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Beyoncé ‘transformed’ Coldplay track


Coldplay have revealed Beyoncé totally "transformed" their song 'Hymn For The Weekend' when she lent her vocals to it.
The highly-anticipated track features on the band's forthcoming album 'A Head Full of Dreams' - due for release on Friday (04.12.15) - and the guys about the 34-year-old R&B superstar's "understated" vocals gave the track the magic touch it needed.
Speaking about their time in the studio together, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman revealed: "It was amazing, she came in, she did her thing, she was unbelievably professional. I think she was in and out in five minutes. And yeah, we're just so blessed to have her sing on one of our songs. She really transformed it, and made it into something that we're all incredibly proud of. It's quite understated which I like. She's just fab and she's so sweet and down to earth."
The four-piece group - consisting of Guy, Chris Martin, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland - had initially intended the track would be a party anthem until Beyoncé interpreted it in a different way.
Speaking to DJ Annie Mac on UK station BBC Radio 1, Guy explained: "It started off being quite a different kind of vibe. Chris was wanting to write a sort of party song, and the words were 'drinks on me, drinks on me.'
"We said to him, 'Look: you can't say that, you can't get away with that.' So the whole story of the song changed - then he asked Beyoncé to sing on it and she very kindly said she would."
Beyoncé is one of a handful of star collaborators on the LP, others include Noel Gallagher and Chris ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.

Thom Yorke compares YouTube to Nazi Germany


Thom Yorke has slammed YouTube - comparing the website to Nazi Germany.
The Radiohead frontman hit out at the site, on which people can watch music videos for free, claiming it has "seized control" of artists' music and insisting it draws comparisons to Adolf Hitler's dictatorship in the Second World War.
He said: "People continue to say that this is an era where music is free, cinema is free.
"It's not true. The creators of services make money - Google, YouTube. A huge amount of money, by trawling, like in the sea - they take everything there is. 'Oh, sorry, was that yours? Now it's ours. No, no, we're joking - it's still yours'.
"They've seized control of it - it's like what the Nazis did during the Second World War.
"Actually, it's like what everyone was doing during the war, even the English - stealing the art of other countries. What difference is there?"
The 47-year-old musician also blasted YouTube for complaining about AdBlocker, an app which allows people to skip adverts on the website, when he insists artists are being paid "laughable amounts" or not at all for their music.
He added to Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "The funny thing is that YouTube has said 'that's not fair'.
"You know? They say it's not fair - the people who put adverts in front of any piece of content, making a load of money, while artists don't get paid or are paid laughable amounts - and that seems fine to them. But if they don't get a profit out of it, it's not fair."

Craig David teases future Drake collaboration


Craig David has teased a future collaboration with Drake.
The 'Born To Do It' hitmaker and 'Hotline Bling' rapper have a mutual appreciation for each other's music and with the Brit's comeback album on the horizon for 2016, he's hinted that a "Craig David/Drake mix tape" could be on the cards "when the time is right".
Asked how Drake came to be a big fan of his, Craig revealed: "When I saw Drake in this restaurant (in Miami) we walked up to each other and there was this moment when I was like, 'Oh man that tune is all I'm listening to.' And he was like, 'Man I need to call my producer, if I can tell him right now that I'm with you, 'Born To Do It'! The tunes you have.' And this was kicking off.
"When the time is right, when it's really right, and there's the Craig David/Drake mix tape, I promise you, not on a 'get gas, beg a man to be on his record' kind of thing, because he's the hottest thing right now. But he'd easily be like, 'Yeah man I want to do that.' "
Meanwhile, the 'Fill Me In' crooner released new single 'When The Bassline Drops', a collaboration with grime MC Big Narstie, on Monday (30.11.15), and is keen to show he's still "hot and happening", despite not releasing an album since 2010's 'Signed Sealed Delivered'.
He told BBC Radio 1Xtra: "I know deep down, even with 30 million records sold, I have to show that I get that respect now ... I see myself as a new artist right now, where I've got to prove myself. You've got to be hot and happening. There's no point talking about what you did back in the day ... you're only three minutes away from a hot song, I just got to keep writing and writing."

