Shakria

Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson to hit Seminole Hard Rock on Valentine's Day

2009-03-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

On-again, off-again, never-together-but-messing-with-us duo Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson are hosting a big Valentine's Day party on Feb. 14 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's appropriately named Passions nightclub.

Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance was sighted at the Martini Tuesdays at the Mondrian, hanging out with all the boys. Says one, ``She was very fun, drinking champagne and taking photos with everyone.''

Filmmaker Susan Seidelman, best known for Desperately Seeking Susan, will speak at the Miami Filmmaker Project Seminar Series at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Art Center/South Florida Gallery. Admission is free.

Television personality Maria Celeste was spotted at Club 50 at the Viceroy Miami at a brunch for Fendi's Spring/Summer line. According to our fashionista, ``She fell in love with several of the items coming down the runway and asked to borrow one for her upcoming People En Español's 50 Most Powerful Women shoot, where she will be reportedly on the cover.''

Iggy Pop was at Gardner's Market in Pinecrest on Sunday with longtime girlfriend Nina Alu. Said our spy, ``He looked good for Iggy. And was very nice, sampling the smoothies I was promoting. He was just like another guy at the farmers market, hanging out eating the food and talking to people.''

Brooke Hogan was recently seen shopping at the newly opened Inca boutique at The Gansevoort, where, according to our spy, she turned heads and even stopped traffic as she undressed down to her underwear in the middle of the store to try on bathing suits. Hogan left with more than $2,000 worth of bikinis and cover-ups, including a matching mother/daughter bikini set.

American Idol runner-up David Archuleta was spotted using the coal burning pizza oven to keep his hands warm before going outside to perform for fans at Palm Beach's Vic and Angelos last week.

Shakira took a break from hip-shaking and celebrated her birthday with lunch at RA Sushi in South Miami with family Monday. The party of five sat in a large booth and dined on RA favorites including the Viva Las Vegas roll, the Crazy Monkey roll and the chicken yakisoba. Our source says that Shakira was very friendly and seemed to be relaxed and enjoying the quality time with her family. She was also naturally beautiful, wearing little makeup, and was casually dressed.

Grammy Award-winning merengue singer Elvis Crespo was at Mango's Tropical Cafe Monday night. According to our source, he drank Johnnie Walker Black and offered drinks to everyone who was around him.

Jackie Mason left his table at Ghirardelli on Wednesday and had lunch at the Chabad House in Miami Beach. Mason spoke for a few minutes, autographed books, and took photos with fans. He also sponsored the food for the event -- eggplant parmesan, salmon, salads, blintzes, quiches, breads and dips, coffee and cake. Mason volunteered to attend the lunch after meeting Chabad rabbinical students on Lincoln Road.

Source:http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment

Shakira Hits The Studio with Calle 13

2009-01-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

Colombian pop queen Shakira recently hit the studio with alt-raperos Calle 13 for a very fruitful recording session in the Bahamas. How do we know? One of the producers in the studio session, James Wisner, was kind enough to post a photo of the whole group on his MySpace profile. Thanks, James!

We've already told you that Shakira is exploring different directions for her new album, her first since Fijación Oral Vol. 1 and 2 dropped four years ago. Pharrell Williams and a longtime Shakira collaborator, Gustavo Cerati, both worked on new tracks with the singer in recent months. It all leads to one question: what in the world will Shakira's new album sound like? Will she be rapping with Residente and Visitante? About scatological humor? We can't wait to find out.

Source http://en.terra.com/entertainment

‘Shakira’s hot, but Madonna’s amazing!’

2008-12-19T00:42:00.000-08:00

Well, that’s Sandip Soparrkar for you. Candid and cordial. Having grabbed attention for his connection (dance, of course) with Hollywood hotties such as Shakira, Beyonce Knowles, Madonna Britney Spears and even football legend Maradona, Sandip seems quite content with life. “Things are happening and I am happy about how they are moving. Dance takes care of half of your life,” says Sandip.

A single father, who adopted a two-year-old boy, Sandip feels the society is selfish and to some extent racial when it comes to adopting a baby. “It took me four years to be able to adopt a baby. First of all, I am single and a man. That was the major hurdle. A single woman has to undergo three steps, whereas the law of land has laid 42 steps for a man to be able to adopt a child. And that too, a single man can only adopt a male child. Added to this, once I passed this acid test, people used to advise me to adopt a fair child. Why? Because I am fair,” Sandip shares.

Life seems to have taken another good turn after his son Arjun entered his life. “It’s been wonderful to see Arjun grow. He’s one and a half year old and I love him. He is not a dancer. And I don’t want to make him one. I want to give him a good life.” According to Sandip, adopting a child and giving a better life to a child makes more sense than donating money. He seems to be enjoying fatherhood, as he says, “I am going to buy something for my son from Ahmedabad.”

During the economic slowdown, Sandip feels, “dance helps reduce stress levels. And believe me, the number of people who come to dance has increased when I conduct a workshop in these two months.”

Having trained ‘Bootylicious’ Beyonce, hip-shaker Shakira, Sandip has choreographed Britney Spears’ song Womanizer. In his kitty right now is the Hollywood flick Nine starring Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman. So who is the hottest of all these celebrities? “Shakira. No doubt about it. But I really admire Madonna for her appeal and being able to maintain a toned up figure, which is quite difficult a task. When I met her, I was amazed to see how young she looked. At 50 she looked like a 30-year old.

Excerpt from the article in http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Shakira to Shake for Obama's Inauguration

2008-12-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

We hope it's true!

Latina magazine reports that Shakira will be performing at the Obama inauguration in January!

The Obama camp won't confirm or deny the report, but we're inclined to believe it!

Latina did break the big news that Mariah Carey married Nick Cannon earlier this year!

Plus, when philanthropist Shaki endorsed the Prez-Elect back in October, the big B responded, "It's an honor for me to receive support from someone with so much talent, from an artist who has been so generous."

There's mutual love there!

We can't wait to see the Colombiana heat up that wintery DC night!

Source:http://perezhilton.com/2008-12-04-shakira

Shakira takes appeal for Latin America's poor kids to New York

2008-11-28T00:38:00.000-08:00

Remember how we reported earlier this year from Mexico on ALAS, a new charity initiative by Colombian superstar Shakira to aid Latin America's millions of poor, malnourished and undereducated children?

Well, she's at it again, this time in New York and accompanied by Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz.

But her companions weren't just other Spanish-speaking pop stars but rather the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama and Paraguay.

The singers asked the presidents to adopt an agreement on combating child poverty during the upcoming Iberoamerican Summit in late October. ''If we win your personal commitment today, we will have opened the future of Latin America,'' said Sanz, a Spaniard.

''I promised Shakira that in the next summit, which is in El Salvador, we will work on the topic,'' Salvadoran President Tony Saca told a crowd of 1,000 at Columbia University in New York, where the presidents are attending the United Nations General Assembly.

The five leaders spoke of child poverty in their countries and expressed interest in the project -- as well as admiration for the artists' work through ALAS.

Source:http://www.miamiherald.com/

First dress rehearsal took place in Limassol

2008-11-21T23:03:00.000-08:00

In the Spyros Kyprianou Arena, the first dress rehearsal of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place. Giorgos Ioannides, who represented Cyprus in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest last year, is the star of the opening sequence that switches between kids on stage and kids dancing all around Limassol.
Following the opening act with eighty dancers, the presenters of the show appear on stage. Sophia Paraskeva and Alex Michael appear rising from the floor, looking as if appearing through a fountain of water. The participants enter the hall walking down the stairs through the audience, carrying a large sun shaped flag of their country.

The Junior Eurovision Song Contest cooperates with UNICEF and that you will notice throughout the show. UNICEF ambassadors like David Beckham, Shakira, Robbie Williams and Whoopi Goldberg are the first ones to make you aware that not all children in the world live in wealth and peace. When the hosts explained how to vote, it is time to open the televoting and kick off the show with the first participants from Romania.

After the first three countries - Romania, Armenia and Belarus - performed, you can see last year's Junior Eurovision Song Contest Sipke Jan Bousema elaborating on the UNICEF project. Following the performances of Russia and Greece, you can see Sipke Jan in another postcard together with the Junior Eurovision Song Contest participants.

