Beyonce heads to Grammy's with 10 nominations

LOS ANGELES – R&B superstar Beyonce will battle country star Taylor Swift at the 52nd Grammy Awards Sunday as the music world descends on Los Angeles for the industry's equivalent of the Oscars.

Beyonce heads a star-studded field of contenders with 10 nominations going into Sunday's extravaganza at the Staples Center, just ahead of the precocious 20-year-old Swift who has eight.

Beyonce has nominations in the coveted record of the year and album of the year categories, for her single "Halo" and her chart-topping double-album "I Am ... Sasha Fierce." The former "Destiny's Child" singer is also nominated in the song of the year category.

But Beyonce is likely to face fierce competition in the major categories from Swift, as well as wacky songstress Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas, who all have nominations in the best album, record and song categories.

Trailing Beyonce and Swift in overall nominations are the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Kanye West with 6 nods each.

Swift, 20, who enjoyed success last year at the American Music Awards and Country Music Awards, has rocketed to fame over the past 2 years.

Nielsen SoundScan reported earlier this month that Swift was the top-selling digital artist in music history with over 24.3 digital tracks to date.

Grammy chief Neil Portnow has praised Swift as a "phenomenon in entertainment." "She crosses so many genres and generations. She’s really struck a chord with people because her music is so honest," Portnow said.

Sunday's show -- which gets under way at 5pm (0100 GMT) -- is the first Grammy Awards since Michael Jackson's death last year and is expected to feature an extended tribute to the late "King of Pop."

The tribute will include a 3-D film clip made before his death as well as performances from Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Smokey Robinson and Usher. Jackson will also be honored with a lifetime achievement award during the show.

However, Grammy show producer Ken Ehrlich has distanced himself from reports that Michael Jackson's children -- Paris, Blanket and Prince Michael -- would perform on Sunday at the Staples Center, the same venue where they bade a poignant farewell to their father at last July's memorial service.

"Don't know where that came from and I really don’t have anything to say about it," Ehrlich told the Access Hollywood entertainment news show.

Meanwhile, in the record of the year race, Beyonce's "Halo" will go up against Black Eyed Peas's pop track "I Gotta Feeling", the Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody," Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and Swift's "You Belong with Me."

The nominees for song of the year, awarded to the songwriters, are Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," Maxwell's "Pretty Wings," Beyonce's No.1 single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" and Swift's "You Belong with Me.

The best rock album nominees, meanwhile, comprise AC/DC's "Black Ice," "Live From Madison Square Garden" by Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, "21st Century Breakdown" by Green Day, "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" by the Dave Matthews Band and "No Line on the Horizon" by U2.

The best new artist category features the Zac Brown Band, Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups and The Ting Tings.

Rihanna describes night of attack by Chris Brown

LOS ANGELES – R&B singer Rihanna broke her silence on Friday about the night her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown attacked her, saying he had bitten her, put her in a headlock and left her bleeding and swollen.

"It wasn't the same person that says 'I love you.' It was not those...eyes," Rihanna, 21, told Diane Sawyer in an interview on ABC television's "Good Morning America" show.

"He had...no soul in his eyes. Just blank...He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him," she said.

Brown, 20, singer of hits like "Kiss, Kiss," was sentenced to five years probation and 180 hours of community service for the assault in February on the eve of the Grammy Awards.

He has apologized publicly and although the pair briefly reunited, Rihanna said she now has "no desire at all to be with him."

Rihanna said the attacks started with an argument over a text message Brown received while they were driving home from an industry party.

"I couldn't take it that he kept lying to me. And he couldn't take it that I wouldn't drop it. And...it was ugly," she told Sawyer.

She acknowledged police reports that Brown bit her, put her in a head lock until she had trouble breathing, and punched her several times in the eye.

"I fended him off with my feet...but it was not like, it was not like a fight with each other. I just...I really just wanted it to stop," she said.

Her screams prompted a bypasser to call the police.

"I was bleeding, I was swollen in the face," she said. "So there was no way of me getting home, except for, my next option was to get out of the car and walk. Start walking in a gown, in a bloody face. So I really don't know what my plan was."

