When Apple used her quirky 1234 in an ad, Feist's popularity soared. Now she's ready to go  deeper, she tells James McNair

When Apple used her quirky 1234 for an ad campaign, Feist's popularity soared. But now she’s ready to go a little deeper, she tells James McNair

Time was when a rock star wasn't an authentic rock star unless he or she drove a pink Cadillac into a hotel swimming pool, or appeared on stage in a foul-mouthed, drunken mess or, at the very least, insisted on a rider that every pack of Smarties in the dressing room had the blue ones removed.

When former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger performed a solo show in London last week, possibly even more surprising than her managing to fill the Hammersmith Apollo was the discovery that her fans have their own name: Killer Lovers (a play on the title of her album, Killer Love).

Flamenco singer-dancer La Shica performs a traditional Sevillanas, moving with courtly seriousness. Then she and her band add a bassline, teasing rhythms and shapes. She turns to the audience, with beaming delight: “Now you understand why some purists in my country think I am Satan’s daughter!” 

Whitney Houston, who has died at the age of 48, was a dazzling performer who blazed a trail for a new generation of black female singers, from Beyoncé Knowles to Mary J Blige.

After seven years with a no-host format, the Grammys will have an emcee — LL Cool J.

A first new album in three years by this most steamingly righteous babe.

As sharp-tongued comedian Ricky Gervais is invited back to present the Golden Globes for the third time this Sunday, we take a look at other shocking gong-giving occasions

The "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin has announced her engagement to her long-time friend William "Willie" Wilkerson, whom she is to marry this summer on a beach in Miami.

Plan B was crowned king of the Ivor Novello Awards last night after picking up three honours, including the best album award for the chart-topping release The Defamation Of Strickland Banks.

When Radio 3 pulled out of its annual world-music awards, Songlines moved in to fill the gap, and its annual compilation of artists nominated for its own awards makes just as good a barometer.

Last night saw the 2011 NME Awards ceremony held at London's Brixton Academy - by all accounts an explosive affair, celebrating the best in alternative music both British and international.