The Fray display "Scars" with confidence on new album

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Of all the people impacted over the years by the lovable Muppets -- singing frog Kermit, sassy Miss Piggy and their friends -- perhaps the most unlikely is rock band, The Fray.

Following the success of their second album, 2009's self-titled "The Fray," the four members were on the verge of breaking up. Then, lead singer/pianist Isaac Slade and bassist Joe King were put together in one room in Las Vegas to record a cover of the classic Muppets song "Mahna Mahna" for the "Muppets: The Green Album" record released in August 2011.

"Something happened between the Muppets, the drunkenness and Las Vegas, and Joe and I maybe both remembered at the same time that we actually enjoy doing this," Slade told Reuters.

With the release of their third album, "Scars and Stories" on Tuesday, The Fray have finally moved past their internal differences and found new confidence that allowed them to lay bare their emotional wounds with pride.

The band -- comprised of Slade, King, guitarist Dave Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki -- don't put on flashy concerts or wear elaborate costumes. They simply play music and sing lyrics with heart, and those songs have earned them fans worldwide.

"I don't have Lady Gaga's persona, I don't have Bono's sunglasses, I'm a bald 30-year-old man standing on stage singing songs about my life and I'm starting to be comfortable with that," said Slade.

The Denver, Colorado band shot to fame with their debut album "How to Save a Life" in 2005, earning two Grammy nominations for hit singles "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life," which are examples of The Fray's trademark piano-driven ballads of melancholia fused with hope.

Their self-titled 2009 album met with similar success and earned the group two more Grammy nominations, but with fame came internal pressures and friction that threatened their longevity.

"All four of us were on our own trajectories and radically different places in regular life," said Slade.

HEALED WOUNDS, NEW MUSIC

With a little help from the perpetually upbeat Muppets, the band rediscovered the reasons they were together and went to work on "Scars and Stories," a record Slade described as "extroverted" when compared to the first two "introverted and introspective" albums.

"The second record was wounds, they were still bleeding," he explained. "With scars, they're permanent and they often remind us of the worst times of our life, but they're healed."

Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, "Scars and Stories" features The Fray's piano-rock ballads but adds new energy and hints of Southern rock. The band worked with Grammy-winning music producer Brendan O'Brien to create a sound as close as possible to the band's live shows.

The lead single, "Heartbeat," is an uptempo ode to love, with Slade belting lyrics such as "You gotta love somebody, love them all the same." Themes of loss, hope and freedom underlie tracks such as "48 To Go," a diary of a California roadtrip.

The single "Run For Your Life" holds the most significance for Slade, who said the album was incomplete without it.

"We had most of the record done but it felt like we had one song missing," said Slade about "Run For Your Life." "It feels different from the other songs, it feels really fresh, it feels like the song the record needed."

Whether the fans flock to the third album awaits weekly sales data, but Slade said critical and commercial validation is no longer a pressing concern for the band.

"I would love for everybody to connect to these songs as much as we do, but I don't need their response. I know this is the best record we've made and if we get smaller after this and fade off into our 40s and 50s, that's fine, because I know this is a real record and it's who we are," said Slade.

And he added that each song brings its own special reward. "How to Save a Life," for one, has become an anthem for some fans. On a recent tour stop in Chicago, Slade said one told him their music stopped her from killing herself and saved her life.

"I know what we do is real and it matters. Hearing that girl tell me her story was my paycheck," said Slade.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Kanye West plans d'un film dans le golfe Persique

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Kanye West takes his talents to the Middle East.

According to a report by the New York Observer, rapper multi-platine - named for seven awards at the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony - speaks with three different municipalities Arab to use in his next film-slash-music video.

The nominees lucky are Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, the Qatar, whose West will choose to use its geographic muse.

There is a year and a half the native of Chicago conducted a short 35-minute film entitled "Runaway", based on the songs from his latest album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." This film is similar in its ambitions, which, as always, are grandiose. Afraid that you forget, the last time with a half woman, half-phoenix.

However, the locale - Persian Gulf - is quite a transition from the background of wooded "Runaway."