Georgia is next after the short break after which a postcard of the sandy beach introduces Oliver, the Belgian candidate. Bulgaria, Serbia, Malta and the Netherlands. Beckham, Shakira and Robbie promote UNICEF once more and make it possible again for broadcasters to air a commercial break. Sophia Paraskeva and Alex Michael then show up again before the show continues with the last four candidates from Ukraine, Lithuania, Macedonia and Cyprus. With a recap off all songs, the viewers are asked to vote for their favourite participants and to suppurt UNICEF.

Evridiki and Dimitris Korgialas (stand-ins for the moment) take the stage to sing this year's Junior Eurovision theme song Fun In The Sun and dancers form the word FUN on stage. Another recap of the songs is aired for them who couldn't make up their mind yet. Dima Bilan, the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest gets introduced.

Following a report on the Lemesos Parade which took place in Limassol last Monday, the candidates all together hand in hand sing the UNICEF song Hand In Hand. Another review on what the candidates did in Cyprus this week, an interview with and performance of Dima Bilan (a stand-in for the moment) later, a video with last years Belarusian winner Alexey and the usual chat with Svante Stockselius, the points can finally be revealed.

Source: http://www.belgovision.com/en/index_f.php?id=4846

Shakira to lobby on child welfare

2008-11-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

Shakira to lobby on child welfare

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Latin pop star Shakira, showing she can move more than her hips, will lobby Latin American presidents this week to start a regional project to pump money into children's health and education.

The singer will address a summit in El Salvador of Ibero-American leaders, including the presidents of Brazil and her native Colombia, over the need to feed and educate poor children, especially amid a global economic slowdown.

"There are difficult times coming in Latin America. Thousands and thousands of children will die if governments do not organize ways to distribute food during this crisis," Shakira told Reuters.

"I grew up in the developing world and I have witnessed the lack of opportunities that children have to live with," she added, speaking by telephone from Miami.

"In a country like mine, when a child is born poor, people die poor. But I'm fascinated by the fact that through education you can transform lives, you can end this cycle of poverty."

Some 35 million children live in poverty in Latin America with little or no access to proper food and education, Shakira said. Investing in a year of primary education can increase a person's adult income by up to 20 percent, she added.

Shakira's hip-swivelling dances and catchy ballads have earned her a huge global following and a string of Grammy awards. She began getting into social issues just a few years into her pop career, starting a Colombian children's charity called the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation in 1997, named after her breakthrough hit album released a year before.

While celebrities like Bono and Angelina Jolie have focused on Africa, Shakira uses her fame to make headlines on Latin America, where stubbornly high poverty levels can get overlooked because of healthier overall economic indicators.

Shakira helped launch the Fundacion ALAS (Latin America in Solidarity Action), which is behind the new initiative, and has lobbied British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the U.S. Congress on the need to educate children in poor countries.

"My heart is committed to this cause and it has been there for a long time, since I was 18," said Shakira, now 31, who has sold some 50 million albums around the world.

"I like to think that I can use my public profile to bring attention to more important issues than my own."

Her new project will seek funding from organizations like the World Bank and would monitor governments' efforts closely, although the golden-tressed singer regretted she would not have time to get involved in inspection efforts on the ground.

SOURCE:http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE49S90Z20081030

Shakira: No Time for a Baby

2008-11-10T01:13:00.000-08:00

Saying she's pregnant enough with her songs, Grammy Award-winning singer Shakira said she has no current plans to have a baby, despite her work on behalf of Latin American children, the New York Daily News reports.

"I'm quite pregnant with my album," the 31-year-old Colombian pop star told the Daily News, although she said she does want to be a mother eventually.

Shakira appeared at a regional summit in El Salvador on Thursday, where she asked about 20 Latin American presidents to allot more resources for poor children and to make early-childhood development a priority. The United Nations goodwill ambassador is appearing at the summit on behalf of the Latin America in Solidarity Action Foundation.

Source:http://www.diversityinc.com/public/4693.cfm

Scammers Fake Shakira Show To Sell Tickets

2008-11-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Two bounced checks led officers to discover a scam where a music festival headlined by Shakira was faked to sell tickets, police said.

Beaverton police responded Friday to a call at Lazerquick at 2770 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. at about 11:45 a.m. for a report of a theft where a woman had written two bad checks that totaled more than $5,000, Detective Pam Yazzolino said.

The merchandise which had been purchased with those checks by Olga Antroprova, 24, was fliers and posters promoting a fake concert headlined by the singer Shakira, which was said to be in Bellevue, Wash. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, Yazzolino said.

The show was being promoted as the First Annual International Dance Festival.

To sell the phony tickets the scammers had set up a Web site where they could be purchased for $230 each, Yazzolino said.

She said it isn't known how many of the fake tickets were sold or how many victims there have been.

On Monday, detectives arrested Nguyen Nguyen, 35, on three outstanding warrants and are investigating his involvement with the fake concert ticket scam, Yazzolino said.

Antroprova voluntarily came forward and is cooperating with detectives, Yazzolino said.

Beaverton police are continuing the investigation into the scam. Anyone with information or who may have been a victim should call Detective Mike Hanada at 503.526.2267.

Source:http://www.kptv.com/news/17844085/detail.html#

Shakira Helps Fight Child Poverty

2008-10-22T02:40:00.000-07:00

"Those who are born in poverty die in poverty," commented Columbian singer Shakira, about the Latin American children.
Shakira added, “A child who lacks sufficient nutrition and education is never able to lead a dignified life, and that must change.”

That is the challenge with which the young inimitable singer, planned to confront the presidents of several Latin American nations: Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, and Paraguay.

The event was held on September 24, where Shakira tried to encourage the presidents to begin a mutual effort to fight child poverty. The aim is to ratify an agreement during the October summit meeting of Ibero-American representatives.
Her words came as representative of ALAS (Latin America for Solidarity). An organization founded in 2006 by some of the most influential artists, intellectuals, and business leaders of Latin America.

Shakira donated US$40 million to ALAS for reconstruction in areas of Peru and Nicaragua that were devastated by natural disasters.
Shakira’s Early Involvement

The singer, born in Columbia in 1977 and of Catalan origin, had early on—since 1997— become involved in her native land with the “Fundacion Pies Descazos” (“Barefoot Children's Foundation”).
Her social responsibilities are primarily providing nutrition and education for street children, and those who have other basic needs.
Shakira was named ambassador for UNICEF in 2003. The lyrics of her songs often include corruption, crime, torture, and criminal abortion. The German TV program ZDF voted her "2007 Charity Person of the Year," for the program "A Heart for Children."

This year, her song "La Despedida," from the soundtrack of the movie "Love in the Times of Cholera," was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Original Song category.

Source:http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainmen

Shakira Takes Children's Charity Global

2008-10-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Colombian pop star Shakira's children's charity is to go global by Christmas (08).

The Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) charity has provided shelter, care, clothing and food for poor children in the singer's native Colombia and now she wants to take her message of help to the world.

Launching the global initiative during an Earth Institute initiative with South American leaders at America's Columbia University on Wednesday (24Sep08), the Hips Don't Lie singer said, "Under less than $2 a day, we can provide a kid with top quality education and the nutrition that they need to be able to function and be able to learn, because a kid with an empty stomach cannot learn."

"This model that has been so successful in my country, now I want to bring it to other countries in my small way."

She insists her summit meeting with the presidents of Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, El Salvador and Panama went very well, and they've pledged to help Shakira: "They seem very committed and that's
what we need.

We need all the leaders of Latin America to have a definite commitment toward our children (because) the children of Latin America are waiting for opportunities.

"Where I come from every child who is born poor will die poor and we have to change this, and this is the moment to do it. We are at the threshold of a new wave of awareness and sensibility toward our children's issues. But early childhood development should be at the top of our priorities and at the top of every president's agenda." (c) WENN

Source: http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212175147.shtml

Shakira meets Betancourt in Paris

2008-07-31T01:54:00.001-07:00

Colombian pop star met with former hostage Ingrid Betancourt and her son Lorenzo in Paris Tuesday, celebrity website Celebrity Gossip reports.

