Music News

Mikel Ameen wrote his song 'Martina Luther Queen' to "empower women".
The rapper says the track - named after late civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King - is his attempt to promote equality in music and give people a message that isn't found in other pop music.
He told BANG Showbiz: "My song 'Martina Luther Queen' is about empowering women who are loyal. About women who own their womanhood. Women who are respectful and that's what is about and that's why there is a need to see a balance in what's represented in music. So it's not a war against pop music. I like to make music that represents all aspects of life - whether that is talking about a queen or something else. I've seen both so why only talk about one? And I hear too much of one side and not the other. So I've taken it upon myself to show a balance of what people want to see."
Although he writes socially aware lyrics, Mikel - who is the brother of 'Harry's Law' actor Aml Ameen - insists he isn't against pop music and is currently obsessed with Chris Brown's song 'Loyal'.
Mikel - whose 'World Changer Music' album is available now - said: "I love pop music, reggae music, hip-hop music, dancehall, an example I give is 'Loyal' by Chris Brown. When that song comes on in a party I dance to that and I sing it because it's got a good beat and to an extent its true what he's saying."

Nicole Scherzinger wants to work with Sam Smith.
The 'On the Rocks' singer claims she is the 'Stay with Me' singer's "biggest fan" and would love to team up with him in the recording studio.
She said: "I'm his biggest fan as I just connect with him on a really deep level. He's the most genuine person I've met. I'd love to work with him. There aren't many cats like him around."
Several songs on her new album 'Big Fat Lie' were written about her relationship with Lewis Hamilton - who she split from briefly last year - and Nicole insists it is a "true reflection" of her changing feelings.
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It's a personal album to me.
"I'd say it's a reflection of how I've felt over the past couple of years. Sometimes love makes you feel amazing - it makes you feel like 'I need you and you need me.
"But sometimes it's like my song 'Run', when you have to run from your own fears and somebody that's getting on your nerves."
Nicole found it very theraputic pouring her feelings into song.
She said: "It's been a cathartic experience.
"Sometimes you wonder what you're doing it all for.
"Sometimes you feel so alone. But I've turned to music and I feel like it's taught me a lot."

Elvis Costello, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds' are being considered for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The organisation has announced its 2015 nominees and also among the performing songwriters being considered for inclusi...

Ed Sheeran asked fans to be his "gospel choir" at his sell-out show at The O2 in London on Wednesday night (15.10.14).
The 23-year-old musician orchestrated a mass sing-along during his rendition of 'Give Me Love' getting the right and left sides of the arena to sing different harmonies back to him.
Before playing the spell-binding track, Ed said: "I'm going to need you to be my gospel choir tonight, You up for that? Whatever I tell you to sing, sing it, keep singing."
Ed - stood in front of a giant video screen - opened his set with 'I'm A Mess' before launching into crowd favourite 'Lego House', taken from his debut LP '+', prompting his fans to scream and sing every word with him.
Highlights from his current album 'x' included 'Don't', 'One' and 'Tenerife Sea', although his rendition of the romantic track didn't appear to inspire any marriage proposals like it did at his O2 concert on Monday night (13.10.14).
Ed swapped his trademark acoustic guitar for an electric one for 'Thinking Out Loud' and joked the upgrade was a sign of his growing success.
Making a reference to the song's video, which features him ballroom dancing with a beautiful woman, he said: "Look, I've got an electric guitar, I'm moving up in the world! I released a music video a week ago, you won't see me ballroom dancing tonight, but I encourage you to, even if you've never met the person next to you before."
Ed exited the stage after playing 'I See Fire' - before which he thanked his fans for making their way to see him by "train, tube or car" - but as the screams and shouts of the crowd grew, he came back on, performing rap song 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You' to open his three song encore.
During 'The A Team', he asked "everyone to take out your phones or whatever you have" to illuminate the huge arena in a sea of lights before closing his show and four-night run at The O2 with smash hit single 'Sing'.
Ed next takes his 'x Tour' to the LG Arena in Birmingham on Sunday (19.10.14) and after travelling around the UK he begins the European leg on November 3 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.

Ed Sheeran's setlist:
'I'm a Mess'
'Lego House'
'Don't'
'Drunk'
'Take it Back'
'One'
'Bloodstream'
'Tenerife Sea'
'Run Away'
'Photograph'
'Afire Love'
'Thinking Out Loud'
'Give Me Love'
'I See Fire'

Encore:
'You Need Me, I Don't Need You'
'The A Team'
'Sing'

