Beyonce's <i>I Am... Sasha Fierce</i>
Photo: Columbia

Three mega releases hit stores last week, but of course, there's room for only one at the top of the chart. So would Beyoncé debut at #1 with her latest, I Am ... Sasha Fierce, or would Nickelback's Dark Horse ruin Thanksgiving dinner at the Knowles abode? Or would "American Idol" winner David Cook's self-titled debut outsell them both?

No one could have predicted the outcome with any certainty, but as expected, the three releases will sweep the chart's top three spots on next week's Billboard albums chart.

With just over 482,400 copies of Sasha Fierce snatched up during that album's first week in stores, Beyoncé makes it three #1's in a row, following the chart-topping successes of her previous solo efforts, 2003's Dangerously in Love (which sold 317,000 copies to open on top) and 2006's B'Day (which also entered at #1 with 541,000 scans).

Canadian rockers Nickelback were poised to score back-to-back #1 openings, but will instead have to settle for second, as Dark Horse enters the chart with with close to 326,400 sold, according to the latest sales figures releases by Nielsen SoundScan. Cook's eponymous debut lands at #3, with week-one sales clocked at almost 279,600. Only one other new release cracked the chart's Top 10, and that album belongs to Il Divo. The Promise bows at #5 with nearly 161,600 scans.

The rest of the Top 10 is teeming with some of the year's biggest albums. Last week's chart-topper, Taylor Swift's Fearless, falls three spots to #4 with around 217,000 copies scanned, and the "Twilight" soundtrack slides one place to #6, selling nearly 125,000 units. The Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 29 compilation disc follows at #7 with 115,300 sold, while the soundtrack to "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" comes in at #8, with almost 85,800 scans. Enya's Winter Came sold 83,300 copies to claim the #9 opening, and rounding things out at #10 with just under 73,000 sold its AC/DC's Black Ice.

Also new to next week's chart is Dido's latest, Safe Trip Home, which opens at #13, after selling 50,600 copies. Mudvayne's New Game, which follows at #15 with week-one sales reported at 48,300. Rapper Slim's latest, Love's Crazy, enters at #32, with sales of 26,800, while Ace Hood's Gutta follows at #36 with sales of nearly 24,700.

• Beyoncé
• Nickelback
• Taylor Swift
• David Cook
• Dido

Dido
Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Dido's debut album was called No Angel, but perhaps she should have saved that title for her third release.

In preparation for her follow-up to 2003's Life for Rent, the singer confessed recently that she's been doing a whole lot of partying.

"I have to say I spent last year just having a good time," Dido said. "I sort of traveled and partied. In a way, I just wanted something to write about."

Although touring the world several times over is enough to inspire many a songwriter, Dido isn't one of them.

"I get really stuck in a bubble on tour, and I don't want to write songs about being on it," she said. "I want to just have a life and write and feel stuff. So I'm having a life, and it's been interesting."

For added inspiration, Dido decided to have that life in Los Angeles, rather than in her native London.

"It's just nice for me because there's something about when you move to a different country and you're on your own and you feel that slight alienation," she said. "It's brilliant for writing because you feel everything and see everything."

Dido has moved into full-on writing and recording mode this year, but she said she's not far enough along to share details. She did hint that her collaborators this time will be different than her usual bunch.

"I'm being pretty experimental with who I'm working with," she said. "I'll tell you very soon. I will do some work with [my brother] Rollo [of trip-hop group Faithless], but so far I've done a lot of work with people here."

Producer Jon Brion recently told MTV News that he's been songwriting with Dido.

Life for Rent hit the Billboard albums chart at #4 (see "Dido Won't Let Success Go To Her Head Or Her Songs").

• Dido

Beyoncé, Ashlee Simpson and Chris Brown
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

Nothing says "I love you" like diamonds. But if times are a little tight (or you're only 90 percent sure you're in love), a mixtape can say almost as much.

Of course, the key is choosing the right songs. And to best serve the hopeful Romeos in our audience, we asked a hodgepodge of stars and music-business types — ranging from Ashlee Simpson and Kelly Clarkson to Paul Stanley of Kiss and J Records head Clive Davis — to help us assemble the perfect Valentine's Day mix CD. Don't miss "Date Movie" actor Eddie Griffin's very, er, scientific approach to the art at the end ...

Chris Brown "Sam Cooke, 'Cupid'! [He sings,] 'Cupid, draw back your bow/ And let your arrow go.' Just bring the old-school feel back, then let her know that you love her."

Ashlee Simpson "Sade, 'No Ordinary Love.' That's always a good one. If you're a guy, Sade always gets the girls."

Beyoncé "[Anything by] Luther Vandross. He was nice, so sweet, and he had great love songs: 'A chair is not a chair, a house is not a home.' What's the best love song I've ever written? 'Dangerously in Love.' "

Farnsworth Bentley "You gotta have [Stevie Wonder's] 'Ribbon in the Sky,' 'cause I think it's probably one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. And then you need to have something really freaky and kinky, just in case it gets too mushy. You gotta stay focused: You just put on anything by Prince where he's screaming a little bit, and that's gonna get her like right where you need her to be. It's all about the balance: Get it mushy and then just go for the freaky."

Chad Hugo of the Neptunes "[Anything by] Marvin Gaye or Al Green, or 'Moments in Love' by the Art of Noise, 'cause it's sexy, man. You gotta throw that on."

	Prince's "Diamonds and Pearls"  John Legend's "So High"  Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris"  50 Cent's "21 Questions"

Kelly Clarkson "I'm weird — I'd pick some kind of sexy song to be on it, like, 'Pink' by Aerosmith."

Jamie Foxx " 'Always and Forever' [performed by Heatwave and Luther Vandross, among others]."

Carrie Underwood "You could go, like, really cheesy and play things like 'You Are So Beautiful' [made famous by Joe Cocker]. Or if you wanted to do newer things, there are so many great love songs out there right now." [She did not elaborate.]

Bo Bice "If I made my wife a mix, it would probably start with 'I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song' by Jim Croce and 'Your Song' by Elton John and [the version of the Beatles'] 'Something' by James Taylor. That would be my mix. I like 'Love Song' because the guy kind of opens up and shares a little bit of himself and seems a little bit vulnerable. It's good when women think they're seeing that raw breakdown."

Dido "One of my favorite love songs is Whitney Houston's 'My Love Is Your Love.' It's such a great song, I've just always loved it. If I ever got married — which is far-fetched — then that would be a cool wedding song."

Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver "Anything Prince — 'Diamonds and Pearls' is good. It's very sexy stuff."

Jason Biggs (of "American Pie") " 'Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead,' I think, would be the highlight. Umm, let's see ... 'Who Let the Dogs Out?' and 'The Macarena.' ... Actually, if you gave that to your girlfriend on Valentine's Day, I hope you're planning on being dumped! If you're planning on extricating yourself from a relationship, give her a mixtape that starts with 'Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," and I'm pretty sure that you'll see yourself right to the door."

DMC of Run-DMC "Anything by Barry White, because he didn't get it twisted. Like Marvin Gaye, he was political and a lover. When you put that on, you know what time it is. I mean, that's what he was put on this earth for."

Joe Simpson (father/manager of Ashlee and Jessica) "My wife is a Barry White fan, so anything Barry White does, I'm a winner."

Anthony Hamilton "Just the sound of my baby breathing next to me, it's the best song I've ever heard in my life [laughs — Hamilton's wife was standing right next to him]. No, our wedding song was great: It's a song I wrote for my wife called 'Beautiful, Wonderful' and it's amazing. It's on the U.K. release of my album [the brand-new Ain't Nobody Worryin'], so it's definitely one of our favorite songs. And 'So High' by John Legend."

Clive Davis (Chairman and CEO, BMG North America/ founder, J Records) "When I grew up, it was Johnny Mathis."

Natasha Bedingfield "There's a song by the Goo Goo Dolls, I can't remember what it's called, [she sings] 'And I don't want the world to see me.' ['Iris'], I love that song. Maybe they can sing it to me personally or maybe I sing it to them, that would be more appropriate."

Jimmy Jam (producer for Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Jessica Simpson) "Janet Jackson's 'Anytime, Anyplace.' I was definitely thinking about that. Oh, I've got an obscure one: We did a remix for [Jackson's] 'Together Again' called 'A Deeper Remix' that was a total ballad. It's dope."

Paul Stanley of Kiss "I would go everywhere from Led Zeppelin to Tony Bennett and stop at the Beatles' 'In My Life.' It's a great song: succinct, not a lot of frills, from the heart and simple."

Kerry "Krucial" Brothers (producer for Alicia Keys, Angie Stone) "I would put the Isley Brothers' 'Voyage to Atlantis.' Just the whole vibe of it — and the ocean. It's just kind of like an imaginary place to be — paradise, old empire or whatever it was — that's unseen now."

Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire "You gotta have a little Barry White 'You're the First, the Last, My Everything,' perhaps a little Marvin Gaye and then you can top it off with a little Earth, Wind & Fire, 'After the Love Has Gone.' "

Eddie Griffin and Sophie Monk from "Date Movie"

Eddie: 50 Cent, Barry White, Jimi Hendrix, Parliament-Funkadelic. 50, most definitely, 'cuz you know females like thugs. See what I mean? You got to get your thug on. Start off aggressive, a'ight, and then Barry White, when he comes on with that voice, it gets the clothes off. You understand me? Then Jimi Hendrix: Her mind is open to receive the game that you're spitting into her subconscious. You understand me? Then P-Funk, 'cuz it's all about the coming together of the masses. If you get what I'm saying to you, holla back!

Sophie: You've done this mixtape before, haven't you?

MTV: Sophie, who would you like to have on your mixtape?

Sophie: Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas is my favorite.

Check out the feature Love Me, Love Me Not for Valentine's Day DVD picks.

Get your MTV News fresh daily as a podcast — in video or audio. Click on Mac or PC for more info.

• Beyoncé
• Ashlee Simpson
• Chris Brown
• Kelly Clarkson
• Jamie Foxx

Jennifer Lopez (file)
Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

Jennifer Lopez's pilot for "South Beach" was picked up by UPN, the network announced Thursday (May 19). The singer/actress is one of the producers of the hour-long drama, which will star Vanessa Williams and follow three young adults trying to get ahead in Miami. The show's planned as a mid-season replacement and has no airdate yet. ... Mandy Moore is wrapping up her work on the new season of "Entourage," for which she'll guest star on five episodes after the series starts up again on June 5 at 9 p.m. on HBO. "My episodes don't air until late July," the singer/actress posted on her Web site Wednesday. "The cast and crew have been so welcoming to me. I'm sad that tomorrow is my last day." ...

Irv Gotti got his wish in court Thursday (May 19), when a Brooklyn, New York, federal judge tentatively granted the Murder Inc. music mogul's request to separate his and his brother's money-laundering case from that of Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff and other defendants charged with more severe crimes, such as murder. Logistically, there are several ways the case may proceed, according to the U.S. attorney's office, from trying all the defendants together but with two juries to holding two or three separate trials. Gerald Shargel, who filed the separation motion for Irv and Chris Gotti, said he was pleased with the decision and hopes to get a separate trial for his clients. Gotti is scheduled to go to trial October 17. ...

Audioslave closed down a block of Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday to perform a free show for fans in the band's hometown. After performing "Your Time Has Come" and "Be Yourself" for "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the band returned for an eight-song set that included "Set It Off," "Your Time Has Come" again (which was recorded for a video), "Doesn't Remind Me," "Like a Stone" and "Show Me How to Live," among others. After taking on Soundgarden's "Spoonman," singer Chris Cornell told the tens of thousands of fans that packed the street, "That was for all the Audioslave fans who came to see us last time and heard nothing but new songs." After the crowd broke through a barricade during "Killing in the Name," some men came onstage and appeared to ask the band to end the show, but guitarist Tom Morello asked for one more, "Cochise." ...

Dido is releasing a live CD/DVD on June 7. Dido: Live, recorded in August over three nights at London's Brixton Academy, was shot by David Barnard, who has done DVDs for Björk and Travis. ... Michelle Branch just shot a video for Santana's "I'm Feeling You" in San Francisco, she posted on her Web site. "That was fun! No word on when you will be able to hear/see it, though," she wrote. "Rumor has it his album has been pushed back to September." In the meantime, the debut album from Branch's new band the Wreckers might be delayed as well. "Maverick wants more time to set it up, so it might come out as late as January or February 2006," she wrote. "There goes my romantic idea of not working next year." That romantic idea is due to the fact that she's due — in about 12 weeks. ...