Shakira is currently recording her new album in London and Betancourt is in Paris recovering after being held in the Colombian jungle by the FARC for six years.

Both women will be involved coming Sunday in a worldwide protest against the FARC. Betancourt, together with Colombian pop star Juanes, will head the march held in Paris. Shakira will hold a concert on the Colombian border with Peru and Brazil.

news source : http://colombiareports.com/

Shakira leads demo for hostages' release

2008-07-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

BOGOTA: Pop star Shakira led nationwide demonstrations in her native Colombia yesterday demanding the liberation of hundreds of hostages held by rebels in the jungle for years.

Colombian ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt staged a concert in Paris as part of the rallies. "No more hostages!" Betancourt chanted as she addressed a crowd of several thousand people who came to watch more than 30 artists perform in a square across the river Seine from the Eiffel Tower. Colombian star Juanes, Spain's Miguel Bose, and French artists Renan Luce and Michel Delpech were also present.

Stolen Picasso recovered

SAO PAULO: Brazilian police recovered a Picasso engraving stolen during a brazen daytime heist from a Sao Paulo museum last month. One of the suspected robbers was arrested on Friday.

news sorce : http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/

Live Nation Follows Shakira '360 Deal' With Nickelback Signing

2008-07-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

Colombian pop star Shakira to a reported $70-$100 million "360 deal," concert promotion giant Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) announced on Tuesday that it signed a new multi-faceted contract with Canadian rock band Nickelback. Under the deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, Live Nation acquired a vast array of rights for the band, including three touring and album cycles, tour sponsorship, merchandise, VIP/travel packages, secondary ticketing, clothing, licensing, non-tour sponsorship and endorsements, DVD and broadcast rights, fan club, website and literary rights.

Previously signed to EMI in Canada and Warner Music/Atlantic/Roadrunner Records in the rest of the world, Nickelback has sold more than 26 million albums worldwide. The band's last tour of North America and Australia, in 2006-2007, sold more than 1.5 million tickets and grossed in excess of $67 million. "This deal with Nickelback will enable us to fully capitalize on our vertically integrated platform to connect the band with their fans, monetizing our unparalleled reach to drive revenues and increase overall margins," said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. "This partnership is structured to increase our revenue and cash flow potential significantly, while reducing our risk profile. This investment is cross collateralized, spread over multiple years and comprises multiple business opportunities."

news source : http://www.dmwmedia.com/

To Sing Like Shakira, Press '1' Now

2008-07-07T03:35:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (July 2, 2008) — Vibrato -- the pulsating change of pitch in a singer’s voice -- is an important aspect of a singer’s expression, used extensively by both classical opera singers and pop stars likeShakira. Usually, the quality of a vibrato can only be judged subjectively by voice experts. Until now, that is. A research group from Tel Aviv University has successfully managed to train a computer to rate vibrato quality, and has created an application based on biofeedback to help singers improve their technique. Your computer can now be a singing coach. The invention was recently showcased at an international competition in Istanbul, where it won first prize at the International Cultural and Academic Meeting of Engineering Students. Researcher Noam Amir, a senior lecturer from the Department of Communication Disorders at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, says the tool might not help record producers find the next great pop music sensation. But it could teach singers how to mimicShakira’s signature vibrato.

Good Singing Is Not Subjective

Vibrato is a musical effect than can be used when a musician sings or plays an instrument. It adds expression to a song and is created by a steady pulsating change of pitch, characterized by the amount of variation and the speed at which the pitch is varied. TAU’s application can teach singers how to mimic the vibrato qualities most attractive to the human ear. But mastering vibrato is no guarantee for an American Idol appearance. “Vibrato is just one aspect of a singer’s impact,” says Amir, an expert in the ways that emotions impact speech. “Singers need to arouse an emotional response, and that is a complicated task.”

Music, By the Numbers

Three years ago, Amir and his colleagues decided that they would look for an objective, numerical assessment of vibrato quality. New vocal students usually don’t have good control of their vibrato, explains Amir. “Their vibrato is erratic and hard to judge subjectively, and it’s hard to find to a precise measure for this. We wanted to find a way to emulate a human expert in a computer program.” Amir’s team input into their computer many recordings by students singing vibrato and had their vibrato judged by human teachers. Using hundreds of vocal students and expert judges, the team was able to use mathematical measurements to correlate vibrato styles to their quality as judged by the teachers.

The computer was then able to rate the vibrato quality of new voices on its own, producing ratings similar to those given by the expert vocal teachers. In effect, a machine had “learned” how to judge the quality of an individual singer’s vibrato. The researchers then added a biofeedback loop and a monitor so that singers could see and augment their vibrato in real time.

news source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/

Shakira set to make a big impact in final

2008-06-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Chingford-based 16-year-old, will become the first Waltham Forest Amateur Boxing Club (ABC) fighter for a number of years to step into an ABA finals ring, when she faces Chloe Fairhead at the Army base in Aldershot. The Sheerness puncher has much more experience than Ley, but Forest secretary Ian Cuddy is confident that his fighter will come up trumps in this junior final. advertisement He said: "Shakira is a very determined character and has been training very hard for this fight. "So while her opponent has had more fights we believe she is fully prepared. "It is a massive bout for both her and the club, because in my six years here this is the first person we've had in an ABA final.

"Having already been invited to train with the London representative training squad, we know that she has the ability to win this final. "I'm sure Shakira is fully aware that if she wins she has a chance to go on and earn her England vest." Ley's male club-mates have been busy in action themselves, with Forest securing a 50 per cent win rate from their six bouts on their home show last weekend at Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow. The star of the show had to be Tyler Nejet, who took the home fighter of the night award after beating Golden Gloves winner Billy Cooper of the Nemesis Boxing Club. The Forest fighter using good foot work and combination punches just edged a tight, but thrilling contest. Also securing wins on the night were Sam Gilley, who saw off the highly rated Michael McDonagh (Tottenham & Enfield ABC) and Glenn Leigh, who beat a very game Andrew Harper (Trojan ABC).

Other home fighters in action on the same show were Michael Keenan, Bradley Anderson and Chris Farbridge, who were all unlucky in their bouts.

Reflecting on those results, Cuddy said: "It was nice to have so many winners on our own show and I thought Tyler in particular boxed brilliantly. "The lads that lost also put up some very good performances and Michael was very unlucky to see the decision go against him in his fight." Also in action on Friday night was Danny Hart, who making his first appearance in a year, put on a sensational performance to beat home fighter Tommy Smith on Cray Valley's charity show.Smith, a tricky southpaw, who had won nine fights from 12 bouts including four by knockout was simply blown away by a determined Hart and the home corner threw in the towel in round two. Cuddy said: "This is the best I've seen Danny box and having been out of action for a year, it was simply an awesome performance against a very good opponent." If you want to join Waltham Forest Amateur Boxing Club, or find out more about the Sunday morning female only classes call E4 Health Studio on 020 8523 5133.

news source : http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/

Shakira at the Latin Billboard Awards

2008-06-25T00:24:00.000-07:00

Latin songstress and booty shaker Shakira at the 2006 Latin Billboard Awards, which, if I’m not mistaken, means “No Whiteys Allowed”. Here’s Shakira on the red carpet, receiving awards, and on stage performing with that refugee black dude who doesn’t really have much of a career beyond singing back-up for pretty musicians who are much, much more popular than he is. *cough* Lauryn Hill *cough*

news source : http://www.beyondhollywood.com/

Shakira and Ricky hold charity concert

2008-06-17T03:31:00.000-07:00

London (ANI): A host of Latin celebrities including the likes of Shakira and Ricky Martin are doing their share of charity by performing at two fund raising concerts to highlight the plight of some 32m Latin American children living in poverty. The concerts will be held in the two Buenos Aires and Mexico City and will be attended by many thousands of viewers.

The proceeds of the two events, being held simultaneously in Argentina and Mexico, will be going to the Latin America in Solidarity Action (Alas) charity. Earlier Shakira revealed that she had managed to get 200m dollars in donations from Mexican and US tycoons Carlos Slim and Howard Buffett and said that the eradication of poverty was "doable."

