Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and Jessica Mauboy will perform for Barack Obama tomorrow when the US President flies into Darwin.

Geoffrey Gurrumal Yunipingu - photo by Ros O'Gorman

Gurrumul and Jessica were invited by The White House to play for the President.

President Obama is en-route to Australia as we write and will arrive in Canberra this afternoon. He will then head to Darwin tomorrow.

Mr Obama will head to Darwin tomorrow afternoon and watch the performance at the RAAF base then address the Australian Defence troops.

He is expected to be in Darwin for less than two hours. President Obama will then leave Australia and head to Bali late tomorrow afternoon. He will spend less than 24 hours in Australia.

U.S. President Barack Obama send a message to be read at the memorial for Etta James earlier today.

Etta James

The statement from the President read, “Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation’s musical heritage.”

The President and First Lady made their first dance at the inaugural ball to Beyonce performing Etta’s classic ‘At Last’.

Etta James died on January 20 about a battle with leukemia.

The memorial was conducted by the Rev. Al Sharpton and featured a performance by Christina Aguilera singing ‘At Last’ and three songs from Stevie Wonder including ‘Shelter In The Rain’.

“The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script,” Sharpton said in the eulogy. “She waited until she turned her pain into power. You beat ’em Etta. At last. At last. At last!”

Etta leaves behind Artis Mills, her husband of 42-years and two sons Donto and Sarnetto.

Rap mogul Jay-Z has announced his Made In America music festival and wants President Obama to join in.

Jay-Z - Photo By Ros O'Gorman

Jay-Z recently revealed plans for his own music festival, dubbed the Budweiser Made In America Music Festival, which will take place in Philadelphia in September and feature twenty hand-picked acts, as well as the man himself.

Now Jay has told Rolling Stone that he wants the President to join in. He said “I’m gonna give him a call and I’m gonna try to get him to perform – do a little rendition of Al Green – but I doubt it. I think that opens up the political season. He’ll be so far into helping the world that he probably won’t have time, but I’m absolutely going to ask him.”

Might be a good PR exercise for the President leading up to the November US election.

Jay-Z is the only confirmed act so far, but he’s specified that the line-up won’t just be rap and hip-hop, but will also include rock, R&B, Latin and dance.

And the R&B and dance could come, in part, from his lovely wife Beyonce. He suggested that she might just have a “little gap in her schedule” to make it happen.

The Budweiser Made In America music fest will take place at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on September 1 and 2.

It turns out even US President Barack Obama was a Donna Summer fan. So was Aretha Franklin.

Donna Summer

Noting her passing today, President Obama released the following statement, “Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna’s family and her dedicated fans.”

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin also spoke about the death of the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer. “So shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer,” Aretha said in a statement. “In the ’70s, she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping. Who will forget, ‘Last Dance?’ [She was] a fine performer and a very nice person.”

Barbra Streisand, who recorded the duet ‘No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)’ with Donna said today, “She was so vital the last time I saw her a few months ago. I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented. It’s so sad.”

The Queen of Country, Dolly Parton stated, “I loved her records. She was the disco queen, and will remain so. I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever. She will be missed and remembered.”

Donna Summer died from lung cancer on Thursday, May 17 at the age of 63. She is survived by her husband Bruce, two daughters and four grandchildren.

The campaign to re-elect President Obama has posted a video featuring DJs calling for support.

DJ Adam 12 and President Obama

It’s long been a cliché that the Democrats in the US have Hollywood in their back pocket, but now the Obama camp has released a video showing DJs who are party-rocking the vote.

The video, hosted by hip-hop DJ Cassidy, encourages artists and creators to get on board the Re-Elect Obama bandwagon, and features implicit endorsements from superstar electro producer Steve Aoki, plus rapper and producer D-Nice, Prince collaborator DJ Rashida, acclaimed Miami disc-spinner DJ Irie, and Obama’s personal DJ (apparently) Adam 12.

Check out the campaign clip below. Weird.

Dave Mustaine of Megadeth has told an audience in Singapore that he believes American President Barack Obama is responsible for staging such tragedies as the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting and the recent murders in the Sikh temple.

Dave Mustaine, Photo Ros O'Gorman

Mustaine has been very outspoken about the president in the past, promoting the position that he was not born in the U.S. and criticising many of his positions.

In Singapore, he told the crowd:

Back in my country, my president is trying to pass a gun ban. So he’s staging all of these murders, like the Fast and Furious thing down at the border and Aurora, Colorado, all the people that were killed there. And now the beautiful people at the Sikh temple.