British electronic pop duo Goldfrapp have set a September 20 Stateside release date for their third album, Supernature. The first single, "Ooh La La," will be released in August. ... Morningwood, the New York buzz band featuring former members of the Wallflowers, Cibo Matto and Spacehog, will release their self-titled debut August 2. Gil Norton, best known for his work with the Pixies and Foo Fighters, produced the album. ... Tiffany's trying for a comeback, thanks to a show named after a song by another teen queen. "Hit Me Baby One More Time" will be a one-hour battle of the bands competition program this summer featuring veteran hit-makers such as Wang Chung, Flock of Seagulls, Tommy Tutone, the Knack and the Motels each performing their greatest hit and then covering a contemporary song, while the audience votes on its favorite. The show, which will last three episodes, starts airing June 2 at 9 p.m. on NBC. ...

Bassist Jay Russell has quit Connecticut proto-emo troupe Hot Rod Circuit, according to the band's Web site. Russell reportedly wanted to focus his attention on his other band, Diamond Jay and the Rough. As a result, Hot Rod Circuit have been forced to cancel their current tour with the Get Up Kids. HRC will still show up for this summer's Warped Tour, with Rob Fitzgerald of New Jersey's Hero Pattern filling in. ... Reignition Records will release The Killer in You: A Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins on September 20. The disc will feature 11 tracks, including Poison the Well doing "Soma," Hopesfall taking on "Eye," Vaux's rendition of "1979," A Static Lullaby's "The Everlasting Gaze" and Eighteen Visions' cover of "Quiet." ...

05.18.2005

Britney Spears is beginning to decorate the baby's nursery, she wrote on her Web site. "My mom and I are going to start talking about ideas this week for the baby's room," she wrote. "She is so gifted in decorating and interior design and I'm grateful to have her help." The singer's house is still being renovated, she said, which is why she and husband Kevin Federline have been traveling so much, but her other half thinks that "everyone will work faster if we stay at the house. All the construction is really loud in the morning, but I feel he may be right," she wrote. She's also working on a "prayer and meditation" room. ...

Paris Hilton makes good use of her nearly trademark phrase "That's hot" by shilling for Carl's Jr.'s new spicy BBQ burger in a racy ad that premieres Thursday, featuring the heiress/actress sudsing up a Bentley — and herself — while wearing a swimsuit. "I'm really cold because the water's spraying, but it's pretty hot," Hilton said. "I wanted to do one of the Carl's Jr. commercials because I always think they're really clever and sexy." ... Michael Jackson's young cousins Simone and Rio Jackson took the stand on Wednesday, both claiming that they had witnessed the accuser and his brother drinking and masturbating at Neverland, with the implication being that the singer didn't need to "teach" them to do either. Rio testified that he stayed with the accuser and his brother in a guest room, and he walked in on them once watching a TV show with "naked women" while they were "doing nasty stuff." Meanwhile, Simone said that she saw the accuser and his brother take two bottles of wine out of the kitchen late one night. "They didn't see me," she said. However, the accuser's sister told Simone that "she had to go to Brazil and that she didn't want to go." Meanwhile, rebuttal video producer Christian Robinson, who called Jackson a "PR nightmare," described the accuser's mother as being excited to do the video, but refusing to sign a standard model release. ...

Dave Matthews loves helping the environment. Dave Matthews' fans love having the munchies. As a result, Matthews has teamed up with Vermont ice-cream team Ben & Jerry and SaveOurEnvironment.org to create the Enviro-Roadie talent search. They're looking for an 18- to 25-year-old who will serve as the "official ambassador" for the DMB, Ben & Jerry's and Save Our Environment, and will hit the road with the band to host an exhibit designed to educate people on the issue of global warming. And of course, he or she will also hand out samples of Ben & Jerry's new flavor — Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies. For more information about the contest, check out BenJerry.com. ... Elvis Costello performed Tuesday night at an event at New York's Chelsea Piers, sponsored by environmental organization Riverkeeper, to honor Viacom's Tom Freston for his help in protecting and restoring the Hudson River, which is drinkable but not quite as swimmable as some celebs would like. (Click here for photos.) "I hear that they're getting close to it, but cold water. That's my excuse [for not swimming in it], cold water," model Christy Turlington laughed. Other stars who showed up at the gala included Uma Thurman, Jon Bon Jovi, "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels, Alison Krauss and Cedric the Entertainer, who was happy to chat about his voiceover work in "Madagascar" and "Charlotte's Web." "Animated movies are a lot of fun, mainly because you get to do something for the kids, and the kids watch movies a million times, so you kind of go down in infamy like that," he said. ...

With her tour in support of Feels Like Home recently wrapped, Norah Jones is back to writing songs for her third album. According to a post on Jones' Web site by her band's bassist, Lee Alexander, the mellow singer has already been "writing her behind off," though they haven't decided when they'll enter the studio to record the next album. ... The All-American Rejects, Rise Against and Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory will all be spending part of their summer at band camp, literally. They are among a slew of celebrity guests who will be featured as part of Power Chord Academy's Summer Rock N Roll youth camp, which provides training and advice to aspiring musicians. Sessions will be held in San Diego (June 16-July 23), Chicago (July 10-23) and New York (July 24-August 6). ...

Bob Saget, the tall, lanky dad from television's "Full House," is trying his pimp hand at the rap game. The MySpace.com page of California's the Stone Movement — a self-described jam-rock/hip-hop hybrid featuring frontman Stu Stone and comedian Jamie Kennedy — features a track called "Rollin' With Saget," on which the affable goofball not only curses (much like his character did in the film "Half Baked"), but ... um ... raps. The song, about an evening on the town with the Sag, makes references to Bob rolling blunts, hooking up with girlies in the VIP, stepping to Eminem and DMX and using guns. In one verse, Saget even boasts about the size of his junk. ... On June 17, former Dead Kennedys leader Jello Biafra will square off against the MC5's Wayne Kramer in the latest "Iron Chef"-inspired "Iron Composer" contest, the monthly songwriting competition that pits two musicians against each other on the stage of the Experience Music Project's Songwriting Stadium in Seattle. An audience watches as the two race to write a song on the spot; battlers get one instrument, a pencil and paper and a single member of the house band to collaborate with on the impromptu tune. Oh, and each composer must down a shot of booze during each of the five nine-minute segments. One of the judges for the next competition will be actor Dean Haglund (one of the Lone Gunmen from "The X-Files"). Among the previous competitors are members of Harvey Danger, the Presidents of the United States of America, the Fastbacks and the Supersuckers. ...