While Slim is the telecommunications magnate, Howard Buffet is the eldest son of the US investment guru, Warren Buffett. "Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children," BBC quoted Shakira, as saying earlier this week. She added: "The funny thing is that Latin America produces three times what it needs to feed its population. So, it is doable, we can really eradicate poverty." It was in 2006 that Alas was launched for dealing with poverty that kills an estimated 350,000 children each year in Latin America.

news source : http://entertainment.oneindia.in/

Robin Hood Raises $56.5 Million as Shakira, Crow Sing

2008-06-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

The Robin Hood Foundation's annual gala last night in New York raised $56.5 million, a drop of more than $15 million from the 2007 event as subprime mortgage losses and job reductions reverberated at Wall Street's biggest charity event. About 3,700 executives from Wall Street banks, hedge funds and private-equity companies were moved away from the problems of Bear Stearns Cos. and the credit crunch with serenades by Shakira, John Legend and Sheryl Crow. With 2007's gala raising $72 million, last night's take represents about a 21.5 percent decline.

``I'm pleased and surprised that the total raised was as high as it was because I thought it would have been lower,'' John Whitehead, the former co-chairman of Goldman Sachs & Co. and a philanthropist, said in a phone interview today. ``It still shows a fabulous generosity in the Wall Street community at a time when business is much worse than it was a year ago.'' The dip in donations came amid global economic weakening as financial companies around the world cut more than 83,000 jobs since last July. Banks and brokerages, which employ many of Robin Hood's donors, have taken $383 billion in write downs and credit losses. The festivities at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center attracted Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. co-founder Henry Kravis and Pequot Capital Management Inc. Chairman Arthur Samberg.

David Saltzman, Robin Hood's executive director, said in an interview at the Javits Center that the estimated total could be higher after all donations are counted as early as today. He said the evening's tally, at a time that banks are laying off staff, still showed an ``extraordinary'' display of generosity.

Tough Times

``Despite what's going on in the economy, people who are in a position to help others step up, and during tough times they step up even more,'' Saltzman said. High finance mixed with the world of entertainment as Conan O'Brien of NBC's ``Late Night'' program hosted the event. Celebrities in attendance included the rapper Jay-Z, Rush Communications Chairman Russell Simmons and former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw. Musician David Byrne, who attended the gala with his girlfriend Cindy Sherman, said the gala bustling with entertainment and finance-industry stars was ``quite a scene.'' ``The bids are probably going to be outside of my tax bracket,'' Byrne said in an interview about the event's auction while waiting outside the Javits Center.

Hip-Twitching

After a dinner of filet of beef, grilled chicken and bow-tie pasta, the attendees listened to live music performed by Shakira, the hip-twitching Colombian pop singer, and rock star Crow, who made a surprise appearance and took the stage for a rendition of ``Lean on Me.'' The Robin Hood gala has become one of New York's largest philanthropic events with its huge annual tally and donor list. It's also a symbolic gesture in which Wall Street's richest extend a hand for a night to the city's poorest. One of out every five New Yorkers lives in poverty and about 300,000 people receive food from a soup kitchen or food pantry weekly, the foundation points out on its Web site. The $1.9 trillion hedge-fund industry is off to its worst start in almost two decades as some firms have been forced to liquidate or sell their holdings this year. Saltzman said individual donations ranged from $1 to ``millions of dollars.'' In 2007, John Paulson, founder of the New York-based Paulson & Co., led all hedge-fund managers with an estimated $3.7 billion in pay, according to Institutional Investor's Alpha Magazine.

news source : http://www.bloomberg.com/

Shakira and Ricky hold charity concert

2008-05-27T03:03:00.000-07:00

Shakira, Juan Luis, Slim announce US$200M for poor children

2008-05-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

Mexico City.– Colombian singer Shakira announced Thursday that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim and American Howard Buffett will donate US$200 million to a foundation that helps poor children in Latin America. Slim, Mexico's richest man, will donate US$110 million and his business expertise. Buffett, son of investment guru Warren Buffett, will give US$85 million. The other US$5 million will be donated by people throughout Latin America.

«Imagine what Latin America could achieve if we invest in developing the potential of these children,» Shakira said. The Latin America in Solidarity Action –whose Spanish acronym is ALAS, or «wings» – was launched in 2006 with a promise to tackle poverty that kills an estimated 350,000 children each year in the region. Conceived by Shakira, the foundation is also backed by Nobel Prize laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Spanish singers Miguel Bose and Alejandro Sanz.

ALAS will host two massive, simultaneous concerts Saturday in Buenos Aires and Mexico City to raise awareness about 32 million children living in poverty Latin America. The concerts will include Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin, the Mexican norteno group Los Tigres and Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra among others.

news source : http://www.dominicantoday.com/

The Little Ones bask in summertime vibe

2008-05-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

The members of Los Angeles band The Little Ones, who play Saturday at Kilby Court, choose to live their lives using Uncle Lee's Rule of Feet. "It was a turning point in our songwriting process," said Ian Moreno, guitarist and percussionist, about discovering the rule. And what is Uncle Lee's Rule of Feet? "It makes you want to shoot your booty," Moreno said. "It's finding that groove and finding that 'Eureka' moment. It pretty much applies to our [entire] catalog." "Shakira stole it from us," said singer and guitarist Edward Reyes. "I compare it to Shakira's 'Hips Don't Lie,' " Moreno said. "But we're not as good-looking as Shakira."

The rule is named after Lee LaDouceur, keyboardist and bassist for the pop-rock band, though neither Moreno nor Reyes could say if LaDouceur was an uncle to anyone. (Moreno hopes not, because LaDouceur dates his younger sister.)
But moving your feet to the music is a must for the band, and the audience. The band explains it on its Web site: "The rule stated that a song was deemed appropriate if, and only if, each of the Little Ones' feet could shuffle. Once they adopted this new rule, they began to realize what they had right in front of them." Influenced by the Beach Boys and the 1960s British Invasion, the Little Ones formed in 2005 after Reyes and Moreno were in a cult band called Sunday's Best. Sunday's Best was formed inside the studio of Loyola. Marymount University's college radio station, where the two worked. Soaking up the music of the Kinks and the Zombies, the duo found a shared love of rock music that snapped, crackled and, most important, popped.

It is a spirit that infuses the band's full-length album, "Morning Tide," which will drop this summer. "[The album] is more fitting for summer," Moreno said. "In general, that's our music. The imagery and overall vibe is more of a summer album. It's not a winter album." The band talked to The Salt Lake Tribune as its tour bus pulled into Chicago on a tour stop. Moreno was asked if Lee was in fact shuffling his feet in the bus. "Our stomach is full of Chipotle," Moreno said. "Lee would dance, but he's stuffed with burritos."

news source : http://origin.sltrib.com/

Menendez meets with Shakira

2008-05-06T01:29:00.001-07:00

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Shakira is trying to shake things up to provide a basic education to every child in the world. The pop singer met with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey Tuesday to discuss The Education for All Act. The Democrat is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. foreign assistance programs and also is co-sponsor of the proposed bill.

"I was delighted to meet an advocate who has repeatedly said that she prefers to use the light that is shone on her to shine it on the causes that are truly important, like basic education for children around the world," Menendez said. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined a telephone conference Monday with the Grammy-winning singer famed for her hit "Hips Don't Lie." Shakira is working to highlight the cause of education advocacy group the Global Campaign for Education.

news source : http://www.newsday.com/

All about Shakira; watching Hillary

2008-05-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

It’s not ever day that one has the opportunity to put pictures of pop star Shakira into a political. But she was in Washington recently to raise awareness for her favorite issue, universal education, the effort to provide millions of children around the globe who are now denied even a basic education the chance at one. She’s a spokesperson for the Campaign for Global Education. A very worthy goal, indeed. But let’s face it, that’s not why the House hearing room was packed recently with gawkers. It was all about Shakira, whose hips weren’t lying on Capitol Hill.