I don’t know where I’m gonna live if America keeps going the way it’s going because it looks like it’s turning into Nazi America.

In the video below, you can hear a number of people in the crowd booing the statement and at least one yelling “We love Obama.”

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A number of veteran artists have recently demanded that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan stop using their music at their campaign stops, but now we have the first case where the family member of a late musician has chimed in.

Thin Lizzy

Ireland’s Hot Press has talked with the mother of the late Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy and she has said that her son would not have approved of Ryan’s use of her son’s song The Boys Are Back in Town at the Republican Convention.
Philomena Lynott told the site “I am really upset at Philip’s music being used in Mitt Romney’s campaign in a political way that Philip would not have approved of. As far as I am concerned, Mitt Romney’s opposition to gay marriage and to civil unions for gays makes him anti-gay – which is not something that Philip would have supported. He had some wonderful gay friends, as indeed I do, and they deserve equal treatment in every respect, whether in Ireland or the United States.

“Neither would Philip have supported his policy of taxing the poor and offering tax cuts to the rich, which Paul Ryan is advocating. There is certainly no way that I would want the Lynott name to be associated with any of those ideas.”

Lynott admits there isn’t much she can do about it, although she added “There is a black President of America, which to me – as it would have been to Philip, as a proud, black Irishman – is wonderfully symbolic. I have a lot of time for Barack Obama, so to hear The Boys Are Back in Town being appropriated by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in their campaign against him is deeply upsetting.”

The newly Rastafied Snoop Dogg – Snoop Lion – backs a second term for Obama because George W Bush “fucked up for eight years”.

Snoop Dogg. Photo by Ros O'Gorman.

Rolling Stone reports from the Toronto International Film Festival, where Snoop’s Reincarnation documentary is premiering.

Snoop Lion kicked off his press conference but saying “Let me begin, Obama for four more years, man”.

“Bush fucked up for eight years,” he continued, “so, I mean, you gotta at least give [Obama] eight years. He cleaned half the shit up in four years, realistically. It ain’t like y’all gave him a clean house. Y’all gave him a house where the TV didn’t work, the toilet was stuffed up – everything was wrong with the house.”

“So he had to come in and get your thing together, then he knocked down our most hated, the most wanted [Osama Bin Laden], the one who had our terror on orange or red or whatever color it was on – he went and found him, the one Bush couldn’t seem to find, the one who seemed to fly away in the dead of night and all that.”

Reincarnation is a documentary covering Snoop Dogg’s transformation into Snoop Lion while recording and living in Jamaica. It premiered at the film festival over the weekend. It will be followed by a reggae album of the same name.

Bruce Springsteen has announced that he will once again be supporting President Barack Obama in the upcoming US election.

Bruce Springsteen - image by Ros O'Gorman

Springsteen talks about Bush’s “misguided and deceptive war in Iraq” and Obama’s acceptance of the gay and lesbian community. “For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together, Bruce said”.

Here is the statement released at brucespringsteen.com today:

Dear Friends:

The election is coming up on all of us and we all have strong feelings about it. I’ve been getting asked a lot about where I stand, so for those who are interested, here goes.

This presidential election is different than the last one because President Obama has a four year record to run on. Last time around, he carried with him a tremendous amount of hope and expectations. Unfortunately, due to the economic chaos the previous administration left him with, and the extraordinary intensity of the opposition, it turned into a really rough ride. But through grit, determination, and focus, the President has been able to do a great many things that many of us deeply support.

Domestically, that record includes working to increase and expand employment for all, protecting our all important social safety net, passing guaranteed health care for most of our citizens, with important new protections for all of the insured, rescuing the auto industry and so many of the American jobs that go with it, protecting and enhancing the rights of women, and bringing us closer to full acceptance of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

In foreign affairs, that record includes following through on the removal of troops from the misguided and deceptive war in Iraq, and vigorously pursuing our real foreign enemies, especially the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

Right now the opposition’s resort to voter suppression in so many states is not receiving as much attention as it deserves. I believe that all of us, of whatever views, should be opposing these anti-voter, anti-citizen efforts.

Right now, for the President to be effective in his next term he needs our increased support and he needs support in the Congress, where some sterling candidates, such as current Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, challenger Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, and so many others, are fighting to make their constructive voices heard.

Right now, there is an ever increasing division of wealth in this country, with the benefits going more and more to the 1 percent. For me, President Obama is our best choice to begin to reverse this harmful development.

Right now, there is a fight going on to help make this a fairer and more equitable nation. For me, President Obama is our best choice to get us and keep us moving in the right direction.