The Offspring are headlining the opening weekend of the inaugural Dew Action Sports Tour, a season-long professional tour in action sports (skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross). The band — which is also donating its next single, "Can't Repeat" (from its upcoming greatest-hits album), as the tour's theme song — will be sharing a stage with Crossfade, Acceptance and the Exies on June 10 and 11 at the Panasonic Open in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Dave Ogilvie, the legendary producer who's had a hand in some of industrial music's biggest releases, has started his own band, to be called Jakalope. Ogilvie, who produced Skinny Puppy's Last Rights and Marilyn Manson's Anti-Christ Superstar, said the band's upcoming album, It Dreams, will feature poppy industrial tracks. Ogilvie even tapped Trent Reznor to write a few songs for Jakalope's debut, which has no release date yet. ...

• Jennifer Lopez
• Mandy Moore
• Irv Gotti
• Audioslave
• Dido

He'll still be in the house, but 50 Cent will not be performing at Sunday night's Grammy Awards. He had been announced as a performer several weeks ago. … One of 50's bodyguards has been charged in a shooting that occurred outside a Jersey City, New Jersey, hotel in September. Shots were fired outside the hotel's lobby in what was initially believed to be a gunfight involving the rapper. But Hudson County prosecutors say that so far the evidence they have implicates only one gunman, William Floyd, who fired warning shots in the air. He's being charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon with unlawful intent. ...

Following guitarist Terry Balsamo's defection to Evanescence, Cold have tapped Eddie Rendini, formerly of Darwin's Waiting Room, as his replacement. The band plans to begin work on its fourth album later this year. ... Linkin Park canceled Friday's (February 6) concert with P.O.D. and Hoobastank in Inglewood, California, after singer Chester Bennington was diagnosed with bronchitis and acute laryngitis and was advised by his doctor not to perform. The show has been rescheduled for March 15. Tuesday's show in West Valley City, Utah, is still on. ...

Hilary Duff, Ashanti, Usher, Will Smith and Fefe Dobson will join pro hoopsters LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and others for the NBA's "Read to Achieve" special. The one-hour program will premiere February 14 at noon ET and will be simulcast on ABC, TNT, BET, Nick GAS, and NBA TV, as well as several online outlets. ... Missy Elliott has signed on to be one of the new spokespeople for M.A.C. cosmetics. For the company's upcoming Viva Glam campaign, Elliott joins Christina Aguilera, actress Chloë Sevigny, supermodel Linda Evangelista and pop icon Boy George. All proceeds from the cosmetic line's Viva Glam V pink lipstick and lip gloss go to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund, which raises money for people living with HIV and AIDS. ...

First comes Love, then comes marriage, or so Courtney Love figures, as she's offering to perform a marriage ceremony for a lucky radio contest winner. Fourteen alternative rock stations throughout the country are participating, including WHFS-FM in Washington, D.C., and K-ROCK (WXRK-FM) in New York, according to the singer's Web site. ... The first two artists from crunkmaster Lil Jon's new record label, Black Market Entertainment, are joining forces for the label's first album release. The LP, due February 24, has the unwieldy title The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present Trillville & Lil Scrappy. ...

A year after Esquire printed a story about the Flaming Lips, in which Beck was called "a di--," the musician has responded with a sarcastic letter to the magazine. The letter, printed in the February issue, states, "Your insights really brought to light the depths of my character and showed all the world who I truly am. ... I have been given cause to reflect on what may be important in my life and what may be irrelevant. Like last week, when, during my shopping spree at Louis Vuitton, I started thinking about how cool it was when I was broke and drove that old Chevy with the brakes that didn't work and had no money for food. ... I am really going to turn things around and do something meaningful with my life now, like publish a magazine with Britney Spears' butt on the cover. That would probably be 'keeping it real' and leaving something noble behind for posterity. ... Thanks, Esquire, for changing my life for the better." ...

The remixes are in for Madonna's next single, "Love Profusion." The maxi single, out in March, will include six remixes, including a bonus mix of "Nothing Fails" by Peter Rauhofer, who has also left his touch on Madge's most recent entries — her collabo with Britney, "Me Against the Music," "American Life," and her Gap commercial jingle with Missy Elliott, "Get Into the Hollywood Groove." ... Dido helped shut down a white power Web site after learning it was using two of her songs to promote its hateful messages. Owners of the site had misinterpreted the tracks "White Flag" and "This Land Is Mine" as racist and thought they represented their views. When she discovered this, Dido contacted her label, which called the British Photographic Industry. The site was then closed down. Dido is currently working on material for her next album. ...

The Chemical Brothers, Paul Oakenfold, Paul van Dyk, Sasha and John Digweed are headlining the sixth annual Ultra Music Festival, scheduled for March 6 at Bayfront Park in Miami. Perry Farrell, Goldie, Tiesto, Erick Morillo and Richie Hawtin are also among the big names DJing, while the Rapture, Junkie XL and Miss Kittin are among several acts performing live sets. ... Billy Talent singer Ben Kowalewicz is likely to look twice before tossing another broken mic stand with wild abandon. After he did just that at a show Tuesday in Edmonton, Alberta, while performing the single "Try Honesty," the stand conked drummer Aaron Solowoniuk in the head, leaving him unconscious and in need of 18 stitches. The show was stopped and Solowoniuk was taken to a hospital. Billy Talent's two-week trek with MxPx and Simple Plan, beginning February 13 in St. Petersburg, Florida, has not been affected by the accident. ...

After being photographed by a British newspaper walking along a train track in Cornwall, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has been questioned by British Transport police for trespassing on a railway line. Gallagher admitted breaking the law and officials are deciding whether or not to prosecute. Oasis are currently in Cornwall working on their next studio album. ... The parent company of record chain Tower Records will likely file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, reported the San Diego Union Tribune. The move would involve a debt-for-equity trade in which the current owners of the company, the Solomon family, would give up the chain to the company's bondholders, Reuters reported. ...

02.05.2004

Britney Spears is in the throes of boot-camp-like rehearsals in Los Angeles for her upcoming tour, but she's also keeping an eye on future movie projects. Besides recently signing on to star in and produce "Door to Door," the singer initiated a meeting last week with the producer of the James Bond film franchise, Barbara Broccoli, about the possibility of appearing as a Bond girl in the next installment. A rep for MGM described the meeting as "very cursory" since there is yet no treatment, no script and, consequently, no roles set for Bond 21, production for which is scheduled to start in London in January 2005. ...

