Thursday, September 30, 2010

Strictly business.... or is Kara Tointon falling for her handsome Russian dance partner?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6tCx5xXjIendofvid

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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Hands on: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev looked very close as they took a break between training


Strictly Come Dancing is as famous for romances as it is for its rumbas and it seems love is on the cards again this season.

Kara Tointon, 27, is rumoured to be 'smitten' with her Russian dance partner Artem Chigvintsev, whom she has been training with ahead of tomorrow night's show.

The pair certainly seemed close as they visited a shopping centre during a break from training this week.

Artem, 28, was spotted tenderly stroking the former EastEnders star's shoulders as they made their way down an escalator.


Budding romance? The former EastEnders star is said to be 'smitten' with her dance partner


Proving himself to be quite the gentleman, he was even carrying her handbag on the outing.

He has even been seen visiting the actress at her North London flat after hours, according to reports.

'It was obvious to everyone from the first rehearsal there was a huge spark between them,' a source is quoted as telling the Mirror.

Kara split from her former EastEnders co-star Joe Swash in June after a two year romance.


Ready to rumba: The pair will compete together for the first time on tomorrow's show


Artem, who got his break as a contestant on the US TV show So You Think You Can Dance in 2005, has also appeared as a professional on America's Dancing With The Stars.

He dated one of the show's judges Carrie Ann Inaba, who is 15 years his senior, however their romance ended in 2008.

A spokesperson for Kara says: 'Of course Kara and Artem are spending lots of time together. They are training every day. But they are just good friends.'

Kara and Artem will join Gavin Henson and Kataya Kirshilas, who were also spotted in London today, on Strictly Come Dancing tomorrow night on BBC at 9pm.


Gavin Henson and Kataya Kirshilas



source :dailymail
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Miss England 2010, Jessica Linley (latest photos )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=optNIscg9eEendofvid

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Jessica Linley was crowned Miss England 2010 on September 1st at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in Birmingham. Jessica Linley of Nottingham is 21 year old and stands 5’11”. She will represent England in Miss World 2010 pageant.






Jessica Linley was crowned Miss England 2010 on September 1st at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in Birmingham. Jessica Linley of Nottingham is 21 year old and stands 5’11”. She will represent England in Miss World 2010 pageant.






Jessica Linley was crowned Miss England 2010 on September 1st at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in Birmingham. Jessica Linley of Nottingham is 21 year old and stands 5’11”. She will represent England in Miss World 2010 pageant.






Jessica Linley was crowned Miss England 2010 on September 1st at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in Birmingham. Jessica Linley of Nottingham is 21 year old and stands 5’11”. She will represent England in Miss World 2010 pageant.



source : Missworld, Worldshowbiz [endtext]

RYDER CUP 2010: Europe's big beasts lead the charge... Sportsmail's guide to Friday's fourballs and the teams at Celtic Manor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYZf8oOsdSAendofvid

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By DEREK LAWRENSON Golf Correspondent at Celtic Manor

Those with a taste for blood and gore wanted this Ryder Cup to begin with Tiger against Rory. The European captain wanted it to begin with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

But for the past six weeks Lee Westwood has nursed his ailing body with one purpose in mind, and that was to stand on the first tee and lead off Europe's quest to regain Samuel Ryder's gold cup.

Such is the esteem in which the finest English golfer since Nick Faldo is held by his captain, there was no way Colin Montgomerie was going to deny him.


And so this 38th edition will begin not with a grudge match or the flags of Northern Ireland flying high, but with a gesture of profound respect for Europe's No 1 and Europe's most recent major champion, as Westwood (below) and Martin Kaymer are charged with the honour and responsibility of setting the tone for getting the trophy back.

Waiting for them will be the formidable American pairing of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Talk about meeting firepower with firepower.

Do sports fans with satellite television need any more incentive to set the alarm clock early? Do those privileged enough to have a ticket need any more excuse to pack their waterproofs and their singing voices?

There's plenty more following the announcement of an opening series that left Europe feeling supremely confident and Americans shaking their heads in puzzlement.

Europe's four pairings were exactly those predicted in Sportsmail a week ago, but who could have guessed America's line-up?
Enlarge


Keeping dry in the clubhouse on the first morning will be the man who has just won $11million at the FedEx Cup and another who went five matches unbeaten at the last Ryder Cup. In place of Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan will be rookies in Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton. Who could have predicted that?

