Prime time US shows are apparently queuing up to book up the Brit Award winning band Blake, prompting record label EMI to release the track All Of Me simultaneously in the UK, USA and Canada.

As well as lining up TV shows in the US, the foursome are also booked to appear on British TV in weeks leading up to the Royal wedding day.

The song is written by TV theme tune composer Simon May (Eastenders, Howards Way) with the help of his young co writers Simon Lockyer and John Brant. They believe that in All Of Me they have written the perfect wedding song, but it was not created for the upcoming special occasion and was written a couple of years ago.

“We wrote ‘All Of Me’ a couple of years ago and it has already become a popular song at weddings in America. I’ve been looking for the right occasion and artist to make the definitive recording” said Simon May.

When Simon met Blake (Ollie Baines, Jules Knight, Humphrey Berney and Stephen Bowman) in November of 2010 and saw them performing at the Royal Festival Hall, he knew that the waiting was over.  “These boys just blew me away” says Simon.  “They have an awesome ability to sing perfect harmonies and interpret a song in either the pop or classical idiom which is an impressive and very unusual combination.”

While it may not have been written for the royal couple it is none the less fitting and Blake say;

“In ’All Of Me’ Simon and his team have written a song that perfectly fits the romance and commitment of a wedding. We are really honoured to have been asked to sing it and we hope that the song will touch the heart of the nation and be a special song for many couples on their wedding day.”

ALL OF ME

The first day that I met you
I think I always Knew
That you were meant to be the one
And then the feeling grew
With God and friends my witness
Our love will never die
I take the gift you gave me
Don’t need to question why
For all the faults I’m made of
And for all the wrongs I do
I’m not asking you to judge me
Just be true

Chorus:
All of me
Is what I give to you
And everything I have
I Wanna share with you
And with this ring
For all eternity
I make this vow
When I give you all of me

This life is short and precious
A one way ticket ride
I thank you for the journey
I know you’re on my side
And we are only here once
I’m glad we shared this day
Of knowing something special
That will never go away
For all the faults I’m made of
And for all the wrongs I do
I’m not asking you to judge me
Just be true

Chorus

That’s what I give to you
And everything I have
I’m gonna share with you
With this ring
I give for all eternity
My love
I make this vow
All of Me………

With over half a million albums sold worldwide, Blake continue to build their reputation as one of the most eclectic and exciting classical-pop groups in the world. The classical Brit Award winners are currently on their acclaimed ‘An Evening With Blake’ tour.

Plan-B

Can there be any more tracks left on The Defamation of Strickland Banks that have not yet been released as singles? I guess not, as Plan B has announced the release of the next one, Writing’s On The Wall scheduled for March 7th.

The single is released days after Plan B kicks off his biggest ever UK tour which culminates in a massive show at London’s O2 Arena on March 10th.

Having collected an award for Best British Male Artist at the Brit Awards last month, the singer has every reason to look forward to another momentous year in 2011.

The next album, The Ballad of Belmarsh, which is understood to be a hip-hop album recalling a ’series of events’ that depict the story of the character Strickland Banks is promised soon, possibly through Ben Drew’s own independent label.

Plan B UK tour dates:

Mon 28th Feb – Dublin Olympia

Wed 2nd March  – Manchester Apollo

Thurs 3rd March – Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Fri 4th March – Blackpool Empress Ballroom

Sat 5th March – Doncaster Dome

Mon 7th March – Swindon Oasis

Tues 8th March – Plymouth Pavilions

Wed 9th March – Brighton Centre

Thurs 10th March – London O2 Arena

If you missed Plan B’s excellent fiery live performance at the Brit Awards in February, watch it here:

You can also watch the 90 second ‘Strickland Banks; The Story So Far’ video, which includes previously unheard material from Plan B’s next project, The Ballad Of Belmarsh, here:

Written by a stellar team of award-winning songwriters, Steve Mac, Wayne Hector and Claude Kelly, this song packs a punch.  Gold Forever is a ballad to rave to, combining the boy’s soaring vocals with a clubby, synth bassline.

The Wanted become the latest in a long line of top pop bands that have recorded official singles for the Comic Relief charity with past acts including the likes of The Spice Girls, McFly, Girls Aloud and Sugarbabes.

