LOS ANGELES – Glee, the award-winning musical comedy about a misfit high school show choir, might be doing more for music than its fellow Fox juggernaut, American Idol.

GLEE: An uplifting series with biting humor that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to refuel his own passion while reinventing the high school’s glee club and challenging a group of outcasts to realize their star potential. A special preview following AMERICAN IDOL will air Tuesday, May 19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The show will then premiere in the fall (date to be announced.) Pictured back row L-R: Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Mark Salling, Chris Colfer and Amber Riley. Front row L-R: Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Jayma Mays and Cory Monteith. ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Joe Viles/FOX

In its first 13 episodes, the show treated viewers to covers of songs by Neil Diamond, Rihanna, Kanye West, Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Queen, Liza Minnelli and more. The music from Glee is a huge success in its own right, with more than 4 million digital downloads sold and two soundtracks already certified gold. A nationwide tour, Glee Live, featuring key members from the show’s cast, kicks off in May and has sold out, and the show is boosting sales for the original artists behind the songs.

Its stars are even featured on the current issue of Rolling Stone.

When the hourlong hit returns Tuesday for a nine-episode run, expect twice the tunes per show and even more mash-ups and musical diversity.

“Every single possible musical style and taste is going to be in there,” says Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk. “It doesn’t matter what you like — you’re going to find what you like and stuff you never heard of that you’ll love.”

But the commercial success of the Glee songs wasn’t a reason for the boost, he says. Instead, he said the decision was made because the music greatly enriches the show by giving viewers an emotional understanding of what the characters are going through. Falchuk says he and fellow show creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan intentionally upped the number of songs to a minimum of five per episode for the balance of the first season (three to five had been the norm).

Falchuk says Murphy, also creator of the cult TV hit Nip/Tuck, is the master behind the music: “He’s the iTunes library, the Rainman of music.”

This season, the characters will express their joy and frustrations through the songs of best-selling acts like AC/DC, the Beatles, Lionel Richie, Olivia Newton John and Madonna.

In fact, Madonna gets her own entire episode — a tribute to the Material Girl packed with 10 songs, seven of which appear on a separate soundtrack, Glee: The Power of Madonna, set for release Apr. 20.

Practically every member of the show’s cast can and does sing, recording their songs regularly at the storied Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles. The dozen actors comprising McKinley High School’s New Directions glee club sing several songs each episode, while other stars — including caustic cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), cranky football coach Ken Tanaka (Patrick Gallagher) and neat-freak guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) — chime in from time to time.

(Spoiler alert: Sylvester’s fans will love Lynch’s glamorous, unforgettable singing debut in the Madonna episode. She also duets with a legendary guest star later in the season.)

Producer Adam Anders arranges, records and mixes all the featured tracks — sometimes as many as 10 a week.

“I have eight studios going at all times on Glee,” says the 34-year-old, who counts Disney’s High School Musical and Camp Rock among his credits. “I have a partner in Sweden, and we basically get 27 hours out of a day because we have a nine-hour time change.”

The pair works around the clock to craft the songs, usually a couple weeks before each episode is shot. When the episode airs, they know immediately which songs are hits by simply clicking on iTunes.

“As a songwriter or producer, you never get that kind of instant reaction,” Anders says. “It’s really cool.”

Some bands covered on Glee have seen a resurgence in their own popularity. The cast’s version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” hit No. 1 on iTunes when the show premiered and helped return the original 1981 version to the charts (that song also jumped on iTunes charts after it was used in the Sopranos finale).

“It’s a testament to how much the music is really affecting people and that a whole new generation is being introduced to these songs,” Falchuk says.

Still, the success of the music depends on the success of the storytelling, so script always precedes song.

“We never have a song and then say we need to find a story for this song,” says Falchuk. “The thing about a musical is what emotional experience do you want the audience to have by hearing that song at that moment?”

It’s those experiences that inspire sales success.

“The songs that sell the best are the ones where the integration of the story and music really worked, where there’s an emotional connection to what’s going on in the scene,” he says.

“It’s independent of genre. It could be classic rock or a musical, it’s just a song that made people feel good.”

On Tuesday, Apr. 6, Barry Drake came to UNH to give a lecture, “60’s Rock: When the Music Mattered.” Barry Drake has often been called a walking encyclopedia of Rock and Roll. The lecture was very informational with many pictures, video clips, and songs from the 1960’s. Barry Drake went through then ten years that span the 1960’s in the hour and twenty minute lecture. Of course Barry could have gone on for longer, but he gave everyone the basics.