Hillary Clinton appeared on the “Today Show” a few days ago. I watched the whole “Today Show” appearance (so you don’t have to unless you’re feeling masochistic), but you might want to watch it to hear her complain about how it’s harder for a woman to run for president. It takes her longer to get ready in the morning, and, of course, there’s all that discrimination against women. I also got a giggle when she said “you don’t know what kind of problem is going to walk in the door or the Oval Office.” I really think she’d be well-advised to keep him out of the Oval Office.

news source : http://www.kansascity.com/

In a political fix? Call Shakira!

2008-04-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

There was a defining moment in the life of Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, one which both her army of devoted fans and her impressive publicity machine agree indicated that the world had a huge star on its hands. Aged just seven, Shakira was accompanying her family to a Middle Eastern restaurant in her home town – the steamy Colombian port city of Barranquilla. As the Arabic drums started to pulse and the restaurant's in-house belly dancers took to the stage, up leapt the little girl, overtaken by a "natural instinct", she later recalled, "to move my hips and twirl my belly to the sound of the doumbek. I fell in love with the sensation of being on stage."

It was the kind of extravagant, spontaneous gesture of which, his critics say, Gordon Brown is famously incapable. At the same age, growing up in the chilly climes of the Fife town of Kirkcaldy on the Firth of Forth, the future British prime minister would have been spending his days swotting at school, playing rugby and listening to his father's sermons. Last night, however, these two lives – the dour world of the son of the manse turned career politician, and the decidedly more exotic one of the sultry Latin singer-dancer – came together in a phone call to discuss the plight of the world's poorest children's education. Along with the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, the unlikely pairing is calling on the world's governments to provide basic schooling for the 300 million young people currently missing out on any kind of formal lessons.

Today, Shakira, now 31, will be banging the drum once more, this time in Washington DC where she will be joined by congressional politicians and students from across the country seeking to raise awareness for the bipartisan Education For All Act passed last year, which calls on President George Bush to address the challenge of providing children across the globe with access to equal education. Mr Brown, despite his professed preference for policy substance over presentation, has become increasingly aware of the stardust that celebrities can sprinkle over subjects often considered too worthy or dull to penetrate the consciousness of the general public. In recent months and years he has bonded with Bono over African debt, discussed Darfur with George Clooney (the man his wife, Sarah, would choose to play him in a film of his life) while talking breast cancer recovery with Kylie Mingoue.

But in Shakira, Mr Brown is hitching his wagon to someone who shares not only his famous sense of moral purpose and extraordinary workrate – she regularly notches up 40,000 air miles a month and can talk her way through 40 interviews a day, rarely touching on the same subject twice – but also embodies the Prime Minister's admiration for allowing talent to flourish. Those who write off Shakira as some kind of Hispanic Britney Spears are very much mistaken, according to Phil Stanton, a co-founder of the World Music Network and an authority on Colombian music. "There is a real musical intelligence in her work. She has some very good ideas and a real musical brain. She has been a recording artist for many years. She started out as a child star and has been building up her career ever since, becoming a phenomenon in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world. She is incredibly professional. When the moment came she was absolutely ready for it," he says.

Today Shakira, one of nine children of a Lebanese businessman who moved to Colombia, is worth about $38m, making her the world's fourth highest grossing female singer, according to Forbes magazine, after Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. She is also the biggest-selling Spanish singer of all time, feted by politicians and fans alike and one who enjoys a unique popularity among the children of the world, particularly young girls in her native continent. But the singer is no stranger to the Latin American political process in all its volatility. Though she was romantically linked with the Irish actor Colin Farrell, her regular squeeze since 2000 has been Antonio de la Rua, the son of the former Argentinian president Fernando de la Rua. De la Rua Snr was forced from office by huge demonstrations at the height of the country's financial crisis in 2001, when rioters called on his famous prospective daughter-in-law to help pay off the national debt. The former president was accused last year by a federal judge of failing to prevent the killing of five protesters during the riots, raising the prospect of a highly embarrassing trial which could coincide with the widely anticipated wedding of his son and the star.

But the incident seems to have done little to tarnish the Shakira brand. Her own charity, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, has been raising money for Colombia's poorest children since 1997, and she has performed in London for the Prince's Trust, at the Paris leg of the Live 8 concert and in Germany for last year's Live Earth environmental extravaganza. And as a Unicef goodwill ambassador she has visited Bangladesh and El Salvador to campaign for children hit by a recent cyclone and whose lives are blighted by violence.

news source : http://www.independent.co.uk/

Waco students to join Shakira for education push

2008-04-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

Two students with Waco ties, Morgan Cunningham and Justin Kralleman, will join Grammy award-winning artist Shakira (pictured at right) and more than 50 other students selected from around the country at a 22 press conference today in Washington, D.C., for the Global Campaign for Education’s Action Week. Cunningham is a student at Baylor University. Kralleman is a Waco native and student at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. The press conference is at noon.

Seeking to raise awareness for the bipartisan Education for All Act of 2007 (EFA) with US leaders, he/she joins with GCE’s coalition in 120 countries to call on government leaders to support a basic education for all children, including the 72 million young children and 226 million older youths internationally who are out of school. GCE’s Action Week will take place from April 21-27 and will also include the “World’s Biggest Lesson” on April 23, when millions of children worldwide will participate in the an attempt to break the world record for the largest lesson ever through learning and teaching a curriculum about the denial of quality education to tens of millions of poor children.

news source : http://www.wacotrib.com/

SHAKIRA & SANZ DENY SEX TAPE PRANK

2008-04-02T04:18:00.001-07:00

A sex video April Fool's Day (01Apr08) prank involving pop collaborators SHAKIRA and ALEJANDRO SANZ has been exposed as a hoax by the singers' publicists.

Bogus Internet reports suggested the stars and Shakira's boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, were caught on film enjoying a threesome, but representatives for Sanz and Shakira insist there is no sex tape.

PeopleEnEspanol.com claims the rumour got started when Argentine DJ Javier Ceriani commented on a little Internet report on his Zona Cero radio show.

He said, "It's been said... there is a private video recorded on a yacht, one that could implicate Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Antonio de la Rua." He suggested the tape was in the hands of the courts.

In a joint statement, the singers' representatives say, "This is a false rumour. This is totally absurd any way you look at it. There is no possibility that such a video exists. It is a baseless and malicious rumour." Sanz and Shakira teamed up on the song La Tortura, and appeared together in the tune's steamy video.

news source : http://www.pr-inside.com/

Cerys Matthews - the natural beauty

2008-03-31T02:35:00.000-07:00

Mar 30 2008 by Catherine Evans, Wales On Sunday

CERYS Matthews is showing some bare-faced cheek – by ditching her make-up. The Pembrokeshire- based singer, 38, is fronting a campaign for Brecon Carreg mineral water, encouraging women to go au naturel for a day to raise cash for the British Skin Foundation. “We’re so used to all these images of perfection that we’re at the point where we don’t go out without make-up, which is ridiculous,” she says.

“I’ve got a daughter who’s four and she’s make-up mad. She’s into Shakira in a big way. It’s spooky how quickly she’s jumped aboard the ‘sexy painted lady’ look. I want her to grow up knowing she’s absolutely perfect just as she is. “I like Tilda Swinton not wearing make-up on the red carpet and I hate it when people make fun of that. I think we forget how beautiful we can be without make-up, when you’ve been for a walk in the country and you’re glowing naturally.”

But that doesn’t stop mother-of-two Cerys feeling insecure about her appearance. “I’ve got kind of a strange face. I’ve got massive cheekbones but not in a good way,” she says. “But you have to accept the way you look. I have nothing against plastic surgery but it’s not up there with the things I think about.”

news source : http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/

Puig to make Shakira fragrance

2008-03-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Puig Beauty & Fashion Group have signed a worldwide agreement with singer Shakira to create a signature fragrance and personal care products produced with and inspired by the artist.

"I am very excited to be able to express myself through another creative medium," said Shakira. "My feeling is that personal care and beauty should be effortless and accessible for everyone."

Puig's other fragrance brands include Carolina Herrera, Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci and Antonio Banderas.

news source : http://www.basenotes.net/

The Next Big Sing

2008-03-23T23:37:00.000-07:00

26 Days To Go Until We Crown Champ Crooner Win Chance To Cut Your Own Cd And £5k Cash Karaoke Champ Sing It Win It IT'S the final countdown to the first ever LIVE Scottish karaoke championship.