With their incredible 2011 BRIT nominated debut single All Time Low storming straight into the number one spot, followed quickly by number two hit Heart Vacancy, Jay, Max, Siva, Nathan and Tom have quickly built up a huge fanbase.

Their self-titled debut album raced into the top five, and with over 17 million plays of their videos on YouTube, and over 650,000 fans on Facebook, the boys have most definitely cemented themselves as the hottest new pop group in the UK.

The Wanted are set to perform the track on Red Nose Day’s enormous Night of TV, Comic Relief: Funny for Money which kicks off at 7pm, BBC1 on Friday 18th March, the official Red Nose Day.

By raising money for Red Nose Day, people can help to change lives forever.  That’s because Comic Relief spends all the money raised to give extremely vulnerable, poor and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to turn their lives around.

Max says; “This song is about a day in your life that you never forget.  It’s an upbeat, feel good track and our favourite so far.  We’re really excited to get it out there, and delighted that it is supporting such a great cause.”

Jay adds; “We’re in a position where we can contribute to Comic Relief.  We grew up watching it as kids and to be involved is crazy but an absolute honour.  We hope we do everyone proud.”

The Wanted – Gold Forever

Bruno Mars - photo Harper Smith

The latest Bruno Mars single Grenade has broken the record for first week sales in the UK, selling almost 150,000 copies and storming straight to the top of the UK singles chart. That’s the biggest first week sales for a single released in January since Babylon Zoo’s Spaceman in 1996!

2011 is already set to be a massive year for the R&B singer as his much anticipated debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans is released today, having been brought forward a week due to high demand and his short UK tour announced only last week has now been sold out.

It’s difficult not to be taken by the velvety voiced singer songwriter who has already recorded top UK hits with his own Just The Way You Are single as well as featuring on B.o.B’s Nothin’ On You and Travie McCoy’s Billionaire.

Very much a man in demand Bruno Mars has recently been nominated for a well deserved Brit Award in the International Breakthrough Act category.

In The UK for the release of his album, the singer told the Radio 1 Chart Show yesterday of his love for this country, saying;

“It’s such a special place for me, I just love it out here. I think the people are great. It’s just this is where it’s at for me. I’m getting a house over here; I know it. That’s the next investment.”

Bruno Mars – Grenade

Expect an album and singles UK chart double by the end of the week as sales for the new album Doo-Wops and Hooligans fly off the shelves over the next few days.

monster ball tour

Love or loathe her it is impossible to ignore Lady Gaga and as her recent triple award at the Brits suggests that she is going to be around for a long time to come.

Having picked up Brit Awards for Best International Female Solo Artist, Best International Album and Best International Breakthrough Act, Lady Gaga entertained both the live audience and millions at home watching on TV with a spectacular live set.

Her original inspiration came from the Glam Rock era, particularly through the likes of the most outrageously camp acts of that period, David Bowie and later Freddie Mercury. She has also said that fashion is an important part of her life and those inspirations are evident for all to see in her incredible live concert performances.

It is no surprise that she has been compared with  Madonna who courted controversy and oozed sexiness particularly in her breakthrough years, but with an outrageous wardrobe that would attract admiring glances from Elton John, Lady Gaga has already shown that she is no copy cat performer but really does have her very own style and her fans absolutely adore just that.

The Monster Ball Tour started out in Canada back in November and reached the UK shores earlier this month on February 18th. Having already sold out arena dates in Manchester, Belfast and Dublin, The Monster Ball Tour arrives in Liverpool on the 24th and continues in the UK until the final date in Nottingham on March 8th.

Given her huge popularity it may be a surprise to learn that Lady Gaga tickets for the remaining UK dates can still be obtained for all venues.

Lady Gaga – Monster Ball Tour Dates:

February 24, 2010     Liverpool Echo Arena
February 26, 2010     London The O2 Arena
February 27, 2010     London The O2 Arena
March 1,     2010        Glasgow Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
March 3,     2010         Cardiff Cardiff International Arena
March 4,     2010       Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
March 5,     2010      Birmingham LG Arena
March 7,     2010        Sheffield Sheffield Arena
March 8,     2010        Nottingham Trent FM Arena

Viagogo is a reputable online ticket exchange for concert tickets, sports tickets, and arts and theatre tickets.