Barry talked about when the Beatles invaded American music for the first time and how American music retaliated with some interesting choices of singers. Also, how the Beatles invaded American music for the second time during the start of the hippy era towards the end of the 60’s. After the lecture was over most people went back to their rooms and played a bunch of music from the 60’s because they didn’t realize how much they actually knew from the era. Barry Drake’s 60’s lecture was amazing and SCOPE did a great job planning this event.

Sentenced to a year in Riker’s Island prison for gun possession, Lil Wayne is not letting the confines of cell walls get him down. So, what does the Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling rap artist do to pass the time? It’s simple: He blogs. “During my prison stint, I want my fans to know I love you. I want all of you to know that I appreciate all the mail I get, and this is my way of saying thank you,” he writes. The rapper, who started serving his sentence early March, has recently begun a blog called WeezyThanxYou.com for answering fan questions.

Sentenced to a year in Riker’s Island prison for gun possession, Lil Wayne is not letting the confines of cell walls get him down.

While the blog was primarily created for the purpose of answering fan letters, it also features jail updates as well as a countdown until his release and is designed to help sell “Free Weezy” t-shirts. Lil Wayne handwrites all of his blog posts before submitting them to his team who then edit and publish them to the site. To distract fans from his hiatus, Lil Wayne’s management has already released several new tracks and videos.

With the rapper being warranted protective custody from other prisoners at Riker’s Island, Lil Wayne has spent his time working out and reading the Bible every day, reiterating the fact that he is, indeed, in good spirits: “Jail didn’t make me find God; He’s always been there. They can lock me up, but my spirit and my love can never be confined to prison walls.”

Though the countdown reveals more than 200 days until his freedom, Lil Wayne may be released after 8 months if his conduct is good. Right now, Lil Wayne turns to his blog to reflect his plans to move forward: “Life happens quick. The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do.”

From The Associated Press

The Vatican has finally made peace with the Beatles, saying their drug use, “dissolute” lives and even the claim that the band was bigger than Jesus are all in the past — while their music lives on.

Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano paid tribute to the Fab Four in its weekend editions, with two articles and a front-page cartoon reproducing the crosswalk immortalized on the cover of the band’s album “Abbey Road.”

The tribute marked the 40th anniversary of the band’s breakup.

“It’s true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhibited lives,” said the paper. “They even said they were more famous than Jesus,” it said, recalling John Lennon’s 1966 comment that outraged many Catholics and others.

“But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless,” L’Osservatore said. “Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels.”

It is not the first time the Vatican has praised the legendary band from Liverpool.

Two years ago, Vatican media hailed the Beatles’ musical legacy on the 40th anniversary of the “White Album.” And last month the Vatican paper included “Revolver” in its semiserious list of top-10 albums.

Now, L’Osservatore says that the Beatles’ songs have stood the test of time, and that the band remains “the longest-lasting, most consistent and representative phenomenon in the history of pop music.”

Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor in chief of L’Osservatore Romano, said Monday that he loves the Beatles.

He said that at the time of Lennon’s sensational statement, Osservatore “commented that in reality it wasn’t that scandalous, because the fascination with Jesus was so great that it attracted these new heroes of the time.”

Excitement could be felt across campus this past Thursday as students anticipated the release of the bands for Spring Concert. After months of questioning who would be performing, the acts would finally be announced.

After working through a dozen names, the Spring Concert lineup was finally set: Travie McCoy, Jay Sean and 3OH!3.

The day started with a photo booth in the Bartel’s Programming Space, giving students the opportunity to photograph their excitement with their friends. Each photo strip then advertised the Spring Concert Release Party taking place that evening.

At 9 pm over one hundred students filed into the Alumni Lounge to attend the party. Upon entering, each student was given two tickets and pointed toward a table filled with boxes.

Each box had the name and picture of a prospective act and at the end of the presentation a prize would be given to a ticket picked from each performing act’s box. There was also a freezer filled with ice cream for those with a sweet tooth.

After everyone had made their selections, the presentation began. The two SCOPE Co-Chairs, Lindsay Lynch and Glenn Altshuler, welcomed everyone and presented the possible acts.