West elected would have this region because he fell in love with her during a visit last year and he wanted to flex her creative muscles of thousands of kilometres from home.

The linguist enigmatic and producer always seems to look for the next great challenge, if it was his auto-Tune would be album "" Heartbreak and Heartbreak "or the recent artistic-turned-altruistic project granted for hours on Twitter."

After having already won several Grammy Awards, staged impressive performances, recorded and part on tour with Jay - Z and on, why not add filmmaker and Ambassador of the United States recovery?

How flakes of the West and bravado glam will play in the Persian Gulf? We will notify you as soon as its representatives get in touch.

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

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Country star Merle Haggard repeat again after illness

(Reuters) - legend of music Country Merle Haggard is repeated with his group of long date, The Strangers, and prepares to return to the road after having been ousted by a bout of pneumonia and other conditions.

Haggard, 74, was hospitalized on 17 January, after illness requires him to cancel a show in times of just the Georgia before taking the stage. Doctors treating for double pneumonia in a hospital in Macon more later discovered a number of other conditions.

"I feel good and ready to go back on the bus," Haggard said Wednesday in a statement released by his publicist based in Los Angeles Tresa Redburn.

"Thanks to all for their powerful prayers that led to my speedy recovery." "I am repeats with the Group and look forward to Playin'TV ' and sing again," said Haggard.

His first show will be February 28 at the Fox Theatre in Tucson, Arizona. The dates of January he had to postpone his illness will be composed in April, Redburn said.

Even after physicians had his thinning pneumonia, singer remained in the hospital for several days to recover after eight polyps were removed from his colon and for the treatment of ulcers of the stomach and diverticulitis in his esophagus, which all have been discovered by the medical staff of Macon, three said Redburn.

Upon his release, Haggard credited Macon medical team for probably saving my life."

Known for songs such as "Mama tried", "Okie from Muskogee" and "the Fightine side of Me, the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame was released from the hospital in Macon on 26 January and stole home in Northern California to continue convalescence.".

With influences ranging from Lefty Frizzell to Bob Wills to Jimmie Rodgers, Haggard is an architect of so-called "Bakersfield Sound." country music

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

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Shines Spotlight on Adele Grammy

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - the Grammy Awards in recent years have targeted young audiences even though the former acts won the key to the surprise of some music fans, but the honours of Sunday shines its spotlight on Adele, whose popularity crosses all age limits.

Singer British soulful, whose album "21" resulted in massive hits such as "Rolling in the deep" and topped the charts for 19 weeks, entering great price of the industry of music with six nominations, second only to rapper Kanye West with seven.

But all the ears will be settled to Adele, 23, who is scheduled to give a Grammy performance which is his first since undergoing surgery of the gorge towards the end of last year. And everyone, young and old, wants to know if the interpreter of top-sale of 2011 has recovered.

"My eight year old Adele daughter sings songs and 75-year-old grandmother my friend sings Adele songs," said Nic Harcourt, former host of KCRW, who is among those to British singer on the map of U.S. music.

Voice of Adele is a breath of fresh air in 2011 for an industry struggling. "21" album sold more copies in a year than any other Act since "Confessions" Usher in 2004. Total current U.S. sales is about 6.3 million copies.

Over the past years, the Grammys have often seen relative newcomers top categories such as album of the year faced the veteran acts, only to see the older artists to win, shocking the industry focused on youth. Herbie Hancock 2007 jazz album, "River: The Joni letters," was one of the surprises of the latter.

This will not happen at the ceremony on Sunday in Los Angeles. Competition for the album of the year are Adele with "21", Lady Gaga for "Born This Way," Rihanna with "Loud", Bruno March for "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and the Foo Fighters for "Wasting Light."

Indeed, many of the major categories are dominated by young stars of pop as Adele, Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Traditional rockers are in large part, with the exception of legend, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, who are both set to perform at the show on Sunday in Los Angeles.

ADELE, WITHOUT MAKING POP

But in an ironic twist, Adele won celebrity precisely because it involves as many groups of spectators with its expressive ballads such as "Someone like you" as the sound as a survival in an industry dominated by electronic music.