Following her breast-baring performance at Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show, Janet Jackson will not be attending this weekend's Grammy Awards. Janet had been scheduled to present a special Grammy to Luther Vandross, who has been recuperating from a stroke for the past 10 months. ... R. Kelly got a breather in the case against him in Polk County, Florida, as a judge on Thursday (February 5) granted a continuance to address the defense's request to throw out digital pictures of a nude underage girl found at his Florida residence in his child-pornography trial in that state (he's also facing trial in Illinois on the same charge). The new court date to deal with the suppression of evidence is March 11. ...

P. Diddy, Nelly, Sean Paul, Nick Cannon, Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton and Nick Carter are among the stars slated for the NBA's All-Star Celebrity Game, set for February 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Viewers at home hoping to catch the action, or at least see what Hilton will be wearing while serving as an assistant coach, can watch the game live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. ... The Roots will celebrate their Grammy nomination (for Best Rap Album) this weekend in Los Angeles with a secret jam-session show that's expected to attract a host of other musicians, including Norah Jones, John Mayer and Outkast's Andre 3000. ...

Scott Weiland got a start date of February 18 for his DUI trial at a hearing Thursday (February 5) in Los Angeles. His attorney and doctor, meanwhile, released statements that the singer had not changed rehab facilities in the last month in defiance of the court order, but rather at the suggestion of his recovery counselors. "We were under the impression that Scott's move was not against the court's wishes," his attorney Michael Nasatir said. Weiland's primary recovery specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky, said that the rehab move to a non-lockdown facility was made after detox to help Weiland "get back to the basics of sobriety while he pursued other treatment, which is a long treatment ... but that does not require a hospital." The joint statements also claimed that Weiland was addressing mental-health issues that "have an organic neuropsychological basis and are pharmacologically treatable." Weiland's rep could not elaborate on what the singer's mental-health issues are. ...

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor is in Los Angeles writing songs for his next record, the follow-up to his 1999 double album, The Fragile. Veteran producer Rick Rubin will likely work with Reznor on the record. No release date has been scheduled. ... Authorities in California have put the kibosh on Beck's plans to give his pet rabbit, Rocket, to the lucky winner of an essay contest. Turns out awarding certain animals to contest winners is a violation of a state penal code. So the iconoclastic artist has decided to put Rocket up for adoption at an animal shelter run by the Pasadena Humane Society. That probably means an end to the rodent's acting career — his last role was as a rabbit in Beck's Sea Change DVD. ... Ryan Adams is home recovering from surgery to repair his left wrist, which he broke in Liverpool, England, after falling off the stage during a show. Doctors have placed his arm in a cast and expect it to take between six weeks and two months for the bones to heal. Even then, it's likely that Adams will only gain 80 percent of the mobility in his wrist. It is unknown how the injury will affect his guitar-playing in the future. ...

A 32-year-old club promoter was forced to listen to two and a half hours of opera music last week in Florida as punishment for playing 50 Cent's music too loud. Michael Carreras was ticketed for violating Miami Beach's noise-ordinance law and was given an option by the police officer: Pay a $500 fine or listen to opera. He chose the latter and visited Judge Jeffrey Swartz's chambers to serve out his punishment. The selection? "La Traviata." ... The Beastie Boys are nearly finished with their first album in six years. The as-yet-untitled follow-up to 1998's Hello Nasty is in the mixing stage and is expected to drop this summer. ...

Jeff Tweedy is set to publish his first book, "Adult Head." The lyricist for Uncle Tupelo and Wilco has collected a series of poems for Zoo Press' first run of its Nightingale Editions series, due out in March. A sample, from "Singing Combat": "I believe your sorrow was sunshine/ Murdered for longing, your broken package/ A crushed open can of a pure bug's beauty/ Crawling up lip and lash on your face/ Before afternoon smiled for climbed stairs/ All because your laugh suggested combat." ... Ben Kweller's third solo album, On My Way, will hit shelves April 6. The LP, which was produced by Ethan Johns, will feature the songs "I Need You Back," "The Rules" and "Here Me Out." Kweller will tour with Death Cab for Cutie starting March 24 in Omaha, Nebraska. Dates are scheduled through May 15 in Anaheim, California. ...

Master P appeared in federal court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Thursday to plead guilty to failing to file a corporate tax return seven years ago for his company Bout It Incorporated, the Associated Press reports. P, born Percy Miller, could receive a combination of probation and fines at his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been set. On Thursday morning a man unsuccessfully attempted to serve the rapper with papers relating to another matter, going so far as trying to block him from passing through the courthouse's metal detector. ...

Recording just one album would be too easy for Robert Pollard. The Guided by Voices frontman has tracked 15 songs for his band's next album, the follow-up to last year's Earthquake Glue, while also working on his next solo album, Fiction Man. Matador is expected to release the GBV LP this summer, while the solo effort is in line for Pollard's Fading Captain series, due next month. Meanwhile, seven shows that were recently postponed after Pollard hurt his back have been rescheduled to begin March 5. ... Stereolab have announced a batch of U.S. tour dates in support of their new album, Margerine Eclipse. It will be the band's first Stateside visit since the death of keyboardist Mary Hansen. The trek will kick off March 28 in Costa Mesa, California, and wind down April 20 in Washington, D.C. ...

Swedish garage rockers the Division of Laura Lee will follow their 2002 debut, Black City, with Das Not Compute on May 11. The LP, recorded in their native country with Kalle Gustafsson and Don Alstherberg, includes the songs "Sneaking Up on Mr. Prez," "We Are Numbers" and "There Is a Last Time for Everything." ... A series of underground pop and garage music compilations along the lines of the much-touted Nuggets collections will be released through Rhinohandmade.com. The first pair of releases, Come to the Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets From the WEA Vaults and Hallucinations: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults, came out Tuesday, and editions devoted to folk rock and garage rock will be released later this year. There are only 7,500 copies of each edition available. ...

• 50 Cent
• Cold
• Hilary Duff
• Usher
• Missy Elliott

Ludacris
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

After displaying oversized turntables, an enormous beer bottle and a huge sneaker in the video for "Stand Up," Ludacris has a big chart debut to complement the picture.