Our top 25 from the Sunday Mail's smash-hit karaoke champ will get the chance to sing it and to win it at the Carling Academy in Glasgow. Our hopefuls will perform to a huge crowd on April 18 - with our panel choosing the winning singer.

But there is still time for all you wannabe Robbies and Kylies to win a place in our grand final - and scoop our £5000 top prize. Simply upload a video clip of you belting out a tune at www.karaokechamp.co.uk by April 4.

Don't worry if you are not the greatest singer - we've had entries from elderly Elvises, shaky Shakiras and murderous Meat Loafs. Our judging panel will whittle down the hundreds of entries based on their own expertise plus the number of hits your clip attracts and the number of votes.

There are five categories - pop and rock, blues and soul, country and western, golden oldies and funnies. On the night our panel will choose each category's winner, who will get a day in a studio with a top record producer to cut their very own CD. One will go home with £5000 cash and the title Karaoke Champ.

The Carling Academy stage has been graced by stars such as Paul Weller, Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes and Amy Macdonald - and you could be next. Showbusiness editor Billy Sloan said: "The Carling is a fantastic venue and most musicians would give their eye-teeth to play on stage there. "So many musical geniuses have graced the Carling with their presence and it would be a real honour for any of these karaoke guys to perform there."

So go on, log on to www.karaokechamp.co.uk, upload your video clips and get your friends to get online and rate yours the best. Some of the early front runners.. Some of the early front runners..

GREG, 22

GREG LLOYD, of Cumbernauld, has clocked up one of our highest ratings with his sensational swing tunes. The brewery machine operator said: "Karaoke is a right laugh and I would love be a karaoke idol. "Winning would be a golden opportunity to boost my chances of making it in music."

news source : http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/

Less Che, more Shakira

2008-03-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

HAVANA -- Young Cubans frustrated by a regimented and austere life under socialism see little hope of change under the team of old guard revolutionaries who have taken over following Fidel Castro's retirement as president. Seventy per cent of Cuba's 11 million people were born after Castro's 1959 revolution. The younger ones dream of travelling abroad and want access to the Internet, iPods, trendy clothes, music and films.

Many were disappointed when Raul Castro, a 76-year-old army general, succeeded his ailing brother Sunday as Cuba's first new leader in almost half a century, and other elderly communists were appointed top key posts. "This is a dynastic succession. Everyone is so disappointed," said Virginia, a teacher who quit her state job earning $19 a month to work as a nanny. Raul Castro's appointment as president was no surprise, but the new leadership team is more rigid -- and older -- than many young Cubans expected, or would like to see.

Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, a 77-year-old hardliner who fought with the Castro brothers in their guerrilla army in the 1950s, was named as Cuba's new deputy leader. Carlos Lage, 56, who pushed market reforms in the 1990s and is respected by foreign business people, had been expected to take the job but he was passed over. Young people are tired of poor salaries and food shortages, and feel constrained by a system that offers few opportunities to own nice homes, cars and other consumer goods. Some saw Lage as a leader who might help modernize Cuba.

"It should have been Carlos Lage. He has many good ideas. We should be rejuvenating," 20-year-old sociology student Maidolys said Monday as she hitched a ride to classes. Fidel Castro's government built up the mythology of his 1959 revolution, celebrating the anniversary of important battles and exhorting people to be like Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the late Argentine guerrilla who fought with the Castros. But this has diminishing appeal to a younger generation that wants less Che and more Shakira.

"To them, change means not just better living conditions but the opportunity of freedom, the opportunity to live like the rest of the world does," said Andy Gomez of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies in Miami.

NO IPODS, NO YAHOO

Even among university students who believe in the socialist system, especially the advances in education and health care, its failings have fueled impatience. At a town-hall meeting last month, computing students peppered the head of the country's legislature, Ricardo Alarcon, with uncomfortable questions, including why their access to Google and Yahoo sites was blocked. One asked why a Cuban must work two or three days to buy a toothbrush.

Raul Castro has fomented debate on the state's shortcomings and what needs fixing since taking over as acting president when his brother fell ill in July 2006. He has raised hopes of modest economic reforms but will move slowly and also vows to continue communist rule. In his first speech as president Sunday, he said he would move to lift some restrictions soon but gave no details.

news source : http://www.canada.com/

Severed Ties in Central America Could Lead To War

2008-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Tensions in Latin America are rising after Columbia's recent incursion into Ecuador leading many to believe the region is on the brink of all out war. The crisis began on Saturday after Columbian singing sensation Shakira, after performing at a party for all the Central American leaders, took a magic trick too far.

Shakira, who has never trained as a magician attempted the 'cutting the tie' trick - it failed. "She is crazy lady" said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega "she comes over to our table with a giant pair of scissors and cuts my tie - severs it completely."

Sexy Shakira didn't stop there. Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, sat at the table with Ortega also had his tie cut in half. "It was a present from my mother!" wailed Correa "The Columbian is crazy!"

And the severed ties didn't stop there. Peacemaker Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, moonlighting as a waiter at the event came to calm the growing crisis but things escalated. "Shakira grabbed MY tie - and severed that also" said Chavez "It was my best tie - it had a picture of the coyote from roadrunner on it - my kids got it me for Christmas."

Shakira is unrepentant. "They were shuffling in their seats. The trick would have worked if they had remained still!" The severed ties that have engulfed the region has caused concern in Washington, many fearing that war is imminent.

news source : http://www.thespoof.com/

Pirates suffer deja eew

2008-03-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

COSTA MESA — “What the hell else could happen?”

That was Coach Mike Thornton’s incredulous reaction after Shakira Autry drained a shot clock-beating three pointer from half court Saturday night. It was the opening score of the game.

Right then, Orange Coast College sophomore guard Courtney Ford said she knew: “It’s going to be a long night.” It was going to be a long night regardless without starting sophomore point guard Rachel Maulit, who was diagnosed with mononucleosis Friday.

Her absence was too much. Antelope Valley, the No. 17 seed in the Southern California regional playoffs upset No. 1 Orange Coast, 73-63. Without the most vital piece of the team’s full-court press, the Pirates (29-4) struggled to pressure the Marauders (21-13) on defense. By the end of the night, Antelope Valley sunk two more clock-beaters, including another three-pointer in the second half from Autry, who had to be wheeled out of the gym by paramedics after dislocating her right elbow.

“I’ve never seen that before,” Thornton said of the eight points the Marauders had from clock-defying shots. “Not personally. I mean, I’ve seen it on TV, on ESPN SportsCenter and stuff, but it never happened to us.” The Pirates adjusted on the fly with two days of practice to have Ford, the two-time Orange Empire Conference MVP, and sophomore Katie Kissee run the offense.

Maulit was initially treated for strep throat Tuesday with an antibiotic shot, but when she was still ill Thursday, Thornton knew it was probably mononucleosis. “I don’t want to make excuses or anything like that, but for what she gives us, Rachel, in my opinion, is the best point guard in the state,” Thornton said. “There isn’t anybody who could give more to us than she does. I thought we played hard, and we did as good as we can, but that was a real difficult thing to overcome.

“She’s the foundation of our defense and the foundation of our motion offense.”After the game, Thornton walked back to the locker room, his arm around the two-time all-conference point guard. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s not your fault.” But she was inconsolable.

The situation and the outcome were all too familiar for Maulit. Last season, the Pirates went 28-3 in the regular season, won the Orange Empire Conference title and had the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. They lost, 61-59 in the second round to No. 13 San Bernardino Valley, snapping a 17-game winning streak. Maulit was sick, and she watched helplessly from the bench during that game, too.

Maulit was barely audible Saturday, and her lymph nodes were visibly swollen. “It’s hard to think that it’s not my fault,” she said. “But I can’t think that. I didn’t count on getting sick.” The Pirates took the lead once at 43-42 early in the second half only to have it wrenched right back. They had a chance to take control after Autry exited with 9:22 left to play. Autry, who had 22 points, four assists, and one steal in 26 minutes, went down howling in pain after fouling Simone Ibbotson as she went up for a lay-up. Antelope Valley led, 56-50.

