In case you were unaware, today is the semi-final of the Women’s Rugby Cup and England are still in it!  And guess who we are playing in the semi-final, the Aussies!

It gets better, the game is at Twickenham, well Twickenham Stoop, which is Harlequins ground.   A shame the press has not made more of this competition, especially when as a nation we have very little shout about in the world of sport so I would say get yourself down to the ground tonight and cheer on the girls.

New Zealand are raining champions, having won the last three finals.  They take on France at 1800 kick off, followed by the England v Australia match at 2015.

England last won the tournament in 1994, but have made four of the last finals, being beaten by the Kiwis.  So it is all shaping up for a England v New Zealand final on English soil.   The final is on Sunday.

I still love this BBC widget and you will note Brandon Flowers is the most played artist on the BBC this week.

Brandon who?  Ex frontman of the Killers and guess what, he is on tour, performing in London on  8 September at … Relentless Garage in Highbury.  New one on me as well.  Anyway, we are sending someone along to see this show, review it and post back here so watch out for more news on this most popular chap.   Wiki has a good write up on him and with an album out just before his concert he should stay in the top 10 for a while.

X factor has admitted altering the voices of its contestants.

The allegations and admissions come after what some are calling a bodge job of tweaking voices using software known as autotuning.  It all started with Gamu Nhengu when she was singing Walking on Sunshine.  By all accounts one can tell she is live and then someone cranks up the autotune dial and she becomes, well better!   What is worse is that G&S doesn’t get any help from the guy behind the autotune dial.

In other words the producers are manufacturing the show (as if you didn’t already suspect it) for comedy value and entertainment ratings.  Some may call this cheating, an abuse of power, or just how it is.

Indeed, autotuning is apparently common place for musicians in recording studios (but these are musicians who have made it and want to produce records of top quality for their fans).  Using such software to  adjust live performance, which is then sold as ‘raw talent’ is a little misleading don’t you think?!

So, just what is autotuning?  There is a good summary on the BBC which refers to a now lucky blogger who had written about this in the past.   I like the analogy that is provided by the BBC:

‘…If you’ve ever removed red-eye from a photograph, or used a spell checker to correct an essay, then you know how computer software can… well, “enhance” your raw material.

Autotune performs exactly the same function with music, by smoothing out sharp or flat notes to make singers pitch perfect.

It is actually a brand name – owned by Antares, a company based “a stone’s throw” from Silicon Valley in California – and there are plenty of competing products that do a similar job…’

It is very popular in the recording studio and some artists use it for special effect if they want to sound like a robot.  Think of Cher singing Believe and she is singing with autotune deliberately turned up to maximum to produce the effect.

The general consensus appears to be that in the studio it is common place and is used sparingly to adjust one or two notes.  It is a professional tool.  But in a series where the fundamental principle is raw talent it really is taking the royal Michael when the producers abuse the system for their own goals.   Probably the same mob that rigged the telephone voting on another ITV show.

Anyway, I am off to buy shares in Autotune.

You just have to love this.

Lady Gaga turns up at 2010 Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, Illinois the other Friday and goes absolutely mental.   Dressed in what is described as a nude suit she dances with the singer of Semi Precious Weapons and then launches herself into the crowd.  Have a look at some of the other videos around and spot the guy in the blue t-shirt who has Lady Gaga sat on his shoulders (now that is something to tell your mates!).

Nr.1 nominee of the coming MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga is more than ever rocking the world. Our lovely naked Lollapalooza lady, currently on Monster Ball Tour, is like a reincarnation of the early Madonna, only better, and surprises us time after time with controversial performances, hilarious outfits and the most refreshing pop-dance music we’ve had in a long time. Inspired by glam rock artists like Queen, Michael Jackson, David Bowie and Madonna herself, Gaga has been listed as the fourth most influential celebrity and as the second most powerful musician in the world.

‘When will I, will I be famous…?’

Remember Bros?  For the millions who can’t, Bros were a 1980s boy band for want of a better phrase.  Formed by two brothers (Matt and Luke Goss) they had a couple of classics hits, ‘I owe you nothing’ and ‘When will I be famous’ (they actually had some more as it turns out) and then faded away. Matt Goss found himself in America apparently trying to escape his boy band image and has quietly reinvented himself.

