About 100 fans crowded outside a Buenos Aires power plant March 31 in an effort to gatch a glimpse of the newly buffed Ricky Martin, who was filming the video for ‘Tal Vez,’ according to People. The song, whose title means ‘Perhaps,’ debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Tracks chart—the first time that the Latin chart has seen a No. 1 debut since February 1998. The new single is from Las Almas del Silencio (The Souls of Silence), which is Martin’s first all-Spanish album in five years. (Release Date: May 20). As for that video shoot in Buenos Aires: a downpour delayed filming, drenched the fans, and transformed them into what Martin reportedly called ‘little wet chickens.’
Within hours of announcing her (second) self-imposed retirement from the music industry on her official Web site, portions of Sinead O’Connor’s farewell letter were featured on news wires all across the globe: ‘As of July 2003 I shall be retiring from the music business in order to pursue a different career,’ wrote O’Connor (www.sinead-oconnor.com). ‘I seek no longer to be a ‘famous’ person, and instead I wish to live a ‘normal’ life. Could people please afford me my privacy? By which I mean, I would like not to have exploitation of my self or my name or anyone connected with me by newspapers. I also mean that (with love) I want to be like any other person in the street and not have people say ‘there is Sinead O’Connor,’ As I am a very shy person believe it or not.’
A Vanguard Records spokesperson has confirmed that the post is indeed from O’Connor and stated that the details concerning the singer’s final recording—a concert and documentary DVD due in July—have not been finalized. The recording, appropriately titled Goodnight, Thank you: You’ve Been A Lovely Audience, will feature songs spanning the singer’s entire career, up through her album of traditional Irish songs released last year. (Also look for O’Connor to appear on an upcoming Dolly Parton tribute album, singing the song ‘Dagger through the Heart.’) O’Connor isn’t the only one who has left the building: Aretha Franklin has confirmed that her 2003 tour will be the last full-scale tour of her career. The 11-date tour will end with the Sept. 9 release of a studio album featuring new material-—her first studio album since 1998’s A Rose is Still A Rose.
Afterglow: Not only is Jennifer Lopez the new face hawking Louis Vuitton products, but the singer has also announced a few details behind her new fragrance, the followup to ‘Glow’ by J.Lo, which, according to New York Magazine, is the No. 1 selling perfume in the world. Lopez, who appeared nekkid in the the ad campaign for Glow, has decided to go more uptown this time and will reportedly wear evening gowns. The singer is attempting to keep the name of the new perfume a secret until the June launch, so Lopez’s entourage has been ordered to refer to it only as ‘JL II’ until then. By the way, Jennifer apparently did such a fabulous job recreating the Flashdance look in her new video, that there’s been talk that she will remake the Jennifer Beals film, sez Liz Smith.
Courtney Love is advertising in the help wanted ads of L.A. Weekly and The Village Voice: The ad reads, in part: ‘Women required for International Rock Revolution get famous, see the world.’ The ad concludes, ‘NO BOYS.’ Love is currently in talks to secure a label for her new LP, America’s Sweetheart.
Coming soon: Soul II Soul’s new album, Jazzie B presents Soul II Soul—The Africa Centre, previously slated for an early 2003 release by Strut records, has been picked up by new record label Casual and is expected to drop June 23. * David Knapp kicks of the new season of Centaur Music’s Global Groove, with Global Grove: House 2, the first GG release of 2003 * David Gahan of Depeche Mode will release his debut solo album, Paper Monsters in June. (DM band mate Martin Gore released his own solo set Counterfeit2 on April 23). * Schizophrenic is the name of *NSYNC member JC Chasez’s debut solo album (no release date), which will include the production talents of BT (the two reportedly became ‘friends’ during the making of ‘Pop’). * Madonna’s follow-up single to the lackluster American Life will be ‘Hollywood,’ whose video will be directed by friend and collaborator, Jean-Baptiste Mondino. (Not that anyone’s asking US, but we say ‘Intervention’ should be the next single, NOT that clunky Hollywood tune.)
Bonus Item: Eryka Badu, Loretta Lynn and Sheryl Crow are set to headline The Taste of Chicago this summer, and will be joined by the Wallflowers, Pete Yorn, and Elvis Costello.
End Quote: Robbie Williams, attempting to confirm his heterosexuality to The Advocate, says: ‘I think every straight man has the capability to have sex with another man. Don’t you agree?’ He later admits an attraction for one man in particular: ‘I quite fancy The Rock, actually. I’d love for him to throw me around a bit.’ (You and me both Roberta. You and me both.)
————————————————————