Coach John Taylor called for the horrified Marauders to come to the bench as they stood around Autry in shock. He tried to get them to maintain focus. Sophomore forward Autumn Arlington walked back with her teammates, shaking and repeating, “Oh, God. Oh, God.” “That’s my best friend,” she explained after the Marauders shut out the Pirates for the last minute and 57 seconds of the game, tears still pouring down her cheeks.

When play resumed, Ibbotson made the first shot, but missed the second. Ford was two for two after a foul by Jonita Walton, and it was 53-56. On Orange Coast’s next possession, Ford, who was nine of 25 for 27 points, took a cross-court pass from Kissee for a layup.

For the Marauders, 56-55 was too close and not at all comfortable. Antelope Valley went on an 11-3 run to widen the lead to seven, and held on to the lead as Orange Coast started fouling to stop the clock. “As soon as I saw her go down, I started crying,” Arlington said. “I was like, ‘Autumn, get it together.’ Honestly, I’m the motivator of the team ... I tried to pull myself together, and once I’m back up, everyone gets up. We got out of focus, and we were like, ‘Shakira wants this more than anything, so we’ve got to do it for Shakira now.’”

In 19 years of coaching at Orange Coast, Thornton said Saturday was the worst loss he’s endured. “This is the best group of sophomores we’ve ever had in terms of their competitiveness, in their leadership, their work ethic,” Thornton said. “It’s just sad to see it end this way. I mean, they deserved a better fate.”

news source : http://www.dailypilot.com/

Shakira and PUIG Partner in Newly Formed Beauty and Personal Care Enterprise

2008-02-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

BARCELONA, February 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Puig Beauty & Fashion Group and internationally renowned icon Shakira have signed a worldwide agreement to create a new venture to develop a line of signature products produced with and inspired by the artist. The collaboration will include the development of beauty, fragrances and other personal care products.

Shakira will develop, with a dedicated team, the creation of the product line from inception to completion. The Puig Group, a major player in the beauty and fashion world, will also act as the sole global distributor of the products and create strategic alliances for the project. "I am very excited to be able to express myself through another creative medium," said Shakira. "My feeling is that personal care and beauty should be effortless and accessible for everyone."

The Colombian artist and entrepreneur, whose name in Arabic means "woman full of grace" and in Hinduism represents the Goddess of Light, has conquered the world with her music and charismatic persona. Her work has received lavish acknowledgment with over 111 awards, including nine Grammys and numerous Billboard and MTV awards. Shakira is also the creator of the Barefoot Foundation, dedicated to the improvement of educational and social conditions for families and children in her home country. She also was a founder of ALAS with Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as well as numerous recording artists and businessmen from Latin America, with the aim of improving early childhood development throughout Latin America.

Puig Beauty & Fashion Group is a multinational fragrance, cosmetic and fashion company with a presence in more than 150 countries. Puig has become renowned for its capacity to build brands and translate the image of brands, both proprietary and licensed, into the world of fragrances. Among them are such brands as Carolina Herrera, Paco Rabanne, Nina Ricci and Antonio Banderas, whose products have received recognition from the fragrance industry.

news source : http://www.earthtimes.org/

Shakira charity auction raises $76,000

2008-02-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

MEXICO CITY - Ever paid $3,000 for a bra? That's what one fan forked over for one of Shakira's bras. Another admirer shelled out $14,000 for the privilege of meeting the pop sensation and receiving front-row seats at a future show in Toronto.

The two bids were among the highest offered for 40 items that Shakira donated to an Internet auction for her Bare Feet Foundation, which is building a school for impoverished children in northern Colombia.

Another popular item: a shiny lavender skirt with turquoise-and-coral beading that she wore while singing "Hips Don't Lie," which fetched more than $1,000. The items were from Shakira's 2007 "Oral Fixation" tour.

Still up for grabs until Sunday: an electric Fender guitar and an acoustic Taylor guitar, both bearing the 31-year-old singer's autograph. The auction has raised $76,000.

"It was a phenomenal success," Eric Gazin, president of Auction Cause, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. "We had bidders from 10 countries."

news source : http://omg.yahoo.com/

Super Bowl XLII: The Ads

2008-02-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

Ads are special during Super Bowl, but not because they cost $3 million per 30 seconds or represent the best of the industry each year. Instead, they seemed this year to be completely skewed to a slapstick, unsubtle, frat boy humor that best goes with beer and, well, football. A pair of Bud Light ads promised that the watery stuff will help you breathe fire and fly, which doesn’t go all that well for two people with such powers (one sneezes and scorches a date’s cat; the other is sucked up in a jet engine – funny stuff!). Bud Light buys the most ads during Super Bowls so their other ad extended the myth about guys who are such jerks they can’t go to a wine and cheese party with their undeserving dates without sneaking in light beer inside their cheese wheels (these are the same guys who went to the opera with six bottles of beer in their sportcoats – it’s a classy bunch).

The most offensive Bud Light ad from last year got a sequel of sorts as Carlos Mencia, whose shtick in these spots is to make fun of foreign accents, coached immigrants on pickup lines at the bar. Another Bud sequel is the touching Clydesdale ad, this one which featured a horse and Dalmatian team that trained all year to the “Rocky” theme to be chosen as part of the team the following year. Use of the word "suck" is cause for hilarity, Bud Light execs seem to think. So it was used as kicker in an add with Will Ferrell which cross promoted his upcoming movie, and in one that dredged up – get this for an original idea – cavemen trying to bring Bud Light to a party without having invented the wheel.

The Geico cavemen made a return trip too, if only to comment witheringly on the TV show that’s been so badly made from their ads. In many of these ads, the way to communicate was to scream. Squirrels and all manner of woodland animals screamed in one Bridgestone tire ad; Richard Simmons screamed in another. It was a stain that screamed on the shirt of a job applicant. An announcer kept yelling louder and louder during a horse race where Shaquille O’Neal was the unlikely jockey (it was an ad for … Vitamin Water, of course). There were bodily threats against car dealers by wrestlers and witch doctors in a cars.com ad.

These are ads that were only about special effects. They’re supposed to make you say cool and that’s about it I guess. Otherwise there’s no reason why lizards dance to "Thriller" in a water ad; or have grass grow at the feet of Derek Jeter. The FedEx ad about the failures of carrier pigeons was unwieldy as the birds. Justin Timberlake was 'sucked" across town for not much of a reason in a Pepsi ad where "each sip gets you closer to Justin Timberlake" in terms of merchandise. Old disco songs loom large in these ads for some reason. So in addition to the nod to Michael Jackson, Salt-N-Pepa played when a fat guy drank Amp energy drink affixed jumper cables to his nipples and started another car. Haddaway’s deathless "What is Love" played during an ad for a caffeine-enhanced Pepsi (such an old gambit that Chris Kattan, he of the original "Saturday Night Live" skit that employed that song, did a cameo urging them to stop.

Other celebrities: Carmen Electra in an ad for gum that didn’t make immediate sense (a guy got tackled by her body guards). Madonna got paid a ton apparently for having her imaged used in a Sunsilk shampoo ad along with Marilyn Monroe and Shakira. Charles Barkley in an overlong ad about him being in someone’s cell phone top 5 and talking too often. Straining toward cleverness sapped some ads of meaning altogether. The grill in a bed instead of a horses head wasn’t such a clear signal. Nor was Napoleon with a GPS (so why was he driving a vintage car?).

These are ads where women are hot – all the Victoria’s Secret girl had to do is sit there in underwear and say the game was almost over. But what about a plain girl who is attracting a lot of men’s attention? It’s because she rubs peanuts over her skin, of course. Makes sense to me and will no doubt boost sales of Planters among the desperate. On the other hand, what made a dude alluring to a city of people was the fact he carried a red Dell laptop, I guess (it wasn’t the Mick Jagger track playing).

Because these ads seem so aimed at single males, babies are treated as badly as women. They made one talk about e-trading by manipulating his mouth. A couple of ads stood out because they went a different direction. Hyundai said its ads weren’t flashy or wouldn’t do well in reviews, but they got their counterintuitive point across -- its competitors will take notice of their new model. Two Coke ads were about the best in a classic Super Bowl ad kind of way. In one, a pair of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloons, Superdog Underdog and Stewie from "Family Guy" fight over an inflatable bottle of Coke, and an inflated Charlie Brown emerges to win it.