"She had a little substance more and is not just a pop confectionery.". "With a classical sound, Grammy veteran voters are supporting her, while it also reaches young people, no problem", said Bob Merlis, President of the advertising of the MFH.

Adele singles were played on several radio formats, helping to sell albums for consumers more older as well as younger fans who tend to buy music online.

David Bakula, senior vice president, analytic Nielsen Entertainment Adele "exceeded the limits of a simple pop artist, which involves a host of younger, more focused on the singles." said Katy Perry is a good example of a star which sells tons of singles, but not tons of albums. ?

In addition, seven nods Kanye West of the Crown back critical and commercial for the controversial 34-year old rapper who made a voluntary break to perform in 2009.

West has recorded its best competitor of rap "My beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album in Hawaii after withdrawing from the scene of public music following severe criticism on his 2009 explosion involving country starlet Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Already a 14-time Grammy winner, it is named for the song of the year for "all of the Lights" and best performance rap with Jay - Z for "Otis".

The best new artist category reflects an eclectic mix of artists, the rapper Nicki Minaj and rapper j. Cole, to the sensations of countries The Band Perry, House and artist electropop Skrillex and American folk group Bon Iver.

Singer of "Rhinestone Cowboy" Glen Campbell, 75, currently on a

farewell tour after having announced it early stage of Alzheimer's disease, will receive a lifetime achievement award, and will perform with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton.

Other performers will include veteran crooner Tony Bennett, who is appointed for his Duet "Body and soul" with the late Amy Winehouse - Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Brown.

Bonnie Raitt happens after "Finally" singer Etta James, who died in January at the age of 73 years, and rapper and actor of "NCIS: Los Angeles" LL Cool J will be the first official host of the ceremony of the Grammy Awards in seven years.

The winners are determined by some 13,000 members of the Recording Academy, but only a handful of trophies in 78 categories is distributed on the dissemination of the live on Sunday.

(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Bob Tourtellotte)

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Madonna: Super Bowl show a "dream" come true

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Pop superstar Madonna said it was a dream come true to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday and conceded she was feeling pressure at the idea of singing in front of the huge live television audience.

Last year's Super Bowl attracted 111 million U.S. viewers - the largest for a single TV broadcast in the United States.

"This is a Midwesterner girl's dream to be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show," said Madonna, who was born in Bay City, Michigan.

"In over 25 years of performing that I've done, I have never worked so hard or been so scrupulous or detail-oriented or freaked out as much as I have ... trying to make the most major show at this Super Bowl," she added.

Asked if she felt the pressure of the massive audience, Madonna, who has performed at stadiums around the world on her global tours, replied simply "Yes, I do."

Madonna, whose biggest global live TV performance was likely Live Aid in 1985, said she would sing three "old songs" and her new single "Give Me All Your Luvin'" during the show.

The 53-year-old Material Girl said she would dedicate her performance to her father.

"I was raised in the Midwest, and he is the personification of Midwestern values, he gave me the work ethic that I have, so if I am a hardworking girl who never stops it's because of him.

"Also, I am sure of all the things I have ever done in my life this will be the thing he is most excited about," she said.

The halftime show has increasingly featured high-profile pop acts, a far cry from the first Super Bowl in 1967 when college marching bands entertained the crowd.

Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, U2, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Eyed Peas and Janet Jackson are among recent performers.

Jackson's appearance in 2004 was the most controversial as she made headlines worldwide with her infamous "wardrobe malfunction." Justin Timberlake, who was performing with Jackson, grabbed her costume and tugged at it, exposing her breast's nipple to millions of TV viewers.

Madonna said all efforts had been made to ensure there would not be a similar episode in her show.

"Great attention to detail has been paid to my wardrobe, there will be no wardrobe malfunction - I promise," she said.

Asked which quarterback she would choose if both called her for a date on Saturday night, the entertainer picked the New York Giants' Eli Manning over the New England Patriots' Tom Brady. Why Eli? Because of the New York connection, she said.

