Converse, the creator of iconic shoes including the Chuck Taylor® All Star®, Jack Purcell® and One Star®, has announced that it has brought together the talents of Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D., Santogold and Julian Casablancas as part of the brand’s Century celebration.

The artists recently joined forces to create a brand new, all original music track, “My Drive Thru,” that will be distributed digitally free of charge to a global audience exclusively on converse.com and authorized Converse web sites around the world. The track will be released on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

“I’ve always wanted to work with Julian and I’m a big fan of The Strokes. Santogold is super-talented and she cares about music so much that it’s not just about sound, it’s a visual aesthetic,” said Pharrell Williams, the track’s producer. “Working together on original music that crossed all of our inspirations was completely refreshing and I love the track. As for partnering with Converse, I only wear and support the things that I like. The Chuck Taylor is the golden goose egg.”

Converse has long been associated with the worlds of music, sport, art and fashion. The brand’s current Century celebration is largely inspired by its role in disrupting the status quo over the last 100 years. The Chuck Taylor shoe has been worn by musical icons ranging from Sid Vicious to current artists like Common and M.I.A.

“As an artist that is just breaking, being asked by Pharrell and Julian to join them on this project was a dream,” said Santogold, whose debut CD was released in May 2008 to rave reviews. “My inspirations come from sources ranging from singers like Nina Simone and Grace Jones to bands like Devo. Working across musical genres was like creating a patchwork where I got to weave together various influences and allow them to co-exist in a fresh and original way.”

In addition to collaborating on the track, the artists also participated in the creation of a music video that will be released during the summer. The song will be promoted, in part through Converse print, outdoor and online advertising tagged Three Artists, One Song. The advertising features the three artists as well as a range of emerging musical talent from across the globe, including Kid Sister, YACHT, Bradford Cox and members of Gallows, Fiery Furnaces, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, and Care Bears on Fire.

“My Drive Thru” - The Line Up:

Pharrell Williams

He can see sounds. Pharrell Williams has already made history for being one of the most successful and prolific producers to emerge during the last decade. As a part of the beat-making duo The Neptunes, Pharrell and his partner Chad Hugo have helped A-List pop stars sell millions of albums and even earn Grammy Awards for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nelly, and Usher.

N.E.R.D.

Funk rock class is now in session. “N*E*R*D* is who we are. “It’s our life,” Pharrell would say in 2000, in describing the group that includes him, Chad and longtime friend and creative wunderkind, Shae. The three of them together combine for uninhibited explorations of sounds, emotion and truth, adhering to no agenda, subscribing to no rules. N*E*R*D* is the way they live their life, the way they see the world.

Santogold

Worth more than her weight in gold. Her genre of music can only be described as Santogold. She’s a true alchemist in the music lab where she’s crafted a liquid mix of new wave, Wall of Sound era pop, dub and twisted beats. Santi White’s singular sound doesn’t bow down to the expectations of mainstream radio. So if you’re listening, Pop music, here’s your cue.

Julian Casablancas

The underground front man. If you’re looking for synchronized dance moves, you’ve got the wrong guy. Julian Casablancas may front indie rock superstars, The Strokes, but he always lets the music take center stage. With an obsession for songwriting that’s borderline psychotic, it’s his infectious hooks that take the spotlight.

Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including premium lifestyle men’s and women’s footwear and apparel. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 25 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at:

Converse Official Website

“My Drive Thru,” will be available for free download at converse.com beginning Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

The Neptunes have certainly been making their mark in the music industry. Whether some of your favourite songs over the years have been hip hop, pop, rock or funk, there’s a good chance the The Neptunes, Grammy Award-winning producers and songwriters Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, have been at the helm. Together with their long-time friend and creative wunderkind Shae Haley, they make up one of music’s most innovative groups: N*E*R*D.

N.E.R.D’s third album ‘Seeing Sounds’ is released on June 9th, 2008 through Star Trak/Interscope Records. The album’s first single “Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom)” is out in the UK July 7th.

‘Seeing Sounds’ is the follow-up to the group’s 2004 platinum-selling album ‘Fly Or Die’, which peaked at #4 and featured the smash-hit single “She Likes To Move” which charted at #5 in the UK charts.

“Everybody Nose”, the first single from the new album, is a prime example of N.E.R.D’s genre-defying music, with its mad refrain “All the ladies standing in the line for the bathroom!”. The track is driven by a thundering bass that gives way to a deep, drum-heavy rhythm track; the song careers between the head-nodding bravado of hip-hop and the body-moving energy of dance or punk music.