Certainly not the opposition captain.

'It's safe to say Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald did not expect to play two rookies in the anchor match,' said Montgomerie.

'Any scenario you think of piles a lot of pressure on two inexperienced players. We could be trying to make it 2-2 or go 3-1 ahead. Giving that task to Bubba and Jeff is, well, a bit strange really.'

While one captain is playing a blinder the other really ought to be hauled off the pitch. After all that military nonsense from Corey Pavin on Wednesday, how unfortunate that he should look around the stage at the opening ceremony and find one of his team had gone missing in action.

'An Open champion, too!' chortled Montgomerie.

Honestly, when you're charged with the task of announcing your team, how can you forget to mention one of them? Stewart Cink could have been forgiven for feeling neglected when he won The Open last year and all the plaudits went to Tom Watson, but this was something else again. Just as well for Pavin that Cink is one of life's good guys. If it had happened to Tiger, he would have probably caught the next flight out of town.

Here's more strangeness from Pavin. This will be the first Ryder Cup Tiger Woods has played in since 1999 in which he will not be the lead hitter on the opening morning.

Did Pavin go looking for Rory in putting Tiger off in the third match? Well, you wouldn't expect him to answer that one, would you? Anyway, instead of Rory, Tiger and Steve Stricker have found Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher instead.


Poulter was the European star of the last Ryder Cup and what a chance he and Fisher now have to be the stars of the opening series. No-one will expect them to win, not against an American pairing who went unbeaten in four matches at the last Presidents Cup. Well, no-one bar Montgomerie, the thousands who will follow their every shot and, most importantly, the two players themselves.

Fisher might not make the same headlines as Poulter but he doesn't fall short when it comes to self-belief.

'Tonight we will have a few inspired speeches, get a good night's kip and then go out there and give it to them,' he said. Poulter added: 'It's going to be just incredible, isn't it?'

Splitting the top match and this one will the fulfillment for McIlroy and McDowell of a dream they have cherished from the moment the former left the amateur world and joined the paid ranks three years ago. They will play Matt Kuchar and, er, what's his name again - oh yes, Stewart Cink.

This couldn't have worked out better for the home pair, for while Kuchar has had a wonderful year, he looked exhausted at the Tour Championship last week.


Europe, therefore, will be bitterly disappointed if they don't come out of the opening series with at least a one-point lead. It might not sound anything with 24 points still to play for and it isn't in real terms. But past experience has shown the team leading after round one have a massive psychological advantage.

Indeed, in the 15 Ryder Cups to have been staged since the continentals were invited to the party in 1979, only twice has the team that lost the opening series come back to win.

No wonder Westwood wanted to bat first, then. Anybody else and it would have been a difficult decision for Montgomerie. He was fully aware how good McDowell and McIlroy were when playing first at the Seve Trophy last year.

But, in a team as good from top to bottom as Europe's, Westwood is still Montgomerie's main man. It took guts to ask to play first, 11 weeks since he last played competitively, safe in the knowledge that a star pair would provide the opposition. A lesser man would have wanted to hide. But Westwood is desperate to get rid of the sour taste from last time, when Sir Nick Faldo took all the wind from his sails. Now he has a captain who will believe in him to the end, and by his side will be the brilliant German who Montgomerie believes is a future world No 1.


No-one from Europe will be too unhappy that the weather is predicted to be bad at the start. It certainly won't dampen the spirits of those who will gather at first light for what is truly among the best this sport has to offer - the opening shots on the opening day of the Ryder Cup.

Europe begin with the captain resplendent and the opposition worrying whether in Pavin they have another Faldo, a cold fish who tries to reinvent the wheel with his strange selections.

Pavin could do with Tiger motivated and Mickelson and Johnson at their best. He could do with a couple of rookies turning convention on its head.

Anything else, and the knives will be out. Win this opening series, and one-up for Europe will start to feel more like one hand on the trophy.





source : dailymail

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Manchester City 1 Juventus 1: Moneybags City get no change from the Old Lady

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl84cFpVFLcendofvid

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By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Thundebolt: Juventus' Vincenzo Iaquinta fired his side ahead in stunning fashion


A week ago, a place in a rather weak Carling Cup side at West Brom concentrated the mind of Manchester City winger Adam Johnson. Last night, a crucial goal against one of the most respected club sides in Europe did the job.