First-week sales of more than 429,000 will catapult Ludacris' Chicken-N-Beer to the top of the Billboard albums chart, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday (October 15). The Southern MC's popularity seems to be growing along with his afro, since his last album, Word of Mouf, sold around 281,000 copies to debut at #3 when it was released in late 2001.

Meanwhile, Elvis Presley's 2nd to None, the second such set to surface in a little more than a year, comes in at #3 with more than 181,000 copies sold — a relatively poor showing compared with the half-million copies that 30 #1 Hits debuted with in September 2002. Presley's haul places it just behind former chart champ Outkast's Speakerboxxx / The Love Below, which sold more than 187,000 copies to drop to #2. Andre and Big Boi's three-week total stands just 67,000 copies shy of a cool million.

No changes in the fourth and fifth spots, as Dido's Life for Rent holds at #4 with 109,000 copies sold, and Dave Matthews' Some Devil remains at #5 after a more than 102,000-copy weekly pull.

Though Hilary Duff suffered a 12 percent drop in sales, her Metamorphosis moves forward three places to come in at #9. Meanwhile, Limp Bizkit and country singer Martina McBride forfeit their places in the top 10, with Bizkit's Results May Vary falling six to #11 with more than 77,000 copies sold in its third week. McBride's Martina plunges from #7 to #25 with 42,000 copies sold, a 65 percent dip.

The rest of the top 10 finds Sting's Sacred Love dropping three places to #6 (94,000) in its second week; Bad Boy's Da Band's Too Hot for T.V. falling from #2 to #7 (82,000); R. Kelly's The R. in R&B Collection - Volume 1 holding at #8 (81,000); and Nickelback's Long Road taking a step back to #10 (78,000).

Sevendust's fourth album, Seasons, sold more than 67,000 copies last week to debut at #14, just behind Totally Hits 2003, which boasts cuts from Justin Timberlake, Sean Paul, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

And just behind Sevendust is the late Tupac, who's newest posthumous set, Nu-Mixx Klazzics, features 10 previously released tunes remixed by Suge Knight and his Tha Row Hitters. The album sold more than 66,000 copies to perch at #15.

Nü-metalheads Static-X's third album, Shadow Zone, bows at #20. Backed by the single "The Only," the band's follow-up to 2001's Machine sold more than 48,000 copies.

Other notable debuts include the double album MTV2 Headbangers Ball, featuring cuts from Godsmack, Lamb of God, Mudvayne and others, at #34; Primus' greatest-hits EP/DVD Animals Should Not Act Like People at #44; singer/songwriter Howie Day's second album, Stop All the World Now, at #46; Wu-Tang mastermind RZA's Birth of a Prince at #49; prog-metal band Coheed and Cambria's second album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, at #52; garage-rockers Jet's Get Born at #79; twee collective Belle & Sebastian's Dear Catastrophe Waitress at #84; melancholy rockers Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism at #97; the RZA-spiked soundtrack to "Kill Bill" at #115; and jammers Gov't Mule's Deepest End at #153.

• Ludacris
• OutKast
• Elvis Presley
• Dido
• Hilary Duff

Outkast
Photo: Arista

Deuces are wild for Outkast. The duo's new double album will top the Billboard albums chart for the second week in a row.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below sold more than 234,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan, to retain its #1 status. The seven-day sum is just less than half the amount the Atlanta artists' fifth album moved the week before.

The last album to spend back-to-back weeks on top was the "Bad Boys II" soundtrack. Propelled by the P. Diddy/ Nelly/ Murphy Lee collaboration, "Shake Ya Tailfeather," the LP perched above all others for four consecutive weeks in August.

Speaking of Bad Boys, Babs, Ness, the reality TV ham formerly known as Chopper (now called Young City) and the rest of Bad Boy's Da Band will place second with their debut, Too Hot for TV. On the heels of the single "Bad Boy This, Bad Boy That," the "Making the Band II" rendering sold more than 203,000 copies.

The heavenly sounds of Sting and Dido will assume the #3 and #4 positions, respectively. Sacred Love, by the former Police frontman, sold more than 194,000, while British chanteuse Dido prolonged the buzz generated by Eminem's use of her "Thank You" on his "Stan" to sell more than 191,000 copies of her second album, Life for Rent.

As a testament to the staying power of the big albums that appeared on the previous chart, six of the seven LPs that debuted in last week's top 10 will remain there. Last week's first runner-up, Dave Matthews' first solo album, Some Devil, will fall three spots to #5 (more than 154,000 copies sold); Limp Bizkit's Results May Vary will dip equidistantly to #6 (126,000); R. Kelly's best-of set, The R. in R&B Collection Vol. 1, will slip four places to #8 (117,000); Nickelback's fourth album, The Long Road, will slide three spots to #9 (102,000); and Obie Trice can continue raising his glass to Cheers, which will fall by five to #10 (96,000).

Murphy Lee's Murphy's Law, the only album that couldn't sustain top-10 placement, will drop 12 spots to #20.

Country superstar Martina McBride's sixth album, Martina, will round out next week's top 10 at #7 by selling more than 122,000 copies in its first week.

Notable debuts on next week's chart include Latin metalheads Ill Nino's second album, Confession, at #37; quirky country crooner Lyle Lovett's first studio album in five years, My Baby Don't Tolerate, at #63; the retrospective by electronica pioneers the Chemical Brothers, Singles 1993-03, at #123; and the soundtrack to the Jack Black flick "School of Rock," featuring contributions from the Who, Cream, Led Zeppelin and the Ramones, at #166.

• OutKast
• Diddy
• Nelly
• Murphy Lee
• Sting

Michelle Branch at Boston's MixFest on Friday

BOSTON — Fans filled the FleetCenter Friday night to see Vertical Horizon, Jason Mraz, Michelle Branch, Dido, Tori Amos, Train and the Barenaked Ladies, but people actually fled the venue to avoid seeing Duran Duran.

With only six hours for eight artists to perform at WBMX-FM's 10th annual MixFest, the evening was strictly a hits-and-only-the-hits affair, with some artists playing fewer than five songs.

Michelle Branch took the stage early in support of her latest album, Hotel Paper, clad simply in jeans, a sleeveless white T-shirt and Chuck Taylors. Charging through a brisk set of hits, the 20-year-old girl-wonder seemed most at home with an acoustic guitar in hand, belting out pitch-perfect versions of "Everywhere" and "Goodbye to You."