Rihanna said although her wounds had long healed, she had flashbacks and scars inside.

"The thing that men don't realize when they hit a woman, it's...the face, the broken arm, the black eye, it's going to heal. That's not the problem. It's the scar inside.

"You flashback...you...you remember all the time. It comes back to you whether you like it or not. And it's painful. So I don't think he understood that," she said.

After Charice, Arnel Pineda invades 'Oprah'

MANILA – After Charice, it was Arnel Pineda’s turn to impress Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s most powerful women today.

Pineda and the rest of the members of the American rock band “Journey” recently guested on Oprah to promote the group’s latest album, “Revelation.”

During the show, Journey's Filipino front man could not believe that he was being interviewed by no less than Winfrey herself.

"I'm facing you (Winfrey) right now. You are [one of the] biggest [names] in show business and I'm facing you. It's like… I'm not allowed to be here but I'm here. And I thank God for that," he said.

The show featured Pineda’s journey “from total obscurity to recapturing the voice of one of the greatest bands of our time."

Pineda’s rags-to-riches story has inspired many people around the world. His life story will be made into a film titled "Don't Stop Believing: Every Man's Journey." The biopic will hit the big screen next year.

The Filipino singer was discovered on YouTube by Journey’s guitarist Neal Schon. Jonathan Cain (keyboard), Deen Castronovo (drums) and Ross Valory (bass) were equally impressed when they first watched him on YouTube performing Journey’s “Faithfully.”

Cain said: "Neal contacted us. I checked the YouTube video just like he said. And there he was singing. And I said, 'The guy got great pipes, does he speak English?’ And, ‘How are we going to get him to the stage to check him out?'" Cain said.

Valory said he had “goosebumps surplus” when he first heard Pineda sing.

Castronovo was also blown away by Pineda’s voice. “It was frightening just to hear that voice come out from that little guy. We couldn't believe it. It’s just so strong. And the best part about it was just how humble the man was, how humble human being, beautiful heart."

For Pineda, being part of Journey still feels like a dream.

"I've seen enough pain and poverty in the Philippines. I've never been that big. All I wanted was to be able to get out of it -- the pain and the poverty - and live decently everyday," he said.

He said touring around the world with his band mates is “amazing, unbelievable and fantastic.” “All the superlative words that you can utter.”

He admitted that he felt the pressure when the band played in the Philippines early this year. “There was a big responsibility and thank God I pulled it off.”

And now that he is making lots of money, Pineda said he bought a home for his family and set up his own foundation to help poor Filipinos.

Journey's Manila concert is now available on DVD in the United States.

72 Filipinos arrested in Saudi for 'gay' behavior

MANILA, Philippines- Wearing drag at a private event may be harmless fun in many societies, but 72 Filipino men found out they could suffer imprisonment and lashing in Saudi Arabia for such activities after they were arrested for immorality recently.

An article in the Arabic news site www.sabq.org said several “deviants," a term used by Saudi Arabia’s English-language media to describe people who engage in gay behavior, were rounded up during a concert inside a compound in an eastern Riyadh neighborhood.

The report quoted unnamed police officials as saying a "large number of foreign workers" were arrested in the incident, and 72 of them have Philippine citizenship.

Vice Consul Roussel Reyes of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh told GMANews.TV by phone on Tuesday that they are still confirming the identities of the Filipinos and will seek their employers’ help to bail them out.

Open display of homosexual behavior is strictly prohibited under Saudi Arabia’s Sharia’h law. In extreme cases, such as when the unless the government feels that homosexuals are challenging state authority, the maximum punishment for the act is public execution.

Normally, however, other punishments such as fines, imprisonment, and whipping as alternatives. Individuals caught wearing even just one article of women’s clothing could face three to six months imprisonment, and suffer between 50 and 100 lashes with a rattan stick.

Reyes said nearly 50 other Filipinos have been arrested and jailed in the past for similar violations.

Only sponsors are able to bail out foreign workers who are imprisoned, as long as they provide assurance that the accused would show up in court during trial.