The show included pictures and music of the artists and was met by mixed response from the audience. Some acts, such as Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, were met with roars of applause while others, like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, were met with shouts and boos that shook the room. After working through a dozen names, the concert was finally set: Travie McCoy, Jay Sean and 3OH!3.

As people started to get up or pull their tickets for the give-away, the co-chairs gave a hearty shout of “April Fools!” and announced that they had one more act. With a quick Taylor Swift fake-out to complete the gag, Cobra Starship was finally announced as the last act.

As the prizes were called, four students went home with CD’s and iTunes gift cards, and many more with extra ice cream bars.

As they left, students were encouraged to volunteer to help at the concert. This year, all students who volunteer will be entered into a special give-away as an added incentive.

Volunteer forms can be picked up at SCOPE, on the top floor of Bartels, anytime this month.

What do you get when you combine a five o’clock shadow, black suspenders, and a beautiful voice?

Mat Kearney was in town putting on an excellent performance at Toad’s Place in downtown New Haven while most of campus was away on spring vacation. Ingrid Michaelson, a talented part of his tour, opened for him and performed cover songs from Britney Spears and other artists. Kearney’s hit “Closer to Love” took off after Kearney performed it on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien last summer. Kearney’s music has also been featured on the popular television drama, Grey’s Anatomy.

A man of many instruments, Kearney played piano and guitar at the New Haven performance while singing lead vocals. His travels from his previous album tour for Nothing Left to Lose have a heavy influence on his new album, City of Black and White. As a songwriter, most of his work has been produced on the road.

On his website, Kearney describes a few of the locations where he has written songs, like “City of Black & White”, which was born on a ferry as he crossed the Bosphoros River with a friend. It “splits Istanbul in two as well as acting as an invisible dividing line between two continents” he reminisces, “and I remember the water being dark and my friend turning to one side saying, ‘Look! It’s Europe,’ then turning to the other and saying, ‘Look! It’s Asia,’ then back again.” During an interview he said, “It still feels surreal every night. I feel like I may be fooling someone, like the audience is going to one day prove to be all cardboard cutouts or something. I’m so grateful and honored to be doing what I’m doing.”

Oregon raised and Nashville based, this rising artist didn’t write his first song until he was in college at California State University. Only 5 years into the music industry, Kearney has plenty of show on the road to go.

You can catch Kearney right now in the UK, where he’ll be performing shows in Glasgow, Birmingham, and London over the next few weeks. Unless you’re planning a trip to Europe soon, we can all look forward to Kearney performing for us in the states again soon!

LOS ANGELES – The involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson’s cardiologist was assigned to a trial judge Monday in a brief proceeding that drew fans and family members of the late pop star.

FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 file photo, Michael Jackson's physician, Conrad Murray, right, arrives for his arraignment at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles, where he is expected to face involuntary manslaughter charges in Jackson's death. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, FILE)

Dr. Conrad Murray, his attorneys and prosecutors assembled before Supervising Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza, who in moments assigned the case to Judge Michael Pastor and sent them to his courtroom.

Pastor scheduled a June 14 court date to take up remaining procedural issues including the setting of a date for a preliminary hearing and Murray’s fight to keep his California medical license.

The state attorney general, representing the state medical board, has moved to revoke Murray’s license pending trial.

Earlier, about 50 Jackson fans waved signs and chanted outside the courthouse.

The fans sang “We Are the World,” wore T-shirts emblazoned with Jackson’s picture and the slogan, “Justice 4 Michael,” and carried placards demanding stronger charges against Murray.

Fans in a courthouse hallway called out “Hi Janet” as Jackson’s sister Janet arrived. The late pop star’s parents, Joe and Katherine, and brother Jermaine also attended.

Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Normally, such a procedural hearing would draw few spectators.

But with Jackson’s death as the backdrop, crowds of fans and media were expected, and Jackson family members have committed to attending all court proceedings against Murray.

Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said the Jackson family notified court officials that up to 15 courtroom seats would be needed.

“It’s basically a housekeeping hearing, but it will be the housekeeping hearing heard around the world,” said Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson. “There is no detail too minute for the international media.”

Murray’s attorneys contend the license issue is critical to his ability to pay for his defense.

The doctor has a history of serious financial problems and his attorneys, Ed Chernoff and Joseph Low, said in a recent court filing that the effect of losing his license would be devastating to Murray.

