China: Beyoncé’s banned and Gaga’s gone
China’s Ministry of Culture has released a new Internet blacklist of hit pop songs from artists like Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Simple Pan and Lady Gaga. Chinese websites that do not wish to face potential prosecution by Chinese authorities must remove any and all of the list’s 100 tracks from their website by Sept. 15. The list includes songs like the 1999 Backstreet Boys hit “I Want It That Way,” Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night,” Beyoncé’s “Rule The World (Girls)” as well as six of Lady Gaga’s most recent tunes. Though there are a number of Western artists on the list, most songs are by artists from Hong Kong or Taiwan, such as Yu Wenie, whose humorously-titled number “You Say I’m Too Handsome” is also on the blacklist. This is not the Ministry of Culture’s first foray into restricting access to online music. Last April, the ministry announced it would penalize 14 sites accused of hosting illegal downloads, including Baidu, China’s largest search engine.
Is this really the best way for them to resolve their issues?
The brothers behind Britpop band Oasis have recently reconciled over one of their many feuds, though this time it was without the need for a court date. Early last week, Liam Gallagher, infamous for his longstanding sibling rivalry with brother Noel, announced he would be taking his grievances to court. He’s upset over a statement Noel made back in 2009 regarding Oasis’ cancellation of their V festival Chelmsford show. Noel had said they’d cancelled their gig because Liam had been too hungover to perform, but Liam claims he had laryngitis and merely wanted to set the record straight for their fans. Now it seems the threat of a lawsuit has caused the elder of the two siblings to recant his position in a webchat on NME.com. “For the record, it is a fact that he was diagnosed with laryngitis and it is a fact that he had a doctor’s note to prove it. […]  but it’s all getting very silly and a little bit out of hand,” said Noel. Following his brother’s statements, Liam has dropped the suit.
To the shock of absolutely everyone…
Singer Amy Winehouse’s family has released the results of the “Rehab” singer’s toxicology report, which concluded that no illicit drugs were present in the 27-year-old’s body at the time of death. “Toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy’s system at the time of death,” said family spokesman Chris Goodman in a statement. Prior to the test results, an alleged friend of the Winehouse’s had claimed that she bought nearly $2,000 worth of drugs the night she died. Alcohol withdrawal was also considered a prime factor in the singer’s untimely death. Though the test did show that alcohol was present in her system, it has yet to be determined whether this may have played a role in her passing. The cause of death is not yet known.
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