BuzzSugar

Do You Go to the Opera?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:30:27 PDT

According to Variety, composer Philip Glass is creating an opera about Walt Disney. The story "imagines the last months of Disney as seen through the eyes of a fictional Austrian cartoonist who worked for him."

I seriously cannot wait to see what the heck this opera looks like.

What do you think of the opera in general? Do you ever go? Or are you not an opera person?

Source

Rest In Peace, Luciano Pavarotti

BuzzSugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:33:33 PDT

It's a sad day for the musical world as we bid adieu to one of the finest operatic singers, Luciano Pavarotti, who died today at age 71. His accomplishments in the realm of classical music are many, and not the least of these is how he made opera music more accessible to people who might not otherwise be exposed to it.

Indeed, the most bittersweet thing about remembering the big, sweet-faced tenor is how willing he was to collaborate with all sorts of musicians, combining his warm, booming voice with those of well-known rock, soul and pop artists. Everyone from Bono and Queen to James Brown and the Spice Girls have shared the stage with the legendary singer. He clearly had a love for music in all its manifestations and his presence will be missed.

To check out just a few of Pavarotti's collaborations,

read more
Luciano Pavarotti and Barry White, "My First, My Last, My Everything" Luciano Pavarotti and the Spice Girls, "Viva Forever" Luciano Pavarotti and Bryan Adams, "O Sole Mio" Source

Link Time - What Your Fave '80s Musical Says About You

TresSugar — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:45:46 PDT

A personality test determined by your favorite '80s musical - The Hairpin
Why powerful men making public missteps is a good thing - Huffington Post
Best bits from Sarah Palin's emails - The Frisky
Adele has her sights set on a certain royal ginger - Betty Confidential
Watch Bill Maher and Jane Lynch perform the Weinerlogues - Flavorwire
Men bare all: new chest hair trend - Yahoo! Shine
Craigslist names 10 most romantic subway stations - YourTango
The don'ts of having "the talk" - College Candy
What do you do if even tampons hurt? Much less sex - Em & Lo
Why the reverse cowgirl isn't as sexy as it sounds - Glamour

All Our Favorite Music Is About Sex

Annie Scudder — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:20:17 PDT

Sex sells records, according to new research that set out to prove an intuitive conclusion. The study, with the fancy name Songs as a Medium for Embedded Reproductive Messages, examined the country, pop, and R & B Billboard charts and found that 92 percent of the songs that made it into the top 10 in 2009 contained at least one or more "reproductive message." The average number of mentions was 10.49.

Inspired by recent studies, including one on romance novels that discovered the five most common words in the books were love, bride, baby, man, and marriage, the researchers from the State University of New York in Albany wanted to see if reproductive issues were recurrent in music, too. They looked for themes including courtship, sex, pair-bonding, parenting, fidelity, mate guarding, and themes related to long-term and short-term mating strategies.

"Let’s have some fun/This beat is sick/I want to take a ride on your disco stick," from Lady Gaga's 2009 "Love Game" was an example of a reference to short-term mating strategies. “He knelt down and pulled out a ring/And said ‘Marry Me Juliette’” from Taylor Swift's "Love Story" was an example of "commitment and fidelity" themes. And “They say she low down/It’s just a rumor and I don’t believe ‘em/They say she needs to slow down/ Baddest thing around town” from Akon's "Sexy Chick" references "promiscuity/reputation/degradation," according to the study. While messages about sex were pervasive among all genres, they weren't the same messages. Top country songs had mentions to marriage, parenting, breakups, and fidelity, while R & B songs referenced themes like the singer's sex appeal or erotic acts.

It's not just modern music lovers with sexy music taste, though. The research also looked back at opera arias over the past 400 years and found mentions to sex. So Akon and Puccini do have something in common.

Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy Take a Sweet Couple's Stroll Around SoHo

Lauren Turner — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:49:00 PDT

Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy stuck close together on a walk around SoHo yesterday. The cute couple keep their relationship low-key, but they've been a staple on the NYC social scene lately. Claire and her husband stepped out for the Met Ball, attended an opera premiere, and toasted Geoffrey Rush at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in recent months. They'll be back in the spotlight soon since Claire's Showtime series Homeland premieres this Fall and Hugh will be on the big screen when Our Idiot Brother hits theaters in August. The duo will have more than just their new roles to celebrate, though, since Claire and Hugh will also mark their second wedding anniversary in September.