Right now, we need a President who has a vision that includes all of our citizens, not just some, whether they are our devastated poor, our pressured middle class, and yes, the wealthy too; whether they are male or female, black, white, brown, or yellow, straight or gay, civilian or military.

Right now, there is a choice going on in America, and I’m happy that we live in a country where we all participate in that process. For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together. We’re still living through very hard times but justice, equality and real freedom are not always a tide rushing in. They are more often a slow march, inch by inch, day after long day. I believe President Obama feels these days in his bones and has the strength to live them with us and to lead us to a country “…where no one crowds you and no one goes it alone.”

That’s why I plan to be in Ohio and Iowa supporting the re-election of President Obama to lead our country for the next four years.

Bruce Springsteen

It has been a decade since James Taylor released an album of original material, all the way back to 2002’s October Road.

James Taylor: Photo Ros O'Gorman

He’s decided to end that drought but he needs to concentrate on the writing and recording process so Taylor has announced that he won’t be touring in 2013.

In an interview with the Berkshire Eagle on Friday he said “I’m taking the year off, I’m not touring, I’m trying to write an album. The goal is to have the album released by the summer of 2014. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Taylor went on to talk about how difficult it is to just shut things down for that long. “It’s hard to take the year off, there are a lot of very compelling things that come up and it’s amazing how the entire calendar fills up. For three years in a row, I’ve intended to take the fall off. I have to get really serious about it, and yet offers come along from old friends and things I’d love to do, and also the opportunity to work and bring home a paycheck. It’s very hard to turn work down.”

James also discussed his admiration of Barack Obama and his opinions on the political process. To see the whole interview, go to the Berkshire Eagle.

Katy Perry urged Americans to ‘vote early’ with the help of a latex dress, designed to look like a ballot paper.

Katy Perry. image by Ros O'Gorman.

The pretty pop star wore the politics-inspired outfit to a rally-come-concert for US President Barack Obama, in Las Vegas yesterday.

In light of the upcoming elections, Perry showed her support for the current leader by performing and encouraging youngsters to vote.

‘Don’t wait. Go tomorrow. How many of you are 18 here? It’s going to be your first time, right?’ she told the 13,000-strong crowd.

The not-so-subtle dress boasted the words President of the United States across the top and a square box, filled in next to the names of Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

The box next to name of competitor Mitt Romney was left empty as the songstress performed five songs, including her smash-hit Firework.

The screen behind Perry showed images of Obama and his slogan Forward, along with pictures of volunteers and supporters.

Obama took to the stage, thanking Perry for her performance and pleading with people for their votes.

The president also enjoyed some banter with 28-year-old Perry, joking the singer’s grandmother almost got him into trouble with his wife Michelle.

‘I’ve got to know Katy and she’s a wonderful young lady,’ he gushed.

‘And I can tell that part of it is because of her outstanding grandma Anne, a 50-year resident of Nevada. The only thing I have to say is Ann got some lipstick on me when she kissed me. Fortunately somebody wiped it off before Michelle saw it. I’m telling you, you’re going to get me in trouble!’

Las Vegas was the third stop on a two-day tour, which has taken Obama to Iowa and Colorado and will see him finish up with Florida and Virginia.

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Paul McCartney posted a video yesterday with the members of his band urging his fans to vote for Barack Obama.

Paul McCartney photo by Karen Freedman

Of course, only three members of his band can actually vote in the election and Paul isn’t one of them.

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Jay-Z has become the Hurricane Sandy ‘guardian angel’ for Tribeca residents.

Jay-Z. Photo by Ros O'Gorman

The American rapper is thought to have bought a generator to power 195 Hudson St., where he and his wife Beyoncé own a $7 million property.

The hip-hop mogul is said to have sought refuge uptown after the devastating superstorm hit the east coast of America last week.

Jay-Z, Beyoncé and baby daughter Blue Ivy were spotted at the Mandarin Oriental hotel following Hurricane Sandy.

However, rumours are rife the famous father left a welcome gift back in Tribeca to help out his neighbours.

The local website TribecaCitizen.com also picked up on the talk, but when the New York Post contacted Jay-Z’s rep they responded with ‘no comment’.

Yesterday Jay-Z was joined by Bruce Springsteen as he performed at a rally for US President Barack Obama in Ohio.

The rally was in the lead up to today’s election, which sees Obama pitted against Mitt Romney.

Superstorm Sandy left devastation in its wake, killing more than 100 people and causing widespread damage to property.