In August last year, Saudi Arabia’s Commission for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrested several Filipinos in a gay party in the country’s eastern province for "lewd behavior" as well as possession of drugs and alcohol. Arrested foreign nationals are often deported after serving their jail sentence. -

It has been a fantastic ride for Ciara

Like Madonna, one of her role models, Ciara (pronounced Sierra) prefers to be known without a surname. Her full name is Ciara Princess Harris, born in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 25, 1985; the only child of Carlton and Jackie Harris. She grew up on army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona and Nevada.

A multi-tasker, she’s a singer, songwriter, entertainer, record producer, dancer, fashion model, music video director, actress and fashion designer all rolled into one.

“I’m an achiever,” she confessed during a 20-minute exclusive phone interview with Funfare (she was calling from Atlanta, USA). “I enjoy doing so many things at the same time.”

The interview was arranged by Sony BMG Music Entertainment which released her debut album, Goodies, and sophomore album, Ciara: The Evolution. Her third album, Fantasy Ride, to be released anytime now simultaneously in the US and the Philippines, includes a duet with Justin Timberlake, titled Love Sex Magic.

Excerpts:

Why aren’t you using your surname?

“Well, I like the way Ciara sounds as opposed to Ciara Princess Harris. It sounds better, doesn’t it?”

You are a singer, songwriter, entertainer, record producer, dancer, fashion model, music video director, actress and a fashion designer. How do you find time for all of them?

“If you set your mind to it, you can do a lot of things all at the same time. I am the type who wants to do so many things, to create so many goals, and I work hard to achieve them. I enjoy doing it.”

As a child, didn’t you want to be something else?

“I love to dance ever since I was a kid, so I knew that I would be a dancer. I also like to sing, so I knew that I would be a singer, even if I was sad about my singing.”

Sad? Why?

“I don’t know. Maybe I wasn’t satisfied with it when I was younger. I was aggressive even when I was young; I wanted to try everything. I wanted to be a model, too, and even then I was fond of clothes and make-up. Finally, I got to an age where I understood what I really wanted to do and that is to be a singer.”

You have such a beautiful body. How do you maintain it?

“Well, I’m strict with my diet; I don’t eat too much sweets and desserts. But I don’t deprive myself, so every now and then I eat ice-cream and French fries. But since I’m hyper-active, my metabolism works real fast. I work out for an hour six days a week.”

How do you pamper yourself?

“I get a manicure and a pedicure. I have my hair done...that’s always fun. I go to the spa.”

How have you evolved since 2004 when you released your debut album, Goodies?

“As an artist, I’ve been trying a lot of things. I’m becoming more comfortable with myself as a woman, which is really cool.”

Has your life, to quote the title of your third album, really been a “fantasy ride” this past few years?

“Definitely! It has been a real fantasy ride and I hope it doesn’t stop. I’m enjoying it! It has been a wonderful journey, with something new coming up every year. It’s even more fun because I’m trying to understand my environment a little bit more, you know.”

You recorded Love Sex Magic with Justin Timberlake for your Fantasy Ride album. How was the experience?

“Oh, I had fun! We had fun. Justin is very sweet, very down-to-earth. A beautiful guy, definitely.”

You are an only child. What was your childhood like?

“When I was small, I wanted to have a brother or a sister. But when I got older, I got used to not having any. I have gotten used to being an only child but it took time.”

You grew up in army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona and Nevada. How was the experience different from that of any typical child?

“The only difference was that I traveled a lot. I wasn’t at home as other children were most of the time. Our family kept on moving from one place to another. I experienced different cultures.”

What was the best thing that you learned from these places?

“Oh, I learned that people are different only because they live in different places and have different cultures, but everybody is basically the same. It was a very good experience, very awesome, and it helped make embracing people of different cultures so much easier. I recommend traveling to everybody.”

According to your bio-data, watching Destiny’s Child in a TV program inspired you to pursue a career in music. Who are your other musical influences?

“Oh, there’s Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Madonna. They are my inspiration.”