All hail Queen Rihanna: Timeline

Rihanna - Queen of Pop

After performing a show stopping medley of her three latest singles; Only Girl in the World, S&M and What's My Name at The Brits Awards on Tuesday Night. Rihanna went on to win Best International Female Artist awarded to her by Cheryl Cole, with an eruption from the Brit award crowd.


But how did this award winning diva become so unstoppable?

2005 Rihanna hit the charts for the first time with her single Pon de Replay which was taken from her album Music of the Sun. But of course Rihanna didn't just get into the top 40 UK chart, she set her standards and thundered in at number 2. The album reached the top ten in the Billboard 200 Chart.

2006 Just a year later Rihanna received her first ever US number 1 with SOS from her album A Girl Like Me which  contained further well known hits including Unfaithful and Break It Off.


2007 Rihanna stole the chart in 2007 when releasing her well known album Good Girl Gone Bad. Teaming up with music producers Will.i.am and Timberland it came with no surprise that this influenced Rihanna to take on a more upbeat dance style. The album reached number 1 not only in the UK, but also Canada, Japan, Ireland, Brazil and Russia, making Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna's most critically acclaimed album. She achieved number 1'a with he singles Umbrella, Shut up and Drive, Don't Stop the Music and Hate That I Love You. 


2008 The re-release her third album, calling it Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded in which the still popular hits, Take a Bow and Disturbia were born. Is it a surprise to tell you these both made it to the top 5 in the chart? Of course not. Rihanna took on two collaborations this year with Maroon 5 and T.I. She, joined with Beyonce Knowles, became one of the two solo female artists to achieve the most number 1's in a decade.

2009 This year unfortunately wasn't wasn't the best for the pop diva. Rihanna was involved in a domestic violent relationship with singer Chris Brown. Photographs and stories were leaked to the press and Rihanna was front page on most newspapers and magazines. Despite this, she still kept going, collaborating with Jay Z and Kanye West to produce the single Run This Town. Rihanna also released her fourth album, Rated R, which includes the smash hit singles Russian Roulette, Hard, Rockstar 101, Te Amo and Rihanna claimed another number 1 with dance hit Rude Boy.


2010 Rihanna collaborated with Eminem to produce one of the biggest hits of 2010 Love The Way You Lie which reached number 1 in over six countries. Her fifth album Loud has already achieved two UK number 1's with Only Girl in the World and What's My Name featuring Drake.

2011 Rihanna has already won two awards this year, as already mentioned her recent Brit Award and also Best Dance Record for What's My Name at the 53rd Grammy Award.

Q&A: Grammy Awards

Last night's Grammy awards in Los Angeles awarded the victorious music artists from 2010. Trophies were awarded to Arcade Fire for Album of the Year and Single of the Year to Lady Antebellum. But with all the award shows swinging into action what makes the Grammys so special?


Q. What is the event?


A. The Grammy Awards is a music awards ceremony and is the most prestigious ceremony which had been telecasted annually since 1958 . The television equivalent is the Emmy Awards and theAcademy Awards is the film equivalent which are all widely broadcasted on TV.


Q. Why is it called the Grammy Awards?


A. The award ceremony was formerly known as the Gramophone Awards, as the trophies awarded are in the shape of a gold gramophone.


Q. Where are the Grammy Awards Held?


A. The Grammy Awards have been held in Los Angeles since 2004 in various venues. In 2009 it was held at the Nokia Theatre and the last couple of years the award ceremony has been held at the Staples Centre. In previous years both Los Angeles and New York have been in competition to host the event and the outcome had been to split the event, two thirds held in Los Angeles and the final third held in New York. Many believe Los Angeles is going to be home for the Grammy Awards from now on.


Q. Who Presents the Awards?


A. Every year a different selection of musical talents or actors present the awards. Previous presenters line ups have included Jennifer Lopez, Justin Beiber, Ricky Martin and Ringo Starr.


Q. What memorable moments have taken place at the Grammy Awards?


A. During Bob Dylan's performance in 1998 at the Grammy Awards, a topless man with the words "Soy Bomb" which had been painted on his chest appears on stage and attempts to dance along to the song until taken off stage by security guards. In 2004 rapper 50 Cent, upset that he hadn't won the Best New Artist award which he was nominated for, interrupted Amy Lee of Evanescence during her speech calling the moment a protest as rap music is not being recognised.

Chase And Status are Back

Back with their second album Chase And Status ‘No More Idols’ has stormed into the album chart reaching number 2, behind soul singer Adele who is currently dominating the chart.

The album contains groundbreaking songs by the London pair, complimenting their hectic drum and bass style heard in their last album ’More Than A lot’ which won Album of the Year at the 2009 Drum and Base Awards in Birmingham. Their new album exceeds what they created in ’More Than A lot’ as they have collaborated with top artists such as Cee Lo Green, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal and Plan B to created some gripping tunes.

The first single from their new album ‘Hypest Hype’ featuring Tempa T reached number 11 in UK singles chart, so already the duo are off to a good start. Many who have listened to ’No More Idols’ will agree that this album deserves to do extremely well and that there is no doubt that Chase And Status will be back in the singles chart with their next single very soon.

The Oscars Timeline

The Oscars will take place at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on 27 February. This will be it's will be the 83rd year and the ceremony will be hosted by actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway. But how did it all begin?