A question about Victor Cruz, the salsa-dancing wide receiver from the New York Giants, got her doing some salsa moves for reporters who packed the room. "He's inspired me," she said.

(Reporting by Susan Guyett and Simon Evans; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Bob Tourtellotte)

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Lana Del Rey has last laugh with high first Billboard

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - after weeks of media hype and ridicule, singer of Lana Del Rey had the last laugh Wednesday marking the debut more high of the week on the Billboard 200 album chart with his new record "Born To Die".

New York native Del Rey, who had Internet buzz especially after a volatile performance on sketch show "Saturday Night Live" U.S. last month, sold 76,000 copies of his album in its first week.

It was second only to the British singer Adele, who continues his reign for the week of 19 to no. 1 with "21."

In the wake of Del Rey a veteran singer Leonard Cohen, who has sold 41,000 copies of his 12th studio album, "Old ideas", a collection of songs recalling some prior and works the best-known Cohen as "Hallelujah".

Del Rey and new high entries of Cohen, they could not take first place Adele. It sold 121,000 copies of "21" in the week of his official return from throat surgery at the ceremony of the Grammy Awards Sunday.

The only other new entry in the top ten albums was singer of gospel, Fred Hammond, who have entered in table no. 8 with "God, love & Romance", while the party rockers LMFAO returned in the ranking with "Sorry for party rocking" at number 9 and ""Talk that Talk"Rihanna has jumped to the card to complete the top 10."

Battle of graph of next week will be seen if veteran rockers Van Halen can fall Adele first place with their new album, "A different kind of truth."

(Reports of Piya Sinha-Roy;) (Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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Madonna dazzles with slick Super Bowl halftime show

(Reuters) - Pop superstar Madonna dazzled football fans and more than 100 million television viewers on Sunday when she performed during a glittery, spectacular Super Bowl halftime show.

Madonna, the first female Super Bowl halftime headliner since the notorious Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" of 2004, was carried, Cleopatra-style, into Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium by a cadre of muscled gladiators.

Wearing Egyptian regalia, complete with headdress, and spiked black boots, the pop superstar launched into her seminal hit "Vogue," with lighting and other visual effects contributed by the Canadian performing troupe Cirque du Soleil.

Next came "Music," which included LMFAO, followed by a cheerleader-themed "Give Me All Your Luvin'," from Madonna's latest CD. Madonna was joined by Nicky Minaj and M.I.A., with the latter preferring a fleeting obscene one-fingered gesture on-camera.

In a nod to the sport whose fans she was entertaining, the Material Girl performed much of her act on, or in front of, bleachers, with high school marching bands and drumlines augmenting the show, which lasted about 10 minutes.

After a mini-medley of her hits "Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself," Madonna closed her act decked out in a Gospel-goth black gown, performing "Like a Prayer" with Cee Lo Green before dropping out of sight in a puff of smoke.

Madonna was not the only pop superstar to grace the high-profile Super Bowl on Sunday, one of U.S. television's most-watched programs: Kelly Clarkson performed the national anthem.

Last year's Super Bowl attracted 111 million U.S. viewers, the largest for a single TV broadcast in the United States.

The halftime show has increasingly featured high-profile pop acts, a far cry from the first Super Bowl in 1967 when college marching bands entertained the crowd.

Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, U2, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, The Black Eyed Peas and Janet Jackson have been among recent performers.

Jackson's 2004 appearance made headlines worldwide with her infamous "wardrobe malfunction," during which fellow performer Justin Timberlake tugged at her costume, exposing her nipple to millions of TV viewers.

Madonna had promised that all efforts were being made to ensure her show would not be marked by a similar episode.

"Great attention to detail has been paid to my wardrobe. There will be no wardrobe malfunction - I promise," she said.

Madonna, who was born in Bay City, Michigan, told reporters last week her appearance was "a Midwesterner girl's dream, to be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show."

"In over 25 years of performing that I've done, I have never worked so hard or been so scrupulous or detail-oriented or freaked out as much as I have."

(Editing by Stacey Joyce)

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