Today, Barbie premieres her first music and dance video – titled “Do ‘The Barbie’” – to celebrate the launch of her new Barbie Fashionistas dolls. The new dolls feature 12 points of movement and more than 100 plastic-fantastic poses so Barbie can bend her elbows, twist her wrists, move at the waist and roll her head.

To show off these new movements, Barbie has teamed up with one of the music industry’s hottest names to choreograph and produce a music video featuring a new dance – appropriately called “The Barbie” – set to a new, re-recorded version of the 90s hit song “Barbie Girl.” Barbie looked to famed choreographer JaQuel Knight, the talent behind Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” (“Put A Ring On It”) dance craze, to choreograph the “The Barbie,” a series of doll-like moves and dance grooves.

The music video, shot in New York in July, stars three Barbie Fashionistas dolls – “Sassy,” “Cutie” and “Artsy” – and features a cameo from “Hottie” Ken. In the video, the dolls break out of their toy boxes to “come alive” and dance “The Barbie” alongside real, life-size Barbie dancers. “The Barbie” dance is comprised of doll-like moves that can be performed to any song and ends with a signature Point, Twist, Snap.

The Barbie Fashionistas Dolls will be available in October for an average retail price of $11.99 each.

(Source) Press

Never before has an all original female vocal CD hit the Jazz Week Chart, until recently, when Cynthia Scott’s new album, “Dream For One Bright World” achieved this status. Scott says she is “thrilled that the album reached this level of success so quickly and that audiences gravitated to it as she hoped they would.”

Jazz singer songwriter Scott’s new CD features a range of material with Scott as the principal composer. She believes that the album resonated with audiences due to the universal themes on the CD, and her ability to tap into the heart of the world’s concerns.

DREAM FOR ONE BRIGHT WORLD features a range of material written by Scott, who credits co-writers Norman Simmons and Nicholas Morrison for their creative input on some of the songs she performs on the CD, reflecting Scott’s thought that” jazz is just life.”

Accompanied by such great musicians as Lonnie Plaxico on acoustic bass, John di Martino on piano and keyboard, Bill Easley on tenor/alto/soprano saxophones and flute, Yoron Israel on drums, Jeff Haynes on percussion, Wayne Escoffrey on tenor, Andrae Murchison on trombone and Etienne Charles on trumpet, Scott’s extraordinary vocals get the attention they deserve with tasteful colors and distinct nuance.

(Source) Press

Today, ABSOLUT VODKA, the world’s most iconic vodka, announces a creative collaboration with Madison Square Garden that will offer music fans an unparalleled series of high-profile concerts at the iconic venue. Showcasing performances ranging from rock-and-roll heavyweights to country crooners, these two legendary brands will work together to bring music lovers of all kinds the ultimate concert experience as only The Garden can offer. To kick off the series, ABSOLUT and Madison Square Garden will host a once-in-a-lifetime benefit show featuring hip-hop impresario JAY-Z on September 11, 2009, to aid the New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund (www.answerthecall.org). The highly-anticipated performance will air live and commercial-free on Fuse TV at 9pm.

The events of September 11 challenged JAY-Z as an entertainer and a New Yorker. This charity concert serves as not just a reminder of the lives lost but as a look towards the future and the hope that arose on September 12.

“This charity and concert encompass the true spirit of New York City,” commented Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter. “We are asking everyone to ‘answer the call’ and support and honor the families of those that lost their lives in the line of duty. There is a true camaraderie and resiliency this city showed the world in 2001 and we continue that today by taking care of our own.”

For this live event, 100 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales and concert merchandise will go directly to “New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund.” Since its inception, New York Police & Fire Widow’s & Children’s Benefit Fund has distributed over $114 million to the families of New York City police and fire personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Though the Benefit Fund was initially created to assist families of New York City Fire Fighters and Police Officers, the non-profit now includes the families of Emergency Medical Services and Port Authority Officers as well. For more information on the organization, go to http://www.answerthecall.org

The on-sale date and method of purchase for tickets to the concert will be announced shortly. After the announcement, Citi card members will have access to presale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass program.

(Source) Press

VH1 and VH1 Classic are kicking off a programming bonanza centered on one of the biggest-selling bands in pop culture history – The Beatles. The networks extensive and wide-ranging programming is airing in support of the highly anticipated launch of MTV Games’ The Beatles: Rock Band on September 9.

The 3-week-long programming block begins with the airing of “The Beatles Anthology,” the comprehensive documentary series focused on the history of the “Fab Four.” “The Beatles Anthology” simulcasts on VH1 and VH1 Classic on Wednesday, August 26, Wednesday, September 2, and Wednesday, September 9 at 9PM*. Then beginning Tuesday, September 1, VH1 Classic goes into full gear with “9 Days of Beatles” featuring classic Beatles’ documentaries, concerts and films.

Footage from “The Beatles Anthology” documentary was compiled from interviews, studio sessions, films, and home videos, with production taking place over the course of five years. From their childhood in England to the band’s eventual breakup, this in-depth documentary takes a look into the careers of four of the greatest musicians to grace the stage. Directed by Geoff Wonfor and Bob Smeaton, this Emmy-nominated film follows John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr around the world as they share their stories. Fans will have an opportunity to see and hear some of their favorite Beatles performances as well as rarely seen footage.

Via Press

2009 has turned into a landmark year like no other for legendary Island Records group Bon Jovi, and now the band is launching their new single, “We Weren’t Born To Follow” an upbeat positive anthem which premiered on radio Tuesday, August 18th. “We Weren’t Born To Follow” is the first single pick from the band’s new studio album, THE CIRCLE, in stores November 10th.

“We Weren’t Born To Follow” was written (and co-produced) by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and was produced by John Shanks, who worked with Bon Jovi on their last two albums, Have A Nice Day (2005) which featured the Grammy winning single, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” and Lost Highway (2007), which debuted at #1 on the Soundscan Charts in the U.S. and around the world. The resulting “Lost Highway World Tour” – which famously started with 10 triumphant nights in New Jersey and came to a close with an historic free concert in New York City’s Central Park and two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden – was ranked as 2008’s #1 top-selling tour around the world according to Billboard.

Bon Jovi has set the standard for more than two decades as one of the most successful rock bands in the world. Globally, the Grammy Award-winning band has sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans.

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