Now young Johnson must decide which way he wishes his season to go. A player with enormous talent and a gift for scoring crucial goals that some players never acquire, Johnson has much to learn in terms of application and concentration in the eyes of City manager Roberto Mancini.

Johnson’s place in the Carling Cup team that lost at West Brom was no accident. It was Mancini’s way of reminding the 23-year-old England international just how quickly players can be removed from their pedestal. Pleasingly, it would appear that the winger took the hint.


Having been told - along with City’s other creative players - that goals are his responsibility this season, he scored what could yet prove to be a decisive one in the context of City’s Europa League season.

Johnson was not City’s most impressive player. The Belgian central defender Vincent Kompany filled that category. However, his goal was not only important but also had quality written right through it.

To the untrained eye, it looked simple enough as he ran on to a neat pass from Yaya Toure to control the ball and prod it beneath poorly positioned Juventus goalkeeper Alex Manninger.

However, the beauty was in the anticipation of Toure’s pass and the timing and direction of the diagonal run from the right side that left two Juventus defenders on their heels. It is this kind of intuitive quality that tends to stand out in English football.

Certainly Mancini will be pleased, particularly as he clearly felt Johnson was partly to blame for the Juventus goal that rocked City in only the 10th minute.

City goalkeeper Joe Hart will not look back on Vincenzo Iaquinta’s goal with any pride. The shot from distance was sweetly struck but England’s goalkeeper really should have saved it.


A-dam good timing: Adam Johnson levelled matters before the break


Mancini, though, had spotted something else that irked him in the build-up, exchanging words and gestures with Johnson from the touchline as the Italians celebrated.

Afterwards, Mancini said: ‘Adam is a good player and he is trying to improve always. It was a good goal today and he has done something good. But he can still improve.’
Struggling a little to juggle the demands of their European and domestic commitments, City fielded a strong team and it was just as well, given the manner in which they were required to scrap for what they achieved.

It was a rather close call as Juventus captain Alessandro del Piero came within inches of winning the game in the last five minutes. City conceded rather too many free-kicks all night and Del Piero almost took advantage when he thumped a dead ball against the underside of the crossbar and down on to the goal-line.


No way through: Emmanuel Adebayor wasted several good chances for City


The Italian’s shot was well struck and swerved a little. Nevertheless, Hart will wonder how he didn’t manage to turn it over the bar, given that the ball passed directly above his head. Overall, this was not a great evening for the City goalkeeper and his disgruntled understudy Shay Given will certainly have looked on with interest from the substitutes’ bench.

Mancini added: ‘We hoped to control the game but after they scored the goal the game changed. It was a blow. We had to recover from that and in the second half particularly we did that.’

As their season progresses, City continue to seek some consistency. Last night’s performance, for example, did not match the defeat of Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend.


Legend: Alessandro Del Piero twice went close with trademark free-kicks


Mancini will have been heartened by Johnson’s contribution, delighted at the manner in which Kompany’s central defensive partnership with Kolo Toure is developing and impressed with the contribution of German full back Jerome Boateng, who played on both sides after injury to Pablo Zabaleta.

There were disappointments, though, and none worse than the failure of Emmanuel Adebayor to make an impact on the game. Mancini declared himself happy with Adebayor’s contribution but it was interesting to see Carlos Tevez still covering the yards late on.

It was surely not what Mancini would have wanted ahead of Sunday’s game but at the moment Tevez is his only reliable forward. The sooner Adebayor discovers his form or Mario Balotelli his fitness the better.

Juventus were dangerous when shooting from distance. City, for their part, struck the post through Gareth Barry shortly before Johnson’s goal and Barry also volleyed a Patrick Vieira cross over the bar.



source: dailymail

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Utrecht 0 Liverpool 0: Roy's Reds' woe continues with drab Europa draw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m_HFSZAzkcendofvid

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By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER

Losing battle: Fernando Torres looked sharp at times, but too often cut a frustrated figure up front


Liverpool carved out a hard-fought point, but it hardly counted as a night to compare with their best in Europe. Not for Liverpool, and certainly not for Fernando Torres.