Anyway, Matt is back with ‘Matt Goss Live’ Vegas show.  What?! Yes, I asked the same question.  Well, Matt it would appear, has been busy headlining at the Palms Casino and more recently at  Ceasers Palace in Las Vegas singing Sinatra and the like and is getting rave reviews.

He is now bringing his show to the Albert Hall in London on 19 October.  Apparently he will be singing some old Bros classics and then for the rest of the show he will be covering Sinatra and others with some ‘edgy’ covers such as his hotel california with backing group the ‘dirty virgins’.   I personally liked Robbie Williams rendition of Sinatra stuff and I would be interested to see Matt’s take on it.  If the reviews are right, it will be a good show.

Over the past few days I have seen adverts for a number of tattoo conventions.  The latest was posted on our MySpace account promoting the 10th tattoo convention in Switzerland.

This reminded me of a recent post on mashable, which listed 10 great geeky tattoos and I thought what is it with all this chatter about tattoos?

Well, tattoos are big business.  Look at the vast majority of our well know pop stars, Lady GaGa (random collection), Pink (even more and even more random collection) Amy Wine House (prison style tatts), then have a look at the vast majority of footballers and other sporting stars (even the cricketers now have tattoos).   Indeed, one is hard pushed to find a singer, sports star and even ‘d’ list celebrity without a tattoo.  I searched and could not find any.   But I did find the top ten dumbest celebrity tattoos, which is funny.

So a question to readers and followers.  Do you have any, if not what would have if you could?   Do you think our very own Tally has one ?  I heard a rumour she does.

Don’t spend your August bank holiday weekend on the A303 this summer, stay in London and see Fatboy Slim at South West 4 or SW4 for those cool enough.

Clapham Common is where Norman reckons it is ‘mental’.  He did it last year, but it wasn’t satisfactory for him as the stage/setting wasn’t right and in his words he is ‘…going to it properly this year…’ (Time and Leisure Magazine August 2010).   Given there is no Brighton beach party for him to do this year he is going to throw all his cash at ‘lighting up the Common’.

He says ‘… Expect the full Fatboy summer extravaganza!  [Him] Djing, big screens, big visuals, big lasers, inflatable dancing pigs and again lots of bells and whistles’.

If one man knows how to a get a crowd moving, this is he!  Forget the caravan chasing and wander down to the Common – take a hat, just in case the sun decides to make an appearance.

Just some light hearted fun for a Friday. If you remember the original Start Trek and Monty Python and the Holy Grail then you may just find this amusing. If you are younger than 35 you may just think, oh no more spaced out ageing hippies playing with video on YouTube. Either way, it is funny!

‘…You think you’re mad, too unstable, Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables, In a restaurant…’

You all know the words and for those who saw the Pet Shop Boys at Glastonbury you have another chance at V Festival in a couple of weeks.  For those who didn’t see them at Glastonbury, go get a ticket for V Festival – they are good live. This is West End Girls.

Now that last comment may come as a surprise as they never played live the first time around, but over the past years they have emerged as a good festival group. Entertaining is half the battle, elaborate stage shows, a gigantic wall of white boxes that was knocked down and rebuilt into weird shapes.  I have said it before, but this is what you want for your money.  You know the tune, but you want, no need, entertainment.

In the past three days I have seen Lady GaGa in her bra cooking (her twitter account), in the newspapers with her boobs hanging out (cheap paparazzi shot) and now in Vanity Fair with no clothes on (professional shoot).  What’s with all the nakedness?

Well it is the summer and I think the Vanity Fair pictures look very good indeed (it is out Friday apparently – the September issue) and will be a must for any Sloaney’s coffee table this month.

It is pointless commenting on what she is allegded to have said in the article as I have read at least four different interpretations of what has been written ranging from end of the world sensationalism to cautionary don’t try this at home advice.   I think I may actually buy it and then write an opinion, not sensationalism, just one’s thoughts – now that would be refreshing!

What has happened to me, I am looking at Celebrity Gossip websites, reading the Sun newspaper and now I am going to buy Vanity Fair!   Help!