American television network NBC held a benefit for victims of the hurricane, in an hour-long programme which featured stars such as Christina Aguilera and Jon Bon Jovi.

The charity concert raised a total of almost $23 million for the American Red Cross.

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Eva Longoria is among the stars to tweet her delight that Barack Obama has been re-elected as President of the United States.

Eva Longoria

The former Desperate Housewives actress has been vocal about her support for the democratic politician, who swept to victory against republican Mitt Romney yesterday.
Eva posted a picture of herself cheering with her arms aloft as she heard Obama would return for a second term as president.
“We did it!!! Obama re-elected!!!!! Yes!! Yes We Can! Barack Obama re-elected as 44th President of the USA!!!! Go @BarackObama,” she wrote.
“Me and my friends celebrating! I”m on tears! Moving the country forward!!! Obama!!! (sic).”
Many other stars used the social networking site to back Obama. Among them was Olivia Wilde, who could barely contain her excitement.
“AMERICA! You have spoken! Women! You have been heard! Young people! You proved them wrong! Tireless Obama volunteers! I THANK YOU! (sic),” she wrote.
Jessica Alba and Demi Lovato also backed the newly-elected president, with Kelly Osbourne showing her support in her own inimitable style.
“Thank God #Obama2012 has victoriously won I feel Safer now there hopefully wont be a world war III & gays can finally get married! #victory (sic(),” she wrote.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé Knowles have been open about their admiration for the president, helping raise fund for his campaign.
Beyoncé chose last night to join Instagram, posting a picture of herself in a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase ”Texans for Obama” on the photograph sharing website.
Katy Perry, Ricky Martin, Elizabeth Banks, Zoe Saldana, Chris Rock and Jennifer Hudson also posted messages of excitement on Twitter.
Lady Gaga could barely contain herself after hearing Obama had been re-elected.
“I JUST GOT OFF STAGE IN COLUMBIA!! CONGRATULATIONS MR. PRESIDENT,” she wrote. “We are so proud to be American tonight! YES!!! YES! YES!! We just couldn”t be happier my goodness, the joy when freedom prevails (sic).”

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Ted Nugent has never been shy about his far right political leanings, issuing many statements condemning the current administration.

Ted Nugent

These statements hit an all-time low on Tuesday night when Barack Obama won a second term.

Referring to Obama voters as “Pimps, whores, welfare brats & their soulless supporters” he went on to declare that the people voted for “economic and spiritual suicide.”

Here is the complete Twitter stream (all spelling and mis-typing left intact):

Dear God in heaven America vote Mitt Romney Paul Ryan Republican and save America

Vote for Obama & vote for US Constitution hating SCOTUS [Supreme Court of the United States] crazies

So Obama still demands the hardest workers provide for the nonwotkers. Shared opportunitiesmy ass

What subhuman varmint believes others must pay for their obesity booze cellphones birthcontrol abortions & lives

Goodluk America u just voted for economic & spiritual suicide. Soulless fools

So 4 SCOTUS idiots dont believe in self defense. Pure evil

I cry tears of blood for The Last Best Place & the warriors who died for this tragedy

Justin Bieber is hot on the heels of Lady Gaga, after passing the 30 million follower milestone on Twitter this weekend.

Justin Bieber

The ‘Boyfriend’ singer is the second person to reach the milestone, but is trailing Lady Gaga by just over 1 million followers.

Bieber has struggled to catch up to her on Twitter, although he has openly stated that he would like to reach the top spot. While Lady Gaga gains around 30,000 new followers a day on Twitter, according to Starcount’s social media leaderboard, Justin Bieber is gaining an average of almost 40,000 new followers daily – meaning he could be the most followed person in just a few months.

Katy Perry is in third position on Twitter, with over 28.9 million followers, while Rihanna is in fourth with 26.6 million followers. Barack Obama rounds up the top 5 with 23.2 followers, after gaining an incredible 1.4 million new followers in the last week, thanks to the US election.

Although he has managed to overtake Gaga on YouTube after she beat him to 1 billion views in 2010, Bieber trails behind on Facebook with 47.6 million fans, compared to Gaga’s 53.6 million. He is also far behind Rihanna, who is Facebook’s most popular person with over 62.4 million fans.

With speculation around his potential breakup with Disney princess girlfriend Selena Gomez, Justin was quick to thank his followers for their continuous support. The tweet, containing the hashtag #30MillionBeliebers was retweeted over 56,000 times. While it doesn’t look like ‘Bieber Fever’ will be over anytime soon, it will take him a little longer to claim the social media crown from Lady Gaga.