In the other, a bigger partisans James Carville and James Bill Frist find common ground around a Coke, and go on a tour of Washington together. Doritos one with a couple of interactive experiments. In one, newcomer Kina Grannis got to sing her song "Message from you Heart," which was at least as good as Yael Naim’s "New Soul" (used in the ads for the new Mac laptop). In the other, a viewer-made ad featured a guy who used a Dorito to lure a mouse to a mousetrap when a giant mouse bursts through the wall and begins to beat the hell out of him – in the kind of reckless violence big on the internet and Super Bowl ads.

news source : http://blogs.courant.com/

Dandia your way to 'Shakira' garbaShakira

2007-11-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

AHMEDABAD: This Navratri disc jockeys (DJs) are set to overwhelm garba venues with music never heard before. You could find yourself doing a teen taali with juiced up Shakira’s Hips don’t lie....

The music that is being fused with garba and dandia beats belongs to the various styles like rock, trance, hip-hop, house and club. The regular Bollywood music, though remains quite popular.

The main reason for this experiment is to catch the attention of the youth, who are more familiar with the DJ-music than the traditional garba music. One of the first DJs of the city, DJ Taral says, "There are many good orchestras playing the all time favourite garbas. If people invite us to play, then they are definitely looking for a different type of music that would retain the spirit of Garba and yet be more fun to dance to." DJ Taral, who usually plays trance music, has begun mixing dandia beats with the popular Bollywood and English numbers.

Uchit Rawal, 21, says, "I look forward to dance on these mixes. Nothing can ever beat the traditional garba music but in between for a break, if the DJs play a different style of garba, it would be very interesting."

DJ Abhijeet, who is experimenting with rock music, has developed a mix for ‘We don’t need no education..." with dandia beats. He says, "Though the traditional garba music cannot be beaten, there is a huge section amongst the youth who would like to have some more variety and punch in the music. Thus, mixes like these could be great crowd pullers." Tejender Binder, 24, a student from London, says, "I have seen dholis playing Punjabi mix but never DJs playing garba."

Most of these DJs have been invited at the private garba parties organised at farm houses by affluent families or corporate, educational institutes and hostels. DJ Varun said, "I usually play Electro music, but for this Navratri, I have mixed the latest Bollywood hit, Hare raam hare raam...The crowd expected is around 500 people mostly in the age group of 18-30 years."

source from : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Full Biography

2007-11-06T01:09:00.000-08:00

After achieving superstardom throughout Latin America, Colombian-born Shakira became Latin pop's biggest female crossover artist since Jennifer Lopez broke down the doors to English-language success. Noted for her aggressive, rock-influenced approach, Shakira maintained an extraordinary degree..

After achieving superstardom throughout Latin America, Colombian-born Shakira became Latin pop's biggest female crossover artist since Jennifer Lopez broke down the doors to English-language success. Noted for her aggressive, rock-influenced approach, Shakira maintained an extraordinary degree of creative control over her music, especially for a female artist; she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of her own material, and in the process gained a reputation as one of Latin music's most ambitiously poetic lyricists. When she released her first English material in late 2001, she became an instant pop sensation, thanks to her quirky poetic sense and a sexy video image built on her hip-shaking belly dance moves.

Shakira Mebarak (full name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) was born February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia, into a poor family. Her mother was a native Colombian and her father was of Lebanese descent, and so as a child Shakira soaked up music from both cultures; she also listened heavily to English-language rock & roll, listing her favorite bands in later interviews as Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, the Police, the Cure, and Nirvana. Shakira wrote her first song at age eight, began entering (and winning) talent competitions at age ten, and started learning the guitar at age 11; one story runs that around this age, she was kicked out of her school choir for singing too forcefully. In 1990, at age 13, Shakira moved to Bogotá in hopes of pursuing a modeling career, but wound up signing a record deal with Sony's Colombian division instead. Her 1991 debut album, Magia (Magic), was comprised of songs she'd written over the past five or six years, including some of her earliest efforts. Although it didn't break internationally, the record started to make a name for her in her home country. Dissatisfied with the pop inclinations of the follow-up, 1993's Peligro (Danger), Shakira changed direction for a time, joining the cast of the Colombian soap opera El Oasis in 1994.

When Shakira returned to recording in 1995, she asserted more control over the direction of her music, and worked more rock & roll rhythms -- as well as occasional Arabic tinges -- into her Latin pop material. The first results were Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet), which was initially released in 1995; a slow seller at first, the album gradually caught on thanks to "Estoy Aqui," which became a hit all over Latin America, as well as Spain. After that breakthrough, Pies Descalzos just kept spinning off singles: "Dónde Estás Corazón?," "Antología," "Pienso en Ti," "Un Poco de Amor," "Se Quiere, Se Mata." The album hit number one in eight different countries and eventually went platinum in the U.S. as well; Shakira toured for nearly two years promoting it (she finally left El Oasis in 1997).

Seeking to build on her success, Shakira signed Emilio Estefan -- Gloria's husband and a highly successful music-biz insider -- as her manager and producer. The move paid off when her follow-up album, 1998's Dónde Están los Ladrones? (Where Are the Thieves?), became an even bigger worldwide hit than its predecessor. What was more, it cracked the lucrative U.S. market wide open, spending 11 weeks at number one on Billboard's Latin album chart and producing two U.S. number ones (on the Latin chart) with "Ciega, Sordomuda" and "Tu." The album's signature track, however, was the worldwide hit "Ojos Así," her most explicit nod yet to the Arabic music she'd picked up from her father (not to mention its latent belly dancing connotations). Dónde Están los Ladrones? was also the most effective presentation yet of Shakira's strong-willed persona; her self-analysis made her even more popular among female fans, while her anger over love gone wrong drew comparisons to Alanis Morissette.

When Gloria Estefan offered to translate "Ojos Así" into English, the prospect of a crossover suddenly seemed tangible, and Shakira decided that the most effective way to maintain control over her material was to learn English well enough to write in it herself. In the meantime, she set the stage for her crossover bid with a performance on MTV Unplugged, the channel's first Spanish-language broadcast. MTV Unplugged was released as an album in early 2000, and topped the Latin charts for two weeks on its way to becoming her third straight platinum album; it also won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. At the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in 2000, Shakira delivered a much-discussed, show-stopping performance of "Ojos Así" and took home Unplugged-related trophies for Best Female Pop Vocal ("Ojos Así") and Best Female Rock Vocal ("Octavo Dia").

Mainstream pop stardom beckoned. Shakira dyed her long brown hair blonde, romanced Antonio de la Rua (son of the former president of Argentina), and went to work on her first (mostly) English-language album, Laundry Service. The single/video "Whenever, Wherever" was released in advance of the album in late 2001, and made her a star in the English-speaking world almost overnight. Laundry Service entered the American pop charts at number three, and "Whenever, Wherever" climbed into the Top Ten of the singles chart, peaking at number six. The follow-up, "Underneath Your Clothes," also hit the Top Ten, halting at number nine; less than a year after its release, Laundry Service had gone triple platinum. Reviews of Laundry Service were divided as to the effectiveness of Shakira's English lyrics, but nearly all agreed on her unique poetic imagery.

Extensive touring to support Laundry Service led to a long break for the singer, so a remix collection (2002's Laundry Service: Washed and Dried) and a live album (2004's Live & Off the Record) appeared in lieu of a new album. Revitalized, Shakira began the writing process for her next release and soon had 60 songs ready to go, some in English, some in Spanish. Twenty of the songs were selected and divided up by language to make two different albums. Both appeared in 2005 and both hit the Top Ten, with the Spanish-language album Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 leading the way in June with a number four placing and the English-language album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, following in November at number five. As sales of Oral Fixation began to slow in early 2006, Epic reissued the album in March with a bonus track, "Hip Don't Lie." The newly recorded song went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June, becoming one of the summer's biggest hits and reviving sales of Oral Fixation as well as Shakira's entire back catalog. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Source from : http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/shakira/artist.jhtml#bio