Between 1991 and 1996 they sold no fewer than 19 million albums.  But not long after the departure of Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen announced Take That were to split.  Robbie went on to have a successful solo career while the rest of Take That were relegated to the ‘B list’.

It wasn’t until 2005, following a well received documentary and success of a newly released greatest hits album, Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection,  that Gary, Howard, Jason and Mark, announced a 2006 Take That reunion tour of the UK.  The tour was a massive success, and in 2006 they released their first studio album in ten years, Beautiful World.

Beautiful World included the single Shine, which won Best British Single at the 2008 BRIT Awards.  Take That received four nominations for the 2008 BRIT Awards including Best Album and Best British Group, and won Best Live Act and Best British Single.

In November 2008 Greatest Day was the first single to be released from their fifth studio album, The Circus.  Both debuted at no.1 in the UK singles and albums charts.

Since their successful reunion, rumours have continually circulated that Robbie Williams is either to join the band on stage either permanently or for a one-off comeback.  So far, neither has proved to be correct.  Nevertheless, Take That concert tickets are hot property this summer.

This summer Take That are playing a UK and Ireland stadium tour.  I’m not sure what Robbie Williams is up to.

Take That – The Circus Tour Dates

Fri 05 Jun 2009
Sunderland Stadium Of Light
Sunderland

Sat 06 Jun 2009
Sunderland Stadium Of Light
Sunderland

Mon 08 Jun 2009
Coventry Ricoh Arena
Coventry

Tue 09 Jun 2009
Coventry Ricoh Arena
Coventry

Wed 10 Jun 2009
Coventry Ricoh Arena
Coventry

Sat 13 Jun 2009
Croke Park Stadium
Dublin, Ireland

Tue 16 Jun 2009
Cardiff Millennium Stadium
Cardiff

Wed 17 Jun 2009
Cardiff Millennium Stadium
Cardiff

Fri 19 Jun 2009
Hampden Park
Glasgow

Sat 20 Jun 2009
Hampden Park
Glasgow

Sun 21 Jun 2009
Hampden Park
Glasgow

Tue 23 Jun 2009
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Manchester

Wed 24 Jun 2009
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Manchester

Fri 26 Jun 2009
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Manchester

Sat 27 Jun 2009
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Manchester

Sun 28 Jun 2009
Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Manchester

Wed 01 Jul 2009
Wembley Stadium
London

Fri 03 Jul 2009
Wembley Stadium
London

Sat 04 Jul 2009
Wembley Stadium
London

Sun 05 Jul 2009
Wembley Stadium
London

Take That – The Circus Tickets

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The two acts will perform some reworked versions of Duran Duran songs as well as a track from the bands recent album Red Carpet Massacre.

Singer Simon Le Bon will also join Ronson on stage as a guest vocalist during the producers solo show at the event.

Ronson and Duran Duran have been in conversation over the collaboration for some time and the producer has recently spent some time in the studio working on the project.

Brit Award winner Mark Ronson is the current producer of choice among the pop elite having worked his magic with the likes of Amy Winehouse and collaborations with various artists on his solo album.

The event is organised by the people responsible for the success of the Isle of Wight Bestival, and will be at Lulworth Castle on July 18-20th.

Nash will be joined by Hercules and Love Affair, DJ Yoda , Ross Allen, and Dub Pistols Sound System  for the first of what is hoped will become an annual event at Camp Bestival Dorset.

Nash will play the Grand Finale on Sunday 20th July.

“We can get over it this year.
She’s going to have a long, successful career.
We’ll be back and picking up awards in years to come.
She’s had so many great things happen in her life already.” said Griffiths, adding:

“We’re going to make her album the biggest record in the world, then we’ll make another record in 2009, and tour on the back of that.”

Pop music was the winner at the Brit Awards 2008, last night with Take That winning the best single category with Shine,  along with the award for Best British Live act.

Kate Nash won the Best British Female Solo Artist, with Mika the Best Breakthrough Artist.

The award for British Solo Artist went to DJ record producer Mark Ronson, a strange nomination given that he produced an album of collaborations with other artists.

With Paul McCartney and Adele having already won their awards, Pop was king again as Kylie Minogue was given the Best International Female Solo Artist.