Roy Hodgson arrived in this historic Dutch city intent on adding to his tally of five straight Europa League wins as Liverpool manager but just as eager to see Torres end an uncharacteristically lean spell that has yielded just one goal so far this season.

He may well have been content with the outcome of the first objective but not the second, after a misfiring Torres spurned three clear opportunities and, barely able to conceal his frustration, headed straight down the tunnel.


While his team-mates acknowledged travelling supporters, and Utrecht’s players pointedly milked the crowd’s applause as if they had won the Champions League, Liverpool’s £21million record signing made the swiftest of exits from the scene of his anguish.

The plan to nurture Torres back to his lethal best appeared to have backfired, but Hodgson was unrepentant as he reflected on his decision to include the Spain frontrunner between the Barclays Premier League games against Sunderland and Blackpool.

Torres appeared to consult Liverpool’s physio as he headed off, but Hodgson said: ‘My interest is in Liverpool Football Club and watching 11 players and seven substitutes. I’m afraid I can’t spend every waking moment keeping an eye on Torres, so I can’t tell you if he saw the physio or not.

‘What I can say is that he worked hard and combined well with Dirk Kuyt. He is still seeking that elusive goal after a couple of late chances he might have put away, but he will feel it was a good 90-minute workout and a step in the right direction.’

There was an early reminder of the quicksilver finishing skills that have brought Ricky van Wolfswinkel six goals in this competition already this season, as he steered an instinctive shot narrowly wide in only the fifth minute.


Joe-where to go: Cole struggled, along with the rest of Liverpool's midfield, to create many chances


That apart, it was Liverpool calling the shots, as they set about establishing control in midfield and began to fashion shooting opportunities near the edge of the area. If only they had finished with the same sure touch that marked some of their passing moves.

Raul Meireles undid all his impressive approach work with a weak shot straight at keeper Michel Vorm in the 10th minute and Joe Cole miscued in similarly frustrating fashion after working an opening five minutes later.


Rallying call: Pepe Reina was at his resolute best between the posts


As Liverpool have found to their cost on previous European excursions, it only takes one near miss to ignite the home crowd and add extra momentum to their team’s endeavours.

Utrecht had two, after being reprieved by Meireles’ failure to despatch an unmarked header in the 23rd minute, as Liverpool inexplicably surrendered the initiative and found themselves suddenly on the back foot.

The first, in the 25th minute, looked, for one heart-stopping moment, like being more than just a close shave, as Jan Wuytens lashed a loose ball into the roof of the net, only for Jacob Mulenga to be penalised for a push on Martin Kelly for the header that set up the opening.

Little had been seen of Kuyt on his return to his first club, but he was the centre of attention in the 39th minute, following an inexcusable lapse of concentration inside his own area.

Mulenga again demonstrated his aerial prowess by heading a Mertens corner back across goal, but it should have been a routine clearance for Kuyt.

Instead, the Liverpool midfielder dithered and allowed Mertens to nip in and drill a low near-post shot that Pepe Reina turned away with his legs.

The first of Torres’ chances came in the 53rd minute, after a half-clearance from Glen Johnson’s cross fell invitingly for him but was volleyed yards over.

Reina was found wanting three minutes later, after reaching for a Mertens corner and flailing at thin air. Michael Silberbauer’s free header at the far post was looping towards goal, until Meireles saved his keeper by heading clear from under the bar.

Liverpool might have preferred a more measured pattern to the game, but chances were at least coming their way, as well as Utrecht’s, as the pace hotted up.

The most glaring fell to Torres in the 57th minute, after a cutback from Kuyt left him with just Vorm to beat on the edge of the six-yard area. It should have been the simplest of tasks, but he was left holding his head, initially, after being denied by Vorm, then howling his protests to Gomes after the official failed to spot the save and gave a goal-kick instead.

The final straw arrived in the 66th minute, after Torres latched on to a back pass from Mircea Nesu and nicked the ball past Vorm.

He chose to hurdle the keeper’s challenge, rather than go to ground in search of a penalty, as the ball ran away from him and out of play.

Credit to him for adopting such a sporting approach, but there must have been a sigh of relief from Nesu, not to mention Vorm, at seeing his ill-timed dive at the striker’s feet go unpunished.

Liverpool finished the night top of the group, but it was hardly a cause for celebration.


source :dailymail
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Miss Mundo Portugal 2010, Catarina Aragonez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShgCjmjw8qoendofvid


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Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.





Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.





Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.






Catarina Aragonez is the new Miss Mundo Portugal 2010. She was crowned at the finale held last night September 18th at the Teatro Camões concert hall in Lisbon. Catarina is 22 year old and stands 5’9”. She will represent her country in Miss World 2010 pageant to be held in Sanya, China this October.


source : Missworld, vohoangyen.forumotion
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SEAMO versus “5 women” for new collaboration album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zieAYFFIj74endofvid

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R&B vocalist SEAMO has a new album coming out, and it certainly isn’t his usual soulful fare.

The album will be called “5 Women” and it’ll be available on December 15th. The unique twist to this release is that it’s actually a collaboration album between SEAMO and five different women. He will challenge them all on the album in a test to prove himself.

The guests on the album will sing with him one after another, with the leading track featuring “ViVi” magazine model and singer Sara Mary. Both SEAMO and Sara May are powerful vocalists and coincidentally come from the same hometown, so this will certainly be an interesting collaboration.

SEAMO hasn’t revealed the names of the remaining women yet, but fans should stay tuned for future news on this exciting release!

For those who might not know who SEAMO or Sara Mary are, here is some of the latest from both of them:

SEAMO – Umi he Ikou





source: tokyohive

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Preview for AKB48’s ‘Beginner’ PV released!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqkARnjlCMsendofvid

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AKB48’s preview for the PV of ’Beginner‘ has just been released!

As we’ve mentioned in a previous post, this single will come in five versions which includes 2 CD+DVDs, 2 Event editions, and a regular edition. It’s set to hit shelves and e-stores on October 27th, and will serve as the group’s 18th single.

View the preview under the cut!



source : tokyohive
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2NE1 wins M! Countdown and other performances!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkzYOa7p8DEendofvid

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After the Chuseok holiday break last week, M! Countdown returns for another exciting show filled with awesome performances. T-ara’s Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon are confirmed as MCs for this episode.

Aside from the comeback stage for Se7en, and the debut stage for Co-Ed, other performers on today’s episode include: V.O.S, Co-Ed, Dalmatian, Sori, miss $, San-E, Oh Jong Hyuk, Park Ki Young, Sunny Side, SunMin, and Moon Ji Eun.

2NE1 won today’s M! Countdown! Congratulations to 2NE1!

Check out their performance and encore below!




























source : allkpop

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Co-Ed debuts on M! Countdown with “Too Late”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix42qb2itckendofvid

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Rookie group Co-Ed have been receiving a lot of buzz lately from their 3D MV showcase and teaser jacket photos. Not only that, fellow labelmates T-ara are also doing what they can to raise the anticipation for their debut.

Well, the wait is finally over. They have made their debut on M!Countdown with the track, “Too Late“.

Check out the performance below:


source : allkpop
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Beige reveals ‘Falling in Love with a Friend’ MV featuring Super Junior’s Ryeowook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CBNzTZ6lE4endofvid

[starttext]


Having heard the full audio clip a few hours earlier, the full MV of Beige’s duet with Super Junior’s Ryeowook for ‘Falling in Love with a Friend‘ has finally been released today.

The very sweet and easy-to-listen song is certainly pretty soothing to the ears and looks like a perfect confession song for those who are looking to move from being friends to a couple.

Check out the MV below!


source: allkpop
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First look: Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler take their seats at the American Idol judging table

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4MonkIByGoendofvid

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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tweet peek: Nigel Lythgoe tweeted a picture earlier today of new American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler with Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest


Excitement is mounting ahead of the start of season ten of American Idol, which starts in the U.S. July 12 on Fox.

To add to the anticipation, Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe tweeted a picture earlier today of the new additions to the show hard at work.

Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were pictured sitting at the famed American Idol judging table with existing judge Randy Jackson and show host Ryan Seacrest.

Both Seacrest and Jackson have been with the show since it's first episode broadcast in June 2002 and are the only remaining original cast members.

After months of speculation American Idol finally announced last week that Lopez and Tyler would be joining the show, replacing last season's judges, Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi.

With the departure of the show's star, acid-tongued Simon Cowell, producers are looking to up the ante in order to maintain their previously record breaking viewer figures.

In addition to the introduction of the two new A-list judges Idol are promising a slew of changes to the show's format in a way to rejuvenate and freshen up the format.