The new album ‘Seeing Sounds’ is a blistering mash-up of booming hip-hop beats, rollercoaster rock riffs, rumbling crunk rhythms and scintillating soul music. A song like “Killjoy” moves at a quick clip, with a fierce percussive breakdown serving at its emotional centre.

“Anti-Matter” moves through several different tempos, flirting with psychedelic guitar funk and a dirty south bounce. “Spaz” has the complex rhythms of Indian music before eventually giving way to noisy breaks. “Sooner or Later” evokes the elegance of ’60s UK pop, while “Yeah You” is a first-person account of having a female stalker and flirts with smooth, ’70s soul-jazz.

“We don’t care about genres. Why would we?” says Pharrell of the group’s third album. “For us, it was just about being what we are. We aren’t limited by anything other than our imaginations and what we feel, so why would we make music packaged into a little box?”

Watch N.E.R.D “Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In Line For The Bathroom)” video:

N.E.R.D are currently wowing fans on Kanye West’s Glow In The Dark tour in the US.

The band will be bringing their energetic live shows to the UK in June 2008:

Isle Of Wight Festival - June 13th
London Brixton Academy - June 14th

N.E.R.D. on amazon.co.uk

N.E.R.D Myspace
N.E.R.D Official Website

Madonna scores her 10th #1 album!

Outselling its nearest competitor 2-1, ‘Hard Candy‘ is Madonna’s tenth #1 album.

The albums’ staggering first single “4 Minutes To Save The World” featuring Justin Timberlake, also tops the single’s chart for a second week.

Incredibly this is the fourth time Madonna has had a single and album simultaneously at #1. No other solo female artist has done the double more than once.

Madonna has had more UK number 1’s than any other female artist and is the most successful female solo artist, ever!

Madonna’s Double’s…

1986 - album: True Blue - single: Papa Don’t Preach
1989 - album: Like A Prayer - single: Like A Prayer
2005 - album: Confessions On A Dance Floor - single: Hung Up
2008 - album: Hard Candy - single: 4 Minutes

“4 Minutes To Save The World” is a global smash, topping the European and World charts and notching up over a million downloads.

‘Hard Candy’ is the highly anticipated creative collaboration between Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Pharrell Williams.

Madonna performed an incredible set at New York’s Roseland Ballroom on Wednesday April 30th, 2008 and will headline Radio 1’s Big Weekend, May 10th.

Madonna on amazon.co.uk

Madonna on amazon.com

Madonna Myspace
Madonna Official Website

Madonna’s 11th studio album for Warner Brothers Records ‘Hard Candy’ will be released in the UK April 28th, 2008 (US - April 29).

‘Hard Candy’, the follow-up to Madonna’s ‘Confessions On A Dance Floor’ which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies, has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but this time adds an urban hip hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and Nate ‘Danja’ Hills.

The debut single, the pulsating “4 Minutes”, will be released digitally on March 26th, 2008 and physically on April 21st.

“The album title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness…kind of like I’m gonna kick your ass but it’s going to make you feel good. And of course, I love candy” laughed Madonna.

Madonna is the biggest selling female solo artist ever. A multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, stage performer, children’s book author, director and documentary film maker, she has sold over 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and is slated to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 10th, 2008 (other 2008 inductees: Leonard Cohen, The Dave Clark Five, John Mellencamp and The Ventures).

Madonna on amazon.co.uk

Madonna on amazon.com

Madonna on Myspace
Madonna Official Website

The Hives release the infectious, funky anthem that is “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” as a single on 25th February 2008 (Polydor). Recorded with hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams in Miami for ‘The Black and White Album’ it is an electrifying collaboration, a meeting of great minds and big ideas, taking The Hives into new sonic terrain.

The single will be released digitally and as a Limited 10″ Vinyl backed with exclusive remixes: Matt Helder from Arctic Monkeys shakes up “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)”, as does Russell Leetch from Editors while Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs gets his magic fingers on previous single “Tick Tick Boom” with his Post Colonization Mix.

SINGLE ARTWORK COMPETITION WINNER:

The Hives recently invited fans to submit artwork in a competition for the sleeve of the new single which yielded a hearty response. The band got their heads stuck in to the virtual postbag, whittling down the few hundred entries to a strong shortlist, and then a final favourite featuring first class portraits of the band by one Rowenna Harrison from London. Rowena’s design will adorn the 10″ single sleeve and accompany the digital release.