But when liberated from her instrument for "Love Me Like That," "Breathe" and current hit "Are You Happy Now?," Branch's stage presence — which consisted primarily of aimlessly wandering the stage — felt uncomfortably green, especially when compared to the frenzied ants-in-her-pants gyrations of Tori Amos or the pristine control of Dido.

At her first live show in several months, Dido showed that less is more in a stripped-down, five-song set accompanied solely by a lone acoustic guitarist. The sugar-voiced chanteuse — wearing jeans, simple gold jewelry and her dark blonde hair pulled back in a spray — leaned against a small wooden stool and beamed at the hushed audience as she chimed out immaculate renditions of the hits "White Flag" and "Thank You" as well as the title track from her new Life for Rent.

Jason Mraz looked less like the Hugh Grant-ish photo from the back of his Waiting for My Rocket to Come and more like Jimmy Buffet as he took the stage wearing a slouch hat pulled down over his eyes and a flowered lei that had been tossed onstage by a fan. For 20 minutes he and his band churned out a soulful set of tunes including "The Remedy" as well as a quirky reggaed-up version of Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," during which Mraz's swooping tenor hit high notes unheard on his record.

Mraz wasn't the only one to embrace cover songs. Train blasted out a searing rendition of Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On," and Tori Amos howled through haunting versions of the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun," Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" and Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Amos further pushed the creepy envelope when her playing became so frenzied that she could be seen on the FleetCenter's giant video screen drooling onto her grand piano.

Finally it was time for the reunited original lineup of Duran Duran — a moment that most of the night's artists seemed to be looking forward to. The Barenaked Ladies did an impromptu rap about their love of Duran Duran, Dido admitted she had seen them at least 10 times, and even Michelle Branch, whose birth date falls a few years after the double-D's first flush of fame, said she was "psyched." It quickly became apparent, however, that the artists were far more excited than the audience.

Well coiffed and in immaculate black suits, Duran Duran looked sharp as ever, but their age was definitely showing, despite attempts to hide it with makeup and hair dye. So it felt a bit wrong when singer Simon LeBon opened their set by belting out the lyrics to the band's 1984 hit "Wild Boys" — lines like "Wild Boys never lose it/ Wild Boys always shine!"

There for the novelty and not much more, a good third of the crowd streamed out of the venue during the first half of the band's set, so when the Durans finally slipped into gear on "Ordinary World," which they dedicated to the recently deceased Robert Palmer, only hardcore fans were left to watch Duran Duran nail "Notorious," "Careless Memories" and "Rio" as well as their own cover, a hard rocking rendition of Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines."

"Wild boys fallen far from glory ..."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Jason Mraz
• Michelle Branch
• Duran Duran
• Dido
• Tori Amos

If you thought all Bad Boy's Da Band did was choke each other on national television, think again. The kids from "Making the Band 2" got an album out of their time together as well. Too Hot for TV features the six scrappers from the series as well as guest star Wyclef Jean and da man behind Da Band, P. Diddy.

We've all heard about Sting's Sacred Love, but this time we're talking about his new album. Mary J. Blige joins him on the ballad "Whenever I Say Your Name," and Sting addresses the war in Iraq on "This War." Also out this week is airy Brit-pop singer Dido's Life for Rent, featuring the first single "White Flag" and "The Eyes of Alice Cooper," on which the rocker finally gives his famous eyeliner-smeared peepers their due.

Paul Oakenfold releases a mix CD — a two-disc set that remixes Madonna and Björk, among others. And Kelly Osbourne gets a bit of a remix herself as her debut album, Shut Up, is rechristened Changes. The disc features five new tracks, including a cover of Black Sabbath's "Changes" co-sung by her famous dad, Ozzy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale features music by Michelle Branch, Blur and Joey Ramone, plus the Dandy Warhols on the show's theme song. Elsewhere in soundtrack land, the Jack Black movie "School of Rock" is set to classic rock tunes by the Who, the Doors, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, the Ramones and, of course, the School of Rock itself.

Finally, "Beef": it's what's on shelves this week. The DVD features 50 Cent, DMX, Ja Rule and other feuding rappers doing what they do best.

Out Tuesday, September 30:

• 22-20s - 0503 (EP, Astralwerks)
• Gary Allan - See If I Care (MCA Nashville)
• Bad Boy's Da Band - Too Hot for TV (Bad Boy)
• Richard Bona - Munia (The Tale) (Verve)
• Chris Botti - A Thousand Kisses Deep (Columbia)
• The Chemical Brothers - Singles 93-03 (Astralwerks)
  Buy Now: Singles 93-03 (Astralwerks)
  
• Alice Cooper - The Eyes Of (Spitfire)
• Billy Currington - Billy Currington (Mercury Nashville)
• Daúde - Neguinha, Te Amo (Real World)
• Neil Diamond - Stages (Sony)
• Dido - Life for Rent (Arista)
  Read: "Dido Won't Let Success Go To Her Head Or Her Songs"
  Buy Now: Life for Rent (Arista)
  
• Lila Downs - La Sandunga (Narada World)
• Dufus - 1:3:1 (ROIR)
• Enigma - Voyageur (Virgin)
• The Federation - The Federation (Virgin)
• Fragma - Embrace (Water Music)
• Paula Frazer - A Place Where I Know (Birdman)
• Grand Champeen - The One That Brought You (Glurp)
• Merle Haggard - Haggard Like Never Before (Compendia)
• Ill Niño - Confession (Roadrunner)
• Jethro Tull - Christmas Album (Fuel 2000)
• Kin Za Za - Number One in Shambala (Narada)
• KJ-52 - It's Pronounced Five Two (UpRok)
• Lo-Pro - Lo-Pro (413/Geffen)
• Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate (Lost Highway)
• Maria - My Soul (DreamWorks)
• Kathy Mattea - Joy for Christmas Day (Narada/Virgin)
• Martina McBride - Martina (RCA)
• Bette Midler - Bette Sings Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Songbook (Columbia)
• Leslie Mills - Different for Girls (Atlantic)
• Airto Moreira - Life After That (Narada Jazz)
• Geoff Muldaur's Futuristic Ensemble - Private Astronomy — A Vision of the Music of Bix Beiderbecke (edge)
• The Network - Money Money 2020 (Adeline)
• Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Presents: Great Wall (Sire)
• Oranger - Shutdown the Sun (Jackpine Social Club)
• Kelly Osbourne - Changes (Sanctuary)
  Read: "Kelly Osbourne's Going Through Changes"
  Buy Now: Changes (Sanctuary)
  