Stereophonics and Faithless to co-headline Isle of Wight festival


Stereophonics and Faithless will co-headline the Isle of Wight Festival.
The two acts - who will take to the stage at Seaclose Park, Newport on Friday June 10 2016 - are the second performers to be added to the bill after it was revealed Queen and Adam Lambert will close the annual event on Sunday June 12.
Stereophonics' frontman Kelly Jones said: "I love playing the Isle of Wight Festival. I got to steer the boat over last time. Captain of the ship and honked the horn! Only the captain gets to honk the horn. This will be our third time at the festival."
And Faithless added: "We can't wait to return to play such an iconic festival for the second time. We were proud to be part of its relaunch in 2005 and it's an absolute pleasure to be invited back."
Speaking to Absolute Radio Breakfast Show host Christian O'Connell at the band's show for War Child and Absolute Radio, Kelly revealed they hope to pick up some new fans during their Isle of Wight performance.
He explained: "When you're starting out, on your first and second record festivals are a brilliant place to steal other people's fans and we stole quite a lot of people's fans and it was great and then you move up the bill and then you do your own thing."
"And it works both ways - now when we're playing gigs and we're on the bill with people like George Ezra and Ellie Goulding on their first and second records and then we try to steal their fans as well because they're 16 and 17. Basically we just keep stealing people really."
"At the Isle of Wight Festival we'll be stealing fans, we're going to steal some Queen fans."
For more visit www.absoluteradio.co.uk or www.isleofwightfestival.com.

Ed Sheeran signs Foy Vance to Gingerbread Man Records


Ed Sheeran has signed one of his "all-time favourite" singers Foy Vance to Gingerbread Man Records.
The 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker's label - which is a subsidiary of Warner Music UK LTD - is slowly filling its roster with new acts and has drafted its second singer/songwriter in Northern Irish solo artist Foy.
Ed announced on Twitter today (30.11.15): "I've signed my second act to my label. One of my all-time favourite artists and inspirations, get a free track at - http://www.foyvance.com/ (sic)"
The signing may not surprise Ed's fans, since the 'She Burns' singer has joined him on numerous tours since 2012 and his tracks have garnered popularity through airplay on US TV shows 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Vampire Diaries'.
Foy, 40, is currently touring Australia and plans to put out his third studio album next spring.
But with just 42,000 twitter followers compared to his 24-year-old boss's 15.9 million, the 'Make It Rain' singer should expect a fairly different reception to his music now he's backed by Ed.
Speaking about Foy in 2013, the Ed shared: "I first saw Foy performing at Hay (festival) about six years ago. I was the guitar technician for the band Nizlopi, and I was hanging around with them in a tent where this dude was on stage; I was transfixed by his voice. I asked his crew who he was. Because of their Irish accents, initially I thought they'd said 'Five Ants' so I spent a long time Googling that. Eventually I figured it out and bought his album.
"Every time I see him play I get annoyed that more people don't know about him. You just need the right opportunities and I think it's going to happen now for Foy."

Will Young closes ‘Love Revolution Tour’ with joke-filled set


Will Young ended his 'Love Revolution' tour with a joke-filled set at London's Hammersmith Apollo on Sunday night (29.11.15).
The 'Love Revolution' singer hugged people in the front row, plucked camera phones from waving hands to take photos of the packed auditorium, and branded himself an "over-excited pop-vicar" on the closing night of the UK and Ireland tour.
Addressing the thrilled 5,000 strong crowd on his choice of ensemble - which was a black, floor length jumpsuit that flapped around him as he jumped and sauntered across the stage - Will quipped: "I'm wearing ... What is it? It's like a cassock, I'm an overexcited pop vicar with a top knot!"
Armed with just a mic stand and a trio of incredible backing singers, the 36-year-old pop star - who is known for his passion for wearing female skirts and dresses - opened the enigmatic set with 'Brave Man', followed by 'U Think I'm Sexy' from his new album '85% Proof' and continued to tear through a list of hits old and new such as 'Light My Fire', 'Gold', 'Runway', 'Like a River', 'Changes' and his recent hits 'Love Revolution' and 'Joy'.
Will took time out to chat to fans on several occasions and mused that he had "mixed feelings of sadness and joy" that the 20-date tour was at its end, and mimed stuffing his face with doughnuts, because he had had so much fun and needed to "console" himself.
The star even asked the crowd to choose his next track, to which many cheered and shouted "Jealousy", however, Will called on his congregation of fans to have "patience" and left them waiting until just before the encore to sing the hit.
Meanwhile, glitter rained down on the former 'Pop Idol' winner as he belted out 'Light My Fire' and he later frolicked and crawled along the sparkly stage.
Will ended the night with two encores, during which he belted out fan favoured track 'Leave Right Now', but ended the night on new hit 'Promise Me'.
The catchy tune - which is sure to be a hit thanks to its current sound and distinct drum 'n' bass beat - had everyone up dancing and made sure the night ended on a high.