“He is, without fear of overstatement, hanging on by a thread,” the attorneys wrote. “His ability to pay for his own defense depends almost entirely on his ability to continue to treat patients.”

Murray, 57, a cardiologist, has clinics in Las Vegas and Houston and also has a license to practice in California. Should his California license be lifted, his lawyers suggest there would be a “domino effect” with other states moving to do the same.

Already, Nevada authorities have filed a formal complaint against Murray saying he twice failed to mention delinquent child support payments on applications to renew his medical license. Miranda Sevcik, spokeswoman for Murray and Chernoff, says Murray’s legal team hopes to resolve the complaint in a way that allows the doctor to keep his license.

As a condition of his $75,000 bail, Murray has been ordered not to administer any anesthetic.

Jackson was 50 and about to launch a series of comeback shows in London when he died last June after being rushed to a hospital from his Beverly Hills home. Murray, who signed on in May at $150,000 a month to keep Jackson healthy through the comeback tour, told police he had been treating him for insomnia.

The legendary pop star was found to have died from acute intoxication with the hospital anesthetic propofol and other sedatives as a contributing factor.

Chernoff has said that nothing Murray gave the singer should have killed him.

From The Associated Press

More than a dozen members of Michael Jackson’s family plan to appear in a courtroom where the doctor charged with causing his death is due for a hearing.

Dr. Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. The hearing agenda Monday is procedural — assigning a judge to try the case and setting a preliminary hearing date. Also at issue will be a medical board request to revoke his license to practice.

Allan Parachini, spokesman for the Los Angeles courts, said in addition to family members a large contingent of media from around the world also is expected and the sheriff’s department is preparing for a crowd.

Jackson, 50, died last June after being rushed to a hospital from his Beverly Hills home.

NEW YORK – Ricky Martin is no longer denying the rumors: He’s gay.

Ricky Martin is no longer denying the rumors: He's gay.

In a statement posted via Twitter in both Spanish and English, Martin said: “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am.”

For many, Monday’s announcement will come as no surprise; the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer’s sexuality has been speculated about for years. But the Puerto Rican star, who got his start as a child in the teen group Menudo, never directly addressed it and was usually seen at events with beautiful women on his arm.

Martin, 38, said he decided to reveal the truth after working on his memoirs helped him realize that he had to be free with himself, and not keep any more secrets.

“From the moment I wrote the first phrase I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside,” he said. “Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating.”

Martin said one of the reasons why he kept his homosexuality hidden was because he was told by some that it would hurt his career. While his U.S. career peaked after the release of his 1999 self-titled English album, a multiplatinum success that included the hits “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” he is still a hugely successful Latin artist.

“Because all this advice came from people who I love dearly, I decided to move on with my life not sharing with the world my entire truth,” he said in his statement. “Allowing myself to be seduced by fear and insecurity became a self-fulfilling prophecy of sabotage. Today I take full responsibility for my decisions and my actions.”

Martin, who is the father of two boys born via surrogate in 2008, said he couldn’t continue to hide his sexuality now that he is a father: “Enough is enough. This has to change.”
Ricky Martin, who rose to fame from his solo career in 1991, has been a pop icon for over three decades and has sold over 60 million albums across the globe. Martin is the founder of the Ricky Martin Foundation, a non-profit organization, and has been nominated one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine.

From The Associated Press

iTunes’ top 10 selling singles and albums of the week ending March 29, 2010:

Singles:

1. “Hey, Soul Sister,” Train

2. “Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris),” Taio Cruz

3. “Rude Boy,” Rihanna”

4. “Nothin’ On You (feat. Bruno Mars),” B.o.B

5. “Telephone,” Lady GaGa, Beyonce

6. “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

7. “Imma Be,” Black Eyed Peas

8. “Carry Out (feat. Justin Timberlake),” Timbaland

9. “Baby (feat. Ludacris),” Justin Bieber

10. “Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3),” Ke$ha

Albums:

1. “My World 2.0,” Justin Bieber

2. “Still Standing,” Monica

3. “Volume Two,” She & Him

4. “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

5. “My World,” Justin Bieber

6. “The Fame Monster (standard),” Lady GaGa

7. “Broken Bells,” Broken Bells

8. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),” Various Artists

9. “Plastic Beach,” Gorillaz

10. “Battle of the Sexes,” Ludacris