Joni Mitchell will release a four disc best-of album.
The 70-year-old singer-songwriter has announced her decision to release a new four disc album, 'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced', which will feature some of her most famous tracks from over her 60-year long career.
When asked how this album will compare to her previous best-of releases, Joni said: "Instead of it being an emotional roller coaster ride as it was before - crammed into one disc - themes began to develop. Moods sustained.
"When this long editorial process (two years) finally came to rest, I had four ballets or a four-act ballet - a quartet. I also had a box set."
'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced' will be available from November 17.
Disc 1
1. 'In France They Kiss On Main Street'
2. 'Ray's Dad's Cadillac'
3. 'You Turn Me On I'm A Radio'
4. 'Harlem In Havana'
5. 'Car On a Hill'
6. 'Dancin Clown'
7. 'River'
8. 'Chinese Cafe/Unchained Melody'
9. 'Harry's House/Centerpiece'
10. 'Shades of Scarlett Conquering'
11. 'Number One'
12. 'The Windfall (Everything For Nothing)'
13. 'Come In From the Cold'
Disc 2
1. 'Court and Spark'
2. 'No Apologies'
3. 'Trouble Child'
4. 'Not to Blame'
5. 'Nothing Can Be Done'
6. 'Comes Love'
7. 'Moon At the Window'
8. 'Blue'
9. 'Tax Free'
10. 'The Wolf That Lives In Lindsey'
11. 'Hana'
12. 'Hejira'
13. 'Stay In Touch'
14. 'Night Ride Home'
Disc 3
1. 'You're My Thrill'
2. 'The Crazy Cries of Love'
3. 'Love Puts On a New Face'
4. 'Borderline'
5. 'A Strange Boy'
6. 'You Dream Flat Tires'
7. 'Love'
8. 'All I Want'
9. 'Be Cool'
10. 'Yvette In English'
11. 'Just Like This Train'
12. 'Carey'
13. 'The Only Joy In Town'
Disc 4
1. 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter'
2. 'Two Grey Rooms'
3. 'God Must Be a Boogie Man'
4. 'Down To You'
5. 'A Case of You'
6. 'The Last Time I Saw Richard'
7. 'Raised on Robbery'
8. 'Sweet Sucker Dance'
9. 'Lakota'
10. 'Cool Water'
11. 'Amelia'
12. 'Both Sides Now'
13. 'My Best To You'

Bono claims his voice improved after his father died.
The U2 frontman believes he was given a "gift" by his late dad Bob Hewson - who lost his battle with cancer in 2001 - after he passed away because his vocal range has improved in a way he always wanted.
He said: "You know, my father used to say to me 'You are a baritone who wants to be a tenor'.
"When my father passed away - we had this incredible relationship, especially during his last days - my voice changed and I felt like to sing better. I feel that he did this gift to me in passing. I think I'm a tenor now!' "
The Irish band are close to their families and guitarist The Edge revealed their fathers used to "get drunk" together during their gigs.
Speaking on Italian TV show 'Che Tempo Che Fa?', he said: "Our dads came on tour with us when we were in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia. They went together to the bar and they got drunk!"
Bono recently admitted he found it "challenging" writing songs for new album 'Songs of Innocence' because all the lyrics, including a tribute to his late mother Iris, were so personal.
He said: "It's challenging stuff. What that meant was nothing, nothing was to be kept back. So you end up with a song about - I mean, how f***ing embarrassing is this? I write the lyrics to a song about my mother.
"It was like, 'Are you gonna go there?' So I went there. Here's a wild thing - my mother collapsed at her father's graveside 40 years ago yesterday and I've just sent out a love song to her.
"It's pretty excruciating stuff."

Ashton Irwin has been hospitalised with appendicitis.
The 5 Seconds of Summer star underwent surgery for the condition at a medical facility in his native Australia yesterday (14.10.14), and the band have cancelled a number of upcoming appearances to give him time to make a full recovery.
The 'She Looks So Perfect' hitmakers announced the news on their website today (15.10.14), writing: "Ashton has come down with a case of appendicitis and had to have an operation. He's doing great and will be back up & running in no time, but he'll need to rest up for the next week or so.
"Unfortunately this means that we'll no longer be able to fly back to the UK this weekend for the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards. We will also be postponing next week's trip to Japan (more info to come soon). We are so sorry to everyone that had planned on seeing us. We were so excited to come see you all and we never want to make any of you sad... We hope you understand!"
The 20-year-old drummer appears to have been struck down with the illness very suddenly, as he said he was having a great time at home on Twitter yesterday.
He wrote: "Love you Aussies, good to be home, havin a blast xx (sic)"
While the group will miss the upcoming Teen Awards, The Vamps, Ariana Grande, Rixton, Ella Henderson and Labrinth will be performing at the annual event, with some artists performing extended sets.

Julian Casablancas was hungover for "five years" after quitting drinking.
The 36-year-old rocker admits he drank very heavily when his band The Strokes first found success and it took some time for him to feel fully healthy again after giving up alcohol for good.
He said: "I was hungover for, like, five years. Like, literally four years after I stopped drinking, I still didn't feel 100 percent. I still had that feeling of being a little hungover, and you just don't want to go downstairs to the deli, and you just want to stay inside. I felt kind of really roughed up by it."
At the height of his alcohol excesses, the 'Last Nite' rocker would drink vodka in the morning and admits it took its toll on his personality and made him "obnoxious".
He told Rolling Stone magazine: "I was probably charming 10 percent of the time, when I had a perfect buzz.
"You think, 'I'm brave and I'm crazy and I can drink.' But it's really like, 'I can't socially talk to people without having a stupid fake confidence that's obnoxious.' You think it's like truth serum, but it's more like a*shole serum."

Bono has apologised for giving U2's album away for free.
The group triggered a backlash from angry iTunes users who were given their 'Songs of Innocence' LP as a free download and the frontman admits the decision was driven in part by "megalomania" and the desire for as many people as possible to hear the songs.
During a Facebook Q&A session Bono was asked: "Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to people's playlists ever again? It's really rude."
He replied: "Oops, I'm sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea and we got carried away with ourselves - artists are prone to that kind of thing.
"Drop of megalomania, twitch of generosity, dash of self-promotion and deep fear that these songs that we've poured our life into over the last few years mightn't be heard.
"There's a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it."
Bono's bandmate The Edge recently admitted he had "doubts" before they agreed to make the album available to Apple users.
He said: "I absolutely had my doubts about it before we did it, and after, but it was the right thing to do. It was an opportunity that will only ever come around once for anybody. I don't think anybody would want to do it again."