March 1929 - The first Oscar awards were held in a banquet which took place at a Hollywood Hotel. There was an audience of 270 who paid a meer $5 to attend and the award for best picture was given to the film "Wings".

April 1959 - "Ben-Hur" set the record for the most Oscar awards to be awarded to one film, winning 11 Oscars that night.

April 1970 - George C. Scott, who won Best Actor, had stayed at home watching the hockey to show how little he thought of the awards.

April 1972 - Actor Marlon Brando refused his Oscar of Best Actor for his role in "The Godfather". He instead had actress Sacheen Littlefeather, pretending to be a Native American, to explain he wasn't attending or accepting his award due to the poor treatment of American Indians in the industry.

April 1974 - An unexpected streaker ran across the stage, an unforgettable night in Oscar history.

April 1977 - Whilst presenting the writing award, Paddy Chayefsky outwardly displayed his own view of the Oscars commenting on how he was sick of people exploiting the occasion of the Academy Awards "for the propagation of their own personal political propaganda. I would like to suggest to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation, and a mere thank you would have sufficed.”

March 1991 - Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" was the first animated film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

March 2003 - "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" has been the only film to win all the awards it was nominated for. The film won 11 awards and became the third film to win 11 Oscars.

February 2008 - "Slumdog Millionaire" was the lowest-budget film to have won an Oscar, winning the title of 8 awards including Best Picture, director and screenplay.

March 2010 - Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first female director to win an Oscar for her 2009 film "The Hurt Locker".

A Special for Sure

When you hear an artist or band live and think to yourself "they sound just like they do on their recorded version" you know they're good. For me this applies to the band Muse, evident in the awards they have won as "Best Live Band", Plan B, Beverly Knight and the beautifully soulful Adele who today performed for Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Adele played six songs; some new, old and did a cover of Cheryl Cole's "Promise This" - each as note perfect as the next. Her distinct strong voice carried the melodies so well it was enough for me to get shivers time to time, which is always a good sign. And well, the fact she made "Promise This" sound superior to Cheryl's original says a a great deal.

Not only are her vocals spot on, but her songs all have such powerful meanings. Adele wrote "Hometown Glory" at the early age of sixteen and from there she has only got better. "Someone Like You" from her new album "21" is a track that defiantly has the ability to bring tears to your eyes.

Adele's raw talent blows me away every time I hear her sing. A must watch for any passionate Adele fans. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/sessions/2011-01-27_adeleliveloungespecial

Have a Taste of Milligan this Christmas

Fancy a Christmas with Badjelly the Witch, Sir Nobonk and King Twytt? Well, this year you can as Chickenshed Theatre Company presents Spike Milligan’s most-loved children’s stories and poems in their production of Badjelly’s Bad Christmas.

The annual Christmas show this year focuses on sisters Kate and Laura as they help their Grandad regain his missing baubles from Badjelly the Witch, and in doing so take a trip to the Land of the Bumbly Boo and The Ning Nang Nong.

The whole play is a jumble of nonsense, but Spike Milligan style nonsense, which as been magically crafted together by David Carey.

Of course, they have left no classics out and so Milligan fans, you may breathe a sigh of relief. Carey has incorporated the Ying Tong song and the poem of The Ning Nang Nong to capture Milligan’s greatest works.

Humour is not amiss in this show and you would be a bah humbug if you were to sit the two hours without a giggle. The rap battle scene has the audience in fits of laughter and the directing of Louise Perry and Mary Ward should be congratulated, as the stage is buzzing with energy.

Without a doubt many would agree that there are three particular talents in this production. These three being the signers of the show. They dance, act and sign the show for any audience members who may be deaf or hard of hearing. They are in fact so outstanding there comes a point when you realise, rather than watching the characters, you are instead watching them, especially as it is not every day you see rapping being translated to sign language.

Although, for those of you who roll your eyes at the typical Christmas pantomimes featuring “He’s behind you!” gags, you may wish to be cautious. The performance does feature more than enough booing and hissing for the average taste. So be prepared, it’s not just a show you can just sit and relax to.

Despite this, the production is one for many. Adults will remember Milligan’s poems and stories from their childhood and children will enjoy the endearing craziness of the story and characters the show encounters. In all, a light hearted show for the family.

Greymatter Call on Student Brain Power

Students from Bournemouth and Reading University are to be involved with the events organisation and album design for the girl band Greymatter.

Events Management students from Bournemouth University are involved every year in arranging a live gig in the local area. Whilst Typography students studying at reading are currently working on Greymatters’ up-coming album design, including logo and cover material.

The bands’ aim is to involve university students by allowing them to use the skills gained in their courses and to put them into action. The students can gain experience and while doing so can help promote Greymatter.

Emma Kavanagh, who is vocalist in the band and also a lecturer in Sports Psychology and Coaching Science at Bournemouth University says “As I work in higher education I’m aware of the network of students that are looking for employability skills and it’s not enough now to just get a degree, it’s also about the experience you gain whilst doing it.”

“It’s a great experience for them to work with us, but also for us in the creative idea’s that we get from students. It’s really refreshing to work with people who are right at the start of their career as they are so full of enthusiasm.”

The students are working hard to finish the projects by springtime 2011, when Greymatter are set to release their third album - which is yet to be named. The band is set to return with a bang showcasing their new mainstream sound and image with the creative help of the Bournemouth and Reading students.