John Legend’s star song


John Legend has recorded an intergalactic song with a star to soundtrack a festive beer commercial.
The 'All Of Me' hitmaker has teamed up with a team of scientists, who have figured out a way to trap the luminous celestial plasma objects' "vibrations" and turn it into a sound.
Speaking about the unlikely track titled 'Under The Stars', John revealed: "I didn't really realise we could do this, but scientists have been recording the vibrations of stars. We were able to incorporate the recordings into the song."
The 36-year-old musician - who is soon to become a parent for the first time with wife Chrissy Teigen - penned the festive song for beer makers Stella Artois ahead of their holiday advert campaign 'Give Beautifully, and the song pays tribute to their brand name Stella, which translates as "star" in Latin.
Legend is due to perform the song at the opening of 'Stars' by Stella Artois, which will include an immersive and interactive light installation opening in New York City, on December 9, and believes it will be his "gift" to America this Christmas.
He added: "I wanted to write a song that was all about uniting people all around the world together under the stars. The whole idea, of course, is to 'give beautifully' and this was our gift to America."
Meanwhile, John found working with real stars suited him very well.
He told PEOPLE: "I'm in the business of trying to find things that are great sonically, anyway. So it wasn't that difficult to translate that into listening to star sounds.
"We do the same thing when it comes to drum or keyboard sounds. Either way, you try to create a beautiful record and incorporate those sounds. I'd definitely consider using stars again in the future."

Britney Spears shows ‘love’ for Adele – again


Britney Spears could dance to Adele's 'Hello' a "million times".
The 33-year-old pop superstar has been professing her "love" of the British singer once again and she posted her lasted tribute to Adele on her Twitter and Instagram accounts, a video of her ballet dancing to the her current single.
Along with the short black and white video, the 'Toxic' hitmaker wrote: "I could dance to this song a MILLION times ... love you @adele!"
In the 15 second clip the blonde star is seen casually dressed with her hair in a ponytail as she faces the camera and performs a number of carefully executed pirouettes.
Britney's social media praises comes after the two artists - who are yet to meet - publicly shared their mutual appreciation for each other's music.
Adele, 27, started off the back patting when she said her goals for the immediate future and before she has more children, are to go on tour and "see Britney in Vegas".
Britney is currently undertaking her 'Piece of Me' residency show in Las Vegas and when she heard the news she reached out to the singer on Twitter.
She tweeted: "@Adele I'll trade you 2 tickets to my show for 2 tickets to YOURS! Stop by #PieceOfMe and say #Hello anytime!! (sic)"
And the 'Skyfall' singer promised she'll keep cool but "break the ice" when she finally meets the 'Baby One More Time' star.
She quipped: "Britney is the queen. I love her. So yeah, sometimes it is a bit intense. But I usually crack a joke, and then it breaks the ice."

Florence + The Machine to headline BST in Hyde Park 2016


Florence and The Machine will headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time in Hyde Park next year.
Frontwoman Florence Welch is looking forward to having "free reign" when she takes to the stage with her band on July 2, 2016 and added that it's an "honour" to perform in her hometown of London where her love of music flourished when she was younger.
The 'Ship to Wreck' singer - whose group headlined Glastonbury Festival for the first time this year, stepping in at the last minute for the Foo Fighters who had to pull out due to Dave Grohl breaking his leg - said: "It's an iconic place to perform, especially for a British artist. I grew up in London, all of my first gigs were here. We will put on something really special. What's amazing is we have free rein. So We are going to make something magical happen."
Kendrick Lamar, Jamie XX and Blood Orange provide support for Florence and The Machine.
Other confirmed BST headliners include Mumford and Sons who will top the bill on July 8 and Take That who will command the Great Oak Stage on July 9.
Tickets go on sale for Barclaycard presents British Summer Time on Friday (04.12.15), while Barclaycard holders can enter the pre-sale today (30.11.15).
Go to www.bst-hydepark.com for more information.

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