The Hives UK tour in April 2008:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to The Hives Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

14 April - Norwich, UEA (01603 508 050)
15 April - Newcastle, Academy (0870 771 2000)
16 April - Nottingham, Rockcity (08713 100 000)
17 April - Bristol, Academy (0870 771 2000)
18 April - London, Brixton Academy (0870 771 2000)

Tickets 17.50 GBP REGIONAL / 18.50 GBP LONDON Buy from 0844 576 5483 or Live Nation (all tickets subject to booking fee)

The Hives on Myspace
The Hives Official Website

The Hives are set to release their latest UK single “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” on 25th February 2008. The track was recorded with Pharrell Williams in Miami for ‘The Black and White Album’. They’ve been inviting submissions for the sleeve artwork competition, for the new single.

Read more about “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” and the competition

The Nick Zinner (from Yeah Yeah Yeahs) “Tick Tick Boom” mix is available to download completely free until 21st January, 2008: “Tick Tick Boom” Download.

The Hives have announced details of a UK tour in April 2008. Tickets go on sale at 9am, Friday 11 January, 2008.

The April tour dates are:

Dates could change! Go to The Hives’ Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

14 April - Norwich, UEA (01603 508 050)
15 April - Newcastle, Academy (0870 771 2000)
16 April - Nottingham, Rockcity (08713 100 000)
17 April - Bristol, Academy (0870 771 2000)
18 April - London, Brixton Academy (0870 771 2000)

Tickets 17.50 GBP REGIONAL / 18.50 GBP LONDON
Buy from 0844 576 5483 or Live Nation (all tickets subject to booking fee)

The Hives on Myspace
The Hives Official Website

Swedish rockers The Hives will release the infectious, funky anthem that is “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” as a single on 25th February, 2008 (Polydor).

Recorded with hop-hop producer Pharrell Williams in Miami for ‘The Black and White Album’ it is an electrifying collaboration, a meeting of great minds and big ideas, taking The Hives into new sonic terrain.

The single will be released digitally and as a Limited 10″ Vinyl backed with exclusive remixes: Matt Helder from Arctic Monkeys shakes up “We Rule The World (T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S)” while Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs gets his magic fingers on previous single “Tick Tick Boom” with his Post Colonization Mix.

Competition:

The Hives are inviting submissions for the sleeve artwork for the new single from their fanbase. Anyone can enter the competition and the winning design will adorn the 10″ single sleeve and accompany the digital release when it hits stores in February 2008.

Competition details:
Entries must be submitted by 21st January 2008
Keep it (mostly) Black and White!
Submissions should work to a square format, be delivered at 300DPI, to: thehivescoverart@googlemail.com

For more information about the competition and for inspiration go to:

The Hives on Myspace
The Hives Official Website

Lenny Kravitz
Pharrell Williams
Macy Gray
Xuxa
O Rappa
Marcelo D2
Jorge Ben Jor
Jota Quest
Vanessa Da Matta
MV Bill

The Live Earth Brazil concert event will take place in Rio de Janeiro at Copacabana Beach.

Tickets to the Brazil concert are, believe it or not - free.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be the only free Live Earth concert.

For the latest news and up to date information go to Live Earth Brazil on MSN.

Live Earth: The Concerts For A Climate In Crisis

More Live Earth line-ups and information on BandWeblogs.com:

Live Earth Hamburg, Germany
Live Earth Tokyo, Japan
Live Earth Shanghai, China
Live Earth Antarctica
Live Earth South Africa
Live Earth Australia
Live Earth Giants Stadium, USA
Live Earth London, UK

By: Jenny May - Band Weblogs

“Hey You” was produced by Pharrell Williams and Madonna and was recorded in London. This is definitely a different sound for Madonna - a ballad with flavors of 60’s/70’s nostalgia with acoustic guitar and harmonies mixed in with modern effects that I’m sure were tweaked by Pharrell Williams. Sheryl Crow could sing “Hey You” with ease.

Watch the Madonna “Hey You” video

“MSN is pleased to offer this song in conjunction with Madonna and is proud to donate 25 cents for each of the first 1 million downloads to the Alliance for Climate Protection, in support of Live Earth.”

Madonna will be one of headlining acts performing for Live Earth at Wembley Stadium in London on July 7th, 2007.

Get the free “Hey You” single by Madonna!

For more information go to:

Live Earth Hamburg, Germany
Live Earth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Live Earth Tokyo, Japan
Live Earth Shanghai, China
Live Earth Antarctica
Live Earth South Africa
Live Earth Australia
Live Earth Giants Stadium, USA
Live Earth London, UK

Official Live Earth Blog
Madonna Official Website

By: Jenny May