Top 10 People on Twitter

1. Lady Gaga (31.1m)
2. Justin Bieber (30.1m)
3. Katy Perry (28.9m)
4. Rihanna (26.6m)
5. Barack Obama (23.2m)
6. Britney Spears (21.8m)
7. Taylor Swift (20.6m)
8. Shakira (18.6m)
9. Kim Kardashian (16.6m)
10. Nicki Minaj (14.9m)

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Both Led Zeppelin and Buddy Guy were awarded America’s greatest cultural honour, the Kennedy Award at The White House in Washington on Sunday.

Led Zeppelin 2012

President Barack Obama hosted the event during which an ensemble played a string arrangement of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ to the audience dressed in formal wear, the most contradictory vision of what a 70s Led Zep audience would be like.

Led Zeppelin were introduced by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl who called the band “his teachers”.

President Bill Clinton introduced blues legend Buddy Guy calling his life “a miracle”.

TV show host David Letterman and actor Dustin Hoffman were also honoured at the ceremony.

Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin will be interviewed by David Letterman on his show tonight.

Robert Plant will also tour Australia in April for Bluesfest.

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight (December 3) and discussed Vikings, sex and their music.

Led Zeppelin 2012

Dave tried to get a description of Led Zeppelin’s music out of John Paul Jones, unsuccessfully I might add.

The three surviving members of Led Zeppelin were interviewed by Letterman after both Led Zep and Dave were honoured at The White House by President Obama on the weekend. Led Zeppelin, Letterman, Buddy Guy and Dustin Hoffman where given America’s highest cultural award, the Kennedy Honours.

The award going to Led Zeppelin was somewhat controversial considering that the band ripped off many an American blues artist on their early albums. Years later they were made to make amends with songwriting credits and royalties (check out the video below).

Watch Plant, Page and Jones with Letterman on the Late Show:

Katy Perry has joked she will ‘judge’ all parties against US President Barack Obama’s inaugural ball.

Katy Perry. image by Ros O'Gorman.

The singer attended the celebration on Monday, which officially marked the politician’s second term in power.

With the bash held at arguably the country’s most famous building, the brunette quipped no other event will match up.

‘Just left the White House. All other parties from here on out will be judged unless they take place at the White House (sic),’ she wrote on Twitter.

Katy looked happy as she cuddled up to boyfriend John Mayer to watch the ceremony.

The singer was dressed in a striped coat and sported similar sunglasses to her beau as they soaked up the atmosphere.

Over the weekend, Katy further showed her support for the president by performing at the Kids’ Inaugural Concert.

Obama’s children Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11 and his wife First Lady Michelle all sat in the front row.

Other celebrities also took to Twitter to share their joy at Obama’s big day.

Starlets Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Clarkson were talking points, thanks to their breath-taking performances of the US national anthem and patriotic song America ‘ My Country, ‘Tis of Thee respectively.

‘Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce killed it! (sic),’ Kim Kardashian enthused.

Eva Longoria was also present at the celebrations and is known for being an avid Obama supporter.

The actress had a sweet treat in store for the big day.

‘Woke up to a miniature White House carved out of white chocolate! (sic),’ she shared on Twitter, along with a picture of the creation.

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Ke$ha is looking for a ‘boyfriend or girlfriend’.

Ke$ha

The eccentric singer played a charity concert in aid of the Recording Industry Association of America and Musicians on Call yesterday.

As it coincided with US President Barack Obama’s inauguration, the 25-year-old addressed the politician as well as her love life before launching into her hit Your Love Is My Drug.

‘I’m looking for a boyfriend or a girlfriend. This next song’s about love, so I’m going to dedicate this to Mr. Barack Obama because I love him,’ she shared with the audience.

On Monday, the politician celebrated his second term as leader of the United States.

Obama has a huge celebrity following and Ke$ha is among those supporting him.

‘I really appreciate him addressing equal rights,’ she explained to the Huffington Post. ‘It’s an issue very close to my heart.’

At yesterday’s inauguration stars such as Katy Perry and Beyoncé Knowles turned up to celebrate.

First Lady Michelle Obama also made an impression in a Thom Browne coat-dress with purple gloves and Ke$ha praised the 49-year-old for her effortless style.

‘She’s beautiful. She’s so chic,’ she gushed. ‘Her outfit, the purple gloves, the bangs… She’s a very classy woman.’

Ke$ha opted for a patriotic ensemble for the concert, sporting a red, white and blue suit, adorned with stars.

Her make-up also matched the US flag, with the pretty blonde sporting blue eyeshadow and crimson lipstick.

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