• The Red West - The Red West (Atlantic)
• Martin Rev - To Live (File 13)
• Shikari - Dead Men (EP, Level Plane)
• Sting - Sacred Love (A&M)
  Buy Now: Sacred Love (A&M)
  
• Strike Anywhere - Exit English (Jade Tree)
• Donna Summer - The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer (UTV)
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Phenomenon (Tooth & Nail)
• Throttlerod - Hell and High Water (Small Stone)
• Tyrades - The Tyrades (Broken Rekids)
• Vexers - Gangland Ballads and the Death Sex Set (Ace Fu)
• Various artists - Blues Story (Shout! Factory)
• Various artists - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale (Virgin)
• Various artists - Johnny Cash — Artist's Choice: Music That Matters to Him (Columbia/Legacy)
• Various artists - "Horatio's Drive" soundtrack (Columbia/Legacy)
• Various artists - "Journey of Lewis and Clark: Journey of Corps of Discovery" soundtrack (Sony)
• Various artists - Lion King Special Edition (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - Livin,' Lovin,' Losin,: The Songs of the Louvin Brothers (Universal South)
• Various artists - "School of Rock" soundtrack (Atlantic)
• Various artists - "SSX 3" soundtrack (Astralwerks)
• DVD: All-American Rejects - Live From Oklahoma: The Too Bad for Hell DVD! (DreamWorks)
• DVD: Various artists - "Beef" (Image Entertainment)

October 7:

• Jin - Almost Famous (Virgin)
  Read: "Ruff Ryders' New Dog: Jin"
  
• Belle and Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress (Sanctuary)
• Ludacris - Chicken and Beer (Def Jam)
  Read: "Ludacris Reveals Release Date Of Chicken & Beer, Picks Party Single"
  
• Macho Man Randy Savage - Be a Man (Big 3)
  Read: "'Macho Man' Savage Cuts Rap LP, Tells Hulk Hogan To Be A Man"
  

October 14:

• Mariah Carey - Remixes (Sony)
• Clay Aiken - Measure of a Man (RCA)
• Raphael Saadiq - All Hits at the House of Blues (Pookie)

October 21:

• Barenaked Ladies - Everything to Everyone (Warner Bros.)
• Mandy Moore - Coverage (Sony)
• Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Streetcore (Epitaph)
• Yo La Tengo - Today Is the Day (EP, Matador)

October 28:

• R.E.M - In Time: The Best of R.E.M 1998 — 2003 (Warner Bros.)
• The Strokes -Room on Fire (RCA)
  Read:
  
• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog - Come Poop With Me (Warner Bros.)

November 4:

• Wyclef Jean - The Preacher's Son (J Records)
  Read: "Wyclef Jean Nabs 'All-Ghetto Cast' — Including Tom Jones — For Album"
  
• Stone Temple Pilots - Thank You (Atlantic)
• P.O.D - Payable on Death (Atlantic)
  Read: "P.O.D. Sound So Alive With New Guitarist, New Single"

November 11:

• Pink - Try This (Arista)
  Read: "Pink Didn't Have To Try Too Hard To Make Try This"
• Ruben Studdard - Soulful (J Records)
  Read: "R. Kelly, Missy Elliott Working On Ruben Studdard's Soulful Debut"

November 18:

• Blink-182 - Blink-182 (Universal)
  Read: "Blink-182 Tone Down Pranks, Get Down To Real 'Action' On Next LP"
• Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (Virgin)
  Read: " 'A Lot Of God And A Lot Of Sex' On Courtney Love Solo Album"

November 28:

• Jay-Z - The Black Album (Roc-a-Fella)
  Read: "Jay-Z Strays From His Blueprint For Black Album"

• Bad Boy's Da' Band
• Dido
• Sting
• Kelly Osbourne
• Paul Oakenfold

Dido
Photo: Arista

When Dido finally finished touring behind her slow-building debut album last March, she returned to the studio where she'd recorded No Angel only to find it had been torn down. It had been that long.

"When I made No Angel I was in my early 20s, and now I'm 30," Dido mused last week from her London home. "I'm a completely different person. My world has changed."

Her next album, which is more than half-finished, will reflect that, she said.

"The songs are definitely deeper. I've had quite a bit of mad experiences in the last few years. But it's the same soundwise, in that I'm writing songs on the piano and guitar and producing them the way I want to listen to, with beats that excite me."

Dido is recording the album at Church Studios (her second choice was also knocked down) with older brother Rollo and some of the musicians and songwriters associated with his Faithless collective. Although she's contributed to material by Eminem, Britney Spears and Santana since her last album (see "Musiq, More Added To Final Santana Track List"), Dido doesn't have plans for any big-name collaborations on her second release.

"There was a lot of magic around the first record, so obviously I want to work with those people first, because it's fun and it's family," she said. "At the moment it's even a smaller group of people than the first album. I'm working with a guy who was an assistant in the studio on the first album, and it turns out he's a hip-hop genius. He's called Peanut. He's amazing and I've written a lot of stuff with him."

Dido's new material ranges from "classic relationship songs," similar to No Angel, to "stuff about life and philosophy." Though her success after Eminem sampled "Thank You" in 2000's "Stan" has changed her life, the success itself won't be a song topic.

"I still write about personal moments that will be relateable to other people," she explained in her thick accent. "I still live an incredibly normal life. I've really fought for it. I do everything on my own. ... One of the things I love doing is walking around London and going to the pub and football match. I don't want to write about being famous and making money. Who's going to relate to it, apart from me and 136 other people?"

Dido plans on finishing the album by early summer for a fall release. That is, if she can decide on a title.

"I do think about that day and night," she said, laughing. "It's sort of like every 10 minutes. And they're getting more and more ridiculous."

Dido, who penned "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" for Britney Spears ("It was an interesting challenge, and I think she's a sweet girl") is anxious to hit the road when she's finished recording, although she also plans to continue writing for other artists.

She considers The Eminem Show genius, but she hasn't talked to the rapper in months. "If I was in the same building at the same time, I would say hello," she said. "But we're not pen pals."

• Dido

Madonna, Snoop, U2, Coldplay, Mariah, Velvet Revolver: Live 8 London

• U2
• Coldplay
• Paul McCartney
• Elton John
• Stereophonics

Dido Flipbook

• Dido