The Gifted Man Cast Talks Science, Faith, and Patrick Wilson's Own Gifts

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:03:28 PDT

This Fall, Patrick Wilson will be the face of one of CBS's new dramas, A Gifted Man. He plays a hotshot neurosurgeon who starts to rethink his arrogance when he begins seeing visions of his deceased ex-wife, played by Jennifer Ehle. Wilson and Ehle were both on hand to promote their show at the Summer TCA this week, talking about Wilson's musical talents and beyond. Here are highlights:

Producer Neal Baer was quick to point out that Ehle's character, Anna, isn't definitely a ghost, referring to her as "a ghost or whatever she is," and later quipping, "She's no angel."
On the show, Anna ran a clinic for the uninsured during her life, which will play a big role on the show. As Wilson's character, Mike, works in a fancy shmancy practice, the juxtaposition between the two environments will be one at the forefront of the series and a contrasting force between the two models of medicine.
Another big theme of the show will be the contrast between Mike being a "man of science" vs. a "man of faith." Wilson said that he loves playing a character who refuses to believe in ghosts or magic, and thus thinks he's going insane when he starts seeing Anna. He added "I want to play it as weird as it would be" and "that constant struggle will continue to be explored."
Wilson said he's excited about the show's Friday night time slot because it provides some "room to play" instead of worrying about completing against other shows. He also cited the show's NY location as one of the big draws, since he gets to go home each night and spend time with his family.
Wilson, who has showed his musical talents on stage and in movies like The Phantom of the Opera gets to show off his piano-playing skills in the pilot (which was originally not in the script). Baer joked that he'd love to show off more of Wilson's musical background, saying, "You all know he can sing and dance, so we'll have to give him some neurological case where a person can't stop dancing."

How to Find Guys Into Your Brains Over Beauty

Tara Sharp — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:00:00 PDT

We had a reader with a dilemma: how do you find a guy that's interested in what's within more than getting in your pants? You all offered some great advice on the site and on Facebook, so we thought we'd pull some of your tips for gals on the hunt for a quality fella (we especially loved that some of our guy readers chimed in!). Here are eight ways to snag a good man.

"From a guy's perspective, she has to realize that looks are the first attraction. I'm sure it's tough to spend enough time with someone so they can get to know the real you. Just be yourself and someone will find what's inside can be more attractive than the outside." - Russell
"Here's a hint: start the intelligent conversations quickly after meeting a man that you think may just be trying to get in your pants. If he only has that in mind, he will have no patience for hearing about what you took away from 'The Odyssey' or Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos.' If he cares enough to stick around long enough to hear you out or even enjoys those similar things he may be worth getting to know a bit better." - manekineko88
"It's all marketing. Position yourself where the attributes you wish to display will be shown to their full potential. You want to be known for your mind, take a serious class in something in which you have an interest, professional or otherwise. If you love classical music, attend the opera or symphonies in town. Go to the pre-show discussions and participate. The only other people in these venues are the ones that have the same affinity as you." - GregS
"I would recommend holding out for a while with guys. The ones after your ass won't stick around, but the ones who like you for you probably will." - popgoestheworld
"You don't have to give every guy a chance. You'll start to pick up on who's feeding you lines, 'nice eyes,' and who's genuinely interested." - Pistil
"Instead, show more confidence. Assume every guy who approaches you wants to get to know you. Those who don't will get confused and leave." - Helen Danger
"I would suggest becoming friends first before going out on a date. Dating people you don't know seems like a waste of time since all they'll do is lie to you." - Anonymous
"Initially most guys do want to bang-they're hardwired that way. It's the interesting women with a lot to say that keep them coming back for more. It sounds cliché but personality really does count . . . Be less conscious of your looks, focus on them less and the guys that will truly like you for you, will also. It does not mean they won't appreciate that you're pretty but they'll appreciate other things about you too." - searching soul

Photo by Shannon Nicole Smith Photography via Ruffled

Sneak Peek of The Chew, ABC's New Daytime Food Show

Susannah Chen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:39:03 PDT

Today, ABC announced that The Chew, its new daytime lifestyle show, will air live beginning Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. EDT. The series, which replaces the soap opera All My Children, will feature an eclectic mix of hosts, including Italian cooking icon Mario Batali, Iron Chef Michael Symon, Top Cheftestant Carla Hall, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly, and healthy cookbook author (and Dr. Oz progeny) Daphne Oz.

