t care, but many are glued to this pop culture event that gives Britain a third heir in line to the throne. * After declaring the second verse in New…