Changes: After months of speculation Idol finally announced last week that Lopez and Tyler will be joining the show as the new judges


Ratings gamble: Idol producers are banking on Tyler and Lopez to bring in the viewers following the departure of their star judge, Simon Cowell


They have reduced the minimum age requirement for contestants by a year, from sixteen to fifteen and for the first time they are allowing contestants to apply online by submitting their audition tapes via the internet.

Idol hopefuls can submit a 40 second audition tape via Myspace between September 15 - October 6 2010.

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, executive producer of American Idol explained their decision to lower the minimum age: 'A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16,' she said. 'Lowering the age limit allows us to tap into this talent pool.'

In addition, the show's producers announced that they are scrapping the celebrity guest mentors that have advised contestants in past years in favour of an in-house mentor, Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of the Interscope Geffen A & M records group.


Make me a star: Idol wanabees are still flocking in their legions to audition for season ten of the hit show


Despite the changes contestants are as eager as ever to vie for a chance to compete on the show.

Wannabe singers have been turning out in droves for the opportunity to perform in front of the judges, with auditions already completed in Nashville, New Orleans, Austin and San Francisco.

American Idol has come under criticism in the past, with claims that contestants are forced to sign contracts that are heavily weighted against their favour.

It's claimed that the contracts give excessive control of contestant's careers to 19 Entertainment, the record company that was founded by Simon Fuller, creator of the worldwide Idol franchise.



Out with the old: Ellen DeGeneres, Simon Cowell and Kara DioGuardi have all left the show, leaving just Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest to carry on the mantle


But there's no doubting that appearing on the show can give unknowns previously unheard levels of exposure, making or breaking careers and launching certain contestants to mega stardom.

And it's not just the show's winners that go on to find fame and fortune.
One of the biggest success stories of the show's history is Jennifer Hudson, who finished a meagre seventh place in season three, but went on to garner an Oscar for her performance in the 2008 smash hit, Dreamgirls.

Season one and season four winners, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have both gone on to become mega successful recording and performing stars, along with Chris Daughtry, who finished fourth in season five.



source: dailymail

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No denying it now! Joe Jonas and Ashley Greene finally go public with their romance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnZmPOxUcPMendofvid

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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Out in public: Joe Jonas and Ashley Greene went public with their romance as they strolled around Beverly Hills arm in arm yesterday


Joe Jonas and Ashley Greene are finally going public with their love.

The couple, who have been quietly dating for several months have always maintained that they are 'just friends'.

But yesterday they were spotted out and about in Beverly Hills walking with their arms wrapped around each other, and later holding hands.

And it seems that Joe knows exactly how to treat a girl to a perfect day out.
The two first went for some lunch before hitting the shops for a few hours of retail therapy.

Ever the gentleman, the 21-year-old singer was later seen carrying their many purchases to his waiting Porsche.

The couple then headed off to celebrate Joe's little brother Frankie's 10th birthday.
Rumours started about the couple dating after they were spotted together enjoying a romantic dinner at The Ivy in London back in July.


Give us a smile! Despite the perfect daytime combination of lunch and then shopping Greene looked decidedly glum


Ashley, 23, was in town to attend the premiere of Twilight, in which she starred as Alice Cullen, and Joe was there to support his brother Nick in his stage debut, appearing in Les Miserables.

Jonas had been dating teen sensation Demi Lovato whom he split from in May.
Hopefully they split on good terms though, as Lovato is currently touring with the Jonas Brothers.

Meanwhile, it seems things are starting to get serious between the Ashley and Joe.
E! News reports that Greene recently took Jonas home to meet her parents in Jacksonville, Florida.


Shop till you drop: The couple certainly know how to give their plastic a good workout as they were laden down with bags


And then there's the matter of the purity ring that Joe and his two brothers, Nick and Kevin vowed to wear as a symbol of chastity until they married.

U.S. magazine Life & Style reports that Joe has ditched his ring since hooking up with Greene.

They go on to quote a friend of the couple, who claims: 'When they're not travelling they are basically living together.'


Designer duds: Jonas was spotted carrying bags from Dolce & Gabbana and Mulberry



Sweet ride: Jonas and Greene headed off in his Porsche to celebrate the 10th birthday of Jonas' little brother Frankie





source :dailymail
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