The show will offer everything from "cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays, and more," the release reveals. Based on the trailer, it appears to offer plenty of flashy smiles and overly enthusiastic camaraderie. In the video, Daphne adds, "It's all about food, but it's about dishing, really." And, according to Mario, pop culture, music, and family, too. Check out the trailer below. Does The Chew look exciting to you?

Announcing the Winners of the 2011 Grammy Awards!

BuzzSugar — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:34:56 PST

There goes another staple in award season - the Grammys are a wrap! The night was chock-full of performances from standouts like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, but there were a few statuettes passed out between songs.

Muse frontman Matt Bellamy took the opportunity to thank his "beautiful pregnant girlfriend" Kate Hudson while accepting the trophy for best rock album, and Lady Gaga gave props to Whitney Houston in her acceptance speech for best pop album. Lady Antebellum scored big with five golden gramophones, but it was Arcade Fire that won the biggest award of the night, taking home the accolade for album of the year.

Check out the full list of winners when you

read more. RECORD OF THE YEAR "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum ALBUM OF THE YEAR The Suburbs, Arcade Fire SONG OF THE YEAR "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum BEST NEW ARTIST Esperanza Spalding BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE "Bad Romance", Lady Gaga BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE "Just The Way You Are", Bruno Mars BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS "Hey, Soul Sister (Live)", Train BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS "Imagine", Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE "Nessun Dorma", Jeff Beck BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM "Take Your Pick", Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto BEST POP ALBUM The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga BEST DANCE RECORDING "Only Girl (In The World)", Rihanna BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM La Roux, La Roux BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM Crazy Love, Michael Bublé BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE "Helter Skelter", Paul McCartney BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS "Tighten Up", The Black Keys BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE "New Fang", Them Crooked Vultures BEST METAL PERFORMANCE "El Dorado", Iron Maiden BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE "Hammerhead", Jeff Beck BEST ROCK SONG "Angry World", Neil Young BEST ROCK ALBUM The Resistance, Muse BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM Brothers, The Black Keys BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE "Bittersweet", Fantasia BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE "There Goes My Baby", Usher BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS "Soldier Of Love", Sade BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE "Hang On In There", John Legend & The Roots BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE "F*ck You", Cee Lo Green BEST R&B SONG "Shine", John Legend & The Roots BEST R&B ALBUM Wake Up!, John Legend & The Roots BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM Raymond V Raymond, Usher BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE "Not Afraid", Eminem BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP "On To The Next One", Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION "Empire State Of Mind", Jay-Z & Alicia Keys BEST RAP SONG "Empire State of Mind", Jay-Z & Alicia Keys BEST RAP ALBUM Recovery, Eminem BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE "'Til Summer Comes Around", Keith Urban BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS Need You Now, Lady Antebellum BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS "As She's Walking Away", Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE "Hummingbyrd", Marty Stuart BEST COUNTRY SONG "Need You Now", Lady Antebellum BEST COUNTRY ALBUM Need You Now, Lady Antebellum BEST NEW AGE ALBUM Miho: Journey To The Mountain, Paul Winter Consort BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater BEST AMERICANA ALBUM You Are Not Alone, Mavis Staples BEST COMEDY ALBUM Stark Raving Black, Lewis Black BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC Crazy Heart BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC Toy Story 3, Randy Newman, composer BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE, TV, ETC "The Weary Kind" (From Crazy Heart), Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters (Ryan Bingham) PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (NON-CLASSICAL) Danger Mouse BEST REMIXED RECORDING "Revolver" (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix), David Guetta, remixer (Madonna) BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO "When You're Strange," The Doors BEST RECORDING PACKAGE Brothers, Michael Carney , art director (The Black Keys) BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set), The White Stripes BEST ALBUM NOTES Keep an Eye on the Sky, Big Star BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings) BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL Battle Studies, John Mayer BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM Britten's Orchestra, Michael Stern and Kansas City Symphony BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION The Path Among Trees, Billy Childs Ensemble BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT Carlos, John Scofield, Vince Mendoza, and Metropole Orkest BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST(S) Baba Yetu, Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra BEST MUSICAL ALBUM FOR CHILDREN Tomorrow's Children, Pete Seeger With The Rivertown Kids and Friends BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM FOR CHILDREN Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies, Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM (INCLUDES POETRY, AUDIO BOOKS, AND STORYTELLING) The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook), Jon Stewart BEST MUSICAL SHOW ALBUM American Idiot, Billie Joe Armstrong BEST HAWAIIAN MUSIC ALBUM Huana Ke Aloha, Tia Carrere BEST NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC ALBUM 2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance, Derek Mathews, Dr. Lita Mathews, and Melonie Mathews BEST ZYDECO OR CAJUN MUSIC ALBUM Zydeco Junkie, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band BEST REGGAE ALBUM Before the Dawn, Buju Banton BEST TRADITIONAL WORLD MUSIC ALBUM Ali and Toumani, Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate BEST CONTEMPORARY WORLD MUSIC ALBUM Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks, Bela Fleck BEST LATIN POP ALBUM Paraiso Express, Alejandro Sanz BEST LATIN ROCK, ALTERNATIVE OR URBAN ALBUM El Existential, Grupo Fantasma BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM Viva La Tradicion, Spanish Harlem Orchestra BEST TEJANO ALBUM Recuerdos, Little Joe and La Familia BEST NORTENO ALBUM Classic, Intocable BEST BANDA ALBUM Enamorate De Mi, El Guero Y Su Banda Centenario BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE Grace, BeBe and CeCe Winans BEST GOSPEL SONG It's What I Do, Kirk Whalum and Lalah Hathaway BEST ROCK OR RAP GOSPEL ALBUM Hello Hurricane, Switchfoot BEST POP/CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM Love God. Love People., Israel Houghton BEST SOUTHERN, COUNTRY, OR BLUEGRASS GOSPEL ALBUM The Reason, Diamond Rio BEST TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM Downtown Church, Patty Griffin BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B GOSPEL ALBUM Still, BeBe and CeCe Winans BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Giancarlo Guerrero and Nashville Symphony Orchestra AND Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works, Eliesha Nelson and John McLaughlin Williams BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina, Terrence Wilson and Nashville Symphony BEST OPERA RECORDING Saariaho: L'Amour De Loin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE Verdi: Requiem, Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga Borodina, Barbara Frittoli and Mario Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus BEST INSTRUMENTAL SOLOIST(S) PERFORMANCE (WITH ORCHESTRA) Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement, Paul Jacobs BEST CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCE Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1&2, Parker Quartet BEST SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE Dinastia Borja BEST CLASSICAL VOCAL PERFORMANCE Sacrificium, Giovanni Antonini and Il Giardino Armonico BEST CLASSICAL CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION Daugherty, Michael: Deus Ex Machina, Giancarlo Guerrero BEST CLASSICAL CROSSOVER ALBUM Tin, Christopher: Calling All Dawns PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL David Frost BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM Verdi: Requiem BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM The Stanley Clarke Band, The Stanley Clarke Band BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee, Dee Dee Bridgewater BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO A Change Is Gonna Come, Herbie Hancock BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM, INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP Moody 4B, James Moody BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard, Mingus Big Band BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM Chucho's Steps, Chuco Valdes and The Afro-Cuban Messengers BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM Mountain Soul II, Patty Loveless BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM Joined at the Hip, Pinetop Perkins and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM Living Proof, Buddy Guy BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM Genuine Negro Jig, Carolina Chocolate Drops BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise, Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs

Mary-Kate and Ashley Treat Themselves to a Night at the Opera

Allie Merriam — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:20:51 PDT

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen threw on their latest fancy ensembles to attend the premiere of Le Comte Ory at NYC's Metropolitan Opera House last night. It was their second big evening out on the town this week, after they went out Wednesday to toast Vanessa Traina's Maje collection. The sisters were joined at the musical event by Claudia Schiffer, Claire Danes, and Hugh Dancy, as well as The Good Wife's Julianna Margulies and her always handsome husband, Keith Lieberthal. Mary-Kate and Ashley, who recently talked about sharing memories, clothes, and work in April's Vogue, have been busy making the social rounds since nabbing a prestigious CFDA nomination last week for their line The Row.